Chapter 439: The Ranking Battle (Part 1)

Chapter 439: The Ranking Battle (Part 1)



The Sacred Flame Hall was vast, accommodating over nine thousand Demigod-ranked and more than a hundred Flying Heaven-ranked reserve members, divided into two main camps without feeling crowded.

The gathering place for Flying Heaven-ranked members, compared to five years ago, had significantly fewer members, leaving only about one hundred and twenty remaining.

"Many have broken through," some members commented.

"Even the two Holy Sons, Qi Xia and Pang Ting, broke through several years ago," another added.

"It's been over twenty years of cultivation in Perception Star City; it's only natural that they've made their breakthroughs," the Flying Heaven-ranked members chatted among themselves.

This had become a customary topic.

Firstly, the lifespan of Demigod-ranked Flying Heaven members was limited, and cultivation at the Demigod rank progressed faster, making it unsuitable to linger at the Flying Heaven rank for too long.

Secondly, the various auxiliary cultivation treasures provided by Perception Star City, such as the Crimson Spirit Flame Liquid, were limited to a supply of 25 years, and the number of trial missions Flying Heaven-ranked members could undertake had an upper limit.

As a result, after 20 to 30 years of cultivation in Perception Star City, Flying Heaven-ranked reserve members would gradually become Demigods.

"Two Holy Son positions have opened up; this is our chance!"

"Indeed, there's no hope for the first Holy Son position, it's destined for Xu Yuan. But we can compete for the second and third Holy Son positions," many of the stronger Flying Heaven-ranked members had a yearning in their hearts.

The first Holy Son position? They dared not even think about it.

However, even if they could only secure the second or third position, they would still gain a substantial amount of cultivation resources.

"Do you think Xu Yuan will break through to the Demigod rank?"

"Unlikely."

"I saw him six months ago, and he was still at the Flying Heaven rank."

"He's only in his thirties, so young, he must need at least another twenty years of cultivation..." Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Xu Yuan, who had just flown into the hall, his black-robed figure catching the attention of not only the hundred-plus Flying Heaven-ranked members but also the nine thousand-plus Demigod-ranked members.

His aura was robust, clearly indicating his advancement to the Demigod rank.

"Xu Yuan has become a Demigod?" The deputy palace lord, Moonwing True God, standing on the high platform, was also taken aback upon seeing Li Yuan for the first time.

Moonwing True God was aware of Li Yuan's unique status, a Flying Heaven Holy Son who rivaled others.

However, his reaction was swift, and he immediately communicated via sound transmission, "Xu Yuan, now that you've advanced to the Demigod rank, go and wait by Yue Shan's side."

"Yes," Li Yuan replied, and flew forward to join the Demigod-ranked members.

"Xu Yuan."

"Brother Xu Yuan," many Demigod-ranked members also sent sound transmissions to Li Yuan, most of them from the Yuanyuan Kingdom, as Li Yuan had spent most of the past five years cultivating alone, rarely interacting with Demigods from other kingdoms.

"Jiang Shan."

"Bai Li, give it your all."

"Bei Hong." Li Yuan nodded in response to each of them.

Even when Bei Hong, who had a strained relationship with Jiang Shan, greeted him, Li Yuan maintained a neutral expression, as Bei Hong had always been polite to him.

Finally, Li Yuan arrived at the front of the Demigod-ranked members, and looking around, he saw that those gathered here were mostly top-ranked geniuses on the Demigod Ranking List, including over ten Holy Sons.

Their strength determined their position.

"Xu Yuan."

The robust Yue Shan strode forward, a hint of disbelief on his face, "How did you break through so quickly? You could have waited until after the ranking battle to make your breakthrough."

"I felt ready to break through, so I did," Li Yuan smiled, "I didn't want to delay it any longer."

"It's different! If you break through to the Demigod rank after the battle, you'll still enjoy the Holy Son treatment for the next five years," Yue Shan couldn't help but say, "But now that you're a Demigod, you must meet the 'Holy Son requirements' in the ranking battle, or you'll immediately lose the Holy Son treatment."

"I know," Li Yuan smiled.

This was the rule in the Sacred Flame Palace, so the majority of Flying Heaven Holy Sons lost their Holy Son status for a period after becoming Demigods... Some even failed to regain it.

After all, the competition for the Demigod Holy Son positions was far more intense than for the Flying Heaven Holy Sons, and not all Flying Heaven Holy Sons could become Demigod Holy Sons.

