C10 The Secret of the Ancient Saint Clan Appeared in the Heaven Ranking.

Thud...

The deep resonance of a bell tolled through the air.

It was the harbinger of an update to the Heaven Ranking!

In an instant, the world fell silent.

Peerless sects, imperial dynasties, ancient races, hidden schools, and common households alike—all eyes were fixed with bated breath.

Curiosity, excitement, and a sliver of hope flickered in their hearts. Could it be that the Heavenly Fortune had overlooked them? But that fleeting thought was quickly dismissed; the Heavenly Fortune could not err.

At that moment!

The Heaven Ranking settled, revealing the new order, but then...

"There's a change in the Heaven Ranking, Qu Jiangxuan is now tenth!"

"Wasn't Qu Jiangxuan, the young master of the Vast Dragon Clan, ranked ninth?"

"What happened to Mu Shuangling from the Heavenly Sword Holy Land?"

"Look, it seems like everyone has been shifted down a spot."

"No, that's not it!"

"It's the second-ranked Pure Body that's been ousted!"

The Heaven Ranking's latest update sent shockwaves through the crowd, as a new name had not only entered the list but had also claimed the second spot.

Pure Body, Changying, the scion of ancient immortals!

Dethroned!

The news left the onlookers agape, scrambling to see the details.

Second place

Name: Sushang

Physique: Great Beginning White Tiger Immortal Body

Evaluation: Descendant of a Saint Clan, born with an Immortal Meridian, beneficiary of an Extreme Dao Fortune

"Wow!"

"The Great Beginning White Tiger Immortal Body, no less!"

"That's a clan of legendary saints from the primordial era! They're even more elusive than Ruin Returning. Had I not seen it today, I'd have thought they were long extinct!"

"But who is this Sushang?"

"I've never heard of him before."

"Yet he's not the top ranker. The one at the summit remains shrouded in mystery!"

The crowd buzzed with speculation, the revelation of the Great Beginning White Tiger Divine Body propelling interest to unprecedented heights.

Heavenly Sword Holy Land.

Witnessing the upheaval in the Heaven Ranking, Mu Shuangling's composure shattered. His face blanched, eyes riveted to the list, nearly bursting with veins.

"How can this be!

"Our Sword Sect has fallen from the ranking?!

"The Great Beginning White Tiger Immortal Body... How could such a formidable hidden saintly lineage emerge?

"Ah, it's infuriating..."

Mu Shuangling was a tempest of emotion—furious, shocked, and seething. His complexion fluctuated between pallor and flush, his gaze flickering wildly.

He had been a notable figure on the Heaven Ranking, but now, to be cast off entirely, he felt reduced to a laughingstock. He was engulfed by a wave of disappointment, anger, and envy.

"Lord Sword Sect, this is the will of heaven. It's not a question of your strength; it's the emergence of a saintly race!" a fellow swordsman offered, unable to stand by in silence.

"Hmph, spare me your consolation!"

Mu Shuangling huffed, bristling with indignation.

...

Azure Cloud Holy Land.

"The appearance of such a physique is indeed unexpected."

"You seem surprised yourself."

"I have been around for nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand years, having witnessed two epochs. The Great Beginning White Tiger Clan, with its roots in the ancient times, has produced innumerable saints. They may be reclusive, but in every era, their kin have played pivotal roles, each one a supreme being capable of toppling the powers of their time."

"Are you suggesting that this new entry on the Heaven Ranking will be the foremost figure of our age? Sushang, a name previously unheard of."

Beneath a crimson maple, Ye Yuan played chess with a companion. His yellow garb billowed like clouds, his dual-pupiled gaze as deep as an abyss, his expression serene, his demeanor tranquil.

He furrowed his brow, murmuring to himself.

His opponent, cloaked in a black fox fur, bore a stern visage, his posture ramrod straight. He exuded a restrained ferocity, like a sheathed blade, ready to unleash a tempest of cold fury at the slightest provocation.

Meng Wuqu!

A friend to Ye Yuan, a wanderer of the world.

He laughed softly, "Obscurity does not imply weakness; renown does not guarantee strength. Take my fishing fire sword, for instance—its bloodthirsty edge is unfelt until drawn."

Ye Yuan responded, "And yet, even such a person is not supreme enough to reign!"

Meng Wuqu mused, "Which is why I am immensely curious about the one at the pinnacle of the Heaven Ranking! The Human Emperor, the progeny of ancient immortals, the Great Beginning White Tiger, and the enigmatic figure at the top. Little Yezi, you are young and in an era ripe with challenges and opportunities. It's your time to make your mark, to inscribe your legacy in the annals of history."

