Chapter 225: Dragon Pool Updated, Master List Released!

Anyway, there's no rush to exchange right now.

Go take a look!

Immediately.

Chen Mu set off for Hero Hall.

……

Hero Hall.

As usual, the hall was packed with martial artists, their chatter louder than ever, discussing the names of new entrants and those who narrowly missed the list.

Chen Mu stepped through the gate and realized this time the announced rankings were not just one.

From the third floor, a large red banner hung down: on the left was the Dragon Pool List, on the right was another list, radiating a deeper, more solemn and heavy aura.

It bore three large characters: Master List!

"Master List?"

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly.

He knew the Master List—it was updated once a year, listing the seventy-two strongest warriors under forty within the Great Zhou realm who had entered the Earth Altar realm, truly the elite roster of the Earth Altar realm.

He hadn't expected to stumble upon the New Issue of the Master List by chance.

Out of curiosity, Chen Mu first turned to the right, to the brand-new Master List.

His gaze swept from top to bottom, revealing one after another famed name and astonishing feat.

When his eyes landed on the very bottom of the list, Chen Mu's pupils shrank sharply, his face filled with shock.

【No. 72: Zhao Fuzhou】

【Nickname: Sword Sweeps Lanjiang】

【Age: Thirty】

【Identity: Star Master of the Wuwei Bureau, Imperial Court of Great Zhou】

【Realm: Earth Altar Realm, Divine Bridge】

【Record: On the banks of Lanjiang, fought alone against three Earth Altar Realm Peak Summit warriors and one Earth Altar Realm Chaoyuan warrior, killed three, severely wounded one, and sustained only minor injuries himself】

……

"Old Zhao?"

"Brother Zhao!"

Chen Mu's heart trembled slightly.

Zhao Fuzhou had silently broken through to the Earth Altar realm—and upon his debut on the list, he had achieved the astonishing feat of slaying stronger foes despite being only at Earth Altar Realm Divine Bridge!

Fought alone against three Earth Altar Realm Peak Summit warriors and one Earth Altar Realm Chaoyuan warrior, killed three, severely wounded one.

This was far more impressive than Chen Mu's own debut on the list.

Though Zhao Fuzhou had suffered minor injuries and ranked last, this record was enough to make anyone take him seriously.

"Of course—Brother Zhao never joined the Dragon Pool List before not because he lacked strength, but because he rarely fought publicly and his name was unknown."

Chen Mu mused.

When Zhao Fuzhou served as head of the Wuwei Bureau in Nanyun Fucheng, his combat power already surpassed ordinary Earth Altar Realm Divine Bridge warriors.

When he destroyed the Black Dragon Society's outpost, he killed their leader without expending much effort.

Now, after so long, having officially entered the Earth Altar realm, his strength was unquestionably even greater.

After his musings,

Chen Mu memorized all seventy-two names on the Master List.

These were all the strongest Earth Altar realm warriors under forty in the Great Zhou realm and surrounding regions—he would likely encounter them all in the future.

Then his gaze turned to the Dragon Pool List.

As expected, because Chen Mu had won the Dragon-Tiger Storm Gathering in Wudicheng, his ranking had risen again.

【No. 30: Chen Mu】

【Nickname: Flame Sword Lord】

【Age: Seventeen】

【Identity: Ding Zi Inspector of the Wuwei Bureau, Imperial Court of Great Zhou】

【Realm: Third Stage Innate (Suspected)】

【Record: Outside Nanyun Fucheng, killed two Third Stage Innate Full, one Second Stage Innate Full, one First Stage Innate, and one Eighth Stage Innate (injured and not yet recovered)】

【In Lincang Fucheng, defeated a Full Innate warrior while only at Fifth Stage Innate】

【In Wudicheng, at the "Dragon-Tiger Storm Gathering," overwhelmed all rivals, and in the final match, defeated two Ninth Stage Innate warriors simultaneously to claim the championship】

……

"No. 30?"

