“You go to the Earth Ranking Test Palace first, and the old man will go fetch that one treasure and come later.”
Lei Jing commanded, and with a flash of light on his body, he transformed into a pillar of light that shot up into the sky and disappeared into the Silver-robed Elder’s Pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Pagoda Pavilion and headed straight to the Earth Ranking Test Palace.
The 《Earth Ranking》, encompassing the entire Eastern Region, thousands of martial artists from thousands of counties, was a vast region spanning millions of miles, making it difficult to achieve a scene where all martial artists challenged each other together and competed against each other’s martial skills. The rules for entering the list were naturally a little different from the Yellow List and the Xuan List.
Hence, the Test Palace was established.
Through testing the various abilities of a martial artist, a comprehensive score was calculated, thus determining the rank of the martial artist on the 《Earth Ranking》.
When Zhang Ruochen arrived at the Testing Palace, there were already three other martial artists, waiting outside the Testing Palace.
One of them, a seventeen or eight year old girl, wearing a flawless white martial arts robe, was as clear and beautiful as a lotus flower, giving off a picture-perfect fairy-like aura.
It was precisely Luo Shuihan.
The other two martial artists, named Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin, came from the Tai Qing Palace and Divine Blood Sect respectively.
The Taiqing Palace, a fourth-rate sect, was comparable in strength to the Yuntai Zongfu, and could be called the two hegemonies of the 36 counties of the Heavenly Demon Ridge.
Only, Tai Qing Palace’s power was mainly concentrated in the nine counties of Lingnan, and did not have much of a conflict of interest with the Yun Tai Sect.
The Divine Blood Sect, a fifth-rate sect, was only weaker than the Taiqing Palace and the Yuntai Zongfu, and was also a first-rate power in the Heavenly Demon Ridge, with the sect’s disciples reaching more than 100,000, and its power was mainly concentrated in the nine counties in the northern part of the Ridge.
Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin were both around thirty years old, and were first-rate geniuses and powerhouses of the Tai Qing Palace and Divine Blood Sect.
Moreover, they had both just broken through the third level of the Nine Extremity Tower, reaching the point of a Three Extremity Genius, and it was the right time for them to be spirited, which was why they had decided to come to the Testing Palace to prepare for the Earth Ranking to leave a name.
As long as they stayed on the 《Earth Ranking》, they would immediately become Heavenly Demon Ridge’s heroes, on par with the Heavenly Demon Ten Xiu.
A person establishes a name and sets up a shadow.
Who wouldn’t want to be known by the world once they become famous?
Arriving at the test palace, Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin saw the absolutely beautiful and dusty Luo Shuihan, and were immediately attracted by Luo Shuihan’s elegant temperament, unable to take their eyes off.
Could it be that she also had the strength to enter the Earth Ranking?
But she was only that young.
In the 36 counties of the Heavenly Demon Ridge, there were two young women who were able to enter the Earth Ranking. But even the youngest, Han Chu, was already over twenty years old.
This woman in front of me was definitely not twenty years old.
Xue Qingshang took the lead and walked over, appearing courteous and polite, bowing his hands slightly and saying, ”I am from the Taiqing Palace, Xue Qingshang. The girl’s temperament is like an orchid, her appearance is like a Lingbo Fairy, and she has captivated the crowd… I look at the girl’s martial arts robes, and it seems that she is a trainee of the Martial City Academy?”
Tu Jin saw that Xue Qing Shirt had already gone to strike up a conversation, naturally, he was not willing to be left alone, and immediately walked over, saying, “Under the Divine Blood Sect, Tu Jin, I have just broken through the third floor of the Nine Extremities Tower, I don’t know if the fairy has gone to break through the Nine Extremities Tower?”
Xue Qingshang stared at Tu Jin with some displeasure and said, “It’s not just breaking through the third floor of the Nine Extremities Tower, what’s so great about it, I also just broke through the third floor of the Nine Extremities Tower.”
