Chapter 474: Chapter 474: The Controversy Caused by the List of Prides, Dong Qiang’s Worries
The Tianjiao List was released, and it quickly set the Mystique Kingdom ablaze.
On every street and alley, people were talking about it.
“What is the Tianjiao List?”
“It’s a ranking that records the Element Gathering Realm cultivators in territories like the Royal Capital, Southern River, Northern Border, Eastern Mountain, West Plain, and others within the Mystique Kingdom. Only true prodigies can be listed.”
“Look, the list has been posted.”
“First place goes to the Heavenly Blade King Yi Zhuang from the Royal Capital.”
“Second place, Jiang Baige of the Sword King Sect from Southern River.”
“Third place…”
As people skimmed the list from top to bottom, they’d comment every time they saw a familiar name.
“How come Pan Yelin, who ranks eighteenth, and Liang Zhouwu, who ranks nineteenth, are both at the fifth layer of the Element Gathering Realm, yet Pan Yelin is ranked higher?”
“Right, how come Young Master Li is only in the sixty-fifth place? I think he could break into the top fifty.”
“There’s something wrong with this list!”
“I think so too.”
But soon enough, arguments broke out.
Many onlookers were dissatisfied with certain rankings on the Tianjiao List, feeling that they differed from their own perceptions, which led to discontent and quickly escalated into quarrels right in front of the list.
Some even challenged each other on the spot.
There were many such incidents, and even those listed were confused and didn’t know why they were included on the list.
Some prodigies expressed surprise.
Some prodigies expressed bewilderment.
Some prodigies furrowed their brows, similarly showing varying degrees of dissatisfaction with their ranking.
Liuyun Sect.
Dong Qiang paced back and forth in the courtyard, cursing under his breath.
“How strange. I’ve been laying low, yet who the hell put me on the Tianjiao List, and how on earth did I get ranked ninety-first?”
Dong Qiang covered his face with his hand, utterly frustrated.
Dong Dongqiang, “Perhaps, a great figure has glimpsed the extraordinary nature of your physical body and cultivation level, thus landing you on the list.”
Demon King Huyuan, “Is it possible that the Mystique Kingdom’s royal family possesses a powerful divination technique capable of deducing the innate talents of cultivators within the kingdom and ranking them accordingly?”
Dong Dongqiang, “Absolutely not!”
Demon King Huyuan, “Why is it impossible?”
Dong Dongqiang, “If I say it’s impossible, then it’s impossible. Back in the day, I was a renowned figure in the Divine Origin Realm, a great power. I even met Ancestor Lingmiao’s father. We’ve sat under the phoenix tree for lengthy talks, and they mentioned there is no such divination technique.”
Demon King Huyuan, “Heh!”
Dong Dongqiang, “What’s with that? Want to fight about it?”
Demon King Huyuan, “Afraid? If it comes to it, all three of us could perish together!”
Dong Qiang listened to the argument between the two old seniors in his mind and twitched the corner of his mouth as his expression gradually turned bizarre.
Why do you always have to drag me to die with you when you argue?
What a loss!
Dong Qiang was endlessly depressed.
“The Royal Capital has released more news. This Tianjiao List was established by ten Divine Origin Realm great powers after intense deliberation and is a definitive authoritative ranking!”
Within Liuyun Sect, an excited voice from a disciple resounded.
He had just returned from County King City with the latest news.
Dong Qiang hurriedly went over.
In the Sect Main Plaza of Liuyun Sect, he saw a colorful scroll being unfurled.
It depicted a scene from the top-floor tea room in the Miaoyin Tea House.
One could see the Third Prince, a grey-robed elder, Ye Feng, Shu Qianjun, and others all present, frozen in the act of raising their cups, mouths open as if they were engaged in a fierce debate.
On the painting.
Clouds drifted by, and the artistic conception was as ethereal as mist.
At first glance, it seemed like a gathering of immortals discussing the Dao, inspiring countless disciples of Liuyun Sect with longing.
“So, it turns out that this Tianjiao List was discussed and derived by extremely powerful and revered figures like Sect Master Ye, the Commandery Prince, and the Third Prince, so its credibility must be very high.”
