Chapter 63

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Chapter 63: The Ranking Battle

Ming He emerged from the cave, the little beast Chirp Chirp nestled in her hair. Her lips were pressed together, her expression serene. Normally composed and reserved, the little beast, like a child seeing the outside world for the first time, found everything beyond the cave fascinating and chirped incessantly, drawing the attention of passing cultivators who couldn’t help but glance her way.

Among those she and Yu Wen Xi had defeated were two brothers—one strikingly ugly, the other with a sinister charm. She knew the latter was named Yin San. As she retraced the path of her escape, many cultivators, noticing her cultivation at only the Fourth Level of Xuan Wei, eyed her covetously. Yet, they were easily subdued by Ming He, who then claimed their storage rings.

She quickly gleaned information about the brothers from other cultivators. They had grown up together in a bandit stronghold, relying on each other, and had stumbled upon the path of cultivation by chance. They amassed resources through killing for treasures, clawing their way to their current level of cultivation.

The elder brother was Yin San, the younger Ding Jiu, both serving Shadow.

Ming He recalled the youth in red attire wielding a curved knife, her gaze darkening as she followed the leads provided by other cultivators. She found Ding Jiu under a shady tree, sitting cross-legged as he sorted through his treasures.

Upon seeing her, Ding Jiu’s face twisted in fear; his first instinct was to flee. But Ming He’s swift sword energy struck his ankle, sending him to the ground, trembling. "Please, spare me, Grand Aunt! I’ll give you all my treasures, just don’t kill me!"

"Sure," Ming He replied indifferently. "Tell me where Yin San is. If you do, I might let you live."

"Really?" Ding Jiu’s face lit up with hope. After a moment’s hesitation, he whispered, "My big brother is right now…" He deliberately lowered his voice, prompting Ming He to lean in, then suddenly raised his head with a wicked grin. "Die!"

He revealed a dagger from his palm, thrusting its sharp tip towards Ming He’s chest, his face alight with glee.

"Oh," Ming He said impassively, crushing his skull with a single palm strike, then wiping her hand clean with disdain. The little beast atop her head chirped in protest at the sudden movement.

Ming He ignored the small beast and casually discarded a white handkerchief as she approached Ding Jiu’s pile of treasures. Having been deceived by Yin San before, she wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.

She had been toying with Ding Jiu. Whether he talked or not, his fate was sealed. If he remained silent, others would talk—after all, they had made too many enemies.

She conveniently overlooked her coercion of other cultivators for information and approached the treasures. Initially unimpressed, she was surprised to find something of value.

"Hmm?" Ming He murmured, picking up the item. With a wave of her left hand, she stored the other treasures in her storage ring and examined the object in her right hand.

It was a long sword, about three feet in length, neither heavy nor light. The hilt bore a subtle dragon design. Drawing the blade, she noticed dark patterns etched into it, the edge sharp and exuding a chilling murderous intent.

This was a blood-drinking sword, a symbol of slaughter and conquest. Behind the hilt, two large characters were carved in dark jade: Longquan.

The Longquan Sword. Ming He tightened her grip, swinging it lightly. The sword tip traced a circle through the air, producing a clear, slicing sound, just as Shu Er from Baiyu Building had described—a true killing sword.

But she remembered the Longquan Sword had been bought by Gongsun Sheng, the Young Master of the Gongsun clan, to win a smile from a beauty. How had it ended up with Ding Jiu?

Now that it was in her hands, it was hers.

Ming He felt a flicker of confusion but dismissed it. She clutched the long sword tighter; the yellow-level sword was a perfect replacement for her previous one, which had broken in her battle with Shadow. The Longquan Sword filled the void nicely.

Her luck seemed to be holding.

She patted the little beast’s fur on her head, then, satisfied, she gripped the sword and set off to find Yin San, guided by the last informant’s tip about his location near a stone bridge to the south of the Tian Cang Secret Realm.

After about half a day’s journey, she reached the stone bridge south of the Tian Cang Secret Realm, spotting a slightly arched bridge over the familiar Xuan Ming Deep Water.

Crossing the bridge, she saw the sinister-looking youth, his eyes wide with disbelief as he fell backward, a fresh gash in his throat spraying blood—killed by a single sword thrust.

