Chapter 556: The Fading Name
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The new Green Cloud Ranking didn't offer much novelty. The most famous name turned out to be Xuanyuan Po. In the Old Heavenly Scholar's concise commentary, he gave extremely high praise to how well this bear-tribe youth's cultivation method suited him. As for the other new names, most belonged to boys and girls under fifteen, and few people recognized them.
That night last year, Chen Changsheng had drawn down the starry radiance at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum. The realm of Penetrating Obscurity, which cultivators found hardest to cross, was easily breached by many. The tragic scene of previous years—where barely three or four out of ten managed to stay on the list—did not occur. Those once-familiar names on the Green Cloud Ranking naturally fell off and moved to the Gold Touch Ranking.
Tang Thirty-Six left the Green Cloud Ranking but failed to enter the Gold Touch Ranking. Given his current level at the upper stage of Penetrating Obscurity, this was unimaginable in previous years. After hearing the news, he stayed silent for a long time in the National Academy. Only when he confirmed that Zhe Xiu and Su Moyu also hadn't made the list did he cheer up again.
With Chen Changsheng's help, Zhe Xiu's "sudden impulse" condition hadn't been cured, but his cultivation level had broken through again. Combined with his innately terrifying combat ability, the reason he hadn't entered the Gold Touch Ranking was simply that his injuries from the Zhou Prison were too severe, and he hadn't shown any performance for a long time.
That Tang Thirty-Six and Su Moyu failed to enter the list only showed how fiercely competitive this year's Gold Touch Ranking was.
The demon race, which had very few members on the Green Cloud Ranking, fully leveraged their characteristic of gaining momentum in the mid-stage of cultivation on the Gold Touch Ranking, occupying a full quarter of the slots. The top three young demon experts were even considered by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion as potential threats to Xiao De, the fifth-ranked expert on the Carefree Ranking.
The most surprising was Zhong Hui. This third-place winner of last year's Grand Examination was overshadowed by Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi's brilliance, so much so that many couldn't even remember his name. Who would have thought that in just one year, he would break through to the peak of Penetrating Obscurity and seize fourth place on the Gold Touch Ranking?
Unfortunately, no matter how outstanding this young scholar from the Huai Courtyard performed, he still couldn't completely outshine certain people's dazzling brilliance.
Gou Hanshi spent half a year observing the steles at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum. After returning to Li Mountain, he dueled a Star Gathering initial-stage expert from the Xiao Song Palace faction in a cold mountain stream and won easily.
This single battle was enough for the Old Heavenly Scholar to personally rank him third on the Gold Touch Ranking.
There was no second place, because the top spot was shared by two people.
Seeing those two names, whether it was the citizens of the capital or the outer disciples of the Southern Creek Sect, all sighed and shook their heads in silence.
Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong.
No matter whether that marriage contract was still valid, it seemed these two names would always appear together.
To many, this wasn't fate but a karmic entanglement—not a good thing.
So what about that name that had always been linked with Xu Yourong over the years?
Autumn Mountain Lord had already succeeded in Star Gathering, so he naturally no longer remained on the Gold Touch Ranking, leaving the top spot to Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong.
But what shocked the entire continent was that his name wasn't seen on the Carefree Ranking either.
Autumn Mountain Lord was too young to be compared with the top experts on the Carefree Ranking. No one thought he could challenge powerful figures like Wang Po or Xiao Zhang. Yet, given his strength and cultivation level, he should at least have entered the lower end of the Carefree Ranking.
If he had truly made it onto the Carefree Ranking, even at the very bottom, he would have been the youngest expert on that list in a hundred years.
The entire continent had been anticipating this day, but the result was disappointment.
The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion's explanation was that due to the opening of the Zhou Garden, the subsequent demon conspiracy, and the self-inflicted sword wound during the internal strife at Li Mountain, Autumn Mountain Lord had been severely injured and hadn't fought for an entire year. Thus, his current cultivation level couldn't be assessed and had to be left for later discussion.
This explanation was clear but utterly unconvincing. What kind of place was the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? Even if Autumn Mountain Lord hadn't faced an enemy, couldn't they still judge his level? Moreover, when the Green Cloud Ranking was updated last year, Xuanyuan Po had no battle achievements either, yet he was included. Why?
The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion offered no further explanation. Only a very few knew the real reason.
...
...
The world was bustling, but Li Mountain was quiet.
Before leaving, Su Li had instructed the disciples of the Li Mountain Sword Sect not to fear trouble but also not to seek it.
With the north and south merging and the winds of change blowing, the Zhou people and the southern aristocratic families were too cunning and treacherous. Since they couldn't match them, it was better to stay in the mountains and live peacefully.
Those were his exact words.
After Su Li left, some dregs tried to resurface.
The strongest second-generation sword hall experts of Li Mountain were recuperating due to injuries. The current affairs were managed by third-generation disciples like Gou Hanshi. Many thought these young swordsmen would struggle to stabilize Li Mountain's situation. However, the bloody battle in the mountain stream and Guan Feibai's subsequent rampage—where he chopped off sixteen hands—proved to the entire southern region why the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom were so named. It was because they strictly adhered to the precepts, their sword hearts were clear, and they would eventually enter the divine kingdom above the starry sea.
