Within a secluded valley, a stunningly beautiful woman furrowed her delicate brows, sensing something.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Let's eat."
Shaking her head, the beautiful woman didn't dwell on it.
Probably just another enemy coming to make trouble.
Fortunately, that heartless man had given her life-saving treasures, otherwise, she and her two children would've long perished without a trace.
==========
Xianyang City, Qin Imperial Palace.
Ying Zheng and the middle-aged scholar exchanged a glance.
"It seems we've overlooked two possible candidates!"
"Indeed. Besides the Ming Emperor, the Lord of Heaven Palace and Lord of Earth Mansion, the masters of the Sword Tomb and Star Pagoda are also highly probable."
"Yes, the Sage Realm figure could very well be one of them."
"But are these two Forbidden Lands friend or foe?"
"Your Majesty, I believe it's imperative to eliminate the remnants of the Six Kingdoms as soon as possible."
"If they receive Heaven Dao Reward from the upcoming ranking, the consequences will be unimaginable."
"Very well. Begin secretly strategizing for me."
"After the Six Kingdoms, we'll deal with the Hundred Schools of Thought, and then Hundred Yue City."
"Only then will the Qin Dynasty have a solid foundation to conquer the Nine Provinces."
==========
Qin Dynasty Territory.
Former capital of Chu Kingdom.
Inside a grand mansion.
"Leader, are we really going through with this?"
"If we do, the tyrant Ying Zheng will launch a full-scale purge. Everything we've worked for over the years could be destroyed!"
"Yes, Leader. Maybe we can wait a little longer."
"Once Ying Zheng dies, won't our opportunity arrive?"
"His successors, whether it's Prince Fusu, Huhai, or anyone else, are nothing to fear."
"They wouldn't stand a chance against us."
"Why take such a huge risk?"
"That's right! Everyone makes a good point!"
"Ah, you're all too naive. I've received reliable intel, Ying Zheng is not as simple as he appears. His strength has long surpassed the Great Grandmaster Realm and entered the Land Immortal Realm."
"He's been acting all along, putting on a show for everyone."
"His lifespan has exceeded mortal limits. Hoping for him to die of old age is a fantasy."
"More importantly, he's begun deploying his forces."
"It's clear who he intends to deal with."
"Fear not, everyone. Our strength is not so easily underestimated. I've been preparing for this battle for many years."
"In secret, we've laid countless traps for the tyrant Ying Zheng. He won't have it easy."
"Not just us, many allies across the Qin Dynasty are rising up."
"We've also rallied countless innocent cultivators who've suffered under Ying Zheng's tyranny. They will fight with us."
At the highest seat sat a middle-aged man in luxurious purple robes, passionately addressing his followers.
His charisma was undeniable.
Within minutes, those who had been against the idea were now filled with excitement.
Even fervor.
If Ying Zheng were here to see this man in purple, he'd be stunned.
Wasn't he supposed to be dead?
How was he still alive?
And how had he become one of the Qin Dynasty's greatest threats?!
==========
"Huh? This time, after the ranking was revealed, the ranking didn't disappear?"
"Yeah, does that mean we don't have to wait a full month anymore?"
"I hope they release a ranking we're actually interested in!"
"Right! The Martial Force Ranking and Forbidden Land Ranking, I barely recognized any names! I was totally confused!"
"Exactly! Even Shaolin and Wudang didn't make the ranking. Who can believe that?!"
"To us, Shaolin and Wudang are martial legends. But to those God Demon Realm cultivators, they're probably no more than ants."
"I don't care! If the Golden Ranking continues like this, how are regular people ever supposed to get any Heaven Dao Reward?!"
"All the good stuff keeps going to the strongest!"
"Which just makes them even more unstoppable!"
As the Forbidden Land Ranking remained hanging high in the sky.
Countless people across the Nine Provinces, while curious, also secretly grumbled.
Boom!
At that moment, a tremor rippled across the sky.
The next instant.
A massive, illusory space, visible to the naked eye, appeared before everyone.
Simultaneously, the characters on the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking refreshed once more.
[One month from now, the Nine Provinces – Sword Immortal Ranking will be revealed]
[Only sword cultivators at the Heavenly Human Realm, Mythical Realm, God Demon Realm, and above, can be ranked]
[4 spots for Heavenly Human Realm, 3 spots for Mythical Realm, 3 final spots for God Demon Realm and above.]
