Supreme Changsheng, First Supreme of the Hundred Supremes Ranking!

Boom! The appearance of the Hundred Supremes Ranking sent immense shockwaves through everyone in the grand hall. This was the Hundred Supremes Ranking! It was not yet fully finalized, existing currently as a "preliminary draft." It still needed revisions before the final, true Hundred Supremes Ranking was established. Yet, even as a preliminary version, it held profound significance. Broadly speaking, the preliminary draft rarely contained major errors. The final version would merely make minor adjustments. The unveiling of the ranking immediately seized everyone's attention. Both the Sovereigns and the cosmic mighty figures turned their gazes toward it without exception. Lu Changsheng was no different. However, he did not look for his own name first. Instead, he immediately looked to the very top—the first rank on the Hundred Supremes Ranking. He wanted to see who held the number one spot. "First on the Hundred Supremes Ranking... Supreme Qiushan!" Lu Changsheng read the name in the first position. Supreme Qiushan! Lu Changsheng had heard of this name before. On the previous ranking, he had been ranked third. Now, he had ascended to first. "Number one is Supreme Qiushan! He has finally persevered and made it to the top." "Indeed. But rumor has it that in order to take first place on the Hundred Supremes Ranking, Supreme Qiushan stubbornly delayed his breakthrough to the Third Realm, all just to stand at the absolute pinnacle of the ranking!" "That's true. Supreme Qiushan was already capable of advancing to the Third Realm, yet he dragged his feet the entire time. The previous first and second Supremes have both advanced to the Third Realm, so wouldn't the first rank naturally fall to Supreme Qiushan now?" "In fact, many names have vanished from the Hundred Supremes Ranking. Most advanced to the Third Realm, effectively withdrawing from the list automatically. Only Supreme Qiushan stubbornly stalled until the ranking's release, all to look down upon the masses and become the First Supreme across the vast River of Spacetime!" The title of First Supreme was truly extraordinary. To stand at the head of the Hundred Supremes Ranking meant that one was virtually acknowledged by all major universes as the First Supreme—the greatest figure beneath the Sovereigns! Such renown was astronomical. Even though Supreme Qiushan could have attempted the breakthrough to the Third Realm, he was willing to delay his cultivation just for this number one spot. That alone demonstrated the staggering weight of the title "First Supreme"! Lu Changsheng listened to the surrounding discussions, learning about Supreme Qiushan's circumstances. Delaying the progress of one's cultivation just to claim first place on the Hundred Supremes Ranking once? Lu Changsheng did not know whether it was worth it. Yet, if the choice were his, he would choose to advance to the Third Realm without hesitation. After all, renown and titles were ultimately devoid of real substance. Cultivation was the true foundation! On this matter, Lu Changsheng was exceptionally clear-headed. Having seen Supreme Qiushan in first place, Lu Changsheng had little interest in the second or third ranks. Now, his only desire was to know whether he had made the ranking at all. And so, Lu Changsheng began searching for his name. Among the top ten of the Eternal Academy, Supreme Gaotian was the first to spot his own name. "Supreme Gaotian, ranked fifty-eighth!" Seeing his placement on the ranking, Supreme Gaotian's expression turned somewhat grim. His inclusion on the ranking was expected, of course. After all, a year ago, he had still been the foremost true disciple of the Eternal Academy. According to his own estimates, however, he should have placed within the top fifteen. Yet, he was merely fifty-eighth. That was a considerable distance from the top fifty. One could never look down on a gap of just a few ranks. Those few ranks were like an unbridgeable chasm, exceptionally difficult to cross. The strong were strong, and the weak were weak. Although many claimed that rankings were not necessarily definitive and that a higher placement did not guarantee greater strength—since without an actual battle, no one could truly know—the ranking commanded immense prestige. This single list would remain posted for ten thousand years. By then, countless universes would come to know every name upon it. A mere fifty-eighth place left Supreme Gaotian deeply dissatisfied. "Hm?" "Supreme Changsheng, you're in the hundredth spot?" Just then, Supreme Liu Sheng spoke up, sounding