Chapter 171: Chapter 170: The Supreme List
Translator: 549690339
Pei Xuanjing ended his closed-door training, descended Shenxiao Mountain with Pang Hong, and found a tavern in a city at the foot of the mountain.
The master-disciple duo sat in a private room of the tavern, where Pei Xuanjing ate whilst answering Pang Hong’s questions about martial arts cultivation.
Back on Taihe Mountain, after being guided by Taoist Qingxu Zi, Pang Hong had already broken into the Seventh Grade Realm.
After more than two years of intense cultivation, he had honed his physical body to its peak half a year ago and could have attempted to break into the Sixth Grade Martial Artist’s realm.
From following Pei Xuanjing at the Martial Academy to now, when Pei Xuanjing is twenty-nine, Pang Hong is almost twenty.
Being a peak Seventh Grade Martial Artist at the age of twenty, with Pang Hong’s average abilities, is already surprising in the entire world of martial artists in the Great Ming.
However, Pang Hong felt he was dull and that his talent for cultivation was too poor. Especially after the recent announcement of the rankings, seeing Pei Xuanjing in the first place made him think he was letting his master down.
He had access to every form of martial arts skill and resource in his cultivation journey, and was no less fortunate than the heir apparents of big forces.
Even the heirs of large forces probably didn’t have the chance to be personally guided and taught by two mighty individuals like Pei Xuanjing and Qingxu Zi — both of whom were top figures in the Great Ming’s martial world.
“You don’t need to put so much pressure on yourself. Practicing martial arts is for oneself, not for others to see.” Upon seeing Pang Hong’s mental stress, Pei Xuanjing advised him.
To Pei Xuanjing, aside from his pursuit of longevity, all other glory and reputations meant nothing.
What if his disciple isn’t naturally gifted or currently weaker?
If he wishes, he can also cultivate Pang Hong into a powerful figure that makes countless people look up in admiration, no less than the heirs of powerful clans.
That was Pei Xuanjing’s confidence.
“Disciple understands,” Pang Hong replied respectfully.
Seeing Pang Hong, Pei Xuanjing decided not to continue his lecture.
Ultimately, some things need to be realized on one’s own, no matter how many times others may tell them.
After a few bites of food and drink, Pei Xuanjing put down his chopsticks and said, “After you break into the Sixth Grade, you should venture into the world of martial arts for actual practice.”
After all, he couldn’t bear to completely let go of his own disciple.
A young eagle must fly to the sky on its own.
Once Pang Hong breaks into the Sixth Grade and has some defensive strength, he can go out and polish his martial arts skills, perhaps making significant progress.
“Ah!” Pang Hong was startled, not expecting his master to suddenly say this. Still, seeing Pei Xuanjing’s resolute look, he finally nodded in agreement.
The silence in the room was abruptly disturbed by the noise outside.
Pei Xuanjing signalled, “Go out and see what’s happened.”
Pang Hong nodded and pushed the door to go outside.
Not long after, Pang Hong walked in holding a piece of announcement paper.
“Master, the Supreme Ranking has been released, ” Pang Hong said, his voice trembling with excitement.
Being a young man, he was naturally curious about such things.
“Oh?” Pei Xuanjing played with his glass, casting a surprised look.
Speaking of which, he was also curious about how Bai Xiaosheng would arrange this Supreme Ranking.
After all, even when he and Bai Xiaosheng were discussing famous martial artists in the world during a drinking session, Bai Xiaosheng suggested many people who could be listed, but even he did not have a definite idea about who should be on the list and who should not be.
“Let me see.”
“Yes, master.”
Pei Xuanjing took the announcement paper and looked at the first person on the Supreme Ranking list.
Zhang Celestial Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain, born from the ancestral court of the Zhengyi Dao.
Even though True Martial Sect is flourishing and Dragon Tiger Mountain is showing signs of decay, one cannot underestimate Dragon Tiger Mountain, a place with a thousand years of history. Given Dragon Tiger Mountain’s illustrious history and the resources behind it, even though the old celestial master has not shown his skills in many years, he still ranked first on the list.
Even Pei Xuanjing had no objection to this ranking.
Of course, whether Bai Xiaosheng ranked this old celestial master, who had been concealing his abilities on Dragon Tiger Mountain, first to push him and Dragon Tiger Mountain into the limelight or not, was a matter of opinion, and no one knew for sure.
The second place, the leader of the Sky Demon Sect.
Over the past few years, the Demonic Cult, a very powerful faction in the martial arts world, has been extremely low-profile. Besides the occasional appearance of someone from the Demonic Cult, there hasn’t been any news related to the Demonic Cult.
In Pei Xuanjing’s career, he’d heard about the Demonic Cult but never actually encountered anyone from the organization.
Now that Bai Xiaosheng ranked the leader of the Sky Demon Sect second, he effectively reintroduced this long-lost faction to the world of martial arts.
Pei Xuanjing chuckled, recalling the words Bai Xiaosheng had once told him.
The reason the Demonic Cult remained low-profile was not because they had changed their nature, but because of the complex internal relationships within the Demonic Cult. Several factions within the Demonic Cult were acting independently, and no one was willing to succumb to another.
It was necessary to understand that the people of the Demonic Cult respected power. Without a powerful figure who could overcome everyone else with his own strength, it would be difficult to reunite the Demonic Cult.
As far as Pei Xuanjing knew, even though this leader of the Sky Demon Sect was extremely capable, there were a few others within the Demonic Cult who could compete with him.
By ranking the leader of the Sky Demon Sect on the Supreme Ranking list, Bai Xiaosheng was undoubtedly putting the leader on the hot seat, seemingly intending to instigate contradictions within the Demonic Cult.
Third place, the North Zen Sect’s Monk Hui Ding.
As a major faction in the martial arts world, alongside the Tao and Demon sects, it was only natural for someone from the Buddhism School to be among the top martial artists. If this list didn’t include someone from the Zen Sect, it would indeed be a curiosity.
Moreover, the founding emperor of Great Ming had an experience of becoming a monk in his youth, so even though the royal family of Great Ming was close to the Taoist School, they didn’t put too much pressure on the Buddhism School.
Fourth place: Lord of the Netherworld, Ghost Emperor of Fengdu.
Sixth place: Chief of True Martial Sect, Qingxu Zi.
Tenth place: Mire Sect leader, Zhao Baiyang.
This was an old acquaintance of Pei Xuanjing’s, and he didn’t expect that the other party would also be listed in the Supreme Rankings.
Pei Xuanjing was leisurely looking through the names and information of these eighteen people.
At this moment, he suddenly felt a fleeting presence aimed at him.
“Yu Zhenzi?” Pei Xuanjing furrowed his brows, aware of who the source of the presence was.
He handed the announcement paper to Pang Hong and said, “Wait for me here awhile, I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes, master.”
Having said that, Pei Xuanjing left the room and followed the presence he had detected.
Through several streets, Pei Xuanjing entered a small alleyway, arrived at a private residential door, and lightly knocked..