[Martial Force Ranking – Rank 8]
[Snow Moon City]
[Leader: Snow Moon Sword Immortal Li Hanyi (Second City Lord by default)]
[Cultivation: Mythical Realm Land Immortal]
[Expert: Two Half-Step Land Immortals, three Great Grandmasters, more than ten Grandmasters, Innates not included]
[Total Member: More than one hundred people]
[Reward: Heaven-Grade Low-Tier Treasure – Myriad Sword Diagram, contains infinite Sword Dao mysteries. Comprehending it will accelerate the cultivation of sword cultivators]
While Li Hanyi and Sikong Qianluo were talking about the "sweetheart", the Golden Ranking in the sky refreshed once again.
Snow Moon City.
Seeing that Snow Moon City had surprisingly made it to Rank 8 on the Martial Force Ranking, Li Hanyi was utterly shocked.
She knew Snow Moon City's foundation all too well.
Compared to the Rank 10 and 9 forces, they were not even close.
Therefore, she had not expected to be on the ranking at all.
After all, aside from her, the other two City Lords were only Half-Step Land Immortals.
Their numbers of Great Grandmasters and Grandmasters were also far from sufficient.
Naturally, she thought they had no hope of making the ranking.
Yet now, they had inexplicably ranked.
How could she not be stunned?
"Aunt, you... you're actually a Mythical Realm Land Immortal?"
Sikong Qianluo looked at her in delight, covering her mouth in astonishment.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief.
Since the Golden Ranking appeared, she had already come to understand the vast gap between the Heavenly Human Realm and Mythical Realm of the Land Immortal Realm.
No wonder her father could not withstand even one move from her Aunt.
The difference was too overwhelming.
Sikong Qianluo could not help silently mocking her father.
From now on, the famous Spear Immortal would never be able to act proud again in front of his daughter.
Suddenly, a painting appeared in Li Hanyi's hand, made of an unknown material.
As it unfurled slightly, countless types and forms of swords appeared within it.
Even Li Hanyi felt various profound Sword Dao insights emanating from the scroll.
In just a short time, her cultivation improved yet again.
"Aunt, what is this?" Sikong Qianluo quickly stepped forward, wanting to take a look as well.
Li Hanyi snapped out of her trance.
"Don't come closer!" she quickly warned.
"With your current strength, forcing yourself to look will do you no good. It will harm your spirit instead!"
"Qianluo, once you reach the Great Grandmaster Realm, then you can view it." Li Hanyi said seriously.
"Alright." Qianluo pouted, somewhat unhappy.
She could not even look at a painting now.
So miserable.
"Junior Sister!"
"Senior Sister!"
At that moment, two figures flew over from a distance.
It was the other two City Lords of Snow Moon City.
Great City Lord Baili Dongjun and Third City Lord Sikong Changfeng.
"Junior Sister, you really kept this from us!" Baili Dongjun smiled bitterly at Li Hanyi.
He was not suspicious of her intentions.
She must have had her own reasons for hiding it.
He knew her personality well.
"Senior Brother, I've been searching for a way to help you both break through to the Land Immortal Realm. Now I finally found it."
Li Hanyi raised the Myriad Sword Diagram in her hand.
"By comprehending the sword insights within, you will be able to achieve breakthroughs. With your talent, it should not take long!"
"Once both of you break through, Snow Moon City will truly undergo transformation."
Snow Moon City could not rely on her alone.
If anything ever happened to her, the city would surely face destruction.
So the top priority was to help the other two advance to the Land Immortal Realm.
Baili Dongjun and Sikong Changfeng did not refuse. There was no need for courtesy among family.
"Junior Sister, why did Snow Moon City make it to Rank 8?"
"With our foundation, we should be beneath Heaven Secret Pavilion and Hundred Yue City."
"In terms of cultivator numbers, we cannot even begin to compare!"
Baili Dongjun was puzzled.
Sikong Qianluo mumbled to the side, "What's so strange about it? Obviously, Aunt's strength far exceeds Bai Xiaosheng and the Hundred Yue Queen."
"In the eyes of the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking, Aunt alone is worth more than all the Land Immortals in Rank 9 and 10 combined, including both Mythical and Heavenly Human Realm!"
Baili Dongjun and Sikong Changfeng trembled slightly.
It made sense.
That would mean Li Hanyi's strength was at the absolute peak, even among Mythical Realm Land Immortals.
The two could only smile bitterly.
They could no longer see how far Li Hanyi's strength had reached.
Better hurry and break through to the Land Immortal Realm.
Otherwise, the gap would grow wider and wider.
One day, they might not even be able to hold a conversation anymore, and that would be embarrassing.
They had always thought they were the ones protecting Li Hanyi.
Only now did they realize she had been silently protecting them all along.
While deeply moved, their desire to become Land Immortals grew even stronger.
As the three City Lords of Snow Moon City wrestled with their thoughts, the various nations of the Nine Provinces were in an uproar.
Both in the Imperial Courts and in the Martial World.
Especially in the Ming Martial World.
And among every sword cultivator in the Nine Provinces.
==========
Ming Martial World.
In a small forest where Third Young Master Xie Xiaofeng and Yan Shisan often dueled.
The two gathered again.
Due to Murong Qiudi, the former enemies and love rivals had become something like rival-friends.
As sword cultivators, they could never truly be friends.
They both sensed that one day, a battle to the death would come between them.
It was their fate.
They had known it from the very first glance.
Still, until they reached the peak of Sword Dao, they were willing to learn from one another.