"You know this, yet you still chose to break through?" Yue Shan sighed, "If you had waited and participated in the battle after five more years of cultivation, your chances would have been much better. At the very least, your Origin Power could have reached level 47, and the rewards for breaking into the top ranks in the Demigod ranking battle are the most astonishing."

Yue Shan felt a hint of regret.

In Yue Shan's eyes, even with Li Yuan's astonishing talent, it was impossible for him to catch up to the efforts of other Demigod Holy Sons in just a few short years... Not to mention the significant gap in their Origin Power cultivation levels.

Even for an eight-star pulse cultivator, a typical breakthrough would only reach level 47.

As for the Demigod-ranked members present, nearly half of them had already awakened seven-star pulses.

"Yue Shan, don't worry, my ranking won't be too bad," Li Yuan smiled.

He knew that Yue Shan cared about him.

"It won't be too bad? Even if you manage to break into the top three hundred, the treatment gap compared to the Demigod Holy Sons will still be significant. Especially since you just broke through, how can you expect to..." Yue Shan abruptly stopped himself, shaking his head, "Never mind, just give it your all."

Yue Shan realized that Li Yuan's status was different from other Demigods from the Yuanyuan Kingdom.

Moreover, Li Yuan's breakthrough to the Demigod rank was an established fact, and Yue Shan didn't want to say more, lest he cause any dissatisfaction in Li Yuan.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from not too far away, "Haha, Yue Shan, it seems like you've been overly optimistic. Brother Xu Yuan seems to have the confidence to break into the top three hundred of the Demigod ranking."

"Hmph!"

"Bai Feng, if you don't speak, people will think you're mute," Yue Shan's expression darkened, "Brother Xu Yuan is an unparalleled genius, how can you compare to him?"

Li Yuan instantly recognized the speaker as Bai Feng, the 15th-ranked Demigod on the ranking list.

He was also a Demigod Holy Son, and his strength was formidable.

"If Brother Xu Yuan had cultivated for a hundred more years, I wouldn't dare to compete," Bai Feng shook his head, "But now? It's better to cultivate for a while longer."

Li Yuan frowned, feeling that he hadn't offended Bai Feng.

"Brother Xu Yuan, he's an inner disciple of Guan Ming True God and one of the leaders of the Guan Ming Divine Kingdom in the Sacred Flame Palace," Yue Shan explained via sound transmission, "During the trial missions, he had conflicts with many of our Yuanyuan Kingdom's powerful cultivators."

Li Yuan immediately understood the reason.

Guan Ming True God was the ruler of one of the eighteen core divine kingdoms under Perception Star City, the Guan Ming Divine Kingdom, and he was an extremely powerful True God. Guan Ming True God had a deep conflict with Jiang Yuan True God.

This conflict was well-known within Perception Star City.

When Li Yuan first arrived in Perception Star City and met with Yue Shan, Yang Di, and others for the first time, he had already learned about the conflict between the two divine kingdoms.

Where there are people, there will be disputes, even within the same power.

Although the conflict between the two True Gods hadn't reached the point of life and death, it directly influenced the attitudes of the many powerful cultivators under their command.

The Yan Kingdom lineage and the Guan Ming Divine Kingdom lineage have been in constant competition.

Even if Jiang Yuan True God’s strength has evolved to the point where he now rivals a Heaven God, it doesn’t mean that the strong figures of the Guan Ming Divine Kingdom lineage will bow down to the strong figures of the Yan Kingdom.

"Resources are limited, and for the competition among the middle and lower ranks, the higher-ups probably have a tacit approval attitude," Li Yuan muttered to himself. "With Brother Jiang Yuan’s personality, and now that he’s the Deputy City Lord, he definitely won’t interfere with these matters."

Thinking of this, he continued.

"Brother Bai Feng seems to be certain that I won’t make it into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank?" Li Yuan suddenly said with a loud laugh, "What if I do make it into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank?"

Rustle!

Upon hearing these words, over a hundred Demigods couldn’t help but look at Xu Yuan.

"Top hundred on the Demigod Rank? I didn’t hear wrong, did I?"

"Xu Yuan just became a Demigod and is already aiming for the top hundred?"

"Even Jing Kui wasn’t that arrogant back then. Xu Yuan is just too confident."

"Even with his extremely high talent, he’s just broken through and hasn’t had much time to cultivate." These powerful Demigods couldn’t help but whisper to each other.

Which of the Demigods present wouldn’t want to break into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank?

Indeed!

Xu Yuan’s reputation as an unparalleled genius had long spread throughout the various forces in this world. Few people doubted it.

