Northern Song Dynasty Territory.
Inside an inn.
Duan Yu sat at a table, staring blankly at the ranking in the sky.
Wang Yuyan?!
It was Yuyan who appeared on the Cultivation Technique Ranking!
She was actually that powerful!
No wonder she had never looked at him seriously before.
He had once felt proud of getting onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking, but in the eyes of that "Fairy Sister", he must have looked utterly ridiculous.
Duan Yu gave a bitter smile.
"Third Brother, still thinking about Miss Wang?"
"Listen to your Elder Brother's advice. That girl Wang Yuyan isn't right for you."
"I remember you mentioned her before. Her heart doesn't belong to Murong Fu at all. It belongs to the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, or rather, the Ming Emperor Zhu Houzhao."
"Third Brother, your character and martial skill are both excellent, but compared to the Ming Emperor, there's still quite a gap."
"It's better to forget her. Otherwise, you might bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself."
A burly man took a large gulp of wine and advised Duan Yu earnestly.
"That's right, listen to Elder Brother. This Miss Wang really isn't suited for you. Her heart already belongs to someone else."
"Besides, she might even be your sister!"
Another man with a somewhat unattractive, bald appearance joined in.
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, of course I know what you're saying."
"I'm just feeling a bit emotional, that's all."
"And as for that talk of her being my sister, let's not bring it up again."
"I'm no longer the heir of the Great Li Kingdom's Prince Zhennan. My father probably doesn't even want me anymore."
"The Great Li Kingdom hasn't sent people to hunt me down. That's already a great mercy. I shouldn't expect anything more."
Duan Yu shook his head with a bitter smile.
The two men sitting across from him were none other than Xiao Feng and Xu Zhu.
Since the Liao Kingdom launched a military campaign against the Song Dynasty in the north, Xiao Feng had already severed ties with the Liao Kingdom and returned to the Song Dynasty, staying with Xu Zhu and Duan Yu.
He didn't want to harm either Song Dynasty or Liao Kingdom.
So, the only thing he could do was remain neutral and support neither side.
In fact, he had already started thinking about leaving the Song Dynasty altogether to explore other nations.
Caught between Song Dynasty and Liao Kingdom, no matter what he did, he would never be truly accepted.
Xu Zhu, too, had mixed feelings.
All he ever wanted was to be a simple Shaolin Temple monk.
Yet somehow, he had become the head of the Carefree Sect.
Even more unbelievable, his father was the abbot of Shaolin Temple, and his mother was Ye Erniang, one of the Four Great Evils.
He had no idea how to face it all.
His heart was in turmoil.
And Duan Yu was no better off.
The man he thought was his biological father wasn't actually his real father.
And his greatest enemy had turned out to be his true father.
It was as if the heavens were playing the cruelest joke on him.
The three sworn brothers looked at one another.
None of their fates were any less tragic than the others.
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, I don't want to stay in the Song Dynasty anymore. I want to go to the Ming Dynasty!"
"I want to see for myself what kind of man lives in Miss Wang's heart."
"Otherwise, I won't be at peace."
This time, a rare look of determination appeared in Duan Yu's eyes.
Xiao Feng and Xu Zhu exchanged glances.
"Elder Brother, I don't want to stay either. I want to leave."
"Hahaha, in that case, I'll go with both of you and travel through the Ming Dynasty!"
Xiao Feng laughed heartily.
"No time to waste. Let's rest for the night, and set off tomorrow!"
"I want to see just how powerful the cultivators of the Ming Dynasty really are!"
==========
"What?! That scumbag has yet another woman outside?"
"Wang Yuyan? Another woman who's not inferior to us!"
"Formless Immortal Exercise, huh? I wonder how it compares to my own technique. Definitely not stronger than mine!"
"Too bad she's a step behind. She's still just a Great Grandmaster. If the scumbag hadn't personally guided her, she'd have fallen far behind us by now."
Ming Imperial Harem, Wan Wan Palace.
Huang Rong and several other women gathered together, discussing the ranking.
When Wan Wan saw Wang Yuyan's name, she couldn't help but grit her teeth, her tone full of mixed emotions.
In truth, her heart felt bitter.
She was probably going to be trapped by that scumbag for the rest of her life.
"Wan Wan, don't underestimate her. You know how sharp that man's eye for talent is."
"For him to spend effort helping her comprehend Cultivation Technique, even creating stronger techniques for her, Wang Yuyan clearly isn't someone simple."
"If she's given the opportunity, catching up to us would be a piece of cake."
"I don't think Wang Yuyan is someone easy to deal with in the future. We need to be careful."
Not just Wan Wan and her circle were wary of Wang Yuyan.
On the other side, Murong Qiudi and the other women were also on high alert.
That woman may have started a bit slower, but if they underestimated her now, she'd definitely catch up, and surpass them.
In their minds, opponents were divided into short-term and long-term threats.
Short-term ones weren't worth their concern.
If someone lacked the talent to stay beside the Emperor, they would never last long.
Only long-term rivals were truly worth their vigilance.
Those with enough strength could keep up with the Emperor in the future.
And clearly, Wang Yuyan had that potential.
In fact, her chances might even be greater than many of the jealous women in the Imperial Harem.
==========
"Wang Yuyan? Is it really her?"
Hearing the complaints from the women in the palace, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but smile wryly.
This time, he truly had been misunderstood.
Back when he traveled through the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao had been curious about the Langhuan Jade Cave of Mandala Manor.
He sneaked in and read the Cultivation Techniques stored within.
By chance, he met Wang Yuyan there, who had also come to read.
After a few meetings, they became familiar.
Seeing her strong talent, Zhu Houzhao started teaching her how to cultivate.
He had even planned to bring her into the Azure Dragon Association once she was ready.
She might have become a valuable asset.
But after leaving the Northern Song Dynasty and journeying to other nations, he met far too many soulmates along the way.
Eventually, he nearly forgot about Wang Yuyan entirely.
Besides, her training time had been too short. Even with help, progress would've been limited.
So, she was pushed to the back of his mind.
Only now, with the appearance of the Golden Ranking, did he remember her again.
"Dark One!"
"Your Majesty, I'm here!"
"Immediately investigate everything about Wang Yuyan."
"Not a single detail is to be leaked."
"Go over everything from the past thoroughly."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll get to it at once!"
Zhu Houzhao's eyes were filled with anticipation.
Perhaps Wang Yuyan might bring him an entirely different ending.
==========
Buzz!!!
At that moment, the ranking in the sky once again burst forth with radiant light.
The name in the tenth position faded away, and brand-new text began to appear.
[Cultivation Technique Ranking – Rank 9]
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
List of Characters:
Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )
・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty
Legend of the Condor Heroes ( 射雕英雄传 )
・Huang Rong ( 黄蓉 ) — Young Miss of Peach Blossom Island
Great Tang Twin Dragons Legend ( 大唐双龙传 )
・Wan Wan ( 婠婠 ) — Saintess of Yingui Sect
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils ( 天龙八部 )
・Duan Yu ( 段誉 ) — Prince of Great Li Kingdom
・Xiao Feng ( 萧峰 ) — Master of Beggar Gang
・Xu Zhu ( 虚竹 ) — Disciple of Shaolin Temple