Chapter 531

Chapter 531: Unfortunate Soul Enters Canglan

“Li Ruoyu?”

A youth in purple robes stared at the second spot on the list, murmuring softly.

“He… he is Ji Wushuang!”

Suddenly, someone recognized the purple-robed youth’s identity and exclaimed in surprise.

“He’s the Ji Wushuang ranked fifth on the Dao Lord ranking?”

The crowd was astonished.

The purple-robed youth, Ji Wushuang, turned his head and smiled faintly, “It’s merely the fifth spot on the Dao Lord ranking, why make a fuss?”

He stirred his magic power and unleashed a divine ability.

In a flash.

A sword light cleaved through the void, like a chasm severing the connection between the void and the Dao Lord ranking. The sword light was primal and dazzlingly brilliant, stinging everyone’s eyes.

This sword light contained the Great Dao of Space, the Great Dao of Light, and the Great Dao of Slaughter. Within its brilliance, three Dao Realms shifted and transformed freely, inscrutable and mysterious.

“What a formidable divine ability!”

The crowd gasped in amazement.

Ji Wushuang, having just shown a glimpse of his prowess, swept his gaze over the onlookers, saying, “All on the Dao Lord ranking are heroes, but I wonder how many can break through this divine ability of mine?”

He stood with arms crossed over his sword, exuding an air of extraordinary grace.

“Brother Ji, what do you mean by that?”

At that moment, a golden-armored man descended from the sky, his aura vast and mighty. He was unmistakably a Nine Tribulations Dao Lord, no less fierce than Ji Wushuang, and likewise a figure on the Dao Lord ranking.

“Very simple.”

Ji Wushuang’s eyes swept past the man, stating, “I wish to use the Daoist friends on the Dao Lord ranking to try my sword.”

Boom!

A thunderous explosion sounded.

The eastern sky split open as a shadow large enough to blot out the heavens surged forth. It was a Dragon Qilin, majestic divine might radiating from its form, its entire body covered in golden dragon scales, exuding a ferocious, ruthless aura.

The Dragon Qilin charged towards the Dao Lords gathered before the ranking. Lightning, tens of thousands of bolts, danced around its body. Wind and clouds churned violently, and the roar of a dragon shook heaven and earth.

Roar!

Alongside the bellow, a Dragon Claw slammed down. The void shattered inch by inch, raging with thunder and crackling arcs of lightning writhing like serpents, heading straight for Ji Wushuang.

From within the Dragon Qilin’s body emanated a mighty bloodline pressure so immense it caused many Dao Lords to tremble.

“It’s Long You!”

The golden-armored man’s eyes turned ice-cold. Long You held the third position on the Dao Lord ranking, a truly worthy top-tier prodigy, having forged one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds. His strength was overwhelmingly powerful and domineering.

However, compared to Long You’s strength, his origin was even more astonishing.

When the Hongmeng Dao Realm was first opened, the Four Extremes of Heaven and Earth gave birth to the Four Sovereigns. The East Sky Azure Dragon was one of them, one of the seventy-two known Dao Reverends of the Hongmeng Dao Realm.

Long You was precisely the offspring of the East Sky Azure Dragon.

He possessed the Azure Dragon ancestral blood along with the Kirin bloodline, and at birth was already a Sovereign of the World in cultivation.

In just over a million years of cultivation, he advanced to become a top-tier Dao Lord—a testament to his extraordinary talent.

Bang!

Long You pressed down with his claw, entwined threads of lightning and electric radiance shattering Ji Wushuang’s sword Dao divine ability. Ji Wushuang and the golden-armored man did not clash head-on, retreating ten thousand li instead.

His claw swept toward the Dao Lord ranking as if to seize it. But the moment it touched the stone tablet, a layer of golden light surged forth. Terrifying power erupted, severing one Dragon Claw.

Roar!

Howling in pain, Long You swallowed the Dragon Claw whole, unwilling to waste a drop of his own qi and blood.

"Ji Wushuang, ranked fifth… you dare act arrogant before this young lord?"

As the voice echoed, Long You transformed into a youth in green robes. Two dragon horns crowned his forehead, shimmering with interwoven azure and gold scales. His eyes brimmed with contempt.

"Hahaha…"

A bold laugh exploded like thunder. A wisp of cyan radiance materialized, transforming into a young man with fiery crimson hair after the light dispersed. His eyes blazed like torches, burning with battle lust.

"Long You speaks true," sneered the red-haired youth. "A mere fifth rank dares boast so shamelessly before us?

Which one of you is Li Ruoyu?"

He scanned his surroundings. "This man holds no renown, yet ranks second on the Dao Lord ranking. He must be noteworthy! Does he dare face me?"

"Red Eyes, Li Ruoyu is mine to challenge first," Long You interjected.

"Let me deal with Li Ruoyu," countered the red-eyed youth. "I’ll yield Dugu Ming to you."

"Get lost!"

Long You cursed violently. Dugu Ming held the first rank, while he was only third. Arrogant as he was, he knew Dugu Ming would be no easy foe.

Anyone who reached the top of the Dao Lord ranking was formidable.

"Then let me go first," the red-eyed youth chuckled darkly. "Long You, I’ll test the waters."

Long You’s eyes flickered, offering no reply.

"Li Ruoyu!"

The red-eyed youth unleashed his magic power, his voice booming across millions of li.

"I am here."

A low voice spoke, precisely at that moment.

All eyes followed the sound to its source.

Nearby, an imposing man clad in black robes was steadily approaching the Dao Lord ranking. Sword-like brows and star-like eyes framed his solemn profile.

