At the same moment, identical scenes were unfolding not only in Cloud Mist City, but in all ten cities Lin Yu had selected.
The same "Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking," the same white jade stele, and the same "Produced by the Primordial Hall."
News did not travel particularly fast in this plane, but Lin Yu had considered this when choosing the cities. All ten he selected wielded considerable influence.
Countless cultivators passed through these ten cities every day. Word of mouth served as natural advertising.
Moreover, the "Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking" itself was no simple affair. A closer look revealed plenty of controversial entries such as "the son of Cloud Mist City's city lord." Thus, within three days, the entire Eastern Wasteland knew about these strange white jade steles.
The authenticity of the "Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking" was what cultivators discussed most. Besides that, the name of a newly emerged force also drew people's attention.
The Primordial Hall!
Ten whole cities, white jade steles made from saint-grade materials-this lavish undertaking was all the work of the Primordial Hall.
Yet the purpose behind the Primordial Hall's actions left many cultivators baffled.
Many cultivators investigated this way and that, yet uncovered not a single scrap of useful information. In the end, never mind how powerful the Primordial Hall was or who its members were-they did not even know where it was located.
The Primordial Hall's mystery was not what drew the most attention. What shocked people most were the battles, great and small, that had taken place throughout the Eastern Wasteland over those three days.
Hundreds of young cultivators who had not made the ranking challenged the experts on the "Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking" to single combat.
Clearly, many refused to accept the placements on the ranking, yet the results of their duels were astonishingly consistent.
-Defeat.
Every challenge from an unranked cultivator ended in defeat!
This fact brought the "Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking" boundless glory, and its credibility soared.
Although some cultivators still voiced their dissatisfaction, they had to admit that the ranking did have some merit.
Not only that, but another major event occurred during those three days.
Cui Yunlan, the city lord of Cloud Mist City, actually did have a son: Cui Rufeng, just as the Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking stated.
Only after a thorough investigation did the truth emerge. Twenty-one years earlier, Cui Yunlan had met a cultivator with a special constitution whose cultivation technique happened to complement his own, allowing her to successfully bear his child.
To Cui Yunlan, however, that affair had been nothing more than a fleeting romance. Even he had not taken it to heart, so naturally, he knew nothing about the child.
After the Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking made it public, doubts arose in Cui Yunlan's mind, and only then did he send people to investigate. He had never expected to uncover such a truth!
Having already resigned himself to having no descendants, Cui Yunlan was overjoyed when he learned of this. On the very day father and son acknowledged each other, he publicly declared, "From this day forward, I, Cui Yunlan, owe the Primordial Hall a favor. Through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I will not refuse!"
With a Radiant Realm mighty figure personally making such a declaration, the Primordial Hall once again enjoyed considerable prominence.
East of the Underworld King Palace, within the space where an unnamed mighty figure had passed away.
"Die!" A cold, clear voice rang through the air like a thunderbolt. Dressed in red, Yu Hongyan stood in midair and struck the Blazing Fire Tibetan Mastiff squarely in a vital spot with her palm.
Boom...
Deafening crashes rang out without end, shaking the entire space. As the light gradually faded from the Blazing Fire Tibetan Mastiff's fiery pupils, a blood-red lingzhi appeared before Yu Hongyan.
Joy stirred in Yu Hongyan at the sight. Over the past few days, she had followed the instructions of Lin Yu, the Primordial Hall's master, and successfully found the Blazing Fire Tibetan Mastiff. After a fierce battle with it, she had finally found the blood-red lingzhi!
The Hall Master really didn't deceive me! Delighted, Yu Hongyan reached out and plucked the blood-red lingzhi.
But an unexpected change suddenly occurred. A streak of ghostly blue light swept toward Yu Hongyan from behind. Had she not reacted in time, it would likely have struck her head-on.
Yu Hongyan flashed away and stood in midair. In the blink of an eye, the spot where she had just stood was engulfed in ghostly blue light.
The light blazed like ghost fire, burning tirelessly.
As Yu Hongyan watched, her expression gradually turned icy. If she remembered correctly, the one who had come this time was an old acquaintance!
Sure enough, a fissure appeared out of nowhere in the sky nearby, and a black-robed man strolled out.
"Yin Rushe!" Yu Hongyan stared coldly at the newcomer.
This man was a Rogue Cultivator of the Eastern Wasteland, affiliated with no force. The two had previously had some unpleasant encounters over rare treasures. She had not expected to meet him again like this today.
As chance would have it, Yin Rushe was also on the Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking, though his placement was below Yu Hongyan's.
"Miss Hongyan, long time no see." Yin Rushe's voice was as chilling as a snake, his slit pupils fixed firmly on Yu Hongyan as though he had marked his prey.
"To be frank, I discovered this blood-red lingzhi first. I never expected to return and find that you had kindly retrieved it for me, Miss Hongyan."
"I never would have guessed you were such a kind person, Miss Hongyan. Allow me to thank you in advance. Now, please return the blood-red lingzhi to me as soon as possible."
Yin Rushe spoke as though it were only natural.
Yu Hongyan smiled too. The last time they had fought over rare treasures, she had come out on top. This time would naturally be no exception!
"In your dreams." Having said that, Yu Hongyan could not be bothered to waste any more words on Yin Rushe and attacked directly.
A red flame bore down on Yin Rushe. Yu Hongyan formed seals with both hands, and the phantom image of a goddess appeared in midair, indescribably sacred.
Faced with this sight, Yin Rushe's expression did not change in the slightest. He had long known that Yu Hongyan was certainly not so easy to persuade, and naturally, he had prepared to fight her.
The two fought fiercely, neither giving way to the other. Light and shadows crisscrossed the sky, actually tearing apart the space where the mighty figure had passed away.
Heaven and earth changed color. Yu Hongyan and Yin Rushe unleashed every means at their disposal, fighting all the way to the vicinity of Cloud Mist City.
The commotion drew many cultivators to stop and watch. Yin Rushe's anger flared even hotter. "Yu Hongyan, don't think you can beat me just because that damned ranking placed me below you!"
With that, Yin Rushe played his trump card.
Yet while their battle raged like a blazing fire, the cultivators watching from the sidelines enjoyed the spectacle with relish.
"That's Yu Hongyan and Yin Rushe, isn't it? Their placements on the Eastern Wasteland Heaven's Chosen Ranking seem pretty close."
"Now we're in for a good show."
"Who knows how it'll turn out? Hehe."
"The credibility of the Heaven's Chosen Ranking rests on this battle!"