Chapter 121: The Xuan Ranking
“Let’s set out now.”
Duanmu Xingling and Huang Yanchen transformed into two blurry afterimages. With a single movement, they dashed ahead into the mountain forest, vanishing from sight in an instant.
Zhang Ruochen mobilized all the true qi within his body and, at a speed of fifty meters per second, quickly gave chase.
Soon, Zhang Ruochen caught up with Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling, and the three advanced side by side.
“You’re only at the Small Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, yet your speed has already reached fifty meters per second. By the time you reach the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, you might even hit seventy meters per second.”
Having witnessed Zhang Ruochen’s formidable spiritual power and terrifying cultivation speed, Duanmu Xingling was no longer surprised by the speed he displayed.
“I never imagined that the Yunwu Commandery Kingdom would produce not only a Zhang Tiangui but also someone like you, a true prodigy of this era.” Huang Yanchen shot a glance at Zhang Ruochen, for the first time truly feeling that his talent might not be inferior to Zhang Tiangui’s.
Duanmu Xingling asked, “Chen Jie, do you think he has a chance to break into the top ten of the Xuan Ranking?”
“If he’s willing to spend two years solidifying his foundation at the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, he’ll definitely make it into the top ten of the Xuan Ranking.” Huang Yanchen gave a very high evaluation.
Huang Yanchen had remained at the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm for three years, and Duanmu Xingling for two years. It wasn’t that they couldn’t break through to the Earth Extreme Realm, but rather they wanted to spend more time consolidating their foundation, making it as solid as possible.
Zhang Ruochen understood the meaning behind Huang Yanchen’s words. His fast cultivation speed was due to consuming large amounts of pills, forcibly elevating his cultivation level.
If he didn’t take time to solidify it, his true qi wouldn’t be pure enough, and his realm wouldn’t be stable enough. Even if he broke through to the Earth Extreme Realm, it would bring no benefit.
Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling had also consumed many pills, which allowed them to quickly reach the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm. However, they had already spent two or three years consolidating at that stage, refining both their true qi and physiques to near perfection. They were just waiting for the mid-level relic exploration exam at the beginning of next year.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is it very difficult to enter the top ten of the Xuan Ranking?”
“Of course it’s very difficult.”
Duanmu Xingling said, “The Xuan Ranking of the thirty-six commandery kingdoms of the Demon Ridge currently has one thousand two hundred slots. Even the weakest martial artist on the Xuan Ranking has a speed of fifty-eight meters per second.”
“My maximum burst speed is sixty-four meters per second, which only ranks me at three hundred sixty-eighth on the Xuan Ranking. Chen Jie’s maximum burst speed is sixty-seven meters per second, placing her at one hundred third on the Xuan Ranking.”
“Only when your speed reaches seventy meters per second do you have a chance to enter the top ten of the Xuan Ranking.”
Around the Demon Ridge, there were thirty-six commandery kingdoms. How many Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artists were there?
Yet the Xuan Ranking only listed the strongest one thousand two hundred individuals. The Yunwu Commandery Kingdom had only eighteen people on the list, and almost all of them were old-timers who had cultivated for decades. It was extremely difficult for young martial artists to enter the Xuan Ranking.
It could be said that every martial artist on the Xuan Ranking had the strength to contend with an Earth Extreme Realm martial artist.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Speed is just one aspect of a martial artist’s strength. It shouldn’t be the sole criterion for entering the Xuan Ranking.”
“You’re right, but for a martial artist at the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, if they can train their speed to sixty meters per second, would their martial techniques and physique be lacking?” Duanmu Xingling said.
Huang Yanchen added, “A martial artist at the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm with a speed of sixty meters per second can completely one-shot another at the same realm with a speed of fifty-five meters per second.”
Duanmu Xingling and Huang Yanchen’s words had some logic, but Zhang Ruochen didn’t entirely agree. At least for himself, he was confident he could kill a martial artist faster than him.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I heard that Zhang Tiangui once reached third place on the Xuan Ranking. What was his maximum speed back then?”
A hint of admiration flickered in Huang Yanchen’s eyes. “Zhang Tiangui is an unparalleled genius, the number one heavenly prodigy among the thirty-six commandery kingdoms of the Demon Ridge. Only someone like him could enter the top three of the Xuan Ranking at the age of sixteen. His maximum burst speed at the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm reached seventy-three meters per second, causing quite a sensation at the time.”
Duanmu Xingling added, “The two old-timers ranked first and second on the Xuan Ranking only had speeds of seventy-two meters per second. Unfortunately, Zhang Tiangui soon broke through to the Earth Extreme Realm; otherwise, he might have become number one on the Xuan Ranking.”
A peerless heavenly prodigy like Zhang Tiangui was an idol for the younger generation and naturally had many admirers.
From the tone of Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling’s voices, Zhang Ruochen could sense their admiration for Zhang Tiangui. As women, they too would naturally admire the strong.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What about Senior Sister Luo?”
“Senior Sister Luo is also a prodigy, with talent no less than Zhang Tiangui. Her current maximum burst speed has reached seventy-two meters per second, ranking her sixth on the Xuan Ranking,” Duanmu Xingling said.
