Another year draws to a close.
Little Mountain City.
Zhong Shenxiu, draped in a fur coat, with thick deer leather gloves on his hands, took advantage of the night to scale the city walls.
"Wood door hearing dog barks, snowstorm night returns home..."
Gazing upon the interior of the small town, unchanged from a year ago, Zhong Shenxiu couldn’t help but feel reflective.
A year ago, he broke through to Grandmaster, ranking on the Earth List.
Now, he had ascended to the Heavenly List, having refined three Martial Arts Divine Powers!
The name Liu Yi, known as the Ten Thousand Poison Hand, thoroughly shook the world, and the Shanyao Gang rose with him—now, they could be considered a ’major force.’
Had he been able to remain in this world, and even train the next generation of Great Grandmasters, joining the top eight major forces wouldn’t have been out of the question.
"Alas... I have to leave..."
Zhong Shenxiu introspected his own body, seeing that incomplete symbol deep within his tissue.
"The more Martial Arts Divine Powers I cultivate, the more this symbol will be ’completed’, and what will happen then is truly unpredictable... But for the most part, it definitely won’t be something I wish to witness."
Had he reached a high enough position, already being an immortal with a Primordial Spirit Dharma Body, or even a dissolved ascetic fairy, perhaps he’d be interested in deciphering that symbol.
But with his current lowly strength, he did not want to get involved too deeply.
The benefits he could reap were already enough; any more... might just cost him dearly, which would not be worthwhile.
Now, he was prepared to return to Shanyao Gang to celebrate the new year, and next year, assumed the identity of the Undying Evil Emperor, brush up some more Heavenly Show Points, and then perhaps return.
If he could get the Heavenly Stele from the imperial court, it would be even more perfect.
"With the physical body’s three Divine Skills, I’ve reached my current limit. But if there are better options on the Heavenly Stele, it wouldn’t be too late to replace one of the original three... Just that with the imperial court’s intention to cleanse the Martial Arts, will they still let me see it?"
Zhong Shenxiu pondered.
Regardless, before, Liu Yi was a Guest Elder of the Divine Capture Sect and considered half a man of the court.
In terms of stance, he was on the court’s side.
And if henceforth the common people were ruled by the imperial court, the Great Wu Dynasty lasting for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations... honestly, that didn’t seem so bad.
The people of this age were accustomed to the world belonging to one family, one lineage.
"Even... when it’s time for me to leave, I could negotiate with the imperial court. As long as they let me see the Heavenly Stele, it’s fine for me to commit suicide right after seeing it. They wouldn’t need to take the initiative to cleanse their hands, nor tarnish their reputation with several Great Grandmasters... wonder if that would flatter the court enough..."
What about the entrustment of the Saint Monk?
Heh, they weren’t kin, and he hadn’t promised anything.
"And moreover... since Liu Yi vanished after the Southern Border incident, perhaps I could use breaking through to Great Grandmaster, needing to adapt, as an explanation... After all, ordinary Grandmasters struggle to adapt to a completely different information and magnetic field world right after a breakthrough. They’re not like me, who has been a Cultivator for so long..."
"But now, it’s time to reveal myself."
He proceeded toward Shanyao Gang leisurely.
Meanwhile, within Shanyao Gang.
Shi Yu, with his wife, was hosting another distinguished guest.
Wei Baizhu was getting older, and his strength was waning; he began delegating the management of gang affairs.
Among them, Shi Yu received the most attention.
In fact, everyone in the Shanyao Gang knew that he was the next Gang Leader.
Otherwise, where would that Heavenly List Grandmaster be placed?
Therefore, Shi Yu’s position was as stable as Taishan, and no one could contend with him. At this time, he was hosting the visitors from Divine Capture Sect as the junior gang leader.
"Master Yan, my master really hasn’t returned..."
Shi Yu looked pained as he stared at Yan Wushuang in front of him.
