King of Creation
Chapter 266 - 263 Black Dragon Ranking

Chapter 266: Chapter 263 Black Dragon Ranking

The founding master of the Phantom Divine Sect, Ji Tu, the founding emperor of the Phantom Divine Empire, considered himself a god-like being under heaven. The place he resided was to be known as a Divine Country.

Since then, the Imperial Capital of the Phantom Divine Empire has been called by the people of the world as Divine Capital.

At this moment, Ye Zhen, Luluo, and Han Tai, a group of three, reined in their horses and stood before this super city acclaimed as the Divine Capital.

It’s called a super city because, with Ye Zhen and the others’ Eye Power, even when they concentrated and looked far into the distance, they couldn’t see the edges of the city walls from either side, and the least of Ye Zhen and the others’ eyesight stretched for ten miles.

"Let’s enter the city. Today we’ll head to the Inner City to rest for the night, and tomorrow we’ll go into the Divine Capital to meet Red Gold Master," Han Tai said.

According to what Han Tai and Luluo said, this Divine Capital of the Phantom Divine Empire is divided into three layers.

The outermost layer is known as the Outer City, where commoners and all sorts of lowly livelihoods and large piles of materials are concentrated. The middle layer is called the Inner City.

The ones walking around in the Inner City are mostly martial artists, and of course, there are also wealthy merchants. Inside, there are various shops and businesses aimed at martial artists, and naturally, the consumption is very high.

The innermost layer is what is truly meant by the Divine Capital.

Within the Divine Capital, aside from the Imperial Palace of the Phantom Divine Empire and the traveling palace of the Sect Leader, reside all the great powers of the Soul Sea Realm, as well as grandmasters of various trades and industries.

People like Fragrant Pill King and Red Gold Master are residing within the Divine Capital.

The access control in Divine Capital is quite strict; ordinary civilians, if they step foot without someone leading them, will be directly killed, and even among martial artists, only those in the Spirit Summoning Realm and Spirit Transformation Realm are allowed to come and go; the fate of True Essence Realm martial artists who step in without permission is no different from that of civilians.

Moreover, the Divine Capital has always maintained the old regulations of the palace; besides the no-fly zone, when night falls and the locks come down, the big shots inside the Divine Capital can come and go as they please, but outsiders can’t enter.

Upon entering the Outer City of Divine Capital, Ye Zhen finally understood what it meant to be crowded.

It was already evening, but the stream of pedestrians, merchants, and guards was endless and shoulder-to-shoulder.

However, all it took was for Han Tai to slightly release his aura at the Spirit Transformation Realm Third Stage, and the bustling Outer City, no matter how crowded, made way for Ye Zhen’s group of three.

Those rich merchants dressed in brocade, after Han Tai released his aura, were also squeezed tightly with the commoners, their fat faces covered in sweat, but they didn’t dare to make any inappropriate moves.

"In our Phantom Divine Empire, martial artists are honored. In the Divine Capital, this rule is even more strictly enforced; if they don’t make way and the Divine Guard Army finds out, if they don’t die, they will at least be skinned," Han Tai said with a hint of pride while introducing the rules of the Divine Capital to Ye Zhen, quite proud of his own privileges.

Ye Zhen, however, felt an indescribable poignancy. The strong rule.

Here, without strength, one is almost no better than a pig or dog.

The Outer City was crowded, but the Inner City was even more so. Although it was not as terrifying as the Outer City in terms of foot traffic, Ye Zhen’s group of three asked more than a dozen taverns in a row, and they were all fully booked. Not to mention a whole courtyard, there wasn’t even a single room available.

"Shall we go stay in the Outer City?" Ye Zhen suggested.

Ye Zhen’s proposal made Han Tai chuckle bitterly, "If we were to stay in such a lowly place as the Outer City, we’d be laughed to death."

Ye Zhen curled his lip, not seeing what was so lowly about the Outer City, but the class system of the Phantom Divine Empire was very severe, ingrained to the bone.

"Sorry, guest, the inn is fully booked. If you want a room, please come early tomorrow."

