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Chapter 226: First Place In The Heavenly Rankings (2)
"Haha, Senior Wan jests. With your protection, who would dare think of harming the Cloudstride Sect?" Emperor Dong Pan laughed.
The group continued their conversation. Wu Yuan resumed his aloof demeanor, mainly leaving the conversation to Fang Xia, Emperor Dong Pan, and the others.
One by one, Heavenly Rankers emerged from their personal halls, each wearing unique attires and displaying different attitudes. However, their identities could be discerned from their names alone.
Wu Yuan's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes landing on several familiar faces. Among them were the Arctic King, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Jin Ji, and a few other relatively weaker Heavenly Rankers.
Yet, the numbers seemed to have dwindled since their last visit to Cloudhill. Wu Yuan vividly remembered the impressive turnout of over 40 Heavenly Rankers who had gathered to witness the battle. It was then that he and Bu Yu had caught their first glimpse of these land deities.
However, it appeared that these Heavenly Rankers had not yet laid eyes on Wu Yuan and his companions. Wu Yuan's attention was particularly drawn to the presence of powerful demonic beasts. He scanned their names.
"Qiong Sea King?" Wu Yuan studied the majestic azure jiaolong. This creature was none other than the overlord of the South Ocean, a universally recognized Archdemon and ruler of the seas. In the water, Qiong Sea King was invincible, and even ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators had no choice but to flee in fear.
"Black Snake King?" Wu Yuan's eyes widened as he spotted a colossal black snake, a divine beast of the Jin royal family. It was rumored to possess power comparable to late-stage Qi Sea cultivators, and was associated with Imperator Jin.
Niu Hao! Wu Yuan recognized the leader of the Pleiades Guild, a man exuding a powerful aura with wild hair framing his face.
However, it seemed that not all Heavenly Rankers had arrived. Notable ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators such as Deity Huang, Wan Xing, Imperator Jin Quan, and the leader of the Ninedeaths Circle, Rong Le, were conspicuously absent.
As Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Bu Yu observed the other Heavenly Rankers, their gazes were returned in kind. The presence of four unfamiliar faces, along with Emperor Dong Pan and the other hosts displaying an unusual level of respect and courtesy towards them, caused a small stir. It was only natural that they were curious.
"Bu Yu and Huan Jian! The two Grandmasters from the Cloudstride Sect have made it to the Heavenly Rankings! Fang Xia is truly incredible."
"The Cloudstride Sect has produced three Heavenly Rankers at once?"
"Bu Yu and Huan Jian are rather unimpressive. From their feeble auras, they are likely only at the first stage of the Qi Sea phase. They might even be quasi-Heavenly Rankers. Reaching the fifth or sixth stages of the Qi Sea phase requires at least a century of cultivation. However, the man in black robes is someone important."
"That's correct! His aura is indeed powerful. Wan Liu? I've never heard of him!"
"I believe he once made an appearance in Great Jin. He’s at odds with Great Jin!"
"His aura is terrifying, both Fang Xia and Emperor Dong Pan seem weaker when compared to him."
"Who is this Wan Liu?" The Heavenly Rankers murmured amongst themselves.
Their attention was primarily focused on Wu Yuan. They understood Fang Xia’s strength, but Wan Liu was still a mystery. Even though Wu Yuan did not intentionally flaunt his power, his Soul Force and aura were undeniably potent!
Prominent cultivators such as the Arctic King, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, Black Snake King, Old Jiaolong, and Qiong Sea King paid extra attention to Wu Yuan. They stood at the pinnacle of the Middle Land and were instinctively cautious of those who possessed similar levels of power. However, as per tradition, no one approached the newcomers as Emperor Dong Pan had yet to introduce them.
Gradually, the number of Heavenly Rankers assembled in the jade plaza exceeded 60, including Archdemons. For quite some time, no new Heavenly Rankers emerged.
"Senior, Daoist Fang Xia," Emperor Dong Pan said, "As custom dictates, I must introduce you and register your names in the Soul Imprint Hall."
"No problem," Fang Xia chuckled, "Old Wan won't mind."
