Bountiful Harvest: Qingluan Makes the List

"Young Master? What brings you here?"

It was clear that Meng Xiaohui's arrival had taken even the Meng Family members stationed in Celestial Pride City by surprise.

"Five thousand years have passed, and I am now fully prepared."

"This time, I’ve come to challenge the Celestial Pride Tower beyond the fiftieth floor. I intend... to leave the Profound Heaven Domain."

At this moment, Meng Xiaohui was brimming with confidence. In his eyes, the Profound Heaven Domain had begun to limit his growth and progress.

Thus, before reaching thirty thousand years of age, he had to leave the Profound Heaven Domain and aim for higher rankings on the Celestial Pride Rankings.

Only then would he gain a grander stage and a vaster world to conquer.

"By the way, I heard Yun Zhilan of the Yun Family achieved impressive test results, surpassing even your past records."

"Yun Zhilan? Not worth mentioning. As things stand, who in the entire Profound Heaven Domain could possibly snatch the top spot on the Celestial Pride Rankings from me?"

"No one has that right." Meng Xiaohui declared with unwavering confidence.

Hearing this, the Meng Family members exchanged awkward smiles. In the past, no one would have questioned such a statement from Meng Xiaohui.

But now, with Chen Chang'an's emergence, they hesitated to speak with absolute certainty.

"Hmm?"

"What’s with your reactions?"

Their expressions made Meng Xiaohui frown. Was there something wrong with what he had just said?

"The Family Head has agreed."

"He approved our investment in that Chen Chang'an."

"Oh? Young Master, you’re here too?"

The Meng Family member who had just communicated with the Family Head returned and was startled to see Meng Xiaohui.

"What did you just say?"

"The Family Head plans to invest in Chen Chang'an?"

"Who is Chen Chang'an? Why have I never heard of him?" Meng Xiaohui asked, his brow furrowing.

"That... that’s him. Chen Chang'an—the one who secured an investment from Celestial Pride City’s Lord Manor."

An investment from the Lord Manor?

This news shocked Meng Xiaohui, and he couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward Chen Chang'an.

At that moment, Chen Chang'an was lounging leisurely in a chair, casually eating fruit, his demeanor utterly relaxed.

Yet, a long line of people surrounded him, seemingly writing something down.

"Shen Yunfei, Yun Qingluan, Yun Zhilan?"

"What does this mean?" Meng Xiaohui asked, puzzled.

After the Meng Family members explained the situation, Meng Xiaohui was stunned.

Yun Qingluan, at just a hundred and thirty-five years old, and Chen Chang'an, who shattered the testing monument—these two could only be described as terrifying.

"The Family Head’s decision is reckless."

"Chen Chang'an seems to have a good relationship with the Yun Family."

"Therefore, his ties with our Meng Family may not be friendly."

"Investing in Chen Chang'an would be like nurturing a tiger that will one day turn on us."

"Listen to me—abandon the idea of supporting Chen Chang'an," Meng Xiaohui said coldly.

"But..."

"But what? You must understand who the true hope of the Meng Family is."

"Moreover, as a member of the Meng Family, I am the only one who genuinely has the family’s best interests at heart."

"Outsiders... can never be relied upon."

Meng Xiaohui’s stance was firm. Regardless of his motives, he believed investing in Chen Chang'an was unwise.

"This matter will be decided by me."

"Everything else can wait until I emerge from the Celestial Pride Tower."

"I will prove to everyone that I... am the undisputed number one on the Celestial Pride Rankings."

"This Chen Chang'an is no threat. I suspect he isn’t even from the Profound Heaven Domain."

"He likely won’t enter the Celestial Pride Tower."

Meng Xiaohui reasoned that if Chen Chang'an truly possessed such strength before thirty thousand years of age, he must be from another realm—perhaps even competing in higher-tier Celestial Pride Rankings. Such a person would have no interest in the Profound Heaven Domain’s rankings.

Thus, the top spot would remain his. That would never change.

With that, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Meng Xiaohui strode into the Celestial Pride Tower.

"What do we do? Follow the Young Master’s orders or the Family Head’s?"

"I... I don’t know. Let’s wait for now. Chen Chang'an probably won’t leave Celestial Pride City immediately."

"That’s all we can do."

Chen Chang'an had noticed Meng Xiaohui but paid him no mind. Such a person wasn’t even worthy of being his opponent.

Time passed swiftly, and three days later, Chen Chang'an looked over the lengthy list before him with satisfaction.

"It seems everyone who wanted to invest has done so."

"I never expected so many would come forward this time."

"Da Huang, let’s head back to the Celestial Pride Pavilion."

"Eh? Now? Shouldn’t we wait for them?"

Wait?

That was absurd. How long would that take? Conquering the Celestial Pride Tower wasn’t a matter of days. Even the fiftieth-ranked challenger had taken thirty days.

"Once we’re back, we’ll just wait for the resources to be delivered."

"Rather than wasting time here, we might as well cultivate."

"You two also need to work harder. Your strength is lacking."

"The enemies we face will only grow stronger. Do you really want to be deadweight?"

Chen Chang'an’s words didn’t faze Xiao Yao much, but they struck a nerve with Da Huang.

Once a formidable companion, Da Huang had gradually become little more than a sidekick. If this continued, he’d end up as nothing but a mascot!

"Big Brother, say no more."

"Let’s go back and cultivate!"

"Good!"

With Chen Chang'an’s departure, the lively atmosphere around the Celestial Pride Tower faded.

Many had assumed he would enter the tower, eager to see how far he could climb. Yet, to their surprise, he simply left.

In the following days, visitors arrived at Chen Chang'an’s courtyard at regular intervals, delivering the resources they had pledged.

Each wore expressions of joy and excitement, dreaming of the immense returns they would reap once Chen Chang'an and his companions rose to prominence.

"Elder Supreme, doesn’t this feel... a bit wicked?" Xiao Yao asked, her conscience uneasy.

"Wicked?"

"Have you considered that we’re only taking their resources, not doing anything truly harmful?"

"Once my reputation spreads, even if I do nothing, they’ll use my name to gain benefits."

"In truth, they’re the ones taking advantage," Chen Chang'an said with a smile.

"But wouldn’t that tarnish your reputation, Elder Supreme?" Xiao Yao asked worriedly.

"Do you think I made this list to repay them?"

"No. This list may one day become their death warrant."

"Of course, if they don’t overstep, I won’t hold it against them."

"I never realized you planned so far ahead, Elder Supreme."

"Alright, you two can take your time going through these resources. Feel free to use whatever suits you—no need to hold back."

"Thank you, Elder Supreme."

"Heh, big brother, in that case, I won’t stand on ceremony."

"Focus on your cultivation now."

"Understood!"

One month later...

"Look! The Heavenly Pride Ranking... it’s changed!"

"Yun Qingluan? She... she actually made the list?"

"How is that possible?"