The Human Ranking flashed with golden light, illuminating heaven and earth and radiating supreme Dao resonance.
At this very moment, the entire Southern Region was watching.
"Eighth on the Human Ranking: Lin Cheng of the Saber Sect, bearer of the frost blue bloodline. Qualification for ranking: at nascent soul middle stage peak, he fought an early spirit transformation cultivator without defeat. Rewards: one drop of frost blue bloodline essence blood, one copy of the Frost Art, one Ice Pill, and one Ice Staff."
Seeing eighth place, everyone fell silent.
It was perfectly normal for someone from the Saber Sect to appear.
"The Saber Sect really is lucky. He actually received a drop of frost blue bloodline essence blood. Combined with his own bloodline, who knows how strong he'll become?"
"However strong he gets, he'll only amount to so much. It won't be easy for a nascent soul fellow to grow."
"Exactly. Now that he's been exposed, plenty of people will lose sleep. A mere nascent soul cultivator is trash if he can't grow."
All sorts of discussions arose.
Everyone held much the same view of the Saber Sect.
After all, the Saber Sect was simply one of the most powerful factions in the Southern Region.
They still showed it basic respect.
"Haha! With this drop of essence blood, I can attempt to break through to the spirit transformation realm. Once my bloodline is strengthened, my future cultivation will yield twice the results with half the effort."
In a dilapidated courtyard, Lin Cheng received his rewards.
His face brimmed with excitement. He had waited far too long for this day.
Fortunately, it had all been worth it.
"Sect Scion, just you wait. One day, I'll kill you."
The thought of the Saber Sect's Sect Scion filled Lin Cheng with fury. He would never forget that night.
Fortunately, Heaven had opened its eyes, allowing him to enter the ranking and receive some fine rewards.
At the same time, the Saber Sect was also shaken.
"Who is this Lin Cheng? Why have I never heard of him?"
"Exactly. Could this be fake? Our Saber Sect has never had anyone like that."
"The Human Ranking wouldn't lie, would it?"
"That's hard to say. If our Saber Sect had someone with the frost blue bloodline, we would have taken him as a direct disciple long ago. Why would we leave him to cultivate on his own?"
All the elders were puzzled.
In their memories, there truly was no one named Lin Cheng, nor anyone with the frost blue bloodline.
The frost blue bloodline was a terrifying mutated ice-attribute bloodline. When its ice emerged, it radiated endless blue light, and once frozen, it was incomparably hard and extremely difficult to deal with.
Likewise, anyone possessing this bloodline had exceptional talent and a promising future.
"Seventh place: Nie Xiaoqian, ghost spirit physique. Qualification for ranking: at nascent soul late stage, she slew a peak early spirit transformation cultivator. Rewards: the Ghost Spirit Diagram (sacred artifact), one Ghost Pill, one stalk of yin grass, five Spirit Transformation Pills, five leaves of dao comprehension tea, and ten Comprehension Pills."
At these words, everyone went numb.
These rewards were far too lavish.
Yet none of it belonged to them.
"Fuck, who is this Nie Xiaoqian? Which faction is she from?"
"No idea. A ghost spirit physique-could she be a ghost cultivator?"
"Probably not, right? If she is a ghost cultivator, she's very likely a rogue cultivator."
"Five leaves of dao comprehension tea! Her ancestral graves must be billowing green smoke."
As one person spoke after another, everyone was utterly astonished.
Rogue cultivator, dao comprehension tea, ghost cultivator-these words excited countless people.
They all had thoughts of seizing it for themselves.
Next, the Human Ranking announced outright that only four places would be revealed today. The rest would have to wait until tomorrow.
This left everyone speechless.
Meanwhile, the Primordial Forbidden Zone would recruit disciples in three days.
Many people had not heard about it, and even those who knew had not come.
"The Primordial Forbidden Zone-isn't that the faction Cao Zhengchun belongs to? He suppressed the Demon Race single-handedly, killing a Saint with every punch until their army of over ten thousand dared not strike."
"Fuck, if it really is his sect, I'm willing to join."
"Perhaps only a sect this powerful can protect ordinary people like us."
"Grandpa, I've decided. I'm joining the Primordial Forbidden Zone. Even if it's for nothing else, I have to go for my own sake."