Emperor Dong Pan offered a nod, careful not to incite the wrath of this old monster.
"Fellow Daoists!" his booming voice echoed throughout the jade plaza, halting the debates and discussions as everyone turned to him.
"We convene today at the Middle Land Immortal Hall for two reasons. The first reason is to introduce the new Daoists from the Cloudstride Sect. Daoist Fang Xia reached the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase after cultivating for more than 200 years. His legendary battle at Cloudhill needs no explanation. In terms of combat power, he undoubtedly ranks top three in the world!"
The Heavenly Rankers listened silently.
“Daoist Bu Yu and Daoist Huan Jian are new entrants to the Heavenly Rankings.”
"This final individual is a returning cultivator from overseas who goes by the name Senior Wan Liu. His power far surpasses mine, and he is a good friend of Daoist Fang Xia’s. Senior Wan Liu is currently an honored guest of the Cloudstride Sect."
The plaza went completely silent, every eye fixated on Wu Yuan, curiosity mingling with wariness. Emperor Dong Pan was a peak powerhouse himself. For him to address this man as ‘Senior’, how powerful was this Wan Liu?
Jin Ji, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, and the others exchanged glances, their expressions betraying a hint of vigilance. The Cloudstride Sect’s honored guest?
Emperor Dong Pan maintained his polite demeanor. "Senior Wan, Daoist Fang Xia," he said with a smile, "In accordance with the tradition of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, it is customary for one to imprint their name at the Soul Imprint Hall via Soul Force. I shall take you there now, kindly follow me."
“Haha, sure.” Daoist Fang Xia responded jovially. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan's gaze remained icy, offering no response at all.
"Fellow Daoists," Emperor Dong Pan's voice boomed through the air, "For those who are inclined, you may join us to witness the event at the Soul Imprint Hall. Those uninterested may proceed directly to the Conference Hall."
Without a moment's delay, Emperor Dong Pan took the lead, followed closely by Wu Yuan and Fang Xia. Bu Yu and Huan Jian brought up the rear.
As for the other Heavenly Rankers in the plaza, their curiosity got the better of them. One by one, they followed along. There was only one question on everyone’s minds: could Wan Liu, the individual Emperor Dong Pan referred to as 'Senior', claim the top spot?
The jade plaza was lined with personal halls on three sides while two grand halls stood on the remaining side – the Soul Imprint Hall and the Conference Hall.
Before long, the Soul Imprint Hall was abuzz with activity. Over 60 Heavenly Rankers had gathered. The Wu Sect and Cloudstride Sect’s Daoists stood at the forefront of the hall.
Among the spectators, ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators such as the Arctic King and Zhao Xing, had the best view in front. The others stood in rows on either side, their positions indicating their respective strengths.
"Senior Wan, Daoist Fang Xia, allow me to present the Soul Imprint Ranking, otherwise known as the Middle Land Heavenly Ranking!" Emperor Dong Pan announced, "Please note that the Heavenly Rankings do not necessarily reflect one's actual combat power; they merely serve as a point of reference."
He gestured towards the end of the hall. Soon, a light screen materialized on the massive wall, revealing the Heavenly Rankings:
First Place, Wan Xing
Second place, Jin Quan
Third place, Qiong Sea King
Fourth place, Deity Huang
Fifth place, Emperor Dong Pan
Sixth place, Niu Hao
Seventh place, Zhao Xing
Eighth place, Rong Le
Ninth place, Arctic King
Tenth place, Hai Feizhang
Eleventh place, Black Snake
Twelfth place, Dong Qian
Thirteenth place, Mountain Devil King
Fourteenth place, Black Jiao
Fifteenth place, Liu Junxing
Sixteenth place, Jin Ji
...
The list continued, consisting of more than seventy names, including those who had already passed away such as Zhao Yi and Hai Jian. It was evident that the Heavenly Rankings were last updated during the previous opening of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, thus it was not an accurate reflection of the current standing of the Heavenly Rankers. After each name was a large emblem.
