Free Web NovelAokimoku City.
The sky was just beginning to lighten at dawn, and the first rays of light from a cloud hole illuminated the newly built and magnificent city.
The massive city gates stood wide open, allowing a constant stream of carriages and horses to pass through like dragons.
Aokimoku City serves as a dividing line in the Southern Border, the first major Human Race city upon leaving the heartland of the Yao Race.
Reaching here meant stepping into the sphere of influence of Nanguan (Southern Pass).
Above the bustling city gates hung a massive Disaster Beast head, the severed head of a Four-Rank Yao King, personally slain by Zhennan King, still lifelike after countless years.
Within the city, Great Yu-style bungalows and the common corner towers of the Southern Border were interspersed, and people on the streets wore long robes and skirts, while others dressed more freely.
The cultural styles of both regions merged into one within this city, appearing both strange and harmonious.
Inside a carriage amidst the flow of traffic.
"We've finally returned to the Human Race's territory."
Behind the carriage curtain, Li Mo's expression became relaxed and cheerful, as if he had put down some burden.
Aokimoku City couldn't be considered prosperous; it was not as bustling as Yunzhou, nor even Ziyang Prefecture Fu City.
Yet, it gave him a feeling of immense familiarity due to its thriving population.
"Ice Cube, do you want to eat some?"
"What?"
Ying Bing, who was drinking tea, looked up, following his gaze.
On the street, an old man sat in front of a pushcart, using a bamboo stick to dip into the sugar syrup in a pot and draw on a stone slab, all while vividly telling stories, attracting a large group of children.
Sugar paintings?
Aren't these just for children...
"I want to eat some."
"Okay, then I'll draw one for you too."
Li Mo's smile instantly became hearty.
He discussed a few words with the old man selling sugar paintings, and upon pulling out a gold bean, the old man's cloudy eyes instantly cleared, stating, "I can tell at a glance that you are a craftsman."
Sugar painting isn't difficult; as long as you draw quickly and don't let the sugar syrup solidify, it's fine.
In a short while, a sugar figure resembling a boy with a large head was born, brought to life by Xiao Li the painter's artistic skill.
"Wow, Big Brother (nǎo) draws so well!"
"Are you drawing yourself?"
"Grandpa Qi only knows how to draw rabbits and tigers; we've long been tired of seeing them."
The children surrounded Li Mo, clamoring for him to make several different sugar figures.
The stall owner's grandson, a robust and spirited boy who was the leader of the children in this area, defiantly put his hands on his hips and said:
"My grandpa is the most amazing; if you're so capable, draw more kinds."
Xiao Li handed the sugar boy with a large head into the carriage, raising an eyebrow.
Here it comes, here it comes. As soon as he returned to a Human Race city, even the things he encountered were so classic.
The villain's disdain and contempt!
So, what to do next goes without saying, right?
It was fortunate that Senior Brother Ouyang didn't come along; the things he drew were not suitable for children to see.
Xiao Li's mouth curled into a smirk:
"Today, I'll let you witness what a true ~ ~ ~ ~ Painting Saint is!"
And so.
Two quarters of an hour later.
"Wow, this big snake is so fierce! What kind of Yao Beast is it?"
"Hmph, you haven't seen it, have you? This is a Ming Jiaolong."
"What about this one?"
"This is a Shrimp Head Man."
"Wow, Big Brother, you draw so realistically; have you really seen all of them?"
"More than just seen them."
Xiao Li put his hands on his hips and said proudly:
"I even used to be one! Have you heard of the auditions?"
The winter sun seemed to warm up a bit.
The children all had various sugar paintings in their hands, eating them while listening to stories, and even the robust little boy was convinced, voluntarily recognizing Xiao Li as his boss.
The new child king of this street was born!
Ying Bing's long legs were crossed, her jade-like face as cold as a goddess in snow, yet she gently bit the sugar boy with a large head.
It was sweet.
The image of the young man showing off among a group of children, summoning wind and rain, was reflected in her eyes.
Making her gaze, just like the warm winter sun.
