The Hidden Dragon List is Released

Ding-dang—

The wind chimes at the corner of the Happy Lamb Hotpot Restaurant clinked gently.

The massive warship of the Qingyuan Sect—Elder Qian’s prized possession, a behemoth that consumed two Profound Crystals with each activation—hovered right outside the hotpot shop.

"What’s going on? Why is the Qingyuan Sect deploying such a formation? Are they going to war?"

"You haven’t heard? A beast tide disaster has erupted in the Southern Border, but the Southern Suppressing King is returning to the imperial capital for his debriefing and can’t hold the Southern Pass. I’m planning to move my family to Yunzhou too."

"Right, I wonder if the Happy Lamb Hotpot will open a branch in Yunzhou..."

The few remaining customers murmured among themselves.

The rumor of the Southern Pass’s impending fall had drifted faintly into the Eastern Wasteland Domain, reaching even the ears of ordinary folk.

"Have you all finally made up your minds?"

Mei Yun stood up, greeting Xue Jing as he descended from the warship.

"Yes, we’ve decided to head to the Southern Border. Even if there’s only the slightest chance, we must bring those two youngsters back—alive or dead."

Xue Jing’s expression was grave.

This was the collective decision of the elders.

Mei Yun was taken aback, but after a moment of silence, as if recalling the actions of her late mistress, she found it understandable.

If Jiang Chulong’s fate were unknown, she would do the same.

"And Miss Jiang?" Xue Jing asked.

"She’s still asleep."

Mei Yun had noticed that every time Jiang Chulong woke from her dreams, she seemed to have grown stronger.

She suspected it was the work of that mysterious expert who imparted teachings in dreams—though she knew nothing else about it.

"That child is too stubborn."

Xue Jing sighed, pulling out a small box from his robe containing a pill.

"Thank you. And... take care."

Mei Yun hesitated, holding back more words.

The pill was crafted from Dream Ephemera as its primary ingredient. It would plunge the taker into deep slumber, harmless to the body and even beneficial for strengthening the soul.

Mei Yun had asked Xue Jing to refine it.

Jiang Chulong had refused to leave, leaving Mei Yun no choice but to resort to this.

"Even if she resents or hates me for the rest of her life when she wakes up, I must take her away..."

Just as she was thinking this—

Tap-tap-tap.

Light footsteps approached from behind. Jiang Chulong bounded over, her cheeks flushed with excitement—a rare sight after days of worry.

"Aunt Mei! Aunt Mei!"

"What is it? Drink some water first."

Mei Yun discreetly slipped the pill into the water jug.

She poured a cup for Jiang Chulong, who took a perfunctory sip before exclaiming, her eyes sparkling:

"Big Brother Li is fine! Greenwood City is fine! The Southern Border is fine!"

She was so excited she didn’t even stutter.

Silence fell over the group.

Fine?

How did she know?

With the Southern Suppressing King absent, how could the Southern Border possibly be unharmed?

The battle there might not even be over yet.

"How do you know this?"

"My master told me."

Jiang Chulong blinked, then yawned.

Strange—she had just woken up, so why was she feeling drowsy again?

"Big Brother Li... defended the city..."

She forced the words out before her eyelids grew heavy.

Everyone exchanged glances, suspecting Jiang Chulong was still half-asleep, her wishful thinking conjuring a pleasant dream.

Based on their intelligence, whether Greenwood City could hold until their arrival was uncertain.

Li Mo and Ying Bing were indeed talents unlike any they’d seen before—beyond mere genius.

But their cultivation was still low.

Not just the Observation Divine Realm—even Inner and Outer Scenery cultivators were insignificant on the battlefield.

"What else did your master say?"

Mei Yun suddenly regretted giving Jiang Chulong the Dream Ephemera Pill so hastily.

She knew Jiang Chulong trained nightly under that enigmatic dream expert.

With such unfathomable methods, his words were unlikely to be baseless.

Just then—

Xiao Qin came running from afar, shouting:

"The Hidden Dragon Ranking has been released!"

......

Yunzhou.

Inside a lakeside tavern by Fish-Dragon Lake.

The tavern was now heavily guarded by fierce elite soldiers, barring entry to ordinary folk.

The Southern Suppressing King, Zhong Qin—dressed in plain cloth robes, his temples streaked with gray—gazed at the bustling lakeside without turning as he addressed the figure behind him:

"Elder Xu, it’s been a while."

"With war in the Southern Border, the Southern Suppressing King seems remarkably unhurried. Weren’t you returning to the imperial capital for your debriefing? What brings you here to observe the rankings?"

Before the white-haired Elder Xu could reply, the book-loving Elder Zeng frowned, displeased.

"Whether I go to the capital or not is irrelevant. What matters is that I’m not in the Southern Border."

Zhong Qin’s voice was calm.

Elder Xu narrowed his eyes. "Prince Zhong, are you here out of nostalgia for past ties, hoping to persuade us to leave Yunzhou?"

"Persuasion is always worth attempting."

Zhong Qin’s tone betrayed no emotion.

"I hate riddles," Elder Zeng muttered under his breath.

The imperial family was ruthless. Their Hengyun Sword City had once been where the Martial Emperor studied, yet now the true sword sanctum was the Heavenly Mountain Sword Manor.

At that moment, the captain of the guards ascended the tavern and clasped his fists:

"Your Highness, the Young Marquis has caught up. He requests an audience."

"So soon?"

Zhong Qin raised an eyebrow, then nodded.

Shortly after, the guard captain brought up Zhong Zhenyue, who looked travel-worn and exhausted—yet his weary eyes remained resolute.

"Father, are you unaware of the military situation in Greenwood City?"

"..."

Zhong Qin finally turned around. Though dressed simply, his presence carried an unspoken authority.

His son had always revered him like a deity.

Yet now, there was an edge of accusation in his tone.

After a pause, Zhong Qin replied:

"Then tell me what you know."

"The remnants of the Great Shang Dynasty and the Southern Border tribes have allied, fielding at least 120,000 troops, along with high-tier disaster beasts. Under the command of Great Shang’s Grand Preceptor Han Zhen, they’ve attacked Greenwood City."

The faces of Hengyun Sword City’s two elders darkened.

The Southern Border’s situation was far worse than they’d imagined.

Zhong Qin’s eyelids twitched.

He took a deep breath.

"I understand. Go rest now."

"Father!"

Zhong Zhenyue stared in disbelief at the man he’d once worshipped like a god.

He wanted to say that Greenwood City still held comrades-in-arms, including Uncle Qu, who had followed his father for decades.

And Li Mo—still within the city walls.

But Zhong Qin had already turned his back.

"Greenwood City’s fall is only a matter of time."

Elder Xu’s expression shifted uncertainly:

"Does His Majesty intend to surrender the Southern Pass as well?"

The two sides’ forces weren’t mismatched.

But Greenwood City’s soldiers lacked supplies and morale, while the enemy was well-prepared and determined.

"Young Hero Li and Lady Ying... surely they aren’t still in the city?"

Elder Zeng murmured to himself.

Unconsciously, he touched the copy of The Tyrannical Empress Falls for Me hidden in his robe.

Would he never get to read the next volume?!

Just then—

Boom!

Above Fish-Dragon Lake, the Dragon Gate erupted with radiant light, illuminating the layered clouds.

The new Hidden Dragon Ranking was about to be unveiled.