"Guest, I won’t lie to you, our inn has been completely booked for three days now. You should try elsewhere, I’m sure you’ll find a vacancy," the innkeeper responded.

"Eh, Brother Han, when did you arrive here?" a martial artist asked in surprise as he came face-to-face with Han Tai, when Ye Zhen’s group emerged somewhat frustrated from a tavern.

The person was named Bao Hong, and sensing his aura, he was also a martial artist around the Spirit Transformation Realm Third Stage, a friend of Han Tai’s, as well as an influential independent cultivator.

"I say, Brother Han, it’s been three years since we last saw each other. Your cultivation has also broken through from the Spirit Transformation Realm Second Stage to the Third Stage. As for me, I’m still stagnant; you big sects indeed have it good," Bao Hong said, revealing a hint of envy.

"Right, what brings you to the Divine Capital this time?"

"We’re accompanying my friend on some business in the Divine Capital. We arrived a bit late and after checking more than a dozen inns, they’re all full. We were just about to look for the next one. What about you?" Han Tai replied.

"Someone is hosting a gathering that I specially came to attend," Bao Hong’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Perfect, you should come too. We’ve booked the biggest Martial Arts Institute in this inn, so your friends can also stay."

"A gathering, what kind of gathering?" Han Tai inquired.

"It’s organized by Sha Muchao, ranked sixty-eight on the Black Dragon Ranking, that Sha Muchao from the Phantom Divine Sect.

As for what kind of gathering, isn’t it obvious?

Black Dragon Ancient Land is soon to be opened, and the new round of the Black Dragon Ranking competition is about to begin. Although Sha Muchao is number sixty-eight on the current Black Dragon Ranking, he’s ranked quite far back.

If this round of Black Dragon Ancient Land opens, those ranked lower like Sha Muchao are the most likely to lose their place on the Ranking. Hence, he’s arranged a gathering in advance to invite those young up-and-comers he knows, or those who have the potential to claim a spot on the Black Dragon Ranking, to come over for an early feeler," Bao Hong explained.

"Him trying to gauge strength? And people still come?" Han Tai asked, puzzled.

Bao Hong winked at Han Tai, "He tries to gauge others, but don’t they also try to gauge him? Those who aim for a spot on the Black Dragon Ranking, who wouldn’t want to size up the strength of the strong ones on the ranking in advance?"

"That makes sense, and having a few spars in advance can also accumulate experience," Han Tai agreed.

"What do you think, are you going or not? This opportunity is rare," Bao Hong said with a smile, but Han Tai’s gaze was directed toward Ye Zhen and Luluo.

Ye Zhen was also aware of this Black Dragon Ranking.

Compared to the previous Heavenly List and Earthly List of the Qiyun Sect, the Black Dragon Ranking was a broad ranking of martial artists within the Black Dragon Domain.

Those martial artists under the age of thirty and with cultivations below the Soul Sea Realm could participate in the competition for ranking. It was said that the higher one’s ranking on the Black Dragon Ranking, the greater the benefits. However, Ye Zhen didn’t know what specific benefits there were.

Anyway, the Black Dragon Ancient Land opened once every five years, and every Black Dragon Ranking competition was extremely fierce, with life-and-death struggles happening frequently.

However, because of the intense competition for the Black Dragon Ranking, gradually, the martial artists who participated in the competition were mostly those in the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Those in the Spirit Summoning Realm could barely participate, not to mention getting on the ranking list.

"This is my friend Zheng Fuyun, and my junior sister Luluo. Their cultivations are quite good. There’s no problem with me bringing them along to participate, right?" Han Tai obviously wanted to join the gathering.

"This..."

Bao Hong’s face showed a look of difficulty. "Your junior sister’s cultivation in the First Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm naturally qualifies her to participate, but this friend of yours is still in the Spirit Summoning Realm..."

"Brother Bao, you don’t know, but our Qingluo Sect’s Wu Shan, who you should have met before, was effortlessly defeated by Brother Zheng. Wu Shan is at the peak of the First Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm."

"Peak of the Spirit Summoning Realm defeating Peak of the First Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, Brother Han, you must be joking, right?" Bao Hong’s expression suddenly changed.

