13: People's Ranking

"The Human Ranking is created by a mysterious organization called the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. The criteria for being listed do not depend on talent, but solely on individual strength. The list contains one hundred people."

"Those who can be ranked on the Human Ranking are absolute powerhouses within the Innate Realm. It is rumored that the top ten even have the ability to fight against those in the Vajra Realm."

"In our Annan Prefecture, only five people are on the list!"

Chu Jiang was stunned. He had thought that this Human Ranking was based on talent, such as reaching the Innate Realm before a certain age.

He did not expect it to be purely based on individual strength.

Whoever is strong gets on the list—simple and brutal.

At this moment, Ma Han returned from gathering information, making Chu Jiang understand why so many Jianghu people had come to the small Qingshan Town.

Blood Sabre Wang Qifeng, who dominated the region over a decade ago, was a genius with heaven-sent talent. At the time, he was ranked second on the Human Ranking. Once his Blood Sabre was drawn, even Vajra Realm powerhouses could not resist it.

It was rumored that he was attacked by a mysterious person, damaging his Foundation, which prevented him from breaking through to the Vajra Realm. He eventually passed away. Some say that to ensure his Blood Sabre Manual would not be lost, he left behind a Legacy.

The Legacy included his Blood Sabre Manual, a Three-Turn True Essence Pill, and a Marrow Cleansing Pill.

A True Essence Pill is a Medicinal Pill that can increase the accumulation of True Qi. The refining Materials are extremely expensive; the higher the turn, the stronger the medicinal effect.

A Three-Turn True Essence Pill can directly allow an Innate Martial Artist to advance one level.

As for the Marrow Cleansing Pill, it is an absolute treasure for Martial Artists at the tenth level of the Physical Body Realm, as it can strengthen the martial Foundation, but it has little effect on Innate Martial Artists.

These people gathered in Qingshan Town for the sake of Wang Qifeng's Legacy.

And the Legacy was located at the current Black Tiger Mountain.

Black Tiger Mountain is the territory of demons, so for a time, no one dared to go up the mountain alone to treasure hunt; they were all waiting for others, waiting for enough experts to arrive.

In the Hundred Flowers Sect, Li Yu, dressed in bright and beautiful clothing, said with some annoyance: "Why did these corrupt officials come? I get angry just looking at them; I don't even want to eat."

Her voice was clear and melodious, as if she wanted everyone around to hear.

She had no good impression of government runners who only knew how to exploit the common people.

Especially these demon catchers who, while shouldering the duty of catching demons, allowed demons to run rampant, harming the people and causing misery.

The cold and aloof Bai Ruoxue said reproachfully: "Junior Sister, you must not be rude!"

After speaking, she turned to look at Chu Jiang and said softly: "This official, my Junior Sister is new to the Jianghu and doesn't know the rules. I hope you will not take offense."

"Junior Sister, come over and apologize!"

Although Li Yu was unconvinced, she heard the anger in her Senior Sister's tone and could only say reluctantly:

"Sorry!"

Bai Ruoxue nodded.

The two Junior and Senior Sisters came for Wang Qifeng's Legacy and had no need to conflict with government officials.

Chu Jiang nodded slightly.

Suddenly.

A sound of hooves approached from afar.

"Clatter, clatter..."

Everyone followed the sound and saw a group of knights in brocade clothing escorting a magnificent carriage slowly approaching.

A young man dressed in luxurious clothing leaned out of the carriage. His gaze swept over the crowd and finally rested on the two women from the Hundred Flowers Sect, a flash of greed in his eyes.

He smiled frivolously: "Two beauties, why don't you come with me to hunt for treasure on the mountain? It would be good to have some support."

His name was Lu Feiyang, the eldest Young Master of the Lu family in Nanyang Prefecture.

His father, Lu Erhe, was the son of the Annan Prefecture's Chief Clerk.

"Who wants to go with you!" Li Yu snorted and turned her head away.

