A war horn suddenly sounded, deep, desolate, and tinged with oppression. It shook the nine heavens, stirring the entire Night Mist Sea into a tempest whose crashing breakers threatened to overturn the few brightly lit, broken grotto-heavens adrift within it.
Across the heavens, including in Sky City, the many noble idlers of the old mountain strongholds all turned pale.
Only now did they truly realize that the Golden Ranking's mobilization of the various divisions was dead serious. A war between supreme civilizations was genuinely about to erupt!
Earlier, they had entertained other thoughts, suspecting that the awakened Golden Ranking was taking a risky gamble, braving public outrage merely to discipline and purge internal factions.
"It's really opening an external supreme battlefield! A bloody, brutal war on this scale hasn't happened in countless great eras. We... we were born at the wrong time! How many will die before this is over?"
"The Golden Ranking is ruthless enough. Once this war ends, aren't those old monsters going to be nearly wiped out?"
"This time, the external threat is real. It's an invasion from another supreme dao court. We have no choice but to prepare for war."
They discussed it anxiously. Their fathers and older brothers were all heading to the battlefield; if those pillars fell outside, their own good days would come to an end.
These noble idlers could never compete with their clans' prodigies and core members. They spent their days hawking, hunting, and chasing pleasures, living quite comfortably.
Knowing full well whom they depended on for this carefree life, their bodies stiffened as they heard the muffled blare of the horn echoing up from the abyss, feeling its terrifying penetrative power.
At the edge of the Wilderness Forest, within the collective training grounds, saber light and sword qi soared into the sky. Hearts weighed heavy, yet everyone drilled their battle formations with solemn, focused discipline.
The immortal patterns woven into their standard-issue armor resonated together. When fighting in concert, their strength bolstered one another, unleashing horrifying divine might.
During a rest break, Qin Ming once again saw the elder whose hair was stark white to the roots. The man even flashed him a smile. What did that mean? Which family's old monster was this, and had he set his sights on him?
A moment later, Qin Ming entered the golden consciousness space, engaging in bloody combat against an assortment of bizarre monsters within the realistic scenarios conjured by the Golden Ranking.
When he walked out mentally exhausted, he suddenly grew vigilant. Another elder had appeared, possessing an imposing aura, his entire frame surrounded by golden glow.
It looked remarkably like the Extreme Dao Golden Body. Could a Tianzun of the Lu family have personally arrived?
Fortunately, this situation did not last long. Special weapons began emerging one after another from the abyss, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"I knew it! Figures like Xie Xiyan and Wei Shouzhen would never leave the abyss empty-handed," many exclaimed in admiration.
Their voices carried envy, but little jealousy—mainly because they realized the gap between them was immense; they simply weren't on the same plane.
"Once they reach the battlefield, heroes like that will surely be our generation's pillars, capable of hunting grandmasters on their own!"
When status, genuine cultivation, and skill differed by an insurmountable margin, even the most quarrelsome troublemakers kept their mouths shut.
However, when the frail, the sick, and the crippled also won the recognition of special weapon fragments and walked out bearing supreme treasures, the chattering onlookers fell slack-jawed into stunned silence.
Among them were grandmasters nearing the end of their lifespans, their path ahead decayed and devoid of hope, with at most a year or six months left to live.
Such figures came forth prepared to die, eager to shine their light one last time.
Additionally, there were several Third Realm "weaklings." Their talents could only be considered decent, far from dominating their peers.
Many felt that had they stepped forward, they would have performed far better. Why would those awakened weapons choose weaklings? They were thoroughly baffled.
Some approached with cautious inquiries. In the end, the awakened treasure fragments revealed the truth themselves.
They saw the shadows of their former masters in the chosen ones—a resemblance in features, or even a fleeting silhouette, enough to deliver an overwhelming rush of nostalgia to treasures lost in reminiscence.
The most absurd case was a youth of modest talent who entered the abyss and merely let out a melancholy sigh, murmuring, "Will I make it back alive?"
