“Ordinary.”
The young girl spoke slowly, her tone cold, as icy as the sword she wore at her waist.
Her eyes were cold, as if everything in the world was inconsequential to her. With a single thought, she could sever all ties with the world using the sword in her hand. Or perhaps, it wasn’t just her thoughts—most sword cultivators shared the belief that all things in existence could be reduced to the edge of a blade.
It was precisely this mentality that allowed sword cultivators like her to keep moving forward.
Despite the unapproachable aura she exuded, the girl was stunningly beautiful. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall down her shoulders, reaching her waist in a sleek and smooth flow. Her delicate and refined nose sat perfectly on her face, while the cherry-like lips below were fresh and enticing.
Her skin was flawless, almost too delicate to belong to a swordsman, yet the heroic spirit in her brows made her resemble a wild steed—untamable by anyone.
“If Junior Sister says it’s ordinary, then it must be ordinary.”
Hearing her comment, the elder merely chuckled and said no more. The other four disciples didn’t dare to say anything either.
While the sword aura here was rough, it was undeniably vast and overwhelmingly sharp—far beyond their own capabilities. Of course, they understood that this was only true for them.
For the girl before them, whatever she said was the truth.Among the younger generation, no one in the entire world could surpass her.
Her name was Xu Xue Nuo.
Born with the Innate Sword Bone, she refined it at the age of six, acquiring her life-bound flying sword and stepping into the Dao of cultivation, reaching the Cave Mansion Realm almost immediately.
Now, she was the sole disciple of the Sect Master of the Wanjian (Ten Thousand Swords) Sect.
All disciples addressed her as “Martial Aunt,” and even many elders had to call her “Junior Sister.” It was widely accepted that she would be the next Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, a fact few disputed.
[T/N: I had only seen Martial Uncle (like in every manhua) , so thought there is no ‘Martial Aunt’ (Shishu). But from now on I’ll use it instead of ‘Uncle’ (Shishu) for females since Uncle sounds weird for females.]
Two male disciples couldn’t help but glance at their young “Martial Aunt.” They couldn’t resist looking at her because she was just too beautiful.
However, each glance sent a chill down their spines, forcing them to avert their eyes quickly, as if her sword aura would pierce them if they stared too long.
Come to think of it, they had never seen this Martial Aunt smile.
In fact, they even wondered if she was capable of smiling.
“I wonder which guest from the Tianxuan Sect has arrived,” the elder said, stroking his beard as he looked into the distance. “Let us proceed. We must not delay the appointed time.”
“Understood.”
The group bowed with the Sword Salute and followed the elder forward.
Xu Xue Nuo gazed at the distant, rolling mountain range. In her mind, the figure of a young girl emerged unbidden.
It had been nearly eleven years since they last met.
How was she now? Was she doing well?
Following that, another figure appeared in her memory—a young boy.
Thinking of him, Xu Xue Nuo clenched her fists tightly.
‘You cannot use the Blood Sword Technique. That proves your bloodlines are entirely different. You are not truly siblings.’
Her master’s words from that day echoed in her ears.
In the Tianxuan Sect, the spiritual energy dissipated, and the sky returned to calm. Xu Ming and Chen Yun stood face-to-face.
Xu Ming’s sword pointed at Chen Yun’s shoulder.
But Chen Yun’s giant sword rested against Xu Ming’s neck.
Judging by their positions, it was clear Chen Yun had won.
Yet none of the disciples cheered.
Looking at the man before him, Chen Yun felt both excitement and regret.
He was excited because this younger brother was undoubtedly the strongest peer opponent he had ever faced.
In that final exchange of blows, Chen Yun couldn’t help but break through his realm.
He knew that the moment he unleashed that sword by surpassing his boundary, he had already lost.
But Chen Yun didn’t mind.
A loss was a loss—what he sought was a battle that left him exhilarated.
What a pity.
“Where did you get those injuries?” Chen Yun asked Xu Ming, dissatisfaction evident in his tone.
“I was ambushed by the Hehuan Sect earlier and got hurt,” Xu Ming replied calmly.
“When you’re healed, let’s fight again. Today’s match didn’t satisfy me.” Chen Yun slung his giant sword over his shoulder, stepping into the air and departing. “This duel is your victory.”
Xu Ming sheathed his sword and looked at his right hand. His palm had been torn by the force of Chen Yun’s earlier strike, and blood dripped steadily from the wound.
Recalling that strike, Xu Ming shook his head.
Chen Yun claimed defeat because he had used the strength of the Dragon Gate Realm for that final sword.
But in Xu Ming’s eyes, he was the one who had truly lost.
Had Chen Yun not pulled back at the last moment, Xu Ming would already be dead beneath his blade.