Yin San lay dead, and behind him stood a young man in white, gripping a long sword with sharp eyes—Yu Wen Xi.

"Ming He, it’s great to see you’re alright," Yu Wen Xi said, sheathing his sword, his expression a mix of surprise and relief.

"After Shadow chased you away, I got into a fight with other cultivators. Luckily, my clan relative from the Yu Wen clan arrived just in time. I sent people from my clan to search for you a few days ago, but we couldn’t find you. Instead, I found Shadow half-conscious in the water, and I thought…"

After briefly summarizing his experience, Yu Wen Xi looked at her with undisguised curiosity. "How did you escape from Shadow’s grasp?" That was Shadow, after all.

"Is Shadow really that notable?" Ming He asked, intrigued.

"Not notable, but very experienced," Yu Wen Xi replied as he wiped the blood off his sword. "It is said he was born into a mundane family of butchers, just an ordinary person; however, at the age of seven, his family was slaughtered before him during an attack by other clans on the human race’s territory."

“He hid in a livestock crate, watching as his family was devoured alive by the other clan. By the time the cultivators from the Domain Lord’s mansion arrived, he was the only one left,” Yu Wen Xi said, his tone heavy.

“And then?” Ming He remained silent.

“Then he declared his desire to cultivate to avenge his family, but he lacked the talent for cultivation. He couldn’t even perform Qi Entrapment, let alone seek revenge. The cultivators from the Domain Lord’s mansion took him in, but before long, he vanished. When he reappeared, it was ten years later, and he had reached the Xuan Wei realm.

No one knows what transpired during those ten years. After his return, he roamed through the Eastern Region’s various states and cities, going wherever the other clans appeared and indeed slaying many of them. However, the other clans were too numerous, and he couldn’t eliminate them all alone. In fact, he became a target himself, with the other clans dispatching assassins after him. It was during a life-and-death situation that the cultivators from the Domain Lord’s mansion appeared once more to save him, and the one who saved him was the same cultivator who had rescued him ten years prior.”

Yu Wen Xi sheathed his sword. “Later, he told the cultivators from the Domain Lord’s mansion that he wished to join them to eradicate the other clans, but the Domain Lord’s mansion refused him.”

“Why?” Ming He asked, puzzled, but she also understood why Shadow had suddenly gone berserk that day on the cliff. He was likely practicing the path of killing, something she had heard her Master mention before—the Three Thousand Paths. Ordinary people without the talent for spirit cultivation could enter the path through their souls or sounds, and Shadow must be following the path of killing.

“Because his cultivation wasn’t strong enough.” Yu Wen Xi lowered his gaze, his expression complicated. “To enter the battlefield of the heavens, one needs to be at the Human King stage. Below the battlefield of the heavens, each region has a specialized guard force to hunt those sneaking into the Tianwu Continent, each requiring a Wind Master realm cultivation.”

“The human race needs to protect talented individuals as they grow. With too low cultivation, they would only die fruitlessly.”

“So he entered the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings battle?” Ming He wondered, “Was he trying to prove himself?”

“Not just to prove himself, but to gain eligibility,” Yu Wen Xi replied earnestly. “In the Eastern Region’s Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings, every second round is a Secret Realm Trial. The Domain Lord’s mansion has an unspoken rule—those who obtain golden tokens can immediately join the first guard of the Eastern Region’s Domain Lord’s mansion, just like Mo Fang, the leader of the Ninth Guard.”

“Those cultivators performing well in the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings will receive offers from the Domain Lord’s mansion. If he joins, Shadow will be one step closer to fulfilling his grand wish of annihilating the other clans. Shadow had experienced upheaval in his childhood and is inherently more competitive than anyone else. Although it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to join the Domain Lord’s mansion through the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings, he wants to do it in the best way possible. Therefore, his obsession with obtaining a golden token is quite profound.”

Yu Wen Xi sighed, “Thus, when he entered the Secret Realm, he gathered many cultivators to search for golden tokens on his behalf. Yin San and Ding Jiu were just two among many. Even the children of noble families were mercilessly dealt with in his hands, such as Nan Gong Yao from the Nan Gong clan, whom he had previously defeated and robbed of his storage ring.” There was a hint of schadenfreude in Yu Wen Xi’s words.

