Chapter 28: The Weapon Ranking

The Black and White Impermanence and the Five Halls of Yama have been slain, the Water and Fire Judges captured, and the mid-level forces of the Xuanming Cult decimated. Even the Ghost King, having emerged from seclusion, returned in total defeat. Mother Meng had no choice but to report to the Underworld Emperor and request his intervention.

"What matter requires my personal attention?"

The Underworld Emperor, having suffered a deviation in his internal energy while forcing the cultivation of the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Technique, had been reduced to a stunted, dwarf-like stature. Two horns protruded from his head, and a peculiar rune was branded upon his forehead. Most striking was the skull-adorned mantle he wore across his back, which lent a imposing air to his otherwise diminutive frame.

"Greetings, Underworld Emperor!"
"Rise and speak."
The Underworld Emperor’s voice was high-pitched and thin, reminiscent of a child.

"Reporting to the Emperor, the Black and White Impermanence and the Five Halls of Yama have all been killed, and the Water and Fire Judges have been captured by the Infernal Agents."

The Underworld Emperor’s expression remained indifferent. "A pack of useless trash." Everyone below bowed their heads, terrified to utter a word.

Inside the dungeon of the Infernal Agents, Yang Yan and Yang Miao were already mangled beyond recognition. Gao Wu glanced at them once and lost interest. "Young Master Gao, this is the map of the Xuanming Cult's main altar drawn by the two of them," an Infernal Agent said, respectfully handing over a blood-stained parchment.

"Thank you."
"You are too kind, Young Master! Not at all!"

Once Gao Wu left, the agent exhaled in relief. This Young Master Gao was a close friend of the Heir Apparent; rumors were flying that once the Heir turned eighteen, he would inherit the title of Duke. Thinking of this, the agent lashed out at the prisoners again. "Hmph, daring to assassinate the Heir Apparent—the future Duke! You are truly seeking death."

Outside the dungeon, two young women were waiting. Liu Yifei asked, "Did you get it?"
"Yes, let's go." Gao Wu stored the map inside his Nether Token. "Let's see today if you two heroines have made the rankings."

Liu Yifei smiled faintly without a word. Zhou Zhiruo, however, looked sullen. "Boring."

Today was the day the Hundred-Know Tower updated its rankings. Li Xingyun, Zhang Zifan, and the others had already arrived at the teahouse to wait.

"Sister Yuan-yuan is too deeply affected by her cultivation technique; we must find a way. I fear she might suffer a qi deviation at any moment." Gao Wu nodded; he had considered this, but there was no ready solution.

The Hero Tower was the tallest and grandest restaurant in Kaifeng. As the trio reached the entrance, an Infernal Agent hurried forward to usher them into the largest private room.

"Haha, it has been a few days, Brother Gao! You look as dashing as ever!"

"I wish both of you fair maidens a place on the rankings today!"

The two women nodded with reserved grace. Gao Wu pulled Li Xingyun aside and asked, "Brother Li, will you be making the Human Rankings this time?"

"Oh, Brother Zifan, have you improved your standing as well?"

"Qingguo, as for the Beauty Rankings... well, never mind!" Gao Wu cut himself off, but Qingguo was deeply displeased. "Gao Wu, what is that supposed to mean? With our beauty, don't we deserve a spot on the Beauty Rankings?"

"Haha..." The room was filled with laughter and merriment.

"Greetings, Lady Ji, Lady Lu."
"Young Master Gao!" The two ladies were by Li Xingyun’s side, though their intentions differed.

Everyone knew the Jianghu Rankings were compiled by the Hundred-Know Tower, but no one knew how they managed to cover the entire Great Zhou martial world. When the rankings first appeared, some factions, dissatisfied with their placement, tried to track down the Hundred-Know Tower for retaliation, but they couldn't even find a shadow of the organization.

By now, everyone had grown accustomed to the biannual updates, and it had become a tradition for martial artists to gather at the Hero Tower to hear the latest news. On update days, the tower was always packed; only someone with Li Xingyun’s status as a future Duke could reserve a large room.

"It's starting! It's starting!"

Amidst the cheers, an old man with white hair and beard stepped onto the prepared stage. It was Master Zhang.

Master Zhang struck his gavel, and the entire restaurant fell silent. In their private room, the group stood by the window, watching the stage.

"The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are but memories; the fame of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties has faded. The Five Hegemons and Seven Heroes stirred the Spring and Autumn period, their rise and fall passing in an instant. A few names in the jianghu, countless desolate mounds in the mortal world—those who sow the seeds are succeeded by those who reap the harvest; it is all but a struggle between dragons and tigers!"

"This time, the Hundred-Know Tower has decreed the Jianghu Rankings. Looking upon the world through the Heavenly Mirror, how many autumns have passed?"

A blue scroll slowly unfurled in Master Zhang's hands, revealing three large black characters: [Weapon Roster].

"Blades, spears, swords, and halberds—divine weapons and treasures, let me recount them for you all!"

"The Lady Sword emerges, shaking Bianzhou. Upon its first appearance on the list, it takes the fifty-sixth spot!"

The crowd was electrified—the first weapon mentioned was connected to their own Bianzhou. If a famous sword appeared, its wielder was likely to be ranked as well. Most of those present were Bianzhou martial artists and felt a sense of reflected glory.

Gao Wu looked at the Lady Sword in Liu Yifei’s hand. It was indeed a fine blade, but its inclusion on the list was unexpected. Since the Lady Sword made it, Zhou Zhiruo’s Heaven-Reliant Sword would surely be on the list as well.

What Gao Wu found strange was how the Hundred-Know Tower knew the name of the Lady Sword. Liu Yifei had told no one, and even their close companions in the room were merely marveling at the appearance of a new divine weapon, never suspecting it was the one Liu Yifei carried. They all looked at the sword in Zhou Zhiruo’s hand, then shook their heads. "The sword Lady Zhou holds shouldn't be the Lady Sword; its rank should easily be in the top ten!"

The Dragon Spring Sword, ranked sixth, had been shattered by a single blow; the Heaven-Reliant Sword’s rank should surely be in the top five.

Zhou Zhiruo curled her lips slightly. "This sword is called Heaven-Reliant!"

Heaven-Reliant!

At that moment, Master Zhang’s voice clearly reached every corner of the Hero Tower.

"The Blood Moon Blade has risen in the rankings this time, moving from thirty-fifth to twenty-sixth, officially entering the top thirty!"

"The Blood Moon Blade? The weapon of the Blood Demon! I heard that fiend has been causing chaos in the Duke of Song’s Anzhou territory!"

"They say the more blood the Blood Moon Blade tastes, the higher its grade becomes. Its rank will likely continue to rise!"

"That is its normal ranking, but on a night of a full moon, the Blood Moon Blade is even more formidable!"

The Blood Moon Blade was a demonic weapon that grew by consuming blood; every time the roster changed, it climbed a few spots.

"Next, a matter of great regret," Master Zhang said with a sigh. "The Dragon Spring Sword, ranked sixth on the Weapon Roster, has been shattered. It is truly lamentable."

"What? The Dragon Spring Sword was broken?"
"That was the Dragon Spring Sword! The heirloom of the Duke of Tang!"

"Indeed, although it ranked so high due to the Dragon Spring Treasure it contained, it was forged from celestial meteorites and was of superb quality!"

"If the Dragon Spring Sword is broken, will it drop from the roster?"

Master Zhang struck his gavel. "Indeed, the Dragon Spring Sword has fallen from the list. However..."

"Another treasure sword has made its debut, taking the Dragon Spring Sword’s place immediately. It is none other than..."

"The Heaven-Reliant Sword!"