Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 37 The Heavenly Secrets Ranking Appears

Three days later, at the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, in the Zhenwu Hall training room.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged, surrounded by sword energy.

As the last cycle of energy completes, he slowly opens his eyes, and a thousand sword shadows seem to flash and disappear in his pupils.

Although he had already mastered the Heavenly Rank Sword Technique "Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source," his three days of seclusion and comprehension had deepened his understanding of the sword path.

If he were to go all out now, he would be confident of fighting even a newly ascended Celestial Realm expert.

Although the system's instruction was thorough, he still needed time to adapt; otherwise, he would remain merely a theoretical expert.

"My lord," came Yuan Tiangang's voice from outside the door, "the Heavenly Secrets Academy released a new list today, which has spread throughout the capital."

"Oh?" Lin Chen got up and pushed open the door. "The Heavenly Secrets Ranking has been updated every three years?"

"Exactly." Yuan Tiangang handed over a gilded scroll.

"This is a 'special edition' sent by the Heavenly Secrets Institute, which is more detailed than those available on the market."

Lin Chen unrolled the scroll, and the opening words read:

"The Tianji Academy observes the stars and predicts fortunes, conducting assessments every three years. Now, in accordance with the mandate of heaven, we are publicly announcing the list of heroes from all over the world."

The list is divided into five parts: the Heavenly Ranking selects the top ten people in the world who are at the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm.

The Earth Ranking selects ten Grandmasters, the Human Ranking selects ten Masters, the Rouge Ranking selects ten Beauties, and the Prodigy Ranking selects ten outstanding talents under the age of thirty.

The list includes the best of our time; the rankings may be controversial, but as the will of Heaven has revealed, there is no room for debate.

The following is the detailed list.

Tenth on the Heavenly Ranking: Tuoba Lie, the Northern Shuo Sword Emperor (Late-stage Celestial Being, Guardian of the Northern Shuo Royal Family, 280 years old)

Ninth on the Heavenly Ranking: Yagyu Jubei, the Sword Saint of Dongli (Late-stage Celestial Realm, Sword Instructor of the Dongli Royal Family, 240 years old)

Eighth on the Heavenly Ranking: Yin Jiuyou, the Purple-Clad Master (Late-stage Celestial Realm, Master of the reclusive sect Purple-Clad Master, 290 years old)

Seventh on the Heavenly Ranking: Zen Master Jimie (Late-stage Celestial Being, Abbot of Jimie Temple, 280 years old)

Sixth on the Heavenly Ranking: Zang Tianshuo from Southern Xinjiang (a rogue cultivator, late-stage Celestial Realm cultivator, 260 years old, who lives in seclusion and does not participate in worldly affairs)

Fifth on the Heavenly Ranking: Ao Guang of the East Sea (Peak of the Celestial Realm, a rogue cultivator from overseas, 230 years old, Lord of the East Sea Islands)

Fourth on the Heavenly Ranking: Confucian Sage Kong Yan (Peak of Celestial Being, Master of the Confucian Academy, 280 years old)

Third on the Heavenly Ranking: Zhao Wuji, the ancestor of the Dayan Imperial Family (Peak of the Celestial Realm, 288 years old).

Second on the Heavenly Ranking: Ancestor Styx (Peak of Celestial Being, reclusive overseas, 250 years old)

First on the Heavenly Ranking: Kunlun Sword Immortal Li Xiaoyao (Peak of the Celestial Realm, sword cultivator of Kunlun Ruins, 180 years old, note: He once split a river with a single sword fifty years ago, and has not appeared in the world for nearly thirty years)

"They're all old monsters..." Lin Chen clicked his tongue in amazement.

The youngest of the top ten on this list is 180 years old, and the oldest, the Purple-Clad Pavilion Master, is 290 years old, not far from the 300-year lifespan limit of a Celestial Being.

Let's look at the land rankings again:

Tenth on the Earth Ranking: Zhan Tianqiong, Grand Elder of the War God Temple, late-stage Grandmaster.

Ninth on the Earth Ranking: Blood Sea, Grand Elder of the Yama Palace, late-stage Grandmaster.

Eighth on the Earthly Ranking: Cihang, Master of Guanyin Island in the South China Sea, late-stage Grandmaster.

Seventh on the Earthly Ranking: Vajra Venerable, Abbot of Vajra Temple in the Western Regions, a late-stage Grandmaster.

Sixth on the Earthly Ranking: Wanyan Honglie, the Great General Who Guards the Nation of Beishuo, late-stage Grandmaster.

Fifth on the Earth Ranking: Miyamoto Takeshi, the swordsman who protects the nation of Dongli, late-stage Grandmaster.

Fourth on the Earthly Ranking: Meng Chi, the National Preceptor of Nanzhao, late-stage Grandmaster.

Third on the Earth Ranking: Empress Zhao Lingyang of the Great Yan Dynasty (Mid-stage Grandmaster, 24 years old; Note: Protected by a True Dragon, her combat power is comparable to the peak of a Grandmaster).

Second on the Earth Ranking: Xuanjizi, Elder of the Outer Court of the Heavenly Mystery Academy, late-stage Grandmaster.

The top-ranked official on the Earthly Ranking is Yuan Tiangang, a retainer of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. He is a half-step Celestial Being and can fight against Celestial Beings.

"Four sects and five families didn't make the list?" Lin Chen asked in surprise. "Mr. Yuan's first place on the local list is truly prestigious."

Yuan Tiangang said calmly, "It's just an empty title. However, although the four sect leaders are not on the Earth Ranking, they are already top-tier in the martial arts world."

