The Terrifying Number of People

At this moment, the gaze of everyone in the entire Tai Xuan Realm was fixed on the sky above.

After soaring into the air, the Human Ranking unfurled slowly like a scroll. It seemed intent on covering the entire sky, yet the opened ranking was completely blank.

"What… what’s going on? Does anyone know?"

"No idea. I’ve never seen anything like this before."

"Could something major have happened?"

"Obviously! This has to be a sign of something big."

For a time, discussions erupted across the Tai Xuan Realm, as very few truly knew of the Human Ranking’s existence or its purpose.

"Who would have thought… after all this time, the Three Rankings of Heaven, Earth, and Man have finally reappeared."

"The opening of the Human Ranking marks the beginning of another cycle!"

"This time, who will rise to prominence, and who will fade from the stage of history?"

Meanwhile, within the palace of the Great Zhou Kingdom, Chen Chang'an looked up at the unfurled Human Ranking in the sky and turned to Da Huang in confusion.

"Da Huang, have you seen this before? What is it?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Never seen it, but… it feels extraordinary."

"No kidding, even a fool could tell it’s not ordinary."

Seeing that Da Huang didn’t know either, Chen Chang'an didn’t press further and instead waited to see if the celestial phenomenon would change.

Moments later, lines of small characters began appearing on the Human Ranking. Though the text was small and high in the sky, strangely, both cultivators and ordinary people could see it clearly—as if the words were floating right before their eyes. Anyone who looked up could read what was written.

"The Human Ranking is opening? So this thing is called the Human Ranking?"

"What is the Human Ranking? What’s it for?"

"Probably some kind of ranking list, but beyond that, who knows?"

"Stop talking, there are rules below. Read for yourselves."

Human Ranking Rules:

All individuals under the age of thirty in the Tai Xuan Realm, regardless of whether they are cultivators, may participate.

The first stage will rank participants based on cultivation level.

The ranking will be updated once a year for three years, after which the final list of five hundred selected individuals will be determined.

Those who make the ranking will receive gifts from the Heavenly Dao.

Gifts from the Heavenly Dao?

Merely making the ranking would grant rewards from the Heavenly Dao?

This revelation was enough to drive everyone into a frenzy. Even the most renowned prodigies, who had heard whispers of this before, couldn’t help but feel their blood boil with excitement upon seeing the rules.

"The first stage?"

"Does that mean there’s a second stage?"

"The Human Ranking last time wasn’t this complicated."

After the rules appeared, Mu Yunyao frowned deeply. She had experienced the Three Rankings of Heaven, Earth, and Man before. Back then, the Human Ranking had only served as a preliminary selection—choosing the five hundred most talented youths before moving on to the Earth Ranking.

But this time, the mention of a "first stage" suggested that after these five hundred were chosen, there would likely be a second phase of selection.

"Look, more words are appearing."

"Is that… the ranking? I thought it updated once a year. Why is the ranking appearing now?"

"I get it! This must be a preliminary ranking based on the current talents of the younger generation in the Tai Xuan Realm."

"This is so exciting! I want to see who the top-ranked genius is and just how strong they are."

"Under thirty years old—even the most talented have their limits. It can’t be too outrageous, right?"

"It’s out! Damn, it’s starting directly with the first place?"

As everyone discussed, they noticed that the first name revealed was indeed the top-ranked individual.

1st Place: Nie Haotian, Age: 29, Cultivation: Divine Transformation Realm (1st Layer)

Divine Transformation Realm?

A twenty-nine-year-old in the Divine Transformation Realm?

"What’s the Divine Transformation Realm?"

"I… I’ve never heard of it. The highest realm I know is the Divine Ability Realm."

"That’s terrifying. The world outside must be dangerous."

"What’s it got to do with you? You think you can leave?"

"Tch, can’t I just marvel at it?"

"Sure, sure, marvel all you want."

Once the first name was announced, discussions erupted everywhere.

Nie Haotian, upon seeing his name at the top of the Human Ranking, wore a proud expression.

"As expected, the title of the strongest among the younger generation belongs to me," Nie Haotian declared triumphantly.

"Damn it! We’re both at the Divine Transformation Realm’s first layer. Why is he ranked first?"

"This is unacceptable! I refuse to acknowledge this!"

2nd Place: Ye Beiming, Age: 29, Cultivation: Divine Transformation Realm (1st Layer)

3rd Place: Gu Fengyao, Age: 29, Cultivation: Divine Transformation Realm (1st Layer)

4th Place…

As the ranking continued, everyone realized that the top five were all at the Divine Transformation Realm’s first layer.

The sheer fact that individuals under thirty had reached such heights left many in the Tai Xuan Realm awestruck—and painfully aware of the gap between themselves and these prodigies.

The Divine Transformation Realm was a level most could never hope to achieve in their lifetimes, yet these youths had reached it before turning thirty.

"Ancestor, I… I made the ranking too, but my position…"

Chen Yunxuan finally spotted his name on the list, but it was buried far down—ranked in the thousands. The blow to his confidence was undeniable.

"The Tai Xuan Realm is vast. Reaching the Transcendent Realm at sixteen is already remarkable," Chen Chang'an reassured him.

"The others only have an advantage in age."

"If you had another decade or so, where would your cultivation be?"

"Don’t lose heart. You still have three years."

Hearing Chen Chang'an’s words, Chen Yunxuan took a deep breath and steadied himself.

"You’re right, Ancestor."

"With three years left, they’ve just had a head start."

"I’ll fight for my place on this Human Ranking."

Seeing Chen Yunxuan’s resolve remain unshaken, Chen Chang'an nodded in approval.

It was a pity, though—this event had nothing to do with him. His age simply disqualified him.

"Da Huang, what are you staring at?"

Noticing Da Huang’s unwavering focus on the ranking, Chen Chang'an couldn’t help but ask.

"I’m wondering… will this ranking list every single person under thirty?"

"How many names would that even be?"

"There must be countless people in the Tai Xuan Realm under thirty."

Hmm?

"How many have been listed so far?"

"Three hundred ninety-seven million, eight hundred fifty-seven thousand, six hundred fifty-three."

In such a short time, how had so many names appeared?

Chen Chang'an looked up and saw names flashing by at an incredible speed—hundreds appearing in the blink of an eye.

"One billion! It’s crossed one billion!"

"This many people? That’s insane!"

"Heavens… out of so many, only five hundred will be chosen? This isn’t one in a million—it’s one in tens of millions!"

At this moment, everyone finally gained some understanding of the population of the Tai Xuan Realm.

How could there be so many people under thirty years old? And what about the total population? Just how vast would that number be?

Yet the count showed no signs of stopping, as if the entire sky would soon be filled with the endless list of names.

"Isn't this a bit too absurd?"

"Look, even the names of toddlers are appearing now."

"Does the Human Ranking really think these children can meet the selection criteria in just three years?"

"What do you know? This Human Ranking is manifested by the Heavenly Dao—these are its rules."

"So within these rules, everyone's name appears regardless of whether they ultimately qualify for the ranking?"

"Exactly, that's how it works!"

"Damn, is it over? Has it finally stopped?"

"It seems no new names are appearing anymore."

"2.8 billion… There are actually over 2.8 billion people?"

It was a staggering number, encompassing everyone under thirty—even newborns.

"That's it?"

"Wait… Why has the Human Ranking vanished?"

After the list was fully revealed, the Human Ranking suddenly disappeared from the sky.

"I see—it will likely reappear a year from now when the rankings are updated!"