Chapter 1017: Outer Ranking
The title of number one under heaven below the Saint realm carried an extraordinary significance.
Because before cultivators reached the Saint realm, it was difficult for them to touch the world of Saints.
Even conflicts among the great ancient teachings, aristocratic families, and powerful clans mostly remained at the Half-Saint level, with Saints rarely making a move.
Once a Saint-level figure acted, it meant the situation had become quite serious, potentially triggering a bloody clan war or sect war at any moment.
The number one under heaven below the Saint realm was already the strongest being that ninety-nine percent of cultivators could witness with their own eyes.
Everyone was concerned about the rankings of the "Half-Saint Ranking," and even on some nearby lotus platforms, cultivators pricked up their ears to listen.
That scholar said, "On the 'Half-Saint Ranking,' Xue Wuye, the descendant of the Sword Emperor, is ranked fourth, and Tai Sui Wang Chi Wansui is ranked ninth."
Xue Sanyi said, "So, Xue Wuye is the strongest human below the Saint realm?"
"That's already well-deserved. Xue Wuye's sword path realm is unfathomably deep, carrying the style of the former Sword Emperor."
"Actually, I already guessed it would be Xue Wuye. Not long ago, news spread that Xue Wuye had cultivated Sword Six to Great Perfection and was only one step away from becoming a Sword Saint."
"Xue Wuye has only just reached the Ninth-Rank Half-Saint realm. He still has plenty of room for improvement. Reaching first place on the 'Half-Saint Ranking' shouldn't be difficult."
But that scholar chuckled and said, "This time, you're all really wrong! In fact, the strongest human below the Saint realm is the Buddha Emperor's heir, Master Lidi, ranked second on the 'Half-Saint Ranking.'"
Everyone was shocked, finding it hard to believe.
"How could anyone be stronger than Xue Wuye?" Xue Sanyi immediately shook his head, expressing disbelief.
That scholar said, "The truth is just like that. Master Lidi has fused the Buddha Emperor's golden body with his own flesh, possessing not only invincible defense but also unparalleled strength."
"Xue Wuye fought Master Lidi once, but he couldn't break through Master Lidi's defense at all, only managing a draw."
On a nearby lotus platform, a young girl who had always admired Xue Wuye was very unconvinced and said, "Since it was a draw, their rankings should be the same."
That scholar smiled and said, "Although it was a draw, Master Lidi possesses the Buddha Emperor's golden body, with endless and boundless power. As long as Xue Wuye can't break through Master Lidi's defense, a prolonged battle would surely lead to his defeat."
"However, Xue Wuye is quite a dashing figure. After admitting he was inferior to Master Lidi, he also made a bold claim, saying he would go to Liangyi Sect to find Lin Yue and borrow the Void Sword to break Master Lidi's golden body."
Everyone laughed.
No one really believed that Xue Wuye was truly inferior to Master Lidi.
Because if Xue Wuye borrowed the Void Sword, there was indeed a high possibility he could break Master Lidi's indestructible golden body.
Immediately, someone shifted the topic to "Lin Yue."
After the Realm Son Banquet, the name "Lin Yue" had already spread throughout the Central Domain, making him an extremely hot figure.
At the Realm Son Banquet, the brilliance Lin Yue displayed even overshadowed the Nine Realm Sons. Yet he willingly served as Huang Yanchen's guard, step by step elevating her to the First King's Seat, and even to the Realm Son Seat.
Later, news spread that Zhang Ruochen, Huang Yanchen's fiancé, was not dead, and Lin Yue vanished without a trace, never appearing in public again.
Many felt Lin Yue was a tragic figure, giving his all to elevate Huang Yanchen while missing his own chance to become a Realm Son.
"Now, Lin Yue has been left far behind by the Nine Realm Sons. I'm afraid even Huang Yanchen is more than ten times stronger than him," Xue Sanyi said with a laugh.
But as soon as Xue Sanyi said this, he faced a barrage of criticism from the proud daughters of Saintly clans and families.
A figure like "Lin Yue" had long become the dream lover of countless young women, and they naturally couldn't allow outsiders to belittle him.
A young girl with two black braids, her eyes infatuated, said, "Lin Yue's talent is truly number one under heaven. At the Realm Son Banquet, when no one could defeat the Undying Blood Clan's Third Prince, he turned the tide and defeated him with a single sword strike."
Another proud daughter said, "I believe Lin Yue will definitely reappear, and when he does, he will shock the world again."
Zhang Ruochen hadn't expected so many women to admire "Lin Yue." Naturally, he felt quite pleased, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
Seeing the female cultivators glaring coldly, everyone dared not continue discussing Lin Yue, and the topic returned to the "Half-Saint Ranking."
That scholar said, "This time, Shengshu Cainü not only compiled the 'Half-Saint Ranking' but also the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking.'"
"What is the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking'?"
That scholar said, "The 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' is somewhat special. It has a total of nine hundred slots, covering five categories of beings."
"First category: beings squeezed off the 'Half-Saint Ranking.' They were once experts on the 'Half-Saint Ranking' but can now only be placed on the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking.'"
