The process of his breakthrough lasted for three whole days.
As the morning sun rose on the fourth day since his arrival at Skysaber Mountain, casting its resplendent rays upon the majestic peak, Wu Yuan finally opened his eyes and gradually rose to his feet. With a mere thought, an unseen force swept over him, purging the dust from his body. Simultaneously, the invisible sphere that had enveloped a ten-li radius around him dissipated entirely.
"The expert has awakened!"
"Look!" Hundreds of meters from the mountain path, whispered murmurs filled the air.
Over the past few days, martial artists and common folk who had caught wind of the rumors had congregated here, their numbers nearing the thousands. They were all abuzz with excitement, eager to witness the moment Wu Yuan awakened. However, a contingent of soldiers blocked their path, preventing them from drawing too near.
It seems I’ve attracted quite a gathering. Wu Yuan cast a cursory glance at the crowd, paying them little heed. His Soul Force extended, surveying his surroundings, while his soul sense subtly encompassed a radius of six to seven li. It appeared that no Grandmaster-level expert was present.
"Junior Lu Liang greets Senior." The black-robed elderly man took a step forward, bowing respectfully at the foot of the towering boulder.
"Lu Liang?" Wu Yuan glanced down at him. After gaining command over heaven and earth's power, along with his greatly strengthened soul and spirit, Wu Yuan gained a profound awareness of the world, and inadvertently felt that he was overlooking the mortal world.
At this moment, he truly comprehended why The Sword Hierarch maintained such aloofness towards the mundane world. Qi refiners had truly transcended mortality, and were no longer on the same order of existence as mortal martial artists; the gap between them was as vast as the gap between the heavens above and the earth below.
"What is the matter?" Wu Yuan asked nonchalantly. Having just completed his breakthrough, he did not consciously subdue his power in the state of Harmony of Man and Nature. As a result, his voice seemed to reverberate across the entire world.
"Skysaber Mountain is honored to be graced by Senior’s presence," the elderly man hastily responded. "I have already informed the seniors at Yuanxia Palace. If Senior can spare a moment, a representative from the Heavenly Rankings will arrive to meet with you."
"Meet me?" Wu Yuan remained composed. "Does Great Jin plan on arresting me just because I experienced some cultivation insights after ??passing through this region?"
"Senior, how could you say such a thing?" the black-clad old man, trembling with fear, swiftly fell to his knees. "It is merely a discussion on the Dao!"
"A discussion on the Dao? Haha, with the exception of Imperator Jin, no one else in Great Jin is worthy of discussing the Dao with me," Wu Yuan stated indifferently.
These words struck terror into the heart of the elderly man in black. He couldn't help but wonder who exactly this rugged man was. Which passing deity was he?
"Youngster, go and deliver a message." Wu Yuan gracefully stepped off the colossal boulder and into the air. "Tell Jin Cang that the world does not belong to a single person or family. If your appetite exceeds your capacity, your stomach might just burst."
This spectacle elicited gasps of astonishment from the numerous martial artists and common folk in the distance. No matter how the wind blew, Wu Yuan remained unshaken as he stood in mid-air. Floating a thousand zhangs above the ground, in the warm embrace of sunlight, he looked like an immortal.
"Yes, Junior understands," the elderly man in the black robe uttered, though inwardly panicking. He could tell that this mysterious Heavenly Ranker held a grudge against Great Jin, yet he dared not defy his instructions. As a Savant expert himself, he knew that if the Heavenly Ranker decided to end his life, it would require nothing more than a single thought.
"If Junior may be presumptuous, may I ask what is Senior’s name?" the black-robed elderly man queried through clenched teeth.
He knew that he couldn’t retain the man, but if he failed to even ascertain his name, he might face severe repercussions.
"My name? I am Wan Liu, remember it well!" Wu Yuan’s voice echoed as he took a single step into the air. As if the fabric of space warped, his figure blurred until he vanished from view, leaving everyone bewildered as they stared at the empty sky.
"Wan Liu?" the black-robed elderly man made a mental note. The name was completely unfamiliar to him.
With Wu Yuan's disappearance, peace and quiet returned to the Skysaber Canyon, as hordes of civilians and martial artists were driven away by the soldiers.
"He’s called Wan Liu!"
"He made Senior Lu kneel and pay respects."
"He could walk on air! He must be a land deity from the Heavenly Rankings." The thousands of martial artists and civilians were thrilled, engaging in animated discussions.
Many would never bear witness to the sight of a Heavenly Ranker in their lifetime, but fortune had graced them, making it a hot topic of discussion.
Meanwhile, the black-robed elderly man did not depart. Accompanied by the governor and the group of soldiers, they surrounded the Skysaber Canyon and waited patiently.
"Are you Lu Liang?" One day later, a chilling voice resonated from above, startling the elderly man and the group. All of them looked up at the newcomer with gaping mouths. It was a man around 40 years old, wearing white robes and a hat. He emanated an otherworldly aura as he stood suspended in mid-air. His ability to walk on air was all the proof they needed of his status.
While the other officials and soldiers did not know who the newcomer was, the black-robed elderly man recognized the man’s outfit, and instantly knew he was a legendary figure.
"Disciple Lu Liang pays respects to Deity Zhao," the black-robed elderly man greeted reverently, kneeling.
