Chapter 51: The Vanished Name
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The new Azure Cloud Ranking didn't have anything particularly interesting. The most famous name was actually Xuan Yuan Po. In the Old Heavenly Man's concise commentary, he gave extremely high praise to the bear tribe youth's compatibility with his cultivation method. As for the other new names that appeared, most were boys and girls under fifteen years old, known to very few.
That night last year, Chen Changsheng had summoned the starry radiance from the sky at the Mausoleum of Books. The realm of Penetrating Obscurity, which cultivators found most difficult to cross, was easily passed by many. The tragic scene of previous years, where only three or four out of ten could remain, did not occur. Those once-familiar names on the Azure Cloud Ranking naturally dropped off and moved to the Gold Touch Ranking.
Tang Thirty-Six left the Azure Cloud Ranking but failed to enter the Gold Touch Ranking. Given his current level at the upper echelon of Penetrating Obscurity, this was unimaginable in previous years. After hearing the news, he stayed silent for a long time in the National Teaching Academy, only becoming cheerful again after confirming that Zhe Xiu and Su Moyu also hadn't made the list.
With Chen Changsheng's help, Zhe Xiu's "Whim of the Moment" condition hadn't been cured, but his realm had broken through again. Coupled with his innately terrifying combat ability, the reason he hadn't entered the Gold Touch Ranking was simply that the injuries he'd suffered in 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 make the list only proved how fiercely competitive this year's Gold Touch Ranking was.
The demon race, which had very few members on the Azure 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 Unfettered Ranking.
The most surprising was Zhong Hui. This third-place winner of last year's Grand Examination had been overshadowed by the brilliance of Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi, 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 the fourth position on the Gold Touch Ranking?
Unfortunately, no matter how outstanding this young scholar from Huai Academy performed, he still couldn't completely outshine the dazzling radiance of certain individuals.
Gou Hanshi had spent half a year observing the steles at the Mausoleum of Books. After returning to Li Mountain, he dueled a Star Gathering initial realm expert from the Xiao Song Palace faction in a cold mountain stream and won easily.
With just this battle, the Old Heavenly Man personally placed 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 common folk of the capital or the female disciples of the Southern Creek Sect's outer sect, all sighed with emotion, shaking their heads in silence.
Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong.
No matter whether that marriage contract was still valid or not, it seemed these two names would always appear together.
To many, this wasn't fate but the entanglement of destiny—and not a good thing.
So what about that name that had always been linked with Xu Yourong over the years?
Qiu Shan Jun had already succeeded in Star Gathering, so naturally, he 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 Unfettered Ranking either.
Qiu Shan Jun was too young, of course, to be compared with the top experts on the Unfettered Ranking. No one thought he could challenge powerful figures like Wang Po or Xiao Zhang at this stage. Yet, given his level of strength and realm, he should at least have entered the lower end of the Unfettered Ranking.
If he truly could make the Unfettered Ranking, even at the very bottom, he would be the youngest Unfettered Ranking expert in a hundred years.
The entire continent had been waiting for 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, Qiu Shan Jun had suffered severe injuries and hadn't acted for an entire year. Thus, they couldn't assess his current realm and strength, leaving it for later discussion.
This explanation was clear but utterly unconvincing. What kind of place was the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? Even if Qiu Shan Jun hadn't fought an enemy, couldn't they still judge his level? Moreover, when the Azure Cloud Ranking was updated last year, Xuan Yuan Po had no battle achievements either, so why was he included?
The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion offered no further explanation. Only a very few knew the real reason.
...
...
The world was bustling, but Li Mountain was very 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-south convergence and the turbulent times, the Zhou people and the southern aristocratic families were too cunning and deceitful. Since they couldn't match them, they should stay in the mountains and live quietly.
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 all resting 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 called that—because they strictly adhered to the precepts, their sword hearts were clear and bright, and they would eventually enter the Divine Kingdom above the stars.
After eliminating the last remnants of the internal strife, Li Mountain finally returned to complete tranquility.
