Chapter 79

Gu Yang gathered his true essence in his palm, and a startling heat radiated out, like an invisible flame.

His true essence now possessed the properties of fire, increasing its power manifold.

In this simulation, he had just broken through, and even without upgrading his sword technique, he could exchange a few moves with a first-rank powerhouse, showing how much his strength had improved.

After reaching the second rank, the *Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens* finally demonstrated the true power of a world-class cultivation technique.

Gu Yang retracted his true essence, took a deep breath, and opened the system with a somewhat solemn expression.

[Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Using it once will cost 100,000 gold.]

100,000 gold!

Seeing this number, he couldn't help but clutch his chest, his breathing becoming difficult.

This damn system is really inhumane.

In other words, with his current balance of over 630,000, he could only simulate six times.

Cao Yiyi had scoured all the流动资金 from a branch of the Jinxiu Pavilion in one state, and it amounted to only 750,000, barely enough for seven simulations.

Where would he get the money in the future?

Unless he plundered one of the nine surnames of the world, it would be very difficult to gather enough silver to break through to the Divine Skill Realm.

Forget it, don't think about that now.

Simulate once more, improve the sword technique, and save Su Qingzhi and the others.

Gu Yang gritted his teeth and said the word "Yes."

...

The Imperial Capital.

After days of overcast and rainy weather, the sun finally rose from behind the mountains at dawn.

A rare good day.

Outside the Martial Academy, two dashing men arrived, one in blue and one in black, standing at the gate, waiting for the academy doors to open.

The man in black looked at the academy gates and said with a touch of nostalgia, "When the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty established the Martial Academy, he personally oversaw it, and several founding generals served as professors. Disciples from humble backgrounds flocked to join the academy. It was a glorious time. Who would have thought that in just a few hundred years, it would decline to this point."

He then turned and asked, "Brother Qin, you came to the Imperial Capital this time but didn't go to the Literary Academy first. Why did you come to the Martial Academy first?"

The man called Brother Qin was a person of great importance, the heir of the Qin family, Qin Shang, ranked fourth on the Hidden Dragon List.

Qin Shang looked in the direction of the academy and said, "Back then, the Dean gave my father guidance. Before I left, my father specifically instructed me to come to the Martial Academy to pay respects to the Dean."

"I see."

The man in black was also a person of significant importance, the eldest son of the Gu family in the Imperial Capital, Gu Yunfei, ranked twentieth on the Hidden Dragon List.

A few years ago, the two had become good friends at first sight.

This time, as the host, Gu Yunfei naturally accompanied Qin Shang to the Imperial Capital.

Suddenly, Gu Yunfei looked at the unassuming board opposite the academy and said with a smile, "I hear that Brother Qin and Miss Chu's wedding is approaching. I offer my congratulations in advance."

The news that the Qin family had proposed to the Chu family's Chu Xiyue with the Bright Moon Sword as a betrothal gift had already spread.

When Qin Shang heard him mention Chu Xiyue, his face twitched slightly.

The old wound on his face, which had already healed, seemed to throb faintly.

A year ago, this woman, ranked below him, had challenged him and, after dozens of moves, left a scar on his face with a single sword strike.

He had actually lost to a woman ranked several places below him.

This matter had always been a source of great humiliation for him.

Qin Shang never thought that his father would want him to marry this woman.

He was deeply opposed to it from the bottom of his heart.

However, this was the will of the patriarch, and he could not refuse.

In the Qin family, no one could defy the patriarch's orders, not even his father.

No matter how unwilling he was, he had to marry her.

At this moment, a figure appeared on the opposite road, limping towards them.

"Huh?"

Gu Yunfei exclaimed in surprise, saying with some surprise, "The board is being changed today."

"The board is being changed?"

Qin Shang followed his gaze and saw an old man with a limp.

Gu Yunfei explained, "This is the person responsible for changing the board. When he appears, it means the board is being changed. It's just that we don't know which list has changed."

