"Besides that...there have been changes in the Human Ranking."
The storyteller slapped his block and exclaid, "Iron Arhat challenged Li Qinghe and was defeated again. Then he was challenged on the spot by the Goddess Constable Yan Wushuang, and after a long struggle, he lost by one move and fell out of the top ten of the Human Ranking. Goddess Constable Yan Wushuang has moved up to the tenth position in the Human Ranking!"
"Also... the one in ninety-ninth place, Gu Qingying of the Lonely Goose Saber, was rumored to have killed his own aunt and her entire family of seventeen. After an investigation by the Divine Catcher Yan Wushuang, it was proven to be a wrongful accusation, and the real perpetrator was Black Widow Hua Miao. However, this person has encountered one disaster after another, and it is said that he has lost the arm he used for wielding his saber. His martial arts greatly diminished, and he has sadly dropped off the rankings..."
Inside the teahouse, things beca even livelier.
For most martial artists, the Earth and Heaven Rankings are out of reach. Only the Human Ranking seems attainable with so effort.
Additionally, due to the fierce competition, changes in the Human Ranking occur rapidly, attracting widespread attention and enthusiasm.
Zhong Shenxiu leaned in slightly, listening attentively.
He hadn’t known the final situation of that battle at the ti.
It now seed that Heavenly chanism Star Du Tong and Red Granny had failed to capture Black Widow, instead making her famous in a single battle.
As for Gu Qingying, though he lost an arm, he had at least cleared his na and preserved his life.
Even if he had lost his ranking on the Human Ranking, it might not have been a blessing in disguise.
"Speaking of which, this person possesses a treasure that led to the destruction of the Wang Family. According to Heavenly chanism Star Du Tong, it is likely a cultivation technique manual that could rank among the list of extraordinary cultivation techniques..."
Zhong Shenxiu felt sowhat regretful.
At that mont, he had been closest to reaching the Heaven Ranking.
However, at the ti, his martial arts were inadequate. His fifth-level dicine Sand Palm was at best considered good in Jianghu, but still not enough to defeat Gu Qingying, who had lost an arm.
And even if he had won, he would have had to deal with subsequent assassinations from the Five Poison Sect and even the Heavenly chanism Star, which would have been unwise, and thus he chose not to pursue.
Because of this, although he missed out on a divine cultivation manual, compared to his life, it was worth it.
"This honored guest, soone inside the private room has requested your presence."
Just then, a waiter ca up and spoke in a low voice.
"Soone’s asking for ? Lead the way!"
Zhong Shenxiu was startled but imdiately guessed. Could it be soone from the Nine Elents Sect?
Given that this sect dominates this region and dislikes the expansion of the San Shan Sect, were they preparing to support the remnants of the Shanyao Gang to suppress the San Shan Sect?
Was it not a bit too early for that?
With a bit of skepticism, he entered the private room and imdiately saw a person.
She was a beautiful woman at the age of twenty with exquisitely cut shoulders and a delicate and elegant face, exuding a sense of compassion and pity.
Zhong Shenxiu was taken aback, and upon closer examination, he felt that although the woman was dressed in ordinary female attire, it did nothing to diminish her beauty. It seed, however, to carry a unique sternness tinged with Evil Qi typical of officialdom.
Compassion and ruthlessness strangely blended together in this woman.
It seed she could, in one thought, beco a rciful bodhisattva saving countless lives or a cold and ruthless enforcer.
"Xun Liuyi, of obscure origin, originally an orphan from Little Mountain City. He later joined the Shanyao Gang. Initially, he was of diocre ability, yet during the San Shan Sect’s attack on the Shanyao Gang a month ago, he displayed extraordinary martial arts and caught the eye of Wei Baizhu, who taught him the incomplete ’Five Elents Thief Palm’..."
The woman lifted her head, her lips slightly curled, "Am I right?"
"This style... are you a governnt official? Tenth on the Human Ranking, the Goddess Constable Yan Wushuang?" Zhong Shenxiu sat down opposite Yan Wushuang, scrutinizing the Goddess Constable.
Yan Wushuang seed to be accustod to being scrutinized, expressing no concern. Instead, he asked, "How can you tell?"