Gou Hanshi and the others focused on reading, cultivating, and farming 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 different nuances.
Thinking of the difficult days in his childhood, when his weak mother and orphaned son had struggled together, a faint glistening appeared in his eyes.
A faint starlight seeped from his body, also shimmering.
"Congratulations, Second Senior Brother!"
Guan Feibai, Liang Banhu, Bai Cai, and dozens of third-generation disciples of the Li Mountain Sword Sect looked at the beautiful scene by the cliff and shouted joyfully.
Gou Hanshi turned to his junior brothers and said, "The sea of swords is vast; we must press forward bravely."
Guan Feibai said, "Back in the Grand Examination, if Chen Changsheng hadn't gone mad and risked his life, and you, Senior Brother, hadn't pitied his difficult path in cultivation, how could he have taken first place? Now that you've successfully reached Star Gathering, I wonder if he'll still have the face to bring that up when we meet at the Stone Boiling Gathering the day after tomorrow."
Gou Hanshi said calmly, "Chen Changsheng never used that matter to argue. Besides, defeat is defeat. Isn't not daring to risk one's life something to be proud of? Let alone the fact that I am older than him and have taken a step ahead on the path of cultivation—what is there to be proud of? Your words are very inappropriate."
"He hasn't said anything, but everyone else is talking... 'Future Pope,' tsk tsk, what glory."
Guan Feibai said coldly and arrogantly, "Senior Brother, 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 then compare who kills more demons?"
At the mention of the demons, Liang Banhu lowered his head slightly, and Bai Cai glanced worriedly at the cave dwelling under the starlight behind him.
Liang Xiaoxiao had colluded with the demons; he was Liang Banhu's twin brother.
As for the one in that cave dwelling... his mother was a demon.
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, it was better to speak these things out early, make them clear, and let no one care anymore—that was the way of Li Mountain's sword path.
Seeing the atmosphere grow somewhat heavy, someone joked 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 better sword skills."
Intended as a joke, it only made the atmosphere heavier.
In Li Mountain now, some names couldn't be mentioned.
The cave dwelling's door slowly opened, and Qi Jian walked out.
She was now dressed in women's clothing, with a trace of childishness still on her brow. Her figure was thin, evoking great pity.
Guan Feibai said, "Little Junior... Sister, the night is deep and the dew is cold. Your illness hasn't healed yet—why have you come out?"
Qi Jian said softly, "I heard you mentioning him."
Guan Feibai advised, "Even though that wolf cub beat us several times in the Grand Examination, I bear him no ill will. On the contrary, he's someone I rarely admire. But the Grand Master did it for your own good. After all, he's a half-demon..."
"So what?" Qi Jian'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 at a loss for words, muttering, "But the Grand Master said he doesn't have long to live."
Qi Jian's face grew even paler, and she said, "Is everything he says right?"
Since Su Li had imposed the house arrest, Qi Jian had never called him "Father" again.
Gou Hanshi sighed, preparing to say a few words of comfort.
"Don't bother."
Qi Jian said sadly, "If the Big Senior Brother were here, he would definitely help me find a way, not like you all, who only know how to keep me trapped in the mountains."
...
...
Li Mountain's Grand Master had left, and Li Mountain's Big Senior Brother had also left. No one knew where he had gone.
His name couldn't be seen on the Unfettered 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 Qili Xi.
Legend had it that many years ago, this was the territory of the Xi tribe. Later, the Xi tribe was slaughtered by the southward-marching demons. When the human army marched north and won, they occupied this place.
This 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. Amidst 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 lines had issues. On the contrary, Qili Xi had been very peaceful lately. Even the wine sold in the city taverns had much less water mixed in, and the cold-faced cultivation experts had more smiles on their faces.
In skirmishes with the demon wolf cavalry, Qili Xi's roaming cavalry had achieved a series of incredible victories.
What the general and adjutants were now worrying about was how to calculate the battle merits for that roaming cavalry unit, especially the young officer.