Chapter 456 - 249: Ranking
Chapter 456: Chapter 249: Ranking
"What are you all talking about?"
Gao Lin stepped into the dining hall to find the disciples paying no attention to their food. Instead, they were all chattering about incomprehensible things. "That Blazing Blade has some serious nerve!" "The bastard’s out committing crimes again!" "If only I knew his identity..."
Zhu Yuan said, "Senior Brother Gao, you haven’t heard? The Blazing Blade struck again last night. He robbed Liu’s Pharmacy of its money and Spirit Medicine, and even killed Elder Liu Qingyuan’s son, Liu Xunfeng."
Gao Lin was shocked. ’This Blazing Blade really is audacious, to dare to kill even Elder Liu Qingyuan’s son.’
’This man is completely unhinged. After he robbed the Su Family, their entire clan fell apart. To think he’d show up again after disappearing for over a year.’
"I heard Elder Liu Qingyuan has already put out a public bounty," Zhu Yuan said, looking tempted. "Anyone who can provide information on the Blazing Blade’s identity will receive ten thousand taels of silver, a stalk of Spirit Medicine, and a personal favor from Elder Liu."
The Blazing Blade had committed too many crimes. It wasn’t just Liu Qingyuan offering a bounty; many other victims had posted rewards as well. The total prize money added up to fifty or sixty thousand taels of silver, but sadly, no one yet knew the Blazing Blade’s true identity.
"I’m afraid it’ll be just like last time. The bounty can be as high as they want, but it’ll be useless," Gao Lin said with a laugh.
He was tempted by the bounty too, but no one had any idea who the Blazing Blade was. Even that name had simply been created based on the characteristics of his Cultivation Technique.
"It’s a desperate attempt," Zhu Yuan said, his voice laced with fear. "His only heir was killed, so Elder Liu has gone mad with rage. He’s been rounding up people with shady pasts in Cyan Yang City and killing them on the spot. I heard he’s already killed a dozen or so."
Liu Qingyuan had completely lost it. A whole night had passed, and Cyan Yang City was still on lockdown—people were allowed in, but no one was allowed out.
"Senior Brother Zhu, what’s this about killing a dozen people?"
At the sound of the voice, Gao Lin and Zhu Yuan looked up to see Xu Yang. They both broke into a smile.
Gao Lin said gloatingly, "Liu Qingyuan’s son. The Blazing Blade slaughtered him last night."
He left it at that, not elaborating on the bad blood between Xu Yang and Liu Qingyuan.
"How truly unfortunate. That Blazing Blade has some serious nerve," Xu Yang said with a smile.
Zhu Yuan chimed in, "That Liu Xunfeng had no talent, but he was sitting on a massive fortune. He’d long been a fat sheep in everyone’s eyes. I just never thought someone would dare show up at his door to rob and kill him while Elder Liu is still alive."
For the next few days, a state of panic gripped Cyan Yang City. Everyone who lived on the wrong side of the law laid low, terrified that Liu Qingyuan would come for them.
Liu Qingyuan continued his killing spree in Cyan Yang City for several days, but he still failed to find the Blazing Blade. In the end, under pressure from the Purple Sun Sect, he had no choice but to lift the city’s lockdown.
SCREECH!
That day, a sharp eagle’s cry echoed through the heavens. The disciples of Li Fire Peak looked up to see a giant eagle flying in from the horizon. Standing ramrod-straight on its back were several figures, including Lu Tianchen and Elder Huoyun.
Judging by the bloodstains on their tattered robes, they had clearly been through a major battle.
The giant eagle arrived over Li Fire Peak, and Elder Huoyun, Elder Tie Fu, and Elder Gong Shu leaped from its back.
"Master’s back." Xu Yang breathed a sigh of relief.
With Elder Huoyun back, he could finally relax and once again throw himself wholeheartedly into his cultivation.
...
"Useless fools! You can’t even find a single person!"
「On Tianquan Peak」
Liu Qingyuan was seething. Over half a month had passed since his son, Liu Xunfeng, had been murdered. Despite mobilizing all his contacts and increasing the bounty, he still hadn’t found the Blazing Blade.
He Song trembled, not daring to speak.
’If a Celestial Essence expert like Liu Qingyuan can’t uncover the Blazing Blade’s identity, how could we? The Blazing Blade never leaves any witnesses, making it impossible to investigate.’
’Some people suspected the Blazing Blade was a disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, but with so many disciples, it would be impossible to find him, even if they were all summoned and questioned one by one.’
After calming himself for a moment, Liu Qingyuan finally spoke. "What is it you have to report?"
He Song cupped his fists. "Master, the ranking challenges for the Ten Heroes List are about to begin. Yan Guiyun has still not returned, so the Sect Leader asks that you make a trip to the Yunling Mountain Range to find him."
Upon hearing this, a look of displeasure flashed across Liu Qingyuan’s face. ’I’m busy trying to avenge my son, yet Zhang Jingyuan wants me to go to the Yunling Mountain Range to search for Yan Guiyun.’
’Yan Guiyun went to the Yunling Mountain Range to seek a chance for a breakthrough. If he succeeded, he’d come back on his own. If he hasn’t come back, he’s either dead or hasn’t broken through yet. What’s the point in looking for him?’
"I understand!" Liu Qingyuan said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Though inwardly displeased, he didn’t dare disobey the Sect Leader’s command.
Time passed, and the Purple Sun Sect gradually grew more lively. The ranking challenges for the Ten Heroes List were about to begin. On Tianquan Peak, construction on the tournament stages had already begun, and disciples from every peak were waiting in eager anticipation.
The Ten Heroes List was initially ranked by Li Songhe based on each disciple’s innate talent, without considering factors like their Cultivation.
Once the challenges began, factors like talent and Root Bone would no longer be considered. Only strength mattered. Whoever was the strongest would be number one.
"Can the Young Master Marquis, Jiang Fan, keep his number one spot?"
"There’s bound to be a huge fight between Li Chuyang and the Young Master Marquis."
"Yan Guiyun and Zhang Hanzhou have been cultivating for much longer. The Ten Heroes List is bound for a major shake-up."
...
Discussions like these grew more and more common as everyone eagerly awaited the upcoming challenge. Some disciples who considered themselves strong but hadn’t made the list were secretly building up their power.
Before long, the Sect announced the rewards for the Ten Heroes List challenge: for every rank climbed, the reward was one Leopard Embryo Muscle-Toning Pill.