Chapter 141

Sheng Yuanyao didn't know what family law she had broken; she had gone to the park innocently and nothing beyond friendship had happened, so it didn't count as scandalous behavior before marriage.

Their lips had just accidentally touched, and no one knew anyway.

She hadn't violated the family rule of honesty either; she said she was going out to play, and she was going out to play.

If Old Sheng was abusing his power to settle a personal score by saying she broke family law without saying which rule, then at worst, she would just find an excuse to lie next time she asked for leave.

Sheng Yuanyao was actually more concerned about the compilation of the Great Gan Heroes Ranking; this not only meant eating melons on public funds, but also meant she could righteously go to other people's melon fields to pick melons.

For example, she openly went to request an audience with the State Preceptor.

Ye Tinglan actually received her: "I heard that Yuanyao has just taken office; how do you have time to run over here?"

"I came to see the State Preceptor for the sake of the Newcomer Ranking... In the last Newcomer Ranking, I intended to include Miss Qingli, but Miss Qingli herself said she didn't intend to be on the list. At that time, she probably couldn't reveal her identity, otherwise, the Holy Land descendant protecting Shen Tang would make it obvious to others that Shen Tang's identity was problematic... Now that they have left, this matter has faded. If I hide the past of Qingli protecting Shen Tang on the list, can I let Qingli be on the list?"

Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "I have no intention of hiding Qingli; it was indeed inconvenient to be on the list at the time for the sake of Princess Chaohuang, and she should also experience the challenges of the Newcomer Ranking. If Editor-in-Chief Sheng thinks Qingli is qualified to be on the list, then let her be."

"When I first met Miss Qingli, she was at the fifth-rank upper stage, and shortly after, she seemed to have broken through to the fourth rank. Now that a few months have passed, I wonder if there has been any further progress?"

Ye Tinglan secretly thought that her apprentice was in seclusion and couldn't be contacted, otherwise she would have wanted to ask too; she had only just broken through to the fourth rank, so how did she reach the threshold of the third rank and need seclusion?

But then again, Qingli's thought process was different; her so-called seclusion didn't necessarily mean sitting in a secret room, it could be training in an abandoned ruin, and if she couldn't be seen, it counted as seclusion; then her so-called "for the sake of breaking through to the third rank" didn't necessarily mean she was at the threshold; the entire path of the fourth rank could be called "for the sake of the third rank" to her.

That was very Qingli.

Anyway, after so long, she should at least be at the fourth-rank middle stage, so she said directly: "Count it as fourth-rank middle stage."

Sheng Yuanyao seemed to have a smile: "Fourth-rank middle stage, and a direct descendant of the Holy Land... The State Preceptor also said she needs to experience challenges; do you dare to let her directly replace Ye Wufeng's position?"

Ye Tinglan thoughtfully looked Sheng Yuanyao up and down; why did she feel like you had some malice toward her good apprentice?

The master of the dignified Holy Land indeed didn't care about her apprentice experiencing newcomer challenges; what she cared about was that if her apprentice parachuted into first place, she would be scolded for the Holy Land manipulating the list, getting mud all over herself. So she said: "Editor-in-Chief Sheng..."

"Yes?"

"What is your consideration for wanting Qingli to be first?"

"Because I think Lu Xingzhou will sit in first place sooner or later, and putting Qingli there to bump into him will be interesting to see how he handles it."

Ye Tinglan: "... ust for such a boring reason?"

Sheng Yuanyao widened her eyes: "Such a good melon!"

The State Preceptor was indeed not a fellow enthusiast; maybe Pei the Green Tea would want to eat this melon. No, wait, does Pei the Green Tea know Dugu Qingli?

Poor Melon-girl still didn't know where the fate of Pei Chuyun and Lu Xingzhou's acquaintance lay, otherwise she would probably have destroyed the little white hair.

Ye Tinglan clearly couldn't understand such a boring reason and said indifferently: "First is inappropriate; top three should be deserved."

Sheng Yuanyao was a little regretful, but also said readily: "Fine, then second."

