The five young geniuses immediately apologized with ashamed expressions. "Our apologies, Fellow Daoists. It was our arrogance. We shouldn't have questioned you like that."
"It's fine. You few Fellow Daoists were simply acting on a pure desire for a challenge," Ye Chen and the others naturally didn't blame them and didn't wish to linger on the matter. Just as they were about to bid farewell and leave, one of them spoke up: "Fellow Daoists, having seen how formidable this Fellow Daoist is, I believe the other three are no less capable. You all likely possess cultivation at the Human Ranking level. About two thousand li ahead, at the Crimson Blood Lake, a group of Heaven's Prides have gathered. Among them are quite a few Heaven's Pride powerhouses of Human Ranking caliber, intending to engage in Dragon Fighting to seize its Dragon Pearl. If you're interested, you may proceed there."
Dragon Fighting? Seizing a Dragon Pearl?
The group felt a slight flicker of interest, though truly only a flicker, as this dragon couldn't possibly be a pure-blooded True Dragon. It was most likely a dragon-blooded creature of the dragon race.
They smiled and expressed their thanks.
However, as it was in the same direction, Ye Chen naturally didn't mind taking a detour to see what this so-called Dragon Fighting was all about.
Moreover, with the so-called Human Ranking Heaven's Prides present, they could also take this opportunity to gauge the strength level of the so-called Human Ranking Heaven's Prides in this Ten Heavens Ancient Domain. Perhaps they could also learn about what the Human Ranking and Earth Ranking were all about.
The five young geniuses also followed along, and Ye Chen's group couldn't very well refuse.
Sure enough, after traveling about two thousand li, they saw in the distance an immense lake. However, the water of the lake presented an unusual crimson hue, like a sea of blood, appearing quite eerie.
The name Crimson Blood Lake was indeed fitting.
At this moment, gathered on the shores of the Crimson Blood Lake was a group of young Heaven's Prides, riding dozens of hovering divine ships. They were all Heavenly King-level divine ships, densely assembled over the Crimson Blood Lake, undeniably a rather impressive lineup.
Ye Chen's group didn't approach, merely observing from afar, watching the actions of these young Heaven's Prides to see how the Dragon Fighting would proceed.
Among the many hovering divine ships, from the central ship emerged the most extraordinary and prominent Heaven's Pride talent. His face was like fine jade, his bearing majestic and imposing. He wore golden dragon-embroidered robes and a magnificent divine crown adorned with nine coiling dragons, resembling a Heavenly Court Divine King. His heroic presence was awe-inspiring, far surpassing the other Heaven's Prides around him.
"It's actually him, Hua Yuntian!"
"The supreme Heaven's Pride of the Hua Clan Imperial Dynasty from the Ninth Heaven Ancient Domain has actually appeared, and it's this terrifying figure, Hua Yuntian."
Seeing the appearance of the man with the nine-dragon divine crown, the five young geniuses beside Ye Chen all changed expressions, showing shock.
"Hua Clan Imperial Dynasty!?"
Ye Chen and his companions finally adopted slightly solemn expressions. Among the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans ruling the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain, the Hua Clan Imperial Dynasty was one of them. As it belonged to an Emperor Clan, even an Immortal Imperial Dynasty was incorporated into the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans.
"Is Hua Yuntian very strong?" Ye Chen asked. However, upon asking, the five young geniuses who had followed looked at Ye Chen with astonishment. "Fellow Daoist, you actually don't know Hua Yuntian? He is a super Heaven's Pride on the Earth Ranking. Not only is he a high-level young Supreme One, but he also entered the Great Power Realm many years ago. His current cultivation has long been unfathomable. He ranks among the top five super Heaven's Prides of the younger generation within the entire Hua Clan Imperial Dynasty. There are even rumors he could reach the heights of the Heaven Ranking in the future."
Regarding this, Ye Chen also informed them of the origins of the Xia Sang Tribe.
Upon learning all this, the five young geniuses were somewhat stunned, but they also understood, smiling wryly and cupping their fists in apology. "Our apologies, Fellow Daoists. We didn't know your background. Our unintentional offense, please forgive us."
Ye Chen smiled and waved his hand. "No need for apologies, Fellow Daoists. We just have some questions we'd like to ask. What exactly are these Human Ranking and Earth Ranking lists?"
