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Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Storm Rankings

"In just a few days, I've cultivated the Cyan Mountain Sword Technique to a Minor Achievement. It seems I do have a talent for the Sword Dao."

The realm of understanding Martial Skills is divided into initiation, minor success, major success, perfection, and unity of heaven and man.

It's quite rare for an average person to bring a Martial Skill up to initiation within a few days, yet Chu Nan had reached the Minor Success Realm!

Chu Nan was quite pleased with this unexpected discovery and decided to find an opportunity to exchange for a higher level Sword Dao Martial Skill for cultivation.

Immediately, his gaze changed as he took out a palm-sized yellow jade token from his chest.

This was an identity token; from the Supreme Elder down to the sect servants, everyone had one, serving as an important identification document.

With this identity token, one could accept sect tasks, receive sect rewards, and so on. It's rumored that the identity token of a True Disciple even possesses a storage function.

Of course, besides these, the identity token also records and distributes contribution points of sect disciples.

Contribution points are a recognized transaction medium in the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, essentially a substitute for money.

In the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, contribution points are far more precious than money.

After all, everything necessary for cultivation, such as Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, high-grade Mortal Martial items, elixirs, etc., requires contribution points to exchange.

Without contribution points, one cannot take a single step in the sect.

There are many ways to gain contribution points, such as exchanging treasures, completing sect tasks, making meritorious achievements for the sect, challenging various rankings, etc., all avenues to acquire contribution points.

A year ago, when Chu Nan first entered the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, his initial martial power was too weak, so earning contribution points was very difficult. Whatever contribution points he barely acquired were changed into cultivation resources, leaving none extra to exchange for Martial Skills.

But things were different now.

Chu Nan secretly clenched his fists, an expectant look in his eyes: "Even though my Martial Dao is only at the sixth level, my true combat power makes it impossible for an eighth-level Martial Dao to match me."

"With such strength, I already qualify to challenge the Storm Rankings!"

The so-called Storm Rankings are rankings set by the sect for inner and outer sect disciples, requiring at least the seventh level washing marrow phase of the Martial Dao to barely have the ability to challenge.

The ranking is determined through formal martial artist duels, with monthly reviews by the sect, then awarding corresponding contribution points to those on the Storm Rankings.

Especially the top of the Storm Rankings, who, after the monthly review, can directly receive five thousand contribution points!

Thinking of this, Chu Nan couldn't help but clench his fist because the current leader of the Storm Rankings was none other than Chu Han's second son, Chu Hai!

Also, one could directly earn contribution points from opponents by winning duels, though this method was unreliable because it was impossible to guarantee a win in every duel.

With a strong fighting spirit shooting from his eyes, Chu Nan vowed silently: "Chu Hai, sooner or later I'll pull you down from the top of the Storm Rankings, and that day isn't far off!"

He slowly stood up, intending to head to the Storm Rankings now to win contribution points to exchange for cultivation resources and Martial Skills.

As soon as he stepped out, he met Lin An.

Lin An was coming out from the smaller courtyard next to Chu Nan's and lit up with delight at seeing him, saying: "Chu Nan, after so many days, you've finally come out of seclusion!"

Chu Nan wasn't surprised to see Lin An. Lin An, who had a king-level Martial Vein, had his own allocated courtyard right next to his.

"I've just had a breakthrough in cultivation and plan to challenge the Storm Rankings."

Chu Nan didn't hide his intentions; after all, there was nothing to hide.

Lin An's eyes lit up, then he came next to Chu Nan and said: "Chu Nan, you used to be a disciple of the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, so you must know more about it than I do."

"I've just had a breakthrough too and wish to challenge the Storm Rankings as well. Why don't you take me there and talk about the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect on the way?"

Chu Nan pondered briefly, then nodded.

Lin An had spoken on his behalf many times before, and though Chu Nan hadn't said anything openly, he remembered it in his heart.

"Alright, let's talk on the way."

Immediately, the two walked side by side towards the Storm Rankings.

