<h4>Chapter 226: First ce In The Heavenly Rankings (2)</h4>
"Haha, Senior Wan jests. With your protection, who would dare think of harming the Cloudstride Sect?" Emperor Dong Panughed.
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 disying different attitudes. However, their identities could be discerned from their names alone.
Wu Yuan''s gaze swept across the crowd, his eyesnding on several familiar faces. Among them were the Arctic King, Zhao Xing, Hai Feizhang, Jin Ji, and a few other rtively weaker Heavenly Rankers.
Yet, the numbers seemed to have dwindled since theirst 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 thesend deities.
However, it appeared that these Heavenly Rankers had not yetid eyes on Wu Yuan and hispanions. Wu Yuan''s attention was particrly 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.
"ck Snake King?" Wu Yuan''s eyes widened as he spotted a colossal ck snake, a divine beast of the Jin royal family. It was rumored to possess powerparable tote-stage Qi Sea cultivators, and was associated with Imperator Jin.
<i>Niu Hao! </i>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 disying 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 ck 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 whenpared 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 unt his power, his Soul Force and aura were undeniably potent!
Prominent cultivators such as the Arctic King, Niu Hao, Zhao Xing, ck 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 simr levels of power. However, as per tradition, no one approached the neers as Emperor Dong Pan had yet to introduce them.
Gradually, the number of Heavenly Rankers assembled in the jade za 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 za, 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 exnation. In terms ofbat 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 za wentpletely 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 nces, their expressions betraying a hint of vignce. The Cloudstride Sect’s honored guest?
Emperor Dong Pan maintained his polite demeanor. "Senior Wan, Daoist Fang Xia," he said with a smile, "In ordance 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 dy, 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 za, 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'', im the top spot?
The jade za 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 actualbat 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 ce, Wan Xing
Second ce, Jin Quan
Third ce, Qiong Sea King
Fourth ce, Deity Huang
Fifth ce, Emperor Dong Pan
Sixth ce, Niu Hao
Seventh ce, Zhao Xing
Eighth ce, Rong Le
Ninth ce, Arctic King
Tenth ce, Hai Feizhang
Eleventh ce, ck Snake
Twelfth ce, Dong Qian
Thirteenth ce, Mountain Devil King
Fourteenth ce, ck Jiao
Fifteenth ce, Liu Junxing
Sixteenth ce, 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 werest updated during the previous opening of the Middle Land Immortal Hall, thus it was not an urate reflection of the current standing of the Heavenly Rankers. After each name was arge 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 ying 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 ce, Bu Yu. She was inst ce.
Emperor Dong Pan chuckled, "Haha, Daoist Bu Yu has just made a breakthrough, such a ranking is a normal urrence."
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 ce, Huan Jian. Bu Yu plummeted to the 73rd position immediately.
These two individuals ended up taking thest two spots, elicitingughter 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.
<i>Hum~ </i>A faint vibration reverberated through the grand hall as the light screen at the end flickered to life. A new name entered the disy: Fang Xia. Behind that name, there was a soul imprint emblem.
A series of resounding booms echoed in session 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 iming the first position!
The previousughter abruptly ceased, and all the Heavenly Rankers stared at the light screen in shock. First ce in the Heavenly Rankings? They were all keenly aware of Fang Xia''s formidablebat power, yet battle prowess did not necessarily corrte to the strength of one''s soul.
Take Jin Quan, for instance, who excelled inbat but always fell short in Soul Forcepared to Wan Xing. But Fang Xia? He didn’t only excel inbat. 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 ck-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 ck-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 eyesnded on the light screen, the screen brightened as countless specks of light converged. Almost instantly, a fresh name appeared at the top: First ce, Wan Liu. There was no need forparison. With just one nce, 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 ck-robed figure shook his head slightly. "Old Fang, if there is anything else, inform meter. I shall take my leave."
<i>Swish~ </i>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 singr question took root in their minds – just how powerful was Wan Liu?