In a real fight, there would be no chance to say, “Your realm is higher than mine, so it’s unfair.” Such excuses were meaningless.
That said, apart from childhood playfights with Xiao Bai—where he’d been pinned to the ground—this was the first time Xu Ming had truly lost to someone of his generation.
Even though Chen Yun was more than ten years older, such an age gap meant little in the world of cultivation.
Just as Xu Ming was about to turn away, streaks of azure light began converging in the sky above the Tianxuan Sect.
The light condensed into a list—a shimmering azure ranking board.
—
In the Northern Sea Palace
A woman clad in a light blue imperial gown sat upon a crystal throne.
The Dragon Empress rested her head on her pale hand, her eyes closed as she slept.
A palace maid hurried into the hall, but upon seeing the Dragon Empress reclining on the embroidered couch, the maid froze, momentarily spellbound.
The Dragon Empress lay sideways, her dark hair flowing like clouds, her serene slumber unable to conceal the sorrow etched between her brows.
The maid’s gaze traced her butterfly-like eyelashes, her lips as red as blooming begonias, and finally landed on the smooth, ivory shoulder peeking out from her slightly disheveled silks.
The maid’s breath hitched. The Empress’s skin, as pure and radiant as milk, outshone even the gleaming pearls adorning her pillow.
Even as a woman herself, the maid could not help but be mesmerized by her Empress’s beauty each time she saw her.
She couldn’t fathom how such a stunning existence could grace the world.
What enraged her most was that the ‘nun’ from the Western Regions ranked first on the Beauty List.
What qualifications did that nun have to claim the top spot?
The Empress was unparalleled and could not be surpassed!
Not daring to disturb her Empress’s rest, the maid stood quietly in the hall, waiting for her to awaken.
But the maid didn’t feel bored.
If possible, she would be content to gaze at the Empress forever—her beauty was something one could never tire of.
Sadly, in the next moment, the Dragon Empress’s lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.
“Your Majesty,” the maid quickly knelt.
The Empress, her gaze still drowsy and languid, looked at her attendant. Without raising her voice, her words resonated throughout the grand hall. “What is it?”
“Your Majesty, a report has arrived from the sisters Ruo Lan and Ruo Ye,” the maid answered respectfully.
“Speak,” the Empress said softly.
“Ruo Lan and Ruo Ye are on their way back to the Northern Sea, but they did not bring Xu Ming with them.
They reported that Xu Ming is exceedingly powerful but gravely injured. Forcing him to return could pose a threat to his life if not handled carefully.
However, Xu Ming said that if Your Majesty were to invite the Kingdom of Wu to send an envoy to the Northern Sea, and if he were chosen as the envoy, he would most certainly come with utmost respect,” the maid relayed.
The maid conveyed Ruo Lan and Ruo Ye’s words clearly.
The Dragon Empress yawned softly, her expression neither particularly angry nor overly eager.
She did indeed wish to find him, but whether Xu Ming was truly the one they were searching for remained uncertain.
It had been tens of thousands of years, and many times, the array’s guidance had led to someone who ultimately wasn’t the one. Xu Ming was merely another possibility.
“Then draft a letter to the Kingdom of Wu,” the Dragon Empress said slowly. “It just so happens that the Four Seas Ceremony in the Northern Sea is approaching, and the Kingdom of Wu is eligible to send a congratulatory envoy.”
“Understood,” the maid replied.
“If there is nothing else, you may leave,” the Dragon Empress said, propping her head once more and closing her eyes.
“Your servant takes her leave,” the maid said, bowing deeply before retreating, never turning her back on the Empress until she exited the hall.
Moments after the maid left, the Dragon Empress opened her eyes once again.
She stood and gazed thoughtfully at the palace ceiling, sensing something.
A streak of light flashed past, and the palace, now empty, fell silent.
Meanwhile, over the boundless sea of the Northern Sea, countless sea creatures—merfolk, giant whales, sea dragons—emerged from the waters, lifting their heads to gaze at the sky.
On the islands scattered across the sea, inhabitants also looked upward.
All of a sudden, the Northern Sea came alive with noise and excitement as ordinary people, cultivators, and spiritual beings pointed at the sky, animatedly discussing what they saw.
Suddenly, at the center of the Northern Sea, an enormous wave rose and spread outward, forming walls of water over a hundred meters high.
Before the countless beings of the Northern Sea could grasp what was happening, an overwhelming dragon’s aura engulfed the entire region.
Whether they were sea creatures on the surface or residents of the islands near the sea’s center, all lowered their heads in reverence.
The waves calmed.