Ye Tinglan asked casually: "What about the Lu Xingzhou master and apprentice?"

"Lu Xingzhou seventh, A Nuo is better off not being on the list; everyone has a responsibility to protect children."

Ye Tinglan thought for a while and nodded: "Fine. By the way, I have some news here that you can also write into the character biography."

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned: "What news?"

"I have a good friend, Lady Ye, who said she intends to help Lu Xingzhou treat his legs... Thus, it can be predicted that this person can be expected to be in a high position on the next list."

Sheng Yuanyao's heart stirred.

Thinking of what Lu Xingzhou had said to her before, he needed a high-sounding reason to stand up, such as being treated by a high-rank alchemist or further studies at the Alchemy Academy. But the latter was clearly not as good as the former; further studies could only prove an improvement in medical technology, not necessarily that there were suitable heavenly treasures to treat his ten-year-old broken legs. If there was help from a high-rank alchemist, then resources would not be a problem.

Who is this Lady Ye? Sending a pillow when one is sleepy, she's a good person.

…………

Sheng Yuanyao was very passionate about this new job, full of energy, and after asking the State Preceptor, she went to ask Lu Xingzhou.

This was the first time recently she had sought out Lu Xingzhou for official business, rather than finding an excuse because she wanted to see him.

"Your Shen Tang has broken through, right?" Even when mentioning Shen Tang, there was no jealousy; official business occupied more of her thoughts.

"Hmm." Lu Xingzhou found her like that quite amusing: "What's wrong?"

"She's already third-rank; should we let her directly be on the Heroes Ranking and stop staying on the Newcomer Ranking? Will it cause trouble for her?"

This question made Lu Xingzhou consider it for a long time: "If she wants to develop the Tianxing Sword Sect, as the Sect Master, the signboard and deterrent power of the third rank are necessary. As for other things, in reality, as long as she maintains the attitude of not treating her legs, there shouldn't be anything..."

Sheng Yuanyao was very satisfied and continued the interview: "Then can I ask a few questions about the character biography?"

Lu Xingzhou squinted at her: "How so?"

"Can it be said that she keeps her own guest minister as a male concubine?" Sheng Yuanyao said solemnly: "By the way, has she ever eaten the food made by the male concubine?"

Lu Xingzhou couldn't laugh or cry: "When will Editor-in-Chief Sheng invite me to dinner? The kind you make yourself."

"No." Sheng Yuanyao said: "The more detailed one that someone promised hasn't been fulfilled yet."

"Are you sure you want me to give it?" Lu Xingzhou stood up.

Sheng Yuanyao turned around and ran away: "I don't want it, I don't want it, I have a pile of things to do..."

Lu Xingzhou sat back down and examined her new hair tie.

That grass ring had clearly been replaced, but he didn't know if she had thrown it away or kept it somewhere.

Sheng Yuanyao ran a few steps, saw that Lu Xingzhou wasn't chasing, and stopped to look back: "Lady Ye said she wants to help you treat your legs."

Lu Xingzhou was stunned and thoughtful: "I know."

Sheng Yuanyao said again: "Does your green tea want to be on the list this time?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Of course, Minister Pei will be very happy to see his daughter on the list."

Sheng Yuanyao scratched her head, and suddenly a light bulb went off in her mind: "Hey, you're full of crooked ideas; how about becoming a deputy editor-in-chief?"

"That would require an official position in the Demon Suppression Division, right?"

"Then being a consultant is fine, right? What, you can be someone else's guest minister, but not a brother's consultant?"

"My surname isn't Xue..." Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment and suddenly laughed: "But I can try; it sounds fun."

Sheng Yuanyao was very happy: "Then does Consultant Lu have any creative proposals? Besides the timeliness you mentioned before, that's too difficult; come up with something else."

"I do; your list is too dry. Can't you add some commentary or something? It's all just hype..."

"If you can do it, you do it."

In mid-March, the newly appointed Heroes Ranking Editor-in-Chief Sheng Yuanyao, who had been researching for half a month, released the new issue of the "Great Gan Heroes Ranking." The new version, which was completely different from the past, quickly captured everyone's attention, and even other countries and the demon race paid attention.