"Only those from the officialdom possess the aptitude to probe into others’ secrets while maintaining an air of righteousness... And your deanor alternates between that of a life-saving Bodhisattva and a nacing governnt official. It’s likely the renowned Divine Capture Sect’s unique technique—Jialan Fan Hand, isn’t it? A Goddess Constable capable of making feel threatened can only be Yan Wushuang in Jianghu," Zhong Shenxiu said, smiling slightly.
"It seems... you indeed concealed your skills back at Shanyao Gang," Yan Wushuang returned the smile and pulled out a token. "I am Yan Wushuang from the Divine Capture Bureau!"
"Goddess Constable graces Anshan City with her presence, may I know your business here?" asked Zhong Shenxiu. "There aren’t any top ten Human Ranking experts here, nor are there any major cases... Ah, wait, perhaps there is one."
He thought of sothing, suddenly shocked.
The Sect Master of the Nine Elents Sect, in his youth, had made it onto the Human Ranking, but was defeated within a year.
It seed unlikely that Yan Wushuang was here for a martial contest, so she must have co to investigate.
And the biggest case near Anshan City was indeed at Niu Shenjun Temple, where two major Earth Ranking experts had dueled. It involved Red Granny, an Earth Ranking Grandmaster; Gu Qingying, a Human Ranking Expert; and the massacre of the Wang Family!
"Indeed... Niu Shenjun Temple, you were an eyewitness."
Yan Wushuang appeared to have anticipated this.
"But I was completely unaware of it; it was rely a coincidence," Zhong Shenxiu frowned, feeling quite troubled.
"As for Gu Qingying, his matter has been settled, and Black Widow Hua Miao wouldn’t concern herself with soone as minor as you, but the sa can’t be said for others from the Five Poison Sect..."
"Recently, the imperial court has learned of a large number of Miao people Martial Artists entering the vicinity of Anshan City. What do you think?" asked Yan Wushuang.
"Nothing much; surely they aren’t specifically coming to trouble ?"
Zhong Shenxiu shook his head.
"But what if... I want them to trouble you?" Yan Wushuang lifted her head. "Of course, I will ensure your safety."
"Is the Divine Capture Sect planning to put out false information to lure them out?" asked Zhong Shenxiu, his expression unchanging. "What’s in it for ?"
"It could eliminate risks. We trust you, but the Five Poison Sect might not, especially since at that ti, you could have obtained sothing from Gu Qingying, for one."
Yan Wushuang spoke calmly, "Secondly, the imperial court is collecting all major Cultivation Techniques; we even have the remnants of the Five Elents Thief Palm. If you distinguish yourself, I could recomnd you to join the Divine Capture Sect..."
"Once you master the Five Elents Thief Palm and gather the five elents, your Inner Strength will quickly mature, and you can transition your blood with the power of the five organs. Your progress will be rapid, with a good chance to make it onto the Human Ranking."
Typically, if a Jianghu Martial Artist fully developed his Inner Strength and passed the blood transition before reaching thirty, he could attempt to make it onto the Human Ranking.
If one broke through to beco a Master of Marrow Refining, he could be listed on the Earth Ranking.
And if incredibly fortunate, after passing the divine threshold, he could attempt to register on the Heavenly Ranking!
Of course, realm does not equate to combat power. There are nurous examples of individuals who, after secluding themselves for intensive cultivation and finally achieving a breakthrough, eagerly challenged a master and ended up dead.
But at least, in the eyes of Wei Baizhu and Yan Wushuang, once soone successfully practiced the Five Elents Thief Palm, there was at least the hope of making an impact on the Human Ranking.
This was no small temptation for all young Jianghu Martial Artists!
"Indeed, the Divine Capture Sect is straightforward, but I have no intention of joining the imperial service. If we could collaborate to handle the mbers of the Five Poison Sect nearby, I only desire the martial skills."
Zhong Shenxiu pondered, setting his terms: "Besides, how can I trust you?"
"That’s simple..."
Yan Wushuang spoke earnestly, "If you understand the Jialan Fan Hand more deeply, you should know that this martial art requires strict adherence to precepts to avoid deviation and madness. One of my precepts is—never to break my word!"
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