CHAPTER 162: FIRST ON THE EARTHLY RANKINGS

After pressing the link on his phone, the browser opened, and the tab loaded a login interface with an ancient ink-and-brush aesthetic.

Wang Sheng went to the living room with his phone and called Mu Wanxuan over. Curious, his parents also walked over to him.

He entered the account number and password that Mou Yue had sent, giving him access to a clean mobile forum interface. A gentle guqin[1]melody played as an eye-catching, large red banner with words written on it appeared.

Righteous qi shall endure the test of time through the grand unity of the immortals and the mundane.

It could only be described as majestic.

Below that were four sub-sections, each containing four articles. The first section was "Vicissitudes of the Righteous Dao." At the top of it were two pinned documents: an official letter from the Hua Republic addressed to all practicing Daoists and a list of government-issued benefits and allowances for righteous cultivators.

Below the two was a list of corrupt Daoist organizations and prominent corrupt Daoists who had already been purged. The fourth document, titled "Immortal Path's Fallen Heroes," listed righteous cultivators who had died in the battle against corrupt Daoists.

Wang Sheng pressed on the fourth one and browsed for a while. Row upon row of half-body portraits appeared on the screen. A significant portion of them had been killed in the ambush on the celestial tablet's convoy.

The document dampened his eagerness to check the Heavenly Rankings.

Beside him, Wang Sheng's father couldn't help asking, "Little Sheng, Little Xuan, are you usually in this much danger? If so, then just stay on the mountain and cultivate. Don't go wandering around. You two are still young disciples, aren't you? Do other Daoists from your generation also have to fight those corrupt Daoist fiends?"

Wang Sheng looked up. "Don't worry, Dad. We're just nobodies."

Only then did he remember that he shouldn't let his parents worry. He quickly backed out of the list of fallen heroes.

The second section was "Elegance of the Righteous Dao." There were eight articles beneath it. The pinned one summarized the lineages of the righteous Dao, followed by introductions to various Daoist sects. The last two articles focused on Daoist families with the closest connection to the Special Investigation Unit.

The third section was the highly anticipated Immortals of the Righteous Dao. Under it were four rankings: Heavenly Rankings, Earthly Rankings, Mortal Rankings, and Rising Stars.

Wang Sheng eagerly opened the Heavenly Rankings. Since he had yet to reach the Illusory Core Realm, there was no way he would appear on the list. What he truly wanted to see were his master and senior sister's rankings.

Upon pressing on it, the interface rotated into landscape mode, and a pop-up appeared in the center.

This list is updated weekly. It ranks the top righteous Dao experts in the cultivation world based on known cultivation realms, actual strength, reputation, and battle record. If there are any discrepancies, please contact us immediately. For reference only.

After Wang Sheng pressed confirm, the screen turned black. A moment later, five silhouettes gradually appeared in a row from left to right. These were the top five experts on the Heavenly Rankings.

Tapping on a silhouette would make it drift forward, as if floating out of the screen. Lines of archaic script appeared on either side.

Rank 1: the Grand Celestial Master of the Longhu Mountains' Celestial Master Sect.

Cultivation Realm: Peak Golden Core Realm.

Though no one has ever witnessed his full strength, his cultivation alone has long suppressed both righteous and corrupt factions of the cultivation world.

"The Grand Celestial Master is truly incredible," Wang Sheng marveled. Just then, a small hand reached over and tapped on the second silhouette—an elderly man with white hair.

Rank 2: Daoist Master Qing Long, sect master of the Shu Sword Sect.

Cultivation Realm: Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm.

The Sword-Controlling Art of the Shu Sword Sect has been renowned since ancient times. With the help of Daoist Master Fei Yu, the young sword cultivator who retrieved the art's complete version from the ancient trial grounds of the Shu Mountains, Daoist Master Qing Long has gained immeasurable strength.

Though only due to his connection to Qing Long, Wang Sheng was at least somehow listed on the Heavenly Rankings too. The Special Investigation Unit had most likely done it on purpose.

Rank 3: Daoist Master Shou Li, elder of Mount Mao's Shangqing Sect.

Cultivation Realm: Late-Stage Golden Core Realm.

One of the three great talisman sects, the Shangqing Sect of Mount Mao has shaken the world throughout history with its talisman and lightning techniques. Daoist Master Shou Li has already achieved profound mastery in Daoist arts even before the resurgence of primal qi.

Rank 4: Daoist Master Yuan Pu, former sect master of Wudang's Daoist lineage.

Cultivation Realm: Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm.

Through his swordsmanship, Daoist Master Yuan Pu has proven himself worthy of his title as a grandmaster of the sword. He had overseen and defended the Wudang Mountains' lineage for many years using his Devil-Dispelling True Martial Sword, which possesses unfathomable power.

Rank 5: Daoist Master Zixuan, grand elder of Mount Lao's Daoist heritage.

Cultivation Realm: Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm.

Wang Sheng blinked. His master wasn't in the top five?

On the second page, Qing Yanzi's full-body portrait appeared on the far left. The four figures on the right were still white-haired Daoist elders.

Rank 6: Daoist Master Bu Yan, a successor of Lu the Progenitor's lineage.

Cultivation Realm: Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm.

Daoist Master Bu Yan attained the Dao on the Zhongnan Mountains and then cultivated on the Wudang Mountains for over a decade. Apart from his vast divine abilities, he has also mastered the astonishing Pure Yang Immortal Arts. He had suppressed corrupt cultivators several times and once even killed a corrupt Golden Core Realm Daoist with a single palm strike.

"Look, it's Master!" Wang Sheng looked up at his senior sister, who was grinning with joy. She was clearly quite pleased that their master was sixth on the Heavenly Rankings.

Their happiness lasted only a moment, though.

