Boom! Boom!
Thunder rumbled across the sky, and purple clouds surged, blotting out the sun.
After a month of silence, the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking reappeared once again.
Compared to before, this time the momentum was even greater.
Amidst the golden light came waves of terrifying pressure.
Supreme. Noble.
Countless people gazed skyward with anticipation.
The top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking were finally about to be revealed.
==========
Qin Dynasty Imperial Palace.
"This time, those who make the list should all be Great Grandmaster realm Hidden Dragons. Do you have any potential candidates?"
"Your Majesty, the ones most likely to be listed among the grandmasters are Master Xiao Meng of the Heaven Sect of Dao School, and our Yin Yang School's own Protector Xing Hun."
"As for others, either they've surpassed the age limit of 25, or they fall short in talent and potential."
Ying Zheng remained expressionless, though deep down he was not pleased.
Why was it always the Hundred Schools of Thought?
Even if they did make the list, he could not recruit them for his own use.
Worse yet, they could potentially become enemies of the dynasty.
"Still, it's better than nothing. At least it gives the Qin Dynasty some face."
"Look! The Hidden Dragon Ranking is starting."
The next moment…
High above, lines of golden text began to appear on the ranking.
[Top Ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking for the Nine Provinces is now open]
[All Great Grandmasters and Land Immortals within the Nine Provinces under the age limit are eligible. Rankings are determined by strength, talent, cultivation methods, fortune, and fate. Random Heavenly Dao rewards will be granted.]
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – Rank 10]
[Song Yuhua]
[Identity: Eldest daughter of the Song Clan from Sui Dynasty]
[Cultivation: Late Great Grandmaster Realm]
[Technique: Ethereal Sword Art]
[Reward: Heaven-Grade Low-Tier Pill – Spirit Body Pill. Upon consumption, it can improve physical constitution, with a chance to transform into an innate spiritual body, greatly enhancing affinity with martial insight.]
The scene fell into utter silence.
Late Great Grandmaster!
Even the tenth-ranked was already in the Late Great Grandmaster realm!
Good heavens!
The Hidden Dragons on this ranking were simply terrifying.
Neither Ying Zheng, Zhao Gao, Li Si, nor even Yue Shen could hide their shock.
She had been so confident just now, believing that Protector Xing Hun could make the list.
Now, that seemed utterly ridiculous.
Though Protector Xing Hun had indeed achieved Great Grandmaster status and held considerable power in the martial world of the Qin Dynasty, he had only just reached the early stage.
There was still a massive gap between him and someone at the late stage.
He would likely have no fate with the top ten rankings.
Bitter.
Yue Shen wore a look of bitter frustration.
She could only imagine how monstrous the remaining nine would be.
They were leaving no path for others to survive.
"National Master, what is the current cultivation level of Daoist Xiao Meng?"
Ying Zheng asked with curiosity.
"Master Xiao Meng is an Intermediate Great Grandmaster. It's unlikely she'll make the list," Yue Shen replied with a sigh.
"The Nine Provinces are truly brimming with geniuses, most of them unknown until now."
"I've long known of Song Que, the Heavenly Blade of Sui Dynasty, but to think his daughter is such a talent."
"If I remember correctly, Song Yuzhi, who appeared on the earlier rankings, is also his daughter."
"Isn't Song Que known for his blade method? Is Ethereal Sword Art a family technique?"
Unlike the previously ranked Hidden Dragons, the top ten were the real prize.
Even though Song Yuhua was a woman, Ying Zheng was unwilling to let her slip away.
"Your Majesty, she likely obtained the technique through her own encounters," Yue Shen responded.
"As the ranking itself states, every listed Hidden Dragon must possess a balance of strength, talent, fate, and fortune."
"Song Yuhua made the list not only because of her strength, but also because of her immense fortune and fated opportunities."
"The remaining nine will surely have even more extraordinary destinies."
Yue Shen, with her broad knowledge, explained clearly.
"Do you think the upcoming Heavenly Dao rewards might include an elixir of immortality?"
"It's possible, but the chances are slim."
"No matter what, I cannot give up this opportunity."
"Send word immediately. If any listed Hidden Dragon is willing to offer their Heavenly Dao reward, they will be handsomely rewarded. Should anyone present a longevity pill, I will not hesitate to grant them a noble title or even a royal peerage!"
Ying Zheng issued the decree without hesitation.
"Holy crap! Late Great Grandmaster? Am I seeing things?"
"Not even 25 years old and already this terrifying? These Hidden Dragons are on a completely different level!"
"If the tenth place is already this scary, how insane must the ones ahead be?"
"The ranking even said that some may be Land Immortals!"
"Seriously, is Land Immortal the realm above the Great Grandmaster?"
"I'm 25 and just broke into the Innate Realm. I thought I was a genius, but compared to these monsters, I'm as dumb as a pig."
"Yeah, any one of these people could probably wipe out a top-tier sect single-handedly!"
As the ranking was revealed, an uproar swept across the entire Nine Provinces.
While those ranked eleven through thirty were exceptional, they still fell within the realm of public comprehension.
Now, the top ten redefined what it meant to be a genius.
Realms ordinary geniuses could never reach in a lifetime were, to the top ten, as simple as eating or drinking.
It was simply too astonishing and unbelievable.
==========
Sui Dynasty Imperial Palace.
Even Yang Guang was stunned by the ranking in the sky.
"Empress, do you think if I issue an edict to recruit Song Yuhua, she'll accept?"
"Your Majesty, it's best to proceed with caution. The top ten are not like the bottom twenty."
"These Hidden Dragons have already fully matured."
"They are true powerhouses and must not be disrespected."
"Offending one could bring disaster upon the Sui Dynasty."
Empress Xiao Meiniang did her best to persuade him.
She had met Song Yuhua once.
Back then, she already knew she was strong, but she never imagined she was this formidable.
Even now, she might not be a match for her.
And Song Yuhua's potential was not something she could compare to either.
"Sigh, what a pity. A genius like her cannot be used by me… truly a pity!"
"To think Song Que's ability to bear daughters is second only to mine."
"Still, no matter how powerful Song Yuhua is, she is nothing compared to my daughter."
"Damn that Li Shimin, stealing my daughter. I will never forgive him!"
Xiao Meiniang watched Yang Guang spiraling into madness once more and shook her head helplessly.
She had already lost all trust and confidence in him.
Fortunately, she had long made her own preparations.