The Heaven and Human Ranking of Great Yan was different from other martial world lists like the Hidden Dragon Ranking or the Core Pellet Ranking. It was the only ranking issued by the imperial court and carried tremendous authority. Being listed meant fame throughout the land.
Because of that, the triennial update of the ranking always drew great anticipation across the entire Great Yan.
This time, the update had been delayed by a few days. Once He Yan received the news, he rushed back to Zhenwu Sect at once.
In the past, Zhenwu disciples paid attention to the Heaven and Human Ranking, but it always felt far removed from them. Now it was different—they had a peerless expert who stood above all of Great Yan.
The Heavenly Sword Elder!
As soon as He Yan brought back the news, the entire Zhenwu Sect was in an uproar.
Daoist Longshan was also highly attentive, and Ning Qi, along with the two or three personal disciples still on the mountain, came as soon as they heard.
Inside the Mingwu Pavilion.
He Yan excitedly opened a gold-edged booklet.
"Master, look! The Heavenly Sword Elder—he made the list!" His face flushed with excitement. He had run all this way just to share this joyful news. He felt proud by association.
Everyone looked.
On the last page, it read:
Heaven and Human Ranking, No. 36 — Heavenly Sword Elder.
Below were several lines of fine print detailing the Heavenly Sword Elder's background and battle records, along with some speculations.
"Heavenly Sword Elder, age unknown, past unknown, currently residing on Zhenwu Mountain. When the demonic sect's Heaven and Human expert, Old Demon Lin, sought to destroy Zhenwu Mountain, a single heavenly sword swept forth and gravely wounded Old Demon Lin..."
"Afterward, five Heaven and Human experts from the demonic sect gathered at Zhenwu Mountain. The Heavenly Sword Elder blocked one of them with his sword..."
"Based on the Heavenly Sword Elder's two recorded appearances and the fact that he has never revealed his full strength, he is likely holding back. Thus, he is ranked No. 36."
In addition to the eloquent text, a master painter had illustrated based on descriptions, capturing some of the heavenly sword's awe-inspiring presence. Just the style alone filled viewers with admiration. Setting aside his actual strength, in terms of coolness, few on the list could rival the Heavenly Sword Elder's image.
The personal disciples were thrilled.
They exclaimed with awe from time to time.
Zhuang Chen couldn't help but say:
"If only I could get some pointers from the Heavenly Sword Elder."
He was obsessed with swordsmanship. With such a peerless swordmaster in his own sect, his heart itched. But he also knew the Heavenly Sword Elder rarely showed himself—even his own master, Daoist Longshan, seldom saw him. He could only sigh in disappointment. ℝ₳ꞐŎʙЕṥ
Daoist Longshan stroked his beard with a smile, glancing oddly at his little disciple.
The Heavenly Sword Elder making the list pleased him. This would greatly boost Zhenwu Sect's reputation, paving the way for expansion and setting the stage for the Daoist Sect Rankings.
Though they had always hoped he'd make the list, it was never guaranteed. Now that it was confirmed, he was naturally overjoyed.
But Ning Qi felt somewhat helpless.
Honestly, he'd rather not be on the Heaven and Human Ranking.
The martial world was a massive arena of fame and fortune, and the Heaven and Human Ranking was its center stage. It attracted trouble—especially with his awkward ranking—many would now eye him, some even challenge him.
It would have been better to stay low-key.
But now that it was done, there was no point dwelling on it. He could only focus on the positives.
"For the sect's development, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. It also serves as a deterrent to the demonic sect. But we'll need to watch out for the Southern Alliance. If they already suspected us, this ranking might draw more attention from them."
Still, Ning Qi wasn't too worried.
His actual strength far surpassed the No. 36 spot on the Heaven and Human Ranking. He had made even more progress recently—if he unleashed all his techniques, he might even go toe-to-toe with the Northern Suppression King.
Zhuang Chen's curious question drew his attention:
"The Heavenly Sword Elder is already that strong—who are the people ranked ahead of him?" His eyes sparkled with longing.
Ning Qi was curious too.
Although the ranking didn't include every master, it was a highly reliable reference. It was good to know who might be future opponents.
