Chapter 273: The World Martial Rankings: Ambush Beyond the State Borders

"Iron Elder, you're giving me far too much credit."

Jiang Lin chuckled.

"You and that little Li are both sly as foxes. If I had to guess, you've long been able to enter Earth Immortal realm—Old Xu Xuan must've made a bad deal."

Tie Kuang snorted.

Only he would dare say such a thing.

Although Li Rui also felt the same—how else could he have slain the Nine Souls Dharma King the moment he broke through? The only explanation was that Jiang Lin had deliberately suppressed his realm.

His accumulation was too profound, which allowed him to achieve such glorious feats the instant he broke through.

Jiang Lin's expression didn't change: "Slander, Iron Elder, that's slander."

Seeing Jiang Lin's demeanor, Tie Kuang became even more certain—what he had just said was true.

"This kid."

For a moment, Tie Kuang felt a pang of melancholy.

Though he was obsessed with forging, he had always prided himself on his martial prowess being no worse than others—but compared to Jiang Lin, he was nothing but trash.

Comparing oneself to others really could drive a man to death.

Some people strain every ounce of strength yet still cannot enter the Earth Immortal realm; others can even see the Immortal Gate yet choose not to step through.

He was the former; Jiang Lin was the latter.

Li Rui agreed.

Just before entering, Jiang Lin had told him that Xu Xuan had quietly left during his Foundation Establishment seclusion, without even bidding anyone farewell.

He had been staying at Jiang Lin's home; as an Earth Immortal, Jiang Lin naturally knew.

But since Xu Xuan hadn't spoken of it, Jiang Lin pretended not to notice.

Leaving without notice fit Xu Xuan's style perfectly—the reclusive master of the Hidden Sect, whose presence was like a dragon's head appearing briefly, then vanishing.

Xu Xuan viewed farewells with great detachment.

Fortunately he left—if he'd heard this, he'd have choked Jiang Lin and demanded his cultivation back.

Of course.

These were just Li Rui's wild imaginings.

Given Xu Xuan's nature, he'd most likely still pass on his Huangting cultivation to Jiang Lin.

Seeing that both men had confirmed it was true, Jiang Lin no longer denied it.

Well, because it was all true.

He hadn't told them that Old Xu also knew.

Yet even knowing, he still unhesitatingly passed on his entire Huangting qi to him.

At the time, Old Xu Xuan had said:

"If transmitting cultivation meant worrying over gain and loss, what kind of immortal spirit would that be?"

Tie Kuang looked from Jiang Lin to Li Rui.

"This gathering might produce two warriors who will climb the Martial Rankings."

A flicker of nostalgia passed through his eyes:

"It's time again for the Martial Rankings revision."

The Yu Kingdom was founded on martial prowess, and its martial virtue was terrifyingly abundant.

When the founding emperor was still alive, he had once told his founding generals:

"All the heroes under heaven shall fall into my net. I intend to establish the Martial Rankings to judge the world's strongest."

Then,

Every ten years, the Yu Kingdom would rank the martial strength of the entire world.

Note:

Not just the Yu Kingdom—but the entire world.

This scope included the Southern Frontier, Northern Plains, Eastern Seas, and Western Deserts, overseen by the Imperial Court's Martial Rankings Office. To prevent the Rankings from becoming a joke, ancestral edicts were established forbidding future emperors from influencing the results.

Of course, loopholes still existed—but over millennia, the Martial Rankings' prestige remained extremely high, nearly universally recognized.

Jiang Lin nodded.

The world's Martial Rankings only assessed those above Earth Immortal realm.

Last time, there were five hundred and seventeen names.

It may seem like many, but compared to the billions of living beings, it was minuscule—one in a million.

Those who made the Martial Rankings were the absolute elite of humanity.

"As long as the Lord of Donghai City, Gao Tianxia, lives one more day, the top rank of the Martial Rankings will not change."

Jiang Lin smiled.

The Martial Rankings changed every ten years, but the top three positions had remained unchanged for two hundred years.

The first was none other than Gao Tianxia of Donghai City, the man who overshadowed all under heaven.

One man held an entire city.

His name, it was said, was chosen by himself—clearly meaning he towered above all martial cultivators.

Donghai City had become uniquely special because of him alone.

Even the Yu Kingdom's imperial court never interfered in Donghai City's affairs—not only because Gao Tianxia's martial strength was truly formidable, but also because the Dragon Throne's sovereign respected his martial prowess enough to permit a lawless enclave within Yu territory.

Aside from the Lord of Donghai City,

The other two of the world's top three had also remained unchanged for two hundred years.

The second was Xiang Tingnan, the Sword Saint of Shu, the supreme master of sword arts, the world's greatest sword immortal and lord of Shushan.

He had once severed a river with a single sword.

His deeds were still widely recounted in the martial world today.

As for the third,

It was common knowledge that the third place usually had two holders.