"Disciple pays respects to Deity Zhao," all the officials and soldiers hurriedly kneeled, feeling as though they were in the presence of a deity.
"You know who I am?" The white-robed man’s demeanor softened slightly, his voice ethereal. "Tell me everything that transpired in the Skysaber Canyon."
"Yes," the black-robed elderly man responded quickly. "Five days ago..." Soon, he swiftly recounted the events.
"Wan Liu?" The man in white robes murmured to himself, "Walking on air, invisible force? It’s the Unity level, a qi refiner!”
Reaching the Unity level meant earning a spot on the Heavenly Rankings. Hence, the white-robed man known as Deity Zhao didn’t bother questioning the mysterious expert’s level, promptly adding him to the Heavenly Rankings.
"He dared claim that throughout Great Jin, only Imperator Jin is worthy of discussing the Dao with him?" The white-robed man's expression soured slightly.
“Where did this Wan Liu emerge from? Why haven't I heard of him before?” The world kept track of the number of Heavenly Rankers, after all.
Suddenly, he thought of a frightening possibility, causing his complexion to subtly shift. However, he quickly regained his composure.
"Alright. Lu Liang, was it? I will remember your name. You've done quite well this time," he declared.
"Return to the Yuanxia Palace, and a Grandmaster will reward you. I shall take my leave first," the man in white robes instructed. As he waved his hand, space seemed to distort around him, and in an instant, he vanished from sight.
"Farewell, Deity Zhao.”
In a matter of days, a piece of news that rattled all thirteen continents spread from the Skysaber Mountain of Great Jin: a Heavenly Ranker known as Wan Liu emerged at Saber Mountain, displaying deity-like powers, and specifically warned Jin Cang to abandon his ambition of unifying the world.
This news reached every major power in the world, prompting frantic investigations from all factions. Which faction did this mysterious Heavenly Ranker belong to? Where did he come from? Countless rumors began to circulate, stirring up a storm of speculation.
Within the majestic Jin Hall of the Jin Royal Palace.
"The Heavenly Rankers have signed a treaty. The conflicts in the Middle Land are to be resolved by the Grandmasters and armies," Emperor Jin stated, his voice barely concealing his rage. "Who is this Wan Liu? How dare he openly violate the treaty of the Heavenly Rankers?"
"Your Majesty!" East King Jin Jiu, donned in heavy armor, shook his head solemnly. "The so-called Heavenly Rankings treaty does hold some power, but it does not include all of the Heavenly Rankers. This Wan Liu appeared out of nowhere, and we know nothing about him."
"Deity Zhao has sent us news that Wan Liu may very well be an immortal who just arrived in our world. We must exercise extreme caution."
"An immortal?" Emperor Jin's eyes narrowed as he asked in a deep voice. "Are you certain?"
"It is merely Deity Zhao's speculation. He intends to consult with the elders for further deliberation," Jin Jiu replied.
Emperor Jin nodded lightly, a fraction of his worries dissipating. He muttered softly, "Thousands of years have gone by, and the next coming of immortals may occur at any time. If that were to occur, it would be calamitous!"
East King Jin Jiu concurred with a nod. They were all well-versed in the ancient texts, fully aware of the horrors the immortals could unleash upon the world.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to overly concern yourself with Wan Liu. Deity Zhao and the ancestors will handle the matter of the Heavenly Rankers," Jin Jiu swiftly changed the subject, "Currently, we must decide on our representatives for the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm. Less than a month remains.”
"Mm." Emperor Jin nodded slightly, "Have the Eastdream and Westdream families accepted our terms?”
“They have agreed and are willing to relinquish the two Chu-Jiang Tokens to us," Jin Jiu affirmed. "This will provide us with an absolute numerical advantage at the Grandmaster level. Whether it’s obliterating Chu Ping or Bu Yu, or seizing treasures, we have the upper hand."
One Chu-Jiang Token could grant entry to one Land Ranker.
"Excellent!" Emperor Jin expressed his satisfaction with his nod, "The ancestors have informed me that Sixth Uncle will lead the team. Despite his age, he has more than sufficient strength to wipe out a large group of Grandmasters."
"Sixth Uncle?" Jin Jiu's eyes gleamed, well aware of their sixth uncle's formidable prowess. Despite having secluded himself for decades and having no aspirations for the Heavenly Rankings, his martial skills were truly fearsome.
Within the Cloudstride Sect, in the Cloud Hall.
Haha, wonderful! Grandmaster Bu Yu was elated upon receiving the news from the Starcom Consortium. A mysterious Heavenly Ranker bearing a grudge against Great Jin has emerged!
Alas, the Heavenly Ranker is as elusive as a phantom, no one can identify him. Grandmaster Bu Yu sighed. If only he would consider lending his protection to the Cloudstride Sect, it could give the Great Jin Empire pause. At the very least, it would help preserve the foundation of our sect.
However, Bu Yu knew this was nothing more than wishful thinking. Even if she were to encounter this mysterious Heavenly Ranker, why would they ever choose to assist the Cloudstride Sect?
Instructor Huan will eventually depart. But the sect must not crumble in my hands. The opening of the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm is our greatest opportunity. No matter how dangerous, I must go. Grandmaster Bu Yu's eyes shone with determination.