Three months passed in the blink of an eye for cultivators.
On this day, the heavens blazed with radiance once again, and the Heavenly Ranking, previously concealed high above, slowly revealed its form.
Heavenly might shook the world.
Dong-
Endless tolling rang throughout heaven and earth.
That heavenly voice sounded again-
"The second ranking, the Dharma Artifact Ranking!
"Begins!"
The voice shook the three thousand worlds, and once again, all under heaven erupted!
"There are countless dharma artifacts in this world, but anything that makes the Heavenly Ranking must be beyond the reach of ordinary people!"
"Looks like another contest of strength among the mighty!"
"Say, Old Li, didn't you say your family had a few ancient bronze bowls? Maybe they have extraordinary origins!"
"What ancient bronze bowls? I was just joking, pulling your leg!"
"Seven thousand years ago, two great ancient clans in the Central Continent fought each other. One clan brought forth a heaven-defying dharma artifact and instantly reversed the situation, snatching victory from defeat. That shows how powerful dharma artifacts are!"
"Every single item this Heavenly Ranking reveals will surely be enough to shake the world and drive people into a frenzy to seize it!"
Voices clamored throughout heaven and earth.
Cloud Continent.
Azure Cloud Holy Land.
Beneath a crimson maple.
Ye Yuan sat upright before a chessboard, holding black pieces in one hand and white pieces in the other, playing against himself!
His yellow robes trailed across the ground. Light flickered in his double pupils, revealing an utterly uncanny, mysterious quality. His expression was cold and detached, seemingly forever as still as an ancient well.
A dark figure arrived beneath the red maple.
He wore a black fox-fur cloak, and an intensely fierce, baleful martial presence emanated from him, like the clash of arms and flames of war. Yet his manner was fairly gentle toward his close friend.
Meng Wuqu!
He said, "You should get out more and take the initiative to make some friends."
Ye Yuan said, "Having you as my friend is enough."
Meng Wuqu said, "What if I die?"
"Then you die," Ye Yuan said. Meng Wuqu snorted. Seemingly regretting his hasty words, Ye Yuan added as if to make amends, "Why do you want me to make friends?"
Meng Wuqu shrugged. "Making friends never hurts."
Ye Yuan stared at the chess pieces. "I don't need to."
"But you need my advice."
"What advice?"
"Keep company with the strong, and walk alongside the wise."
Meng Wuqu stared at Ye Yuan. The latter stopped fiddling with the chess pieces in his hand, his double pupils fixed on the dark red chessboard before him.
"Is that what you truly think?"
"Yes."
"All right, then. I'll go make friends."
"The Azure Luan Clan's heavenly maiden, Changying of Guixu, and Qi Wuyan of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion are all people you could befriend."
Meng Wuqu named a few people.
Ye Yuan complained, "Hey, why are they all women?"
Meng Wuqu said, "Aren't those precisely the friends you need?"
Ye Yuan said, "..."
Meng Wuqu said, "All right, I'll stop teasing you. Decide for yourself."
Ye Yuan slowly rose, patted his sleeve, and smiled gently. "As for making friends, how about the one ranked first on the Heavenly Ranking?"
Meng Wuqu nodded.
Ye Yuan suddenly tilted his head back and pointed at the Heavenly Ranking. "Look, the new ranking has begun."
Meng Wuqu said, "Your Soundless Disc will definitely take first!"
Ye Yuan said, "Second would be best. Being first is too tiring."
Eastern Continent.
Heavenly Dusk Dynasty.
Within the towering palace, a man of imposing stature, dressed in bright yellow dragon robes, reviewed documents with his imperial brush at a desk. His imperial countenance shifted between light and shadow, while a man and a woman stood quietly beside him, somewhat nervous.
The emperor, Murong Jue!
"Mere barbarian tribes dare to rebel? They truly overestimate themselves!
"Jing Zhao, I command you to lead a hundred thousand troops against Mengju, Mysterious Shadow, and the other eight rebel tribes!
"I will issue another decree ordering Grand Duke Linglong to provide you with supplies!"
Murong Jue issued his orders with a dark expression.
"Yes!"
The armored general beside him cupped his hands and accepted the command!
Murong Jue's imperial gaze was cold. Three hundred years ago, the Mengju, Mysterious Shadow, and other tribes had been defeated by the Heavenly Dusk Dynasty and bowed their heads in submission.