The supreme treasure had fully awakened on the spot, projecting a passage of immortal script and voluntarily imparting its control art to him.
Its previous master had once spoken similar words, looking back along the road behind him amidst years of relentless war, longing to return alive—to return to his hometown, to see whether his parents' graves still stood, or if they had long been swallowed by wild weeds without a trace, and whether anyone over the years still remembered to burn paper offerings for them.
Alas, that master had never returned from the battlefield. Even the weapon itself had been shattered, with only fragments brought back.
In the end, even the Golden Ranking intervened to mediate, since some precious fragments could hardly unleash their due power in the hands of the frail and the weak.
When necessary, supreme experts could borrow these special weapons for battle.
For instance, an early Third Realm youth could not provide enough dao resonance to sustain a treasure's prolonged awakening.
The Golden Ranking offered reassurance: "If weapons are borrowed from your hands, both I and the Seventh Realm experts who carry them into battle will naturally ensure your safety."
Someone who had personally touched Qin Ming's five-colored treasure fragment also tried to communicate with it, curious why it had chosen this young man of the Newborn path.
"Because he is thoroughly unpretentious. His eyes are as clear as spring water, his heart pure and unblemished—just like me." Such was the five-colored treasure fragment's reply.
Several people fell into deep thought. Could that really be trusted?
A good dog could hunt in the mountains on its own to support the family; a good cat could bring food home; and this weapon seemed to earn active substances by itself to sustain its own needs.
"Could it be... truly pure and unadorned? Their natures match."
"Give me a break! You're profaning the word 'pure'! What respectable weapon extorts dirty money? It even brought in a middleman!"
Naturally, such talk was confined to a small circle. Only those who had actually paid rare herbs and active substances knew the inside story. Upon hearing of it, the old monster from the Tai Ruins felt that Qin Ming was quite fine—far from rigid, and very much a talent worth grooming.
Qin Ming diligently adjusted his condition, frequently entering the golden consciousness space to slay enemies and hone himself against all manner of beasts.
During this period, he spotted several familiar faces in other squads from afar, such as Yu Gensheng and Li Qingyun, along with acquaintances from Kunjun's various academies like Xin Youdao and Jiang Ruoli, as well as Jin Xiang, the Golden Ram who had graduated years ago.
He also saw Tang Jin, Ling Yu, and Qi Qianchen—the hidden disciple of their lineage.
Qi Qianchen possessed innate wisdom from a past life and was held in high regard by their lineage's patriarch, Li Wuwei, because such people touched upon a taboo domain.
From far away, Master Wu flapped his wings in greeting. "Little Qin, long time no see!"
"Master Wu," Qin Ming warmly responded, nodding to the other acquaintances in that lineage.
Evidently, every standout being within Yujing's domain had been summoned.
With war looming, the atmosphere was taut. No faction dared to be careless, each drilling formations with absolute dedication.
Yet four days passed after the horn sounded without any movement, and people's strained nerves inevitably began to relax.
Sure enough, as people grew accustomed to the atmosphere, treasure ships resumed their evening journeys between the Wilderness Forest and the bustling city quarters after training ended.
Delightful flutes and zithers played, graceful dances unfolded, and fine wine gave off its fragrance—everything carried on as before. Qin Ming found it hard to decline hospitality and was invited to several banquets.
For instance, his nominal disciple Su Mohua came from a family rooted in Sky City, and the Su family hosted him warmly.
Previously, some in the Su family had harbored complaints about Su Mohua taking a young man from the surface of nearly the same age as her master. But as they learned more, the attitudes of some shifted completely.
"Never defeated within the same realm... could he be Taiyi?"
"Don't scoff, that's actually quite possible!"
"According to what Mohua and Moran witnessed, if the direct disciples of Sage Pugong's lineage in the Third Realm wield Chaos force, then Qin Ming at the same level unleashes super Chaos force—far more domineering and far more formidable!"
