Less than two days after Aotian and the others returned, the Demon Race armies all vanished.
It was as though they had never appeared, leaving everyone scratching their heads.
"The Demon Race has retreated! Wonderful!"
"We won! Those damned demons left me homeless. Sob..."
Though the Demon Race had retreated, countless people looked back and burst into tears.
The Demon Race's invasion had cost many people their homes and their loved ones.
Ordinary people and cultivators alike could not escape this calamity.
"Everyone, don't give up. In three days, our Primordial Forbidden Zone will open its doors to recruit disciples, regardless of background or cultivation. A home for ordinary people."
Just as everyone was at a loss, a booming voice rang out.
For a moment, the world erupted into an uproar.
"The Primordial Forbidden Zone? What faction is that?"
"Can this faction be trusted? Why have I never heard of it?"
"I don't know. Whether it's true or false, it really is good news for ordinary people."
For a time, countless people were bewildered, and ordinary people began making their way toward the Primordial Forbidden Zone.
At the same time, a golden light shook heaven and earth.
It was terrifying and sacred, like the end of the world descending.
"What's happening? What is that light?"
"No idea. Perhaps a treasure has appeared."
"A treasure? Something that dazzling must be extraordinary, right?"
"Could it be a sacred artifact?"
Just as everyone was reeling in shock, a booming voice rang out.
"The Southern Region Heaven's Chosen Rankings will be revealed in ten minutes. Everyone, please look forward to it. Those who rank will receive vast cultivation resources. First place will receive the Human Ranking's protection, at any time and in any place."
Everyone was stunned. The Human Ranking? What Human Ranking?
And what were the Heaven's Chosen Rankings?
"Tell me, what are these Heaven's Chosen Rankings?"
"And what's this Human Ranking?"
These were everyone's questions.
Some powerful factions naturally had ancestors who knew a little, and they all notified their own chosen talents to prepare for the Human Ranking's selection.
"Hahaha! This time, someone from our Sword Sect will definitely make the rankings. We might even have a firm place in the top three!"
The Sword Sect's sect master was brimming with excitement at the news.
With a disciple who possessed the Supreme Bone of Metal, a place in the top three was assured.
That was why the Sword Sect's sect master had lost his composure like this.
"Sect master, sect master, mind your image."
"Exactly. All of us are watching, you know."
"Ahem, ahem."
At their words, he gave two dry coughs, but still could not contain his excitement.
"You don't understand. The Human Ranking only appears when the great tide spoken of in legends descends. This Human Ranking is a regional ranking. Anyone who makes it is undoubtedly a strong contender to attain Great Emperor status amid that great tide. First place in particular has the Human Ranking's protection and a ninety percent chance of attaining Great Emperor status."
"What..."
Everyone wore expressions of shock at his words.
The Human Ranking actually concerned the opportunity to attain Great Emperor status. All the elders were dumbfounded.
This was far too astounding.
Attaining Great Emperor status-that meant becoming a Great Emperor! First place had a ninety percent chance. With such an opportunity, they could be called a young Great Emperor.
"Pavilion master, this time our Pill Pavilion will surely claim first place and spread our name far and wide."
"Yes. With the young miss's Azure Dragon Bloodline, firmly securing first place on the Spirit Transformation Rankings isn't impossible."
Watching the elders' excitement,
the Pill Pavilion's master could not help frowning.
"Everyone, the Human Ranking hasn't descended in tens of thousands of years. Its descent now shows where the great tide of heaven and earth is heading. Amid such a tide, all manner of sacred physiques and bloodlines will emerge. Let us wait and see."
He knew better than anyone that every descent of the Human Ranking would bring a storm of blood.
Physiques, bloodlines, and all manner of powerful beings would take the stage, a hundred flowers blooming together.
It was an age of extraordinary brilliance, but also an unfortunate age, because a true child of destiny would be born at such a time.
To overpower so many chosen talents-even with the Azure Dragon Bloodline, even as the pavilion master, he had no confidence.
