The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 652 An Era of Great Contention, A Galaxy of Stars Shining (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

The Northern Frontier, the North Sea Merchant Alliance.

In the majestic city, amidst towering pavilions, a group of business tycoons sat in various positions.

"The Ranking of Grandmasters has been updated!"

"The Seven Kill Fist Demon, ranked eighteenth in the Storm Riders!"

"To stand on equal footing with the pseudo-celestial beings, who is this old monster, and why have I never heard of him before?"

"Old Hu from Canglong Prefecture, your Wufu Chamber of Commerce has dealings with the Gu family of Canglong. Find an opportunity to inquire about it."

"."

The updated Grandmaster Ranking has stirred up a storm, and even the behemoth that is the Northern Territory, the North Sea Merchant Alliance, needs to pay close attention. Especially these Grandmasters who, upon entering the rankings, have already demonstrated their ability to rival pseudo-Celestials.

These Grandmasters of this caliber, as long as they are not too far from their lifespan limit, theoretically all have the potential to break through to the next level of Grandmaster!

With the abilities of a Grandmaster of the Wind and Cloud Realm, even if one's breakthrough is flawed and one has not yet achieved true Martial Dao Celestial, one is still undoubtedly among the best of the pseudo-Celestials. Such an existence requires the utmost respect and caution from even the weaker merchant guilds within the Merchant Alliance.

If one can go a step further and approach the ultimate of the pseudo-celestial realm, possessing 60% or even 70% of the divine abilities of a true celestial being, then one will have the opportunity to enter the Merchant Alliance Council and hold a seat of influence.

Such entities cannot be ignored even by the entire North Sea Merchant Alliance. If they wish, the Alliance can allocate resources to assist them in establishing corresponding industrial families, making them loyal forces within the Alliance.

If the clan prospers and its commerce flourishes, and the lineage continues for a thousand or two thousand years, perhaps a descendant of a great and prosperous family will emerge. If so, then the ancestor who founded the family will have lived a worthwhile life.

Many vassal families and guest elders within the merchant alliance are in this situation.

The discussion about the Grandmaster Ranking was quite lengthy among the leaders of the Beihai Business Alliance, but it didn't last very long overall.

As core decision-makers of the business alliance, they have many matters to handle daily. Their gathering here to discuss and decide together demonstrates the importance they place on this matter. Many discussions should be brief and to the point. Delaying further would be a significant loss for all the industry leaders and the entire Beihai Business Alliance.

Although the Grandmaster Ranking has a wide reach and great influence, at their level, the replacement of a Grandmaster by a single powerful figure cannot affect their honor, disgrace, life or death, or the rise and fall of their businesses.

Those who truly hold the reins of the Northern Territory, influencing the rise and fall of top powers, are those listed on the Grandmaster Ranking.
"Gentlemen, besides updating the popularity rankings, there's something else more important I've called you all here for."

The speaker was a burly, middle-aged man with bushy hair, whose face was completely hidden behind a dark gold mask, revealing only a pair of sharp, beast-like eyes.

He sat on the left side of the huge stone table, and as he spoke, he looked around, creating an extremely powerful sense of oppression.

"After three hundred years, the secret realm of the deep sea will soon open!"

The Northern Frontier, the Snow Goddess Palace.

Within the majestic and enormous Xuanbing True Palace, there are blooming ice crystal lotus platforms, upon which sit various figures.

"Ranked eighteenth on the Grandmaster Ranking?"

"The Seven Kill Fist Demon, I've never heard of him before!"

"I wonder which reclusive old monster it is!?"

"Eighteenth place, this one is actually quite a bit higher than Li'er!"

"Indeed, it is much higher, but Li'er was listed three years ago. Back then, she was less than half the age of the Hidden Dragon List, let alone the Wind and Cloud List. To be listed on both lists at the same time, such talent is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Comparing the two is meaningless!"

Even when compared, the gap between the two is like an insurmountable chasm. They are both powerful and influential, but they cannot be compared on the same day.

"Three years have passed, and even we elders don't know how far Li'er has progressed. With Li'er's talent, she is probably already very close to becoming a Celestial Being."

"If it weren't for Li'er's ambition to reach the heavens and use the nine spiritual runes to challenge the heavenly gates and reach the pinnacle, she would probably have already achieved oneness with heaven and man and become a martial arts master!"

"Nine spirit runes!"

After the sound fell, the Xuanbing True Palace remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, a sound finally rang out.

