Chapter 253: Rising to the Heaven Rankings
After Chang Ling completed his test, the excitement lingered in the square. Many warriors looked on, both impressed and envious. The Ancient Battlefield had been open for nearly a year now, and the participants who had entered were all considered top talents within their dynasties. However, it soon became clear to everyone that talent, too, had its ranks and that even the most gifted could end up blending into the crowd.
Yet some thrived under this intense competition, refining their skills and emerging as remarkable fighters.
"Let's give it a try ourselves," Su Kui said eagerly to Lin Langtian and Jinwu.
Lin Langtian nodded, and the group stepped forward toward the towering Nirvana Monument. Unlike Silver Forest's team, their arrival didn't draw much attention, and they went mostly unnoticed among the crowds.
Su Kui stepped up first, pressing his hand against the monument as he released his full strength as a Three-Yuan Nirvana practitioner. After a moment of glowing gold, his rank was confirmed within the Earth Rankings. While not as high as Silver Forest's, reaching the Earth Rankings was still quite an achievement for most.
"Big brother, that's incredible!" Su Rou praised him, her face beaming with pride.
"Little Su Rou," came a jeering voice nearby, "if you think that's impressive, then your precious Brother Silver Forest must look like a knight in shining armor to you." The comment came from none other than Silver Forest himself, who sauntered over with a mocking smile.
"You!" Su Rou flushed with anger at Silver Forest's blatant taunting.
"Silver Forest, watch your mouth!" Su Kui snapped, his face darkening.
"I heard you were on the run from the Storm Dynasty—how did you make it back here? Or perhaps you should come to me for help?" Silver Forest continued smugly, his gaze lingering distastefully on Su Rou. "Wouldn't you agree, Su Rou? You and I are quite the match."
Silver Forest moved as if to stand beside her.
But before he could take another step, a shadow flashed toward him, a cold blast of energy aiming straight for his throat. Startled, Silver Forest dodged just in time to avoid the attack, only to find Jinwu standing before him, spear poised, cold fury in his eyes.
"Back to the task," Lin Langtian said calmly to Jinwu, who immediately turned his attention back to the Nirvana Monument. He placed his hand against the cool stone, summoning his strength.
Now, because of the brief confrontation, the crowd, including Silver Forest, Mu Hanyue, Chang Ling, and others, turned their attention to Jinwu.
Silver Forest in particular looked on with a sneer, determined to teach Lin Langtian and Jinwu a lesson once they'd completed their tests.
Under countless watchful eyes, Jinwu stood perfectly still, focusing as he summoned his powerful ice-laden energy.
Suddenly, a blinding gold light burst from the monument, brilliant as a blazing sun! The square fell silent in awe, every face filled with astonishment as they watched the light climb. It soared through the rankings in the Earth List, and then—past fifth place!
Silver Forest's face twisted with jealousy as he watched. Achieving a top-five rank in the Earth List placed Jinwu on par with the elite of super dynasties. Yet the golden light still didn't falter, continuing upward until it eclipsed all other names in the Earth List.
"Earth Rank… Number One!" someone exclaimed in shock as a collective gasp swept through the crowd.
Excited whispers filled the square as they gazed at Jinwu's achievement. The presence of such a formidable newcomer was rare and thrilling. The warriors around the monument were visibly stirred, and even Mu Hanyue and Chang Ling, usually cool and composed, looked on with tightly clenched fists. A new warrior had just claimed the top rank on the Earth List—an honor that would soon spread far beyond the city.
Staring at Jinwu in disbelief, Silver Forest began to feel the first traces of dread. His attempt to provoke Jinwu suddenly seemed foolish, even reckless.
The brilliant golden light on the Nirvana Monument soon condensed into a name: Earth Rank Number One, Lin Jinwu.
The onlookers couldn't help but feel they had witnessed something extraordinary. Even Su Kui, Su Rou, and their companion were speechless. They had seen Jinwu as a modest young man, never imagining he possessed the strength to reach the top of the Earth Rankings.
And if Jinwu could reach the number-one spot, just how powerful might Lin Langtian be? Could he even break through to the Heaven Rankings?
Su Kui wasn't the only one wondering; many in the crowd now shared that same thought, all eyes fixed on Lin Langtian. Could this young man in green robes—a stranger to them—truly be powerful enough to enter the Heaven Rankings?
With the entire square watching, Lin Langtian's expression remained steady and untroubled. He stepped up to the monument, placing his hand on its cool surface.
The moment he touched the stone, he felt a unique force scanning him, assessing every part of his body. His Yuan Power and mental energy responded instinctively, and even the golden wheel mirror, Devouring Ancestor Rune, flame seed, and demon seed within him seemed faintly detectable by the monument's probe.
This realization startled him, but Ling Yi's energy flared, instantly shattering the probing force.
A deep hum resonated through the monument as a radiant purple-gold light surged from Lin Langtian's hand. The light was so brilliant it cast a purple-gold glow over the entire city.
The crowd in the square, and even those beyond its boundaries, looked up in awe as the purple-gold light illuminated the night sky.
Purple-gold—the color reserved only for the Heaven Rankings!
Myriad City had gained a new Heaven-ranked master.
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