After bidding farewell to the little rascals, the carriage slowly started moving again.
The two were looking for an inn when they saw a large crowd gathered not far away, three layers deep, making it impossible for the carriage to pass through.
"The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Wind and Cloud Rankings are out again, but unfortunately, we don't have a Dragon Gate here."
"It's good enough to just watch, hmm... The Heaven Ranking and Earth Ranking haven't changed much? That's normal... What about the Qianlong Ranking?"
"Here it comes, here it comes!"
A military officer walked through the crowd and posted the last Qianlong Ranking on the notice board.
The Heaven Ranking and Earth Ranking rarely changed throughout the year, and even the Human Ranking saw little fluctuation.
Therefore, what was «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» most eagerly discussed was naturally the Qianlong Ranking.
For a moment, many commoners were stunned, and discussions erupted.
"The change is too big, isn't it?"
"Young Marquis Zhong, who guards our city, has climbed to sixty-fifth place? With him and General Qu leading the troops in our Aokimoku City, we can rest assured."
"If Little Marquis were in a military formation, his strength would be much greater, fighting above his rank would be effortless. I feel this ranking is still too low."
"Wait."
The commoners whispered to each other, showing great reverence for Zhong Zhenyue, as with his status, he could have stayed in the safe Nanguan (Southern Pass), but since returning from Yunzhou, he had voluntarily requested to come to Aokimoku City for experience.
"Zhong Zhenyue is also in Aokimoku City?"
Xiao Li, amidst the crowd, heard a familiar name.
Not long after.
Several Qianlong Rankings were posted, and it wasn't until they approached the top ten that the scene suddenly fell silent.
"Wang Qi Dou Hun is eleventh? Ying Bing... tenth?!"
After a long pause, someone exclaimed in astonishment, as if opening a floodgate, and the crowd erupted in an uproar. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"They are only in the Guan Shen Realm; even Outer Scenery experts of the Fifth Realm wouldn't dare to venture deep into the Southern Border casually, would they?"
"How on earth did they manage it? What is heavenly divine jade?"
"Tsk tsk, they jointly slew four Six-Rank Disaster Beasts! Even at the same cultivation level, it's extremely difficult for one to fight two, and they killed Disaster Beasts."
"If this battle record is true, then their rankings are understandable."
These two Qianlongs were too young after all.
And this was only their second time entering the Qianlong Ranking; their first ranking was already exaggerated, and no one expected them to rise even further.
But this battle record was real: Fei Yi, Great Wind, Xiang Liu, Flipping River Crocodile—these were all extremely powerful Disaster Beast clans that, in their prime, had left many legends in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Fighting against overwhelming odds, not a single one escaped; they were all slain.
"By the way, have you noticed something?"
"What?"
"This Li Mo and Ying Bing, they entered the ranking together, and even their rankings rose together, sticking tightly to each other."
"Is it impossible for anyone else to come between them?"
"Amazing, Moon Sword Phoenix, you're in the top ten!" Li Mo turned and smiled.
"...You're not bad either, Wang Qi Dou Hun."
"..."
Xiao Li's smile vanished.
So he wasn't Peerless Sky蛟?
He had made such a big name for himself in the Southern Border, but they changed his nickname, you scoundrel!
Xiao Li decided to leave the place that made him sad and find a restaurant to settle down first.
Ying Bing lowered her gaze, narrowing her eyes in thought.
The Qianlong Ranking was out.
Would the actions of the Disaster Beasts become even more aggressive?
At the same time.
Inside a restaurant called 'Jiawei'.
"Little Marquis, the rankings have been sent to you."
In the private room on the second floor, Zhong Zhenyue rubbed his hands, not even looking at the other rankings, and directly picked up the Qianlong Ranking. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
He used to be very confident in himself.
But ever since he met Li Mo and Ying Bing, his confidence had been shattered.
So he learned from his shame and bravely improved! He voluntarily requested to come to Aokimoku City for experience!
"This time, the gap between us and them should be smaller, right...?"