His aura was profoundly deep, every movement harmonious with heaven and earth. Step by step, Li Ruoyu’s presence intensified, growing mightier.

This was Li Ruoyu’s true form.

Ranked second on the Dao Lord ranking!

The moment the Dao Lord ranking updated, Li Ruoyu ascended the list, and basic information became known.

Only, he hadn’t realized he would reach second place on the ranking!

"The geniuses of the Hongmeng Dao Realm are just so-so," Li Ruoyu thought to himself.

He looked up at the Dao Lord ranking; above him, there was one more person.

"Dugu Ming…"

Li Ruoyu’s eyes became deep and unfathomable.

This name was not unfamiliar to him in the slightest.

His second incarnation had almost been implicated and struck dead by heavenly punishment because of him.

"Hahaha…"

Red-eyed Youth roared with maniacal laughter and said, "I am Red-eyed Youth, fourth place on the Dao Lord ranking. Please impart some guidance, Daoist friend."

Boom!

Before his words faded, Red-eyed Youth activated his Great Dao divine abilities. In an instant, one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds opened, resembling heavenly Treasured Halls—solemnly ordered, tiered, and majestic.

"All Laws Annihilated!"

Red-eyed Youth roared low. Within the one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds, an immense primordial spirit materialized. It fused one hundred and eight types of Dao and raised its hand to form a seal, bludgeoning down towards Li Ruoyu.

"So weak…"

Li Ruoyu lacked any enthusiasm.

He took one step, activated the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, and unleashed the Heavenly Emperor’s World-Suppressing Fist.

This fist technique was personally forged by him, combining his physical strength. It advanced alongside his cultivation and power, unflinching even when pitted against the prodigies of the Dao Lord ranking.

After all, the foundation of the fist technique relied on his physical body.

Tens of thousands of years of secluded cultivation within the Caofa Lodge had forged Li Ruoyu’s foundation into something immensely solid. His physical power, primordial spirit, and understanding of the Dao exploded forth like a rocket.

Swoosh!

Li Ruoyu punched towards Red-eyed Youth, the fist simple and unadorned, lacking any dazzling flair.

Boom!

His fist shattered Red-eyed Youth’s sealing technique, punched through dozens of Dao Realms, and then a terrifying wave of vital energy burst out, sending Red-eyed Youth flying violently away.

Long You’s eyelid twitched violently.

"This guy’s fleshly body is stronger than mine, it’s simply outrageous."

It must be understood.

He was the son of the East Sky Azure Dragon. His bloodline contained Azure Dragon Ancestral Blood, along with Kirin divine blood. He was born mighty, his physical strength enough to crush a Nine Tribulations Dao Lord.

But after witnessing Li Ruoyu’s physical power, Long You felt immense pressure.

"Daoist friend Red-eyed Youth, you are no match for me," Li Ruoyu said with a faint smile.

Within the Caofa Lodge existed a Time and Space domain, and even more crucially, the Caofa Heavenly Pond left by the Great Celestial Lord of Creation. Cultivating within that pond for tens of thousands of years had made Li Ruoyu’s cultivation base and physical body both peak existences within his realm.

Within the same realm, Li Ruoyu feared no one.

Moreover,

he had also forged one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds, using the Great Dao of creation to govern all laws.

"Hehe…"

The red-eyed youth chuckled, cupping his hands respectfully. "Daoist friend, with such strength, truly worthy of being second on the Dao Lord ranking, I willingly admit defeat."

"Long You, it’s your turn now."

Ji Wushuang and the golden-armored man stared blankly, completely forgetting what they had just said moments before.

"All this fighting, back and forth? Utterly boring."

Long You flicked his sleeve dismissively. "Since we’ve met by chance, why don’t we just go eat, drink, and be merry? Today’s expenses are all on this lord."

He absolutely couldn’t be bothered to spar with Li Ruoyu.

Having watched the fight between Li Ruoyu and the red-eyed youth, Long You knew full well that defeating Li Ruoyu with his own strength was nearly impossible.

Just empty prestige. Why strain oneself for something thankless?

Snap!

A deafening thunderclap suddenly tore through the clear skies.

The heavens darkened.

Oppressive black clouds gathered over the city.

The others focused their gazes; beneath the black clouds, a pitch-black figure, howling in agony yet flailing wildly, was sprinting towards Canglan City.

"Heavenly Punishment…"

Long You, the red-eyed youth, Ji Wushuang, and the golden-armored man felt their scalps tingle.

"That kid’s cultivation at best is a Nine Tribulations Dao Lord; how could he withstand so many Heavenly Punishments without dying?" The red-eyed youth’s mouth twitched, unable to believe the scene before him.

"It’s that calamity star…"

Li Ruoyu narrowed his eyes ever so slightly.

"That poor wretch… no telling how many times he’s been subjected to the Heavenly Punishment along the way…"

Bang!

In an instant.

The entire sky’s black clouds coalesced into a terrifying bolt of Tribulation Thunder. It was only as thick as a finger, yet it contained boundless heavenly majesty and divine power, striking squarely into Dugu Ming’s crown.

Thud!

Dugu Ming collapsed to the ground.

"The power of that Tribulation Thunder could easily kill even a Dao Sovereign. Precisely how much evil has this poor wretch committed to be pursued and struck like this by the Heavenly Punishment?"

The group was utterly speechless.

However,

A scene that utterly defied expectations unfolded.

Dugu Ming, struck by the Heavenly Punishment, after mere moments, climbed to his feet as if nothing had happened. Flesh swiftly regenerated, returning him to normal.

He brushed the dust off his clothes and dashed into Canglan City like a streak of smoke.