As a master, Qin Ming hadn't prepared any gifts for his disciple, yet he received a great void shift talisman gifted by the Su family. Such an item could only be crafted by an Earth Immortal.
At a juncture like this, even an immense hoard of day gold could not buy such a rare life-saving treasure.
Additionally, members of the Lu family, of the Tianzun lineage, arranged a meeting with Qin Ming. A grandmaster appeared in person, and with Lu Jingli also present, the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.
The Lu family grandmaster was quite talkative, whereas Lu Jingli said very little. She sat quietly to one side throughout, speaking only occasionally, such as asking when Qin Ming would break through the hurdle into the Fourth Realm.
Only afterward did Qin Ming realize that this had resembled an initial matchmaking encounter, though the young woman hadn't seemed particularly enthusiastic.
That suited him fine; he had no desire to draw close to that Tianzun right now.
"Though there's a saying in the heavens that one should choose a wife from the Huang family, the Lu family isn't bad either—they're truly formidable!"
This was what Pei Shuyan had gathered.
The Lu family was powerful; their only shortcoming was historical heritage. Unlike the Huang family, they had not produced Heavenly Gods or Heavenly Immortals across several exceptional great eras.
"The Huang family is that strong?" Qin Ming asked in surprise, having heard this mentioned more than once.
Pei Shuyan nodded. "Of course. In fact, before Yujing fell apart, the Huang family still had a living ancestor residing within it."
He had truly put in the effort, gathering a great deal of crucial information despite having arrived in the heavens not long ago.
Qin Ming said, "When Yujing collapsed, everything returned to nothing. Even if that Huang family ancestor possessed power to rival heaven and earth, they must have vanished into the mists of history."
Pei Shuyan countered, "Not necessarily. Yujing has a ten-colored iceberg. Rumor has it that when Yujing was reborn and reappeared, that iceberg was still there."
Qin Ming's heart stirred. Back when Old Bu had taken him beyond the heavens, he had indeed spotted a ten-colored iceberg from afar, dotted with ice caves whose mouths were sealed with web-like strands.
Pei Shuyan added, "Historically, some of the Huang family's Heavenly Gods were sons-in-law recruited into the family, nurtured before they ever rose to prominence. Relying solely on one clan to flourish perpetually is impossible; fresh, powerful blood must be brought in."
Instantly, Qin Ming thought of Wei Shouzhen, whom he had seen the other day.
On this day, something went awry with the Golden Ranking. Several experts discovered that no matter how they called upon it, the responses they received were perfunctory, as though only a phantasmal projection remained.
In truth, it had vanished. Earth Immortal-level old monsters could clearly perceive that the golden light in the sky was not its true body.
Rumble!
The following day, golden mist surged like a tsunami. The Night Mist Sea churned violently as the Golden Ranking returned from afar, making no effort to conceal its magnificent tremors.
"I went to our adversary's medicine fields to gather herbs, claiming a portion of interest in advance," the Golden Ranking announced. Crossing boundless territories, it had actually ventured straight into enemy lands.
Shock washed over everyone, leaving them dumbfounded. This was what it had done during its day of disappearance? How fiercely bold!
"They occupied our enclave and pillaged many of our rare mineral deposits. Even if we defeat them, recovering all our losses would be difficult."
Hence, the Golden Ranking had gone to make up the difference, securing precious herbs for the war and corresponding rewards for afterward.
In this regard, it was far more dependable than the New Board.
Listening, the crowd felt their scalps tingle. Venturing out on its own, it was overbearing to an extraordinary degree!
People could only marvel that it truly lived up to its role as the Golden Ranking dedicated to external warfare, ready to plunge into the fray entirely alone.
The Golden Ranking remarked, "The harvest was far smaller than you might imagine."
The other side had been cautious and on guard, harvesting many of their great herbs in advance.