“Indeed!”
The crowd immediately showed affirmation, their opportunistic nature shining through.
“It’s them!”
Dong Qiang’s expression changed.
He had met Ye Feng more than once, and now, after seeing this scroll, he immediately realized the truth.
“It must be because during one of our meetings, Ye Feng noticed my physical body and cultivation level are both outstanding, so he recommended me for the Tianjiao List.”
Dong Qiang muttered to himself.
Demon King Huyuan: “We haven’t been discovered, have we?”
Dong Dongqiang: “Idiot! If Ye Feng had discovered us, would he have spared us?”
Demon King Huyuan: “You have a point!”
Dong Qiang: “The two seniors are well hidden in my sea of consciousness, Sect Master Ye probably can’t detect it; it’s likely he thinks I have great potential.”
“That must be the case.”
Dong Dongqiang and Demon King Huyuan agreed.
With the appearance of this scroll, the entire Mystique Kingdom once again caused a sensation.
The name of the Third Prince was already well-known throughout the entire kingdom.
Most Tianjiao agreed that the Tianjiao List he compiled was highly credible.
Add to that the support of Ye Feng, Commandery Prince Shu Qianjun, and the other ten Great Powers of the Divine Origin Realm, this list’s credibility achieved a new level of authority.
“Since it’s a list jointly compiled by ten Great Powers and the Third Prince, then it definitely deserves to be trusted.”
The public opinion swiftly changed.
But soon, another piece of explosive news spread.
The rankings on this list were based on a combination of cultivation level, talent, age, and other information.
Especially since there was a note at the end with four big characters:
For Reference Only!
“God damn, ‘For Reference Only’!”
“I heard from the disciples of Misty Sect that this list is just the initial version. If any Tianjiao is not satisfied, they can challenge the Tianjiao on the list. If they win, they can take over their ranking.”
“Really?”
“Yes, that’s what the Misty Sect’s disciple said.”
“I also heard that the Tianjiao List is finalized once a year, and any cultivator who ends up in the top hundred at the annual ranking can win a reward.”
“The higher the ranking, the richer the reward!”
“Is that true?”
“Absolutely true. The rewards are taken directly from the royal treasury by the Third Prince. I heard that Spiritual Artifacts, Spells, Auxiliary Cultivation Methods, or other rewards are all available.”
“That’s amazing!”
“I’ve also heard that the top hundred names from the annual ranking will be permanently recorded for all future Tianjiao to study and remember.”
“Damn, I must make it into the top hundred!”
“Give it up, with your skills, even if there were rankings up to ten thousand, you probably couldn’t make it into the top ten thousand.”
“Scoundrel, dare to underestimate me!”
As the new information spread, people began to understand the purpose of the Tianjiao List.
Some cultivators, eager to try, prepared to challenge the Tianjiao on the list to snatch their rankings.
Within Misty Sect.
Ye Feng listened to Ji Ziling report the news from outside and laughed, saying:
“Well done. The news I asked you to spread has mostly got out. Now the entire Southern River Basin basically knows about the Tianjiao List.”
“This is what a disciple should do,” Ji Ziling said.
“Good, now go on with your cultivation. You too should train hard and strive for a higher ranking on the Tianjiao List.”
“Yes, disciple will definitely work hard on cultivation.”
Ji Ziling quickly left.
Having advanced to the Element Gathering Realm with considerable strength, she was nominated by Ye Feng to the hundredth place on the Tianjiao List, just making the cut.
As a result, many cultivators attempted to challenge her.
To keep her spot and continuously climb the rankings, Ji Ziling must train diligently and maximize the improvement of her cultivation level.
…
At Qingyun Sect.
Xiao Fangu smashed a stone table with a slap of his hand.
“Why look down on me, Xiao Fangu? Even Ji Ziling is ranked as the hundredth, why can’t I make the list? That’s right, Dong Qiang from the Liuyun Sect… I’ve seen him. With small eyes and unimpressive looks, and just average strength, how is he ranked ninety-first?”
Xiao Fangu was very frustrated.
He decided, he would challenge Dong Qiang and forcefully earn a spot on the list!