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Gu Yuena's pale violet eyes shifted slightly as the dragon patterns on her fingertips flickered faintly. She sensed the spiritual power fluctuations emanating from the Zither of Emotions, and a trace of barely perceptible interest flashed through her gaze.
"A spiritual-type martial soul that can manipulate emotions. That is somewhat interesting."
She did not take Tang Yuehua to heart. She merely found this power somewhat special, perhaps something that could serve as an amusing toy in the future.
On the Extreme North Ice Plains, the Ice Empress's emerald-green eyes moved as she looked toward the heavenly screen, her tone carrying a hint of surprise.
"The Zither of Emotions, spiritual type. That woman's luck is not bad."
"However, this level of power alone is still not enough to warrant our attention. As long as she does not provoke the Extreme North, we can leave her be."
Snow mist drifted gently around the Snow Empress. Her ice-blue eyes shifted slightly, her voice cold and clear.
"The stronger the power, the harder it is to control. If she cannot master the Zither of Emotions, she will eventually be devoured by that power and bring about her own destruction."
"There is no need for us to concern ourselves with this. We should simply focus on our own cultivation."
Within the Evil Demon Forest, the Evil Emperor's massive eyeball stared fixedly at the heavenly screen. Jealousy and greed flashed through his purple-black pupil.
"Damn it. Such a heaven-defying reward was actually given to a human woman!"
"Send people to investigate. Find the exact location of Moon Pavilion. Once the Dragon God's pressure weakens, go seize the Zither of Emotions. As long as I obtain that zither, I will become the ruler of the continent!"
Outside the hall, the sinister soul beasts roared one after another, greed filling their eyes. Their desire for the Zither of Emotions caused them to momentarily forget their fear of the Dragon God's pressure.
The golden pillar of light gradually faded. Tang Yuehua stood at the center of the elegant chamber, the Zither of Emotions floating before her. A thousand-year soul ring slowly revolved around her body, and the aura of a level fifteen soul master spread outward. Though her level was not high, the spiritual power radiated by the Zither of Emotions inspired instinctive awe.
She took a deep breath and suppressed the turbulence in her heart, her eyes filled with resolve.
"From this day onward, I, Tang Yuehua, am no longer a woman who can only rely on talent to stand her ground. I will master this power, protect Moon Pavilion, protect the Clear Sky Sect, and live up to this recognition bestowed by the ranking."
She gently plucked the strings. A calm yet resolute melody slowly flowed outward, spreading to every corner of Moon Pavilion. Outside the elegant chamber, the maids and disciples stopped in their tracks to listen, their eyes filled with pride and reverence.
Above the heavenly screen, Tang Yuehua's ranking information completely vanished. Yet the news of the Zither of Emotions descending into the world spread like thunder across the entire continent. All factions were forced to reassess this woman of Clear Sky Sect origin, and anticipation for the subsequent rewards of the Goddess Ranking grew even stronger.
Barely three breaths after Tang Yuehua's information faded, the previously dim sky suddenly blazed once more with resplendent golden light.
Runic script poured down like flowing water. The various continental factions, which had only just begun to calm down, instantly fixed their gazes tightly on the heavenly screen again. Even their breathing subconsciously slowed, for fear of missing a single word.
[Goddess Ranking Nineteenth: Yue Guan]
[Affiliation: Spirit Hall]
[Level: Level 95 Titled Douluo]
[Evaluation: The only individual on the continent to possess an Immortal-Grade Medicinal Herb martial soul, the Strange Velvet Heaven-Piercing Chrysanthemum. Though born male, he has broken the constraints of gender through the unique nature of his martial soul and his top-tier aptitude, entering the Goddess Ranking. The Immortal-Grade medicinal martial soul holds limitless potential, possesses outstanding combat strength, and marks him as a rare special genius of the continent.]
[Reward: One Immortal-Grade Medicinal Herb, Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum. Soul power level forcibly increased by one.]
These few lines of text exploded like thunder in every corner of the continent. All factions that had still been immersed in the joy of Tang Yuehua's rise fell into an eerie silence.
Immediately afterward, earth-shaking uproar erupted. Countless soul masters stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief, even suspecting they had misread the characters on the heavenly screen.
"Yue Guan? Is that the Chrysanthemum Douluo of Spirit Hall?"
"Are we seeing this right? This is the Goddess Ranking. How can a man be on it? Has the ranking gone mad?"
"The key point is the evaluation. Breaking gender constraints through the uniqueness of his martial soul. An Immortal-Grade medicinal martial soul, the only one on the continent. No wonder he made the list!"
"Chrysanthemum Douluo already looks androgynous, with a slender figure and strikingly beautiful features. With an Immortal-Grade martial soul added on top, perhaps in the ranking's judgment, his special nature far outweighs gender."
"The reward is even more outrageous. An Immortal-Grade medicinal herb given directly, plus a forced increase of one soul power level. Going from level ninety-five to ninety-six as a Titled Douluo is harder than ascending to the heavens. This reward is simply absurd!"
Across the continent, in soul master gathering places such as taverns, marketplaces, and sect strongholds, similar exclamations and debates rang out. The common understanding of the Goddess Ranking was completely overturned.
No one had expected that a ranking focused on women of the continent would include a male Titled Douluo, and at that, the famously flamboyant Chrysanthemum Douluo of Spirit Hall.
Inside the Pope Palace of Spirit City, the atmosphere became bizarre to the extreme. Bibi Dong lightly traced the gemstone atop the papal scepter with her fingertips.
A trace of astonishment flashed through her crimson eyes before a cold, alluring, and playful curve appeared at the corner of her lips. Her voice carried a hint of amusement.
"How interesting. This ranking actually has such twists. Yue Guan, you have given me quite the surprise."
As her words fell, every gaze within the hall simultaneously turned toward the corner where Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was slumped.
Yue Guan had already been stifling frustration due to the lingering weakness caused by the Dragon God's pressure. The moment he clearly saw the ranking information on the heavenly screen, it was as if he had been struck by lightning, his entire body freezing in place.
His originally pale face flushed deep red in an instant. Even his ears turned crimson, as if blood might drip from them. Shame and fury surged together as his fingers clenched tightly into the stone floor, his knuckles whitening, faint cracking sounds even echoing from the stone beneath his grip.
"Absurd. This is utterly absurd!"
Yue Guan suddenly sprang to his feet. His soul power surged uncontrollably, and the pressure of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo spread outward in an instant. The maids and low-level soul masters within the hall collapsed to their knees, their faces drained of color.
His voice was sharp, filled with uncontrollable humiliation and anger.
"I am a dignified Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall, a man who has roamed the continent for many years. How could I end up on this ridiculous Goddess Ranking? This is an insult. An outright insult!"
He had always been conscious of his appearance and figure. Though male, he possessed exceedingly beautiful features, fair skin, delicate brows and eyes, and a slender, graceful build that surpassed many women. He also favored refined attire in his daily life.
Yet being classified as a "goddess" by the ranking made him feel as though all dignity had been stripped away. He wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground, especially when he realized that soul masters across the entire continent were watching. Shame and fury intertwined violently.
The phantom of his Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum martial soul faintly manifested behind him. Pale golden petals trembled slightly, as if echoing the turmoil of his emotions.
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