Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 237 - 166: Ascending the Heavenly List

Chapter 237: Chapter 166: Ascending the Heavenly List

Beyond Immortal Land, at its entrance, lies a city known as Two Realms City.

Two Realms City is located in the most turbulent parts of the void, making it the most convenient place for traversing spaces, and it is the only place in the world where humans and demons coexist.

Legend has it that the founder of Two Realms City was an Innate God of the Immortal rank, who had no concept of race, thus enabling the establishment of this unique gathering place for humans and demons.

While such an explanation might seem a bit like putting the cart before the horse, the last statement is undoubtedly true.

Two Realms City is the only place where humans and demons coexist; elsewhere, any meeting between the two typically results in immediate tension and conflict. At least in Two Realms City, they manage to maintain a peaceful facade without erupting into outright fighting.

Suddenly, an unexpected change surged, as dark clouds gathered over the territory of the human race within the city.

From the sea of demons around the Jianmu, a divine thought emerged, growing increasingly cold and gradually suffusing the air with a murderous intent, stirring otherworldly phenomena.

In an instant, more than a dozen demonic saints harbored thoughts of killing.

Human Ranking steles stood tall, towering a thousand feet high, like mountains.

[First in Human Ranking, Sanqing Taoist Sect, Three Pure Daoist]

[Second in Human Ranking, Broken Sword Mountain, Xiao Yunyi]

[Third in Human Ranking, Sanqing Taoist Sect, Red Dust]

[Fourth in Human Ranking, Disciple of Demon Sect, Jun Yan]

[Fifth in Human Ranking, Sword Control Sect, Chi Yu Zi]

The Human Ranking is the most frequently changed ranking, with competitors swiftly replacing each other, and the list changing several times in a single day. The competition is fiercest just beyond the top fifty and within the top five, both driven by small gaps in ranking.

However, once the top five are determined, the positions are rarely subject to change.

Initially, Liuyun Sect held the fifth rank, but recently, they had been suddenly ousted and replaced by Red Dust from the Sanqing Taoist Sect.

Not long before, the name Red Dust suddenly appeared in the top ten, and within just a few months, it indeed attracted countless attentions.

This included the Devil Clan, especially since the name of the Sanqing Taoist Sect appeared; they paid special attention.

Countless powerful beings from the Devil Clan check the top three rankings morning, noon, and night, including those with grievances against Qingcang, who, staring at the Daoist name "Red Dust," began to figuratively ’stab voodoo dolls’. Among them, curses using forbidden techniques were not unheard of, but they were generally countered by the Life-saving Pearls of the Sanqing Taoist Sect.

These life-saving treasures also possess the ability to suppress Qi Fortune.

The notion of Qi Fortune is too mystical and remains incompletely understood by both humans and demons. However, various taboo methods do prove that Qi Fortune truly exists.

The Earth Ranking trembled anew.

[First in Earth Ranking, Sanqing Taoist Sect, Three Pure Daoist]

[Second in Earth Ranking, Sanqing Taoist Sect, Red Dust]

[Third in Earth Ranking, Sword Control Sect, Chi Yu Zi]

Originally, Chi Yu Zi, who had perfected the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill and the Indestructible Taoist Body, was poised to ascend to second place, but Gu Wen had radically pushed him down. The first and second ranks both coming from the same sect was particularly conspicuous.

The three rankings of the Daoist Sect resounded; within the rankings of Earth and Humanity were the young prodigies. If any great deity reincarnated, they would enter the Heavenly List.

Like Yu Hua, who inherited the Daoist foundation of Qingcang Immortal, his was a sort of atypical reincarnate; no one else could compare.

"This Red Dust has risen too quickly; from his appearance to now it has been only eight months. Less than a year and already second?"

Someone powerful exclaimed in surprise. As the voice was emitted by themselves, the omnipresent divine thoughts enveloping the area heard it very clearly and piercingly.

Especially for the Devil Clan, the Buddha Demon, and even the Daoist sects, it was the same.

At least half of the sects within the human race had openly turned against the Sanqing Taoist Sect; they would inevitably face dire consequences once Qingcang revived. Thus, they tried adamantly to obstruct Yu Hua and his group.

Similarly, they did not wish for the Daoist Sect to produce another prodigy, and Gu Wen, without a doubt, was a monstrous talent.

In just eight months, what upheaval might he cause in another eight months?

Suddenly, after a long silence, the Heavenly List underwent a change, causing fear in all observing divine thoughts.

Unlike the Earth and Human Rankings, the Heavenly List represents the true realm of Immortals, with those listed being on the verge of becoming Immortals.

For thousands of years, changes have been rare, and often there might even be vacancies. This era, with all ten spots filled, is a first in ten thousand years, where even a fifth rank is considered an achievement.

[First in Heavenly List, Yu Hua]

[Second in Heavenly List, Chi Ling]

[Third in Heavenly List, Ancestor Spirit Tree]

The first rank remained unchanged; the second was due to previously Sword Master ascending the list with the Immortal Sword achieving Dao. The other eight remained the same, but the script for the ninth rank was vanishing.

