Liu Jingce, as if struck by a sudden thought, asked in surprise, "He was abandoned by the Gu Family, yet you've gained Gu Family recognition?"
Gu Muyu seemed lost in thought, hesitating slightly before nodding.
Seeing this, Gu Mingheng stormed up to her, furious, and said, "Third Elder, how could you let such an insignificant fellow come up here!"
"The Gu Family announced to the world that he also shares the title of 'Rising Dragon Ranking Ceremony,' so naturally he has a part in it as well," Gu Muyu replied calmly.
"What?!" Gu Mingheng's pupils shrank, not expecting Gu Muyu to speak up for Gu Chen.
Gu Muyu continued, "Everyone, let's not delay. Let's go inside and prepare. Mingheng's promotion ceremony will begin after he has recovered some Inner Breath."
"Alright." Liu Jingce and the other two nodded and prepared to enter.
"Wait." Gu Chen suddenly called out to the three of them.
Gu Muyu turned around, a sharp glint in her eyes, and said, "Gu Chen, you're already at the Heaven and Earth Palace. If you want to go to the Tiger Ranking, go by yourself. What else do you want to do?"
"There's something I don't understand, and I'd like to ask Elder Liu for guidance." Gu Chen ignored Gu Muyu and instead looked at the three people from the Heaven and Earth Palace.
Elder Liu, "Speak freely."
"Is it permissible to attack each other on the Road to Heaven?" Gu Chen asked calmly.
"They're here! "Gu Muyu turned cold! After stepping into the Heaven and Earth Palace, she positioned herself between Gu Chen and Elder Liu, even speaking in Gu Chen's favor, all to prevent him from saying those words and to protect Gu Mingheng.
But to my surprise, Gu Chen still spoke up!
"Although the Road to Heaven on the Dragon Ranking has always been traversed by one person at a time, there is a rule that even if there are two or more people, it can only be considered a test for climbing the mountain, and they cannot attack each other," Elder Liu said decisively.
"Then I have something to report," Gu Chen said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "Just now on the Road to Heaven, Gu Mingheng was ruthless and vicious, and tried to kill me. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would have been reduced to ashes. I hope Elder Liu will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"Is that so?" Elder Ge grunted and looked at Gu Mingheng.
Gu Mingheng was both shocked and furious. Gu Chen had actually exposed this matter, which was completely beyond his expectations. But what he didn't know was that Gu Chen was the kind of person who held grudges and would naturally take advantage of any opportunity to kick someone when they were down.
"Gu Mingheng, is what Gu Chen said true?" Liu Jingce asked coldly.
"Elder Liu, this is just playful banter among the younger generation," Gu Muyu. "It's not as exaggerated as Gu Chen made it out to be. Gu Chen is an outcast of our Gu Family in the secular world, and it's understandable that he harbors some resentment now that he's come to the Land of Heaven and Earth."
"I didn't ask you." Liu Jingce surprisingly disregarded Gu Muyu's feelings, instead staring intently at Gu Mingheng, and said, "This isn't your Gu Family; this is the Heaven and Earth Palace. Once you're here, you must abide by the rules!"
"Understood." Gu Muyu trembled and lowered her head, but a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes.
Gu Mingheng said, "Seniors, don't listen to this brat's slander."
"Slanderous accusations?" Gu Chen's eyes flashed, then he pulled open his shirt and said, "Take a look, isn't this the palm print you gave me?"
Elder Liu and the other two looked over, and Shi Che exclaimed in astonishment, "You just took such a blow, yet you still finished the Road to Heaven before Gu Mingheng?"
Gu Chen said coldly, "As you all have seen, I am not making this up. Even the young martial artists from those aristocratic families below can bear witness to this."
Gu Mingheng's eyes were cold, his lips twitched, and he felt an immense sense of humiliation.
"So what do you want?" Gu Muyu couldn't hold back any longer, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "Do you want to disqualify Mingheng? Or do you want him to go through the process all over again?"
