Ding!
A crisp sound rang out as a stone landed on the board.
Ye Yuan shook his head slightly, then picked up another white stone and placed it, murmuring to himself.
"The Azure Dragon Clan's foremost figure on the surface is barely worth a look.
"The Azure Luan Clan has no one presentable.
"One ancient great clan after another has stood to this day, only to decline. Yet our Azure Cloud Holy Land is an ancient imperial clan!
"The foundations passed down by an imperial clan are far beyond anything an ancient clan can compare to. The aptitude of Double Pupils must take first place on the Heavenly Ranking!
"Double Pupils already pave an invincible path..."
White stones fell one after another as Ye Yuan passed judgment on the world, until finally, he set down the black stone that represented himself!
The Heavenly Ranking descended upon the world. Beyond the clamor on the surface, undercurrents surged in the depths, on a level the common masses could not reach.
Throughout the world...
Everyone gazed up at the golden scroll stretching across the sky, their hearts surging and boiling with excitement. Some hoped to make the ranking, some looked up in envy, but even more watched out of curiosity.
At that moment...
The voice that reached the heavens rang through the mortal world once more-
"The first round of rankings, the Aptitude Ranking...
"Begins!"
The heavenly voice swept forth like a torrent, like towering waves crashing against the shore, spreading throughout heaven and earth.
This was the will of the Great Dao!
Every word reached their ears.
Anyone, even old monsters in secluded cultivation, could perceive it clearly!
At that instant, heaven and earth...
Seethed!
Dong-
A bell tolled.
Its sound tugged at countless hearts.
Everyone raised their heads, their expressions varied. The powerhouses of the various factions, in particular, were so nervous they could barely breathe!
The Heavenly Ranking opened with tenth place!
Under countless watchful eyes, several lines of profound black characters slowly appeared on the golden scroll-
[Tenth place] Name: Mu Shuangling Physique: Grand Mysterious Sword Physique Assessment: Grand Mysterious Heavenly Sword, inheriting the divine bearing of High Antiquity, a single sword shatters ten thousand armies!
Tenth place, Mu Shuangling!
The Heavenly Ranking's announcement stirred up towering waves.
Who did not know that Mu Shuangling was the youngest and most terrifying Sword Grandmaster!
Yet he was only tenth!
In many people's minds, he should at least have been in the top three!
"That's the Heavenly Sword!"
"How could he rank so low?!"
"Stop talking, look!"
Someone suddenly cried out shrilly, and everyone turned toward the Heavenly Ranking.
On the golden ranking, the words slowly faded, and a white frame appeared. Within it appeared a young man-a moving video!
The man wore luxurious brocade robes and carried himself arrogantly. Though his face was somewhat blurred, ten thousand rays of sword light howled with his every movement!
Sword Qi raged like thunder. Its savage force overturned the winds and clouds, the earth split apart, and the sky collapsed. The scene was like the coming of doomsday!
The Heavenly Sword, Mu Shuangling!
"The Heavenly Ranking can actually show images of those on it?"
"What terrifying Sword Qi! I'm about to drop to my knees!"
"Someone this powerful is only tenth? Is this real?"
Everyone broke into discussion.
At the Heavenly Sword Holy Land.
"Tenth? That shouldn't be!"
"With the Sword Grandmaster's strength, there's no way he should be at the bottom!"
"Is the Heavenly Ranking's information really accurate?" ...
Mu Shuangling's face paled slightly, his fingers clenched tight. Those around him voiced their shock all at once, while he stared fixedly at the Heavenly Ranking. All his earlier satisfaction and lofty pride had been doused by this bucket of cold water!
His eyes darkened. His violently fluctuating emotions shook his state of mind as well. He raised a hand and rested it lightly over his abdomen. Within his Dantian, a hurricane seemed to howl!
"How could this be...
"I meant to take first, yet now I'm at the bottom!"
Mu Shuangling's brows knitted deeply, his gaze somewhat dark and sharp.
At that moment, the Heavenly Ranking changed again and began bestowing rewards!
[Heavenly Ranking tenth-place reward] Spirit-Shaking Heavenly Sword
White light descended from the sky, flying toward the earth.
It was the reward!
The white rainbow swept down, releasing a mighty spiritual radiance that replenished the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi while also allowing all living beings a share of the spoils. Many broke through because of it!
"What rich Spiritual Qi!"
"The Spirit-Shaking Heavenly Sword, one of the Nine Great Famous Blades of Antiquity!"
"That's a divine weapon!" ...
Amid the clamor, the reward formed from white light flew from the horizon, descending toward the Heavenly Sword Holy Land.
Yet!
An azure light abruptly appeared in front of the reward!
The light took the form of a crimson python.
Its roar shook the heavens!
The crimson python rose from the ground and raced toward the white light, actually attempting to plunder the reward!
"Someone's trying to steal the reward!"