He Yan smiled as he flipped through the ranking, reciting names like a storyteller. He even shared rumors and anecdotes not recorded in the booklet—he always had a passion for trivia.
"No. 35 is a powerhouse from Leizhou. He made the list last time but hasn't fought in the past three years, so he dropped one spot..."
"..."
"This is Elder Qingniu. He was No. 33 last time and moved up to No. 32. That's thanks to his role in wiping out a Deathfire Abyss branch. Later, the demonic sect tried to trouble him, but he fended them off, which helped improve his ranking."
Everyone listened, fully absorbed.
Stories about peerless experts always fascinated people.
Ning Qi paid only mild attention. With his current strength, the lower-ranked Heaven and Human experts didn't impress him anymore.
He paused only at the ranking above the Qingniu Blade Master—he was most familiar with this one.
He felt a bit sentimental.
At the Heaven and Human Grand Assembly, Qingniu had been formidable. But now, he'd long been left behind. If they fought today, Ning Qi could crush him with ease.
He Yan continued speaking.
Since the Heaven and Human Ranking updated every three years, there weren't many changes. The higher up the list, the more stable it became—mostly the same regulars, with only minor reshuffling based on recent events.
Heard the court was considering changing the update cycle from every three years to five or even ten. But it was still under discussion.
Ning Qi focused more on those ranked in the top twenty.
"Between No. 20 and No. 10, there are three Daoist experts, two Buddhist masters, the rest from major sects—no rogue warriors. Clearly, without resources or inheritance, it's hard for rogue cultivators to make it far."
Ning Qi sighed inwardly.
At the start, rogue cultivators could keep pace through luck and effort. But the further they went, the harder it got. Someone like Lord Xiaoyao, who reached the Heaven and Human Realm on his own, was the pinnacle of rogue martial artists.
He Yan added:
"There's someone among the top ten we've met."
Everyone reacted at once.
The Northern Suppression King!
Ning Qi looked over and was surprised.
The Northern Suppression King wasn't at No. 9—he had jumped to No. 7, climbing two spots. Since the Heaven and Human Ranking didn't fake anything, this meant his power had grown—or he had been hiding it.
Ning Qi read the fine print carefully.
"Heaven and Human Ranking No. 7, Northern Suppression King. Real name: Li Xuanyang. Began martial arts at age six. Rose through the royal family ranks. Joined the army at eighteen, fought the Northern Barbarians. Reached the White Mist Realm at thirty, ennobled as a marquis. Core Pellet Realm at fifty, Heaven and Human Realm at sixty, same year conferred the title of Northern Suppression King... Invented the Suppression Fist, subdued countless northern enemies. Famous and mighty..."
Ning Qi thought to himself:
"He reached the Heaven and Human Realm at sixty? Truly a once-in-a-generation genius. Among the fastest cultivators in history. No wonder he's so powerful even though he's under 150. So that profound fist art is called the Suppression Fist."
He kept reading and saw the recent updates.
"Ten powerful Heaven and Human Realm experts from the Northern Barbarians led an army to ambush the Northern Suppression King. He crushed them single-handedly—three killed, seven fled, their army annihilated..."
"These ten must not have been ordinary Heaven and Human experts. The Northern Suppression King's strength is clearly far from simple." Ning Qi mused. He had thought he might test himself against the Northern Suppression King after his recent progress, but now it seemed there was still a gap.
Everyone knew—the higher the rank on the Heaven and Human Ranking, the bigger the difference between each spot.
The gap between each of the top ten was wider than between five spots lower down.
He spent more time on the top ten, memorizing He Yan's explanations.
Finally, his gaze fell on the top three.
In any field, the top three always drew the most attention—especially the No. 1.
"Heaven and Human Ranking No. 3, Blade Demon. Emerged twenty years ago. Blade skills twisted like a demon's. One strike cleaved mountains. Even killed the No. 3 ranked expert of that time..."
"No. 2, Flame Martial General. Commands Great Yan's armies. Countless campaigns. Highly revered in the military..."
"No. 1, Elder Listening Wind. Reportedly blind since youth, but blessed with martial intuition. Appears and vanishes like the wind. His spot has remained unchallenged for sixty years..."