[All Sword Immortals who make the ranking will receive Heaven Dao Reward]
Buzz!
A new ranking was finally coming.
The Sword Immortal Ranking?
Damn!
Only those above the Land Immortal Realm can even qualify?
That's insanely elite.
Does that mean us Great Grandmasters and Grandmasters aren't even people anymore?
Countless sword cultivators across the Nine Provinces were deeply unwilling.
They wanted to be on the Sword Immortal Ranking too!
As if sensing the "resentment" of so many sword cultivators.
The Nine Provinces Golden Ranking updated again.
[In addition to the Sword Immortal Ranking, the Nine Provinces – Sword Ancestor Ranking will also be announced]
[All Great Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters may enter the Virtual Arena to display their Sword Techniques]
[Over the next month, those who enter the arena and perform well may earn a place on the ranking and receive Heaven Dao Reward]
[The Sword Ancestor Ranking will display ranking directly and will not be announced separately]
[Effective immediately, all qualified individuals may use their consciousness to enter the Virtual Arena and begin their sword duels]
[10 slots for Grandmasters, 10 slots for Great Grandmasters]
Reading the text on the Golden Ranking, everyone erupted.
Especially sword cultivators, who were overjoyed.
At last, the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking acknowledged the voices of ordinary sword cultivators.
Although this Sword Ancestor Ranking couldn't compare to the Sword Immortal Ranking.
And wouldn't receive an official announcement.
It was at least a good beginning!
"Ah! Amazing! My consciousness has successfully linked to the Virtual Arena! I can duel now!"
"Whoa, brother, what realm are you in? Why can't I link in no matter what I try?!"
"I got lucky. I just reached the Great Perfection Grandmaster. So close to the Great Grandmaster!"
"I succeeded too!"
"Oh my god! I'm just an Early Grandmaster, and I can still enter the arena?"
"Hahaha! This time, I'll make my name known across the Nine Provinces! The top of the Sword Ancestor Ranking is mine, who dares to challenge me?!"
"You? Come on! All the top sword cultivators in the Martial World are way stronger than you. Don't talk big here!"
As the Virtual Arena appeared.
Sword cultivators across the Nine Provinces were thrilled.
One after another, they tried to connect to the arena.
Some succeeded with joy, others failed in disappointment.
Not everyone qualified to enter and duel.
"Look! Someone's already in the arena!"
"I know that guy, he's the son of the Golden Coin Gang's leader, Shangguan Jinhong, from the Ming Martial World, Shangguan Fei!"
"Yeah, I think he's at the Grandmaster Realm!"
"Didn't expect that pretty boy to be the first one up!"
"Someone else just entered."
"Another sword cultivator from the Ming Dynasty, looks like his name is A Fei!"
"Ah yes, he's known to be close with Li Xunhuan, the wielder of the Little Li Flying Dagger!"
"His swordsmanship is said to be terrifying, many cultivators have died by his hand!"
"This will be a clash of titans!"
"A clash? You're giving them too much credit. They're just the opening act."
"The real sword masters haven't even stepped forward yet."
"Still, these two are certainly making names for themselves."
"No matter what, they're now famous across the Nine Provinces."
"Man, I should've gone first. If I had, everyone would remember me too!"
At those words, many people began to regret.
Cursing themselves for not seizing the chance to appear before the entire Nine Provinces.
==========
Ming Dynasty, Sword Tomb.
Zhu Houzhao lay on the grass, holding Murong Xisheng in his arms.
Staring up at the Virtual Arena in the sky.
The Nine Provinces Golden Ranking... was evolving?
It no longer felt like a wuxia world.
More like xianxia, or even high fantasy.
Even Virtual Arena is a thing now?
"Su Yi, what do you think the Golden Ranking is trying to do?"
"Why introduce an arena?"
"Why not just announce the Sword Ancestor Ranking directly?"
Murong Xisheng looked at Zhu Houzhao with some confusion.
"Maybe the Golden Ranking got anxious because Bai Xiaosheng was stealing its thunder?"
Zhu Houzhao smirked jokingly.
Murong Xisheng rolled her eyes.
"I'm being serious."
"Alright, here's what I think, this arena is just a way to let the people of the Nine Provinces vent a little."
"To give the "lower classes" something to amuse themselves with."
"In the eyes of the Golden Ranking, what really matters is still the Sword Immortal Ranking."
