Hidden Dragon Ranking

Biodata

Power Progression

Function and Eligibility

• The Hidden Dragon Ranking is a prestigious list for young martial geniuses, attained through the Dragon Gate Grand Gathering—the “carp leaping over the dragon gate” opportunity for participants from the major regions. It is described as the principal route for non-Divine Bloodline martial artists to gain renown. 553
• In its Profound Yellow configuration, the ranking has one hundred positions; even its final position is considered prestigious, as listed geniuses who survive are expected to become leading Martial Emperors. 632
• A later ranking cycle records one thousand positions, ranging from first to 1000th; challengers may compete after the main placements are finalized. 749
• The ranking is tied to both personal and sect fortune. Higher-ranked disciples increase the fortune of their sect. 732
• Under the former rules, competitors were generally Origin Venerate Realm martial artists regardless of age. A subsequent restoration of ancient regulations allowed martial artists below forty years old to participate alongside existing ranked geniuses. 936
• Ao Jiulong later annulled all previous rankings and broadened eligibility to all martial artists below one thousand years old, allowing even Martial Emperors to contend for the re-established top one thousand. 1073 1075
• Entry into Hidden Dragon City during the earlier tournament cycles required cultivation at or above the Origin Venerate Realm. 732
• The top one hundred are an especially significant threshold under the original Origin Venerate Realm format. They are generally peak ninth-level Origin Venerate Realm geniuses capable of challenging opponents above their cultivation level. 747 813 841

Dragon Gate Grand Gathering

• The Dragon Gate Grand Gathering is held once every five years and brings geniuses from the five major regions to the Central Continent Region. 553
• Its competition is held on the Ascending Dragon Platform, a dragon-shaped battle stage. Battles take place along the dragon’s body and tail, with reaching its head representing victory. 638
• The gathering has two connected contests:
  • A competition for younger-generation geniuses seeking entry onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
  • The Hidden Dragon Ranking tournament itself, in which existing ranked geniuses defend or improve their places. 732
• In one entry competition, contestants first crossed the Dragon Pool formation, an assessment that eliminated roughly eighty percent of participants. 634
• The subsequent Ascending Dragon Ladder assessment required contestants to climb a thousand-step staircase while competing for chests containing Universe Pills; falling from the staircase resulted in elimination. 634
• A later assessment required contestants to seize Dragon Pearls. The first fifty contestants to obtain a pearl advanced to elimination matches on the Ascending Dragon Platform, where the defeated contestant’s Dragon Pearl shattered. 639
• Matches and appearances on the Ascending Dragon Platform are recorded by major merchant guilds, making participation a source of family prestige. 638
• Winning first place in a regional gathering could qualify a contestant to choose among the Four Great Ancient Sects before pursuing a place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. 586
• The results of one gathering spread across the five regions, drawing attention to its top ten as prospective Hidden Dragon Ranking contenders. 688
• When a later gathering had no new entrants, it proceeded directly to the Hidden Dragon Ranking competition. 880

Competition Format

Standard Placement

• Ranked geniuses, former ranked geniuses, and new entrants are divided into groups according to cultivation realm. Each group competes for a designated range of ranking positions. 747
• In one documented tournament, nearly a thousand contestants competed in each realm group for one hundred places; Lu Ren’s second-level Origin Venerate Realm group competed for positions 901st through 801st. 747
• The previous top one hundred compete last. Their matches are the tournament’s grand finale, as their rankings usually change little despite major disparities in combat strength. 747
• After placements, listed geniuses may challenge higher-ranked opponents to improve their positions. 749
• A challenger who successfully surpasses a ranked opponent causes that opponent to fall one position; the genius at the bottom of the list is eliminated. 749
• In a later tournament, entrants challenging for a higher placement could forfeit their arena-defense matches. Failure in such a challenge resulted in immediate disqualification from the ranking and the loss of eligibility for Dragon Luck Blessing. 881

Hidden Dragon Points Tournament

• Following Ao Jiulong’s rule revision, the tournament used Hidden Dragon Tokens to randomly teleport participants to individual martial arts stages. 1075
• Victories awarded ten Hidden Dragon Points, draws awarded five points, and losses awarded two points. Contestants who accumulated eighty points advanced from the first round. 1075
• Two thousand martial artists advanced to the next stage, where opponents were matched according to their Hidden Dragon Points over a day-and-night series of battles; the top one thousand by points became the new ranked geniuses. 1075
• The revised tournament attracted more than 300,000 participants, at least ten percent of whom were Martial Emperors. 1075
• Lu Ren, competing under the identity Yuan Ba, accumulated 210 Hidden Dragon Points after defeating sixth-tier Martial Emperor Yuan Xun; Luo Feng, disguised as Long Leidian, likewise reached 210 points and accepted Lu Ren’s challenge for the top position. 1077