Chen Mu frowned.

Is this ranking too high?

At the Dragon-Tiger Storm Gathering, though he fought many times, his opponents were average.

Even in the final match, he hadn't shown overwhelming dominance.

If his record of wiping out the Crimson Dragon Society were counted, ranking thirty would make sense.

But without that feat, he still ranks thirty?

Chen Mu was doubtful.

Seventeen years old, Dragon Pool List No. 30.

This ranking and age, in any era, would cause a minor sensation.

"It's Chen Mu! He's been promoted again! Straight to thirty!"

"My god, how long has it been? He went from one hundred seven to seventy-seven, and now he's at thirty! This promotion speed is terrifying!"

"I heard he took first place in the tournament at Wudicheng, effortlessly crushing everyone else in the duels—is that true?"

"Whether true or not, this ranking doesn't lie! This young man is truly remarkable!"

……

The murmurs around him reached his ears, but Chen Mu felt a strange unease inside, his expression calm.

He silently memorized the names and affiliations of the twenty-nine people ranked above him, then turned and slipped away quietly from the noisy Hero Pavilion, heading toward the Jiangnan Dao headquarters of the Zhenwu Bureau.

……

Meanwhile.

Inside a quiet courtyard near the Zhenwu Bureau headquarters.

Two men sat facing each other, drinking tea.

One of them, with a handsome face, eyes that were warm yet sharp, and an aura as steady as a deep pool and a towering mountain, was Zhao Fuzhou—the newly crowned master on the Master List!

The other, dressed in a crimson official robe, a middle-aged man with a refined, dignified face and deep eyes, was Zhang Xueli, Deputy Commander of the Jiangnan Dao Zhenwu Bureau.

"Fuzhou, congratulations on making the Master List. Though your rank is low, your achievements are solid and undeniable—enough to make those old men take notice," Zhang Xueli smiled as he raised his cup.

Zhao Fuzhou smiled humbly. "My lord flatters me—it was just luck. But regarding this new appointment, I still need your strong support."

The new appointment he referred to was his promotion after breaking through the Earth Altar Realm—he was about to take up his post as chief official of the Zhenzhou Zhenwu Bureau under Jiangnan Dao.

"The situation in Zhenzhou is more complicated than expected."

Zhang Xueli set down his teacup and spoke gravely. "Problems within the Zhenwu Bureau are secondary. The external environment is tangled and deeply entangled, with far-reaching implications. As a new appointee taking the top position, overt and covert resistance will be substantial. You truly need a capable and trustworthy assistant to share your burden and provide backup."

"Exactly."

Zhao Fuzhou nodded. "But finding such a person is difficult—he must be capable, have a clean background, and be trustworthy. It's not easy to find one right away."

"Don't rush." Zhang Xueli pondered. "Let me think."

"Thank you, my lord."

Zhao Fuzhou picked up the teapot and refilled Zhang Xueli's cup.

Suddenly, a subordinate hurried into the hall and respectfully reported to Zhao Fuzhou: "Lord Zhao, the inspector Chen Mu you asked us to monitor has news—he's currently at headquarters."

"Really?"

Zhao Fuzhou's eyes flickered with surprise, then he smiled. "Chen Mu is in the provincial capital too? That saves me a trip."

Beside him, Zhang Xueli's eyes suddenly lit up. He clapped his hands. "Chen Mu? The one whose ranking on the Hidden Dragon List skyrocketed, and just in the new issue reached number thirty?"

"That's him," Zhao Fuzhou nodded.

"Ha! Perfect!"

Zhang Xueli's face glowed with excitement. "Fuzhou, what do you think of this man? Young, immense potential, his strength among his peers is top-tier. Ranked thirty on the Hidden Dragon List—ordinary Earth Altar Bridge cultivators probably can't touch him."

"Send Chen Mu to Zhenzhou as an inspector—it's perfectly legitimate. He can help you sort out internal affairs while drawing external attention. Isn't he the ideal candidate?"