#208 - Xu Ming, Qingyun List, No. 2 (4000 words, two-in-one)
"Just so-so."
The girl spoke slowly, her tone as cold as the long sword she wore at her waist.
Her eyes were cold, as if everything was indifferent to her. If she wanted, she could sever everything in the world with the long sword in her hand.
Or perhaps, it wasn't just the girl who thought this way. Most sword cultivators in the world placed everything on a single sword.
Only such sword cultivators could keep moving forward.
Although the girl's aura made people afraid to approach, she was very beautiful. The girl had long, ink-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders, reaching just to her waist, as smooth as a black waterfall, and a pert, delicate nose, small and exquisite.
Below her nose, her cherry lips were like cherries, fresh and tender.
Her skin was incomparably delicate, not at all like that of a swordswoman, but the heroic spirit between her brows made this beautiful girl like a wild horse, untamable by anyone.
"If Junior Sister says it's just so-so, then it really is just so-so."
Hearing the girl's evaluation, the elder simply smiled and said nothing more.
The other four disciples dared not comment.
Although the sword energy was somewhat rough, it was incomparably majestic, and its sharpness had already surpassed their own by a great deal.
Of course, they also knew that this was only in comparison to themselves.
As for the girl in front of them, whatever she said was right.
Because among the younger generation, throughout the entire world, no one could surpass this girl.
The girl's name was Xu Xuenuo.
Born with a sword bone, she refined the sword bone at the age of six, obtaining her natal flying sword, and entered the Dongfu Realm as soon as she embarked on the path of cultivation, a true genius.
She was now the only disciple of the Wan Jian Sect's Sect Master.
All disciples had to call her Martial Aunt, and many elders of the Wan Jian Sect could only call her Junior Sister.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would also be the next Sect Master of the Wan Jian Sect.
Not many people had any objections to this.
Two male disciples couldn't help but look at this young girl called "Martial Aunt", unable to resist looking at her because she was truly too beautiful.
But every time they glanced at her, they couldn't help but shudder and quickly withdraw their gaze, as if they would be pierced by the girl's sword energy.
That being said, they had never seen this Martial Aunt smile.
They even suspected whether this young Martial Aunt could even smile.
"I wonder which guest from Tianxuan Sect it is," the elder stroked his beard, looking into the distance. "Let's continue, lest we miss the hour."
"Yes."
The group performed a sword salute and followed the elder forward.
Xu Xuenuo looked at the distant, continuous mountain range, and the figure of a little girl involuntarily appeared in her mind.
It had been almost eleven years since they last met.
How was she doing, was she well?
Immediately afterwards, the figure of a little boy appeared in Xu Xuenuo's mind.
Thinking of this little boy, Xu Xuenuo couldn't help but clench her fists.
"Your inability to use the Blood Sword Technique proves that your bloodlines are completely different. You are not biological siblings."
The words her master had said to her at the time echoed in Xu Xuenuo's ears.
In Tianxuan Sect, the spiritual energy dissipated, and the sky regained its calm. Xu Ming and Chen Yun stood face to face.
The long sword in Xu Ming's hand pointed at Chen Yun's shoulder.
But Chen Yun's giant sword was resting on Xu Ming's neck.
Judging from this posture, Chen Yun had won.
But none of the disciples cheered.
Looking at the man in front of him, Chen Yun was both excited and regretful.
He was excited because this little brother was definitely the strongest opponent of the same generation he had ever encountered.
When facing his sword just now, he couldn't help but break through the realm.
Chen Yun knew that when he broke through the realm and used that sword, he had already lost.
But Chen Yun didn't care.
Losing was losing, what he wanted was a hearty battle.
What a pity...
"How did you get the injuries on your body?" Chen Yun asked Xu Ming, his tone full of dissatisfaction.
"I was attacked by the Hehuan Sect once before, and suffered some injuries," Xu Ming replied calmly.
"When your injuries are healed, you and I will fight again. Today's fight was not enjoyable," Chen Yun carried the giant sword, turned and stepped into the air to leave. "You won this competition."
Xu Ming put away his long sword, looked at his right hand, the tiger's mouth had been cracked by Chen Yun's sword just now, and blood kept dripping down.
Xu Ming recalled the sword just now, and couldn't help but shook his head.
Chen Yun said he lost because he used the last sword with the strength of the Dragon Gate Realm.
But in Xu Ming's opinion, he lost.
If Chen Yun hadn't retracted his sword just now, he would have died under his sword.
If this was in actual combat, you wouldn't have the chance to say such nonsense as "Your realm is higher than mine, it's unfair".
That being said, except for playing with Xiaobai when he was a child, when he was ridden by Xiaobai.
