Chapter 407: Chapter 14: Gathering of the Prodigies

This person continued, “After today’s court session, Xia Daozi openly invited the experts from the Great Xia Martial World, especially the young talents on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, to gather in the Capital City. By then, they would spar with the experts from the Imperial Palace to determine who is truly at the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking.”

Another person frowned and said, “Although Xia Daozi is deceitful, he is not stupid. How could he make such a claim?”

“Could it be that the Imperial Palace truly has some extraordinary young expert?”

“Hmph, no matter how strong the experts from the Imperial Palace are, can they really be better than the geniuses on our Jianghu Wind and Cloud Ranking? Anyone from the top ten would be formidable.”

The people were unimpressed.

Chen Tang softly asked, “What’s special about the Wind and Cloud Ranking? Does it change frequently?”

Mei Zhenyu replied, “The Heaven, Earth, and Human rankings are published by the Sword Pavilion every three years.”

“The Wind and Cloud Ranking is different due to the emergence of the younger generation and cultivation realm aspects, it may change annually.”

Chen Tang nodded.

Reaching the Fourth Grade or Third Grade in cultivation, even the most gifted talent would find it hard to make a significant breakthrough quickly.

Opening the Apertures and cultivating to the ultimate level requires opening the Nine Apertures.

Meridian Passage demands unblocking the Eight Extraordinary Meridians; the Ren and Du Meridians are even more challenging.

Therefore, the updates to the Heaven, Earth, and Human rankings are not frequent.

The Celestial Ranking, for example, may not see much change over three to five years.

“The Wind and Cloud Ranking has no cultivation realm restrictions, only an age limit. At twenty years old, one is automatically removed.”

Mei Zhenyu continued, “Generally, the Wind and Cloud Ranking changes once a year. But there are exceptions, like if the top ten places change, the Sword Pavilion will issue a new ranking.”

“How many people are on the Wind and Cloud Ranking?”

Chen Tang asked again.

“Five hundred people.”

This time, Zhu Lingxue quickly responded with a smile, proudly saying, “A few years ago, my senior brother was on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, ranked 477th!”

“That many.”

Chen Tang murmured softly.

“You don’t understand.”

Afraid that Mei Zhenyu might be underestimated, Zhu Lingxue hurriedly explained, “Among the millions of Martial Artists in Great Xia, anyone who can make it onto the Wind and Cloud Ranking, even at the bottom, is a genius among the younger generation!”

Chen Tang did not intend to belittle others, he was just speaking offhandedly.

Moreover, Zhu Lingxue was indeed correct.

In previous exams, if you ranked in the top five hundred of a province, you were already an outstanding student, let alone the entire nation.

Mei Zhenyu naturally understood that Chen Tang meant no harm and smiled as he continued, “When it comes to the Human Ranking, it only lists a hundred names, seventy-two for the Earth Ranking, and thirty-six for the Celestial Ranking.”

Chen Tang nodded and asked again, “How does one get onto such a ranking like the Wind and Cloud Ranking?”

“Generally, the Sword Pavilion evaluates based on four criteria: cultivation, talent, potential, and combat achievements. Among them, combat achievements are the most important.”

Mei Zhenyu said, “If someone defeats a warrior on the Wind and Cloud Ranking in a direct duel, they can take their place.”

More and more people gathered in the hall to discuss.

Suddenly someone said, “I know what Xia Daozi and his son are up to!”

“What do you mean?”

The crowd asked.

This person said, “By then, Xia Daozi could easily buy off the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking, making him deliberately lose to Xia Yuanxian. In this way, Xia Yuanxian would become the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking.”

“The current top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking is ’Thousand Shadows Sword’ Lin Mubai. He shouldn’t collude with treacherous officials, right?”

“That’s hard to say. Money makes the world go round; after all, it’s just a title.”

“Under the eyes of so many witnesses, if it’s a deliberate defeat, wouldn’t the experts present see through it? Unless Xia Yuanxian and Lin Mubai’s strength is not too far apart, there’s a possibility.”

The person who brought the news from the Capital City chuckled and said, “No need to worry, Madam Su has already thought of a countermeasure, how can we let the treacherous official have his way.”

“Tell us quickly.”

The crowd perked up.

The person said, “Madam Su said the matter is between the Imperial Family and Langya Pavilion, there’s no need to involve the Great Xia Martial World. However, since Xia Daozi looks down on the Jianghu’s Wind and Cloud Ranking, Langya Pavilion is willing to choose three people among the younger generation to test the so-called Imperial Palace experts.”

Most people hadn’t figured it out immediately.

Someone reacted quickly, slapped their thigh, and praised, “This move is brilliant; it can advance or retreat!”

“Firstly, Langya Pavilion will choose their trusted people, eliminating the risk of being bought by Xia Daozi.”

“Secondly, if Langya Pavilion wins, any talk of alliance would be out of the question, and the Imperial Palace experts would just be a joke.”

“Thirdly, even if Langya Pavilion loses, it doesn’t prove anything since Langya Pavilion doesn’t represent the entire Jianghu.”

The crowd realized it, nodding in agreement.

“Indeed, even if Xia Daozi wins, Xia Yuanxian is not the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking.”

“In my opinion, you’re overthinking it. If Langya Pavilion sends three people, there’s no way they’ll lose this fight.”

“Who will Langya Pavilion send?”

“The fourth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, ’Sword Immortal’ Su Muzhe, is definitely one of them.”

On the other side, upon hearing this, Mei Zhenyu nodded and said, “This ’Sword Immortal’ Su Muzhe is not only from the Su Clan of Wu State but also from Peach Blossom Village, sharing the same origin as Madam Su, so they are considered family.”

Zhu Lingxue was a bit curious and said, “I’ve heard the martial arts of Peach Blossom Village is quite beautiful.”

“Indeed, it is.”

Mei Zhenyu said, “Inside Peach Blossom Village, every step is a beautiful scene. The martial artists there cultivate the ’Peach Blossom Flying Sword.’ The swordsmanship is poetic and picturesque, beautiful but not weak.”

From the crowd, someone said, “’Sword-Hiding Scholar’ Shen Zhiyuan from the Book and Sword Hall is definitely another one.”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

“This name seems familiar, isn’t he the eighth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking?” Zhu Lingxue was unsure, just remembering that he seemed to have seen him once on the Wind and Cloud Ranking.

“That’s right.”

Mei Zhenyu nodded, “Langya Pavilion is full of talent, even in Duke Wen Du’s generation, there was an extraordinary person named Young Master Shen Yi. This elder was a master of calligraphy, but through it, he realized the way of martial arts. In a moment of enlightenment, he created the unique ’Ink Rhythm Martial Arts’ and founded a sect in Jianghu called the Book and Sword Hall.”

“The Book and Sword Hall promotes balancing literacy and martial arts. Its disciples are well-read talents who can make their ambitions come true in court and are also skilled martial artists who can roam Jianghu and uphold justice.”

“By the way.”

Mei Zhenyu continued, “This Young Master Shen Yi was the father of the former Commander of Huiji, Shen Ningzhi, and is the grandfather of Miss Zhiwei. Even though this elder has passed away, given this relationship, the Book and Sword Hall surely won’t stand idly by.”

“Shen Zhiwei, Shen Zhiyuan…”

Chen Tang murmured softly.

The two are of the same generation, suggesting a close relationship.

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