“What Zhang Tiangui? What Senior Sister Luo? Before this emperor, they’re all ants. Who dares to compete with this emperor in speed?” Xiao Hei had grown to the size of a lion, his four legs lunging forward, black light radiating from his body. He actually overtook Zhang Ruochen, Duanmu Xingling, and Huang Yanchen, charging ahead like a black wind.
“What a fast cat.” Duanmu Xingling felt as if she had discovered a new world, staring at Xiao Hei as he rushed past. She was secretly shocked, never imagining that the fat cat Zhang Ruochen kept could be so fast.
“I’ll compete with you!”
Huang Yanchen couldn’t stand a cat showing off in front of her. She fully activated her true qi, unleashing her fastest speed, turning into a series of afterimages as she chased after Xiao Hei.
Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling both shook their heads with a smile. They didn’t chase after Xiao Hei and continued forward at their original pace.
An hour later, Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling arrived at a desolate mountain range four hundred miles west of the academy. There were no signs of human activity. All around were towering ancient trees that blocked out the sky, making it feel like they had entered a primeval wilderness.
From afar came the roar of a savage beast. A golden-threaded giant python as thick as a water bucket slithered out from a crevice in the rocks, creeping silently toward a stream. By the stream, a green-fire deer was drinking water. Sensing danger, it tried to flee, but the python opened its massive maw and swallowed the deer whole in one gulp.
Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling passed through this wild forest. The howling wind rushed past their ears, a fierce gale blowing from afar, making it hard to keep their eyes open.
In the distance stood two majestic, towering mountains, almost pressed together. Between them was a straight, sheer canyon. The hurricane that swept across the entire sky and earth came from that canyon.
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the steep, deep canyon. “Is that the entrance to the Demon Wind Valley?”
Duanmu Xingling nodded. “Yes. The Demon Wind Valley is battered by hurricanes all year round, never ceasing. Occasionally, wind-attributed spirit crystals even blow out from it.”
Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling walked on foot toward the Demon Wind Valley. Halfway up the mountain, they encountered Huang Yanchen and Xiao Hei.
“Who won?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Huang Yanchen crossed her arms over her chest, lifting her snow-white chin, revealing her slender neck. She was as proud as a white swan.
Xiao Hei sighed. “This emperor is only held back by his low cultivation level. Otherwise, how could he lose to a human woman?”
“You’re not convinced?” Huang Yanchen glared at Xiao Hei.
“Of course not,” Xiao Hei said.
Huang Yanchen’s eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing across her face. She gripped her sword hilt and swung the scabbard, striking Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei was sent flying, tumbling into the Demon Wind Valley.
“Human… little girl… this emperor will never… make peace with you…”
A swirling gust of wind caught Xiao Hei and pulled him deep into the valley, his roar swallowed by the wind.
“Let’s go. We’re going in too.”
Huang Yanchen used the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow footwork, taking nine consecutive steps as if riding the wind. With a whoosh, she charged into the valley.
“She’s already reached the beginner level of the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Chen Jie’s true qi is naturally wind-attributed, and her physique is perfectly suited to the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow. With her high talent, it’s only natural she mastered it so quickly. But we need to work hard too, so she doesn’t get too far ahead.”
Duanmu Xingling and Zhang Ruochen followed into the Demon Wind Valley.
“Whoosh, whoosh!”
Inside the Demon Wind Valley, it was bitterly cold. The wind was as sharp as a blade, scraping against the skin painfully. It was hard not only to cultivate but even to stand steady.
Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling, with their deep cultivation, moved through it with ease, quickly beginning their training in the valley.
On the first day, Zhang Ruochen only managed to adapt to the environment of the Demon Wind Valley, learning to stand firm without being blown away.
Starting on the second day, Zhang Ruochen got into the groove, practicing the nine footwork patterns while moving through the wind.
By the third day, Zhang Ruochen had reached the beginner level of the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow. Duanmu Xingling was slightly slower, but she also reached the beginner level that same day.
After Duanmu Xingling and Huang Yanchen consumed blood pills to recover their stamina, they re-entered the Demon Wind Valley to continue training.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei stayed outside, not going into the valley.
Zhang Ruochen strung the Time-Space Crystal on an iron chain and hung it around Xiao Hei’s neck. “I’m going into the Time-Space Crystal to cultivate. Guard me.”
Zhang Ruochen entered the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, opened a new bottle of Three Pure True Qi Pills, and continued refining the pills to boost his cultivation.
After cultivating for six days inside the Time-Space Crystal, Zhang Ruochen refined forty Three Pure True Qi Pills. The true qi in his qi lake reached thirty percent of its capacity.
“I still have four hundred eighty Three Pure True Qi Pills on me. If I refine another one hundred thirty, I should be able to fill my qi lake to perfection.”
Zhang Ruochen took another Three Pure True Qi Pill, activated his true qi, and continued refining.
After spending nearly another month, Zhang Ruochen refined one hundred forty Three Pure True Qi Pills, finally filling his qi lake to perfection and reaching the peak of the Small Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm.
Zhang Ruochen decided not to consume the eight drops of Half-Saint True Liquid to break through to the Middle Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm just yet. He wanted to let his true qi settle for a while first. During this time, he would focus on training the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow and the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.