Chapter 441 368: The State Realm is Shaken, the Dragon-Tiger Ranking is Updated

The moment the words were spoken, the scene fell silent. It dawned on many of them—that's right, Miss Qi had never cared about the so-called Rising Star Chart!

...

First on the Rising Star Chart, Gu Qingcheng.

Second on the Rising Star Chart, Wang Siyuan.

Third on the Rising Star Chart, Lan Yingjun.

Fourth on the Rising Star Chart, Xue Zirou.

Fifth on the Rising Star Chart, Chen Ping'an.

Sixth on the Rising Star Chart...

Inside the Canglong Province Garrison Command, Gu Haoqing flipped through the latest issue of the Rising Star Chart. He had long since reached the Grandmaster Realm and was past the stage of following such rankings. However, due to his position, he still paid close attention to the Rising Star Chart for Canglong Province.

Gu Haoqing read it meticulously, turning the pages one by one to review their ages, battle records, and descriptions of their cultivation techniques.

When he saw Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun, Gu Haoqing's gaze paused for a moment. Among the top ten on the Rising Star Chart, Lan Yingjun was the youngest.

After passing Lan Yingjun's entry, Gu Haoqing continued to read on.

"Fifth on the Rising Star Chart, Mang Blade Chen Ping'an!" A faint smile touched Gu Haoqing's lips. 'He certainly rose quickly!'

'I started keeping an eye on this Chen Ping'an relatively early. It seems he truly hasn't disappointed me.'

'So young, yet his Martial Arts Realm has already reached Profound Light Middle Realm Perfection, and his combat prowess rivals that of top-level experts. With such talent, he might even have a shot at the Grandmaster Realm in the future!'

'Fifth on the Rising Star Chart at twenty-two. He still has eight years to climb to a higher rank! Barring any accidents, he should have a chance to claim the top spot before he ages off the list. Just like Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun, he is a true, peerless genius. Tying a prodigy like him to the Gu Family's cause would be a great fortune for us! It's just... in that case, the marriage candidate we originally selected for him is a bit... unsuitable now.'

According to Gu Haoqing's previous assessment, Chen Ping'an's talent was considerable, but he was still a step shy of being a true peerless genius. Thus, when selecting a marriage candidate, he had chosen someone from the Gu Family's direct lineage, but one whose overall standing wasn't particularly high. Now, however, Chen Ping'an was showing the potential to become a Grandmaster, which made the previously chosen candidate unsuitable.

'This has become a bit troublesome,' Gu Haoqing mused, considering new candidates for the marriage alliance.

Although the Gu Family was large and prosperous, with branches spreading far and wide, it was no simple task to select a suitable marriage candidate on the spot. There were simply too many details and factors from every angle to consider.

The candidate had to be from the Gu Family's direct lineage, a young woman of suitable age, and not already betrothed. On top of that, various political and financial entanglements had to be considered.

With so many limiting factors, Gu Haoqing couldn't immediately think of a suitable candidate.

'Actually, if Chen Ping'an's talent were a bit more monstrous, Qingcheng would undoubtedly be an excellent candidate.'

Prince Bicang, Ji Changkong, had once publicly expressed his admiration for Gu Qingcheng with a performance of "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix," a matter known throughout the entire State Realm.

But to this day, the Gu Family had never mentioned a marriage contract. This was because the majority of the Gu Family's real power elders were unwilling to let Qingcheng marry Ji Changkong.

It wasn't that Ji Changkong wasn't outstanding or that his status as a Prince wasn't noble enough. Rather, the matter involved grand political gambits and factional strife with far-reaching consequences. If they were to rashly get involved, the slightest misstep could spell ruin for the Gu Family.

Although Prince Bicang, Ji Changkong, was applying immense pressure, he also faced resistance from within the Prince Manor, so he was unable to force the issue for the time being.

When the very continuation of the Gu Family was at stake, any decision had to be made with extreme caution; they could not rashly place their bets.

Prince Bicang, Ji Changkong, was using the marriage proposal as a pretext to force the Gu Family to pick a side. But at this moment, the Gu Family had no desire to do so.

Or rather, they didn't want to pick a side so quickly.

But refusing to choose would mean completely severing ties with Ji Changkong's faction.

For the Gu Family, the best solution was to find a suitable candidate and marry Qingcheng off beforehand. As long as the chosen person was exceptional enough, they could silence any public dissent.

While this would certainly offend Ji Changkong's faction, having another candidate would act as a buffer, preventing a complete falling-out. It would be an ugly situation, but where interests align, there would always be room for future reconciliation.

For a moment, Gu Haoqing let his thoughts wander.

'What a pity. Although this young man, Chen Ping'an, is excellent, he's still a long way from being the ideal candidate. Otherwise, I could have proposed the marriage alliance to the family and pushed for it to happen!'

