Chapter 52

The Great Qian Heroic List is an official ranking and evaluation of the top one hundred cultivators under the age of thirty in the Great Qian Empire.

The entire population of the Great Qian Empire exceeds one billion, and the number of people under thirty is certainly no less than three to four hundred million. Selecting a hundred people from such a large population base, the intensity of the competition can be imagined.

Once a cultivator is selected for the Heroic List, as long as they do not die unexpectedly, most have a good chance of advancing to the Heavenly Wheel stage, becoming the elite martial force of the entire empire, thus gaining both fame and fortune, with an unlimited future.

To be selected for the list, one must at least meet two hard criteria:

1. Under thirty years old;

2. Cultivation level must reach the Fifth Layer of the Earth Wheel.

Since Hu Tianyi is ranked fortieth on the Heroic List, his cultivation level has naturally reached the Fifth Layer of the Earth Wheel or higher. Looking at Zhong Wen, who appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, anyone would think there was no suspense.

Nangong Ling wanted to intervene, but she was closely watched by Duan Lei and Xie Dingkun. She knew that the woman in green behind her would definitely not act for Zhong Wen, so she could only sigh inwardly.

Ning Fuzi, bound by the rules of the Holy Land, could not intervene either, and could only watch helplessly as Hu Tianyi's incredibly swift blade took Zhong Wen's life.

"Thud!"

To everyone's surprise, Hu Tianyi's broadsword did not hit Zhong Wen but instead struck his own left shoulder hard.

"Ah!" Hu Tianyi let out a scream as the blade embedded deeply into his shoulder, nearly severing his entire arm.

Zhong Wen's feet moved, and he appeared in front of Hu Tianyi, reaching out to grab his right arm.

Seeing this, Hu Tianyi, ignoring the pain, hastily pulled the broadsword out of his left shoulder and fiercely stabbed at Zhong Wen in front of him.

"Thud!"

This time, the blade directly pierced Hu Tianyi's right leg.

Another scream, and Hu Tianyi had long lost his earlier confidence. Facing such an unpredictable opponent, he was filled with fear.

Zhong Wen lightly tapped, and Hu Tianyi's right arm went limp, unable to exert any strength.

Zhong Wen took the opportunity to grab the handle of the broadsword, kicked Hu Tianyi to the ground, and with a light swing, flicked off the blood on the blade.

What a miraculous spiritual technique!

Ning Fuzi and the woman in green both had their expressions change; Zhong Wen's skills far exceeded their expectations.

How old is he, and he can actually defeat someone on the Heroic List!

Nangong Ling covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

"Sir, your skills are truly formidable, I must admit my poor judgment." Xie Dingkun, seeing his friend easily defeated, became solemn, his palms ready to attack.

Although he was confident in his strength, which was above Hu Tianyi's, he could not win so easily.

This strange young man was instantly regarded as a formidable opponent.

"Do you also want to die?" Zhong Wen, seeing Xie Dingkun's attack stance, sighed and lightly raised the broadsword he had taken from Hu Tianyi.

With the broadsword in hand, Zhong Wen exuded an invincible aura, making Xie Dingkun feel a faint sense of fear.

He shook his head, steadied his mind, and dispelled his杂念.

At the age of twenty-six, at the Seventh Layer of the Earth Wheel, he certainly had the capital to be proud.

"Roar!" Xie Dingkun's body quickly sprang towards Zhong Wen, his right palm emitting a faint sound of thunder. His nickname was also his famous technique, the "Thunderclap Palm"!

Zhong Wen completely ignored it, only slashing down with the broadsword, which exuded a momentum like a surging tide, overwhelming the opponent.

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

The attack range of a sword naturally exceeds that of an arm by much. Xie Dingkun instantly judged that before his right "Thunderclap Palm" hit the opponent, he would be struck by the sword first, so he decisively took a step back to avoid the sharp edge, planning to find a better opportunity.

However, this retreat gave him no more chances. Zhong Wen's second and third slashes followed in quick succession, the momentum like a towering wave, becoming faster and stronger.

The Eighteen Waves of the Broken Wave, a powerful sword technique that can even sever huge waves!

Xie Dingkun was not an ordinary Earth Wheel expert. Relying on his rich combat experience, he repeatedly dodged Zhong Wen's attacks. However, as he retreated further, his path was finally blocked by a large tree behind him, leaving him nowhere to hide.

Just as Zhong Wen's next slash was about to kill Xie Dingkun, "Fire Cloud Spear" Duan Lei made his move.

The red spear, carrying a terrifying momentum, pierced the air, fiercely stabbing towards Zhong Wen's back.

"Be careful!"

Zhong Wen heard Nangong Ling's warning behind him, but did not turn around. He lightly flicked his left hand backward.