The Yu Kingdom's State Tutor and the Wu Kingdom's Grand Shaman—the pinnacle of martial strength in both nations—jointly held third place, and no one had ever dared to object.

"This time, Yuan Viceroy's ranking will surely rise; Master Gu probably won't fall far behind."

Jiang Lin said.

Both were outstanding among the younger generation—though of course, by Earth Immortal standards.

The sovereign had summoned him to participate in the Martial Rankings, so he naturally understood the world's strongest warriors well.

For literature, there was the Wen Yuan Pavilion; for martial arts, the Martial Rankings Office.

Those who entered either were typically the sovereign's chosen literary seeds or martial geniuses.

By convention, ninety-nine percent of the Grand Secretaries of the Wen Yuan Pavilion and the Directors of the Martial Rankings Office would eventually enter the Grand Council.

Zhang Shoufu, the head of all ministers, had entered the Wen Yuan Pavilion after becoming Top Graduate at age thirteen, rose steadily to Grand Secretary, then moved through the Six Ministries, and ultimately became head of the Grand Council.

Yuan Viceroy, though not a Martial Top Graduate, had also served in the Martial Rankings Office and even presided over four sessions of the Rankings.

Jiang Lin's future after joining the Martial Rankings Office was assuredly bright.

He had drunk all night.

Jiang Lin had indulged in unrestrained revelry, a rare occurrence.

Five days later,

Jiang Lin quietly departed north with Jiang Yan and Tie Kuang, heading for the capital.

Only Li Rui knew of this.

The only one to see him off was Li Rui himself.

At the border between Yunzhou and Jiangzhou,

Beside a crystal-clear lake, willows grew lush and vibrant, emerald green.

Splash.

A pair of jade feet stirred the water, sending ripples across the calm surface, accompanied occasionally by the girl's tinkling laughter.

Watching the lady Ling Luo play by the water,

She seemed like a lively peasant girl, full of natural charm.

The giant's face, usually stern, softened with rare tenderness.

He had once been a death servant of the former Lord of Manggu City—yes, the previous lord.

After the former lord died, he became Ling Luo's death servant.

Logically,

When a master died, his death servant should die too.

But he had no intention of dying, so he lived—and remained a death servant.

Ling Luo was not favored by the Qi clan; her marriage to the Lord of Manggu City was entirely voluntary, unlike the other concubines, who had been forced into it.

"Big Log, why don't you smile?"

"Big Log, try this—it's jiao meat. I stole it at great effort."

"Big Log, when I become lord, I'll grant you your freedom."

"Big Log, I want to kill someone."

When he first met Ling Luo, she was not yet the venomous, feared woman of Wu Kingdom—she was still an innocent girl.

He could no longer tell whether he had been ensnared by illusion—or whether he had truly fallen in love.

In short.

He helped Lady Lingluo kill his master, then chose himself a new master.

Such behavior among death servants was unforgivable treason.

Lady Lingluo was in high spirits.

They had already left Yunzhou.

Eight thousand li further, and they would reach Jingcheng, then meet that Immortal Lord and become his consort.

If she became an Immortal's partner, she wouldn't be bullied anymore, Lady Lingluo thought.

Having played enough, she stepped barefoot onto the shore.

Just as she was about to call out to the giant to continue their journey, her smile froze instantly.

"Jiang Linxian!"

Her pupils shrank sharply; she stared in disbelief at the four figures before her.

Standing at the front was none other than the newly risen Sword Immortal, Jiang Linxian, whose name now echoed across the land.

Lady Lingluo never imagined Jiang Linxian would appear here.

'How is this possible? How could he find me?!'

Besides Jiang Linxian, there were three others.

'Shenbing Manor, Grand Elder Tie Kuang.'

Please... Your Highness... collect_(!)

'Jiang Linxian's daughter, Jiang Yan.'

'Li Rui.'

At that moment,

Jiang Linxian spoke: "Lady Lingluo, our account isn't settled yet—how can you leave?"

"Account?"

Lady Lingluo maintained a calm facade, pretending ignorance.

Jiang Linxian chuckled: "No matter. I'm heading to Jingcheng, and Brother Li is seeing me off—we happened to run into you. Since we're going the same way, I'd like to learn your illusions."

Seeing him off?

Lady Lingluo turned to Li Rui.

This place was a thousand li from Qinghe—who sends someone off for a thousand li?

"It's him!"

Lady Lingluo's gaze turned sharp; clearly, Jiang Linxian's presence here was due to Li Rui.

'Li Rui.'

She longed to tear this smiling old man into shreds.

Beneath Jiang Linxian's brilliance, everyone had ignored this old man.

Yuan Gao and Qi Rui had both been slain by Li Rui—he'd hidden himself well.

If her guess was right, Zhuang Renhe had also died at Li Rui's hands.

She had planned to kill Li Rui with overwhelming force after becoming the Immortal Lord's consort—but now he had come to her door first.

