Top 7: The Far North

For instance, Yu Yuanzhen had received the True Dragon Nine Crowns to strengthen himself;

Ning Fengzhi had seen his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Given Tang Chen's current condition, it was possible to restore his mind. He could only hope the reward would also purge the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King's poison.

Otherwise, it would only harm Tang Chen.

[Ranking reward: Consciousness restored; body healed. (Because the ranking features Tang Chen, not the Nine-Headed Bat King, the reward will be granted only to Tang Chen.)]

The reward for Top 8 left everyone stunned and a little dazed.

So the Sky Screen's rewards weren't limited to Soul Power; they could heal the body too. But when everyone read the second half, they nearly burst out laughing.

Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King: Clown.jpg

The members of the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao were overjoyed when they saw the reward.

The sect had been planning to find Tang Hao and ask him to save Tang Chen.

Tang Hao had been thinking the same thing.

As long as he could save his grandfather, neither Qian Daoliu nor Bibi Dong would be anything to fear.

Before either side could act, the Sky Screen's reward restored Tang Chen's mind.

Wasn't that exactly what they wanted?

In Slaughter City, the King of Slaughter, who had been watching the spectacle, went numb.

If Tang Chen regained his mind, how could the King of Slaughter survive?

Sure enough, the moment Tang Chen recovered, he began fighting him for control of their body.

Knowing his days were numbered, the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King could only throw back his head and roar.

"The heavens are biased! The ranking covers Slaughter City, so why can't I get a reward—"

Before he could finish, Tang Chen crushed him.

Tang Chen's Asura Eighth Trial was completed at once, and a vast surge of Asura Divine Power poured into his body.

After a long while, he looked up at the Sky Screen, knelt, and said gratefully:

"Thank you, divine one, for saving my life!"

Now he had the body of a demigod and life force to spare. It was time to fulfill that promise.

At the gates of Heaven Dou City, three unusually dressed travelers entered.

Passersby kept turning to look, especially at the two stunning women beside the man.

"Damn it, these people's stares are disgusting! I want to bash their heads in."

Sandrone folded her arms across her chest and bristled as she walked.

Su Yun was used to it. The nobles of Heaven Dou City were all like that, looking down their noses at everyone.

None of those nobles stepped into his path, though. If they had, he would have wiped them out with a flick of his hand.

"We've watched a movie the whole way here. Let's find a restaurant."

At the mention of food, Columbina, who had been looking around, instantly came to life.

"Su Yun, are we going to eat? Can we go to Wanmin Restaurant?"

Wanmin Restaurant, huh?

Xiangling had only been out gathering ingredients for a week. Had she already opened a restaurant in Heaven Dou City?

Su Yun looked at the line outside. There were quite a few people.

He even spotted an old acquaintance.

Su Yun casually picked up an Akasha Terminal. He had the Dendro Archon's Vision, so it was only reasonable for him to have an Akasha Terminal too, right?

He switched on its recording function.

"Plenty of restaurant reviews out there. I'll tell you what's real."

"The place you've been waiting to see: Wanmin Restaurant in Heaven Dou City.

Three people, seven dishes, 3,200 Gold Soul Coins."

Sandrone had been examining the Akasha Terminal with curiosity. At that, she nearly jumped out of her skin!

"How many? How many Gold Soul Coins?"

Su Yun glanced at the menu.

"Read it wrong, read it wrong. It's 320 Gold Soul Coins."

Sandrone breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she'd thought Su Yun had spent an entire month of her research funding on one meal.

Luckily, Ningguang handled Teyvat Academy's finances now. If it had been that damned capitalist Pantalone, he would have withheld three months' interest from her research funding before handing it over.

The three of them went over to Zhongli and sat down, inviting themselves to his table. Zhongli had noticed Su Yun long ago.

"My young friend, what a coincidence. You've come to dine as well. If you don't mind, please join me."

Su Yun had already plopped into a seat. Eyeing a dish of soup on the table, he asked about it curiously.

Zhongli took a sip of tea and replied in his steady voice,

"This is lotus seed and bird-egg custard. Xiangling caught the ten-thousand-year-old bird in the Star Dou Forest and prepared it with lotus seeds."

Zhongli picked up a spoon, scooped up some custard, and studied its color.

"The custard holds together without falling apart, like a thin veil of mist at dawn. Lotus seeds drift within it like little boats on jade-green waves.

On the tongue, it should be delicate and silky. No need to chew; the light sweetness dissolves at the slightest touch.

And the faint bitterness of the lotus hearts comes at just the right moment, washing away any cloying sweetness and leaving behind a breath of freshness."

Zhongli paused, then continued at an unhurried pace,

"This dish has long been a favorite of the adepti, soothing the heart and nourishing the spirit. However..."

"In my view, adding a few pieces of rock sugar before steaming would temper its plainness with a gentle sweetness, making it better suited to the pleasures of mortal life. Paired with a pot of light tea from Qingce Village, it would make for a leisurely meal."

With that, Zhongli handed the spoon to Columbina, who was nearly drooling.

"What do you think, my young friend? If you're interested, I could tell you the old story of how this dish originated with the Guizhong Ballista. Ah, of course, I must apologize for the trouble of asking you to settle the bill."

Su Yun covered his face helplessly. Just wait until I get to Teyvat Academy in the ranking. You're a god of wealth, and you still scrounge meals off other people.

No, wait. There's also one who sings for his supper.

"This meal's on me. Let's order first."

Su Yun casually ordered seven dishes Columbina liked, then looked out the window at the Sky Screen.

The ranking had begun again. This time, it was introducing Top 7.

[Top 7 of Douluo's Ten Greatest Forces.]

The Sky Screen shifted once more. Golden words appeared, and its voice rang in their ears again.

[Top 7 of the Douluo Continent's Ten Greatest Forces: the Far North.]

Every human was stunned. What was going on? Soul Beasts could make the list too?

And what on earth was the Far North?

The Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North and a host of Soul Beast clan leaders had gathered together long ago.

They drew their gazes away from the Sky Screen and looked toward the figure on the throne of ice and snow.

"We're only seventh?"

Had humanity grown that strong? The Snow Empress could hardly believe it.

"Hmph. Xue'er, I say this ranking is nonsense. From the humans I've captured, I learned that only Spirit Hall is stronger than us in the human world."

Spirit Hall might have a level-ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, but here in the Far North, even Qian Daoliu would come to grief.

"Bing'er, don't be careless."

The Snow Empress shook her head.

"Have you forgotten Tang Chen, now restored to his full strength, and the one on Sea God Island?"

Only then did the Ice Empress remember. She said in astonishment,

"Tang Chen is also the ancestor of the Clear Sky Sect. Doesn't that mean he can claim two rounds of Sky Screen rewards?"

The Soul Beasts froze. They had just discovered an extraordinary loophole.

Once this round of rankings was over, if they joined the Star Dou Forest, wouldn't they be able to claim another round of rewards?

With that thought, they all turned to the Snow Empress. This was a chance to grow stronger.

The Snow Empress pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Let's see what reward the Sky Screen gives first. If it increases our age, we'll be in trouble."

[Lord of the Far North: Snow Empress]

[Age: 690,000 years]

[Species: Heavenly Snow Woman]

[One of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North: Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.]