After eliminating the last vestiges of the internal strife, Li Mountain finally returned to complete tranquility.
Gou Hanshi and the others focused on studying, cultivating, and growing vegetables, comprehending the true meaning of the sword path in their peaceful days.
One night, Gou Hanshi awoke from meditation and gazed at the distant mountains. The starlight was like silver, and the once-familiar scenery suddenly took on many new layers of meaning.
Thinking of his difficult childhood—when his weak mother and he had supported each other through hard times—a faint glimmer of tears appeared in his eyes.
A faint starlight seeped from his body, also shimmering like crystal.
"Congratulations, Second Senior Brother!"
Guan Feibai, Liang Banhu, Bai Cai, and dozens of third-generation disciples of the Li Mountain Sword Sect, watching the beautiful scene by the cliff, shouted joyfully.
Gou Hanshi turned to his junior brothers and said, "The sea of swords is vast; we must forge ahead bravely."
Guan Feibai said, "Back in the Grand Examination, if Chen Changsheng hadn't gone mad and risked his life, and you, Senior Brother, pitied his difficulty in cultivation, how could he have taken first place? Now that you've successfully achieved Star Gathering, I wonder if he'll still have the face to mention it when we meet at the Stone-Boiling Gathering the day after tomorrow."
Gou Hanshi said calmly, "Chen Changsheng has never brought this up. Besides, defeat is defeat. Is it glorious to not dare to risk one's life? Moreover, I am older than him and have taken a step ahead in cultivation—what is there to be proud of? Your words are highly inappropriate."
"He hasn't said anything, but everyone else talks about it... 'Future Pope,' tsk tsk, what a glorious title."
Guan Feibai said coldly, "You are kind-hearted and don't want to embarrass him, but I don't care. I'll definitely fight him then."
Gou Hanshi shook his head and said, "If you truly have a competitive spirit, why not wait until the war with the demons begins and compare who kills more demons?"
At the mention of demons, Liang Banhu lowered his head slightly, and Bai Cai looked worriedly toward the cave dwelling behind them under the starlight.
Liang Xiaoxiao had colluded with the demons; he was Liang Banhu's twin brother.
As for the person in that cave dwelling... their mother was a demon princess.
Logically, Gou Hanshi should have been more careful about these details, but he deliberately or unintentionally avoided them. In his view, since they were all disciples of Li Mountain, destined to live and die together and spend every day side by side, it was better to bring these matters into the open, talk them through until no one cared, which was more in line with Li Mountain's sword path.
Noticing the atmosphere growing heavy, someone joked, trying to lighten the mood: "If we're really going by kills, I think neither Fourth Senior Brother nor Chen Changsheng can catch up to that wolf cub. This kind of thing isn't about who has the better swordsmanship."
The joke only made the atmosphere heavier.
In Li Mountain now, some names couldn't be mentioned.
The cave dwelling's door slowly opened, and Qijian walked out.
She had now changed into women's clothing, her brow still carrying a hint of childishness, her figure slender and pitiable.
Guan Feibai said, "Little Senior... Sister, the night is deep and the dew is cold. Your illness hasn't healed yet—why have you come out?"
Qijian said softly, "I heard you mentioning him."
Guan Feibai advised, "Even though that wolf cub beat us several times in the Grand Examination, I hold no grudge against him. On the contrary, he's one of the few people I admire. But the Grand Elder did it for your own good. After all, he's a demon-human hybrid..."
"So what?" Qijian's pale little face was full of stubbornness. "My mother is a demon princess. He could marry her, so why can't I marry a demon?"
Guan Feibai was speechless, muttering, "But the Grand Elder said he doesn't have long to live."
Qijian's face grew even paler. "Does that mean everything he says is right?"
Since Su Li had imposed the house arrest, Qijian had never called him "Father" again.
Gou Hanshi sighed, ready to offer some words of comfort.
"Don't say anything."
Qijian said sadly, "If Big Senior Brother were here, he would definitely find a way to help me, not just keep me trapped in the mountains like you all do."
...
...
The Grand Elder of Li Mountain had left, and the Big Senior Brother of Li Mountain had also left. No one knew where he had gone.
His name couldn't be found on the Carefree Ranking, and it seemed he could no longer be found anywhere in the world.
In the distant northern snow plains, there was a not-very-famous military fort called Qilixi.
Legend had it that many years ago, this was the territory of the Xi tribe. After the Xi tribe was slaughtered by the demons moving south, the human army marched north and won, occupying this place.
It was the closest point to the demon army and the farthest from the human world.
Today, the fort's general and his adjutants held an emergency meeting late into the night. Amid swirling smoke, all their faces were furrowed with worry.
It wasn't that the demon wolf cavalry had come to harass and kill again, nor that the rear supply of grain had encountered problems. On the contrary, Qilixi had been very peaceful lately. Even the wine sold in the city taverns had much less water added, and the cold-faced cultivation experts had many more smiles on their faces.
In skirmishes with the demon wolf cavalry, Qilixi's roaming cavalry had achieved a series of unbelievable victories.
What the general and his adjutants were worrying about now was how to calculate the battle merits for that roaming cavalry unit, especially the young officer.