Time flew like a fleeting horse, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
The new Nine Provinces Golden Ranking was about to descend once again.
During this time, Zhu Houzhao had been constantly shuttling between the Imperial Palace, Snow Moon City, and the Taibai Inn Backyard.
As for the Consort Selection, both the Empress Dowager and Empress were overseeing it closely.
Occasionally, the Dark Guard Leader would report on its progress, but unless something unusual happened, Zhu Houzhao barely paid attention.
This day.
Zhu Houzhao was in the Taibai Inn Backyard, comforting the lonely heart of Zi Nu, who now lived without her beloved.
Suddenly, high above the skies, clouds churned and winds howled, the weather shifted dramatically.
The new Nine Provinces Golden Ranking was about to be revealed!
Zhu Houzhao and Zi Nu both looked skyward.
[Nine Provinces – Forbidden Land Ranking]
[Note: This ranking is a supplemental ranking to the Nine Provinces – Martial Force Ranking]
[All those ranked are among the most threatening and terrifying locations across the Nine Provinces]
[Anyone below the Land Immortal Realm who enters without permission will die with no chance of survival. Even those at the Land Immortal Realm face a nine-in-ten chance of death]
[This ranking does not rank based on the strength of its rulers, nor by the size of its forces]
[The sole criteria is the level of danger posed by the Forbidden Land]
[Only the top ten locations will be ranked. The master of each will receive a Heaven Dao Reward]
[ Warning: Anyone lacking sufficient strength is strictly forbidden from entering any of the ranked Forbidden Land. Enter at your own risk]
[This ranking updates once a year]
"Forbidden Land Ranking?" Zhu Houzhao's heart trembled.
Another ranking like this?!
Shouldn't Heaven Dao be releasing Ranking like the Ministers Ranking, Generals Ranking, or Strategists Ranking?
Why was it constantly focused on the Nine Provinces' powers?
Zhu Houzhao felt like Heaven Dao was deliberately targeting him.
Several of his hidden bases were extremely dangerous, even for him.
In those places, even he had to tread cautiously.
He had concealed many secrets within them.
Now, if they were revealed and discovered by other powerful figures, wouldn't that be problematic?
If someone figured out what lay within, it would be even worse.
Luckily, he had the "One Leaf Obscures the Heavens" skill to keep things hidden.
If not, he'd be in serious trouble by now.
Wouldn't it be better to reveal more Ranking like the Hidden Dragon Ranking?
Zhu Houzhao shook his head in frustration, and silently reminded himself to never expose his true identity.
==========
"Forbidden Land Ranking?"
"You think Hundred Yue City might make the ranking?" Zi Nu asked, gazing toward the Golden Ranking in the sky.
"When you built it, you set up all sorts of traps and formations."
"Even a Land Immortal might not leave unscathed if they barged in."
"Oh, do you think the Ming Imperial Palace counts as a Forbidden Land?"
"Rumors on the Martial World say the Ming Imperial Palace is the most terrifying place in all of the Nine Provinces."
Zhu Houzhao shook his head.
"Hundred Yue City might make it, hard to say."
"But the Ming Imperial Palace? Definitely not."
"But my Azure Dragon Association's headquarters, that'll definitely be on the ranking!"
If the Ming Imperial Palace was considered, then all Imperial Palaces of the other dynasties would qualify too.
But that kind of Forbidden Land wasn't what the ranking was measuring.
They weren't comparable.
Not just Zhu Houzhao and Zi Nu, countless others watching the Ranking were equally curious.
Everyone began guessing whether the terrifying places they knew could be considered Forbidden Land.
==========
Empress Palace.
"Miss, our Netherworld City is incredibly dangerous. The number of people who've died to its traps is uncountable!"
"It has to make the Forbidden Land Ranking!" Qing'er said confidently.
"Qing'er, I doubt it." Shangguan Wan'er said, shaking her head.
"As long as a Great Grandmaster is careful, they can probably escape alive. Let alone a Land Immortal."
"Even at its peak, Netherworld City didn't meet the criteria."
"It might be a powerful martial force, but not a Forbidden Land."
"The standards for this ranking are unclear. Let's just watch and see."
Empress Wu Zhao spoke calmly.
She wasn't optimistic about Netherworld City either, for one simple reason. It wasn't strong enough.
==========
Qin Dynasty Territory.
Land of Hundred Yue, Hundred Yue City.
At this moment, the Black Ice Platform Leader had hidden himself outside the city, silently observing every movement.
"A perfect opportunity."
In a flash, he slipped into Hundred Yue City.
His mission was simple: investigate the secrets hidden within.
If the Qin Dynasty were to attack Hundred Yue City in the future, he wanted to ensure they wouldn't be striking blind.
The Black Ice Platform Leader was extremely confident.