"Li'er possesses a precious body and has already mastered the Xuanbing Intent. Although she has not yet reached the Celestial Realm, she is probably already able to contend with the Celestial Realm!"

"Compete with her? If we old bones really go all out, we might not be a match for Li'er!"

"Among her generation, only Tianjiu Daozi can rival Li'er! Oh, and Taixu Jianzi is half of her!"

"Hahaha, that's wonderful! My Snow God Palace, with its millennia-long heritage, has finally ushered in a golden age!"

"."

"Is the popularity ranking updated?"

"The Seven Kill Fist Demon, ranked eighteenth in the Storm Riders!"

"Suspected to be a shadow of the Heavenly Net Sect, using the power of a Grandmaster to rival the pseudo-Celestial Beings!"

"Azure Dragon Prefecture of the Northern Frontier"

"."

The update to the Grandmaster Ranking swept across the four realms of the Great Qian Dynasty almost simultaneously.

From powerful families in various states, such as the Great Banner Sect and the Heavenly Martial Pavilion, to the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion and the Horizontal Mountain Sect, which span several or even more than ten states, and then to the Bicang County Prince's Mansion and the North Sea Merchant Alliance, whose influence extends to more than ten or even dozens of states. Even the dominant forces in a single region, such as the Snow God Palace, the Divine Water Palace, the Profound Gate, and the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

In addition, some truly renowned families across the land were also aware of the changes to the Grandmaster Ranking. These included the Zhe family in the North, the Ruan family in the South, the Jiang family in the East, and the Tang family in the Southwest.

In addition, various forces, large and small, were involved and all knew about this matter.

There is a legendary figure, Fengyun Laoguai, who has ascended to the Fengyun Grandmaster Ranking and possesses pseudo-celestial power!
Such events evoke different feelings depending on the level of power involved.

The power of a pseudo-celestial being, when viewed across a state or even several states, would make one an absolute behemoth. Holding sway over a region, their power would be unparalleled.

Let alone large or top-tier forces within each state, even dominant forces within each state would need to be extremely cautious about such news.

The region surrounding Canglong Prefecture, in particular, has taken this matter to the extreme.

Even top-tier forces that span several or even a dozen states need to maintain sufficient respect for an old monster on the Grandmaster Ranking.

Although such forces have martial arts celestial beings in charge, their overall numbers are extremely small. The true top leaders are mostly pseudo-celestial beings.

They naturally took this powerful old monster, who was capable of standing on their own, very seriously. Not to mention, this old monster also had a chance to advance further.

Under such circumstances, their attitude goes without saying.

At the level of power held by the Prince of Bicang's Mansion, the update of the Grandmaster Ranking was relatively met with less concern. However, even so, necessary investigation and attention were still unavoidable.

However, at the next level, the corresponding attention and importance will change. While not to the point of being disregarded, strictly speaking, the level of importance attached to it is steadily declining.

However, the talk of a decline is relative. Given the size and foundation of such a force, a little attention from them could attract countless people and create a huge wave.

Besides the various forces, the dynasty's direct violent agencies, such as the Zhenfu Division and the Qiankun Division, naturally collected the relevant information as soon as possible, compiled it into a book, established a secret file, and placed it in a special place according to the dossier.

Any subsequent updates will be verified and organized before being placed into a dedicated file.

Within the Zhenfu Division and the Qiankun Division, there are numerous similar case files. Each one, meticulously compiled and recorded, represents a true powerhouse who stirred up a storm in their region.

And now, this newly listed legendary old monster is also enjoying such treatment. It is personally kept by the First Realm Town Pacification Division and stored in the secret archives.

"The Seven Kill Fist Demon, ranked eighteenth on the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster List, once served under the rule of the Azure Dragon State in the Northern Territory."

The update of the Grandmaster Ranking and the inclusion of the Seven Kill Fist Demon on the list have attracted the attention of military forces in various regions, who have given it due importance.

However, the military is different from other forces; its overall management is more rigorous, and there has been no large-scale discussion or debate.

Western Border, Puppet Sect.

As a rising star in the art of puppetry, the Puppet Sect replaced the Thousand Machines Sect and took the lead. It has an extremely large influence and an extremely tight supporting network.

From puppet design, standardization, and assembly line production to on-site inspection, optimization, improvement, and cyclical review, the puppetry industry has its own set of rules and methods.

