Chapter 77: Dragon-Phoenix

Three days later.

Jiang Ding silently watched not far away as a young girl moved with ease under the siege of an Internal Qi Great Accomplishment martial artist and two Internal Qi Minor Accomplishment martial artists, occasionally forcing the other side into a panic with a sharp sword strike.

Her body was petite and exquisite, almost like a child compared to the three tall martial artists, but she was extraordinarily agile, jumping back and forth between the three densely wielded broadswords, facing danger at every turn, yet never getting cut.

Along the way, Jiang Ding had gained some understanding of Chizhou and the customs of Chizhong Prefecture.

It was much larger than East Province, with several times the population and fertile land, so more martial artists were born there.

It was just that there had been constant droughts in recent years, yet the government was nowhere to be seen providing disaster relief or building water conservancy facilities; instead, taxes were getting heavier and heavier. Many farmers couldn't bear the burden and abandoned their fields to flee to other prefectures.

Martial artists naturally wouldn't go hungry, but their food, clothing, and expenses—especially the abundant meat and various old medicines needed for cultivation—were hard to satisfy. Mixed with the factors of refugees and famine victims, public security deteriorated sharply, and several county towns had been breached and then recovered.

What Gong Caiyu was suffering from right now was this situation.

An Internal Qi Great Accomplishment martial artist bringing only two people to rob the road was extremely rare in East Spirit Prefecture; the strength of Internal Qi Great Accomplishment was already enough to become a high-level member of a gang or chamber of commerce, sitting back and enjoying the fruits of labor.

(Author's note: This novel is first published on 【Platform】, please go there to read!)

"Entry fee is one copper coin!"

Jiang Ding didn't accept the other party's good intentions and placed two copper coins in the bamboo basket. This originally didn't exist; he had never had copper coins on him, only broken silver, which he had specifically gone to find a shopkeeper to exchange for before entering the city.

The old man with the short towel changed his expression and hurriedly apologized, stuffing a dozen copper coins into the other party's hand: "This is a small business, how could I afford any smuggled goods? You've worked hard, worked hard..."

Gong Caiyu's face fell—she had just defeated three people across levels! However, she concentrated even more, firmly remembering every word. In just a few days of explanation, she felt her sword technique might have reached a higher level.

In that case, perhaps a large-scale riot would happen sooner or later.

"Our Chizhong Prefecture prodigy, Young Master of the Flying Dragon Gang, 'Water-Breaking Blade' Yang Ye, should have a seat on the Dragon-Phoenix Ranking!"

Jiang Ding finished speaking and walked toward Chizhong Prefecture, where black dots were already visible in the distance, the tall city walls becoming clear bit by bit.

Aristocratic rule, their own land—although the ceiling is low, there is at least a floor, and they won't drain the pond to catch the fish.

She didn't rest, her star-like eyes carefully checking the surroundings again and again, until finally, she saw a green-robed youth in a bamboo hat under a tree, quietly watching her.

Jiang Ding said slowly.

The crowd suddenly gathered in one direction.

"Are there many places in the Yue Kingdom ruled by hereditary nobles like East Spirit Prefecture?"

"... Alright, that's it."

Red characters represented the death of prodigy martial artists in the top thirty-six of the Dragon-Phoenix Ranking, specifically notified; the replacement or death of Dragon-Phoenix Ranking martial artists below that didn't have this special status.

Jiang Ding and Gong Caiyu lined up behind, gradually moving forward. In front of him was an old man with a short towel pushing a cart of bright red peaches.

Jiang Ding thought to himself.

"Is there any smuggled goods hidden in these peaches? Open them up and let us see." A soldier said with a cold face.

Someone jeered and complained, but soon, everyone's eyes were drawn to a line of red characters in the front row.

"There is no name for 'Water-Breaking Blade' Yang Ye. This means he didn't make the list again. How is that possible? He defeated an Internal Qi Great Accomplishment martial artist at the Internal Qi Minor Accomplishment realm on the ring in front of everyone a month ago!"

"This time, the sword technique was not used well three times, specifically the sixth sword where the Internal Qi mobilization order of the Taiyin Lung Meridian was disordered... the seventh sword..."

It had been like this for the past few days. Every day, Jiang Ding would correct some mistakes in her sword technique and cultivation at a fixed time, and then disappear. But when she won and appeared, he would always be able to show up.