Lu Feiyang was not angry, coughed lightly, and announced domineeringly: "This Young Master comes from the Lu family of Annan Prefecture. This trip is for Wang Qifeng's Legacy. I am willing to cooperate with everyone to explore Black Tiger Mountain together. I will serve as the leader, and I am willing to share the spoils with everyone."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion arose in the crowd.

But no one responded. Just kidding; if they really found the Blood Sabre Legacy, they would definitely keep it for themselves—how could they share it with others?

They weren't fools to be used as cannon fodder.

Seeing no one reply, Lu Feiyang's expression was no longer calm. He had snuck out this time, and there wasn't a single Innate powerhouse by his side.

The old man at home didn't let him come, but he insisted on coming.

He wanted to prove to the old man that he was in no way inferior to that "bastard."

His eyes were sharp, looking at Chu Jiang and the others like a hawk, and he ordered in an unquestionable tone: "You should know who I am, right? Now, I order you to protect me as I go to Black Tiger Mountain!"

I can't command these unruly Jianghu people, but surely I can command you government runners? I am the son of the Annan Prefecture's Chief Clerk, after all.

"Noisy!"

Chu Jiang took a step forward. Everyone only felt a breeze sweep by, and a heavy slap landed hard on Lu Feiyang's face.

"Ah..."

He was slapped flying on the spot, his teeth nearly knocked out, and a stream of bright red blood sprayed from the corner of his mouth.

Lu Feiyang was helped up by the guards beside him, and he said in a fit of rage:

"You... how dare you..."

"Get him, all of you! This Young Master has never suffered such humiliation since I was a child. Kill him!"

Several guards secretly felt that this person was definitely not an ordinary person, but they dared not disobey Lu Feiyang's order and had to brace themselves and rush forward.

However, before these few could get close, a cold light flashed like lightning, and everyone fell down in a row like harvested rice.

A straight blood line appeared on each person's forehead, as if a sharp blade had slashed straight down from the middle of the forehead to the chin.

At the cut, a cluster of small golden flames twisted like a venomous snake, forming a deep, bloody gully, looking hideous and terrifying, making one's hair stand on end.

Everything happened too fast.

It was so fast that everyone couldn't react, and these people died on the spot.

"Innate True Qi!"

"What a fast blade!"

The Venomous Snake Gang, the Yellow Clothes Gang, the Hundred Flowers Sect, and various other factions looked sideways, each with their own thoughts.

Liu Guangwu was dumbfounded on the side. It really was an Innate powerhouse. He had already suspected it when he fought him that day; a tenth-level Physical Body expert couldn't have defeated him with a flick of a finger.

This White Stone County really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers! He had thought only his foster father was hiding his true strength, but he didn't expect there to be others as well.

In the end, he was the only clown.

"You'll get used to it."

Ma Han looked indifferent, seemingly unsurprised by this. His master always brought him surprises every time; perhaps the Innate Realm wasn't even his master's limit.

Lu Feiyang, who had already been scared to the point of wetting himself, collapsed in front of Chu Jiang.

"Don't kill me, I can give you money, I can give you whatever you want." Lu Feiyang was truly terrified. It was his first time traveling far from home, and he had encountered this terrifying star who didn't take the Lu family seriously at all and had slashed all his guards with one blade.

It was completely different from what was said in plays and novels. Weren't noble children supposed to be surrounded by stars wherever they went? Why did it change when it came to him?

When he went back, he would definitely whip those authors who wrote such nonsense to vent his hatred.

Chu Jiang curled his lips slightly and sneered: "I have no interest in your money. Give me a few Innate martial arts manuals, and I'll spare your life!"

Having entered the Innate Realm, Acquired martial arts provided very little growth to his strength.

"I really don't have any Innate martial arts manuals on me. Can I give you money instead?!" Lu Feiyang was terrified. Who would carry Innate martial arts manuals on them?

"Then you only have a dead end!" Chu Jiang's face turned cold, his posture of drawing his blade ready to be unleashed.