This was the first time he had truly lost to someone of the same generation, although the other party was more than ten years older than him, but in the world of cultivation, these ten years were really nothing.
Just as Xu Ming was about to turn around, streaks of cyan light continuously gathered in the sky above Tianxuan Sect, and the cyan light condensed into a cyan list.
Beihai Imperial Palace.
A woman wearing a light blue imperial long dress sat on the crystal throne.
This Dragon Queen closed her eyes, supporting her head with her fair palm, and fell into a deep sleep.
A palace maid walked quickly into the palace.
When the palace maid saw the Dragon Queen sitting on the crystal throne, the palace maid lost her mind for a moment.
The Dragon Queen leaned obliquely on the brocade soft couch, her black hair spread out like clouds, and even when she was asleep, she still couldn't wipe away the cloud-like sorrow between her eyebrows.
The palace maid's gaze swept across her butterfly-resting eyelashes, her red lips like crabapple flowers, and finally landed on her fragrant shoulders that were inadvertently exposed. The palace maid's breathing tightened, her skin as white as cow's milk, and the slightly messy silk, even the pearls placed by the pillow could not match the brilliance of her skin.
Even if she was a woman, every time she saw her Majesty, she couldn't help but be amazed by her beauty.
This palace maid really couldn't figure out why there would be such a beautiful existence in the world.
What was annoying was that the nun in the Western Regions was ranked first on the Red Beauty List.
What qualifications did that nun have to be ranked first?
Her Majesty is unsurpassable!
The palace maid did not dare to disturb her Majesty's rest, she could only stand in the hall and wait quietly for her Majesty to wake up.
However, the palace maid did not feel bored.
If possible, she would be willing to watch like this for the rest of her life. She would never get tired of her Majesty's beauty.
Unfortunately, just in the next moment, the Dragon Queen's eyelashes fluttered lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Your Majesty," the palace maid knelt down quickly.
The Dragon Queen's lazy and sleepy eyes looked at her maid, without opening her mouth, her voice spread throughout the entire palace: "What is it?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, the Ruolan and Ruoye sisters have sent a message," the palace maid said respectfully.
"Speak," the Dragon Queen slowly opened her mouth.
"The Ruolan and Ruoye sisters are already on their way back to Beihai, but they did not bring back that Xu Ming.
Ruolan and Ruoye said that Xu Ming's strength was too strong, and he suffered no small injuries. If they forcibly brought him back, they were afraid that they would not be able to control him well, causing danger to his life.
However, that Xu Ming said that if your Majesty invites the Wu Kingdom to send an envoy to Beihai, if Xu Ming is selected as the envoy, he will definitely come respectfully."
The palace maid clearly relayed Ruolan and Ruoye's words.
The Dragon Queen yawned, with no anger or impatience in her expression.
The Dragon Queen really wanted to find him.
But whether that Xu Ming was the one, she had to put a question mark on it.
It had been tens of thousands of years, and many times the magic circle gave instructions, but when people were brought over, they were not the one.
That Xu Ming was only a possibility.
"Then write a letter to the Wu Kingdom," the Dragon Queen slowly opened her mouth, "It just so happens that Beihai needs to hold the Four Seas Ceremony soon, and the Wu Kingdom is qualified to come and offer congratulations."
"Yes," the palace maid responded.
"If there is nothing else, retreat," the Dragon Queen continued to support her head, slowly closing her eyes.
"This servant takes her leave," the palace maid stood up and saluted, facing the Dragon Queen and retreating all the way back until she left the palace.
Just as this palace maid had just left, the Dragon Queen opened her eyes again.
The Dragon Queen stood up, looking at the top of the palace as if she felt something.
A stream of light flashed past, and the entire palace was empty.
At the same time, on the boundless sea surface of Beihai, there were mermaids, giant whales, and dragons. All kinds of races, large and small, in Beihai poked their heads out of the sea, blinking their eyes and looking at the sky.
On several islands in Beihai, those residents also raised their heads.
For a time, all parts of Beihai became inexplicably lively.
Ordinary residents and cultivators were pointing and discussing at the sky.
Suddenly, a huge wave appeared in the center of Beihai, and the wave spread around, forming a hundred-meter-high wave.
Before the myriad races of Beihai could react to what was happening, the overwhelming dragon might filled the entire Beihai.
Whether it was the myriad races on the sea surface of Beihai, or the residents of the islands near the center of Beihai, they all bowed their heads.
The waves calmed down.
In the center of Beihai, the Dragon Queen with bare ankles stood on the sea surface, raised her head, and looked at the cyan list in the sky.
