The Earth Ranking began in a manner that felt rather hasty, and unexpectedly, it ended just as abruptly.
Many even had the impression that the Earth Ranking seemed eager to conclude as quickly as possible.
What was going on?
Was this how the previous Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings had been?
"Earth Ranking finalized."
"Rankings announced."
"First place: Chen Yunxuan"
"Second place: Ye Zhiqiu"
"Third place: Li Qiye"
"Fourth place: Gu Xian'er"
"Fifth place: Gu Fengyao"
"Sixth place: …"
Hasty!
Even more ridiculously hasty!
The rankings were announced with nothing but names listed?
Moreover, the list appeared at an unprecedented speed. Previously, each name had been revealed one by one, slowly. Now, nearly all fifty rankings appeared simultaneously.
"Rewards distributed!"
Immediately afterward, the heavenly rewards descended—fifty golden beams of light enveloping the summit of Taihua.
"I can’t help but feel like the Earth Ranking is in a hurry?"
"Yeah, I get the same impression—like it’s rushing through the process?"
"Exactly! It’s too abrupt, as if time is running out."
"This is strange. Why would something like this happen? Does anyone know how the first Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings unfolded?"
"No idea. That was over thirty thousand years ago—hardly anyone alive today would remember."
"Regardless of how it was before, this time, something is definitely off."
Everyone suspected the Earth Ranking had ended far too abruptly, and even Chen Chang'an furrowed his brows, sensing something unusual.
"What’s it in such a hurry for?"
"Da Huang, tell me—what could possibly be making it rush like this?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.
"How should I know? I’m not its father," Da Huang retorted with an eye roll.
"You think the Heaven Ranking might force them to fight on the spot, decide the winners quickly, and then wrap things up just as carelessly?" Chen Chang'an joked.
"That would be beyond ridiculous."
"Surely not, right?"
"Even if its father died, why should that affect others? After announcing the rankings, it could just let everyone take their time."
"Unless… there’s another reason for its urgency."
Da Huang’s words struck a chord with Chen Chang'an. If there was another reason, what could it be?
"Heaven Ranking begins. Rules as follows!"
"All participants under ten thousand years of age in the Tai Xuan Realm are eligible."
Huh?
Under ten thousand years old?
What did this mean?
Were they now dragging those Emperor-level figures into this competition?
The first rule alone sent shockwaves through the crowd. Had the Heaven Ranking been like this in the past?
"Ten years’ time. After a decade, the final battle commences."
"The top ten will receive heavenly rewards."
Simple.
The Heaven Ranking’s rules were straightforward—giving the Earth Ranking qualifiers only ten years to compete against those ancient monsters who had lived for millennia.
The final battle!
So, the true contest was the Heaven Ranking’s ultimate clash?
"Damn it, is this a joke? Even with ten years, how can they possibly catch up to those who’ve lived for nearly ten thousand years?"
"Those prodigies who stood out long ago have already broken through to the Emperor level. Even if they’re under ten thousand years old, they’re definitely not ordinary Emperor-level experts."
"Making the Earth Ranking contenders compete against them? This is absurd!"
"Weren’t the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings meant to select the most outstanding talents? If this is how it’s done, doesn’t that mean the Heaven Ranking has nothing to do with them?"
"Even if Chen Yunxuan and the others are monstrously talented, ten years is far too short!"
"Ten years—how could they possibly match those veterans?"
"Right now, their cultivation has already reached the Immortal Realm. Further breakthroughs won’t come easily."
"Exactly. Advancing even a single stage in the Immortal Realm is no simple feat."
"But don’t you think something’s off? Where will this final battle take place?"
"Well… the Heaven Ranking didn’t specify."
"Maybe the location will be announced after the ten years pass."
After the Heaven Ranking’s announcement, Chen Yunxuan and the others frowned, but their immediate priority was finding Chen Chang'an.
As they descended from Taihua’s summit, the crowd instinctively stepped back, maintaining a cautious distance.
"Ancestor."
"Master."
"Young Master."
"Chang'an, brother."
Seeing them approach, Chen Chang'an smiled and nodded. "Seems like the rewards this time were quite generous."
"Ancestor, the heavenly blessing allowed me to break through four stages. I’m now at the fifth level of the Immortal Realm."
"Master, as the second-place winner, I only received three stages of breakthrough. My cultivation is now at the fourth level of the Immortal Realm."
"Master, same for me—three stages, now at the fourth level of the Immortal Realm."
"Young Master, I only advanced two stages, reaching the third level of the Immortal Realm."
"Chang'an, brother, same here—same as Xian'er."
The heavenly blessings had elevated their cultivation without the usual drawbacks of pill-based breakthroughs.
These rewards had no side effects and wouldn’t hinder their future potential.
"Ancestor, but there’s something else in the heavenly blessings this time."
"It’s… immortal techniques!"
Immortal techniques?
The revelation stunned everyone.
The heavenly blessings included immortal techniques?
Weren’t those supposed to be upper-realm arts? How could they be bestowed upon the Tai Xuan Realm’s cultivators?
"Same for me."
"Me too…"
Not just Chen Yunxuan—Ye Zhiqiu and the others had also received immortal techniques.
This was an irresistible temptation for any cultivator. After all, these techniques surpassed even Emperor-tier skills.
Chen Chang'an looked at them and asked with a smile, "What do you think about this?"
After exchanging glances, Chen Yunxuan spoke first. "Ancestor, something feels off."
"No one in the Tai Xuan Realm has ever been known to cultivate immortal techniques. That means the previous Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings didn’t bestow such rewards."
"If they didn’t before, why now?"
"Could it be because we didn’t practice the techniques rewarded in the Mortal Ranking, so they’re offering better ones to tempt us?"
"Either way, I suspect there’s a hidden agenda."
Ye Zhiqiu and the others agreed wholeheartedly.
Anything this unusual had to have ulterior motives.
"That is indeed a concern."
"So, under no circumstances should you cultivate the techniques granted by the heavenly blessings."
"The arts I’ve taught you are more than enough to reach the pinnacle of this world—even to break through and ascend to the upper realm."
"As for these heavenly techniques… I’ll find a way to uncover the truth."