Originally, neither paid much attention to these so-called Martial Force Ranking.
But when Snow Moon City took the Rank 8.
They both felt a jolt in their hearts.
Especially after seeing that the Snow Moon Sword Immortal was at the Mythical Realm, they were dumbfounded.
Another deeply hidden top-level Sword Immortal.
They had, of course, heard of Snow Moon City.
One of the top forces in the Ming Martial World.
Also known as the number one martial city in the Ming Dynasty.
Far beyond Ye Gucheng's White Cloud City.
But they always thought the three City Lords were only Great Grandmasters.
Respected, but not awe-inspiring.
Now that the truth was revealed, the shock was unimaginable.
Another power that was both low-profile and formidable.
Compared to it, Divine Sword Manor and Murong Clan could not even be compared.
But what they truly cared about was the Myriad Sword Diagram.
If they could just glance at it, perhaps their Sword Dao would improve greatly.
This Myriad Sword Diagram was definitely a treasure to all sword cultivators of the Nine Provinces.
"Yan Shisan, shall we go visit Snow Moon City?"
"Let's go."
"Snow Moon City has a great reputation. Its three City Lords are also known for their chivalry."
"They are worth our visit."
In their eyes, if someone was not worthy of respect, no matter how strong, they would not care.
That was the pride of a sword cultivator.
A heart that defies the world.
Looking down on all the heroes of the Nine Provinces.
Of course, being unmatched in strength would be ideal.
And they believed they would achieve that one day.
"If we could ask the three City Lords for permission to view the Myriad Sword Diagram, it would be even better."
"Hahaha, I was thinking the same."
Without further hesitation, they stood up and flew toward Snow Moon City.
==========
Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan.
Yuelai Inn.
Ximen Chuixue stared at the name "Snow Moon Sword Immortal" and the Myriad Sword Diagram on the ranking.
He shuddered.
Clearly, he was not as calm as he appeared.
"Tsk tsk, this Snow Moon Sword Immortal dragged the whole Snow Moon City to Rank 8 by herself. Incredible."
"Yeah, in the eyes of Heaven Dao, her strength and potential definitely warrant the ranking."
"If she were younger, the Hidden Dragon Ranking would probably shift again."
"Who would have thought Snow Moon City was this strong?"
Whether it was Lu Xiaofeng or Chu Liuxiang, both were full of admiration.
They had, of course, heard of Snow Moon City's reputation.
Though a martial force, they never bullied others.
Within their domain, they often protected the people and seldom allowed injustice to occur.
Far superior to certain other martial sects.
At that moment, Ximen Chuixue stood up and walked toward the exit.
"Ximen Chuixue, where are you going?"
"To Snow Moon City, to comprehend the Myriad Sword Diagram."
Ximen Chuixue spoke calmly.
Lu Xiaofeng and the others exchanged glances.
"Let's go together."
"I want to see for myself the elegance of the number one martial city in the Ming Dynasty."
==========
Qin Dynasty.
Inside the Mohist School Mechanical City.
Sword Saint Ge Nie stared at the ranking in the sky, overwhelmed with shock.
Since the appearance of the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking, he had come to realize.
His sword talent was not as outstanding as he once believed.
Many people across the Nine Provinces were more talented than him.
Some, even younger, had already reached the Land Immortal Realm.
And he was still a Great Grandmaster after so many years.
That filled him with frustration.
When he saw the Myriad Sword Diagram as the reward, his heart trembled.
He had a strong feeling.
If he could just glimpse it, his Sword Dao would advance significantly.
He might even find the path to the Land Immortal Realm.
That thought excited him beyond measure.
Compared to Sword Dao, the struggles between the Qin Dynasty and the Six Kingdoms meant nothing to him anymore.
What could be more attractive than the Land Immortal Realm?
Once the Mohist School matter was settled, he would head to Snow Moon City in the Ming Dynasty immediately.
Pay a proper visit.
Had it not been for Qin Dynasty troops outside, he would have left already.
Not only Ge Nie thought this way.
==========
Outside the Mechanical City, at the Quicksand base.
Wei Zhuang shared the exact same idea.
Compared to Sword Dao, even his ambitions were cast aside.
In his eyes, whether it was the Qin Dynasty, the Six Kingdoms, or the Hundred Schools of Thought, they were all just fighting over their own interests.
Nothing any of them did impressed him.
Perhaps only Ge Nie ever held his attention.
But now, he wanted to leave immediately for Snow Moon City.
To comprehend the path to the Land Immortal Realm.
Suppressing his excitement, he still chose to wait until the Mohist School situation was resolved before setting out.
As for Ge Nie.
Hmph.
Once he became a Land Immortal, he would thoroughly mock him.
Little did he know.
Ge Nie had the exact same idea.
Their rivalry was destined to shift from the Qin Dynasty to the lands of the Ming Dynasty.
==========
Ming Dynasty, Capital.
Taibai Inn Backyard.
Zhu Houzhao stared blankly at the name on the ranking.
Snow Moon Sword Immortal.
Li Hanyi.
A radiant figure surfaced in his mind.
Staring at him with a face full of grievance.
"Sigh... I wonder if she still resents me?"
"She should know who I am by now, right?"
"What if she ignores everything and rushes into the Imperial Palace with her sword? I'll become the laughingstock of the entire Nine Provinces."
"Sigh, I must find a chance to explain myself!"
Zhu Houzhao now deeply regretted being so wild and reckless in his youth.
Acting without care.
Leaving behind "trouble" one after another.
Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
There would be no shortage of painful confrontations in the days to come.