astonished. Supreme Liu Sheng's name was absent from the ranking, which was perfectly normal. Yet Lu Changsheng had barely made the list, sitting in the very last position. This was... utterly absurd. Yes, completely absurd. Not only Supreme Liu Sheng, but all the top ten true disciples of the Eternal Academy noticed it. The foremost true disciple of the prestigious Eternal Academy was actually ranked hundredth? This was an unmistakable blunder. Sovereign Yongye smiled faintly and said, "Sovereign Shenyan, on this Hundred Supremes Ranking, there appears to be a rather conspicuous oversight." "What oversight?" Sovereign Shenyan asked calmly. "The hundredth rank, Supreme Changsheng, is currently a true disciple of our Eternal Academy, and he became our foremost true disciple a year ago! Placing him at merely the hundredth position defies reason," Sovereign Yongye said casually. As Sovereign Yongye's words fell, the other Sovereigns and cosmic mighty figures turned their eyes toward the final name on the Hundred Supremes Ranking. Supreme Changsheng! The name was quite unfamiliar. They also glanced at Lu Changsheng. Indeed, few recognized him. Yet even if they did not recognize Lu Changsheng, they all understood the weight behind the title of the Eternal Academy's "foremost true disciple"! How could the Eternal Academy's foremost true disciple possibly sit at the very bottom of the ranking? After all, even Supreme Gaotian was ranked fifty-eighth. "Who is Lu Changsheng?" Sovereign Shenyan spoke. "This junior is Lu Changsheng. Greetings, Sovereign Shenyan!" Lu Changsheng stepped forward, his demeanor exceptionally respectful. Sovereign Shenyan looked deeply at Lu Changsheng before asking, "Since you are the foremost true disciple of the Eternal Academy, sitting at the hundredth rank is indeed inappropriate. "Since you are here today, there is no need for this seat to gather information elsewhere. Tell me yourself: what rank do you believe you deserve?" As those words landed, the entire grand hall fell deathly silent. Facing countless cosmic mighty figures and even Sovereigns, Lu Changsheng's state of mind remained remarkably tranquil. "First!" "This junior believes that on this Hundred Supremes Ranking, I belong in first place!" Lu Changsheng spoke each word clearly, his voice ringing with absolute certainty. Boom! It was like a silent clap of thunder. Many eyes widened in sheer disbelief. This was Sovereign Shenyan asking him a direct question—how could he dare speak such reckless nonsense? In the eyes of the crowd, Lu Changsheng was spouting madness. Even if he were the foremost true disciple of the Eternal Academy, to surpass Supreme Qiushan and claim first place on the Hundred Supremes Ranking was nothing short of a pipedream. It was impossible! In the entire history of the Eternal Academy, even the most dazzling true disciple had only ever achieved second place. And only one single person had ever managed that. That alone proved the sheer difficulty of the ranking. Previously an obscure unknown, Lu Changsheng now brazenly claimed the first position, aiming to become the First Supreme? If that was not utter madness, what was? "Changsheng, you..." Sovereign Yongye was about to speak out in reprimand. What an absurdity! He knew Lu Changsheng was strong. Yet first on the Hundred Supremes Ranking? What kind of peerless genius did that require? Such a figure could suppress an entire era! No matter how tremendous Lu Changsheng's progress was, ranking first was out of the question. However, Sovereign Shenyan did not show anger. Within his profound, wise eyes, layers of deductions seemed to flicker, over and over. Swish! Sovereign Shenyan's gaze sharpened like a blade. "You wish to rank first? Very well, this seat shall grant you an opportunity. "It so happens that Supreme Qiushan is also present. Battle Supreme Qiushan. If you win, you shall be first on the Hundred Supremes Ranking!" Sovereign Shenyan stated slowly. At these words, an uproar erupted throughout the hall. "Supreme Qiushan is the first on the ranking! Ten thousand years ago, he was already ranked third. Today, his strength is at the absolute peak beneath Sovereigns. Even as the foremost true disciple of the Eternal Academy, how could Lu Changsheng possibly be a match for Supreme Qiushan?" "Who knows what reliance Lu Changsheng has? After all, if he wants first place, he has to defeat Supreme Qiushan." "Where is Supreme Qiushan? Even though he placed third on the previous ranking, he is known to live in deep seclusion as an obsessive cultivator. Hardly anyone has ever seen him. Who would have thought he