Along the way, Chu Nan explained everything he knew about the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect while Lin An listened intently, not wanting to interrupt.

Soon, they arrived at a huge square.

At the center of the square stood a massive green stele a hundred zhang tall, the Storm Rankings.

The Storm Rankings was essentially a high-grade Mortal Martial item for recording, but the crafting was incredibly difficult, only executable by experienced Artifact Refiners.

The Storm Rankings listed a total of 360 names, big and small.

All of them were outstanding inner and outer sect disciples, the weakest of which had a Martial Dao of seven-fold cultivation!

Names in the lower positions changed frequently, indicating shifts in ranking, yet the topmost name, Chu Hai, remained unchanged, showing Chu Hai's unparalleled steadiness at the top of the Storm Rankings!

Centrally aligned with the Storm Rankings were ten massive arenas, each with two martial artists in a deadly combat duel.

Chu Nan watched for a long time and was just about to use his identity token for a challenge when Lin An, who was observing all around, suddenly pointed to Arena No. 3 and said: "Chu Nan, look, so many disciples are watching Arena No. 3."

Chu Nan concentrated his gaze there and indeed found that many martial artists were gathered around Arena No. 3, with nearly two-thirds occupied by them, forming an impenetrable circle.

"The people dueling on Arena No. 3 must be sect celebrities, which is why it draws so much attention."

"Sect celebrities?" Lin An said with curiosity: "Chu Nan, let's go and take a look."

Before Chu Nan could respond, Lin An was already pulling him towards Arena No. 3.

Once they got closer, they finally saw what was happening on Arena No. 3.

On stage, a man and a woman were engaging in a duel.

The woman had delicate features like a lotus emerging from water, wearing a gauze dress that accentuated her alluring curves.

During the battle, her skirt swayed with the wind, adding an exotic charm.

Seeing this woman, Chu Nan couldn't help but murmur: "So it's her."

Lin An asked curiously: "Who is she, do you know her?"

Chu Nan shook his head: "She is Gu Nianxue, like us, an outer sect disciple. Remarkably talented, a year ago having reached the sixth level of the Martial Dao, and now likely not far from the Spirit Pill Realm."

"Of course, she's most famous for her looks, reportedly never dropping out of the top three on a private 'Hundred Beauties List' created by both inner and outer sect disciples for female cultivators of the sect!"

"Whenever she appears, it causes quite a stir within the sect. The people here are likely her admirers."

Gu Nianxue possessed not only beauty and talent, but her father was rumored to be a sect elder of high status.

Once, the gap between her and Chu Nan was vast, allowing him only a distant glance.

Upon hearing Chu Nan's introduction and looking at those fervent male disciples, Lin An couldn't help but curl his lips: "A bunch of hopeless men, can't even move when they see a woman."

Chu Nan was rather surprised—after all, everyone appreciates beauty, and even he couldn't help but take a few more glances.

But Lin An remained unmoved, which was truly odd.

Just then, the battle on Arena No. 3 concluded, with Gu Nianxue triumphantly defeating her opponent wielding a longsword.

The audience below erupted in cheers.

"None can compare to Senior Sister Gu, easily reaching the 306th position on the Storm Rankings, the pride among outer sect disciples."

"I reckon Senior Sister Gu is worthy of being named the first among outer sect disciples!"

"In less than a month, Senior Sister Gu might even break through to the Spirit Pill Realm and ascend to the inner sect."

Since the Storm Rankings included both outer and inner sect competitions, positions above 300 were mostly held by inner sect disciples, with outer sect disciples barely accounting for fifty or sixty.

Gu Nianxue paid no mind to the crowd's flattery, her cold face even showing some annoyance.

After all, she had come merely to hone her newly learned Martial Skills, not to get entangled with people.

She had just stepped off the stage when someone pushed through the crowd, blocking Gu Nianxue with a fawning smile: "Nianxue, you've been in seclusion, and it's been a long wait for Senior Brother."

"The weather is nice today; would you like to join Senior Brother to listen to some music?"

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