Chapter 32 The Ranking of Prodigies

The large ship moved along the river, the river breeze making the sails snap and flutter loudly.

Three days had passed since Yan Chu and his group boarded the ship at Yuchuan Wharf.

Eating and sleeping on the boat for these three days had been a rather unconventional experience for Yan Chu.

From the green mountains and high cliffs on both banks at the beginning to the vast plains of today, every segment had its own scenery, and every day had its own beauty!

Yan Chu knew in his heart that what he had done could not be hidden forever.

Perhaps the Lian Family had already traced it back to him by now.

Therefore, he had already made up his mind.

Once they reached Linshui Prefecture, he would part ways with the Xinglong Escort Agency and assume a new identity to continue keeping a low profile.

"Heh heh! Go ahead and try to catch me!"

"Anyway, I have the Disguise Art; I can change my appearance whenever I want. Let's see how long you can keep chasing me!"

Yan Chu stood on the deck, letting the river breeze blow over him, and couldn't help but smile.

"Great Hero Duan seems to be in a good mood today?"

At that moment, a voice came from the side.

It was the Masked Woman from the caravan.

This was the first time in so many days that Yan Chu had heard her speak; her voice was indeed pleasant, like a clear spring in the mountains.

Yan Chu laughed and recited: "The tide is level with the banks, the wind is fair, and the sails are set!"

"Seeing such beautiful river scenery, I naturally feel good!"

"The tide is level with the banks, the wind is fair, and the sails are set..."

The woman softly recited these two lines, feeling even more that although the writing was simple, the Concept was magnificent. Her beautiful eyes brightened slightly as she said:

"I didn't expect that Great Hero Duan not only possesses superb martial arts but also such outstanding literary talent. Please forgive my rudeness!"

Yan Chu waved his hand and said: "Miss, there is no need for such formalities!"

"I am merely a plagiarist; these two lines were written by the ancients. I do not possess such literary talent!"

The woman smiled and did not reply, not knowing whether she believed him or not.

Just then, a large, three-story tall vessel was seen approaching from across the river.

The ship Yan Chu was riding on was already considered large, but compared to this one, it paled in comparison.

Not only was the ship massive, but it was also decorated with extreme luxury.

On the deck stood a row of guards, each with a sharp Aura, their temples bulging high, clearly possessing extraordinary strength.

On the flag at the top of the vessel, a large character "Gao" was written.

Facing this large ship, the ship captain hurriedly ordered a change in course, staying far away to avoid a collision.

All the boats on the river hurriedly moved to the sides, letting the large vessel pass through unhindered.

"That is the Gao Family's ship!"

Zhao Hui, Shopkeeper Tao, and others had arrived on the deck at some point, looking at the large ship with unreadable expressions.

"The Gao Family? Could it be that Gao Family, the number one Family in Linshui Prefecture?"

Yan Chu asked in surprise.

Although he was currently in Longhua Prefecture, he had heard of the Gao Family's formidable reputation.

Linshui Prefecture was different from Longhua Prefecture.

In Longhua Prefecture, several major factions existed side by side, competing daily with varying successes and failures.

In Linshui Prefecture, the Gao Family was the sole hegemon!

Apart from the Gao Family, no other faction could stand on the stage.

The only exception, Big Black Mountain, could only be forced into the mountains, surviving by gathering various mountain strongholds and collecting passage fees.

"Of course, who else could it be but that Gao Family?!"

"Shopkeeper Tao seems to have quite a strong opinion about the Gao Family!"

Yan Chu glanced at Shopkeeper Tao with some surprise.

This old man was always timid in his speech and actions; how could he dare to criticize the number one Family of Linshui Prefecture now?

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Tao's expression changed, and he stopped speaking.

He was afraid that walls had ears.

The Masked Woman chuckled and said:

"One cannot blame Shopkeeper Tao for this!"

"After the Gao Family became the number one Family in Linshui Prefecture, they eliminated dissent, monopolized markets, and took on almost every profitable business!"

