[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 18th Place: Ying Bing.]
[Martial Arts: Attained the Second Aperture of Divine Insight, Sword Heart Bright as Mirror, mastery of martial arts reaching the pinnacle of creation, possesses formidable secret techniques, suspected to have glimpsed divine forms.]
[Achievements: Current top disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, Yunzhou’s Sword Prodigy. In the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, joined forces with Li Mo to repel Han Zhen and Yin Huaxuan, forcing their retreat. Defeated the Heavenly Demoness while at the First Aperture of Divine Insight, despite her being at the Third Aperture. Comprehended a divine technique by studying a mystical stone atop the Sword Tower. At the Second Aperture, shattered the Heavenly Demon’s illusions with her sword.]
[Titles: Moonlit Sword Phoenix, Frost Immortal]
The lakeside at Yulong fell silent. The earlier clamor about inviting "Young Li" to be a son-in-law had completely died down.
No one alive had ever witnessed someone so young receive such high praise from the Yantian Sect. To find a comparable figure, one would have to dig through the annals of legendary heroes.
The crowd realized they might be witnessing history in the making.
"I’m past fifty and haven’t even mastered a single supreme technique, yet her martial arts have reached the pinnacle of creation?"
"I was fortunate enough to hear her lecture at the Sword Pool. I bent down to pick up a brush, and when I looked up, I couldn’t understand a word anymore."
"She’s only at the Second Aperture of Divine Insight. Once her cultivation catches up, won’t she easily claim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"
"The fact that she’s repeatedly humbled Yin Mianmian, ranked 6th, speaks volumes about her prowess."
"If not for her and Young Master Li, the treasured sword of Hengyun Sword City might have been lost!"
"I thought The Domineering Empress Falls for Me was just an illustrated book. Turns out, it was an understatement."
"Anyone got the latest issue? I haven’t been able to buy it for three days—I feel like ants are crawling under my skin."
"Wait a minute… Young Master Li brings luck to his partner, and Ying Bing’s talent is unparalleled. If the two of them were to…"
……
The scene at Yulong Lake descended into chaos.
---
Atop the towering Sword Tower in Hengyun Sword City, one could vaguely glimpse the Dragon Gate in the distance—though for certain powerhouses, such a distance posed no obstacle to a clear view.
Tian Miao sat at a stone table, sipping a bowl of blood-nourishing soup made from dragonhide gelatin, lost in thought.
Though she couldn’t discern the young man’s fate, the Yantian Sect’s intelligence network wasn’t solely reliant on field agents—there were other sources.
From what the Yantian Sect had gathered, the Hidden Dragon Ranking’s description of Li Mo was deliberately understated.
It hadn’t even mentioned the term "Yinghuo" (Mars/Ill Omen).
What was her master considering with this move?
"Many thanks, Envoy Tian Miao."
Elder Xu, a white-haired elder, finally let out a sigh of relief.
The treasured sword inscription had been preserved.
"Thanks for what?"
Tian Miao, her complexion slightly improved, glanced up in confusion.
Another elderly Dharma Body Elder hesitated.
"Well… about that lad comprehending the mystical stone…"
"……"
Tian Miao was baffled. She’d passed out from the backlash of her fate-reading technique and had no idea what happened afterward.
What exactly had he comprehended?
After a pause, she smiled faintly.
"No need for thanks. It was only natural."
---
Inside a lavish pleasure boat, rumors of a new courtesan—graceful, enchanting, and innately alluring—had drawn some away from the Hidden Dragon Ranking spectacle, hoping to become her favored guest.
Melodious strings and pipes filled the air.
The audience in the courtyard gradually fell into a daze, as if celestial maidens had descended, weaving a dream of tender passion.
Then, someone struck first—and soon, they were brawling, blood splattering.
The madam, seemingly accustomed to such scenes, stepped behind a folding screen.
"Saintess, Xu Yi still hasn’t sent word."
