Hidden Dragon Ranking

The first faint light of dawn had barely tinged the horizon when Lin Qing opened his eyes.

Though he had no bedding, it was already June. He spread out the backpack holding his miscellaneous belongings and covered himself with it, managing to sleep soundly and completely shake off yesterday's fatigue.

He stretched lazily, and a string of crisp cracks rang out from his bones. He was brimming with vigor, exuding vibrant youthful energy.

After a quick wash, Lin Qing stood in the courtyard, facing the first ray of morning sunlight. He adjusted his breathing and began practicing the Clear-Mind Life-Nourishing Art again.

This technique emphasized a tranquil state of mind, long and steady breaths, and gentle movements that contained an underlying rhythm.

With no distracting thoughts, Lin Qing slowly stretched his limbs according to the memories in his mind. After completing one round, he felt his Qi and Blood flow freely throughout his body, leaving him refreshed and clear-headed.

Without taking time to regulate his breath, he immediately began a second round. A quarter of an hour later, he slowly drew the technique to a close and stood still.

After getting up and practicing twice, the progress of the Clear-Mind Life-Nourishing Art on the panel had reached: 7/100.

By then, the sky was fully bright. Pedestrians gradually began appearing on the streets, while roadside vendors set up their stalls one after another, and the bustle of daily life slowly spread through the air.

Lin Qing straightened his clothes. Today, he needed to buy some daily necessities, as well as two new sets of clothes for changing and washing. It was time to retire the patch-covered garment he was wearing.

But first, he needed breakfast.

Following the aroma of food drifting in from the street, he arrived at a breakfast stall and bought two large meat buns and a bowl of clear broth noodles for fifteen copper coins.

Once he had filled his stomach, he began preparing to shop.

The county town was not small, its streets and alleys crisscrossing like a web. Unfamiliar with the place, Lin Qing could only ask passersby for directions and slowly search for a cloth shop and general store.

He first went to a cloth shop and selected thick bedding, soft cotton fabric, two sets of everyday clothes suitable for martial arts practice, and changes of clothing. Then he went to a general store to buy washing supplies, pots, bowls, ladles, and other odds and ends.

He also bought some rice, flour, soybeans, salt, and lard so he could cook for himself.

Asking for directions, making selections, and haggling along the way, he spent more than half the morning buying everything he needed.

Carrying large and small packages in his hands, Lin Qing threaded through the streets and alleys, occasionally stopping to confirm his direction. By the time he returned to the small courtyard and put everything away, the sun had already climbed to the middle of the sky. Blinding sunlight poured down; it was clearly noon.

After bustling about all morning, Lin Qing was truly hungry. He had yet to buy firewood, so there was not enough time to cook for himself. Thus, he went outside and found a fairly popular restaurant.

The restaurant stood at the mouth of an alley. Its storefront was small, but tables filled the alley itself. Among those coming and going to eat were jianghu travelers in fitted martial attire with weapons at their waists, as well as porters dressed in coarse short garments.

One glance was enough to tell that this restaurant catered to common folk with cheap, generous portions.

After much difficulty, he found an empty table. The previous diners had only just left, and the bowls and chopsticks on the table had not yet been cleared away, so Lin Qing hurriedly sat down.

He raised a hand to call over the waiter and ordered a serving of braised pork offal, a serving of mapo tofu, and a large bowl of rice. As he quietly waited for the food, he discreetly observed the jianghu travelers around him.

Not long after he sat down, the conversation of several jianghu men at the neighboring table clearly reached his ears.

"Have you heard? Ye Lingchuan of the Qingyun Martial Academy has entered the Hidden Dragon Ranking." One bearded man lowered his voice, his tone filled with astonishment as he spoke to the people at his table.

"Oh? How come I've never heard of anyone like that from the Qingyun Martial Academy? To enter the Hidden Dragon Ranking, he must be close to the Fourth Tier, right? Even Xiao the Centurion, the strongest person in the county on the surface, is only at the Third-Tier Peak, isn't he?"

A handsome young man beside him chimed in, his face plainly saying that the other man was boasting.

"You're young, so of course you don't know! Back then, Ye Lingchuan was the number one genius in the county. He became a Certified Martial Artist before turning seventeen, and not long after that, he was taken in by a major sect in the prefecture. He's only around twenty-five now, isn't he? His future is simply boundless."

The bearded man stressed his words, wearing an expression that said, Believe it or not.

The moment Lin Qing heard the words "Hidden Dragon Ranking," he had already guessed most of it. It was probably some sort of genius ranking, for powerful people beneath a certain age.

Another burly man of around thirty-five echoed him:

"I could tell back then that Ye Lingchuan was someone extraordinary! I also heard that Hall Master Ye of the Qingyun Martial Academy has already booked out Fortune Tower. Tonight, he's holding a grand banquet and inviting guests from all directions."

"Fortune Tower? That's the finest restaurant in our county town. Hall Master Ye has really spared no expense. He certainly is willing to spend."

The young man's face had already changed from utter disbelief to deep envy.

The bearded man continued:

"Can't you tell yet? They're both surnamed Ye. Ye Lingchuan is Hall Master Ye's own son. Back then, Hall Master Ye personally taught him step by step. Coupled with Ye Lingchuan's considerable talent, he cultivated the Qingyun Stance Skill to the perfected realm in only six months."

"After that, with his perfected stance skill, along with an unending supply of Blood-Qi Potions and medicinal baths, Ye Lingchuan became a Certified Martial Artist before turning seventeen."

The group spoke over one another, enthusiastically discussing news of the Qingyun Martial Academy and the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Their words were full of admiration for Ye Lingchuan.

Sitting nearby, Lin Qing silently committed the information—"Qingyun Martial Academy," "Ye Lingchuan," "Hidden Dragon Ranking," and "Fortune Tower banquet"—to memory.

He had only just entered the jianghu and knew nothing at all about the forces or news of this region. Such idle chatter happened to help him understand this martial world.

Just as he was deep in thought, the waiter approached carrying steaming dishes, interrupting him.

Lin Qing temporarily set aside his thoughts, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and continued listening to the conversations of the surrounding jianghu travelers as he ate slowly, quietly gathering information.