"Second category: experts of the Undying Blood Clan."
"Third category: undead spirits from the Underworld."
"Fourth category: beings whose strength far exceeds ordinary Ninth-Rank Half-Saints, only slightly weaker than those on the 'Half-Saint Ranking.'"
"Fifth category: beings who have never revealed their true strength in public. Their combat power is hard to assess, and some might even be stronger than those on the 'Half-Saint Ranking.'"
"Of course, every being ranked on the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' is a top expert, at least possessing the ability to escape from a Lower Realm Saint, and that's without using a Sacred Edict."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen was slightly moved and thought to himself, "The 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' is not to be underestimated. With my current cultivation, even using the power of time and space, escaping from a Lower Realm Saint would be extremely difficult."
Having used the power of the third seal of the Sarira, Zhang Ruochen had lost an important trump card.
From now on, if he encountered a Lower Realm Saint without using a Sacred Edict, his chances of escape were minimal.
Unless his cultivation could break through to the Fifth-Rank Half-Saint realm, then his confidence would be greater.
That scholar lowered his voice and said, "The value of the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' is no less than that of the 'Half-Saint Ranking.' It's said that not long ago, Chi Wansui, ranked ninth on the 'Half-Saint Ranking,' fought against the expert ranked seventh on the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' for two days and one night, ultimately unable to decide a winner."
Someone was shocked and said, "A draw with Chi Wansui? There's such a terrifying figure on the 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking'?"
"This person is the crown prince of one of the ten major tribes of the Undying Blood Clan, the Qingtian Tribe. It's said he has refined a lot of human blood, even drinking a large amount of Divine Blood, and is close to achieving a Saintly Body through flesh," that scholar said in a low voice.
"Close to achieving a Saintly Body through flesh?"
"Fortunately, it was Chi Wansui. If it had been another human Half-Saint, they would probably have lost their life."
Xue Sanyi let out a long sigh and said, "The 'Half-Saint Ranking' and 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' gather the world's most outstanding talents, but unfortunately, there are too few of them. For us, not only is it impossible to be ranked among them, but even meeting one or two of them is no easy feat."
That scholar smiled and said, "Not long from now, the beings on the 'Half-Saint Ranking' and 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' will likely engage in a bloody battle. Many legendary figures should get involved."
"How is that possible? No matter how big the event, the ancient relics and divine beast descendants of the desolate secret realms shouldn't get involved."
A cultivator shook his head, not believing that anything could stir up the entire "Half-Saint Ranking" and "Half-Saint Outer Ranking."
That scholar, waving his folding fan leisurely, said, "One of the largest Ruins Realms outside the Kunlun Realm, the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, is about to perish. When that happens, how could those ancient relics and divine beast descendants not get involved? Would the Undying Blood Clan stand idly by?"
The cultivators present were not ordinary people and had naturally heard the news about the "Azure Dragon Ruins Realm."
"To plunder the last value of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, it's possible that many figures from the 'Half-Saint Ranking' and 'Half-Saint Outer Ranking' will personally make a move."
Just then, Zhang Ruochen saw a familiar figure walk in from outside.
Not only Zhang Ruochen, but other cultivators also noticed her, causing a stir.
It couldn't be helped. A woman as beautiful as her, with an unparalleled aura, stood out like a crane among chickens wherever she went, attracting countless gazes.
"Who is this woman?"
Xue Sanyi's gaze fixed on that peerless woman, his eyes shining, and saliva unconsciously dripping from the corner of his mouth.
That scholar shook his head and said, "She is the Holy Maiden of one of the seven great ancient teachings, the Blood God Sect, Shangguan Xianyan. Fatty Xue, don't bother looking anymore. This woman is a figure from the heavens, not someone you can touch."
Shangguan Xianyan wore a white dress, her snow-white skin like solidified fat, while nine circles of sacred radiance enveloped her delicate body, revealing a mysterious and hazy beauty.
Leading a group of Blood God Sect cultivators, she had already entered the Spirit Lake.
Xue Sanyi's gaze remained fixed on Shangguan Xianyan as he muttered to himself, "As expected of the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden. If I could get close to her, even dying would be worth it."
"Why has the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden come to the Cai Family Saint Mansion?" someone asked curiously.
That scholar said, "Shangguan Xianyan and the Cai Family's Second Miss are childhood friends, and the Shangguan and Cai families have been friendly for generations. Moreover, among the cultivators traveling with Shangguan Xianyan are senior experts from the Blood God Sect. So, based on my guess, their purpose here is likely related to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm. Perhaps the Blood God Sect wants to form an alliance with the Cai Family in advance."
Indeed, there were some senior experts from the Blood God Sect traveling with Shangguan Xianyan, making the occasion quite solemn, far from just attending a banquet.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the scholar named "Zhao Heng" and thought to himself, "This person is so young and already a Spiritual Power Half-Saint. He does have some remarkable qualities, and his analysis makes some sense."
In this great era of heroes emerging, any young talent was not to be underestimated.