Li Rui stood behind Jiang Linxian and Tie Kuang.

He squinted.

This woman, Lingluo, must die!

Open enemies aren't dangerous; dangerous are enemies like Lingluo—poisonous snakes lurking in the shadows.

This woman was far too clever.

He had always disliked clever enemies—unless they were dead.

That night,

He killed Yuan Gao and Qi Rui in just fifteen minutes, but didn't return to Tian Di Alliance until dawn.

Why?

Because he went to the county office—and just happened to see Lady Lingluo leaving the city.

He hadn't followed her secretly, nor was it necessary.

He did intend to kill Lady Lingluo, but he had no plan to act alone and put himself in danger.

He only needed to confirm her destination.

He confirmed: she wouldn't return to Manggu City, and would remain in Yu State—that was enough.

The rest would be handled by the Yu imperial court.

Yu State was vast.

Once imperial power was dispersed across its provinces, prefectures, and counties, it seemed weak—but when determined to act, it could accomplish anything.

Lady Lingluo's assault on the city was a slap in the face.

Minorly, it shamed Jiang Linxian and Xue Gui; majorly, it shamed Viceroy Yuan and the Dragon Throne itself.

So Lingluo must die.

In Wu State, there might still be ways to evade; but in Yu State?

No matter how she hid, she would be found.

This was the authority of the imperial court.

After meeting Jiang Linxian, Li Rui had already informed him.

Then Jiang Linxian went to Xue Gui.

Xue Gui went to Viceroy Yuan.

Soon, secret agents from the five surrounding provinces gathered in Yunzhou, having already laid a net of heaven and earth.

Jiang Linxian was indeed heading to Jingcheng—but killing Lady Lingluo was equally essential.

Power?

Was there any force greater than Yu State?

Li Rui intended to crush her with overwhelming power—no matter how clever Lady Lingluo was, her wit would seem laughable before absolute strength.

Lady Lingluo subtly stepped half a pace back.

She forced a smile: "You four against one weak woman? Won't this tarnish your reputation as a Sword Immortal, Lord Jiang?"

All was delay—she was still searching for a way out.

She had climbed so far to reach this position; she truly didn't want to die.

At that moment,

The giant had already stepped in front of her to shield her.

Jiang Linxian smiled faintly: "I think you misunderstand—I intend to overwhelm you with numbers."

No sooner had he spoken,

Than he raised his finger before his chest; nine small swords shot from his sword case with a whistling rush, their Sword Immortal pressure nearly suffocating Lady Lingluo.

"Is this the power of a Earth Immortal?"

Lady Lingluo stared at Jiang Linxian, her eyes filled with envy.

"Go."

Jiang Linxian murmured softly.

The nine small swords flew out, weaving through the air into a celestial net of sword intent, enclosing Lady Lingluo and the giant.

If she guessed correctly,

This time, in the World Martial Rankings, he would rank 421st, overpowering a hundred Earth Immortals—his power boundless.

Mortals could not resist.

Below Earth Immortal, all were mortals.

"Run, Big Log! You can't hold them!"

Lady Lingluo shrieked, then retreated swiftly.

But the giant didn't retreat—he advanced.

He tried to embrace the nine small swords with his bare body.

The Sword Immortal's blades were razor-sharp; even a Primordial Body was still flesh and blood. The swords pierced him without resistance, their piercing intent extinguishing his life in an instant.

One moment.

Truly, just one moment.

Then the giant was dead.

Looking at the giant who had died shielding her, Lady Lingluo's iron-hard heart felt a flicker of pain.

The swordlight instantly drowned her world.

'Is this the end?'

She had thought she was about to step onto the Immortal Path, leaving her past behind.

And now it ended so abruptly.

Flashing images passed before her eyes; she gave a bitter smile.

'This must be fate.'

Soon, two corpses lay beside the lake.

Before the Sword Immortal, Lady Lingluo's every tactic appeared feeble, with not the slightest surprise.

Li Rui looked at the corpse on the ground and exhaled in relief.

With an enemy like Lingluo dead, he could finally sleep soundly; otherwise, who knew what chaos she might unleash upon the world.

Such a person is the cause of turbulent times.

It's a pity she was born in the wrong era—if in a time of chaos, she might truly have stirred up the winds and clouds.

Jiang Linxian didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground; he bowed to Li Rui: "Brother Li, I leave the matters ahead to your careful handling. The Emperor is pressing hard—I can't stay longer."

Li Rui: "Brother Jiang, Elder Tie, Miss Jiang, take good care of yourselves."

Jiang Linxian's lips curled slightly: "With Brother Li's abilities, I suspect we'll meet again in the capital before long."

A dragon confined to shallow waters cannot remain so forever.

Li Rui was someone he recognized as a kindred soul—he wouldn't remain in Qinghe forever; he would surely soar to great heights.

(End of Chapter)