came here today?" "Supreme Qiushan even delayed his breakthrough to the Third Realm just to rank first. Given his temperament, how could he miss the unveiling of the ranking?" "To think the very first battle following the preliminary release would be this fierce..." The cosmic mighty figures peered around, hoping to locate Supreme Qiushan. Yet there was no need to look. Supreme Qiushan revealed himself. He was a rather lean cultivator, lacking any aura of cosmic dominance. At first glance, he appeared utterly ordinary. "You wish to take first place? Come, then. Defeat me, and you shall be the First Supreme!" Supreme Qiushan spoke calmly. Yet despite his calm tone, his gaze was razor-sharp, as if wishing to slice Lu Changsheng into countless pieces. "Yes, that's Supreme Qiushan! He really is here!" "Supreme Qiushan... we can finally witness the might of the First Supreme today!" "The First Supreme of the ranking! Seeing the First Supreme in action is truly no easy feat." No one mentioned Lu Changsheng. Only the true disciples of the Eternal Academy had flickering eyes, filled with complex emotions. Supreme Gaotian could hardly believe it. Lu Changsheng actually aspired to be first on the Hundred Supremes Ranking? One had to admit, such bold ambition far surpassed his own. Even when Gaotian had reigned as the foremost true disciple, he had never dared claim he could become the First Supreme of the River of Spacetime. As for Supreme Liu Sheng and the others, they exchanged glances, their hearts churning with turbulent waves. Lu Changsheng was challenging Supreme Qiushan, setting his sights straight on the First Supreme. Regardless of success or failure, Lu Changsheng's name would undoubtedly echo across the River of Spacetime. In fact, for reasons he could not explain, Supreme Liu Sheng felt a faint premonition deep down. Could it be possible... that Lu Changsheng might actually defeat Supreme Qiushan? Though Liu Sheng himself was startled by the absurdity of the thought, he could not stop it from surfacing. Perhaps it was truly possible? Among the crowd, virtually no one held confidence in Lu Changsheng—including Sovereign Yongye. Yet none of that mattered. Lu Changsheng had experienced identical situations countless times. In the end, victory would always be his. Without question. This first rank on the Hundred Supremes Ranking was his to take! Hum. Sovereign Shenyan waved his hand. A treasure forged from immortal substance instantly expanded, enclosing both Lu Changsheng and Supreme Qiushan within. The space inside seemed infinitely vast. Moreover, immortal substance could withstand any concussive force, sturdy enough to contain even Sovereigns. Fighting within this treasure was completely safe. Simultaneously, the treasure's surface turned transparent, projecting the scene clearly before everyone's eyes. Lu Changsheng and Supreme Qiushan stood facing each other from a distance. "You may only have one chance, so you must give it your all!" Lu Changsheng spoke, offering a "kind" reminder. Facing this First Supreme, Lu Changsheng accorded him due respect. He would hold nothing back! "I have never underestimated any opponent!" Supreme Qiushan replied coldly. With that, complete silence settled over the surroundings. "True Realm!" In the next instant, Lu Changsheng did not hesitate in the slightest. The True Realm Plane materialized, descending in a flash. And this time, it was neither six hundred-fold nor six thousand-fold. It was a full ten thousand-fold in volume! Such a terrifying True Realm Plane manifested in an instant, surging majestically toward Supreme Qiushan. Supreme Qiushan's pupils contracted violently. Danger! Extreme danger! What was he sensing? As Lu Changsheng unleashed his True Realm Plane, Supreme Qiushan faintly felt as though he were confronting a Sovereign. While not entirely identical, the sensation was unnervingly similar. 'How is this possible?' 'A cosmic mighty figure is giving me the sense of threat of a Sovereign?' Supreme Qiushan drew a deep breath. His physical body instantly expanded countless myriad times. Supreme Qiushan pursued the path of the physical body. His body had also birthed immortal true intent—purely focused on physical might. Pure strength. Pure defense. In fact, Supreme Qiushan harbored a secret. He possessed a unique talent capable of mimicking immortal substance. Consequently, his physical body had continually moved closer toward the nature of immortal substance. Of course, it was merely an approximation. His body could never truly become immortal substance. Even so, merely resembling immortal substance elevated