"A giant red python... someone from the Crimson Python Clan is making a move!"
"How can they do that? Can rewards be stolen too? Then I want to steal one as well!"
"This is breaking the rules and order!"
Some were indignant, while others seized the chance to stir up trouble, but most cursed the Crimson Python Clan for its lack of morals.
This clan always hid in the shadows. Even when the Heavenly Ranking descended, they had not shown themselves, instead lurking in secret, waiting for a chance to steal a reward!
"Our Crimson Python Clan covets such a fine treasure too!
"He who strikes first gains the upper hand!"
A man wearing a serpent crown and red robes gave a sinister smile, his narrow eyes brimming with cunning and smug delight!
The patriarch of the Crimson Python Clan!
Relying on his clan's secret art of concealment, he did not fear pursuit. Thus, faced with such immense temptation, he chose to take a desperate risk and lay his hands on the Great Dao's reward!
"A mere crimson python dares act so brazenly!" Mu Shuangling shouted angrily, preparing to teach him a lesson.
But just then!
Furious thunder rolled across the sky.
A sword came from the heavens, its Sword Qi raging, abruptly stirring the winds and clouds for a million miles.
Its tip pointed straight at the Crimson Python Clan's patriarch!
"Heavens, it's the Great Dao's reward!"
"The Spirit-Shaking Heavenly Sword!"
"What terrifying Sword Qi! What a terrifying Heavenly Sword!"
Everyone was utterly alarmed.
"Pfft!"
The Crimson Python Clan's patriarch spat blood.
The sword had yet to reach him, but its Sword Qi had already injured his internal organs!
Bang!
Sword Qi pierced his body, and the man exploded.
In no more than an instant, a Mahayana Realm powerhouse was reduced to ashes!
The Mahayana Realm!
With a little more effort, he could have ascended and become an immortal!
This display cast a deep shadow over everyone. No one dared harbor unruly intentions anymore. Even if they did, they had to force those thoughts deep into their hearts.
"Now this is a Heavenly Sword!"
After slaying the Crimson Python Clan's patriarch with one strike, the Heavenly Sword descended upon the holy land. Mu Shuangling's heart shook with awe, and he murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock!
This was the strongest sword he had ever seen in his life! A mere strand of Sword Qi could slay a Mahayana powerhouse. If its full strength were unleashed, could it not destroy heaven and earth!
Although his ranking was unsatisfactory, receiving the reward ultimately helped restore some balance to Mu Shuangling's heart!
At the Azure Dragon Clan.
"Mu Shuangling is a mere brute. Though tenth is lower than expected, making the ranking at all brings honor to his ancestors.
"How could mortal factions be mentioned in the same breath as our ancient great clan!"
"The young master will definitely be among the top three!"
"Who in this world can compare to the Azure Dragon Divine Physique!"
The Azure Dragon Clan's subjects began whispering among themselves. Quite a few ministers had even begun mentally drafting speeches, hoping to be the first to offer praise later and draw the young master's attention.
The young master would surely top the ranking!
Qu Jiangxuan straightened slightly, his expression haughty and indifferent. Mu Shuangling, a brute who knew only how to swing a sword, being at the bottom was within expectations.
Then who would be next?
It would not be him, in any case!
His eyes shifted as he began guessing with interest.
Xuan Tugu's brows, however, quietly furrowed.
Mu Shuangling was no weakling!
When he was born, Sword Qi had filled the sky and stirred the forces of heaven and earth. Even the Azure Dragon Clan had sensed it!
And he was only tenth?
If this was the standard, then her grandson Qu Jiangxuan's ranking would be difficult to predict...
The old woman grew inexplicably uneasy.
Just then!
The Azure Dragon Clan erupted in clamor, cries of astonishment ringing out.
The Heavenly Ranking announced ninth place!
[Ninth place] Name: Qu Jiangxuan Physique: Azure Dragon Divine Physique Assessment: God Grade physique, sixty percent Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, the dragon awakens and veils the sky!
The clamor stopped abruptly.
The entire Azure Dragon Clan instantly fell silent...
At the same moment, the people of the world also saw this placement on the Heavenly Ranking.
"Holy crap, sixty percent of his Ancestral Dragon Bloodline is awakened, and he's only ninth?! The current Azure Dragon King has only awakened twenty percent, and he's already transcended the ordinary and entered the realm of sages!"
"Is this a mistake? The Azure Dragon Clan's young master is the strongest junior in all history!"
"He's ninth? Could there be a mistake?" ...
Countless people looking up at the ranking erupted outright!
Astonishment!
World-shaking shock!
Even more shocking than Qu Jiangxuan's God Grade physique was his ranking.
Ninth?
How was that possible!
Yet upon the Heavenly Ranking, four lines of large characters stood, each bold and powerful.
Golden light stretched for tens of thousands of feet, vast as the sea, radiating unquestionable majesty.