The Golden Ranking had shown no courtesy. Confronted with ancestral trees and spiritual vines stripped of their fruit, though it left the roots unharmed, it had lopped off numerous branches and even squeezed out portions of their tree sap essence.
It hadn't uprooted them, for some ancient spiritual roots were unique solitary specimens. The slightest carelessness would destroy them entirely, harming the harmony of heaven and incurring the revulsion of the realm.
Everyone knew the footsteps of war were drawing closer, their echoes already audible.
The Golden Ranking was having people refine the herbs into medicine. Once that was done, departure would surely follow.
Over the past few days, Tang Yushang had keenly sensed that her ancestor seemed to be quietly watching Qin Ming, scrutinizing him from afar across the sky several times.
*Is he planning to vent my frustration for me?*
In public, Tang Yushang was dignified, like a celestial maiden descending upon the mortal world, carrying an ethereal, unearthly aura. In private, however, she was remarkably down-to-earth—she loved to laugh, wept and lodged petty complaints when she lost, and grumbled behind closed doors, presenting a stark contrast.
She had felt thoroughly humiliated this time and hadn't dared mention the duel to those around her.
*The old ancestor is truly attentive. Even though I didn't go to him, he noticed on his own. Is he going to stand up for me?* Tang Yushang felt pleased, her mood brightening.
Bai Meng had also noticed. Was the old ancestor genuinely taking an interest? He harbored guesses of his own, but dared not voice the truth, terrified of being dragged in and taking another round of humiliating abuse for no reason.
Maintaining an air of reserve, Tang Yushang remarked casually, "Forget it, I'm not that petty. Let's keep an eye on things, though—don't let the ancestor actually strike him. That would be going too far."
Hearing this, Bai Meng kept silent, feeling that the more he said, the more likely he was to err.
Over these days, many visitors arrived outside the Wilderness Forest, all hailing from the various old mountain strongholds to see off the departing army. Their fathers and brothers were in the ranks.
"If you feel it necessary, you may write your wills in advance."
The Golden Ranking was brutally blunt. Issuing such words right before departure instantly shattered the relaxed atmosphere that had briefly settled.
That day, many people truly took up their brushes. Amid heavy sighs, they left their written words, which would be delivered to their homelands should they fail to return.
Qin Ming fell silent. He wanted to write, yet knew not to whom. His kin were gone; his old friends were either far away or lost to time.
Other close acquaintances were already in the ranks, marching off to war alongside him. With a quiet sigh, he cast aside brush and paper.
As for leaving a letter for Twin Trees Village, he considered it and decided against it. Should he fail to return, such a letter might only bring trouble to that remote hamlet.
"We're about to set out. My heart feels heavy and nervous. I wonder if I can come back alive."
"What is there to fear? If we don't march over, that supreme civilization will invade us anyway. Striking proactively shows the Golden Ranking has confidence and resolve. We are bound to win a grand victory!"
"No need for dread. This era is precisely when our generation makes its name and builds its legacy! Perhaps in this supreme war, we can break through our old bottlenecks. In every age of chaos, future peers of renown always emerge and rise to greatness. You and I might just be among them!"
Some wore worried expressions, while others were rough, bold, and fearless in the face of the looming clash.
"Tell me, who counts as a supreme expert of the Seventh Realm?"
Evidently, raising such a question was an attempt to identify the world's strongest figures, for the Seventh Realm was the ceiling—one could climb no higher. Even if Heavenly Immortal-level beings had once existed, they had long decayed.
"The Seventh Realm is too distant from us. We don't understand it and can't judge. But I know who among our generation has the right to become an incomparable grandmaster."
"Indeed, only a handful. More precisely, they could become supreme grandmasters. Once we reach the battlefield, we can witness their glory."
"Time to depart!" The next day, the Golden Ranking quaked. With a thunderous boom, it manifested its colossal true form, blotting out the sky. Its true form was indeed nothing more than a divine banner, fully unrolling to allow everyone to board. The grand army was about to journey far to the battlefield!
Chapter 534