Tu Jin snorted coldly and said, “Even if you break through the third floor of the Nine Extremities Tower, you may not be able to enter the Earth Ranking. Fairy, Mister Tu sees that you should be less than twenty years old, could it be that you also want to stay on the Earth Ranking?”
Xue Qingshang laughed, “Tu Jin, what do you mean by that? Could it be that you are doubting the strength of the fairy?”
Originally, the two were trying to strike up a conversation, but they argued first, and just now their graceful gentleman’s demeanour disappeared without a trace, as if they were about to have a big fight.
Luo Shuihan just stood on the side, quiet like water, appearing very idle, without a hint of emotional fluctuation.
Zhang Ruochen walked up the steps and glanced towards Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin who were quarrelling, revealing a few puzzled looks before walking over to Luo Shuihan and saying, “Senior Sister Luo, long time no see?”
Luo Shuihan glanced towards Zhang Ruochen, revealing a trace of a clear smile, her voice like a clear spring flowing through stone, saying, “Senior Brother Zhang is worthy of being a dragon amongst men, I’ve already heard about your battle with Qiu Lin. I expect that you, too, should come to the Testing Palace recently.”
Zhang Ruochen laughed, “Me and Qiu Lin were just a battle of wills, how can I compare to Senior Sister’s disposition of not disturbing her mind in all matters?”
Luo Shuihan’s eyes were as bright as stars as she carefully surveyed Zhang Ruochen, a hint of a strange colour appearing on her face as she said, “Senior Brother has already cultivated the Heart of Sword Intent and reached the realm of Sword Heart?”
This time it was Zhang Ruochen’s turn to be taken aback, something that even Lei Jing had not discovered was detected by Luo Shuihan, this woman was indeed powerful, I’m afraid that she possessed some sort of special Saint Eyes, or possibly even some sort of special Saint Body.
However, all descendants of saints had saint blood flowing in their bodies, and although it was thin, it allowed their five senses to become very sharp.
Some of these extremely gifted descendants of saints were even able to awaken some special abilities that only saints had, or a special physique.
Just like Luo Shuihan, if she hadn’t awakened some kind of Saint Eyesight or Saint Body, how could she possibly see that Zhang Ruochen had reached the Sword Mind Realm?
Zhang Ruochen stared at Luo Shuihan’s eyes and said, “Senior sister, it should be that she has awakened some sort of Saint Eye, right?”
Luo Shuihan was also slightly taken aback for a moment, and with a shallow smile, she said, “After the test is over, Senior Brother can come to my cultivation mansion, and we can exchange martial arts with each other.”
Luo Shuihan’s gaze glanced towards Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin who were not far away, signalling that Zhang Ruochen’s place was not the place to talk.
Zhang Ruochen understood and said, “It would be my honour to exchange martial dao with senior sister.”
The exchange between Zhang Ruochen and Luo Shuihan just now had used sound wave transmission, and Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin did not hear what they were talking about, but they could see clearly that Zhang Ruochen and Luo Shuihan were chatting with each other.
The two were still arguing, but a third person took advantage of the situation, and it was still a teenager, how could Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin tolerate it?
“Kid, where did you come from? Is there any first come first served?” Tu Jin said in a cold voice.
Xue Qingshang also revealed an unkind gaze and said, “I advise you to better stay away from that one fairy.”
“Why?”
Zhang Ruochen said in disbelief, “What does it have to do with you guys if I exchange a few words with Senior Sister?”
“Senior sister? Haha!”
“Seeing a beautiful-looking female student from the Martial City Academy is your senior sister?”
Tu Jin laughed out loud, “Kid, this is the Earth Ranking Test Palace, it’s not a place you should come.”
Naturally, Tu Jin and Xue Qingshang would not think that Zhang Ruochen was here to participate in the test, after all, Zhang Ruochen was too young and did not look like an expert at the 《Earth Ranking》 level at all.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Why is it not a place I should come to?”
