17: Thunderous Nine Steps, the Human Race's Xuanlong Ranking!

Under the Heavenly Profound Sword Art, Chen Gang's body was separated from his head, and his Storage Pouch flew into Shen Nian's hand, placed together with the Storage Pouches of Huang Four and Lei Tian.

Immediately after.

"They should be here soon, why are they so slow..." Shen Nian glanced outside the main gate, then began to meticulously inspect his spoils.

He didn't know until he looked, and when he did, he was shocked!

The total number of Spirit Stones from the three of them amounted to tens of thousands of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. One must know that as the chief of the Ninth Mountain, he only received a thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in resources each month.

Among them, Lei Tian's Storage Pouch even contained ten Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

The value of one Top-Grade Spirit Stone was enough to exchange for ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!

It was clear that Lei Tian had done quite well for himself over the years!

Spirit Stones were very important. Besides being the currency of this world, they also contained rich and pure Spiritual Qi. Whether for absorption during Cultivation or for restoring spiritual power during combat, they were an excellent choice.

With an extra ten years' worth of salary, Shen Nian was quite satisfied.

Spirit Stones were also very important to him right now. They were essential for speeding up simulations or buying Divine Abilities he needed.

After all, he knew yesterday that what he most urgently lacked was movement-based Divine Abilities; speed was a weakness. He didn't want to be led around like a dog again.

Fortunately, Lei Tian and the others weren't skilled in these... otherwise, he wouldn't have taken them down so easily.

“Honestly, robbery is faster. I heard the area occupied by the Yao Race is even richer...” A sudden impulsive thought flashed through Shen Nian’s mind, but he was immediately drawn to a Cultivation Technique in Chen Gang’s Storage Pouch.

[Nine Steps of Thunder Movement – Nascent Soul]

“A movement Divine Ability!” Shen Nian was instantly delighted.

And a Nascent Soul-grade one!

It truly was 'wish and it shall come'!

Shen Nian couldn't help but glance at Chen Gang's corpse. No wonder the other party was so unwilling; if he had Cultivated it earlier, he might have been able to escape... At this moment.

Standing before the ruins, Xiao Qinger's divine light gradually faded. She regained her senses, gazing at the white-robed figure with a look of shock.

"Senior Brother is just... too ridiculously strong." Xiao Qinger gave a bitter smile, beginning to doubt if she could truly catch up to him.

She recalled how she had thought that after her Divine Body Awakening, her Physical Body strength could at least surpass her Senior Brother's.

But now... she realized she had always been a frog in a well. No matter what, there was an insurmountable chasm between her and her Senior Brother... She only heard the Female Yan Emperor in her mind slowly speak, her tone now somewhat weak, clearly having expended a lot of power.

"Your Senior Brother's talent is not only a Prodigy in the Dao of the Sword, but his Physical Body path also has such a terrifying foundation. Given time, he might even ascend the profound dragon ranking. Although his current Realm is insufficient, he is still young. If he doesn't Dual Cultivate and instead focuses on Cultivating one discipline..."

"He might even make it into the top three," a hint of anticipation flickered in the Female Yan Emperor's golden eyes.

If this boy truly can reach the top three of the ranking, then this girl following him might be able to go even further, perhaps even surpassing my previous life.

Of course, the possibility of reaching the top three is minuscule.

The woman who was second on the profound dragon ranking before her demise was already preparing to ascend to the White Jade Capital... "Empress, what is the profound dragon ranking?" Xiao Qinger couldn't help but ask.

The Female Yan Emperor thought for a moment and said, "I originally intended to tell you after you went to Eastern Profound, but since it's come up..."

"Then let me tell you in advance how strong the top Prodigies of our Human Race are..."

The so-called profound dragon ranking!

It was issued by the Human Emperor Hall tens of thousands of years ago. The most prodigious individuals of the Human Race under one hundred years old can all ascend the ranking, personally ranked by Old Man Tianji of the Human Emperor Hall. All those who ascend the ranking are destined to become major figures of the Human Race in the future, deterring the Yao Race.