With his concealment skills, not even the Hundred Yue Queen herself would detect him, even if he moved beneath her nose.
But just as he set foot in the Imperial Palace gardens.
In the back courtyard, Yan Lingji was playing with Su Yue when her heart suddenly stirred.
Her senses instantly flared, someone had entered the city!
And this someone... had strength equal to her own.
"Fei Yan, take Yue'er somewhere safe." She said calmly.
"We've got a guest."
"Powerful. Mythical Realm cultivation."
She gave a cold smile.
"Who could it be? Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi is only in the Heavenly Human Realm. Can't be him."
"Is it one of Ying Zheng's people?"
"Doesn't matter, I'll capture them first."
"Do they think having Mythical Realm strength means they can act without restraint?"
"This is the Nine Provinces, danger lurks everywhere."
The moment she finished speaking, her figure vanished.
Eastern Monarch Yan Fei picked up Su Yue and calmly walked toward the rear of the palace.
There was no urgency on her face, clear proof of her confidence in Hundred Yue City's security.
Meanwhile.
"Something's wrong."
"Why haven't I left this garden yet?"
"I've been walking forever, it's like I'm stuck."
"No good, I've fallen into a formation?"
"Impossible! I specialize in formations, yet I've never seen one like this!"
The Black Ice Platform Leader's face turned grim.
Things were spiraling out of control.
"What is this? My cultivation, it's disappearing?!"
"This isn't poison..."
"No, it's the formation!"
His strength wasn't just weakening gradually, it was vanishing in chunks.
In less than a minute.
His powerful Mythical Realm cultivation was completely gone.
He gasped for breath.
Then collapsed.
Unconscious.
"Well, well. Who do we have here?"
"So it's the Black Ice Platform Leader of the Qin Dynasty?"
Yan Lingji strolled over gracefully.
A flash of cold anger passed across her face.
Directed both at the unconscious intruder, and toward Ying Zheng far away in Xianyang.
"This man can't die yet. Tie him up first."
She pulled out a mysterious rope.
No one knew what it was made of.
With it, she tightly bound the spy.
==========
[Forbidden Land Ranking – Rank 10]
[Hundred Yue City]
[Danger Level: Four Stars]
[Explanation: Those below the Land Immortal Realm who trespass will absolutely die. Those at Heavenly Human Realm or Mythical Realm might survive only if they remain constantly alert, at most a 50% chance. God Demon Realm may be injured, but will not face mortal danger]
[Reward: One Heaven-Grade Low-Tier Formation Disk, capable of setting up a Heaven-Grade Defensive Great Formation]
The skies shifted again, and the tenth entry of the Forbidden Land Ranking was revealed.
All who saw it were shocked beyond words.
Hundred Yue City?! That terrifying?
So this is what a Forbidden Land truly meant?
Aside from God Demon Realm cultivators, everyone else had no chance of survival?
Wasn't that a bit much?
People had heard of Hundred Yue City, but never thought it was this deadly!
Inside the Hundred Yue Queen's palace.
The newly awakened Black Ice Platform Leader stared in disbelief at the Golden Ranking in the sky.
Rank 10.
Unless you were God Demon Realm, escape was impossible?
He was a living example.
He was a Mythical Realm cultivator who had faced countless dangers in his life.
No matter how dire, he always found a way out.
But here?
He had barely entered the palace, and was instantly captured.
If the Queen had wanted to kill him, he'd be dead many times over by now.
"Hundred Yue Queen... What must I do for you to release me?"
The Black Ice Platform Leader asked, bitterly.
"No rush."
"First, I want to know why you infiltrated Hundred Yue City."
"What were your intentions?"
"Your fate depends on your answer."
"Live or die, it's up to you."
"And don't expect Ying Zheng to come rescue you."
"Even if all of the Qin Dynasty surrounded Hundred Yue City, I wouldn't fear them."
"The Qin Dynasty isn't as strong as you think."
"And Hundred Yue City isn't as weak as you assume."
"If you want to destroy Hundred Yue, the Qin Dynasty would have to pay with at least half its national strength."
"Let's see if Ying Zheng has the guts for that."
The Black Ice Platform Leader's face darkened.
Panic rose in his heart.
He had already overestimated Hundred Yue City, yet it was even more terrifying than expected.
This "Forbidden Land" title... was well-earned.
The Queen might only be Mythical Realm.
But she could threaten even God Demon Realm cultivators?!
Seeing the Black Ice Platform Leader fall silent, Yan Lingji said no more.
"I won't kill you."
"But I won't let you go, either."
"For now, you'll stay in Hundred Yue City."
She waved her hand.
He would be imprisoned.
Killing him now was too extreme.
Better to wait.
Whether he lived or died... would depend on his fate.