Chapter 375 - 218: Rank 72 on the Hidden Dragon List

Chapter 375: Chapter 218: Rank 72 on the Hidden Dragon List

"So, who is this big shot you’re talking about?"

"I heard it’s the King of Pingxi..."

"What? The King of Pingxi was really resurrected by the Demon Sect Saintess?"

"Are you crazy? Why are you shouting?! I wasn’t finished. It’s the King of Pingxi’s daughter! The one who came to observe the tournament between the two sects last time!"

"Which one? Weren’t there a few young ladies who came?"

"Ugh, the prettiest one!"

The disciples nearby all went, "Ohhh."

"So that was Princess Pingxi. No wonder, no wonder."

"As expected of the daughter of the most beautiful woman of her time. Hiss... She might be even more beautiful than her mother was!"

"What? Princess Pingxi’s power has already surpassed the Demon Sect Saintess’s?"

"...Is there something wrong with you?"

"Weren’t we talking about power? What does a woman’s beauty have to do with me practicing my sword three times a day?"

"Actually, there is a connection. It can affect the speed of your sword practice... But there’s no point explaining that to someone like you, who wishes he could hug his sword until it turns into Miss Sword Spirit. Forget it. What I was trying to say is that the elders are reminding anyone going down the mountain recently to be a little careful and not get caught up in the ’battle of gods’ down below."

"Is that so? Every time I go down, I feel like the world below is too complicated. I just want to go back to Cloud Mountain," a simple-minded disciple dedicated solely to the Sword Dao lamented.

But others were curious.

"Why has it suddenly gotten so chaotic? Things were fine not too long ago."

"I heard it’s a bloodbath sparked by a County Magistrate’s head..."

"County Magistrate... head? Are you talking about the Wu River County Magistrate being beheaded at the Yu County Magistrate’s Office?"

"That’s right, that’s the one. One small move affects the whole situation. I heard it involves factional strife, noble families, and major cases. The politics in Yunzhou are incredibly complex; the details are beyond what people like us on the mountain could possibly know."

"It’s that Xie Yuan again... That official-killing madman. He’s gotten addicted to it. Even the Spring Rain Building can’t do anything about him."

This news had already spread a few days ago, and all the nosy disciples knew about it.

"A fiend like that roaming Cloud Mountain is a menace to the common people. Maybe I should go and get rid of him!"

"Get rid of Xie Yuan? You?" one disciple said disbelievingly.

The other disciple immediately retorted, unconvinced, "What’s wrong with me?"

"It seems you haven’t heard the latest news," the first disciple said faintly.

"What news? Did he achieve the rank of Grandmaster?" the second disciple said sarcastically, annoyed.

"Not a Grandmaster, but he might be close."

The disciple paused.

"In the latest issue of the Hidden Dragon List, Xie Yuan is ranked seventy-second."

"What?"

"For real?"

"Holy shit?"

The last exclamation came from Xie Yuan.

He had been listening out of boredom as he walked, his foot already on the stone steps leading down the mountain. He suddenly froze, then scrambled back up—THUMP THUMP THUMP—and got right in front of the speaker.

"Senior Brother, is that for real?"

Seeing that even Zhang Shan, who never joined in on idle chatter, had come over, the others were a bit surprised. The senior brother still answered kindly.

"It’s real. I saw the latest issue of the Hidden Dragon List with my own eyes. Senior Brother Qin’s rank hasn’t changed, and the last name on the list is Xie Yuan. The reason given for his entry is ’Worked with an associate to slay a Celestial Tier Assassin from the Autumn Wind Building’..."

"What???"

"Xie Yuan killed a Celestial Tier Assassin?"

"Hiss..."

"Um, a Celestial Tier Assassin is at the Qi Blood Third Transformation Realm, right?"

That disciple said gravely, "Correct. And not just any Third Transformation Realm expert."

The group looked at each other, too shocked by the news to speak.

The Hidden Dragon List had always been credible. No matter how absurd the reason for an entry seemed, it would always be proven true later.

But this time, they couldn’t help but question the authority of the Spring Rain Building.

"A Second Transformation Realm expert killing a Third Transformation Realm expert... Am I crazy, or is the Spring Rain Building crazy?"

"Who said Xie Yuan is in the Second Transformation Realm?" someone said faintly. "He was only at the External Training stage not long ago."

"So are you saying he’s in the First Transformation Realm? And he killed someone two realms above him? Or is he in the Third Transformation Realm, meaning he didn’t skip realms but just broke through three entire realms in a single year?"

No one spoke. None of the possibilities seemed remotely plausible.

"Maybe his partner was just that strong. Didn’t it say they ’worked together’? I heard a rumor that it was Princess Pingxi."