“You are also here to test your strength?”
Xue Qingshang’s eyes carried a bit of contempt, not placing Zhang Ruochen in his eyes.
“Of course.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Tu Jin and Xue Qingshang laughed out loud once again, as if they had heard the funniest joke.
Right at this moment, Lei Jing’s voice came into Zhang Ruochen’s ears, “Zhang Ruochen, there’s no need to argue with them, you can come in and test your strength!”
“Pavilion Master Lei has actually entered the Testing Palace first.”
Zhang Ruochen was a little surprised, after all, he had reached the Earth Ranking Test Palace one step before Lei Jing, and he had not seen Lei Jing from the beginning to the end.
When did he enter?
Martial cultivation, or the difference was too great!
“Senior Sister Luo, we can go in now.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced towards Luo Shuihan, who nodded and walked with Zhang Ruochen through the gate of the Testing Palace, travelling inside.
“That brat is actually here to test, could it be that he already possesses the strength of the Earth Ranking level?” Xue Qingshang revealed a puzzled expression.
“How could it be?”
Tu Jin shook his head and said, “How many 『Earth Ranking』 martial artists are there in the entire Heavenly Demon Ridge’s thirty-six counties? If he is able to enter the Earth Ranking, I will write my name backwards.”
Xue Qingshang nodded and agreed with Tu Jin.
In the entire Heavenly Demon Ridge’s thirty-six counties, there were only so many top young experts, and the vast majority of them were gathered in the Heavenly Demon Martial City, where everyone knew each other well.
How could a teenage Earth Ranking expert suddenly appear?
Even if they were to enter the Earth Ranking, it would only be reasonable if they were experts like Xue Qingshang and Tu Jin, who already had a great reputation.
“When we go in later, we must let that one brat see what a true 《Earth Ranking》 expert level strength is. Brother Xue, don’t you think so?” Tu Jin said.
Xue Qingshang laughed, “What Brother Tu said is very true.”
The two who were still somewhat hostile had actually started to call themselves brothers because of Zhang Ruochen’s appearance.
To enter The Earth Ranking one had to test three abilities, which were: strength, speed, and actual combat.
Walking into the Testing Palace, Zhang Ruochen and Luo Shuihan came to the secret room for testing strength first, followed by Tu Jin and Xue Qingshang who also walked into the secret room with confidence.
In their opinion, today, the two of them were the real protagonists, Zhang Ruochen and Luo Shuihan were still too young after all, and should just come to walk the field and play casually!
Just as he was about to start testing his strength, Lei Jing walked out from a side flank next to him.
Seeing Lei Jing, that one silver-robed elder in charge of the strength test was a bit startled and immediately stood up, walking over to Lei Jing with a respectful bow.
Tu Jin and Xue Qing Shirt felt a bit shocked when they saw this scene.
Knowing that the silver-robed elders of the Martial City Academy Palace were all at the Heavenly Extreme Realm’s martial cultivation level, what would be the status of someone who could make a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist bow and curtsy?
“It should be a big shot from the Martial City School Palace arriving, I didn’t expect that the Martial City School Palace would pay so much attention to us.” Tu Jin was a little excited.
Xue Qingshang appeared breezy and said with a smile, “No matter what, we have just broken through the third level of the Nine Extremities Tower, and we are considered to be top tier geniuses. When we come to the Test Palace, we will naturally be taken seriously. Maybe that one big shot is trying to invite us to join the Martial City School Palace.”
“That should be the case.”
Tu Jin nodded and glanced towards Zhang Ruochen, revealing a hint of contempt as a feeling of superiority arose in his heart. In his opinion, even the top management of the Martial City Academic Palace attached great importance to himself, could there be anything more honourable than this?
As for that one woman who looked like a fairy in a painting, when he became an expert of the 《Earth Ranking》, he only needed to tick his finger, and she would probably take the initiative to throw herself into his arms.