Ning Qi studied the top three.
The Blade Demon had long been the idol of blade wielders. Before his rise, sword cultivators overshadowed blade users. But after his debut, he stole the spotlight—especially since the top sword cultivator, the Daychaser Sword King, was only ranked fifth.
However, sword cultivators still outnumbered blade users on the list. That number just increased again—the Heavenly Sword Elder's appearance at No. 36 knocked the former No. 36, Thunderblade Master, off the list.
No. 2 was the Flame Martial General of Great Yan. The name alone showed his stature. Ning Qi had expected the court would make their own man No. 1, but he ended up at second.
Perhaps that was also proof of the Heaven and Human Ranking's credibility.
"Still, it seems Elder Listening Wind is truly formidable. Even with a disability, he's stayed at the top for sixty years."
He was impressed.
No doubt, these were the real powerhouses of Great Yan. Unless a Martial Saint appeared, they were the strongest.
"They must be true peak Heaven and Human experts, perhaps even possessing the three perfected essences—vitality, spirit, and mind—which would explain their strength." Ning Qi studied their battle descriptions—cleaving mountains, shattering earth, boiling rivers. Such feats were beyond ordinary Heaven and Human cultivators.
"I wonder if they've already begun the path to Martial Saint?"
There were countless strong cultivators in the world—but Martial Saints were extremely rare.
Ning Qi felt he had gained a lot from reading the ranking.
He compared their strength to his own.
He felt that once he reached the Core Pellet Realm, he wouldn't fear these people—he might even suppress them.
"Still, the Heaven and Human Ranking doesn't include all the peerless experts. The demonic sect, Southern Alliance, Northern Barbarians, and beast experts aren't listed. Some martial sects may have hidden powerhouses, and it's certain the imperial court is concealing some of their own elites too."
That was to be expected.
Some chased fame and fortune, others dismissed it. The Heaven and Human Ranking served to reinforce the court's control, not reveal all their cards—just enough to be intimidating.
Even so, Ning Qi believed that even among the hidden ones, few could match the top three.
After reading the ranking, everyone was amazed.
He Yan laughed and said:
"Our talent might not be enough to enter the Heaven and Human Ranking, but Master is definitely destined to be listed. Once Little Nine and Little Ten grow up, they'll make it too. Then our Zhenwu Sect will have four Heaven and Human-level experts on the ranking—enough to stun the world!"
Everyone was filled with expectation.
Daoist Longshan shook his head and laughed, tapping He Yan with his measuring ruler:
"Don't belittle yourselves. You all have decent talent. The future is uncertain. With the right opportunity and enough preparation, who says you can't soar to the skies? Don't speak so prematurely."
He Yan laughed at himself for being unworthy of the Heaven and Human Ranking, but as their master, Daoist Longshan naturally had to offer encouragement.
All the disciples bowed respectfully and solemnly said:"We will remember your teachings!"
…
The update to the Heaven and Human Ranking stirred waves across all of Great Yan—it was a major event that happened once every three years.
Countless people had been eagerly awaiting it, with many even placing bets long beforehand on how the rankings of various powerhouses might shift.
The top-ranked experts naturally drew the most attention.
But there was one person who attracted nearly as much focus.
The Heavenly Sword Elder.
He was the only one this round to knock a previous expert off the list and take their place.
Many had already begun betting on him ahead of time, and his popularity was no less than that of those in the top twenty.
Moreover,
his identity was somewhat special.
Because the Heavenly Sword Elder was a sword cultivator.
The rivalry between blade and sword in Great Yan had always been fierce. Whether swordsmen or bladesmen, each group wanted to reign supreme. From top to bottom, they never stopped comparing—the number of practitioners in each region, the fame of their techniques, and of course, the powerhouses at the Core Pellet and Heaven and Human Realms.
The Heaven and Human Ranking was the ultimate focus of this rivalry.
In a way, the Heavenly Sword Elder's appearance broke the deadlock.
Across every province in the land, people were buzzing.
Swordsmen were overjoyed, ecstatic.
"The Heavenly Sword Elder made the list—he's now No. 36 on the Heaven and Human Ranking! That gives swordsmen ten spots. You bladesmen only have eight. You're far behind!"