Nan Gong Yao? Ming He recalled how Nan Gong Yao had once taken Gongsun Sheng’s storage ring, and everything started to make sense.

The Longquan Sword in her hand must have been obtained from the storage ring of Gongsun Sheng by Shadow, and then it was rewarded to Ding Jiu?

She seemed to ponder, “The Secret Realm Trial ends in three days. Do you have any plans, Brother Yu Wen?”

Ming He smiled at Yu Wen Xi, not asking him why he had helped delay the group of cultivators earlier. When their eyes met, neither brought up how she had already managed to escape while distracting Shadow, simply switching to a different form of address.

After all, they both returned from a precarious life-and-death situation and had faced danger together; they were at least friends in that sense. “My clan relative saved my life previously, and he hasn’t found a token yet. I want to help him search.”

Yu Wen Xi frowned; what he meant by searching was actually competing for it. At this stage, the tokens that should have been found had long been uncovered, and only by seizing others’ tokens could one obtain one. However, currently, those still holding onto their tokens were likely not kind-hearted individuals, and a battle was inevitable.

Tokens? Ming He’s eyes shifted as she took out the silver token from her pocket. “Here, Brother Yu Wen. This is for you.” After all, she already had a golden token.

“You…” Yu Wen Xi was taken aback, then realized Ming He wasn’t a foolish person. Their friendship hadn’t reached the level of sacrificing interests yet. She offering him a silver token now naturally meant she had something better.

And something better… He seriously assessed Ming He, realizing that her aura seemed profound and distant; the opportunities she must have gained in the twenty-odd days she had disappeared could not be small.

“Alright, then I thank you, Friend.” He smiled, accepting the token and handing her a storage ring in return. “This is a reward from my clan relative to you.” He certainly couldn’t take advantage of Ming He; he was still thinking about forming a deeper friendship with her.

Clearly, she was a promising sword cultivator destined for greatness, and she deserved to be Yu Wen Xi’s friend. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked betting his life for a personal favor in a life-and-death scenario.

Yu Wen Xi smiled brightly. Coming from a noble family, he wouldn’t be naive enough to think anyone was worthy of him seeking cooperation with them.

Nevertheless, the fact proved that his discernment was not mistaken.

Yu Wen Xi and Ming He exchanged glances, both secretly understanding each other’s intentions: one sought a connection based on talent and future as if it were a gamble, while the other valued status, identity, and immediate influence.

Each party took what they needed, cooperating for mutual benefit.

Three days later, amidst a whirl of disorientation, Ming He found herself back in the grand hall of the Domain Lord’s mansion. She glanced around, taking in the sight of about a hundred individuals standing in the vast hall—these were the ones who had successfully passed the Secret Realm Trial.

Nearby, Yu Wen Xi offered a smile in greeting. Ming He nodded in acknowledgment and shifted her gaze, spotting Shadow, clad in red attire and wielding a curved knife, standing quietly at the back of the crowd with his head bowed. A golden token hung prominently at his waist.

Each person had their own path and opportunities. The Great Path was long, and everyone moved forward in their own way.

“Congratulations to all friends for passing the Secret Realm Trial. The battle for the Young Tiger List rankings will now commence. Please proceed to the Eastern Sky Arena,” announced Mo Fang, standing at the front of the hall, clad in black armor.

The Eastern Sky Arena sounded quite prestigious.

Ming He blinked, following the armored guards as they exited the hall and crossed the empty square to a palace floating amidst the clouds. This was the Eastern Sky Arena mentioned by Mo Fang.

The arena, named after the heavens and positioned above the clouds, was the venue for the final battles in the Eastern Region’s Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings. The clouds flowed endlessly, sunlight refracting brilliantly through them, and spiritual energy wafted in the air. From this vantage point, she could see all of Dongfeng City and even catch a glimpse of the outline of the Eastern Region. This was the highest place in the entire Eastern Region.

Ming He gazed around in wonder, standing within the clouds. Although it wasn’t due to her own cultivation, she felt empowered by her own strength, and this sensation was marvelous.

“Boom!”

