The Shen Yao capital was already swollen with people, but on this day, it seemed as though the air itself had grown heavier with excitement.
It began with a whisper. By noon, it was a murmur. By evening, it was an uproar.
The largest coalition of betting houses across the Five Continents had just released their official tournament ranking list—a document that only appeared once every fifteen years, and one that shaped the tides of fortune, politics, and prestige as much as the tournament itself.
This list, painstakingly assembled through countless records, hidden reports, and witnessed battles, was said to reflect the "most likely" outcome of the tournament finals. Of course, everyone knew it was not infallible. Yet it had never failed to at least approximate reality. To gamblers, sects, and even royal courts, it was as good as prophecy.
The Ranking List Spreads
In the imperial palace, sealed copies of the list were delivered directly to Emperor Shen Hóngtú, the Shen clan elders, and the highest-ranking generals.
At the same time, in the Yōuxuán Sect, Old Man Yōuxuán's disciples unrolled the same parchment, smirking as they saw Fang Yan and Yōuxuán Lan both in the top five.
The Lu Clan, Ouyang Clan, and other Central Continent superpowers received theirs next.
Only later did copies leak outward, spreading to the far corners of the world. From the Southern Abyss Hall to the far Northern Glacial Peak, from the Azure Tide Pavilion to the Western Blade Sect—everywhere, the same names, the same order.
And finally, hours later, the list reached the public betting houses.
The Rankings (Top Thirty)
1. Princess Shen Ruòxuě – Shen Empire, Shen Clan
2. Ling Han – Bàtiān Sect
3. Fang Yan and Little Sword Master of sword sect – Yōuxuán Sect, Sword sect.
4. Yōuxuán Lan – Yōuxuán Sect
5. Ouyang Qi – Ouyang Clan, Central Continent
6. Lu Mingxin – Lu Clan, Central Continent
7. Jian Chen – Tàixuán Sect, Central Continent
8. Chen Xi – Yōuxuán Sect
9. Chi Zhen – Shen Empire, son of General Chi Dao
10. Shi Guang – Southern Abyss Hall, Southern Continent
11. Shen Fengxin – Shen Empire, daughter of General Shen Língxiāo
12. Zhi Xing – Hundred Refinement Sect, Central Continent
13. Di Zhu – Western Continent, Western Blade Sect
14. Ding Shu – Southern Continent, Azure Tide Pavilion
15. Gu Yue Zhang – Southern Continent, Gu Yue Clan
16. Yōuxuán Fan – Yōuxuán Sect
17. Ba Ciajian – Bàtiān Sect
18. Feng Molin – Feng Clan, Central Continent
19. Jin Shan – Five Elements Combat Sect, Central Continent
20. Wu Tian – Northern Continent, Iron Mountain Sect
21. Huo Lian – Western Continent, Flame Valley Sect
22. Lei Guang – Eastern Continent, Thunder Serpent Sect
23. Zhou Mei – Central Continent, Heavenly Sound Pavilion
24. Yan Luo – Southern Continent, Bone Ghost Sect
25. Mo Canghai – Northern Continent, Glacial Peak Sect
26. Yu Feiyan – Central Continent, White Lotus Sect
27. Hei Wuji – Eastern Continent, Black Tiger Sect
28. Kang Yuren – Western Continent, Stone Crown Clan
29. Lin Qiaoling – Eastern Continent, Radiant Moon Palace
30. Bo Xuantai – Central Continent, Heaven-Slaying Sect.
When the parchment was first read aloud in the main betting house of the Shen capital, silence fell. Then, as if a dam had burst, the hall erupted into noise.
"Of course the princess is number one! The empire's bloodline reigns supreme!"
"Bah! Shen Ruòxuě is strong, but Ling Han's reputation in the Central Continent is terrifying. He should've been ranked first!"
"What about Fang Yan? The Little Sword Master has never been defeated by anyone his age!"
Pouches of gold clinked against tables as bets were placed wildly. Underdogs drew daring gamblers; favorites like Shen Ruòxuě and Ling Han drew rivers of coin.
In smoky taverns, mercenaries and wandering cultivators debated furiously, some accusing the list of Central Continent bias, others nodding gravely at its accuracy.