[Xu Ming of the Wu Kingdom, a warrior in the Heroic Soul Realm and a Qi refiner in the Ocean Viewing Realm, defeated Mo Zhuer, the Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect, killed Ji Wuming, the Holy Son of the Black Lotus Sect, killed Cui Renwang, the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect, and defeated Chen Yun, the eldest disciple of the Tianxuan Sect within three months.
Ranked second on the Qingyun List.]
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
In the Imperial Capital of Wu, Eunuch Wei hurriedly entered, kneeling before Emperor Wu.
“What is it?”
Emperor Wu, engrossed in reading memorials, didn't even look up.
“Your Majesty! The Azure Cloud Rankings have changed!” Wei Xun exclaimed excitedly.
Emperor Wu put down the memorial: “So they've changed. Why are you making such a fuss? It must be someone from my Wu Kingdom, right?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! It's Xu Ming of the Xu Kingdom Estate!”
“Xu Ming? Wasn't he already twentieth on the Azure Cloud Rankings?” Emperor Wu said slowly.
Three months ago, Xu Ming was indeed twentieth on the Azure Cloud Rankings.
In just three months, how many places could he have risen?
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Top Scholar, he... his ranking on the Azure Cloud Rankings... his ranking...” Even Wei Xun was so excited that he stammered and couldn't speak.
Emperor Wu ignored him, stood up directly, and walked out of the Imperial Study.
When Emperor Wu saw the azure list in the sky, he was first stunned, then burst out laughing:
“Xu Ming, Azure Cloud Rankings, second?! Hahahaha! My Wu Kingdom has produced someone second on the Azure Cloud Rankings! Hahahaha!”
In the history of the Wu Kingdom, the highest ranking on the Azure Cloud Rankings had only been fourth!
Never had there been a second!
Moreover, the first place in this year's Azure Cloud Rankings is a genius rarely seen in a thousand years!
Even the City Lord of Heavenly Secrets City once said, “With him in this world, unless he turns thirty and leaves the Azure Cloud Rankings, even if all the first-place holders of the past thousand years came, they would only be able to take second place.”
In other words, Xu Ming is actually already number one on the Azure Cloud Rankings, but the current number two is just too outrageous.
“Wei Xun!” Emperor Wu shouted.
“This servant is here.”
“Xu Ming is second on the Azure Cloud Rankings, raising the prestige of my Wu Kingdom! Reward the Xu Kingdom Estate with ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of brocade, and a Yunlei horse! Confer Xu Ming's mother as the Yangwu Matron, with a second-rank imperial decree!”
“Yes.”
On a plain in Changping Prefecture of the Wu Kingdom.
A girl in armor pierced the rebel general with a single spear, right through the heart.
The girl raised the rebel leader high, like a flag: “Kill!”
The girl's heroic voice was not loud, but it spread across the battlefield.
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
Behind the girl, Wu Kingdom soldiers charged forward, cutting off the heads of rebels one by one.
Changping Prefecture was the fiefdom of Prince Xi.
However, according to a secret report from the Listening Wind Pavilion, Prince Xi was plotting a rebellion.
After Emperor Wu learned of this, he used the guise of a spring hunt to summon Prince Xi to the capital.
Knowing that his plot had been exposed, how could Prince Xi enter the capital? He directly raised troops.
Princess Wu Yanhan was appointed Great General, a Right Third Rank, leading an army of 300,000 to quell the rebellion!
After seven months of fighting, Prince Xi was at his wit's end and could only fight to the death on the Changhan Plain!
After Wu Yanhan killed the highest-ranking rebel general, the morale of Prince Xi's army collapsed and they retreated in defeat.
Wu Yanhan shook off the corpse on her spear, took the lead, charged into the city, and led her personal guards straight into Prince Xi's palace.
When Wu Yanhan walked out kicking Prince Xi's head.
In the sky above, streams of azure spiritual energy continuously floated towards her.
Wu Yanhan raised her head, and the smoke above her head eventually turned into an azure list, on which a name was so conspicuous.
“Xu Ming, second on the Azure Cloud Rankings.”
“This guy is indeed a bit capable.”
Wu Yanhan withdrew her gaze and continued to walk forward.
“Your Highness!” Wu Yanhan had just walked out of the palace when a soldier ran over and knelt on one knee before the girl.
“What is it?” Wu Yanhan said coldly.
“Urgent decree from His Majesty! After Your Highness breaks through Prince Xi's palace, you do not need to return to the capital. His Majesty orders the General to travel to the Heavenly Profound Gate to participate in the Heavenly Profound Gate's Violet Dawn Ceremony.”
[Unknowingly, this book has already reached 500,000 words. There are probably two-thirds to three-quarters of the content left, which should be around 2 million words to complete? Or maybe 1.7-1.8 million words.
In any case, I have to write this book well and try my best to write it completely.]