The lives of geniuses are colorful and ups and downs, not lacking in romance, and some even have many legendary colors. In this world without newspapers, they naturally became the center of attention for people after tea and dinner.

"Battle Record: Lingnan Prefecture, destroyed the Red Flame Gate, killed three Internal Qi Perfection martial artists including the Red Flame Gate Master, defeated 'Clear River Fairy' Chen Xi in ten moves."

Jiang Ding thought.

Both were visiting Chizhong Prefecture for the first time. Gong Caiyu looked left and right, occasionally shopping in a store, almost forgetting the words about finding 'Clear River Fairy' Chen Xi.

The city gate was bustling with merchants, martial artists, officials, everything—a lively scene.

"I wonder if Princess Clear River has made any further progress?"

Under Jiang Ding's reminder, they finally found out that the other party was staying at the Chizhong Imperial Palace, and hurried over.

But these flowing officials do a term and leave, fundamentally having no floor, especially in the late dynasty; a single spark could trigger a large-scale riot. With a flash of silver light, the throat was sealed with blood, and the leader's body fell softly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"How was my sword technique this time?"

Every Dragon-Phoenix Ranking martial artist is a star-like figure, valued by many.

"Young Master!"

"12th, 'Black Flame Blade' Hei Jin, practices 'Black Flame Demon Art', eerie and domineering, melting the Internal Qi and flesh of opponents upon contact. A disciple of the Innate martial artist, one of the Eight Heroes, 'White Bone Blade Demon'."

The crowd was not limited to martial artists; peddlers, men, women, old, and young were all there, the atmosphere fanatical, quite like a fan group.

"Here."

Gong Caiyu cheered, jumping and running to him, waiting for praise.

"What is the Heavenly Secret Tower doing? There isn't a single person from our Chizhong Prefecture."

Gong Caiyu's round face was flushed, panting heavily, her Internal Qi consumed violently.

Of course, this was also because although she brought a bamboo hat and veil, she couldn't hide her natural beauty.

"Military Lord!"

Jiang Ding and the other followed the crowd, soon arriving in front of a tall building, where a large list over ten meters high was clearly visible even from a hundred meters away.

"This young hero, you may pass!"

The other two saw this, their expressions changed greatly, and they fled without looking back, having no thought of avenging their big brother.

"... Flowing officials..."

The Heavenly Secret Tower didn't have any Heavenly or Earth Rankings, only a Dragon-Phoenix Ranking, recording the 108 most outstanding young martial artists aged twenty-five and under.

Jiang Ding said to himself and asked.

Walking out of the gate tunnel, Jiang Ding carefully looked at the city guards of Chizhou Prefecture.

Gong Caiyu let out a sharp cry, found the opening in the bandit leader's sword technique as his move grew stale, and struck with a swift, meteor-like sword thrust—it was precisely the killing move from the Seven Profound Sword Art: "Profound Heaven Sword."

"The new Dragon-Phoenix Ranking is out!"

Gong Caiyu thought for a while: "Only the Twelve Generals of Heavenly Clouds, and a few places where the Founding Emperor granted princes in the borderlands."

As they approached the city, the surroundings gradually recovered, and the refugees were gone, not knowing where they had gone. The crowds coming and going no longer had sallow faces.

"Very few."

To be precise, not as good as the county inspection soldiers of East Spirit Prefecture.

The city gate guard's face finally showed a smile, and amidst the old man's pained gaze, he took a handful of fresh peaches to share with his companions, then said: "I think so too."

Being able to fight three people including an Internal Qi Great Accomplishment martial artist at the Internal Qi Minor Accomplishment realm, her Dragon-Phoenix Ranking was definitely not limited to 98th place.

"Princess Clear River is still 19th, Internal Qi Perfection realm."

Then it was Jiang Ding's turn.

!.

"Thrust!"

The two walked past. Behind them was a farm woman buying vegetables. The city gate guard's smile faded, and he returned to his fierce and vicious appearance.

"(Deceased.)"

Everyone held their breath and continued to look down.

"Cause of death: In the battle at East Spirit Mountain, together with 'Mixed Heaven Blade' Zheng Ye, East Town Guard Commander Chen Chen and his dozens of Internal Qi realm team officers, and over a hundred Body Forging Great Accomplishment soldiers, they besieged 'Dream-Eating Sword Demon' Jiang Ding, all died."

Everyone's breath hitched, their eyes widening.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 78 =====