"Didn't you notice? The Sword Ancestor Ranking depends on participants earning their spots through duels, it's not curated by the Golden Ranking itself."
"In the Sword Ancestor Ranking, you just beat others to make the ranking."
"But the Sword Immortal Ranking? That will be judged by entirely different standards."
"Strength, potential, talent, destiny, every factor matters. Only those who meet all criteria will make the ranking!"
"For example, take Ximen Chuixue and Feng Qingyang of the Ming Dynasty."
"In this Sword Ancestor Ranking, Feng Qingyang would definitely make it."
"But based on the Golden Ranking's usual style? Feng Qingyang wouldn't qualify. Instead, Ximen Chuixue would be a guaranteed pick!"
"That's the difference."
"Think back to the Hidden Dragon Ranking. In the Innate Realm Ranking, why did the Twin Dragons make it despite just entering the Innate Realm?"
"Why did Guo Jing make it even though he was only at the Late Innate Realm?"
"In terms of raw strength, they were far behind others at the Great Perfection Innate Realm. Yet they still made the ranking."
"To the Golden Ranking, their futures were far more valuable."
Hearing Zhu Houzhao's explanation, Murong Xisheng finally understood.
To put it bluntly.
The Sword Ancestor Ranking, chosen through duels, was just a "side ranking" in the Golden Ranking's eyes.
It didn't carry the same weight as the Golden Ranking's official announcements.
"Still, anyone who makes the Sword Ancestor Ranking shouldn't be underestimated."
"You don't need to belittle it so much!"
"At least to me, anyone who earns a place through the arena has immense potential for the future!"
Murong Xisheng didn't fully agree with Zhu Houzhao.
She had her own views.
The Nine Provinces Sword Ancestor Ranking was definitely more authoritative than any ranking published by Bai Xiaosheng!
"Look, the duel is finishing!"
"As expected, A Fei won!"
"Shangguan Fei was strong, but his mindset wasn't right. Too distracted."
"A Fei was purer in comparison."
Watching A Fei in the arena, Zhu Houzhao was a bit speechless.
Right now, he and Li Xunhuan were about the same age.
He hadn't expected the two to be such good friends in this world, too.
No Long Xiaoyun this time, yet A Fei showed up so early.
Fate, perhaps.
"You seem to have high hopes for that boy?"
Murong Xisheng was curious.
Few ever earned Zhu Houzhao's praise.
Even Land Immortal Realm cultivators were nothing in his eyes.
Of course, Zhu Houzhao wasn't about to share his thoughts.
==========
On the road to the Sword Tomb, Ximen Chuixue's group was also stirred.
Especially Xie Xiaofeng and Yan Shisan.
Their eyes gleamed with sharp light.
"This young man called A Fei, I like him. He'll definitely become an outstanding sword cultivator."
"Easily on par with you or me!"
"My path of the sword shall not be lonely!"
"Good. I look forward to crossing swords with him."
"Thinking of stepping up now?"
"Wait. We have a whole month. Let's keep watching."
"That boy's swordsmanship is still immature. Even if we beat him now, it wouldn't be honorable."
"Hahaha, I was thinking the same!"
"Come on, let's continue toward the Sword Tomb!"
==========
Qin Dynasty Territory.
Ge Nie and Wei Zhuang stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the Virtual Arena in the sky.
"Interesting, dueling sword cultivators from across the Nine Provinces. Only the Golden Ranking could pull this off."
"I hope it doesn't disappoint."
Wei Zhuang's lips curled in a cold smile.
"What's this? Xiao Zhuang, planning to duel?"
"Of course. I want to face the top sword cultivators from other nations and see how we compare."
"Last time in Snow Moon City, I saw many of them."
"Unfortunately, thanks to a few pests, I missed my chance to duel."
"Senior Brother, now that you've reached the Heavenly Human Realm, do you think you can make the Sword Immortal Ranking?"
"The Sword Immortal Ranking is far beyond the Sword Ancestor Ranking."
Even Ge Nie and Wei Zhuang could easily feel the Golden Ranking's different attitude toward the two rankings.
Clearly, the Sword Immortal Ranking was the main event.
"It'll be difficult. Only four slots, and there are countless Heavenly Human sword cultivators in the Nine Provinces."
"Besides, I just broke through."
Sword Saint Ge Nie shook his head with a slight sigh.
He wanted to make the Sword Immortal Ranking too, but the odds were far too slim.