"Well, that would explain it... But are those two together now? Why did it have to be ’worked together’?! Damn it!"

"I really hate it! Such a beautiful girl, joining hands with a wanted criminal..."

"Bad boys attract young girls, you know. But I also heard that the two officials Xie Yuan killed were both corrupt. Maybe... he had his reasons..."

The group got sidetracked for a moment before returning to the original topic.

"So, it seems Xie Yuan is in the Second Transformation Realm... Is that for real?" a disciple exclaimed once more.

Anyone who paid even a little attention to Xie Yuan would know his cultivation speed was simply astonishing.

The crowd fell silent. The senior brother looked at the dazed Xie Yuan beside him and asked, "Junior Brother Zhang, are you also interested in Xie Yuan?"

"Ah... huh? Ah, well..."

"...What’s wrong with your voice, Junior Brother Zhang?"

"...It’s nothing. Something came up at home. I have to go."

The others watched Xie Yuan hurry away again and exchanged glances.

"Looks like Xie Yuan’s excellence has motivated Junior Brother Zhang, too."

"Don’t say that. He’s already diligent enough. If he gets any more diligent, I won’t be able to take it."

"Same here."

"It’s all Xie Yuan’s fault!"

"Why not just blame Junior Brother Zhang directly?"

"How can you blame someone for working hard... Fine, let’s just blame them both."

"Hey, are you still going to get rid of Xie Yuan and bring clear skies back to the political world of Yunzhou?"

"Forget it. He’s an expert on the Hidden Dragon List; I can’t beat him. Forget Xie Yuan, I can’t even beat Junior Brother Zhang."

"But if my cultivation reaches the Second Transformation Realm, I might want to give it a try..."

Xie Yuan descended the peak in a daze. He went to the Library Pavilion first, and there he saw the latest issue of the Hidden Dragon List. Sure enough, his name was on it.

His expression was complicated. He put down the list and sighed, ’This is definitely Su Xing’s doing. He’s really screwed me over!’

The Martial Artists on the Hidden Dragon List were the focus of the entire world.

Most Martial Artists yearned for fame and glory. As the saying goes, "In martial arts, there is no second place." When they saw the names on the list, almost all of them would want to test their skills against them.

’If others can make a name for themselves, why can’t I?’

Therefore, the Martial Artists on the Hidden Dragon List were constantly challenged by those ranked below them, all hoping to take their place.

And the one most likely to be challenged was, naturally, the very last rank: number seventy-two. It was the easiest spot to get onto the list.

At the same time, it was also the easiest spot to be knocked off of.

The name at number seventy-two was different in almost every issue.

Xie Yuan’s expression was complex. ’That guy’s intentions are just too obvious.’

’He wants every Martial Artist in the world to notice me, to look for me, to pick fights with me and expose my identity.’

Suddenly becoming such a hot commodity, a normal Martial Artist would likely find there was no place left for them to stand in the vast martial world.

’Luckily, I’m Zhang Shan right now...’

Xie Yuan shook his head, resolving that he absolutely could not reveal his identity as Xie Yuan before a new Hidden Dragon List was released. Otherwise, he would be facing endless trouble.

’Anyway, for the seventy-second rank, as long as there’s any change above me, I’ll be knocked off easily...’

’Wait a minute. They’re the ones who make the list. They wouldn’t just nail my name to that spot, would they?’

Xie Yuan had initially thought it would only be for a short while, but now that the thought occurred to him, the more he considered it, the more likely it seemed.

’This...’

His expression flickered between light and dark, a sense of helplessness washing over him.

’Forget it, forget it. If I have to be Zhang Shan, then I’ll be Zhang Shan.’

’But if one day, I have to face an endless stream of challenges...’

A sudden tremor went through Xie Yuan’s heart.

’That doesn’t sound so bad, actually.’

Although being "tricked" onto the list left him feeling helpless, an imperceptible flame ignited in Xie Yuan’s heart.

He had heard about the Hidden Dragon List long ago. Countless Martial Artists threw themselves into the fray for it, all for the sake of fame, glory, and a place among its ranks.

Making the list meant you were a prodigy. Being knocked off meant you weren’t worthy. It was practically the Great Li’s roll of honor for its young experts.

A long time ago, Xie Yuan had also dreamed of crossing swords with the experts on the list, earning a spot and never falling off, all to prove his own Martial Dao.

But now, he had suddenly made the list. Although the Spring Rain Building’s malicious intent was plain to see, since they wanted him on it, he was on it...

’So what if I just stay on it?’

Xie Yuan looked at the list, at the seventy-one names above his, and his eyes gradually narrowed.

’You put me on the list, and I’m on it.’

’But if you want me off... it might not be so easy.’