Every individual who reaches the top is either a Saint who has already secluded themselves in a Small World Holy Land, or a Reincarnator undergoing Reincarnation and re-Cultivation... Among them, Divine Bodies account for half, and not the kind you just Awakened; some have already Cultivated to the Minor Achievement stage... "That amazing!" Xiao Qinger exclaimed, then looked at her Senior Brother with an expression of admiration.

Empress gave Senior Brother such a high evaluation, so do I still have hope of catching up to Senior Brother... Thinking of this, Xiao Qinger felt a bit disheartened, a sense of powerlessness in her heart, even beginning to doubt life. Could she truly kill a Golden Core after her Acquired body? In her mind, the Female Yan Emperor was uncharacteristically silent; it wasn't as if she hadn't felt this way before.

In her previous life, she stopped at seventh on the profound dragon ranking in her youth, steadily suppressed by the one with the Azure Heaven Hegemon Body. As for those who topped the top three, 'Prodigy' could no longer describe them; they were called Young Great Emperors. Ascending to the White Jade Capital and forging their own Dao and achieving unity was something they were bound to achieve.

They even stepped into the Immortal Realm, which had not appeared in the Human Race for a very long time.

Even she could only look up to them... Just then, Shen Nian's gaze swept over, looking outside, then falling upon Xiao Qinger, raising an eyebrow.

"Why does this girl have such a long face..."

"So strange."

Xiao Qinger's delicate body trembled.

"Senior Brother..."

"Is he angry...?"

Xiao Qinger remembered the task Shen Nian had given her and reacted.

That's right!

Senior Brother shared his resources with me, gave me the Phoenix Clan's essence blood, constantly reminded me to Cultivate diligently, and now has avenged me and eliminated the future troubles for the Xiao Family. It was all for me!

Isn't it all just so I can focus on Cultivating properly!

Senior Brother has such high hopes for me, yet I actually had thoughts of giving up!

How can I face Senior Brother!

No!

Qinger will never admit defeat!

"Senior Brother, Qinger will go Cultivate first!" Xiao Qinger's gaze became firm as she cupped her hands towards Shen Nian and turned to leave.

She now had Medicinal Pills and resources, why waste time here instead of Cultivating?

"Empress, if I try my hardest, is it possible to get on the ranking?" Xiao Qinger asked calmly.

"You possess a Divine Body, and with my help, and your Senior Brother as a goal to chase, as long as your Dao Heart doesn't break and you Cultivate diligently, you will definitely enter the top ten!" The Female Yan Emperor answered seriously.

"Good!" Xiao Qinger's eyes sparkled with brilliant light.

"I definitely won't disappoint Senior Brother!"

Her actions surprised Shen Nian.

"What's wrong with her?"

Butler Fu, who was at the main gate, had long been stunned. He heavily patted his forehead, and after confirming he wasn't dreaming, he swallowed hard as he gazed at the peerlessly elegant white-robed youth.

"Where did Young Miss find such a Prodigy of a Senior Brother...?" Butler Fu asked with a trembling voice.

Xiao Qinger merely spoke calmly: "Butler Fu, let's go. We'll return to the Xiao Family first. I need to Cultivate..."

At the same time.

A hundred meters outside the Huang Family estate, whispers broke out; the commotion earlier had been too great.

"What happened? Why did the building inside the Huang Family collapse?"

"Is that collapsed? It was clearly blown apart by something!"

"I don't know, I just got here..."

Hundreds of figures gathered, all local residents. However, due to the Huang Family's notorious reputation, they only dared to whisper, standing there to watch the drama unfold.

Just then.

"Everyone, disperse!"

A majestic voice rang out, and the common folk immediately made way, their gazes respectful and awestruck as several figures appeared.

"Hiss... Five Dragon Markings, this young lady is actually a Patrol Envoy!"

"My heavens, has Yunzhou's Demon Suppression General even come?!"

"Something big must have happened at the Huang Family today!"