Chapter 208

Chapter 208: Xu Ming, Azurecloud List, Second (4000 words, combined two chapters)

“Meh.”

The young girl slowly spoke, her tone as cold as the longsword hanging at her waist.

Her eyes were icy, as if nothing mattered to her. If she so desired, anything in this world could be severed by the sword in her hand.

Or maybe it wasn’t just her—it seemed most sword cultivators tied all things to the power of their blade.

Only such a sword cultivator could keep moving forward without hesitation.

Despite her intimidating aura, the girl was undeniably beautiful. Her pitch-black hair flowed down her back, reaching her waist like a smooth black waterfall. Her pert nose was small yet exquisite.

Below it, her cherry-like lips appeared fresh and tender.

Her skin was incredibly delicate, not what one would expect from a swordswoman. Yet the heroic aura in her gaze made her seem like a wild horse—untamable by anyone.

“The younger sister says it’s average, then it must be average.”

Hearing the girl’s evaluation, the elder merely smiled, refraining from further comment.

The other four disciples dared not make any remarks.

Though the sword qi might have been somewhat crude, its overwhelming power and sharpness far surpassed their own.

Of course, that was only relative to them.

To the young girl before them, whatever she said was gospel truth.

Because among the younger generation, there was no one in the entire world who could surpass her.

The girl’s name was Xuenuo.

With an innate sword bone, she refined it at the age of six, obtaining her life-bonded flying sword, and entered the Cavern Realm immediately upon beginning her cultivation path—a prodigy.

Now, she was the sole disciple of the current master of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

All disciples addressed her as “elder sister,” and many elders of the sect called her “junior sister.” Without mishap, she would become the next master of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

Few contested this fact.

Two male disciples couldn’t help but glance at this “junior sister,” captivated by her beauty.

Yet every time they looked, they shivered involuntarily, quickly averting their gazes, fearing they’d be injured by her sword qi.

Come to think of it, none of them had ever seen this junior sister smile.

They even doubted whether she knew how to smile.

“I wonder which guest from the Heavenly Profound Gate this is.” The elder stroked his beard, looking afar. “Let’s continue, we shouldn’t miss our timing.”

“Yes.”

Everyone performed a sword salute and followed the elder forward.

Xuenuo gazed toward the distant mountain ranges, and in her mind, the figure of a little girl surfaced.

It had been nearly eleven years since she last saw her. How was she doing? Was she alright? Then another figure appeared in Xuenuo’s mind—that of a little boy.

Thinking of this boy, Xuenuo clenched her fists.

“You cannot use the Blood Sword Technique because your bloodlines are completely different; you two aren’t real siblings.”

In Xuenuo’s ears echoed her master’s words from long ago.

At the Heavenly Profound Gate, spiritual energy dissipated, and the sky returned to calm. Xu Ming and Yun stood facing each other.

Xu Ming’s longsword pointed at Yun’s shoulder.

But Yun’s greatsword rested on Xu Ming’s neck.

Judging by the stance, Yun had won.

Yet not a single disciple cheered.

Looking at the man before him, Yun felt both excitement and regret.

Excitement because this young brother was undoubtedly the strongest peer opponent he had ever faced.

Facing his sword earlier, Yun couldn’t help but break through his current realm.

Yun knew that breaking through to use that final strike meant he had already lost.

But Yun didn’t care.

Win or lose, what he sought was an exhilarating battle.

Regretfully, “Where did you get those wounds?” Yun asked Xu Ming, his tone filled with dissatisfaction.

“Previously, I was ambushed by the Bliss Sect and sustained some injuries.” Xu Ming responded calmly.

“Once you’re healed, let’s fight again. This match wasn’t satisfying enough today.” Carrying his greatsword, Yun turned and walked away into thin air. “This time, you win.”

Xu Ming sheathed his sword, looking at his right hand—the tiger’s mouth split open from Yun’s previous strike, blood dripping continuously.

Recalling that strike, Xu Ming shook his head.

Yun claimed victory because he used his Dragon Gate Realm strength for the final blow.

But in Xu Ming’s eyes, he had lost.

If Yun hadn’t retracted his sword, he would have died under it.

In real combat, you wouldn’t have the chance to say something like “Your realm is higher than mine, that’s unfair.”

