Volume 2 - Chapter 18: The Fifth on the Qian Kun Ranking - Part 1
The little white fox lifted its head and licked the edge of Li Hao’s palm, gazing at him with a pitiful expression.
Li Hao smiled. The little white fox definitely couldn’t go to the Divine General Mansion. The moment it stepped foot there, it would be killed on the spot.
The path of soul fusion for demonic creatures wasn’t much different from that of humans.
Those with a lineage would inherit the souls of their ancestors, while those without could only seek a great demon as a mentor to obtain a legacy.
Thus, demons had their own factions and circles of influence.
If Li Hao still resided in the Divine General Mansion, he could have helped the little white fox by sending it to Mount Qingqiu, where the fox clan resided.
Mount Qingqiu was one of the powers affiliated with the Li family.
The bone-measuring elder of Mount Qingqiu was, in fact, a great fox demon.
However, a thousand years ago, Mount Qingqiu had suffered a devastating war. Its fox lord had fallen in battle, and no Fourth Realm demon king had been born since. This left the mountain dependent on the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
“Bear with it a little longer. When I return, I’ll search the wilderness beyond the border to see if there’s an unclaimed grave of a demon king.”
As he stroked the little white fox, Li Hao said, “If that doesn’t work, give me some time. I’ll eventually slay a demon king for you to inherit its soul.”
The Soul Fusion Realm was incredibly important. Li Hao’s ability to fight beyond his cultivation realm was largely due to his Heaven and Earth Soul Fusion, which allowed him to condense his soul 360 times—several times more than his peers.
This overwhelming advantage, compounded by enhancements at each successive stage, gave him his extraordinary strength.
The little white fox nodded obediently, flashing a foxy grin at Li Hao.
With a pouch of silver coins borrowed from Song Qiumo, Li Hao set out with Ren Qianqian.
The little white fox was left in the camp, entrusted to Song Qiumo’s care.
Ren Qianqian carried Li Hao’s sword while Li Hao carried Ren Qianqian—not literally, but through object manipulation. The two glided forward, one following behind the other, as they swiftly left the camp.
In the distance, Feng Lao silently followed, his figure blending into the snowy landscape.
Li He also chose to follow Li Hao in secret, continuing to fulfill his duty as a bodyguard.
Although he now knew that the young master’s combat prowess was no less than his own, military orders were absolute.
...
Dayue City lay at the northwest center of Liang Province.
The city was a transportation hub, surrounded by flat, open plains with no mountains or forests nearby. It formed the northwestern axis of Liang Province.
Every month, countless trade caravans and escort teams passed through Dayue City.
Snow blanketed the land, painting the world in white. Wagon wheels carved deep black tracks into the earth, like scars on the winter landscape.
On the broad official road outside the city, streams of carriages from all directions converged, their wheels rumbling as they approached the towering city walls.
“Miss, Dayue City is just ahead,” said a maid dressed in simple clothing and soft armor, seated in a plain carriage.
The young woman beside her wore a sword at her waist and was dressed in white, blending with the snowy scenery outside. She lifted the curtain to glance out, her gaze falling on the hundred-zhang-high walls that loomed like a dark mountain at the horizon.
“This Dayue City rivals Qingzhou City in grandeur,” she murmured, her voice low.
This young woman was Li Wushuang, who had come to Liang Province with her father.
After staying briefly in the military camp, she heard about the grand master’s gathering hosted by the Tianji Hermit. Without hesitation, she disguised herself and departed overnight with two female attendants arranged by her father, Li Xuanli.
“One of the Seven Great Families of Liang Province resides here, as does the third-wealthiest individual in the province. That’s why the city is so magnificent,” the maid explained.
Li Wushuang nodded slightly, though she didn’t pay much attention.
To her, no aristocratic family or wealthy house could compare to the Divine General Mansion.
Her eyes swept over the official road’s surroundings, taking in the snowy plains and the distant mountains at the horizon. She muttered softly, “If a battle with demons were to break out here, it’d be easy to assemble a large army. The open terrain would make it difficult for demonic creatures to hide.”
Hearing this, the maid smiled faintly. Truly the daughter of a general—her concerns were far from those of ordinary noblewomen.
“This trip to seek enlightenment will lay the foundation for me to step into the Heaven and Man Realm. It’ll also help me break through to the Fifteen Li Realm and possibly advance my position on the Qian Kun Ranking,” Li Wushuang said, her eyes sparkling.
...
The Qian Kun Ranking was divided into two lists: the Kun Feng List, for those under eighteen, and the Qian Long List, for those under twenty-two.
It was designed to showcase young talent.
Scions of noble families often vied for spots on the Kun Feng List, while the Qian Long List was dominated by disciples of the Divine General Mansion and top-tier sects like the Qiandao Palace and Boundless Mountain.
To make it onto the Qian Kun Ranking was to be recognized as one of the brightest stars of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
The sole criteria for inclusion were cultivation level and actual combat achievements.
Many young heirs ventured into the martial world to slay demons and fight injustice, hoping to earn a place on the ranking and gain widespread recognition.
Achieving a spot on the list brought invitations from powerful factions, abundant resources, and a smooth path to ascension, free of concerns over techniques, materials, or weapons.
Li Wushuang was currently ranked outside the top 30 on the Qian Long List.
The top 28 were all geniuses at the Fifteen Li Realm, most of whom she knew by name. Some, like Bian Ruxue, the fiancée of Li Hao, ranked at 28th, were even familiar to her.
A fellow Spiritual Wandering Realm cultivator, Bian Ruxue was slightly higher on the list. Her recent accomplishments included descending from the Sword Abode to destroy a River of Death and slaying two Spiritual Wandering Realm demons with a single strike three months prior—feats that earned her a prominent spot.
At just 14 years old, she was considered astonishingly talented.
Even with a renowned mentor, many factions sought to form connections with her, hoping to gain favor or simply establish a good rapport.
The Qian Kun Ranking was updated monthly. When the latest rankings were announced, young martial artists across the Nineteen Provinces were left in awe.
Although the battle in Qingzhou had been deliberately concealed by the Divine General Mansion, the event had too many witnesses to remain hidden. Moreover, the Tianji Tower, which oversaw the ranking, prided itself on its omniscience. Even minor events like a hero retrieving a bird’s nest wouldn’t escape its notice, let alone such a monumental clash.
As a result, when the rankings were updated, one particular name appeared on the list, instantly shaking the martial world.
Fifth on the Qian Long List.
At 14 years old.
Li Hao.
The news caused a stir among all the factions following the Qian Kun Ranking, especially upon learning that this boy had already reached the Heaven and Man Realm!
A Heaven and Man Realm cultivator at 14—a feat that left the world astounded.
It was no wonder he ranked fifth.
After all, only Heaven and Man Realm cultivators had historically occupied the top 10 spots on the Qian Long List.
These included disciples of the Qiandao Palace, the personal protégés of the Boundless Buddhist Lord, the newly taken apprentice of an old beggar wandering the lands, and the true dragons of the Divine General Mansion.
With so many prodigies and only ten slots, competition was fierce.
This ranking represented the top talents among billions of martial artists in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Some at the Jianghu Rain Pavilion predicted that within two years, this youth would climb to first place on the Qian Long List and hold that position until he aged out at 22.
To dominate the Qian Long List for six years!
Though this prediction sounded bold, the record-breaking speed of his cultivation made it seem plausible.
Li Wushuang’s trip to Dayue City, in part, was to pursue that distant figure...