The Heavenly Craft Academy is one of the most important institutions within the Puppet Sect, besides the Puppet Pavilion and the Hundred Crafts Building.

The Tiangong Academy was bustling with activity. Puppet masters, who usually stayed at home and devoted themselves to their craft, were rarely seen today, but quite a few had come.

Their topic of discussion was, of course, the latest rankings of influential figures within the dynasty. However, they only discussed the Grandmaster Ranking for a short while, treating it more as a pastime.

They spent most of their time monitoring the recent activities of the Five Poisons Sect. As powerful regional forces, the Puppet Sect and the Five Poisons Sect had many entanglements. Consequently, their respective industrial and supply chains intersected, creating a degree of trade friction.

However, the Five Poisons Sect primarily supplies poisons, including poisonous herbs, poisonous techniques, poisonous liquids, and poisonous pills. The Puppet Sect, on the other hand, produces puppets with varying effects. These include standard puppets and custom-made puppets. Furthermore, they even produce some special types of puppets that are not openly discussed.

While there may seem to be no conflict between the two, in reality, from a business perspective, there are often cross-border hedging and substitution.

While poisonous plants and venom are used to save lives, some mechanical puppets can achieve the same effect to a certain extent. Moreover, these puppets have a wider range of functions.

Although the conflict is not too far apart, the industries are so large and the two sides are geographically adjacent that friction often occurs.

"The incident at Panlong Mountain hasn't been resolved yet, and now they've pulled this stunt again. The Five Poisons Sect is going too far!"

"Elite disciples exchanging skills! No restrictions on methods? Do you really think my Puppet Sect has no one to rely on?"

"."

Inside the Heavenly Crafts Academy, puppet masters of various styles discussed among themselves. Some were relatively normal, while others had undergone basic body modifications, their puppet flesh and blood fused together. Even more extreme were those who had replaced all their replaceable joints and organs, making them appear neither human nor ghost, utterly terrifying.

However, those present were clearly already used to it. The occasional flashes of crimson light during the conversation were also commonplace.

Within the puppetry sect, there are many different paths. Some follow the orthodox path of puppet control, while others advocate combining martial arts and puppetry. Still others promote the idea that flesh and blood are weak and that puppets can ascend to immortality.

Numerous factions emerged, a hundred schools of thought contended, and there were signs of great prosperity.

Many within the Heavenly Craft Academy were filled with righteous indignation, while others were eager to humiliate the Five Poisons Sect. They arrived full of enthusiasm, only to leave disappointed.

"What? Dugu Yiren is coming too!"

But when they heard that Dugu Yiren was also coming, many of them fell silent.

The Five Poisons Sect's current Holy Maiden, Dugu Yiren, possesses a body naturally endowed with ten thousand poisons. Her poisons spread throughout the land, and even the elite disciples of their Puppet Sect find it extremely difficult to resist.

Apart from the secret prodigies who specialize in physical transformation, who might have a chance to put up a fight, no one else is even qualified to stand in front of her!
The Thousand Machines Sect, the Heavenly Pivot Tower.

"Those old guys from the Puppet Sect are going to have a lot of trouble."

"Who would have thought that a simple conversation would lead to Dugu Yiren's passing!"

"That poisonous woman! Not to mention their younger disciples, even I, an old man, would be wary of her if I saw her."

"You old fool, who told you not to take the path of reform? I've told you so many times, flesh and blood are weak and frail, only my puppet can reign supreme!"

"Come on, look at you, neither human nor ghost. I'd rather be poisoned to death than live like this!"

"You're just a sour grapes. Look at my modified Qilin Arm, enhanced with central energy. One strike can shatter a giant mountain! Can you do that?"

"What's so remarkable about smashing a giant mountain? My otherworldly puppet, once fully charged, is enough to break through the defenses of a celestial being!"

"."

During their exchange, the two old masters had a minor disagreement. This disagreement wasn't based on hatred, but rather on differences in their technical philosophies. Their argument was both a friendly exchange and a way to relax and unwind.

No one around them tried to stop him.

However, their long argument ultimately delayed the meeting. After a while, a voice rang out, dissuading the two from speaking out.

"Alright, you two, stop arguing. You're both old, yet you act like hotheads. We didn't call everyone here to listen to your bickering."

The room gradually quieted down, and the person in charge of the meeting raised the agenda.

Should the Thousand Machines Sect intervene in this exchange of elite disciples?
Although there is a rift between them and the Puppet Sect, they are ultimately of the same origin. This test will determine whether they should show themselves and offer mutual support.

