I tricked you into thinking you had the makings of an emperor, but you actually did it?

"Your waist is also eight feet?"

The people on Jinque Island sensed that something was amiss.

"Senior brother, don't joke around. How can someone have an eight-foot waist?" Li Nan said sweetly.

She may not be as beautiful as the stunning beauties of the Northern Region, but she has a sweet, round face, large, bright eyes, a straight nose, and a gentle temperament.

She could tell from these words that the senior brother in front of her had a good relationship with Xuan Tianzi, otherwise he wouldn't have teased her like that.

"Does the Xuan Emperor intend to participate in this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking?" Li Nan asked.

Before Shen Ming could speak, a young disciple from Jinque Island approached and said with a smile, "Senior Sister, no matter how capable Xuan Tianzi is, he can't catch up to the sixth level of the Yuantai Realm in half a year."

This statement was not meant to be derogatory; for the disciple, it was simply a statement of fact.

If Shen Ming participates in this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking, he won't just aim for the top ten or top three; he'll aim to secure first place!

To be on the safe side, one's cultivation level should reach the sixth level of the Yuantai Realm.

According to those who attended the Xuan Tian Grand Ceremony that day, the Xuan Tianzi was at the Divine Treasury Realm.

“But…” Li Nan frowned, hesitating to speak.

"What's wrong?" Shen Ming asked, quite curious.

“Some people say that Shen Ming conspired with Xiao Xitian to kill Zhou Mutian in order to get the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Now that Zhou Mutian is dead, he can’t fight again. If Xuan Tianzi gives up on this year’s Hidden Dragon Ranking, many people will question it, especially those who admire Zhou Mutian,” Yang An said.

"The Hidden Dragon Ranking aligns with the Heavenly Dao, and being listed on it proves that the competition was fair and just! Furthermore, it signifies the Heavenly Dao's approval that Xuan Tianzi can steadily cultivate to the sixth level of the Yuantai Realm," Li Nan said.

In a world where the strong are respected, everyone admires the strong and has someone to worship.

Zhou Mutian used to be ranked first on the Hidden Dragon List, with countless admirers. His current predicament has left many feeling indignant.

Of course, there are also people like Li Nan who believe that a loss is a loss.

Zhou Mutianren is dead, so what else is there to say?

"Are these things being debated all over the Northern Region now?" Shen Ming asked curiously.

He rarely went out and was kept out of touch with the world.

The group from Jinque Island nodded. If you were to ask what the most discussed topic in the Northern Region is right now, it would be the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Zhou Mutian is dead. Li Wentian and Tantai Jin, the third and fourth ranked candidates on the Hidden Dragon List, are working as laborers and mine slaves for the Xuantian Sect and are ineligible to participate in this year's Hidden Dragon List.

If Shen Ming doesn't participate, half of the top five spots on the Hidden Dragon Ranking will be vacant, and countless people are eager to try their luck.

Shen Ming's heart stirred, and he said, "He will participate in this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking."

"Really?" Li Nan's eyes widened, filled with excitement.

The others found it hard to believe; unlike Li Nan, they didn't idolize him and naturally wondered how the Xuan Tianzi could have reached that level in just six months.

Li Nan's first reaction was that since the Emperor Xuan was participating, he must be confident.

"Has he broken through to the Yuantai Realm yet?" Li Nan asked curiously.

Shen Ming extended a finger and placed it on the mouth area of ​​the mask.

"understand."

Li Nan nodded repeatedly and asked no more questions.

Yang An, standing nearby, pondered that the Xuan Tian Sect had fewer than ten members who could rank among the top thirty on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Those people were all familiar faces in the Northern Region, so they didn't need to wear masks.

Upon hearing that he knew so much about the Xuan Emperor, Yang An couldn't help but wonder if he was Shen Ming!

"Impossible! The Xuan Tian Grand Ceremony ended less than a month ago, and this person is already at the third level! Judging from his move just now, he had two golden Yuan Platforms!" Yang An shook his head, denying his guess.

Even someone hanging themselves needs to catch their breath; no one can break through to a higher realm so quickly!