Gu Chen shook his head and said, "No need. I just hope that the Dragon Ranking promotion ceremony can be held after the Tiger Ranking revision is completed. This way, Gu Mingheng can have more time to rest."
"Um?"
Gu Chen's words completely surprised everyone; no one expected his request to be like this!
"This is what you demanded!" Gu Muyu turned her head and said to Liu Jingce, "Elder Liu, even if Gu Mingheng made a move just now, it was still an internal contest among the younger generation of our Gu Family. Now that Gu Chen has compromised, we are not breaking the rules of the Heaven and Earth Palace, are we?"
"No, that doesn't count." Elder Liu gave Gu Chen a deep look, then gestured for him to come in, saying, "Everyone, please come in."
As soon as Gu Chen entered one of the palace complexes of the Heaven and Earth Palace, he saw the statues of dragons and tigers fighting in the open space. Those were the Dragon Ranking and the Tiger Ranking. However, it was obvious that the Dragon Ranking exerted much more pressure on people. It should be a naturally formed stone tablet that was then carved. As for the Tiger Ranking, it was artificially made.
"This is the Dragon and Tiger Ranking," Elder Ge introduced to Gu Chen. "Those who can appear on this list are all renowned figures in the Land of Heaven and Earth."
Gu Chen glanced at them and saw that their blood and energy were several points weaker compared to those on the Tiger Ranking.
Luck is related to the future of a sect, but blood and qi are the vital energy within a martial artist's body.
The stronger one's Qi and blood, the more awe-inspiring the depiction of essence and blood becomes. Legend has it that dragons exist on the Heavenly Nether Star, and a single drop of their blood can burn an ordinary person to death—this is by no means an exaggeration.
Gu Mingheng was about to go inside to meditate, but seeing Gu Chen standing in front of the Tiger Ranking, he sneered, "Do you see the difference between me and you, this discarded pawn? I'm already third on the Tiger Ranking Tiger Ranking, while you can only make it up there. Going down now will save you from humiliation. Otherwise, even if you rise to the Dragon Ranking, you'll only be where I was before, hahaha, becoming a laughingstock for the world."
"Really?" Gu Chen had only mentioned his intention to be on the Dragon Ranking once, but it had already become a laughing stock among the people below. Therefore, whether it was Gu Mingheng, Gu Muyu, or even the three from the Heaven and Earth Palace, they all thought that Gu Chen had come for the top spot on the Tiger Ranking!
After all, Gu Chen is too young, much younger than Gu Mingheng!
Even if he ascended the Road to Heaven, it only means that he has excellent resilience, or that his cultivation technique has contributed to his success. To be listed on the Dragon Ranking at this age is simply a fantasy.
"Hmph, let's see how you manage to laugh in a moment." Gu Mingheng sneered, "You can compete for a ranking on the Tiger Ranking here for now. Don't worry, even if you get first place, I'll consider it a handout to a pathetic wretch like you, hahahaha..."
Amidst wild laughter, Gu Mingheng entered the inner hall to recuperate.
He had consumed a great deal of his Inner Breath on the Road to Heaven, and in order to make a name for himself on the Dragon Ranking, he had to maintain his peak condition.
"Why is the number one spot on the Dragon Ranking gray?" Gu Chen ignored Gu Mingheng had gone inside and instead looked at the Dragon Ranking.
"This first place was once held by a prominent figure in the Land of Heaven and Earth," Elder Ge said. "However, he perished for some unknown reason a little over a month ago, but his powerful aura of blood and energy has not completely dissipated yet. It is estimated that it should completely disappear in a few days, and the second place will be able to take his place."
"Wang Gui." Gu Chen pronounced the name slowly and deliberately.
"Yes," Elder Ge said in surprise, "Your eyesight is really good. The name is now so faint that it's barely visible, yet you can still see it clearly. This Wang Gui was once invincible, but unfortunately, after he died, even his body was never found."
Second place: Yin Linquan.
Third place: Zhuge Wuhen!