"The sword reigns supreme. At least until the next update, that's the undeniable truth!"
Their faces lit up with joy, as though they had finally turned the tide.
But the bladesmen refused to back down.
"The sword reigns supreme? Would you dare say that in front of the Blade Demon? He sits proudly at No. 3 on the Heaven and Human Ranking, overlooking all!"
He was the pillar of faith for all bladesmen. The Blade Demon's presence gave them confidence.
"The Daychaser Sword King is ranked fifth. He's not necessarily weaker than the Blade Demon—they just haven't fought. And even if the Blade Demon is slightly stronger, that doesn't change the fact that we outnumber you by two on the list, and our overall ranking is higher."
At those words,
the bladesmen fell silent, stifled. They couldn't argue with the facts.
But someone quickly pushed back:
"Hmph! The Heavenly Sword Elder is strong, yes, but the Heaven and Human Ranking has made mistakes before. In my view, he's not necessarily stronger than the Thunderblade Master. Don't forget, defeating someone on the list means you can take their place. That's how the Blade Demon got there back in the day!"
The swordsmen were furious:
"Such twisted logic! Then why doesn't the Thunderblade Master just go challenge the Heavenly Sword Elder? You won't believe it until you see a coffin!"
In no time,
the quarrel between swordsmen and bladesmen escalated.
Debates and disputes could be heard all over the provinces—some even turned into physical fights.
The Heavenly Sword Elder had merely been the spark.
The root cause was the long-standing blade-vs-sword rivalry.
Everyone wanted to believe the weapon they practiced was unmatched in the world. Though the smart ones knew it was the wielder that mattered, not the weapon, trends often ignored reason—and vanity had a role to play too.
Even the powerful were inevitably caught up in the wave.
Add in a few mischief-makers stoking the flames from the sidelines, and the conflict grew fiercer by the day.
Some even went to plead with the Thunderblade Master.
…
In the Southern Alliance, the Saintess of the South browsed the newly released Heaven and Human Ranking with great interest, eyes full of amazement:
"This Great Yan is truly a land of powerhouses. If all the martial sects under heaven aligned with Great Yan, they would've long unified the world. We'd have no choice but to bow our heads—or flee deep into the Ten-Thousand Mountains."
Granny Snake had always been proud, but even she nodded in agreement.
If she were placed on the Heaven and Human Ranking, her position wouldn't be very high.
"This might be our chance. With all eyes on the Heaven and Human Ranking, we can erase any traces we left behind and rally again. Even if we don't continue cultivating the Blood King Gu in Qingzhou, we must at least leave some spies behind." Granny Snake's voice was raspy.
The Saintess nodded slowly:
"Just what I was thinking. We've been dormant long enough. It's time to act. The demonic sect's been hiding lately—we've only found a few minor strongholds. But that debt still needs to be paid."
"Indeed. Without establishing authority, there's no way to proceed with any plans," Granny Snake hesitated, "But are we sure about targeting the demonic sect?"
The Saintess rose, looking out the window with a soft laugh. Her veil shifted, revealing the edge of her breathtaking face.
"Of course not. Granny, did you notice—the Heavenly Sword Elder made the list?"
"Of course. He's thirty-sixth. But that means he has the strength to pull it off. Are you planning to test him? If I see him fight, I can tell if he's hiding his true strength."
Granny Snake was cautious. Though the Heavenly Sword Elder had only shown sword techniques so far, who could say if he was concealing something more?
What if he was actually a 'Poison Sword Elder'?
After all, he had clashed with a demonic sect expert known for venom techniques. The connection was suspicious.
One look—that was all she needed. No one could hide their nature from her two beloved serpents.
The Saintess chuckled:
"No need for us to act. Others will do it for us."
Granny Snake was puzzled.
The Saintess continued:
"The blade-vs-sword rivalry has a long history. The Heavenly Sword Elder's appearance is a spark. The Thunderblade Master was bumped off the list and surely isn't happy. Now, with countless bladesmen petitioning him, he has every reason to challenge the Heavenly Sword Elder."
