The mysterious and unpredictable Dao Evolution Heavenly Ranking! A fully revived Imperial Weapon?

"Daoyan... Heavenly Ranking?"

"What is that?"

"Indeed, ginger is spicier when old—these old-timers really know a lot of secrets!"

Lei Jingxiao widened his eyes, watching Formation Grand Master Gu Jian and Fierce Sword King speak eloquently, and couldn't help but feel a sense of defeat—'ignorance is truly terrifying.'

As a member of the Holy Land Sequence, he was considered well-traveled and knowledgeable.

But when it came to matters involving ancient secrets, he was completely in the dark.

If even Lei Jingxiao didn't know, then Lin Mo, who had only a superficial understanding of many common facts about the Cangxuan Great Realm, was even more clueless.

However, though he didn't understand the specifics, one thing he did grasp.

That was the so-called daoyan heavenly ranking mentioned by Gu Jian... was a genuine, unparalleled Emperor Weapon!

An Emperor Weapon!

That was a Great Emperor's personal divine weapon, refined with their essence, containing supreme Divine Might—a Heaven-Defying treasure capable of suppressing the Luck of an entire sect or even a race!

Seeing both of them looking confused, Gu Jian waved his folding fan and slowly began to explain:

"The daoyan heavenly ranking is one of the most mysterious Emperor Weapons in legend!"

"No one knows its true origins, nor which Great Emperor forged it."

"The world only knows that it is the ultimate foundation passed down through generations of Tianji Hall, possessing the unfathomable ability to deduce all things across eternity!"

"It is said that whenever a Golden Age arrives, the daoyan heavenly ranking manifests in the world, suspended high in the Nine Heavens!"

"It lists the rankings of all the Prodigies and prodigies of the era, comprehensively evaluating them based on potential, combat power, Luck, and other aspects!"

"Those who make it onto the ranking not only receive the blessing of worldly Luck but may even obtain special rewards!"

At this point, a flicker of longing couldn't help but appear in Gu Jian's eyes.

Though he was long past the age to compete for the Prodigy Ranking, he still felt a surge of passion for such a grand event that could make one famous throughout the world.

"So that's how it is..."

"I never knew there were such secrets."

"I really am ignorant."

Lei Jingxiao scratched his head, listening with some amazement.

He never imagined there was an Emperor Weapon specifically designed to Rank Prodigies?

If one could Rank high on this list, wouldn't that be the ultimate validation?

"Uncle Gu, since this so-called daoyan heavenly ranking is an Emperor Weapon, when it appears, doesn't anyone try to seize it?"

Compared to Lei Jingxiao's excitement, Lin Mo's focus was clearly different.

In his understanding, something as lofty as an Emperor Weapon, once it appeared—even if just a fragment—

would inevitably trigger frenzied competition among countless forces, unleashing boundless bloodshed and chaos.

But from Gu Jian's tone, the daoyan heavenly ranking seemed to appear very conspicuously each time,

yet there didn't seem to be any records of anyone coveting this mysterious Emperor Weapon?

That seemed a bit illogical.

"Seize it?"

Hearing this word, Gu Jian curled his lips into a playful, cold smile, as if he'd heard a joke.

"Heh..."

"According to historical records, there have naturally been people—or rather, some overambitious forces—who had such thoughts."

"And quite a few of them!"

"After all, it's a complete Emperor Weapon—who wouldn't covet it?"

"But without exception..."

Gu Jian paused, his tone turning grave.

"Those who attempted to seize it, and even the forces behind them, no matter how powerful, ultimately... ceased to exist!"

"Among them were some immortal Holy Lands that had been passed down for tens of thousands of years!"

"Damn!"

Hearing this, Lei Jingxiao couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

"Even Holy Lands were wiped out?"

"That ruthless?"

"Was it Tianji Hall that acted?"

He instinctively thought of the mysterious and unfathomable Tianji Hall.

After all, the daoyan heavenly ranking was their foundation—if someone tried to steal it, they'd surely retaliate.

"No, Tianji Hall didn't even need to lift a finger."

This time, it was Fierce Sword King beside him who answered.

Clearly, as a Holy Land Elder, he was also well-versed in these secrets.

"Because, unlike the vast majority of Emperor Weapons,"

"the daoyan heavenly ranking, whenever it appears, is a... fully awakened Emperor Weapon!"

Hearing this, Lei Jingxiao was startled, completely stunned!

"R-really?!"

"A fully awakened Emperor Weapon..."

"That's almost equivalent to a real Great Emperor personally appearing, isn't it?!"

He understood all too well the significance of a fully awakened Emperor Weapon!

An ordinary Emperor Weapon, without a Great Emperor-level expert controlling it, could only unleash a fraction of its power at most.

But even so, it was enough to suppress an entire region.

But fully awakened... meant the Emperor Weapon could autonomously unleash its full power at its Peak!

How terrifying was the full power of an Emperor Weapon at its Peak?

Naturally, it was equivalent to the combat power of a Great Emperor!

"So that's how it is?"

Lin Mo finally understood.

No wonder those who coveted this Emperor Weapon were wiped out.

Power comparable to a Great Emperor!

Apart from an existence of the same level engaging in a direct clash, who wouldn't be easily crushed?

Even those Quasi-Emperors with one foot already in the Emperor Realm,

probably wouldn't dare challenge a fully awakened Emperor Weapon without absolute preparation,

unless they had a death wish.

"It is an indisputable fact, recorded in history."

"Bloody lessons are laid out there."

"So, since then, no one has dared to covet the daoyan heavenly ranking."

Fierce Sword King nodded, his tone certain.

"But what's perplexing is..."

"According to common sense, an Emperor Weapon can only fully awaken when its master is alive and personally infuses it with Emperor Dao Laws..."

"Even if the Weapon Spirit awakens autonomously, it shouldn't be able to maintain it for long."

"Yet the daoyan heavenly ranking can maintain its fully awakened state for an extremely long time each time it appears—this truly defies logic."

Gu Jian added this, frowning slightly as if puzzled.

"Meaning..."

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat as he thought of a possibility.

"Behind the daoyan heavenly ranking... could there be a living Great Emperor?!"

"That is unknown." Gu Jian shook his head.

"Because the daoyan heavenly ranking has appeared so many times, yet no trace of its master has ever been seen."

"Tianji Hall is also tight-lipped about this, never explaining it to outsiders."

"So this has become one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Cangxuan Great Realm."

After saying this, Gu Jian looked at Lin Mo's thoughtful expression, smiled, and comforted him:

"Heh, nephew, no need to worry."

"These secrets are just for entertainment—they don't really have much to do with us."

"That level of contention is too far removed from us."

"As for whether this era will usher in a Golden Age..."

Gu Jian's gaze lingered on Lin Mo for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of certainty.

"I think the chances are high!"

"After all... even a legendary Taiyin Sacred Body like you, nephew, has appeared!"

"Isn't that itself a sign of the beginning of a great era?"

There was a hint of flattery in Gu Jian's words.

But he genuinely believed it.

Chaotic times produce prodigies; great eras produce Prodigies.

If a freak like Lin Mo, who defies common sense, can appear, how far off can a Golden Age be?

And on this point,

if Gu Jian was only guessing that this era had an extremely high probability of being a Golden Age... then Lin Mo was almost certain.

After all, even someone like Liu Qingyu—an Innate Sacred Demonic Dao Fetus destined to become an Emperor—had appeared... if this wasn't a Golden Age, that would be too absurd!