his physical resilience to a terrifying level. Otherwise, he would never have ranked third ten thousand years ago, nor claimed the first position today. His flesh was his foundation. "My body is imperishable across myriad tribulations, akin to immortal substance! My flesh shatters space itself—no matter how vast your world is, space must exist within it! Break for me!" Supreme Qiushan bellowed fiercely. He threw a punch. The strike rippled outward like an enormous shockwave, collapsing the void wherever it passed. Without space, a world would naturally crumble. Indeed, this punch was astonishingly formidable. With a single blow, hundreds of times the normal volume was pulverized. Had this been his former six hundred-fold volume, Lu Changsheng's True Realm would have collapsed from that single punch. Indeed, one could never underestimate other cosmic mighty figures. This was the fiercest offensive Lu Changsheng had ever encountered from any cosmic mighty figure. Unfortunately, Lu Changsheng was no longer what he once was. He possessed over ten thousand times the volume in his True Realm. Even if hundreds of times the volume were destroyed in one strike, what of it? If one punch could not kill him, the power of his True Realm would simply descend once more. Rumble! Sure enough, the surging force of the ten thousand-fold True Realm crashed down, instantly engulfing Supreme Qiushan. Supreme Qiushan roared, "Imperishable across myriad tribulations!" At this point, attacking was futile; only defense remained. Facing the overwhelming might of the True Realm, Supreme Qiushan could only place his hopes on his physical body truly withstanding all tribulations. Possessing properties akin to immortal substance, his greatest asset was near-indestructibility. However, when quantity reached an extreme threshold, it inevitably triggered a qualitative transformation. The sheer force of a ten thousand-fold True Realm, even as brute power, was monstrously devastating. Every fleeting moment, it ground away at Supreme Qiushan's flesh. Tear! Finally, Supreme Qiushan's body began to erode. And the moment it eroded, ten percent was wiped away! 'What?' 'My body is being worn down?' 'His world force is clearly inferior to my physical body in terms of power tier, so how can it obliterate ten percent of my body so swiftly?' Supreme Qiushan's heart quaked. His proud offensive, capable of shattering the void, was terrifying, yet it left no meaningful impact on Lu Changsheng. And now, he could not even hold his defense. In a single exchange, ten percent of his body was ground away. How much longer could he endure if this continued? Probing carefully, Supreme Qiushan swiftly understood the reason. Quantity! He had severely underestimated the effect of raw quantity. In a single instant, Lu Changsheng could exert the ten thousand-fold True Realm to grind against his flesh ten thousand times, or even a hundred million times. Even if his body possessed traits of immortal substance, what did it matter? Could it withstand hundreds of millions of abrasive impacts within every single instant? If it were true immortal substance, no number of impacts would matter. Yet Supreme Qiushan's flesh was not genuine immortal substance. It could not be truly imperishable. Thus, under relentless abrasion, his body could no longer hold. Ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent... Even the cosmic mighty figures in the hall could clearly see the state of the battle. Lu Changsheng held complete dominance. From the very start, he had seized absolute control with overwhelming superiority. To put it simply, it was pure crushing force. Lu Changsheng used no elaborate techniques, relying purely on the ten thousand-fold True Realm to steamroll Supreme Qiushan. And Supreme Qiushan had no answer. His proudest methods were utterly incapable of dealing with Lu Changsheng's ten thousand-fold True Realm. When sheer volume developed to Lu Changsheng's scale, it became truly insurmountable. It was virtually without flaw. Unless someone could annihilate a ten thousand-fold True Realm, Lu Changsheng was practically invincible beneath the Sovereigns! "How can Lu Changsheng's inner world be vast to this extent? Is that even a world or plane anymore? It's simply unfathomable..." "Indeed. Supreme Qiushan's physical body is universally recognized as indestructible, yet against Supreme Changsheng, ten percent was destroyed in the first clash, and several more tenths vanished after just a few breaths." "It turns out Supreme Changsheng is the one who truly possesses the strength of the First Supreme..." Many cosmic mighty