Gu Qingcheng's status was special; the matter of her marriage was not something Gu Haoqing could decide on his own. Therefore, even if he were inclined to do so, he would need to report it to the Clan Elders Hall for their joint deliberation.

'Such matters concerning the family's grand trajectory are not for me to resolve with impatience. Rather than letting my thoughts drift, I should focus on the present, handle my duties, and contribute what little I can to the family.'

With that thought, Gu Haoqing's mind settled, and he continued to look through the rest of the prodigies on the list.

After a good while, Gu Haoqing finally finished reading about the one hundred prodigies on the latest Rising Star Chart.

After finishing the Rising Star Chart, Gu Haoqing put the booklet down. At that moment, another booklet lay quietly on the long table. Written on its cover in shimmering golden script were four large words: Daqian Dragon and Tiger Chart!

Compared to the Rising Star Chart, which was updated every three months, the Daqian Dragon and Tiger Chart was updated far less frequently.

The Daqian Dragon and Tiger Chart was updated once a year and recorded the Martial Arts Masters within the Daqian Dynasty's territory who stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Profound Light High Realm.

Looking at the booklet, the contents of the Dragon and Tiger Chart surfaced in Gu Haoqing's mind.

Compared to the Dragon and Tiger Chart of previous years, this year's updated list was quite different.

Generally speaking, the top fifty masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart rarely changed. It was common for their rankings to remain static for years. A master at this level was practically equivalent to a Grandmaster. Even if those ranked lower wished to issue a challenge, success was not so easily achieved.

But in this edition of the Dragon and Tiger Chart, an anomaly had appeared. This person had gone from never being on the chart to rocketing toward the top in just a few battles.

Near Red Maple Mountain on the outskirts of the Long'an Trade Route, he killed Cao Yingxiong, a Silver Gong Qiankun Envoy from the Weishui Qiankun Bureau.

In Beicang Town, he annihilated Iron Tower Demon Luo, a master from the Rising Dragon Dao who was ranked 279th on the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

After annihilating Iron Tower Demon Luo, he engaged in a fierce battle with Gai Zijie of the Meridian Cyan Light Sword. The tyrannical combat power he displayed during the fight scared off this master, who was ranked 39th on the Dragon and Tiger Chart. So hasty was Gai Zijie's retreat that he was even forced to abandon his newly acquired Quasi-Divine Weapon, the Profound Ice Silk Armor.

Following this series of intense battles, and while not at his peak strength, he fought and heavily injured Lan Yingying of the Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm.

...

According to the written account, the combat prowess this man displayed was so immense that even Gu Haoqing, who had long since become a Grandmaster, couldn't help but be taken aback.

Furious Vajra, also known as Dragon Elephant Vajra. Cultivates the Horizontal Divine Skill Training, the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill. Also cultivates the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger, a Finger Technique that specializes in breaking Hard Skills. In battle, he revealed some of the divine wonders of the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique, and is suspected to have reached the entry level with the divine skill... Possibly connected to the Mountain Elder, a Dragon and Tiger Chart master who disappeared many years ago...

Dragon and Tiger Chart Ranking...

Seventeenth!

A ranking of this level was something that even a true Grandmaster would have to treat with caution.

Most importantly, the combat power Furious Vajra displayed was entirely his own, not reliant on external items. Now that he had obtained the Quasi-Divine Weapon, the Profound Ice Silk Armor, his strength would surely rise again if he were to spend some time on its sacrificial refinement and nurturing.

Gu Haoqing could see clearly that the man had achieved this rank entirely through his own raw power, unlike some masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart who were overly reliant on Divine Weapons and Treasure Artifacts.

Given the Finger Technique he had displayed, if he were to obtain a finger guard-type Quasi-Divine Weapon, his Power of Attack and Destruction would skyrocket. Combined with the Profound Ice Silk Armor and his Protective Divine Skill, he might even be able to contend for a top-three spot on the Dragon and Tiger Chart!

'A master of this caliber... if he could break through the Jade Balance Pass and step into the Grandmaster Realm, the sheer strength of his combat power would be almost unimaginable!'

Considering the techniques the man had revealed, Gu Haoqing made a mental comparison. If this man were to step into the Grandmaster Realm, Gu Haoqing would have no confidence in being able to defeat him. And that was despite... having been immersed in the Grandmaster Realm for a hundred years himself!

Gu Haoqing, wielder of the Vast Righteous Qi Sword—his swordsmanship had long since reached a sublime level of mastery. In battle, his sword light weaved like a shuttle, his sword shadows layered one upon another, and his Sword Intent flowed without end. His combat power was considered top-tier among those in the Early Jade Balance Stage.