"Many of Shopkeeper Tao's former business partners were squeezed out and had to go elsewhere, and Shopkeeper Tao's business was correspondingly greatly affected."

"Young Miss..."

Shopkeeper Tao looked at the Masked Woman with a bitter smile.

The Masked Woman continued:

"Actually, if it were just these things, the Gao Family wouldn't be so detested.

But they also impose heavy taxes on the merchants of Linshui Prefecture; anyone who dares to resist is bloodily suppressed by the Gao Family, and many great Families have been exterminated because of this.

In recent years, they have even extended their reach to other prefectures and counties.

Unfortunately, even the Prefect and Six Doors are wary of the Gao Family and dare not intervene at all, let alone anyone else."

"The Gao Family is this domineering?"

Yan Chu asked with some curiosity, "What do they rely on?"

"Of course, they rely on the Gao Family's Qilin son, Gao Yang!"

This was said by Zhao Hui.

Mentioning this name, the three people present all turned solemn, even the Masked Woman.

"Gao Yang? Gao Yang is from the Linshui Prefecture Gao Family?"

Hearing Yan Chu ask this, the three of them looked at him with strange expressions.

He actually didn't know that Gao Yang was from Linshui Prefecture?

Zhao Hui explained:

"Gao Yang is ranked seventh on the heavenly pride ranking. He is under twenty-five this year and is already a Sixth Realm expert; entering the Seventh Realm, the Spirit Illumination Realm, is just a matter of time.

Furthermore, he is a disciple of the Sword Palace Master, Venerable Wen Jian. In the future, it is highly probable that he will become a peerless powerhouse in the Mountain Shaking Realm!"

While saying this, Zhao Hui sighed in his heart.

Gao Yang was famous throughout Cangzhou Prefecture and was regarded as an idol by countless young people.

But how many people know the Gao Family's true style of conduct?

"Hmm..."

Yan Chu nodded.

He had indeed heard of Gao Yang, but he really hadn't known that he was from Linshui Prefecture.

He had originally thought that such a Genius must be a descendant of some top-tier Family with a long Legacy, not expecting that it was just a local prefectural Family.

As for the heavenly pride ranking...

There was probably no one in the Jianghu who didn't know these three words.

Whether in Pingyang City or Longhua Prefecture, Yan Chu had heard of this ranking list like thunder.

The heavenly pride ranking is compiled by the Number One Estate Under Heaven, selecting the twenty supreme Prodigies under the age of twenty-five from all over the world.

Anyone who can make it onto the list is a true Prodigy from their respective regions.

People like this are all regarded as future Ninth Realm experts.

Take Gao Yang, ranked seventh on the heavenly pride ranking, already a Sixth Realm expert before the age of twenty-five.

He is the idol and target of pursuit for countless young Martial Artists.

In his previous life, he would definitely be a top-tier superstar.

But in Longhua Prefecture, a Sixth Realm Martial Artist is already the foundation of a faction; it is even hard to say whether the four major factions have any Sixth Realm experts.

If Yan Chu didn't have the "Gratitude and Revenge" System, he would still be a meat shield in a small Gang!

He might have died miserably one day.

So when Yan Chu first heard his name, he thought to himself, isn't this clearly a protagonist?

And this person is not only strong himself.

His background is also very strong!

His Family isn't considered top-tier, but the Sect he is apprenticed to is the largest Sect in Tongzhou Prefecture.

His Master, Venerable Wen Jian, is even a Ninth Realm expert.

With his talent, he is definitely being groomed as the future Palace Master in the Hidden Sword Palace.

His future is bright.

The "Gao" flag on the large ship ahead fluttered high, chasing the waves as it sailed away.

Relying on the momentum of this Prodigy, the Gao Family has also developed extremely rapidly.

The subsequent journey did not have many twists and turns.

They sailed east along the Yang River, and finally, four days later, saw a large city in the distance.

Linshui Prefecture City had arrived!