At the very center of the Northern Sea, the Dragon Empress stood barefoot on the water’s surface. She raised her head, her gaze fixed on the azure ranking board in the sky.
—
[Wu Kingdom’s Xu Ming: Martial Artist at the Heroic Spirit Realm, Qi Cultivator at the Sea Observation Realm. Within three months, defeated Mo Zhuer, Saintess of the Black Lotus Sect; slew Ji Wuming, Holy Son of the Black Lotus Sect; killed Cui Renwang, Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect; and triumphed over Chen Yun, First Disciple of the Tianxuan Sect. Ranked second on the Qingyun List.]
—
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
In the Wu Kingdom’s imperial capital, Eunuch Wei hurried into the hall, kneeling before the Emperor of Wu.
“What is it?” the Emperor asked without lifting his head from the memorial he was reading.
“Your Majesty! The Qingyun List has been updated!” Eunuch Wei exclaimed excitedly.
The Emperor put down the memorial. “Updated? That’s no reason to be so agitated. I assume it’s someone from the Wu Kingdom?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! The individual is… Xu Ming of the Xu Family!”
“Xu Ming? Wasn’t he ranked twentieth on the Qingyun List already?” the Emperor asked calmly.
Three months ago, Xu Ming had been ranked twentieth. In such a short time, how much could his rank have improved?
“Your Majesty… Xu Ming’s ranking is…” Eunuch Wei stammered, too excited to form a coherent sentence.
The Emperor ignored him and strode out of the study.
When he saw the azure ranking board in the sky, he paused briefly, then burst into hearty laughter.
“Xu Ming… second on the Qingyun List?! Hahaha! My Wu Kingdom has produced a second-ranked Qingyun List warrior! Hahaha!”
In the history of the Wu Kingdom, the highest Qingyun List ranking ever achieved was fourth. Never had anyone reached second place!
What made it even more remarkable was that this year’s first-ranked individual on the Qingyun List was a once-in-a-millennium genius.
Even the City Lord of Tianji City had once remarked, “As long as he is here, unless he ages out of the Qingyun List at thirty, even the greatest first-ranked geniuses throughout history will only stand in second place.”
In other words, Xu Ming was effectively already the top of the Qingyun List—it’s just that the current first place was absurdly powerful.
“Wei Xun!” the Emperor of Wu called out loudly.
“Your servant is here!”
“Xu Ming has ranked second on the Qingyun List, bringing glory to the Kingdom of Wu! Bestow upon the Xu Family’s estate ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of fine silk, a Thunder Cloud Horse, and confer the title of Lady Raising Martial Glory, a second-rank title, upon Xu Ming’s mother!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
—
On a vast plain in Changping Prefecture, a young woman in armor drove her spear through the heart of a rebel general.
With a swift motion, she lifted the rebel leader high like a battle standard and shouted, “Charge!”
The girl’s crisp, commanding voice echoed across the battlefield.
“Charge!”
“Charge!”
“Charge!”
Behind her, the soldiers of Wu Kingdom surged forward, cutting down rebels one after another.
Changping Prefecture had been the fiefdom of Prince Xi. However, according to reports from the Tingfeng Pavilion, Prince Xi had been secretly plotting rebellion.
When the Emperor of Wu learned of this, he summoned Prince Xi to the capital under the pretense of a spring hunt.
Knowing his schemes had been exposed, Prince Xi refused the summons and raised his army in revolt.
The Emperor appointed Princess Wu Yanhán as the Cloud Banner General, with the rank of third-grade, to lead 300,000 troops to quell the rebellion. After seven months of grueling warfare, Prince Xi, finding himself cornered, was forced to make a last stand on the Changhan Plain.
After killing the rebel army’s supreme commander, the morale of Prince Xi’s forces collapsed, and they began to retreat in disarray.
Wu Yanhán, dropping the corpse impaled on her spear, charged into the city at the head of her troops and led her personal guards straight into Prince Xi’s palace.
When Wu Yanhán emerged from the palace, kicking the severed head of Prince Xi before her, streams of azure spiritual energy began flowing above her from the heavens.
She looked up to see the swirling mist above her transform into a glowing blue ranking board, where a single name stood out prominently:
“Xu Ming, Second on the Qingyun List.”
“This guy… he’s got some skill,” Wu Yanhán murmured, lowering her gaze and continuing forward.
“Your Highness!” As she exited the palace, a soldier ran toward her, dropping to one knee before the young general.
“What is it?” Wu Yanhán asked coldly.
“An urgent decree from His Majesty! After capturing Prince Xi’s palace, Your Highness need not return to the capital. Instead, His Majesty commands you to serve as an envoy to the Tianxuan Sect and attend the Zixia Grand Ceremony.”
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