"He’s likely dead. It seems that boy is determined to sever ties with the Misty Rain Pavilion."
No reply came for a long while, and the madam dared not press further.
The Saintess had twice been reduced to a mere backdrop, and in Yunzhou, the Misty Rain Pavilion’s reputation had suffered greatly, its once-feared aura all but gone.
If there were stocks involved, they’d be plummeting—desperately in need of some positive news…
After a lengthy silence, Yin Mianmian finally spoke as if snapping out of a trance:
"Then revise the bounty. Raise it tenfold."
"As you command."
---
[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 17th Place: He Jinhuan.]
[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 16th Place: Hui Kong.]
……
The Hidden Dragon Ranking continued to flash name after name of rising talents.
"Tsk… look at Ice Block’s nicknames."
Young Li wasn’t surprised by Ying Bing’s ranking.
Just one spot apart, yet the nicknames were worlds apart. Were they even from the same story?
Well, at least they were better than "Flying Poison Green-Turtle" or the like.
Thinking of Huang Donglai’s unfortunate moniker, Li Mo’s mood improved. He smirked and teased:
"Moonlit Sword Phoenix?"
"……"
The "Ice Block" in question cast a cool glance his way, her fingers tightening slightly around her teacup.
Silence.
Undeterred, Li Mo grinned wider. "Frost Immortal?"
"……" Ying Bing took a sip of tea, her brows arching slightly.
"‘Wife-Fortune Battle Soul’?"
"Gah—!"
Li Mo sucked in a sharp breath, his skin crawling.
He couldn’t even imagine the horror of future challengers shouting those four words at him in public.
It was practically a scene of social suicide...
Yet the ice block known as Ying Bing set down her teacup and rested her chin on one hand.
After a few seconds of silence, she met Li Mo’s gaze and added:
“Wife-prospering Battle Soul?”
“......I spoke out of turn earlier.”
Who would’ve thought the ice block would one day learn to deliver a finishing blow?
Young Li had been thoroughly humbled.
Noticing this, a faint trace of satisfaction flickered in Ying Bing’s eyes.
Was she... happy about something?
Even she wasn’t quite sure.
Perhaps it was because... she had finally outranked Li Mo?
Then the next system ranking should also...
Later.
Ignoring Elder Qian and Elder Xue, who were busy pressing each other’s pressure points to stay conscious, and paying no mind to the stunned senior disciples questioning their life choices, the two parties signed a non-aggression pact—henceforth, neither would use the other’s nicknames.
“Chu Long, you’re our witness. From now on, no one calls anyone by nicknames... Chu Long?”
As Li Mo spoke, he turned his head.
But the little princess Jiang Chulong’s expression was off. Her small face had gone pale, her gaze fixed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking displayed over the lake, her lips nearly bitten bloody.
Following her line of sight, Li Mo looked toward the center of the lake.
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – No. 2: Xie Xuan]
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – No. 1: Jiang Yu]
[Martial Arts: Possesses the True Dragon Physique and the Emperor’s Sword Bone, born with divine grace. Capable of comprehending the Landscape of Nations Diagram, inheriting the will of the Nine Provinces, and bearing a strand of imperial destiny. Mastered the Dragon Transformation Art and the Shangfang Emperor’s Sword Technique...]
[Battle Record: Undefeated among peers. Captured the colossal whale of the North Sea alive, engaged in a days-long duel with the former No. 1 of the Hidden Dragon Ranking—the Demon-Summoning Sect’s Holy Son—and achieved a breakthrough mid-battle to severely wound him.]
Jiang Chulong’s delicate face turned whiter than snow.
She frantically wiped her tears, her words stumbling:
“I... I’m... fine...”
“That’s the Crown Prince of Great Yu,” Ying Bing’s voice whispered into her ear via secret transmission.
Hmm... same surname, Jiang, and ranked first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
He was both Chu Long’s closest kin... and her deepest nightmare.
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