Duan Lei felt his spear as if it were out of control, suddenly changing direction and piercing the tree-backed Xie Dingkun with irresistible force.

With a light "thud," the Fire Cloud Spear fiercely stabbed into Xie Dingkun's abdomen, piercing him through and nailing him to the tree.

Looking at his friend's shocked eyes, Duan Lei felt dizzy and did not know what to do.

Then, he felt a pain in his chest, looking down to see Zhong Wen's broadsword already piercing his chest.

"You... you little... " Duan Lei opened his mouth to speak but was powerless, slowly falling backward.

Zhong Wen casually flicked the broadsword, then casually stuck it in Duan Lei's thigh, patted his hands, and walked to the side to pick up the basket, hanging it on his arm.

"Did you say you are a cook at the Drifting Flower Palace?" Nangong Ling suddenly spoke, her voice as pleasant as a nightingale.

"And a physician." Zhong Wen added.

"Do you know who these three are?" Nangong Ling pointed to the two people Zhong Wen had defeated and the one impaled on the tree.

"I don't know, but from the situation, they seem to be a few idle rascals." Zhong Wen shook his head, his guess not far off.

"These three people are ranked twenty-second, thirty-second, and fortieth on the Great Qian Heroic List. They are famous young experts, with a promising future to reach the Heavenly Wheel." Nangong Ling revealed their identities, her star-like eyes tightly fixed on Zhong Wen, "You look like you are only sixteen or seventeen years old, and you easily defeated three experts from the Heroic List. Are you really just a cook?"

"And a physician." Zhong Wen added again.

"Do you think I would believe that?"

"Sister Nangong, we are right below the Drifting Flower Palace. If I lied, wouldn't it be exposed as soon as we go up the mountain? What's the point?" Zhong Wen couldn't help but say, "Sister, you haven't been back to the Drifting Flower Palace for a long time. Why don't you go up and pay respects to the palace master first? I still need to buy groceries, so I won't accompany you."

Nangong Ling, on horseback, pondered for a moment, then suddenly dismounted, pulled out her sword, and quickly stabbed it a few times, severing the throats of Duan Lei, Xie Dingkun, and Hu Tianyi, ending their lives. She then said to Zhong Wen with a teaching tone, "Whether you are a cook at the Drifting Flower Palace or not, you helped me just now. Sister will teach you a lesson: when you deal with evil, you must be thorough. Since you have offended them, don't leave any lingering troubles, to avoid future retaliation and involving your loved ones."

Without waiting for Zhong Wen's response, she tied the little red horse to the side and walked up the mountain with the woman in green, leaving Zhong Wen behind.

What a unique eldest disciple of the Drifting Flower Palace.

Zhong Wen touched his chin, pondering Nangong Ling's words, reflecting on whether he had become a bit too arrogant and less cautious recently.

The spiritual technique this young man used just now is definitely above the Golden Rank. Could he be a descendant of some Holy Land?

Ning Fuzi looked at Zhong Wen, then at Nangong Ling and the woman in green who had already gone up the mountain. Concerned for his granddaughter, he sighed and followed them up the mountain, his curiosity about Zhong Wen growing.

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In a single day, an explosive piece of news suddenly spread, shocking the entire capital.

The second-ranked "Sword Master" Xiao Wenjian of the Great Qian Heroic List challenged the first-ranked Martial King Li Qing.

In every corner of the capital, from officials and nobles to vendors and commoners, even children, everyone was discussing the reliability of this news.

"I heard that Lord Xiao finally found a suitable sword and started using it again, so he wants to challenge the first-ranked Martial King to determine who is the top young hero of the Great Qian."

"I said it before, the reason the Martial King is ranked first is because Lord Xiao abandoned the sword. Now, the King's first place is in jeopardy."

"Nonsense, when Xiao Wenjian had not abandoned the sword, they had a duel, and it was said that the Martial King won."

"I wonder if the Martial King will accept the challenge."

"If Lord Xiao formally issues the challenge, the Martial King must accept it; otherwise, the list will be automatically updated."

"I must go to the scene to watch the duel between these two prodigies."

"Pfft, what's so interesting about two men fighting? I'd rather watch my new work, 'The Tyrant Emperor Falls in Love with Me'..." said a beautiful woman.

The news quickly spread from the capital, gradually reaching the entire country.

Soon, another piece of news was officially released through the "Great Qian Bulletin":

Martial King Li Qing accepted Xiao Wenjian's challenge. The time is set for one month later, and the location is the Jade Flute Manor in the western suburbs of the capital.

The owner of the Jade Flute Manor quickly announced the sale of viewing spots for the day of the duel.

Price: one thousand spirit crystals per person!