Chapter 244: Top Ten Qianlong!

Zhenzhoucheng, the provincial capital.

The main hall of the Zhenwu Bureau.

Chen Mu had just set down a Juan Sect document when the tongxin bamboo tablet in his arms pulsed with qi.

Instantly, he sensed the area outside the door, confirmed no one was there, pulled out the bamboo tablet, and checked the message sent by Zhao Fuzhou.

{Address correct}

{The purpose behind Jing'an Wang's collection of martial cultivators' essence blood has been uncovered}

{This man is refining "Blood Locust Stone" in a subterranean cave beneath the valley}

Blood Locust Stone?

Chen Mu raised his eyebrows and continued reading the message.

{"Blood Locust Stone" is the core material for arranging the ancient evil array: "Heaven-Reviving Lifespan Array"}

{Such rare stones are naturally scarce, so humans manufacture them—but since ancient times, this has been strictly forbidden, for it violates Heaven's harmony, exchanging thousands or ten thousands of lives for one's own survival}

{Jing'an Wang is refining this stone not for himself, but for someone else! }

{I have already reported the fact that "Blood Locust Stone" is being artificially produced. I am urgently investigating who Jing'an Wang is making it for. Stay vigilant while you are in the provincial capital! }

{Understood}

After reading the message, Chen Mu surged his qi and replied with a single line.

Then he put away the bamboo tablet, his heart filled with reflection.

Heaven-Reviving Lifespan Array?

Jing'an Wang collected martial cultivators' essence blood—to extend someone else's life!

That person is certainly not of the Wu imperial clan.

Nor is it Jing'an Wang himself.

Jing'an Wang is only in his fifties; the lifespan limit of an Innate Realm cultivator is more than enough for him to enjoy many more years.

His mother?

The current Zhou Huang granted Jing'an Wang vast resources precisely because of his mother.

As long as his mother lives, Jing'an Wang enjoys the current Zhou Huang's favor.

But according to Chen Mu's knowledge, Jing'an Wang's mother is still in excellent health—and she too is an Innate Realm cultivator, her cultivation even higher than Jing'an Wang's.

She is far from reaching her lifespan limit.

"If not his mother, then who?"

Chen Mu was curious.

At this point, Jing'an Wang will not stop, and Zhao Fuzhou will not stop either.

Now, it's a race to see who moves faster.

Once Jing'an Wang completes the lifespan-extending ritual for someone, he will surely cease creating conflict and eliminate anyone who must be silenced.

At that point, Zhao Fuzhou will find it far harder to uncover the truth!

…

"My lord, something's happened!"

While Chen Mu was lost in thought, a Zhenwu Bureau guard rushed into the hall, bowed, and reported, "Your Excellency, Chu Xiaotian, ranked ninth on the Qianlong List, and Su Donglai, ranked eleventh, have entered the city and are fighting in the street outside Hero Pavilion!"

"Oh?"

Chen Mu, intrigued, said, "Chu Xiaotian? Su Donglai? They've come to Zhenzhoucheng—and are fighting in the open street?"

"Yes, my lord."

The reporting guard was also visibly excited, smiling as he added, "It's said Chu Xiaotian challenged Su Donglai first, was refused, then spoke harsh words—so Su Donglai, enraged, fought him in the street."

"Interesting."

Chen Mu nodded, stood up, and said, "I'll go see for myself!"

As he spoke, his form blurred, skimming low along the ground out of the hall, then flickered again, leaping skyward, stepping on rooftops as he raced toward Hero Pavilion.

The reporting guard stood frozen for a long while before snapping back to reality, murmuring in awe.

"Ninth and eleventh on the Qianlong List—and Chen's own rank of thirtieth."

"Heh, Zhenzhoucheng has suddenly gathered three Qianlong prodigies!"

"I wonder—how much of a chance does Chen have against Su Donglai?"

…

The Qianlong List considers only combat records.

Realm and cultivation level are secondary.

Chen Mu is actually Innate Realm completion, but publicly claims Seventh Stage Innate.

Su Donglai, ranked eleventh, publicly claims Ninth Stage Innate—but his true cultivation remains unknown.

Still, Su Donglai's background is legendary.