Speaking of which, apart from childhood play with Xiao Bai, when he was ridden by Xiao Bai, this was the first time he had truly lost to someone of the same generation, despite the other being over a decade older. In the cultivation world, a decade really didn’t mean much.

Just as Xu Ming was about to turn around, beams of azure spiritual light coalesced in the air above the Heavenly Profound Gate, forming an azure list.

In the Northern Sea Imperial Palace, a woman clad in a pale blue imperial gown sat on a crystal throne.

The Dragon Empress closed her eyes, her white and tender palms supporting her head, dozing off.

When the palace maid entered and saw the Dragon Empress reclining on the crystal throne, she momentarily lost herself.

The Dragon Empress leaned against the embroidered lounge, her raven hair spread out like clouds, even in slumber retaining a misty sorrow in her features.

The maid’s gaze swept over her butterfly-like eyelashes, her cherry-red lips, finally resting on her inadvertently exposed shoulders. The maid caught her breath—her skin, white as milk, her slightly disheveled silk robes, shimmering brilliantly compared to pearls placed beside her.

Even as a woman, every time she saw her empress, she was stunned by the empress’s beauty.

She simply couldn’t comprehend why such a beautiful existence existed in the world.

What irked her was that a certain nun from the Western Regions ranked first on the Red Beauty List.

What qualifications did that nun have to rank first?

The empress was incomparable! The maid dared not disturb the empress’s rest, standing quietly in the hall waiting for her to awaken.

But the maid didn’t feel bored.

If possible, she would willingly watch forever; the empress’s beauty never ceased to amaze her.

Unfortunately, the next moment, the empress’s lashes flickered, her eyes slowly opening.

“Your Majesty.” The maid quickly knelt.

The empress’s lazy, drowsy eyes looked at her attendant without speaking, her voice echoing throughout the palace. “What is it?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the sisters Ruolan and Ruoye have sent word.” The maid respectfully stated.

“Speak.”

“The sisters Ruolan and Ruoye are already on their way back to the Northern Sea but have not brought Xu Ming along. They said Xu Ming is too powerful and has suffered significant injuries. Forcibly bringing him back might endanger his life.

However, Xu Ming said that if Your Majesty invites Wu Kingdom to send envoys to the Northern Sea, if he is chosen as the envoy, he will certainly come with respect.”

The maid clearly relayed Ruolan and Ruoye’s message.

The empress yawned, neither particularly angry nor overly eager.

She truly wanted to find him.

But whether this Xu Ming was indeed the one still remained uncertain.

For tens of thousands of years, the magical array often indicated someone, only for them to turn out to be the wrong person.

This Xu Ming was merely a possibility.

“Then write a letter to Wu Kingdom,” the empress slowly said. “Incidentally, soon after, we in the Northern Sea will hold the Grand Ceremony of the Four Seas. Wu Kingdom has the qualification to attend.”

“Yes.” The maid replied.

“If there is nothing else, you may retreat.” The empress continued supporting her head, slowly closing her eyes.

“Your servant takes her leave.” The maid bowed and stepped backward until leaving the palace.

And just as the maid left, the empress opened her eyes once more.

Standing up, she looked upward toward the palace ceiling as if sensing something.

A streak of light passed, and the palace was suddenly empty.

Meanwhile, on the boundless sea surface of the Northern Sea, merfolk, giant whales, and dragon-like creatures emerged from the water, their eyes blinking as they stared at the sky.

On several islands of the Northern Sea, residents also raised their heads.

In an instant, various places across the Northern Sea became mysteriously lively.

Ordinary people and cultivators alike pointed at the heavens, discussing animatedly.

Suddenly, in the center of the Northern Sea, a massive wave appeared, spreading outward to form hundred-meter-high tidal waves.

Before the myriad races of the Northern Sea could react, the overwhelming dragon aura filled the entire Northern Sea.

Whether the myriad races on the sea surface or the residents near the central islands, all bowed their heads.

As the waves calmed, the barefoot empress stood on the water surface, raising her head to look at the azure list in the sky.

[From Wu Kingdom, Xu Ming, Martial Artist Heroic Soul Realm, Qi Practitioner Sea Observing Realm, within three months defeated the Black Lotus Sect Holy Maiden Mo Zhu’er, killed the Black Lotus Sect Holy Son Wuming, assassinated the Bliss Sect master Cuirenwang, and bested the Heavenly Profound Gate’s top disciple Yun.