"Mother, I'm leaving. The mountains are high and the road is long, but I'm going only to escape a fate of powerlessness."
As all kinds of news spread among countless disciples, many ordinary people headed toward the Primordial Forbidden Zone.
Meanwhile, some people robbed them along the way, or even stopped them from proceeding.
"Damn host, someone is robbing disciples coming to take the test. Please deal with this as soon as possible. This mission has no reward."
"Damn host, someone is maliciously preventing disciples from coming to take the test. Please deal with this as soon as possible. This mission has no reward."
Hearing this, Ye Changge's expression turned icy.
He was not angry because there was no reward.
Rather, some people did not know what was good for them. They actually dared to stop disciples gathering from every direction. They were simply courting death.
"Aotian, come here."
"Young Master, did you need me?"
"Here's what happened..."
After hearing a general account, Aotian instantly flew into a rage.
A group of people in black were robbing prospective disciples on a road they had to take to reach the Primordial Forbidden Zone.
"You demons! We only want to join the Primordial Forbidden Zone, yet you're robbing us. Do you expect us to climb the mountain on empty stomachs? Boohoo!"
As they spoke, they began to sob.
They were ordinary people to begin with. Without food, they could not hold out for long.
Ordinary people depended on food, unlike cultivators, who could go three to five days without eating as long as there was spiritual Qi.
Scenes like this were happening everywhere.
"Insolence! Die!"
Rushing over, Aotian sensed the scene from ten thousand miles away. A colossal hand that held up the heavens instantly pressed down.
The group in black instantly turned into pools of blood.
At the same time, a surge of imperial might erupted.
"What's happening? What a terrifying presence! Has the Demon Race invaded again?"
"This is bad! That's imperial might! How is this possible? How could there be a Great Emperor in this era? Impossible!"
"No, that's a Quasi-Emperor, the ceiling of combat strength in this world. Who on earth angered him?"
As countless people reeled in shock,
Aotian's icy voice rang out.
His voice carried an unquestionable pressure.
"While my Primordial Forbidden Zone is recruiting disciples, anyone who dares play tricks again will share the Saber Sect's fate."
As his voice fell, space directly above the Saber Sect tore open.
Twenty thousand members of the Hell Legion, commanded by a man in black, came under Aotian's lead.
They descended above the Saber Sect.
"Saber Sect, the consequence of opposing my Primordial Forbidden Zone is annihilation."
As he spoke, sword Qi erupted into the heavens.
A sword strike descended.
"Insolence..."
Terrifying presences were killed instantly by that single sword strike before they could even emerge.
Saints, Great Saints, Supremes-all were reduced to nothing by a single sword strike.
Just as Aotian was about to unleash his second strike,
a blood-colored saber within the Saber Sect's forbidden grounds suddenly erupted with Extreme Dao might.
"Primordial Forbidden Zone, our Saber Sect has no intention of becoming your enemy. Isn't it going too far to slaughter our disciples like this?"
"Hmph! My Primordial Forbidden Zone is the very heaven of the Southern Region. Even if you merely resent us in your hearts, we'll wipe out your entire clan, let alone when you dare send people to rob disciples coming to join the Primordial Forbidden Zone. Don't think I can't deal with you just because you have an Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon guarding you."
As Aotian spoke, he had Black Impermanence and the others retreat.
Sword Qi erupted from his entire body. At that moment, it was as though a true Great Emperor had awakened, terrifying to the extreme.
The Sword Sect, Pill Pavilion, Artifact Sect, Five Elements Holy Land, and Yin-Yang Holy Land were all dumbfounded.
"What a powerful presence. Should we intervene? If we let them destroy the Saber Sect, where will that leave our dignity?"
The Holy Lord of the Five Elements Holy Land spoke with a grave expression.
"Don't worry. I'm afraid the Primordial Forbidden Zone can't destroy the Saber Sect yet. Remember, the Saber Sect follows the path of domination. The rulers of countless imperial dynasties have ties to them to some degree. At a time like this, they certainly won't sit idly by," the Pavilion Master of the Pill Pavilion said with a faint smile.
They knew the Saber Sect's network of connections very well.
The Southern Region might not amount to much, but what about beyond it?