Dong, dong, dong.
Just then, sounds of the Great Dao reverberated outward.
A countdown began on the Human Ranking: five, four, three, two, one. With every change, sounds of the Great Dao swirled around it, utterly awe-inspiring.
"Look! The Human Ranking is opening! It's opening..."
Someone let out a roar, and everyone's gaze swept toward it.
"Because the Southern Region has too few chosen talents, only three rankings can be listed: Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, and Void Refinement."
As the voice faded, the Nascent Soul ranking began to shine.
"Tenth place: Liu Ruyan of the Liu Clan, possessor of the Willow Emperor Bloodline. Qualification: at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, she can slay those at Peak Nascent Soul. Rewards: one Willow Emperor Branch, five Perfect Spirit Transformation Foundation Establishment Pills, one Heavenly Star Fruit, and one copy of the Willow Emperor Technique."
As the voice faded, the rewards flew off in one direction.
Everyone rose straight from their seats at the announcement.
"Perfect Foundation Establishment Pills! Those are precious pills for building a martial artist's cultivation foundation, and they're simply giving them out as rewards!"
"A Willow Emperor Branch! That's a branch of the Willow Emperor Tree. If an ordinary person obtained one, they could soar straight into the skies."
All manner of envious and jealous voices rang out.
"Ninth place: Gu Chen of the Gu Clan, possessor of the damaged void physique. Qualification: at the Nascent Soul Realm Early Stage, he can slay those at Peak Nascent Soul and has escaped Spirit Transformation experts on numerous occasions. Rewards: the Void Scripture, two Void Pills, the Void Halberd (sacred artifact), and three Mist Transformation Fruits."
Everyone was stunned when they saw ninth place.
Some even issued challenges on the spot.
For a moment, countless people grew excited.
"You may challenge them. As long as your challenge succeeds, you will receive equivalent rewards."
As the voice faded, countless Nascent Soul chosen talents issued challenges.
Yet Gu Chen rejected them all. His refusal to accept challenges left everyone speechless.
"That damned fellow actually rejected my challenge!"
"Are you stupid? Once he's finished using those rewards, will you still dare challenge him?"
"Hiding away to cultivate is indeed the best choice. But if he can slay Peak Nascent Soul cultivators at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, he clearly isn't anyone simple."
"The Gu Clan is a void clan. Ordinary people really wouldn't be able to challenge him successfully."
The rewards continued. At the same time, Ye Changge brought Shi Hao, Lei Qianshan, and the others back.
"Master, I could still keep adventuring! How could you do this?"
Shi Hao was speechless. He had been cultivating, only to be brought straight back to the forbidden zone.
"Now that the Human Ranking has appeared, all of you may make the rankings. To ensure disciple recruitment goes smoothly in three days, we must use your mighty reputations to intimidate people."
Ye Changge spoke calmly.
"Master, aren't things fine as they are? Recruiting disciples is a lot of work."
Shi Hao was somewhat speechless.
Isn't this lying-flat life good enough?
At his words, Lei Qianshan also nodded in agreement.
"The great tide is moving this way. It is time for our Primordial Forbidden Zone to announce its emergence too."
"Master, go ahead with your work. I'm going to sleep. After suffering for so long, I'm exhausted."
With that, Lei Qianshan ran straight off.
He knew that if he kept yammering here, he, as the eldest senior brother, would definitely have to attend the disciple recruitment. What a hassle.
Shi Hao left afterward as well.
Ye Changge shook his head.
"Two rebellious disciples. So fond of lying flat. Honestly."
Ye Changge spoke helplessly.
With such a vast Primordial Forbidden Zone, it was not that he did not want to lie flat. With the great tide descending, they would certainly have to clash with chosen talents from beyond the Southern Region. If he kept too low a profile, others would think he was easy to push around.
He was not that sort of person. His name had to spread before he even left the Southern Region. That way, he could get more good things from signing in too.