Ranked second on the Azurecloud List.]

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

In the capital of Wu Kingdom, Eunuch Wei hurried in, kneeling before Emperor Wu.

“What is it?”

Emperor Wu, who was reading reports, didn’t even lift his head.

“Your Majesty! The Azurecloud List has changed!” Wei Xun excitedly reported.

Emperor Wu put down the report: “Changed is changed. Why are you making such a fuss? Is it someone from our Wu Kingdom?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! This person is—Xu Guo Mansion’s Xu Ming!”

“Xu Ming? Wasn’t he already twentieth on the Azurecloud List?” Emperor Wu slowly said.

Three months ago, Xu Ming was already twentieth on the Azurecloud List.

In just these three short months, how much could he have advanced?

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Zhuangyuan…his Azurecloud List ranking…ranking…” Even Wei Xun was too excited to articulate his words.

Emperor Wu didn’t wait for him, standing up and walking out of the Imperial Study directly.

When Emperor Wu saw the azure list in the sky, he first paused, then burst into laughter:

“Xu Ming, Azurecloud List, second?! Hahaha! Our Wu Kingdom has produced the second-ranked individual on the Azurecloud List! Hahaha!”

In Wu Kingdom’s history, the highest rank on the Azurecloud List was only fourth place! There had never been a second! And the first-place individual of this year’s Azurecloud List was a once-in-a-millennium genius! Even the city lord of Tianji City once said, “As long as he is here, unless he turns thirty and leaves the Azurecloud List, all the geniuses of the ages can come, but they can only settle for second.”

In other words, Xu Ming was essentially the Azurecloud List’s first place, except that the current second was absurd.

“Wei Xun! Emperor Wu shouted loudly.

“Your servant is here.”

“Xu Ming ranks second on the Azurecloud List, enhancing the prestige of our Wu Kingdom! Reward Xu Guo Mansion with ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of silk, a Yunlei horse, confer the title of Lady Yangwu on Xu Ming’s mother, and grant her the rank of second-level matron!”

“Yes.”

On a plain in Changping Prefecture of Wu Kingdom,

A girl clad in armor thrust her spear straight through a rebel general’s heart.

Lifting the rebel leader high like a banner, the girl cried out, “Charge!”

Her heroic voice wasn’t loud but resonated across the battlefield.

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

Behind the girl, Wu Kingdom soldiers charged forward, cutting down rebel heads one by one.

Changping Prefecture was the fief of Prince Xi.

But according to intelligence from the Wind Listening Pavilion, Prince Xi was plotting rebellion.

Upon learning this, Emperor Wu summoned Prince Xi to the capital under the pretext of a spring hunt.

Knowing his plans were uncovered, Prince Xi refused to go to the capital and instead raised troops.

Princess Wu Yanhan, appointed as General Yunchui, of third rank, led three hundred thousand troops to suppress the rebellion! After seven months of warfare, Prince Xi found himself cornered and decided to fight a decisive battle on the Changhan Plain!

After Wu Yanhan killed the highest-ranking rebel officer, Prince Xi’s army’s morale collapsed, retreating incessantly.

Wu Yanhan flung the corpse off her spear and charged ahead into the city, leading her personal guards straight into Prince Xi’s palace.

When Wu Yanhan emerged kicking Prince Xi’s head,

Beams of azure spiritual energy drifted towards her from the sky.

Wu Yanhan looked up, the mist above her head eventually forming an azure list. On it, one name stood out prominently.

“Xu Ming, second on the Azurecloud List.”

“This guy truly has some skills.”

Wu Yanhan withdrew her gaze and continued forward.

“Your Highness!” Just as Wu Yanhan exited the palace, a soldier ran up, kneeling before her.

“What is it?” Wu Yanhan coldly asked.

“An urgent decree from His Majesty. After capturing Prince Xi’s palace, Your Highness need not return to the capital. His Majesty orders you to visit the Heavenly Profound Gate as an envoy and attend their Purple Mist Grand Ceremony.”

[Without realizing it, this book has reached half a million words. Roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the content remains, likely finishing around two million words? Or perhaps one point seven to eight hundred thousand words.

Regardless, this book must be written well, striving to complete it.]