In the span of one month, Charlie Chan challenged the prominent families of Jiangnan, winning ten out of ten battles, undefeated.
Following that, amidst much uproar, he publicly defeated the Yin Yang Dao Grandmaster of the Death Gate Realm, Ming Zhengyi.
The crowd had barely recovered from the shock of Charlie Chan’s strength, when news of Lin Beichen defeating Qin Wenwu sent their scalps tingling.
The battle of the two Grandmasters, the first battle of the new era ushered in by the opening of the Celestial Gate, drew the attention of nearly everyone.
Anyone with the time and means rushed to the Jiangnan Water Village.
This battle, destined to be remembered through the ages, did not disappoint them.
Since the opening of the Celestial Gate, people had been skeptical, but the earth-shaking battle between Lin Beichen and Qin Wenwu left mountains and rivers in turmoil, waves surging sky-high, ending with Lin Beichen slaying Qin Wenwu with a single sword strike.
Standing on Qin Wenwu’s corpse, Lin Beichen proclaimed the opening of the Celestial Gate and the dawn of a new era.
Half a month later, shocking news erupted from the underworld—the Golden Mountain Sect had put a billion-dollar bounty on Lin Beichen’s head. Countless assassins entered Dragon Country, secretly gathering outside Dragon Sleep River, intending to assassinate Lin Beichen.
Just one night later, all 71 assassins were found dead, including the legendary assassin, Cobra, who was said to have come the closest to possessing the God Gene.
After this battle, Lin Beichen vanished without a trace.
A few days later, while someone was enjoying a spring outing outside the Imperial Capital at Xiangshan, they noticed a dramatic change in the sky. As they approached, they discovered that it was a duel between two high-ranking masters, causing massive disturbances in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Initially, some speculated that one of them might be Lin Beichen.
However, after reviewing the battle traces, it was discovered that this was not the case.
The traces atop Xiangshan indicated a duel between two masters who had entered the Celestial Gate, but they came from beyond the borders.
One of them hailed from the Ten Thousand Mountains, while the other came from the Northeastern Snow Plains.
Several days later, Yin Yang Dao Grandmaster Ming Zhengyi announced his return from seclusion and traveled alone to Shanhai Pass to challenge the Horizontal Training Grandmaster Wang Tiandao.
News from various places sprouted like mushrooms after a rain, and the martial world had never been so active.
With the opening of the Celestial Gate, the long-dormant cultivation realm finally revealed its true vigor.
Masters from all over ended their seclusion and began challenging various experts to validate their martial arts.
Death Gate experts emerged one after another, signifying a transformation of the era.
Previously, these masters were secluded in mountain cliffs and hidden villages; it was rare to see one even once in a hundred years, but now, within a month, several hundred had emerged.
However, these masters, coming and going as they pleased, rarely appeared in public. Even when validating their martial arts against one another, they mostly did so in secluded places, with only a few instances being observed by people.
Curious observers compiled the information and discovered a shocking secret.
"Uncle Master, Senior Brother, quick, look at your phones, the rankings have been updated."
In a thatched hut, Qi Acao, with twin ponytails, shouted excitedly while holding her phone, rushing out of the hut.
"Rankings, what rankings?"
Qi Minghuan was slightly taken aback.
As Qi Acao’s senior brother and the sole inheritor of their family’s martial arts, Qi Minghuan put down his training and turned to look at his junior sister.
Ever since Qin Wenwu died, Tianhua Mountain had declined gradually. Due to its remote location, it remained obscure, with only the sect of Thunder Blade Sect residing there.
After Qin Wenwu’s death, Qi Xuanhuang became the current Sect Leader of the thousand-year-old Thunder Blade Sect.
"Who cares about the rankings, they have nothing to do with us," he said.
"Sect Leader, you’re so outdated. It’s the new era now. We can’t keep sticking to the old ways. Young people are not only integrating with the internet, but they’ve also established an online home for cultivators where everyone can exchange ideas," Qi Acao said, sticking out her small tongue triumphantly.
"Only through exchanging ideas can we make progress. Clinging to old thoughts in the new era will only leave us further behind."
"Not only do they exchange Celestial Gate cultivation insights, but they also know all the Grandmasters’ secrets and even rank them. This ranking is the Grandmaster ranking."
"Nonsense! How dare mere juniors comment on Grandmasters?" Qi Xuanhuang pounded the table, blowing his beard in anger.