First was the original Newcomer Ranking number 30, Tianxing Sword Sect Master Shen Tang, who broke through the third-rank barrier and was no longer considered a newcomer, officially entering the end of the Heroes Ranking to compete with the heroes of the world.

The editor very thoughtfully gave a commentary: "Striking the water in midstream, the waves hold back the flying boat."

This was of course not given by Sheng Yuanyao, but came from the new consultant's creativity; no one knew who that was.

Shen Tang was only twenty-three years old this year, and hadn't even had her birthday. Entering the third-rank barrier at this age, while not unprecedented, was among the ranks of extremely rare geniuses. Gu Zhanting didn't have this performance back then; the last person to break into the third rank at this age was Ye Tinglan.

Just this one thing was enough to trigger worldwide discussion, but the biggest change in this issue's list wasn't here, but the Newcomer Ranking.

The original Newcomer number one, Ye Wufeng, died at the hands of Lu Xingzhou's master and apprentice and was removed from the list.

The original Newcomer number two, Lingtian Pavilion Young Master Qi Tuizhi, moved up to first.

The original third did not move up to second; he couldn't even keep third.

Second was a brand-new parachuted figure: Tianyao Holy Land direct descendant, the only apprentice of the world's number one Ye Tinglan, Dugu Qingli, eighteen years old, fourth-rank middle stage.

Editor's commentary: "Frosty sky and frozen moon reflect the cold river."

Third was also a brand-new parachuted figure: Pei Chuyun, daughter of the Hedong Pei family, eighteen years old, fourth-rank lower stage.

Editor's commentary: "Returning to the world of rivers and lakes for the first time, her name crowns the capital."

This line wasn't written by Lu Xingzhou; Sheng Yuanyao refused to let Lu Xingzhou write it, but the publication editors added it enthusiastically, and it was added very well, which made the Editor-in-Chief quite angry.

Pei Chuyun had long been at the fourth-rank upper stage, but unfortunately, under the premise of not revealing her true skills, she could only be fourth-rank lower. Under normal circumstances, fourth-rank lower couldn't be ranked in this position, but the consultant thought she was qualified, the editor-in-chief hoped she would get beaten, and the final approving leader, Old Sheng, wanted to give the Pei family some face; under consensus, she was placed here.

Just these two parachuted figures were enough to make people gasp, and it turned out there was a third parachuted figure.

Lu Xingzhou, a guest minister of the Tianxing Sword Sect who was originally only on the Alchemist sub-ranking and hadn't entered the Newcomer Ranking at all, fiercely replaced the original Newcomer seventh position, being pushed to eighth by the parachuted figures in front.

This number made a certain consultant very satisfied, but he was too embarrassed to add a commentary for himself.

Editor-in-Chief's personal vermilion commentary: "The person on the path is like jade, the young master is peerless in the world."

The list with commentary was several orders of magnitude more interesting and readable than the original, and people who liked to eat melons watched it enthusiastically, while serious people could only gasp at such a drastically changed list.

Three parachuted figures, all in the top ten, two aged eighteen, one twenty.

Plus the Shen Tang in front, who was also so young... were all these freaks gathered on one list?

This was still with A Nuo hiding; if A Nuo were on the list, it would be even more outrageously changed, almost like a new generation. Even without A Nuo, the discussion level of this list had already swept the world.

Generally speaking, this situation would be called a "year of rising winds" by fortune tellers, often symbolizing the beginning of some changes; and within the winds and clouds, there is often a core, which is the eye of the storm.

At least in Ye Tinglan's eyes, this core was basically locked onto Lu Xingzhou, because all the figures in the changes could basically be linked to him.

And if evaluated carefully, this year of rising winds was not this year, but had started last year or even the year before.

The winter before last, Lu Xingzhou left the Yama Hall on a snowy night, which was the time the winds rose.

Late autumn and early winter last year, Lu Xingzhou met Shen Tang, which was the day of the intersection.

Thus, this year's Newcomer Ranking, winds and clouds swept, and the world trembled.