"Me? I'm far too laid-back. What's better than sitting back, playing chess, and having a chat? Oh, it's your move."

Ye Yuan placed a black piece on the board with a smile.

Just then, the Heaven Ranking began broadcasting the video for the second place.

Whoosh...

The sound preceded the image.

It was the roar of waves crashing against the shore. Slowly, the Heaven Ranking's screen came to life. Beneath tumultuous skies, waves roared, war drums thundered, cleaving the divide between realms.

The Ancient Sea Battlefield!

Gods clashed in frenzied combat, mythical beasts thronged, and amidst the upheaval of oceans, a white Holy Beast cleaved through the waves, its majestic presence commanding the cosmos! It was the incarnation of war, smoke, turmoil, death, and sanctity.

The Great Beginning White Tiger!

As everyone watched in heart-stopping awe, the white tiger suddenly turned and unleashed a roar at the screen that could split stones and pierce the heavens, reverberating in all directions. The already startled onlookers nearly had their souls scattered in terror.

It was a pressure that assaulted the very soul!

Thump!

Thump!

Some with weaker resolves were frightened into kneeling.

Though it was merely a brief clip, the presence of the Great Beginning White Tiger transcended time and space, leaving an indelible mark on the world and in the minds of all who witnessed it!

At the Armillary Sphere Sect.

Xie Feng stepped out of the alchemy chamber and glanced at the Heaven Ranking, a flicker of intrigue in his eyes. He mused, "This young lady's constitution is remarkable. Rumor has it that the White Tiger Clan of the Great Beginning is a reclusive Holy Clan with a heritage more profound than the Azure Phoenix Clan or the Azure Cloud Holy Land, and far more discreet. Yet Xiaoshang is here alone—could there be a hidden story behind this?"

Within the alchemy chamber.

Wisps of spiritual essence danced in the air, remnants of the White Tiger's commanding aura lingering. Sushang emerged from amidst the myriad spiritual energies, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall. With her delicate, frosty features, she brushed her hair with slender fingers, her eyes slightly narrowed, exuding an air of grace and regality.

In that moment, she embodied the form and poise of a grown woman—composed, dignified, a stark contrast to her former innocent and endearing self.

But this transformation was fleeting, lasting only three minutes. As the energy stabilized, the phantom of the white tiger vanished, and she reverted to her original size, her attire returning to the familiar white vest and dark orange lantern pants.

Sushang's eyes fluttered open, a hint of bewilderment in her luminous gaze quickly overtaken by astonishment. She sensed the transformation of power within her and was thrilled beyond measure.

In that instant!

Dong!

The bell tolled once more, signaling the distribution of rewards!

Second place reward:

Sun Showing Sword

Forged with the dawn's first light and the essence of creation, the Immortal Sword.

The inscription emerged, drawing the rapt attention of nearly everyone to those final two words.

Immortal!

An Immortal-level weapon was within reach!

Beneath the Immortal Sword, divine weapons were as flimsy as paper, spiritual weapons as malleable as mud, capable of cleaving mortals, demons, deities, and even slaying immortals!

"What a tremendous stroke of fortune..."

"In the face of such a realm, such a level, we can only gaze in admiration!"

"Mark my words, the future will be an era dominated by the clash of titans."

...

At the Heavenly Sword Holy Land.

"Immortal Sword! Immortal Sword!" Mu Shuangling stared at the Heaven Ranking, murmuring to himself as if struck by the revelation, tasting the bitterness in his mouth, his eyes burning with envy.

His prize was the Shaking Spirit Heavenly Sword.

Between the Heavenly Sword and the Immortal Sword lay a chasm as vast as that between the heavens and the earth!

But who could he blame for his own shortcomings?

The Great Beginning White Tiger Immortal Body, a paragon of the Sword Sect, a celestial prodigy—even with sword skills that were the envy of the world, his innate talent was laid bare. How could his Great Beginning White Tiger Immortal Body ever measure up to that of the true Great Beginning White Tiger?

"Master Sword Sect, do not despair. After all, both our titles bear the word 'Great,' signifying our formidable nature," offered the swordsman, risking another bold interjection.

"Silence! If you keep quiet, no one will mistake you for a mute," snapped Mu Shuangling, his frustration misdirected at his subordinate.

The swordsman promptly clamped his mouth shut.

"Enough, enough. I've no time for idle chatter. Where's Liu Zhen? Have him wait for me; I have business to attend to," Mu Shuangling commanded, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand.

He had far more pressing concerns to address!