Private Halls of Power
• In the Shen Palace:
Some ministers smiled proudly, declaring the empire's glory unquestionable. Others frowned, warning that being crowned "Number One" painted the princess as a target before the first blow was struck.
• In the Bàtiān Sect:
The young genius Ling Han sat calmly as elders congratulated him. To be second only to the imperial princess—already, his name shook the continent.
• In the Yōuxuán Sect:
Fang Yan laughed heartily, declaring that he would cut through both Shen Ruòxuě and Ling Han to seize first place. Yōuxuán Lan, by contrast, merely nodded with quiet pride, though her eyes gleamed sharply.
Everywhere, arguments raged. Yet across all continents, one truth was evident:
No superpower denounced the list.
Silence was not agreement, but neither was it rejection. It was acknowledgement—an admission that this prediction carried weight.
And so, by the time the list reached every street corner of the Shen capital, the city was already boiling with anticipation. The tournament had not even begun, yet it felt as though the first blows had already been struck.
————————————————
The sun rose high above the Shen Yao capital, casting golden light upon the sprawling city. The avenues were decorated with banners of crimson and gold, each embroidered with the dragon insignia of the Shen clan. Gongs and drums echoed through the streets as the imperial decree for the opening of the Five Continents Tournament was formally announced.
The grand plaza before the imperial palace had been transformed into an arena of magnificence. A colossal stage of polished jade and obsidian had been erected at its center, large enough to host battles that could shake mountains. Surrounding it were tiered stands, already filled with countless cultivators, nobles, merchants, and commoners who had traveled from every corner of the world. The air buzzed with excitement, but beneath it lingered tension—each continent had come to prove itself.
At the very heart of the arena, upon a raised dais, sat the emperor's throne. Emperor Shen Hóngtú arrived clad in robes of black and crimson, embroidered with golden dragons. His presence alone silenced the plaza. His expression was calm, regal, and unreadable, yet the sheer weight of his authority pressed down on all.
When he raised his hand, the drums ceased. His voice carried across the plaza like rolling thunder:
"Today begins the grand tournament of the Five Continents, an event that comes but once every fifteen years. Here, the young talents of every land shall test their strength and prove their worth. This is not merely competition—it is honor, it is legacy, and it is the measure of the future."
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
The emperor's gaze swept across the arena before he spoke again:
"On this stage, you fight not only for yourselves, but for the glory of your clans, your sects, your nations, and your continents. Fight with pride, but do not forget the rules that bind this gathering. Victory is earned with strength, not deceit. May the heavens bear witness to the battles to come."
With that, he gestured, and the banners of all five continents unfurled around the arena. The roar of the people shook the heavens.
Yet while the masses celebrated, the true powerhouses withdrew from the open dais. Within the imperial palace was a grand, sealed chamber prepared for this very moment—a high pavilion with carved screens of jade, overlooking the entire arena. Here, the leaders of the five continents and their strongest sects gathered together, seated in places of honor, each side facing the others across the vast round table.
The emperor took the central seat, his posture commanding yet composed. To his right sat representatives of the Central Continent's superpowers—the Yōuxuán Sect's Old Man Yōuxuán, his niece Sect Master Yōuxuán Lán, and the Shen empire's most trusted generals. To his left, the Ouyang clan head, stern and watchful, sat in dignified silence.
Across from them, the leaders of the Southern Continent and their Azure Tide Pavilion glared coldly, while the Western Blade Sect's representative leaned back with a faint smile, his eyes sharp as a blade. The Northern Continent's envoy gave off a frigid aura, saying little but radiating silent discontent.
And at the far side, the Bàtiān Sect leader sat with calm expression, though the sharpness in his eyes betrayed his hidden ambition. When his gaze occasionally met the emperor's, the air itself seemed to tighten.
The atmosphere inside the chamber was unlike the cheers outside. Here, every word was measured, every glance a weapon, every silence a statement.
Some exchanged courteous greetings, others avoided eye contact altogether. Veiled barbs were traded in polite tones, and subtle smirks accompanied promises of fair competition. But though tensions simmered, none dared to act rashly. Every man and woman present knew this was not merely a tournament—it was a stage where alliances, grudges, and rivalries would play out before the world.
And from this private chamber, these giants of the continents would watch.
The drums sounded once again outside, and the first names were called to the stage.
The Five Continents Tournament had truly begun.