"Brother Bao, do I look like I’m talking nonsense? Not to hide it from you, even I admit that Brother Zheng’s combat power is superior to mine!"

Han Tai remembered his battle with the Blood Wolf Envoy. He was defeated miserably by the Blood Wolf Envoy, while Ye Zhen had slain the Blood Wolf Envoy, which was why he said this.

"My apologies!" Overcome with surprise, Bao Hong looked at Ye Zhen with a hint of wariness in his eyes.

"Brother Han, I won’t be joining your gathering."

The gathering sounded interesting to Ye Zhen, but he wasn’t very keen on going. All the participants would be martial artists in the Spirit Transformation Realm, and he, at the peak of the Spirit Summoning Realm, would feel quite out of place.

"Brother Zheng, go, with such a good opportunity, how could you not? There is less than a year left before the Black Dragon Ancient Land opens, and by then, your cultivation will also break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

With your combat power, you are definitely going to participate in the competition for the Black Dragon Ranking. Having a preview in advance can give you some understanding," Han Tai urged enthusiastically.

"Moreover, if you’re so strong but don’t go, how could I feel comfortable going?"

Han Tai’s persuasion made Ye Zhen both want to cry and laugh, sometimes Han Tai really was a bit naive.

"Great cousin, it’s good to watch a contest between experts," Luluo also urged.

"Indeed, Brother Zheng’s combat power is so strong, they should all welcome him."

Bao Hong’s face was full of confusion. He couldn’t understand how a martial artist at the peak of the Spirit Summoning Realm could be so strong, to the point that even Han Tai, in the Third Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, felt inferior?

"Alright then!"

Ye Zhen agreed somewhat reluctantly.

Honestly, Ye Zhen really wanted to participate in such a gathering, just as Luluo had said, watching experts spar would be highly beneficial.

However, martial artists have a very strong sense of hierarchical honor, and it would undoubtedly lead to discomfort for Ye Zhen, who was at the peak of the Spirit Summoning Realm, to join a small circle of Spirit Transformation Realm martial artists.

The four of them entered the restaurant, passed through the main hall, and went to a large private courtyard at the back of the restaurant, heading toward the largest Martial Arts Institute.

A Martial Arts Institute is a courtyard provided by some large-scale restaurants specifically for martial artists to gather. It includes a very large practice field for martial artists to spar and practice, hence the name Martial Arts Institute.

However, the cost of booking a Martial Arts Institute was extremely high.

Though known as a practice field, the Martial Arts Institute was luxuriously furnished by the restaurant and even included a bathhouse to facilitate the martial artists to bathe and cleanse after training.

Inside the Martial Arts Institute, there were only nine martial artists on a field that spanned over a kilometer, mostly men, with a few women. The aura of spiritual power emanating from their bodies converged like clouds, which was characteristic of those in the Spirit Transformation Realm.

However, in Ye Zhen’s sensing, all of their cultivation auras weren’t very strong. Two of them were roughly the same as Han Tai, in the Third Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm. The rest were in the First or Second Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Among the group, a bold young man’s aura was exceptionally solid, and when his spiritual power aura spread out, it was almost like rolling dark clouds. His cultivation aura had even reached the frightening Fourth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"Brother Bao is here, isn’t that Han Tai of the Qingluo Sect, known as the Mountain Breaking Stick?"

"I’ve come uninvited, please forgive me, Brother Sha."

"This is the organizer of the gathering, Sha Muchao of the Phantom Divine Sect, who ranked sixty-eighth in the last Black Dragon Ranking. Currently still in the Third Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, his strength is very formidable.

When he previously fought for the sixty-eighth spot on the Black Dragon Ranking, he managed to knock a warrior in the Fourth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm off the Martial Arena and took the rank," Han Tai explained in a whisper.

After exchanging pleasantries, Sha Muchao’s gaze skimmed over Luluo and fell upon Ye Zhen. His face immediately fell and he looked displeased as he turned to Bao Hong.

"Brother Bao, how could you bring a Spirit Summoning Realm martial artist here?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)