But to say that these powerful Demigods would all believe that Li Yuan, having just broken through, had the strength to make it into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank?

Almost no one believed it.

"Brother Xu Yuan, be careful with your words," Yue Shan Demigod’s expression also changed, and he repeatedly whispered, "The top hundred on the Demigod Rank is not that easy to enter."

"Ha ha ha."

The golden-armored youth Bai Feng couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this, looking at Xu Yuan. "Brother Xu Yuan, confidence is good, but being overly arrogant is not. You have extremely high talent, but which of those in the top hundred on the Demigod Rank has weak talent?"

"Half a year ago, you were still at the Flying Heaven Rank. Your Origin Power cultivation is probably only at the 44th level now," the golden-armored youth shook his head and said, "Even breaking into the top thousand would be very difficult."

Li Yuan’s aura was extremely restrained, making it very hard for the Demigods present to judge his life level. They only knew he was a Demigod.

"Brother Xu Yuan, I advise you to be more low-key for this ranking battle," the golden-armored youth casually said.

His words seemed objective but actually subtly mocked Li Yuan for lacking self-awareness.

"Oh?"

"Brother Bai Feng, why don’t we make a bet?" Li Yuan smiled and said, "Ten thousand Divine Crystals, betting on whether I can break into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank. How about it?"

Boom!

This time, not only did the over a hundred Demigods around them look over, but even more Demigods were attracted.

"Ten thousand Divine Crystals?"

"My entire wealth is less than twenty thousand Divine Crystals. No wonder he’s a Holy Son, truly generous."

"Ha ha! Let’s see who wins!"

"I wonder if Bai Feng will dare to accept the bet." Many Demigods were delighted to watch the spectacle.

Ten thousand Divine Crystals?

Forget the majority of Demigod-level members who only have Void Deity initial stage strength; even a top-ranked Demigod genius like Yang Di wouldn’t ignore such a sum of wealth.

Bai Feng Demigod’s brows furrowed slightly.

He wasn’t concerned about the ten thousand Divine Crystals. As a Holy Son, coming up with ten thousand Divine Crystals wasn’t difficult.

The key was Li Yuan’s attitude, which he found hard to fathom.

For a moment, Bai Feng Demigod didn’t respond.

"Brother Bai Feng, you just said it would be very difficult for me to break into the top thousand on the Demigod Rank," Li Yuan smiled and said, "Do you, a Holy Son of the Demigod Rank, lack the courage to even put up ten thousand Divine Crystals?"

A flash of fierce light appeared in Bai Feng Demigod’s eyes.

If he didn’t accept the bet, even if Li Yuan ultimately didn’t break into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank, it would still be a loss of face for him.

Moreover, he fundamentally didn’t believe that Li Yuan could break into the top hundred so quickly.

"Since Brother Xu Yuan has such courage, I will take the bet with you," Bai Feng Demigod’s voice remained gentle, "If Brother Xu Yuan can break into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank, creating another miracle for the Divine Fire Palace, I will congratulate you with ‘ten thousand Divine Crystals.’"

"But if Brother Xu Yuan doesn’t break into the top hundred?" Bai Feng Demigod looked straight at Li Yuan.

"I will naturally put up ten thousand Divine Crystals to apologize to Brother Bai Feng," Li Yuan smiled.

"Alright, it’s a deal," Bai Feng Demigod said.

Neither party made a Law Oath.

Under the watchful eyes of so many people, based on their positions and status, whichever side lost wouldn’t dare to renege on the ten thousand Divine Crystals.

From beginning to end, the Moonwing True God on the high platform didn’t intervene… In the eyes of the higher-ups, as long as the geniuses of the Divine Fire Palace didn’t involve life and death, the fiercer the competition, the better.

Competition would make them strive harder in their cultivation.

The news of this bet quickly spread throughout the Sacred Flame Hall, known to all Reserve Members.

"Really betting?"

"Ten thousand Divine Crystals! Holy Sons are truly rich."

"Does Xu Yuan really have the confidence to break into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank? Taking the bet, so confident?"

"Who knows?"

"If another ten years pass and Xu Yuan cultivates his Origin Power to the limit, with stronger Law Insight, he might have a chance to break into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank, but how long has he been cultivating now?"

"I think there’s little hope." Nearly ten thousand Reserve Members were whispering to each other.

The vast majority of Reserve Members didn’t have high hopes for Li Yuan.

...

Li Yuan, Yue Shan, and Yang Di had gathered together, whispering to each other.