Any change in any list is a big deal.

The last time the board was changed was half a month ago, when a man named Gu Yang suddenly appeared at seventh place on the Hidden Dragon List, becoming the hottest topic in the Imperial Capital recently.

Coincidentally, this person surnamed Gu, Gu Yunfei had heard more than once people discussing whether this Gu Yang was an illegitimate child of the Gu family.

The old man walked to the Hidden Dragon List, removed the list that had been posted for less than half a month, applied paste, and posted a new list.

Qin Shang and Gu Yunfei were both surprised, "The Hidden Dragon List again?"

After a moment, the old man finally finished posting the new list and left with his bucket.

Qin and Gu both stared at the new list, their eyes widening in shock.

Gu Yunfei exclaimed, "How can it be him?"

The reason for their shock was the extremely unusual ranking on the list.

On the list, the person at the top was no longer Chu Xiyue.

The new top-ranked person was none other than Gu Yang, who had just joined the list not long ago.

Gu Yang, third rank, Jiangzhou.

The two subconsciously looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

For a moment, they were speechless, and the atmosphere became somewhat eerie.

Gu Yunfei swallowed, "It... can't be a mistake, right?"

Gu Yang had only been on the Hidden Dragon List for half a month, and when he first joined, he was already at seventh place, which was already shocking. Now, he had climbed to the top.

Anyone's first reaction would be disbelief.

He was only at the third rank, how could he be ranked first?

Gu Yunfei's first thought was that it must be a mistake.

Qin Shang stared at the name on the Hidden Dragon List and said, "What do you think? This list has existed for a thousand years and has never been wrong."

Gu Yunfei thought about it carefully and realized that he had never heard of the Red Mansion making a mistake with the list.

He muttered, "But how is this possible?"

A third-rank martial artist topping the Hidden Dragon List had never happened before.

Qin Shang said in a dry voice, "Have you forgotten? How did Chu Xiyue become the top-ranked?"

Gu Yunfei thought of something and involuntarily drew a cold breath, exclaiming, "You mean, this person actually defeated that female demon?"

Privately, many people referred to Chu Xiyue as a female demon.

This woman never gave others any face. Two years ago, she challenged and defeated all the men ranked above her, disgracing them and making many enemies. Her reputation was naturally not good.

Qin Shang didn't know the true answer, but he recalled his battle with Chu Xiyue a year ago. Even now, he still lacked the confidence to defeat her from a year ago, let alone now.

Could the powerful Chu Xiyue be defeated by a third-rank martial artist?

He couldn't imagine it.

At this moment, a few people gathered in front of the list, discussing heatedly.

A third-rank martial artist topping the Hidden Dragon List was too explosive.

They all said it must be a mistake, perhaps a mistake in copying the list.

Just as they were arguing, the old man returned with his bucket.

"Why is he back?"

Qin Shang and Gu Yunfei looked at each other again.

The old man walked to the Hidden Dragon List, removed the newly posted list, and replaced it with another one.

Everyone eagerly looked over.

Gu Yang's name was still at the top, the only change being his rank, which had been updated from third to second.

Gu Yunfei visibly relaxed, saying, "I told you, it must have been a mistake."

However, he then felt something was off. How could Gu Yang, who had just broken through to the second rank, be ranked first?

The top five were all at the second rank for at least one to two years. What qualifications did he have to be ranked first?

At this moment, a figure flew over and landed behind Qin Shang, reporting, "Young Master, something big has happened."

Qin Shang said, "Speak."

"Five days ago, in Pingjun City, Jiangzhou, Gu Yang, ranked seventh on the Hidden Dragon List, defeated three second-rank martial artists with one strike. Lin Family's second-rank Mo Yu was killed on the spot, and Chu Xiyue and Wu Xingyun were severely injured."

This news left the two of them speechless for a long time.

Defeating three second-rank martial artists with one strike, including Chu Xiyue and Wu Xingyun, the top two on the Hidden Dragon List, was this real?