Chapter 0: One Person, One Ranking
The next day, disciples from the three sects returned to the imperial court. Qin Gou, still blended in with the main force, agreed with Little Ball and Tang Simin to visit Fusheng Nunnery, where the current Celestial Master would be giving guidance. After learning news of Su Yuelu from the Hidden Female Country from Qin Gou, Qin Yuan decided to part ways temporarily and head to the Female Country alone. They agreed to meet at Hanzhou, where Fusheng Nunnery was located, to celebrate A’Yuan’s birthday, a day that was both ordinary and special, as her parents were alive.
Meanwhile, the disciples of Linjiang Immortal Nunnery were in an awkward predicament. They had suffered the most. After Zheng Xiangbai’s death, Linjiang Immortal Nunnery immediately ordered a Dharma Aspect True Person to rush to their aid at all costs. This person was still on their way, but no one had expected the Egu Secret Realm trip to end so quickly. The Linjiang Immortal Nunnery disciples, who had gained very little from the secret realm, truly did not know how to face the elder who was making such a grand arrival.
Seeing this, the understanding Qin Gou immediately inquired, “Who among you is responsible for liaising with Linjiang Immortal Nunnery?”
“That would be me,” a disciple with a high crown stepped forward.
“Take the communication token and follow me,” Qin Gou nodded and chuckled, “Since the three sects came together, they should naturally return together. As for the elder from the Immortal Nunnery who is on his way and the unforeseen circumstances in the Egu Secret Realm, this seat will personally deliver a Spirit Power Transmission to explain clearly and prevent your esteemed elder from making a wasted trip.”
“Master Qin’s righteousness is commendable!”
“Thank you, Master Qin.”
A crowd of Linjiang Immortal Nunnery disciples were instantly filled with gratitude. They knew their sect would not punish them further out of respect for Master Qin. Qin Gou sincerely intended to defend these disciples, but he deliberately did not mention when he would actually send this Spirit Power Transmission.
…
Two days later, Sheng Hui Valley.
The night was dark and the wind was high, the crescent moon like a hook. Dong Guanchi, the newly appointed Dharma Aspect True Person of Linjiang Immortal Nunnery, known as the ‘Star-Plucking Daoist’, arrived, dust-covered and without rest. However, he found the entire valley deserted.
“What in the world happened? Where are the disciples of the Immortal Nunnery? Even the Chang’an and Fusheng sects are nowhere to be seen?” Dong Guanchi’s brow furrowed. His powerful spiritual energy quickly spread throughout Sheng Hui Valley as he searched meticulously.
“Into Master’s embrace, a beating will be spared… Presumptuous! Why am I singing to myself again?!”
Suddenly, a strange children’s rhyme echoed in Dong Guanchi’s ears. The peerless beauty who arrived with the night wind sent chills down his spine and made his heart tremble.
“This is bad.” As a member of Linjiang Immortal Nunnery, how could Dong Guanchi not recognize the woman before him? Even the Primordial Lord Diaohao back then was no match for her. As a newly appointed Dharma Aspect True Person, Dong Guanchi’s face turned ashen.
“Your Excellency, you didn’t hear any strange sounds just now, did you?” Ye Qishuang asked with a slight frown.
Dong Guanchi blurted out, “Sounds? What sounds? I don’t understand what you’re saying, Fairy!”
“That’s good,” Ye Qishuang beckoned with her finger. “Follow me, the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace requests your presence.”
Dong Guanchi’s face turned ashen, and his smile was stiff. “I was completely sincere, I truly heard nothing unusual!”
“Of course. If you had heard anything, you wouldn’t need to follow me to Mystic Maiden Palace.”
“Then I truly did…”
“It would be better to just die here,” Ye Qishuang asked with cold, clear eyes, “Truly what?”
“Truly… I have a slight hearing problem.” Dong Guanchi’s smile bloomed instantly.
At the same time, a Spirit Power Transmission, with humble words and proper phrasing, finally arrived belatedly at Linjiang Immortal Nunnery. It not only fully protected the disciples and argued their case but also specifically warned Dong Guanchi and Linjiang Immortal Nunnery never to step foot into Sheng Hui Valley again. It was truly noble and righteous, and apart from being too late, there was not a single fault to be found.
…
On the road.
Although Gu Feiyan and Li Yuanzhen had met a few times before, they had never had much time to interact. Even when they were guarding Qin Gou and Yi Chengying as they broke the ice in Wang Ji Village, Li Yuanzhen spent the entire day playing hide-and-seek with the fanatical Qin Yuan and had no time for others. However, if one were to calculate carefully, these two had countless connections. A’Yuan was Li Yuanzhen’s number one fan girl, and Xiao Yan had always wanted to set A’Yuan and Li Yuanzhen up. Li Yuanzhen, in turn, was the only disciple of Xiao Yan’s birth mother, Bai Yunxi. Their topics of conversation were endless, and soon they became “A’Fei” and “Xiao Li” to each other.
A’Fei wanted to learn from Xiao Li what kind of noble sentiment a respected, rather than feared, female cultivator from a famous sect should possess. Xiao Li also wanted to see in A’Fei how tumultuous and lawless the experiences of growing up in a demonic sect would be. Unfortunately, neither of them could get what they wanted from the other.
One day.
Tang Simin brought several jade slips to Qin Gou. “These are the jade slips of various rankings that Master Qin wanted before. Today is the time for them to be updated. I believe one only needs to infuse them with spiritual power to see the changes in rank.”
“Thank you, Chan Master Miaoyin, for your thoughtfulness.” Qin Gou smiled knowingly. He had a very good impression of Tang Simin. After distributing two Longevity Tree Seeds obtained from the Egu Secret Realm to Qishuang Wench, there were still quite a few left. He planned to give Tang Simin a surprise when they reached Fusheng Nunnery to thank her for taking care of Little Ball all these years.
With that, Qin Gou casually picked up one of the jade slips, infused it with a wisp of spiritual power, and slowly opened it as the light flickered.
First on the Heavenly Devil Ranking, the ‘Wutian Demon Lord’ of the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect, Zhao Xinting.
Second, the ‘Ancestor of Curses’ of Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, Ye Qishuang.
Third, the ‘Spawn of Evil Spirits’ Great Princess of the Demon Race, Kong Ling.
Fourth…
*Clink*
Qin Gou immediately closed the jade slip and glanced at Tang Simin, who looked surprised. He chuckled dryly, “I picked up the wrong one. This ranking is useless to me.” However, the Heavenly Devil Ranking did not bring Qin Gou complete and unbearable gloom. After that brief glance, Qin Gou keenly noticed that he himself, who had never made a move in the eyes of the world, was now ranked third on the Heavenly Devil Ranking, had directly disappeared from the top twenty. This was absolutely exhilarating news!
Thinking this, Qin Gou picked up another ranking. He infused spiritual power, intending to update the rankings, but this jade slip did not emit spiritual light like the previous one. Tang Simin explained, “This seems to be a newly issued ranking and does not require spiritual power to activate.”
Qin Gou understood and nodded. He immediately opened the jade slip and examined it carefully. The words “Demon Saint Ranking” appeared at the beginning. Just as Qin Gou was about to casually discard it, he suddenly noticed that this Demon Saint Ranking, which was identical in size and thickness to other jade slips, only contained one name, a name that could not be more familiar!
Several peak dynasties and all the famous cultivation sects had issued a ranking specifically for one person.
First on the ‘Demon Saint Ranking’! The Master of the Demon Seed Pavilion on Arc-Moon Mountain… ‘Demon Master’ Qin Gou!