In her line of sight, ten towering black iron arenas suddenly emerged from the mist, reaching high into the clouds, their aura mesmerizing. They stood in two rows, five in each, arranged symmetrically.

In the center of the arenas glowed a beam of golden light; to the right, the sound of a dragon’s roar echoed, while to the left, the cry of a tiger resonated.

“Roar!”

“Growl!”

The roars of dragons and tigers filled the Eastern Region. Ming He widened her eyes, faintly seeing the illusory forms of dragons and tigers swirling in the clouds—Azure Dragon and White Tiger, two of the Four Divine Beasts. They resembled the dragon and tiger she had seen in the ancient cave dwelling at the Ninth Continent during the Four Gods Array, only with an even more powerful and profound aura.

In addition, the arenas were surrounded by black profound pillars, which bore a striking resemblance to the black pillars that had trapped Mu Xuan Ye, Left Envoy of the demon race, atop the blood-red altar at the Ninth Continent.

Could there be some connection? A question flickered through Ming He’s mind.

“Welcome, friends, to this session of the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings battle.” A cultivator clad in the same black armor as Mo Fang descended from the sky, landing in front of the central seating area of the arena.

He was a robust cultivator approaching middle age. “I am Guan Shan Feng, the leading commander of the first guard of the Domain Lord’s mansion in the Eastern Region, responsible for the final battles in the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings and ranking competition.”

He smiled at the roughly three hundred young cultivators standing in four groups below him. The group on the left consisted of cultivators below the Dust Dispersal stage who had acquired their tokens through the Dragon Gate and Tian Cang Secret Realm. This was the group Ming He belonged to. Behind them stood disciples from noble sects who had air-dropped into the third round, occupying fifty slots.

This was the battle for the Young Tiger List.

The right side was similar but had significantly fewer people; that was the contention for the Young Dragon List. Young cultivators above the Xuan Wei realm and under twenty years old were rare—almost the top tier among all the talented individuals in the Eastern Region. Sometimes, they couldn’t even fill a hundred slots in the rankings.

The reason was straightforward: the rigid requirements for the rankings were to be above the Xuan Wei realm and below twenty years old, and the Eastern Region sometimes simply didn’t have a hundred cultivators meeting that criterion.

The Eastern Region was too weak, making it difficult to fill slots in rankings that other four regions fought desperately over.

“The rules for this ranking battle remain the same as before. Arena matches will be determined by drawing lots, and the final rank will be decided based on the amount of dragon energy. According to the methods of the Dragon Gate’s spirit, the winner will receive some dragon energy from the loser based on their performance during the match.”

“The Young Dragon List and the Young Tiger List battles will proceed simultaneously.”

“Apart from the rewards provided by the Domain Lord’s mansion, the top fifteen of the Young Dragon List and the top five of the Young Tiger List can enter the Central Region’s Dragon and Tiger Rankings competition without having to pass the first two rounds. Good luck to everyone.”

Central Region’s Dragon and Tiger Rankings competition?

Ming He clenched her fists, her emotions surging. She understood what the Dragon and Tiger Rankings were—a significant plot point in the original story where Dragon Hero truly made a name for himself on this continent.

After claiming the top position in the Heavenly Dragon List, Su Yu’s name resonated throughout the continent. The human race regarded him as an extraordinary genius, while the other clans viewed him as a deadly adversary. All the hardships he faced along the way seemed to culminate in that moment.

He emerged from Qing Shi Town, standing at the center of the world.

The Dragon and Tiger Rankings served as the gathering ground for all geniuses under twenty-five on the Tianwu Continent, where talent faced talent on an exhilarating world stage.

Now, she was set to confront that stage twenty years earlier than Su Yu. If she could secure a position among the top five of the Young Tiger List, she certainly could make it happen.

Ming He held her head high. The Dragon and Tiger Rankings and the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings were held once every five years, and the Dragon and Tiger Rankings took place four years after the regional Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings.

She had four years, and she wanted to claim his glory before Su Yu. That should also be her glory, Ming He thought as she slowly raised her head, her gaze sharp and clear, concealed within the vast cosmos ahead.

“Now, all cultivators, come up to draw lots,” Guan Shan Feng said.