"When the time comes, we only need to show up and watch. We'll see the Heavenly Sword Elder's true nature. If he has nothing to do with our matter, we won't waste time on Zhenwu Sect. Instead, we'll prepare a proper gift for the demonic sect."
Her eyes glinted coldly. Her black dress swirled with killing intent.
As the Southern Saintess, she couldn't let the demonic sect get away with their betrayal. She came to Qingzhou with a mission—and she wouldn't leave empty-handed.
"Then shall we...?"
"Add some fuel to the fire. Sit back and enjoy the show." Her laugh was like silver bells.
…
Across the land, the blade-vs-sword rivalry grew fiercer. No one knew where the wave had started, but suddenly, it exploded.
At first, it was nameless nobodies bickering.
Then minor known figures joined. Then even long-established powerhouses got pulled in. Some realized something was off, but by then, they were swept away.
In the martial world, one couldn't act freely.
Even if you didn't care, you had to think of your sect and clan. Show weakness, and you'd get bullied. Let it happen again and again, and people would start trampling you.
Slowly,
more and more bladesmen petitioned the Thunderblade Master to challenge the Heavenly Sword Elder—to uphold the bladesmen's name.
No one knew exactly when it began,
but the narrative had shifted. The Heavenly Sword Elder and the Thunderblade Master were now seen as the final battle of sword vs. blade. Many realized the situation was out of control—but no one could stop it.
Yet, the Thunderblade Master hadn't responded. He seemed hesitant.
On Zhenwu Mountain,
the rumors had naturally reached their ears.
Zhenwu disciples were furious.
Whether they used blades or swords, first and foremost, they were disciples of Zhenwu Sect. Outsiders questioning their foundation—of course they were angry.
But they firmly believed that if the Thunderblade Master dared to come, the Heavenly Sword Elder would easily suppress him.
They had seen the power of the heavenly sword. In their hearts, they felt a deep reverence for the Heavenly Sword Elder. Many even believed the Heaven and Human Ranking had underestimated him by placing him only at thirty-six.
Daoist Longshan gave a bitter smile. He realized he had celebrated too early.
Gaining fame was good—but attracting needless challenges was not.
Normally, it wouldn't have escalated like this. It was just a routine update to the rankings.
But caught in the middle of the blade-sword rivalry, they were now swept into an invisible whirlpool.
Late at night, Daoist Longshan entered the Seeking Dao Courtyard.
Ning Qi was cultivating. His Qi surged like thunder, and even the ambient energy startled Daoist Longshan. Ning Qi slowly opened his eyes—he already knew why his master had come.
"Little Nine, if that Thunderblade Master really comes to challenge us, what then?" Daoist Longshan hesitated, then added, "Should we say the Heavenly Sword Elder has left the mountain, off traveling the world?"
He wasn't worried about whether his disciple could handle it—but with so much attention, if someone saw through the Heavenly Sword Elder's true identity, it would be worse. It could bring even greater trouble.
Better to lose face than suffer a major setback.
Ning Qi sighed inwardly. He had worried the ranking would bring trouble—and here it was. But it wasn't something he could control. Fortunately, he had anticipated this and created the Formless Steel Body.
"Master, that won't work."
He stood and shook his head with a smile, walking alongside Daoist Longshan.
"This can't be avoided. The blade-vs-sword rivalry needs a target. If the Heavenly Sword Elder isn't on Zhenwu Mountain, there'll be no peace here. We'll get endless spying eyes and nonstop challenges. Since trouble's already at our door, we meet it head-on."
"If the Thunderblade Master really comes, then not only must we win—we must do it cleanly, to stop future pests."
Daoist Longshan said with worry:"But... I fear there'll be many Heaven and Human experts present to watch. What if they discover your identity?"
Ning Qi smiled:"Don't worry, Master. I have it under control."
His voice was calm.
He simply disliked trouble—it didn't mean he feared it. Since it had come, he'd handle it.
Still, he hoped the Thunderblade Master wasn't so shallow—to come challenge over a bit of vanity.
Daoist Longshan's worries eased. Gratitude and relief appeared on his face.
He wanted to pat Ning Qi's head—only to find that Ning Qi now stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
Without realizing it, his little disciple had become the pillar of Zhenwu Sect.