Just as they were speaking, the people from Jinque Island opened the door to the treasure room.

"Sir, how about we split it 30/70?" Yang An said.

They each took 30%, while Shen Ming took 70%—this was an unspoken rule among cultivators in the Northern Region.

Without Shen Ming, their fate would be uncertain.

But if they take nothing, it would be unfair to their fellow disciples who died or were injured.

"can."

Shen Ming wasn't one to nitpick. He saved the group from Jinque Island, but without Jinque Island holding back the Ten Absolute Sect, he wouldn't have gotten his hands on this treasure room.

Yang An felt relieved; he had just used a tone of seeking instructions.

If Shen Ming didn't agree and said he wanted it all, the group from Jinque Island would have no choice but to slink away with their tails between their legs.

That's how cruel the world of monks is.

"Thank you, senior brother!"

Li Nan narrowed his eyes into crescent shapes, becoming increasingly certain that this senior brother had a close relationship with Xuan Tianzi.

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.

Upon entering the treasure room, Shen Ming activated his Eye of Truth, while Li Nan, who was walking ahead, felt a chill creep across his skin for some reason.

Having confirmed that the treasure room was safe, Shen Ming put away his Eye of Truth.

Once you've mastered the "Origin Book," you'll always possess the Eye of Truth without needing to activate it.

Shen Ming wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not; imagining everyone without clothes was just too much to bear.

This Taoist sect's cultivation method is truly despicable!

……

Meanwhile, the out-of-control Taiichi Sword Maru is causing quite a bit of trouble in the treasure vault.

This sword pellet possesses sentience and specifically seeks out young sword cultivators to perform sword dances.

The so-called sword dance is to make the sword cultivator catch up with the sword speed, so that the two sword beams resonate and achieve harmony.

Nobody knows what the benefits are in doing it, because nobody does it.

Lin Tianyi of the Taihao Sword Sect appeared on the fourth floor of the treasure vault and found a group of disciples in a secret treasure room.

These disciples were crowding around one person, anxiously pacing back and forth.

"Sword Master!"

Seeing Lin Tianyi appear, they finally found their backbone.

Lin Tianyi noticed that the treasure room was covered with scratches left by sword pellets, and he also recognized that the disciple who was recuperating and healing was a genius sword cultivator from their sect.

Xue Fei is at the sixth level of the Yuantai Realm, the seventh level of the Sword Heart Clarity Realm, and ranked sixteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

"what happened?"

"Sword Master, a flying sword suddenly appeared just now and won't let go of Senior Brother Xue Fei..."

After listening to his disciple's description, Lin Tianyi knew that the sword spirit was searching for its master!

"Sword Master, it's too fast, I can't keep up."

Xue Fei could not hide his dejection. As one of the best sword cultivators of his generation, he had never been so devastated as he had just been.

He could even feel the sword pellet mocking him as it left!

A similar thing happened on the Demonic Sect's side. Nie Qing of the Wusheng Sword Sect chased after the sword pellet and found his disciple.

Jing Wuming, sixth level of Sword Heart Clarity.

Demonic cultivators do not compete for the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and Jing Wuming has no ranking.

His strength even surpasses that of Xue Fei of the Taihao Sword Sect.

"Master, that sword pellet is acting like it's gone mad! No one at the third level of the Innate Realm can subdue it!"

Jing Wuming gritted his teeth, still bearing the sword wounds inflicted by the Taiyi Sword Pill.

He failed in his sword dance earlier and tried to forcefully refine a sword pellet, but his cultivation was insufficient and he almost lost his life.

……

Shen Ming and the disciples of Jinque Island ransacked the treasure room.

Suddenly, he seemed to be deep in thought and looked up at the wall.

The walls of the Taiyi Treasure Vault are made of a special material, resembling both iron and stone, and are thick and solid.

But now, a small hole appeared in the wall, and the next second, a golden sword light suddenly appeared, carrying a mysterious and violent power.

The sword pellet was surrounded by a golden light so intense that it was blinding.

Like a wild horse that has broken free, it roams freely in the air.

Huge holes appeared in the walls, countless scratches appeared on the dome, and debris fell like raindrops.