"Your master was attacked by the Undying Evil Emperor during his breakthrough in the Southern Border, coughing up blood on the spot... And then he disappeared without a trace, perhaps to heal."
Yan Wushuang’s brows were tightly furrowed, "The Undying Evil Emperor is ranked fourth on the Heavenly List, no... he’s now the third Grandmaster, with unparalleled movement technique, shamelessly launching a sneak attack, I’m somewhat worried."
Hearing this, Shi Yu’s face also darkened.
Before, the Grandmasters were as elusive as divine dragons showing their heads but not their tails, so he didn’t feel much about it.
But in the recent months, the Undying Evil Emperor rampaged across the world, plundering the Martial Arts secrets of various sects. Those famous sects with resounding names couldn’t stop him at all; those who slightly resisted were slaughtered.
The name of the Undying Evil Emperor truly echoed throughout Jianghu, hailed as the number one demon of Martial Arts!
At this moment, he was genuinely worried for his master.
"Thank you for your concern, Wushuang, but I am fine."
Just then, a figure slowly arrived.
When Yan Wushuang turned her gaze, she saw a figure that seemed to arrive in the hall as if following the sound.
"Disciple pays respects to Master."
Shi Yu was overjoyed, immediately pulling Little Zi with him to pay their respects.
"Form following sound?"
Yan Wushuang looked at Zhong Shenxiu’s unparalleled qinggong and couldn’t help but sigh, "You’ve far surpassed me..."
Thinking about the hidden dangers of Divine Capture Sect’s techniques, she felt even more disheartened.
In her lifetime, there was no hope of breaking through to be a Grandmaster.
At most, she could be the next Great Divine Capture Tie Xue, nothing more.
"It’s just a minor technique..."
Zhong Shenxiu waved his hand, asking Shi Yu to go inform the other gang members, then turned to Yan Wushuang, "The Undying Evil Emperor is indeed formidable; his Black Demon Hand is unparalleled in the world. I was severely wounded by him and need time to recover. I made you wait for a long time... What did you mean earlier about being the third on the Heavenly List?"
Yan Wushuang stared at Zhong Shenxiu blankly, tacitly not mentioning why he didn’t heal under the assistance of the Imperial Court and other matters. She solemnly answered, "You haven’t been seen in Jianghu lately and are unaware of the major events in Martial Arts. There has been a huge shakeup in the Heavenly List, equivalent to a complete reshuffle, it’s just that Divine Capture Sect has yet to announce it. I must congratulate Brother Xun for improving yet again."
"Oh?" Zhong Shenxiu knew very well but still pretended ignorance, inquiring in detail.
"Now on the Heavenly List, the Royal Grand Tributor is first, Loose Cultivation Mad Daoist second. One never leaves the Imperial Palace, while the other roams Jianghu, calling the four seas his home, mad and deranged, so there’s no need to mention them."
Yan Wushuang’s expression became extremely solemn, "Next, the Saint Monk of Stone Buddha Temple, Six Void Zhou Tong, Langya King have all died... Su Yin Fairy, Fei E Sword Song Zhong have announced their retirement from Jianghu..."
"And the Undying Evil Emperor, striking continuously, has gained enormous fame, thus ranking third on the Heavenly List!"
"The Ten Absolute Martial Artist, originally ninth on the list, directly rose to fourth. Butterfly Knife User practiced his technique incorrectly and died from it, so now East Sea Fisherman is fifth, and you are seventh!"
"Congratulations, after retreating for a while, without fighting a single battle, how does it feel to have your Heavenly List ranking soar?"
Zhong Shenxiu had a complex expression and after a long sigh admitted, "Indeed, it’s complicated and difficult to articulate..."
This change in the Heavenly List was truly a storm of blood and gore.
Not to mention the others, Six Void Zhou Tong and Langya King must have been dragged into mutual destruction by the Saint Monk of Stone Buddha Temple.
What kind of shock will there be in Martial Arts World of Jianghu when the Heavenly List is released at the beginning of next month?
PS: End of the month plea for monthly votes!!!