[Divine Weapon Ranking — No. 42: Listening Rain Sword]
Bearer: The Snow-Moon Sword Immortal, Li Hanyi
Reason for Ranking: Forged within the Sword Heart Mound of the Northern Li Empire, one of the Four Elegant Swords. Renamed the Sword of Guardianship, a sword of spirit and sentience.
Reward: A set of martial insights from a cultivator at the Earthly Immortal Realm
Northern Li Empire — Snow-Moon City.
This was a sacred land of the martial world, guarded by three peerless masters.
Even the mightiest of empires would think twice before offending it.
Rumor had it that behind Snow-Moon City stood an even more mysterious figure.
Because of that, countless martial families and wandering cultivators came here seeking tutelage—but to do so, they had to first ascend the Tower of Heaven and prove their worth.
At this moment, the Snow-Moon Sword Immortal, Li Hanyi, stood silently beneath the eaves, gazing up at the golden ranking that hung in the heavens. Her calm eyes glimmered faintly as her vermilion lips parted slightly.
"Back then, when the Young Master guided me, I grasped countless mysteries of the martial path."
"Before reaching the Martial Saint Realm, I will not face any true bottleneck."
"Still, this Earthly Immortal Realm comprehension will certainly deepen my foundation."
As the newly gained insights into the profound Dao of martial arts surged within her mind, Li Hanyi's gaze grew distant, her expression utterly serene.
"Hmph! That scoundrel of a Young Master stirred my heart, then vanished to who knows where. All these years, not a single trace!"
"One day, I will find you!"
Her silver teeth bit lightly against her lip as her heart seethed with resentment.
Her face, exquisite and cold as frost, carried a subtle air of melancholy—her beauty only sharpened by her indignation.
At that moment, Sikong Changfeng and Baili Dongjun exchanged glances. Seeing Li Hanyi's shifting expression, both looked puzzled, though they still stepped forward to offer congratulations.
"Junior Sister, your Listening Rain Sword has reached forty-second on the Divine Weapon Ranking and earned you the comprehension of an Earthly Immortal. Truly, congratulations!"
"With this, your martial path will surely reach even greater heights!"
Baili Dongjun's smile carried a tinge of envy.
"Indeed! At this rate, breaking through to the Earthly Immortal Realm yourself should be no problem."
Sikong Changfeng nodded eagerly, his tone filled with excitement.
If that happened, the power of Snow-Moon City would rise to terrifying new heights.
A single expert beyond the Heavenly Human Realm—such a being could make the entire Northern Li Empire tremble.
Yet Li Hanyi's expression remained unchanged—still as serene, elegant, and untouchable as drifting snow.
Earthly Immortal Realm?
Heh.
Right now, all she wanted was to find him.
Sikong Changfeng and Baili Dongjun both felt a flicker of awkwardness, unsure why she seemed displeased. Had they somehow offended her again?
Beneath the eaves, silence fell among the three.
Ming Empire — Imperial Palace.
Zhu Houzhao quietly gazed at the name glowing upon the golden ranking.
The Snow-Moon Sword Immortal, Li Hanyi.
It truly had been a long time since he'd seen her.
Back then, after imparting a few martial techniques to her, Zhu Houzhao had once again wandered the jianghu, planting his pieces across the land.
He had barely met her a few times since then.
"I wonder how Hanyi's cultivation has progressed. Has she broken through to the Earthly Immortal Realm?"
"With her talent—and the techniques I left her—she should by now have surpassed Baili Dongjun in Snow-Moon City."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, quietly speculating.
As memories of those days with the "little fairy" surfaced, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but feel a faint sense of nostalgia.
Unconsciously, the image of that aloof, pure woman—proud as a plum blossom in winter—rose before his eyes, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I really should find time to visit her again."
[Divine Weapon Ranking — No. 41: Lingxu Sword]
Bearer: Zhang Liang
Reason for Ranking: Graceful as wind through a secluded valley, ethereal beyond the mortal realm. Its slender, elegant blade gleams like crystal—sharp yet unstained by blood, radiating the air of an immortal.
Reward: Forty years of cultivation.
[Divine Weapon Ranking — No. 40: Sword of Chaos]
Bearer: "Luanshen" — the top-ranked assassin of the Heaven's Net organization, who named himself after his blade.
Reason for Ranking: Originally forged for King Goujian of Yue, consecrated with white horse and ox blood in sacrifice to the god of Kunwu. The blade can cleave iron as if it were mud, carrying the power of wind and thunder.
Reward: One mid-grade Guiyuan Pill. Even a Grandmaster can swiftly recover from grave injury after consuming it.
[Divine Weapon Ranking — No. 38: Tiger Soul Sword]
Bearer: Tian Hu
Reason for Ranking: Fierce and tyrannical, its tip shaped like a shovel, with twin notches and six serrated edges. When swung, it emits a blue sword aura and the faint roar of a tiger. Its strikes sweep through foes like a storm, annihilating all before it.
Reward: One high-grade Divine Strength Pill — grants the user the strength of a thousand catties.
Confucian School — Little Sage Village.
Zhang Liang stood atop an arched bridge, gazing at the shimmering lake before him, its rippling light reflected in his calm eyes.
As golden radiance descended from the heavens, the power of the Divine Ranking flowed into him, and his aura surged rapidly.
Late Grandmaster… Peak Grandmaster…
Boom!
In an instant, he broke through into the Great Grandmaster Realm—and still, his energy continued to climb.
Within mere breaths, ethereal currents swirled around him, extending two zhang in every direction. The ground beneath his feet cracked open in thin lines spreading outward.
The very air shimmered with sharp, unapproachable force.
Moments later, Zhang Liang opened his eyes. His aura was vast, mighty, and utterly transformed.
His strength had undergone a complete metamorphosis.
"Third Junior Brother, congratulations! The Divine Ranking's reward has vastly increased your cultivation."
"Now, in all of Confucianism, perhaps only our uncle-master and eldest brother can still best you."
A man in a blue scholar's robe approached with a gentle smile—Yan Lu, refined and unhurried.
Zhang Liang chuckled softly.
"Second Brother, everyone knows you cultivate the Meditative Mind Technique—growing stronger when facing strength, weaker when facing weakness."
"Even against Eldest Brother, you've never once been defeated!"
"And besides—you wield the Han Guang Sword, do you not?"
"Its edge surely surpasses my Lingxu! When the Golden Ranking appraises it, your reward will far outshine mine."
Zhang Liang turned toward him with a faint smile, his wise eyes flickering with rare delight.
Now, his strength already neared that of Wei Zhuang.
When the time came to rise against the tyranny of Qin, he would have more means at his disposal.
"With this Divine Ranking, the world's balance will surely shift."
"Whether our Little Sage Village can endure in the chaos to come—who can say?"
Yan Lu looked up at the glowing list in the sky, his tone tinged with melancholy.
"With Uncle Xun here to anchor us, Little Sage Village will not fall."
Determination flashed in Zhang Liang's deep gaze.
Uncle Xun was the true foundation of Little Sage Village—his strength unfathomable.
Though the world believed he possessed no martial ability, only the inner circle of the village knew the truth.
His cultivation was suspected to have surpassed the Heavenly Human Realm.
He was the unshakable pillar of Little Sage Village.
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