Ninth Place Revealed on the Golden Ranking!!

The Snow Empress released Long Yao from her embrace.

Her white hair slipped from his shoulder.

She straightened and looked at him with pale blue eyes.

"Can't I go with you?"

"A great deal is about to change on the continent."

Long Yao raised a hand and tucked a strand of white hair behind her ear.

"The Far North needs you here to guard it."

The Snow Empress fell silent for a moment.

She knew Long Yao was not trying to restrict her.

Apart from Long Yao, she was the one best suited to protect the Far North.

But she still wanted to stay by his side.

The Snow Empress took half a step closer.

She reached out with both hands and gently straightened his collar.

"When will you come back?"

"It won't be long."

"I'll wait for you."

The Snow Empress smoothed a crease from his collar.

Her movements were slow. Her fingertips traced his black-and-gold robe before coming to rest against his chest.

Long Yao looked down at her.

The Snow Empress lifted her face.

They were close enough to touch.

"My lord."

"Hmm?"

"When you go to Skywater Academy, you mustn't forget me."

Long Yao raised a hand and pinched her cheek.

"I won't."

Only then was the Snow Empress satisfied.

She stepped back, her white dress swaying gently. Her long legs flickered into view beneath its hem.

"I'll be right here waiting for you."

Long Yao nodded.

"There's something else. I need to deal with Tang San."

The Snow Empress's eyes shifted.

"The Tang San at Shrek Academy?"

"Yes."

Long Yao looked toward the continent.

"To be precise, the Heavenly Will behind him."

"Tang San is only a pawn."

"The real trouble is the hand trying to use him to reshape the continent."

The Snow Empress grew grave.

"My lord, you intend to fight the Heavenly Will?"

"Sooner or later."

Long Yao's gaze settled on the Heavenly Ranking overhead.

"If the Dragon Clan is to rise again, we must clear the obstacles in our path."

"Tang San is only one of them."

With that, Long Yao raised his right hand.

Golden light gathered in his palm.

Ripples spread through space.

The next moment, a golden gateway slowly opened before the ice platform.

Beyond it lay mountain ranges and a vast expanse of land.

It was the continent where the Heaven Dou Empire stood.

The Snow Empress watched the Spatial Gate.

She did not try to dissuade him again.

"My lord, come back soon."

Long Yao walked toward the gateway.

He stopped as he passed her.

"Take care of yourself."

The Snow Empress nodded softly.

Long Yao bent and kissed her forehead.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Then Long Yao stepped through the Spatial Gate.

The golden gateway slowly closed.

Only wind and snow remained in the Far North.

The Snow Empress stood before the ice platform, watching the Spatial Gate disappear.

She raised a slender hand and gently touched her forehead.

Then she turned to look into the distance.

"My lord will come back."

As Long Yao left the Far North, the Heavenly Ranking burst into golden light once more.

Its surface, which had gradually settled, began to change again.

Golden light spread upward from tenth place.

Intricate patterns wove across the ranking.

All across Douluo Continent, eyes turned to the sky once more.

"Look! The Golden Ranking is showing something!"

"Is the next ranking about to begin?"

"Who will make the list this time?"

In the Heaven Dou Empire's palace, Xue Ye rose from his seat and looked up at the sky.

The ministers in the great hall raised their heads as well.

Bibi Dong had taken tenth place.

The Spirit Hall pope possessed Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. Her Soul Power had reached Level 98.

She also held Divine Slaughter's Domain and the Rakshasa God's inheritance.

Yet even with such power, she had ranked only tenth.

How strong would the person in ninth place be?

Xue Ye's expression turned grave.

"Send out the order."

"Have every region watch the Golden Ranking closely."

"Any new information must be sent to the palace at once."

In the Star Luo Empire, the Star Luo Emperor stood at the front of his great hall.

His gaze rested on the Golden Ranking.

"Bibi Dong has grown stronger again after receiving the heavenly reward."

"Spirit Hall has far greater reserves of power than our intelligence suggested."

The Star Luo Emperor raised a hand.

"Inspect every border defense again."

"Send people to watch Spirit Hall's movements."

"Now that the Golden Ranking has appeared, we can no longer judge the continent by how things used to be."

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi stood on a raised platform and pushed up his glasses.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood behind him.

All three looked toward the sky.

"Tenth place alone received a Million-Year Soul Ring," Ning Fengzhi said slowly.

"The rewards for those ranked above her will surely be even more astonishing."

Chen Xin gripped his sword hilt.

"Bibi Dong has already reached level ninety-nine."

"If she fully absorbs that Million-Year Soul Ring, her strength will rise even further."

Gu Rong's expression darkened.

"Spirit Hall was powerful enough already."

"Now it has a reward of this magnitude. Every other faction will feel the pressure."

At the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanzhen stood in the sect square. The smile had long vanished from his face.

When Bibi Dong ranked tenth, he had thought Spirit Hall was not as powerful as the rumors claimed.

But when the Million-Year Soul Ring and Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone appeared, he realized the Golden Ranking had brought changes beyond anyone's expectations.

"Send word throughout the clan," Yu Yuanzhen said.

"Recall the disciples who are away."

"For the time being, no one is to provoke a conflict with Spirit Hall."

Within the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao stood with several elders before the mountain gate.

They watched the Golden Ranking in silence.

Only after a while did Tang Xiao speak.

"Keep watching."

"Ninth place is about to be revealed."

At Shrek Academy, Tang San stood in the middle of the square.

His eyes burned as he stared up at the sky.

A Million-Year Soul Ring.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

Those rewards filled him with fierce anticipation.

Yu Xiaogang stood nearby, his expression grave.

He knew just as well that Bibi Dong's strength and rewards had given Spirit Hall an even greater advantage.

"Keep cultivating," Yu Xiaogang told Tang San and the others.

"One day, you'll make the Golden Ranking too."

Tang San did not answer.

His gaze never left the Golden Ranking.

The golden light in the sky grew brighter.

Countless Soul Masters gathered in cities, sect grounds, and the wilderness.

Everyone waited for ninth place to appear.

Bibi Dong was already so powerful.

Who could rank above her?

Above the Golden Ranking, a new image slowly took shape.

A line of golden text gradually appeared.

[Ninth place on the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking will be announced shortly.]

At Spirit Hall.

Before the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong had already completely integrated the power of the Million-Year Soul Ring into her body.

Her ninety-ninth-rank Soul Power circulated slowly through her meridians.

She lowered her gaze to look at her own legs.

Black silk wrapped around her slender, beautiful legs, and her purple robe draped down to her feet.

Bibi Dong raised her head, her gaze falling upon the Heavenly Ranking.

As she was now, she was only a single step away from the god rank.

Coupled with the Million-Year Soul Ring and the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, her strength already far surpassed her past self.

The tenth rank?

Bibi Dong did not accept this.

She wanted to see for herself precisely who could rank above her.

"Who will be the ninth rank on the Heavenly Ranking?"