"Xu Yuan, do you really have the confidence?" Yue Shan Demigod whispered, somewhat hesitant.

He knew that losing ten thousand Divine Crystals wasn’t a big deal for Li Yuan, but the loss of face was the key.

"No confidence," Li Yuan smiled.

"This!" Yang Di Demigod was a bit anxious, thinking Li Yuan was being impulsive.

"But if they step on my face, I can’t just bow down," Li Yuan whispered with a smile, "Breaking into the top hundred on the Demigod Rank isn’t a sure thing, but it’s not without hope."

Yue Shan Demigod’s eyes lit up.

"Once the ranking battle is over, we’ll know the result," Li Yuan smiled.

"Alright, we’ll wait and see," Yue Shan Demigod smiled.

He didn’t interact much with Li Yuan, but in his view, if Li Yuan said so, he must have some confidence.

"Top hundred on the Demigod Rank?" Li Yuan was also thinking.

Just in terms of material attacks, Li Yuan didn’t have absolute confidence to break into the top hundred, but if he added soul attacks, the situation would definitely be different… However, Li Yuan wasn’t sure how effective soul attacks would be against these powerful Demigods.

"Once the battle starts, we’ll naturally know the outcome," Li Yuan was very calm in his heart: "Do my best."

As for the bet?

Even if he lost, Li Yuan wouldn’t mind.

After experiencing the repeated trials of the "Heart Illusion Six Realms," his inner will had grown even stronger, clear in mind and nature. His laughter and anger all came from his inner feelings, doing what he wanted to do, with emotions only surfacing on the surface.

Time passed, and the last few Flying Heaven Rank Reserve Members arrived.

Whoosh!

A black-robed figure suddenly flew into the entrance of the Divine Palace, and the hall immediately quieted down.

At least a thousand Demigods couldn’t help but look at the black-robed figure.

His aura was very ordinary, his expression calm. At first glance, he seemed very ordinary, but he emitted a mysterious aura that was quite eye-catching.

The black-robed youth flew straight to the front of the team.

"Jing Kui."

"Jing Kui is back."

"The last time I saw him was five years ago, and he's only back for the Ranking Battle."

"He's probably going to be first again. Last time, he was close to clearing the sixth level. If he succeeds this time, it'll prove he has Void God Peak strength." Numerous whispers arose.

Among them were the Second-ranked Demigod He Feng, the Third-ranked Demigod Dong Pan, Yue Shan, Bai Feng, and others.

Previously, these Demigods with the title of Holy Son were all incredibly arrogant, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge each other.

But when Jing Kui entered the grand hall, they all quieted down, silently gazing at each other.

"Jing Kui," Li Yuan also turned to look at the familiar black-robed figure.

For some reason, Li Yuan felt that his aura seemed slightly different from the last time they met.

The top Demigod of Perception Star City.

In this world, he was also one of the most monstrous Demigods of his generation.

According to the information Li Yuan had gathered over the past five years, since Jing Kui defeated Dong Pan's Demigod thirty years ago and became the top-ranked Demigod, no one had been able to challenge his position in the Divine Fire Palace.

In terms of age, Jing Kui was actually one of the younger Demigods in the Divine Fire Palace... which was also the reason for his high status.

Before Li Yuan entered Perception Star City, Jing Kui was the only Seventh-stage Demigod.

Demigods like He Feng and Dong Pan had cultivated for over four hundred years.

Hoo! Jing Kui descended and stood at the very front of the team, and no one disputed this.

The first person should be like this.

"Xu Yuan," Jing Kui suddenly turned to look at Li Yuan, revealing a faint smile, "It's been a long time."

"It's been a long time," Li Yuan nodded.

This scene also surprised many Demigods, as they realized that Jing Kui and Xu Yuan knew each other.

Suddenly, a voice resonated in Li Yuan's mind: "Five years since our parting at Nine Sound God Mountain, congratulations on becoming a Demigod... Your soul's will seems to have grown much stronger, and I feel you're no less than me."

"You've also grown stronger," Li Yuan responded telepathically.

"Hmm," Jing Kui said no more.

As time passed, he also learned about the bet between Li Yuan and Bai Feng.

"Ten thousand Divine Crystals? Interesting," Jing Kui's lips curled into a faint smile.

He was also curious.

Could Xu Yuan really break into the top hundred of the Demigod rankings? Suddenly—

Vibration~ An invisible pressure enveloped the four directions, instantly silencing the entire grand hall, and nearly ten thousand Ascended Demigods fell silent.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end