Zhan Tianqiong, ranked tenth on the Earthly Ranking, should be at least half a level stronger than the Azure Dragon Elder.

Lin Chen continued looking at the ranking list.

All ten people on the Human Ranking are at the Grandmaster level. The number one ranked person is a swordsman named "Ye Gucheng", who is at the peak of the Grandmaster level and is thirty-five years old.

The rest were mostly elders from various factions or reclusive cultivators; there were no members of the Four Sects or Five Families.

The Rouge Ranking caught Lin Chen's eye:

The tenth on the Rouge List: Ye Qingying, the sixth wife of the Duke of Zhenguo (20 years old, with a cool and aloof temperament, mysterious and unpredictable).

Ninth on the Rouge Ranking: Princess Liu Shengxue of Dongli Kingdom (19 years old, unparalleled in both sword and dance)

Eighth on the Rouge List: Lan Fenghuang, Holy Maiden of Nanzhao (22 years old, skilled in Gu magic, mysterious and alluring)

Seventh on the Rouge List: Princess Ba Tuo Mingzhu of Bei Shuo (25 years old, heroic and valiant, skilled in riding and archery)

Sixth on the Rouge List: Princess Ayim of Loulan in the Western Regions (20 years old, exotic, skilled in singing and dancing)

Fifth on the Rouge List: Miaoyin, successor of the Cihang Jingzhai of the South China Sea (23 years old, with an ethereal temperament).

Fourth on the Rouge List: Su Xiaoxiao, the most talented woman in Jiangnan (18 years old, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting).

Third on the Rouge Ranking: Princess Zhao Mingyue of Dayan (26 years old, Empress's elder sister, gentle and dignified)

Second on the Rouge Ranking: Lingbo, Fairy of Kunlun Ruins (age unknown, detached from worldly affairs).

First on the Rouge Ranking: Empress Zhao Lingyang of Dayan (24 years old, skilled in both literature and martial arts, protected by a true dragon)

"The top spot on the Rouge Ranking is actually Her Majesty the Empress!" Lin Chen was somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, he found it reasonable.

Zhao Lingyang was only twenty-four years old when she was already a mid-stage Grandmaster. She was also blessed with the luck of a true dragon, and her appearance and temperament were both outstanding. It was well-deserved that she ranked first on the Rouge List.

"Sixth Sister-in-law made the list!" Lin Chen laughed. "Although she's tenth, those who make it onto the Heavenly Mystery Academy's Rouge Ranking are all beauties among beauties."

Yuan Tiangang's lips curled slightly beneath his mask: "If Sixth Madam knew she was on the list, she would probably be furious."

"Then don't tell her." Lin Chen continued reading.

Finally, there's the List of Prodigies, which recognizes outstanding individuals under the age of thirty.

Tenth on the Prodigy Ranking: Su Mo, Young Master of the Su Family of Jiangnan (28 years old, early stage of Grandmaster, note: excellent in both literature and martial arts)

Ninth on the list of prodigies: Miaoyin, successor of the Cihang Jingzhai of the South China Sea (23 years old, early stage of Grandmaster).

Eighth on the Prodigy Ranking: Cang Yun, Young Master of the Azure Dragon Sect (28 years old, early stage of Grandmaster)

Seventh on the list of prodigies: Jin Chan, a Buddhist disciple of Vajra Temple (25 years old, early stage of Grandmaster)

Sixth on the Prodigy Ranking: Prince Ba Tuoqi of Bei Shuo (27 years old, early stage of Grandmaster)

Fifth on the Prodigy Ranking: Liu Shengjian, the Third Prince of Dongli Kingdom (27 years old, late-stage Grandmaster)

Fourth on the Prodigy Ranking: Blood Without Trace, Young Master of the Yama Palace (29 years old, Mid-stage Grandmaster)

Third on the Prodigy Ranking: Zhan Fengyun, Young Master of the War God Hall (26 years old, mid-stage Grandmaster)

Second on the list of prodigies: Tian Suanzi, chief disciple of the Tianji Academy (23 years old, mid-stage Grandmaster, note: proficient in divination and prediction)

First on the list of prodigies: Liu Zhenshan, Commander of the Great Yan Imperial City Division (30 years old, early stage of Grandmaster, the youngest Grandmaster).

"Liu Zhenshan is number one..." Lin Chen mused.

"It seems the Imperial City Guard is indeed formidable. However, the younger generation of the four major sects and five major families is indeed on this list."

Yuan Tiangang said, "The four sects and five families are considered top-tier in Dayan, but in the grand scheme of things, they are indeed still lacking."

However, it's already quite remarkable that their young master has made it onto the list of prodigies.

After Lin Chen finished reading the list, there was a line of small print at the end of the scroll:

"The list may omit some hidden powerhouses; the secrets of heaven are unpredictable, and this is for reference only."

"My lord," Yuan Tiangang said:

"You were not on the list, but there are already rumors in the capital that you are at least a first-rank official, and may even have reached the level of a grandmaster."

"Let them guess," Lin Chen said nonchalantly. "By the way, Senior Dugu and Mr. Li..."

"The secrets of heaven are unfathomable," Yuan Tiangang said.

"No matter how powerful the Heavenly Secrets Institute is, it cannot detect the existence concealed by the system."

In their view, Senior Dugu and Mr. Li either didn't exist, or they were terrestrial deities, beyond the scope of calculation.

Lin Chen smiled: "That's for the best."

Just then, a report came from outside: "Eighth Master, Elder Xuanjizi of the Heavenly Mystery Academy has come to visit."

"Please come quickly."