Now, they actually dreamed of rebelling!
As the sovereign of a dynasty, how could he allow his authority to be challenged!
The white-robed woman beside him offered counsel. "The Mysterious Shadow tribe is cunning, treacherous, sinister, and ruthless. Out of a moment's mercy, the late king allowed them to cling to life. Who could have known that even after three hundred years, they would remain ungrateful and still seek to defy their superiors!
"I hear their tribe has gathered ten great experts, the strongest of whom is even a Tribulation Transcendence mighty figure! General Jing, you must be careful on this campaign!"
Jing Zhao said, "Your subject will return victorious! If I fail, I shall return wrapped in horsehide!"
Murong Jue's expression grew impassioned.
"State Preceptor, fetch the Taotie Bowl and bestow it upon General Xing!"
"Yes!"
The white-robed woman presented a vessel.
Silvery blue, its broad mouth faced the sky, and exquisite patterns adorned it. An imperial presence flowed from it.
Murong Jue said, "This is an ancient divine artifact of astonishing might. It will surely help you return victorious!"
Jing Zhao accepted the divine artifact. "Your subject obeys!"
At that very moment!
The Heavenly Ranking appeared over the world, waves of brilliance shining as the power of laws circulated.
"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Ranking has opened again!
"The Dharma Artifact Ranking has begun!"
"Dharma artifacts..."
Murong Jue's gaze turned toward the Taotie Bowl in Jing Zhao's arms!
His eyes flickered!
The Heavenly Dusk Dynasty was also a first-rate imperial dynasty in the Eastern Continent, ruling over several tribes and duchies, with talented individuals emerging in succession. Although it could not compare to ancient races such as the Azure Dragon Clan and Azure Luan Clan, which had existed for a million years and possessed deep foundations, its strength could not be underestimated!
He had no chance on the Aptitude Ranking!
But on the Dharma Artifact Ranking, he could still contend!
The Taotie Bowl had been made with the power of the ancient divine beast, Taotie!
The Heavenly Dusk Dynasty's foundations had stood for nearly two hundred thousand years entirely thanks to the protection of this divine-grade dharma artifact, which drew in and released fortune!
The Heavenly Dusk Dynasty could also be considered a divine land!
The Taotie Bowl would definitely make the ranking!
And it would very likely rank near the top, because in this Age of Dharma Decline, many terrifying dharma artifacts had long since vanished into oblivion in unknown places!
For there were no immortals under heaven, and no one could wield such formidable dharma artifacts!
Murong Jue grew excited.
Just then, the Heavenly Ranking updated, revealing the latest placement!
[Tenth place] Name: Taotie Bowl Grade: Divine artifact Owner: Murong Jue Assessment: Infused with the power of the ancient divine beast Taotie, it can swallow heaven and devour earth!
"Tenth!"
Murong Jue's expression shifted.
The nation-guarding divine artifact of a divine land had only placed tenth?
He had thought it would at least make the top three!
The Taotie Bowl was tenth?
Then what about eighth and ninth above it... and first?!
How could so many powerful dharma artifacts exist in this era!
He raised his head to look again, and a video appeared on the Heavenly Ranking!
The fierce beast Taotie burst out of the sea. Amid wind and rain that darkened the sky, it poured all its power into a bowl. The divine artifact emerged, its brilliance piercing the heavens!
Then came the Great Dao's reward!
[Tenth-place reward] Purple Extremity Realm-Breaking Golden Pill [Immortal-grade pill. Consuming this pill allows a breakthrough at any realm.]
The reward descended as white light.
The Dharma Artifact Ranking differed from the Aptitude Ranking in how the delivery of its rewards could be traced. The Dharma Artifact Ranking's rewards were concealed by the Great Dao's power throughout their journey!
The reward landed in Murong Jue's hand.
His eyes shone!
He had been trapped at the tenth level of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm for two hundred years!
He had thought he would never overcome this bottleneck in his lifetime, but now, he could break through!
And it was an immortal pill!
But he wanted to know what other dharma artifacts could be stronger than the Taotie Bowl!
Come, let him broaden his horizons!
Dong-
The bell rang out far and wide as the Heavenly Ranking announced ninth place!