He is a lone cultivator!

Originally from a small county in the Southeast Dao, he rose through sheer tenacity, relentless fighting, enduring over a hundred battles—big and small.

He nearly died several times, barely surviving.

Through stubborn refusal to yield, unyielding perseverance, and a touch of luck, he climbed step by step to his current position on the Qianlong List.

Nickname: "Nine Lives Heavenly Cat"!

In contrast, Chu Xiaotian is entirely different.

From Jiangbei Dao, he belongs to the Divine Spear Gate, a lineage spanning centuries, guarded by a Heaven Palace Realm master—he emerged into the world already at Seventh Stage Innate, wielding a low-grade Xuan weapon!

His path has been smooth sailing: slaying bandits, exterminating greedy enemies, never suffering a single defeat.

Nicknamed "Awe-Inspiring Spear"!

These two came to Zhenzhoucheng, clearly aiming for the "Yunshen Jade".

Chu Xiaotian's latest issue ranking not only surged to ninth on the Qianlong List, but also revealed his cultivation: Innate Completion!

Su Donglai needs no explanation.

The resources of freelance martial cultivators have always been won through fighting, competing, and seizing.

The top ten of the Qianlong List—

First place, Lu Chen, nicknamed "Living Immortal", from the Daoist sect, Grand Void Monastery.

This young man is merely eighteen, with Ninth Stage Innate cultivation; since leaving his mountain at fifteen, he has slain a Ground Altar Realm Bridge cultivator head-on with only Foundation Establishment-level power, ascending to second on the Qianlong List.

Then, in his second strike, he slew three Ground Altar Bridges and one Ground Altar Summit cultivator at Third Stage Innate, claiming first place.

He has held first place for three years!

The reason his cultivation remains at Ninth Stage Innate after three years is not because Lu Chen has stalled—he was ordered by his sect to suppress his cultivation and avoid active breakthroughs.

Correct: Lu Chen's subsequent realm advancements were all passive, forced only when suppression became impossible.

When Chen Mu heard Zhao Fuzhou describe this man, he thought him even more exaggerated than a novel protagonist!

Second place, Shi Tianyi, is no less impressive.

Only nineteen, with Eighth Stage Innate cultivation, from the Long Life Mo Sect, nicknamed "Crimson Moon Demon Son".

Also suppressing his cultivation, breaking through only when forced.

Third place, Yuan Kun, is even more renowned—only twenty-one, with Seventh Stage Innate cultivation; originally the Buddha Son of the Western Regions' Bright Light Temple, for reasons unknown, he betrayed the temple and has since slaughtered monks everywhere, earning the title "Buddha's Enemy"!

Fourth place, Ning Zhixi, only twenty, with Eighth Stage Innate cultivation, from the Qiannianda Sect, Medic King Valley; it is said she is peerlessly beautiful, titled "Flower Immortal".

Fifth place, Han Chan, also of great origin, from Tianjian Gate, one of the Nine Odd Schools; only nineteen, nicknamed "Yama's Sword".

Tianjian Gate's "Heavenly Sword" is renowned as the deadliest in the world; since leaving his mountain, Han Chan has always killed with a single strike.

Sword drawn—enemy dead!

Sixth place, Gong Xiang'er, from one of the Eight Great Clans, Biyu Palace Clan, Eighth Stage Innate cultivation, nicknamed "Thousand Changes Cloud Hands".

Seventh place, Xu Zhen, nicknamed "Righteousness Long River", Eighth Stage Innate cultivation, from Long Hu Sword Sect, one of the Six Great Sword Sects.

Eighth place, Yong Shan Gui, nicknamed "Demon-Subduing General Lord", Ninth Stage Innate cultivation, from the Everliving Yong Clan, one of the Eight Great Clans.

Ninth place, Chu Xiaotian, from Divine Spear Gate.

Tenth place, Qin Nan, nicknamed "Fist That Subdues the Four Directions", Ninth Stage Innate cultivation, from Wu Zong, one of the Qidawu Sect.

All top ten of the Qianlong List hail from great powers!

Su Donglai, as a lone freelance cultivator, climbed to eleventh on the Qianlong List.

His capabilities are plain to see.