"Daoist Fang Xia, Senior Wan, your task is quite simple," Emperor Dong Pan chuckled. "Just focus your soul and look at the light screen. Collide your soul with the soul imprints previously left by the Heavenly Rankers, and your ranking will be determined."
In truth, all Heavenly Rankers in the voidrealm were embodiments of their Soul Force, which meant the Wu Sect could generate the Heavenly Rankings directly if they wanted to. However, they intentionally hid such marvels of the voidrealm, inviting them to use these superficial methods.
"Bu Yu, why don't you give it a try first?" Fang Xia suggested, a smile playing on his lips.
“Understood.”Bu Yu took a step forward, her eyes fixated on the light screen at the far end of the hall. Her name materialized on the screen in a swift fashion. 72nd place, Bu Yu. She was in last place.
Emperor Dong Pan chuckled, "Haha, Daoist Bu Yu has just made a breakthrough, such a ranking is a normal occurrence."
Bu Yu smiled, stepping back with a sense of fulfillment. To leave her mark on the Heavenly Rankings was already a difficult feat, she had no regrets.
Next, Huan Jian stepped forward. In mere moments, the results were out. 72nd place, Huan Jian. Bu Yu plummeted to the 73rd position immediately.
These two individuals ended up taking the last two spots, eliciting laughter from many Heavenly Rankers. Though they were well aware that having one’s name included in the Heavenly Rankings already signified their status as top cultivators in the Middle Land, being the weakest two was not seen in the best light. Bu Yu and Huan Jian, though, remained unperturbed.
“What’s so funny?” Fang Xia furrowed his brow. He stepped forward, focusing on the light screen and focusing his Soul Force.
Hum~ A faint vibration reverberated through the grand hall as the light screen at the end flickered to life. A new name entered the display: Fang Xia. Behind that name, there was a soul imprint emblem.
A series of resounding booms echoed in succession as Fang Xia's name skyrocketed up the list, swiftly surpassing the lower ranks and soaring into the top ten, showing no signs of slowing. After a series of soul imprint collisions, Fang Xia's standing surpassed that of Wan Xing and Jin Quan, quickly claiming the first position!
The previous laughter abruptly ceased, and all the Heavenly Rankers stared at the light screen in shock. First place in the Heavenly Rankings? They were all keenly aware of Fang Xia's formidable combat power, yet battle prowess did not necessarily correlate to the strength of one's soul.
Take Jin Quan, for instance, who excelled in combat but always fell short in Soul Force compared to Wan Xing. But Fang Xia? He didn’t only excel in combat. His soul was just as strong!
"Old Wan," Fang Xia turned his head and grinned at Wu Yuan, "Care to have a go?"
Suddenly, all eyes turned to Wu Yuan.
“Soul Imprint Ranking? Heavenly Rankings?" The black-robed figure spoke with an indifferent tone, "Daoist Dong Pan, you lot must have nothing better to do."
A hint of embarrassment flickered across Emperor Dong Pan's countenance. He naturally understood what Wu Yuan was getting at.
"Fine, since I’m a guest, it’s only right to extend you some courtesy." The black-robed figure uttered coldly, taking a step forward and adjusting the cloth covering his face slightly. A pair of frigid eyes were fully revealed.
As those eyes landed on the light screen, the screen brightened as countless specks of light converged. Almost instantly, a fresh name appeared at the top: First place, Wan Liu. There was no need for comparison. With just one glance, Wan Liu's name ascended to the top, a vast chasm separating him from the other Heavenly Rankers. Number one in the Heavenly Rankings!
"What a waste of time," the black-robed figure shook his head slightly. "Old Fang, if there is anything else, inform me later. I shall take my leave."
Swish~ The figure burst into a cascade of shimmering light, dissolving into countless motes as he exited the Middle Land Immortal Hall.
Confronted with this spectacle, a hushed stillness fell upon Emperor Dong Pan, the Arctic King, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, and the remaining cultivators of the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase. Even the Heavenly Rankers, assembled from the farthest corners of the world, were rendered speechless.
A singular question took root in their minds – just how powerful was Wan Liu?