Ranking Changes

• The ranking can experience major turnover below the top one hundred, as new entrants replace fallen or defeated geniuses and others rise by hundreds of places. 747
• A later rule revision invalidated all prior placements and opened participation to any martial artist under one thousand years old; the top one thousand would then be selected anew. 1073
• The Hidden Dragon Emissary previously restored the ancient rule permitting martial artists under forty years old to participate, replacing the Origin Venerate Realm-only restriction. 936
• Another tournament permitted ten first-tier Martial Emperors to compete, with a preliminary contest for the top ten due to their overwhelming strength. 940
• After the Ancient God Sect lost its ranking privileges, its disciples’ names were removed from the new list and the affected rankings shifted upward. 893 894

Dragon Luck Blessing

• Once rankings are finalized, every listed genius presents a Hidden Dragon Token and receives a Dragon Luck Blessing proportional to their ranking. 750
• The blessing manifests as golden light from the ranking and can enhance Martial Intent-related attributes. Higher-ranked geniuses receive visibly denser Dragon Luck. 750
• Dragon Luck Blessing energy is described as substantially more potent than Intent Crystals for cultivation. 750
• Lu Ren’s first entry at 520th place granted enough Dragon Luck to raise his Sword Momentum from the middle second level to the peak second level and advance his cultivation from the middle second level to the peak second level of the Origin Venerate Realm. 750
• After taking first place, Lu Ren received the strongest blessing and broke from the peak eighth level to the early ninth level of the Origin Venerate Realm. 894
• During a later first-place defense, Lu Ren used the blessing to loosen the barrier to the ninth level of Sword Momentum, though he did not achieve the breakthrough. 949

First Place

• First place is the ranking’s most coveted position, associated with immense Dragon Vein Fortune and an unknown potential gain when held for three consecutive terms. 748
• Many geniuses deliberately suppress their cultivation to remain eligible and preserve first place. 748
• The Nine Dragon Martial Emperor is the only known individual to have held first place for three consecutive terms before Lu Ren. 748
• Gu Fansheng held first place for two consecutive sessions before Lu Ren defeated him and ended his attempt at a third title. 749 892
• Lu Ren later defended his title against the young Martial Emperors of the Four Great Hidden Families, defeating Feng Qing’er to claim first place again. 945 948
• Lu Ren later secured three consecutive first-place victories, which summoned the Gate of Fortune leading to the Mianbei Realm. 1071 1078

Administration and Enforcement

• Hidden Dragon City is responsible for the ranking’s administration; the Hidden Dragon Emissary announces results on its behalf. 892
• Hidden Dragon Emissaries exist to maintain the ranking and intervene against outside interference in matches. One Emissary stated that he remembered only his mission to maintain the Hidden Dragon Ranking. 892
• During Lu Ren’s battle with Gu Fansheng, the Hidden Dragon Emissary nullified attacks from intervening elders, confirmed Lu Ren as first place, and later stripped the Ancient God Sect of ranking privileges for three years for violating the rules. 892 893
• Hidden Dragon Tokens are required to receive Dragon Luck Blessings and, in a later tournament, to register for participation. 750 1073 1074
• Under the Hidden Dragon Points format, the tokens also handled arena teleportation, recorded points, and matched participants against opponents with comparable scores. 1075
• During an earlier registration, officials checked records of regional gathering participants and verified Lu Ren’s identity through his bloodline before issuing him a Hidden Dragon Token. 735
• Eastern Emperor Ancestor announced the rules and advancement results for the re-established Hidden Dragon Points tournament. 1075

Notable Rankings

Trivia

• Merchant guilds distribute and sell copies of the finalized ranking; Hidden Dragon City receives seven-tenths of the resulting Spirit Stone revenue. 750
• The ranking’s manifestation can take the form of a giant golden scroll bearing the listed geniuses’ names. 749
• The prospect of appearing on the Hidden Dragon Ranking is compared repeatedly to a carp leaping over the dragon gate. 553 632 732
• Published copies could include a ranked genius’s exploits as well as their placement. Lu Ren’s 520th-place debut became widely known after the merchant guilds circulated the list. 751 760