"Death Gate experts are transcendent beings. Their strength cannot be judged by rankings. Which of them is not a dragon among men at this realm?"
"Grandfather, we used to think so too, but a few days ago a person named Book of Centuries emerged. This person gathered various pieces of information from the martial world and dug up the cultivation techniques, life eras, and martial arts specialties of various Grandmasters."
"Based on this information, they managed to compile highly credible data and created a ranking list," Qi Acao said, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Once this ranking appeared, it immediately caused a sensation. Up until now, three editions have been released without any involved person stepping forward to refute it. Is this not credible enough?"
Book of Centuries?
Qi Minghuan mumbled, apparently unfamiliar with this person.
However, Qi Xuanhuang’s face flashed with a hint of surprise, as if recalling something.
"Grandfather, according to the ranking information, Yin Yang Dao Grandmaster Ming Zhengyi is 317 years old, the founder of the Yin Yang Tai Chi Dao lineage, proficient in Yin Yang Transformation and Tai Chi Pushing Hands."
"Since the opening of the Celestial Gate, Ming Zhengyi’s cultivation in the Yin Yang Dao broke through its limits. With a single palm strike, he can control an area spanning ten zhang. His True Qi and Spiritual Qi far surpass those of his peers, belonging to the early stage of the Celestial Gate Realm."
"Thirty years ago, he fought Qin Wenwu once, but lost by a narrow margin. Over a month ago, he battled Charlie Chan and seemed to lose slightly, but he was actually being lenient, not wanting to clash with Qin Wenwu directly."
"In terms of strength, he actually surpasses Charlie Chan."
Qi Acao shook her head and spoke with pride.
"Ming Zhengyi is indeed the founder of the Yin Yang Tai Chi Dao. For someone like Charlie Chan to challenge him is simply foolhardy. The Yin Yang Tai Chi Dao is not known for explosive power but for its endurance. Those who fight Ming Zhengyi are often not defeated in the battle itself but are exhausted during the lengthy encounter," Qi Xuanhuang nodded.
Based on this information alone, it seems the rankings have some credence.
Hearing this, Qi Minghuan’s expression changed slightly.
Although their Sect Leader had not yet reached the Death Gate Realm, he was only a half-step away. In terms of strength and vision, he was not much different from the Death Gate experts.
For even the Sect Leader to say this, the rankings surely held some truth.
"Ming Zhengyi has already crossed the Celestial Gate and is only ranked 15th. Who else is ahead of him?" Qi Minghuan couldn’t help but ask.
"Senior Brother, don’t underestimate the world’s heroes. Ahead of him is Ghost Path Sheng from the Divine Control Sect of the Ten Thousand Mountains. He is skilled in controlling beasts and rides a modified twin-winged tiger that not only can fly but also spew poisonous mist."
"This tiger originally belonged to an ancient beast, frozen under a glacier. Ghost Path Sheng fused its bloodline with that of a Siberian tiger, spending a hundred years nurturing this beast. Just this tiger alone is not something an ordinary expert can handle," continued Qi Acao, following her script, describing a little-known but incredibly powerful expert.
Qi Minghuan was dumbstruck.
"This person named Book of Centuries is truly extraordinary. To know so many secrets of Death Gate Grandmasters—is he also a Death Gate expert?"
Qi Minghuan couldn’t resist asking.
Qi Acao shrugged, unable to answer that question.
"Ranked eighth is Wang Tiandao of Shanhai Pass. His Mountain and River Divine Fist is world-shaking. He has defeated Ming Zhengyi twice."
"When he performs his Mountain and River Divine Fist, it is said that he can collapse a mountain with a punch. He is usually hidden from the world, rarely seen at Shanhai Pass, and mostly stays in the Imperial Capital to recuperate," Qi Acao continued.
"Shanhai Pass, they still have a Grandmaster?" Qi Xuanhuang was shocked.
"Back when Qin Wenwu roamed the world, he once battled for 300 rounds with the Shanhai Pass lineage! According to Qin Wenwu, that lineage should have been extinct. Who knew there was still one left, and he reached the Death Gate!"
Qi Xuanhuang’s expression turned serious.
"This Wang Tiandao must not be underestimated. Though carrying deep-seated hatred, he kept his identity hidden, only revealing himself after Qin Wenwu’s death. If you encounter him when you go out, never make an enemy of him," he warned.
Qi Minghuan nodded quickly, keeping his gaze fixed on Qi Acao.
The eighth-ranked Grandmaster was already so terrifying—who else would be ahead of him?