The Five Poisons Sect is powerful and has repeatedly tested us. If we do not act swiftly, we risk being misjudged.

By then, their momentum will be so great that they won't be able to stop it just because they want to.

If they don't take action, there are reasons and justifications.

Their Thousand Machines Sect had dominated the field of puppetry for three thousand years, but recently it has been surpassed by the Puppet Sect. Many of the old guys in the sect are not happy about this phenomenon.

Now that we have this opportune moment, should we take advantage of the Five Poisons Sect to suppress the Puppet Sect? Then, when the time is right, we can mediate and achieve two goals at once.

Similar discussions continued for a long time within the Thousand Machines Sect. After everything was settled, the Puppet Master sighed in admiration.

"The Southwest Exchange Program is coming soon, and things will be much more serious than these small-scale skirmishes now!"

Blood Prison Gate, Blood Sea Demon Palace.

"Young Master, the Ranking of Grandmasters has been updated!"

A man in a blood-red robe strode into the main hall of the Demon Palace and respectfully reported.

At the head of the table was a young man in a blood-red robe with gold patterns, his face cold and sinister.

"Oh? Report it here!"

"Yes!" The man in the blood-red robe raised his sleeve, and a crystalline light screen appeared in front of him.

As he appeared, the man in the blood-red robe gave a detailed report.

"In the battle of Canglong Prefecture City, a mysterious old monster repelled the Canglong Prefecture Garrison with a single punch."

"Alright, no need to say any more. This young master understands." Before the man in the blood-robed robe could finish speaking, Yin Shangjin interrupted him.

"Yes, young master." The man in the blood-red robe replied respectfully, without the slightest dissatisfaction.

"Ranked eighteenth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking?" Yin Shangjin's expression was sinister as he tapped the massive throne made of blood jade. "Pseudo-celestial power, interesting!"

boom!
Yin Shangjin's gold-patterned blood-red robe billowed, his hair danced wildly, revealing an extremely handsome face that was both sinister and alluring.

"Blood Sea Prison Suppression Technique, reached minor success. Will definitely be in the top eight in the next Hidden Dragon update!"

Yin Shangjin's laughter was sinister, arrogant and unrestrained. Behind him, numerous phantoms appeared, like a sea of ​​blood churning.

Although the Tianluo Sect had not accepted the previous marriage proposal, recent signs suggest they are now interested. It's just a matter of time before they agree.

If that's the case, then he'll add fuel to the fire, ascend to the top eight of the Hidden Dragons with unparalleled prowess, offer the right to explore the Netherworld Secret Realm as a gift, form an alliance, and marry the contemporary Holy Maiden!

"Qu Feiyan"

Yin Shangjin's smile was unrestrained, his pupils glowing with an eerie crimson light, revealing a greedy and thirsty intent.

"It is said that the Holy Maiden of Tianluo possesses the Taiyin Body. I wonder if, with your nourishment, it can help this young master ascend to the realm of martial arts immortality!"

The Blood Sea Prison Suppression Technique excels in group battles; if one reaches the Celestial Realm, one can rival a thousand troops.

On the sheer cliffs, above the cloud-shrouded peaks, a sea of ​​clouds rolls and swirls, like a thin veil being drawn up, or like a raging torrent.

Beneath the ancient pine tree, an old man with white hair sat cross-legged.

The surrounding area is filled with jagged, strangely shaped rocks, their color a pale blue, weathered by wind, frost, snow, and rain.

call out!
A streak of light flashed, cutting through the sea of ​​clouds, and landed steadily in the old man's hand, transforming into a piece of simple jade.

The old man slightly opened his eyes, raised his hand and waved it, scattering the jade stones on the ground.

"Mundane rankings are utterly boring!"

"My lord, Leiming has arrived!" came Xiong Sanrang's respectful voice from outside the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Chen Pingan slowly opened his eyes, lifted the curtain, and looked at the majestic city not far away. His expression was calm and undisturbed.

Thunder City
He was away from the city for more than two months, and the situation in Leiming changed so quickly that it really caught everyone off guard.

just
Now that he's back, all the evil spirits should finally settle down!

If it doesn't interfere with his cultivation, everyone will be fine. But since someone is determined to push things along and affect the overall situation, then don't blame him for being ruthless!
The thunderous sky needs a change.

The carriage drove into the city, thundering outside, but no one came to greet it.

(End of this chapter)