The golden sky screen stretched across the firmament.
Before the ranking had truly been revealed, lines of comments were already flying past both sides of the sky screen.
[The ten greatest powerhouses? The very first ranking carries this much weight?]
[Strength reigns supreme on the Douluo Continent. The Powerhouse Ranking best represents a Soul Master's standing!]
[Those who make the ranking will probably all be Titled Douluo.]
[Even Titled Douluo differ in strength. Ordinary Titled Douluo might not qualify.]
[Too narrow. Your horizons are too narrow.]
[I'd say only Super Douluo of at least rank ninety-five qualify to compete for the top ten!]
[Then where would Limit Douluo rank?]
[Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, the Clear Sky Sect, and those old monsters who haven't shown themselves for years-this time, they probably won't be able to stay hidden.]
[The reward for first place is the most special. I wonder whose hands it will fall into.]
Heaven Dou City.
Inside the hotel where the people of Shrek Academy were temporarily staying.
Flender stood by the window, the golden light filling the sky reflected in his glasses.
They had already been preparing to rest, planning to head to Heaven Dou Royal Academy early the next morning.
None of them had expected the Heavenly Dao Ranking to descend tonight.
Ma Hongjun craned his head up and could not help saying:
"The ten greatest powerhouses? That has nothing to do with us."
Oscar leaned back in his chair and raised a hand to rub his chin.
"This ranking has come at the wrong time."
"If it were the Talent Ranking or the Martial Soul Ranking, we Shrek Seven Devils would definitely claim a few spots."
Dai Mubai folded his arms across his chest.
"The Powerhouse Ranking judges current strength."
"We haven't grown into our full strength yet. Naturally, we're not qualified to compare ourselves to those Titled Douluo."
Ma Hongjun curled his lip.
"Isn't this targeting monster-level geniuses?"
"Once I become a Titled Douluo, if this ranking appears again, I'll definitely make it."
Xiao Wu sat on the edge of the bed and gave a soft snort at his words.
"Try eating a couple fewer meals before you worry about becoming a Titled Douluo."
Ma Hongjun looked down at his belly and immediately shut his mouth.
Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly beside the window.
Golden light fell upon her black, close-fitting clothes, making her graceful figure all the more striking.
She did not join their discussion, merely watching the sky screen intently.
Tang San stood behind the others, anticipation in his eyes.
Father is the Clear Sky Douluo.
With Father's strength, he should be able to make the Powerhouse Ranking, right?
He knew that Tang Hao had once single-handedly faced numerous powerhouses from Spirit Hall.
The name of the Clear Sky Douluo resounded throughout the entire continent.
If even someone like him could not make the ranking, just how powerful would those ten people be?
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze lingering on the words "Heavenly Dao rewards."
"The rankings are certainly important, but what truly deserves our attention is the rewards."
"The Heavenly Dao possesses power that encompasses the entire continent. What it bestows might be able to change a Soul Master's martial soul, talent, and even the upper limit of their cultivation."
Flender turned around.
"You mean anything is possible?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"Until the ranking is officially revealed, no one can say for certain."
The hotel gradually fell quiet.
Everyone from Shrek looked toward the sky screen together.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Before the council hall.
Ning Fengzhi held a jade cane, his white robes swaying gently in the wind.
Chen Xin stood to his left. No fluctuations of soul power could be seen beneath his feet, yet the fallen leaves around him could not come even half a step closer.
Gu Rong leaned against a stone pillar, the golden sky screen reflected in his deep-set eyes.
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Chen Xin.
"Uncle Jian, you're already a rank ninety-six Titled Douluo."
"There may be a place for you on this Powerhouse Ranking."
Chen Xin's expression remained calm.
"The continent is vast, and there are many powerful experts living in seclusion."
"Until the very end, no one can be certain of the rankings."
Gu Rong chuckled.
"Old Jian, it's rare to see you being modest."
"With the Seven Kill Sword's offensive power, even among those of your rank, few dare face you head-on."
Chen Xin gave him an indifferent glance.
"If you'd like to try, I can oblige you once the ranking is over."
Gu Rong immediately straightened.
"Then let's try. You think I'd be afraid of you?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head helplessly, making no attempt to stop them.
His gaze fell to his palm.
Seven-colored light gathered, and a seven-story glazed tile pagoda slowly rose.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was acclaimed as the continent's foremost support-type martial soul.
Yet this martial soul had a fatal limitation.
No matter how its bearer cultivated, they could never break past rank seventy-nine in their lifetime.
Ning Fengzhi sighed softly.
"If not for my martial soul's limitation, I'd also like to see just how far I could go."
Chen Xin looked at the glazed tile pagoda.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's enhancement abilities are unrivaled across the continent. Fengzhi, you needn't belittle yourself."
Gu Rong also set aside his joking expression.
"Exactly."
"With your support, even against higher-ranked opponents, Chen Xin and I would dare to fight."
Ning Fengzhi slowly withdrew his martial soul.
"I'm not dismissing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"It's just that over the years, I've read through the sect's records from every generation, and one question has always remained in my heart."
"The direct bloodline of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been exceptionally powerful in every generation. Those with innate full soul power have appeared many times as well."
"Yet this martial soul can only be cultivated to rank seventy-nine."
"That limitation is like a lock sealing away the power the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda should possess."
Chen Xin frowned slightly.
Gu Rong also sank into thought.
Successive sect masters had all searched for a way to break through the seven-treasure limitation, but sadly, none had ever succeeded.
As time passed, everyone in the sect could only accept this fact.
Ning Fengzhi looked toward the firmament again.
"I've always felt that there is more to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Perhaps this Heavenly Dao Ranking can give me an answer."
The Far North.
The boundless snowy plains were dyed entirely golden.
Inside a palace carved from ice, Snow Empress slowly opened her eyes.
Her silvery-white hair fell to her waist, and her snow-white dress hugged her slender waist.
Beneath her skirt, her long, beautiful legs were crossed as she sat, her translucent skin gleaming softly in the golden light.
She rose and walked out of the palace.
The wind and snow filling the sky reached her side, then settled quietly.
Snow Empress lifted her delicate face and gazed at the Heavenly Dao Ranking.
"The ten greatest powerhouses..."
A white-clad figure surfaced in her mind.
That person had once entered the heart of the Far North.
The wind and snow filling the sky had failed to hinder him even half a step.
Nor had she ever seen through his true strength.
Jade-green light rose from deep within the snow.
Ice Empress came to Snow Empress's side.
"If it's him, he'll definitely make the ranking."
Snow Empress nodded gently.
"I also want to know where he'll rank."
The Star Dou Great Forest.
Its core region.
Di Tian stood before the Lake of Life, with powerful figures gathered behind him.
Xiong Jun looked up at the sky screen.
"The ranking is limited to the Douluo Continent, so Lord Di Tian will certainly make it!"
Myriad Demon King also spoke.
"Lord Di Tian has over eight hundred thousand years of cultivation. Even a human Limit Douluo might not be able to defeat him."
Di Tian did not respond.
Dressed in black robes, he kept his golden eyes fixed on the sky screen.
The words "Heavenly Dao rewards" were impossible for him to ignore.
Just then.
Ripples spread across the Lake of Life.
Deep beneath the lake, a vast, imposing pressure slowly began to awaken.
Di Tian's expression abruptly changed.
All the ferocious beasts present turned in unison and bowed toward the Lake of Life.
Before you continue