This was a great power reincarnated, who had reentered Immortal Land to cultivate for many years and now was uncertain whether he had deciphered the mysteries of becoming an Immortal. Similarly, due to the recent event of the Immortal Sword achieving Dao, he had moved up in rank.

[Ninth in Heavenly List, Red Dust]

"""Heavenly List, Rank Ten: Xuan Yue"""

Silence!

A speechless dead silence spread.

The Heavenly List was almost entirely composed of Demi Immortals, all of whom were the cream of the crop and eligible to become Immortals.

Which one wasn’t a famed founder of a sect, or a peerless great power who overlooked the ages? Yet today, a mere whelp had ascended to their ranks.

He must be under a hundred years old to be on both the human and Immortal ranks; a talent for becoming an Immortal before the age of one hundred?

Boom!

Rolling dark clouds could no longer hide the murderous intent, as if a hundred beasts emerged within, numerous Divine Beasts forming attacks that rushed toward the Immortal Land.

Without any words, their all-out attacks were a form of respect for the Heavenly List.

This boy must not be allowed to remain!

Within the Sanqing Daoist Sect, Yun Miao remained unmoved, while Huayang had already picked up the Jade Ruyi.

"This boy is a sign of great prosperity for our Daoist Sect."

Half-lying on several cushions, the Heavenly Venerable Yun Miao snorted with laughter and said, "You said the same thing to the Taoist Body before. Now that his cultivation has run into problems, have you so quickly given up on him?"

"In cultivation, being live is valuable, and in immortal cultivation, striving is essential. If he cannot win, that is his fate."

Huayang’s face was as stern as steel, nor did he deny it. In his eyes, what’s true is true, and what’s false is false.

If the Taoist Body made an error in cultivation, then he was not as talented as Gu Wen, even if the former was his disciple.

Yun Miao shook his head and sighed, "This Harmonization technique really has made you lose your humanity. Go ahead and deal with those who block our path. Let’s not burden the Heavenly Girl any further, who knows how long she can hold."

Huayang nodded, and before he could make a move, someone else struck first.

Cling!

A sword light split heaven and earth, severing the multitude of Devil Clouds.

"How dare you attack a direct disciple of my Broken Sword Mountain!"

A raspy voice, like someone playing an erhu, made the faces of Huayang and Yun Miao darken. Even the usually impartial Huayang felt a flare of anger.

Thousands of sword cries burst from Broken Sword Mountain, and an old man with yellowish-brown skin and a short stature, unshaven and wearing slippers, carrying a broken sword, tore through the boundaries.

The current Patriarch of Broken Sword Mountain, Sword Master Xuan Wufeng.

Xuan Wufeng swung his broken sword, his movements wild like a crazed old man dueling with swords.

Sword Intent bloomed in the emptiness, following the Divine Thought to attack a hidden great power. Ordinary great powers were injured in their Divine Souls, comparable to Heavenly Venerables but not spared, only Demi Immortals remained entirely unharmed.

"This is the direct transmission from the founder of my Broken Sword Mountain; whoever dares bully the young and harm them is....."

Before the injured could curse, a dull voice from Huayang in the Daoist Sect above the Nine Heavens came through, unusually infused with some anger.

"Enough with the sword play! Don’t presume my Daoist Sect has no one to answer you!"

Really, Gu Wen started by practicing the Human Immortal Skill of Yuqing Daoji and later learned the True Sword Dao; how has he suddenly become your Broken Sword Mountain’s direct disciple?

That’s truly shameless.

Xuan Wufeng, being slightly hard of hearing in his old age, continued to rant loudly, "You’re facing the 720,000 Sword Cultivators of my Broken Sword Mountain as enemies! Remember, this is the direct teaching from the founder of my Broken Sword Mountain!"

The shadow of the Jade Ruyi crossed millions of miles and struck directly at Xuan Wufeng.

-----------------

Turmoil from beyond the Immortal Land was merely a slight glow above the dome of the sky.

Gu Wen broke free from the Dragon Head, turned around, and exposed his back, falling straight toward Yu Hua, who reached out to catch him.

As Ao Heng had previously stated, he ran from one woman’s arms to another’s. Yet, it wasn’t as disgraceful as he had described, rather Ao Heng could only watch, eyes nearly bursting with rage.

He was certainly furious to the extreme, but he also knew that now was absolutely not the time to make a move.

It was both a matter of pride and dignity, and anything more would only escalate the situation. If Ao Heng struck at Gu Wen, then the Heavenly Girl would intervene, resulting in the Devil Clan’s ancestors stepping in.

If the Devil Clan’s ancestors didn’t intervene, Ao Heng and his companions would likely perish here.

It wasn’t that the great powers refrained from acting; rather, once they did, the situation would spiral completely out of control.

A Divine Thought whispered in his ear, the current Dragon King of the Dragon Palace communicating his thoughts.

"Leave."

Ao Heng took one last deep look at Gu Wen, then left with the other three demons of his race.

They still had one last chance, and they didn’t necessarily have to stop the Heavenly Girl here, unless the Immortality Pill truly appeared.