figures' eyes lit up. Amidst their profound shock, excitement surged. Was the First Supreme about to change hands? No, it could not be called changing hands, because the First Supreme had never been finalized in the first place. And now, who held that title was beyond all doubt. "I concede..." Finally, with eighty percent of his body ground away, Supreme Qiushan admitted defeat. He felt immense bitterness. He had waited so many years, outlasting the former first and second Supremes. With great difficulty, it was finally his turn as the "third Supreme" to ascend to the top and become the First Supreme. Yet out of nowhere, a Lu Changsheng had appeared! He felt that even if the previous first-ranked Supreme were present, that person would still be no match for Lu Changsheng. Was he simply not fated to be the First Supreme? No matter how reluctant he was, he had to concede. If he did not, he faintly sensed that he would die... "Good!" "Supreme Changsheng has defeated Supreme Qiushan. For this Hundred Supremes Ranking, the first position shall belong to Supreme Changsheng!" As Sovereign Shenyan spoke, he waved his hand, and the massive ranking blurred. Immediately after, the first rank displayed Lu Changsheng's name. Supreme Qiushan dropped to second. All subsequent ranks shifted down accordingly. Looking at the ranking, everyone stood dumbfounded. The very first alteration had been so drastic, changing even the top spot! "My thanks to Sovereign Shenyan!" Lu Changsheng bowed toward Sovereign Shenyan. Sovereign Shenyan retracted the immortal substance treasure. Lu Changsheng returned directly to the Eternal Academy's delegation. The other true disciples of the Eternal Academy looked at him with shining, fervent eyes. Who could have imagined that Lu Changsheng would truly become the First Supreme of the Hundred Supremes Ranking? This was the First Supreme! An honor that the Eternal Academy had never before attained. Now, Lu Changsheng had claimed that very crown. From this day forward, Lu Changsheng's name would undoubtedly spread across countless universes throughout the River of Spacetime, suppressing an entire era! "To think Supreme Changsheng is not only the foremost true disciple of our Eternal Academy, but also the First Supreme of the Hundred Supremes Ranking. Truly incredible!" "Supreme Changsheng is a true disciple of our Eternal Academy; we all share in this glory." "I knew that after defeating Supreme Gaotian, Supreme Changsheng would shine brilliantly. I just never expected it to come so quickly and forcefully, ascending straight to First Supreme, looked up to by countless cultivators!" "Supreme Changsheng has made history for our Eternal Academy. Never in our history has a true disciple become the First Supreme of the ranking, yet he achieved it! Not only will his name resonate across countless universes, but our academy's prestige will soar as well!" The true disciples of the Eternal Academy were overjoyed. Although the Eternal Academy already possessed immense renown, there were still many who remained unaware of it. The Universe Alliance was indeed a colossal entity, yet within it, the Eternal Academy was not the only faction. Other forces also cultivated cosmic mighty figures. The Eternal Academy was merely one of the most prominent. Yet whether it could produce a First Supreme was clearly of paramount importance. Lu Changsheng responded to them one by one. At this moment, Sovereign Yongye also spoke: "Lu Changsheng, I truly did not expect you to bring such great honor to the Eternal Academy by becoming the First Supreme! Even we Sovereigns never attained such glory. "Your combat strength is formidable; even the previous First Supreme was likely no match for you. However, cultivation remains the foundation. No matter how formidable your combat strength, you cannot surpass a Sovereign." "This disciple shall keep Your Majesty Yongye's reminder firmly in mind." Lu Changsheng remained remarkably clear-headed. Soon, Lu Changsheng sat down cross-legged. He sensed the transformation occurring within his soul. Yes, his soul. The moment his name appeared on the Hundred Supremes Ranking, a massive surge of providence had flooded into him. This providence was vastly greater than anything he had acquired before. Days slipped by. Lu Changsheng had merely opened the proceedings; this journey to the Shenyan Universe was far from over. Other cosmic mighty figures who had failed to make the ranking or were dissatisfied with their placement stepped forward, requesting opportunities to demonstrate their strength. Lu Changsheng watched for a short time before losing