Those below Qing Yanzi were mostly Daoist elders. At rank sixteen, Wang Sheng found Jingyun. Daoist elders at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm followed right behind her.

Jingyun's high ranking was largely due to her contributions in the battle against Azure Dragon. Her achievements ensured she wouldn't rank too low.

He continued swiping through the list. The top twenty-five were all Golden Core Realm cultivators, with almost every major Daoist heritage represented. When he turned to page seven, Wang Sheng's eyes lit up.

At the center of the screen was a figure dressed in ancient robes, wearing a carefree headscarf, and holding Ice Crystal. Who else could it be if not his senior sister?

If the color intensity could be measured by percentage, she alone accounted for ninety-nine percent of it. The four other Daoist elders beside her immediately appeared far less striking.

Just as Wang Sheng was about to press on her portrait, Mu Wanxuan swept out a trace of Yin-Yang qi and snatched the phone from him. She stuck out her tongue apologetically, then held the phone close and looked at the evaluation herself.

She pursed her lips afterward, clearly finding the praise a bit over the top.

"Senior Sister, let me take a look. It's not like there's anything to be embarrassed about."

"Mm..." Mu Wanxuan obediently handed the phone back to him. Soon after, her own phone vibrated lightly. It seemed Mou Yue had just sent her the link and her account information. Brightening up, she opened the page herself.

Wang Sheng's mother immediately went over to Mu Wanxuan, while his father remained at his side. Both watched with keen interest.

Rank 33: Daoist Master Bu Yu, a successor of Lu the Progenitor's lineage.

Cultivation Realm: Mid-Stage Illusory Core Realm.

Daoist Master Bu Yu, a disciple of Daoist Master Bu Yan, cultivates using the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra and is mastering the Dao of Yin and Yang. Gifted and with astonishing comprehension, she created the Yin-Yang Grand Formation, a formation so profound that it baffles even gods and spirits. Though her cultivation is slightly lower than others on the list, she possesses strength equal to Golden Core Realm cultivators.

Wang Sheng smiled. "That's not exaggerated at all. You are that strong, Senior Sister."

Mu Wanxuan just giggled and held her phone up for him to see. On the screen was a young Daoist priest with a sword case on his back and a bloody longsword in his hand. A five-colored flying sword was also swirling around him.

Wang Sheng saw that face in the mirror all the time.

All the other Daoist masters had still images, but his was animated; his flying sword kept circling him.

"Is that you, Little Sheng?" Wang Sheng's father immediately grabbed the phone. "Son, since when were you this good-looking? How did I never notice?"

Wang Sheng scratched his head. "That's fake. Someone clearly edited the image. It's pure manipulation."

He couldn't help feeling a little let down in his heart. There were only a hundred spots on the Heavenly Rankings, and he was...

Ranked 101st.

Rank 101(temporary): Daoist Master Fei Yu, a successor of Lu the Progenitor's lineage.

Cultivation Realm: Late-Stage Seed Formation Realm.

Wang Sheng's entry was already filling the entire screen. Compared to the short bios of other Daoist masters, his was significantly more detailed.

The Investigation Unit's intention to boost his public profile couldn't have been more obvious.

Daoist Master Fei Yu—a disciple of Daoist Master Bu Yan and junior brother of Daoist Master Bu Yu—cultivates using the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. He specializes in the Dao of the Sword and practices the Shu Sword-Controlling Art. Since he has only started cultivating recently, he has yet to reach the Illusory Core Realm.

Relying on the finesse of his swordsmanship, he once fought several Illusory Core Realm cultivators and over a dozen Seed Formation Realm corrupt cultivators alone, never once losing ground.

At the Immortal Dao Conference, he engaged in a three-way sword duel with Daoist Master Gao Shixing(Rank 58) and Daoist Master Fei Lianzi(Rank 72). His mastery of the Dao of the Sword is already on par with renowned sword cultivators.

Daoist Master Yuan Pu Zhenren once praised his innate sword bone, and Daoist Master Qing Long also spoke highly of him.

Appointed by the Special Investigation Unit, he is the first official advisor from the cultivation world. Moreover, he is currently ranked first on the Earthly Rankings.

"Ahem..."

Wang Sheng calmly closed the interface and opened the Earthly Rankings. Sure enough, he was at the very top of the list, leading the other ninety-nine Illusory Core Realm cultivators.

Wang Sheng's mother was overjoyed. She kept praising how capable their master must be to have produced such outstanding disciples.

Qing Yanzi truly was formidable. Not only was he ranked sixth on the Heavenly Rankings, but his eldest disciple had already entered the list at thirty-third in its first edition. Though not quite officially part of the Heavenly Rankings, Wang Sheng was also mentioned.

A sect with all of its members on the Heavenly Rankings!

Well, more like two and a half. After all, Wang Sheng's name still had the word "temporary" beside it.

His father, however, didn't seem pleased about his son's high ranking in the cultivation world. Instead, he read through Wang Sheng's profile again, then sighed.

"Little Sheng, you're a grown-up now. You can make your own choices. Still, your mother and I want you to be safe. If what you're doing is too dangerous, is there really no way to avoid it?"

Wang Sheng didn't know how to respond. He opened his mouth but couldn't get any words out.

Fortunately, his phone suddenly vibrated several times.

He glanced at it and saw a voice message from the monk ranked second on the Earthly Rankings. He tapped it casually.

—Amitabha! Congratulations on making the Heavenly Rankings, Fei Yu. So, how much did you pay to be part of it? Think you could hook this little monk up with a spot, too? A top-tier expert on the Heavenly Rankings—now that's intense!

Before Wang Sheng could reply, a flood of messages began to pour in. His phone started buzzing nonstop.

1. A seven-string traditional Chinese musical instrument. ☜