interest. He then sat cross-legged, entering deep meditation to absorb the influx of providence. In the blink of an eye, a year passed. Within the grand hall, countless cosmic mighty figures displayed their prowess. After an entire year, the Hundred Supremes Ranking was finally confirmed, subject to no further changes. "Everyone, please retire to the cave dwellings to rest. "The Hundred Supremes Ranking shall be officially released one year from now," Sovereign Shenyan announced slowly. The grand hall immediately erupted into bustling activity. Many departed with bountiful rewards, while others were left despondent. Lu Changsheng had undoubtedly reaped the greatest harvest. Not only had he secured the title of First Supreme, but he had also gathered an immense wave of providence. Lu Changsheng brought up his attribute panel to examine his status: Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension World Master: Second Realm True Realm Plane: 10,600-fold (growable) Golden-Nature Soul: 25% (Immortal golden nature, imperishable for ten thousand years within the River of Spacetime) Lu Changsheng's Golden-Nature Soul had directly surged by twelve percent in progress! And this was after a mere year. Furthermore, this was only from the preliminary draft, before the official release. Even so, his progress had surged by twelve percent. Once the ranking was officially proclaimed, how terrifying would the incoming providence be? After all, the official announcement would reach countless universes across the entirety of the River of Spacetime! Over the epochs, the Hundred Supremes Ranking had long become deeply ingrained in the hearts of all. Once officially announced, countless universes across the River of Spacetime would direct their attention toward it. Myriads of trillions of cultivators would learn the name of Lu Changsheng, the First Supreme. Through the Hundred Supremes Ranking, how vast a fortune of providence would gather upon him? It was virtually unimaginable! By then, how much would his soul expand? Twenty percent, thirty percent, or perhaps even fifty percent was not out of the question. Clearly, coming to the Shenyan Universe had been the right decision. Moreover, aiming straight for the First Supreme had also been correct. Among cultivators, no one paid much heed to who held second or third place. Only the first commanded overwhelming attention. More than half the providence generated by the entire ranking would likely converge upon Lu Changsheng alone. The combined attention garnered by the other ninety-nine cosmic mighty figures could hardly rival his. Such was the true weight of the First Supreme! Lu Changsheng returned to his cave dwelling. None of the Eternal Academy's members intended to leave early either. Instead, they prepared to wait another year to witness the official release of the ranking with their own eyes before returning. A single year was virtually negligible to cosmic mighty figures. A brief period of meditation could easily span decades or centuries. With only a year, they did not even dare enter deep seclusion. However, a multitude of top-tier cosmic mighty figures was currently gathered in the Shenyan Universe, many of whom had birthed immortal true intent. This provided an extraordinary opportunity for the top mighty figures to interact and discuss the Dao. Under normal circumstances, encountering so many elite cosmic figures together was nearly impossible. Lu Changsheng took advantage of this as well. He had not yet birthed immortal true intent, so he specifically sought out mighty figures who had to exchange insights. Supreme Qiushan was one of them. Even though he had lost to Lu Changsheng, Supreme Qiushan remained on good terms with him. After all, so long as a First Supreme did not perish prematurely, his future achievements were bound to be extraordinary. Who would choose to make an enemy of a rising First Supreme with limitless prospects? Thus, Supreme Qiushan held nothing back when Lu Changsheng inquired about matters regarding immortal true intent. Through repeated discussions and exchanges, Lu Changsheng gained a far deeper understanding of immortal true intent and even the Third Realm Sovereigns. Finally, the year passed in the blink of an eye! Today was the day of the official release of the Hundred Supremes Ranking. Even Lu Changsheng left his cave dwelling early, waiting quietly outside. Once the ranking was published, the entirety of the Shenyan Universe would be able to behold it. Across the Shenyan Universe and throughout countless universes across the vast River of Spacetime, all waited with bated breath.