Knowing that Ye Chen's group wasn't very clear about worldly affairs, the others kindly explained.
Because the Great Era had descended, because the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans had appeared, and because the Ten Heavenly Emperor Halls had proclaimed to the world, the Heaven's Prides of the myriad races had been stirred into a frenzy. Heaven's Prides were endless, and powerful experts were as numerous as clouds.
As time passed, the Heaven's Prides of the various races also displayed varying levels of strength; not everyone was on the same level, and the gap between the strong and weak was immense.
Among them, the strong included the Emperor Sons and Daughters, the Immortal Dao progeny of the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans. Slightly weaker were the supreme Heaven's Prides of the Three Thousand Royal Clans, followed by the countless other Heaven's Prides of the myriad races.
Some busybodies, perhaps with nothing better to do, and among them were those with great influence, compiled a comprehensive list of the myriad races' Heaven's Prides, creating a potential ranking list. It signified those with the greatest hope of seizing the "Supreme One" immortal fate and was also a current ranking list of the strength of the myriad domains' Heaven's Prides, divided into three rankings: Heaven, Earth, and Human.
Among them, the Heaven Ranking was the highest, the Human Ranking the lowest.
These three rankings, Heaven, Earth, and Human, were specifically for the contemporary Heaven's Prides of the myriad races. Anyone with the greatest qualification to contend for the final "Supreme One" immortal fate would be listed within them.
The entire list, excluding the Heaven Ranking, comprised three thousand slots. Once selected, it represented being at least within the top three thousand Heaven's Prides in the world.
Of course, to be shortlisted for the three rankings, even the third-tier Human Ranking, the most basic qualification was that one's strength must reach the fifth level of the Heavenly King Realm.
And merely reaching the fifth level of the Heavenly King Realm wasn't enough; one must also possess combat power capable of defeating Heavenly King powerhouses of the same level to be selected for entry.
The Human Ranking list had two thousand five hundred slots.
The qualification for the Earth Ranking was naturally stricter. Generally speaking, to enter the Earth Ranking, one must at least possess combat power comparable to the Great Power Realm. There were a total of five hundred slots!
As for the highest Heaven Ranking, the number of slots was unlimited; one only needed to reach the qualification threshold.
However, being selected for this highest Heaven Ranking was excessively, even absurdly, strict.
To be selected, the minimum combat power required was that of an eighth-level super Great Power. Moreover, reaching this standard didn't guarantee selection; one also needed to fulfill one of two additional conditions to be eligible for selection.
First, be able to battle a ninth-level peak Great Power without defeat.
Second, leave one's name on the Ten Heavens Ancient Stele.
Fulfilling either one granted eligibility for inclusion in the Heaven Ranking.
It could be said that the announcement of these two conditions immediately shocked the entire Ten Heavens Ancient Domain.
What kind of powerhouse was a ninth-level Great Power? That went without saying—it was a super powerhouse at the peak of the Great Power Realm. One step beyond was the Nine Tribulations Realm. After undergoing the Nine Tribulations to Great Perfection, one could achieve the Ancient Sovereign realm. Throughout the vast Ten Heavens Ancient Domain, such Sovereign existences stood at the pinnacle of the pyramid.
Such super powerhouses were absolutely top-tier experts even among the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans. How many young Heaven's Prides in the world could reach this step?
As for the second condition, leaving a name on the Ten Heavens Ancient Stele, it was similarly daunting.
Because the Ten Heavens Ancient Stele was an ancient stele left behind since the creation of heaven and earth, said to be the Stele of the Gods. Those who could leave their names on this stele were all existences that shook the ancient and modern eras.
Among the contemporary younger generation, how many had the qualification to leave their names on the Ten Heavens Ancient Stele? Probably not even ten could be found among the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans.
Precisely because of this, people across the world didn't believe that among the myriad domains' Heaven's Prides, there were more than a few with the strength to be listed on the Heaven Ranking. The world believed that even among the Emperor Sons and Daughters, the Immortal Dao progeny of the Ancient God Clans, likely only a handful could achieve it.
Therefore, the Heaven Ranking only had a handful of names. The world believed that even the Emperor Sons and Daughters, the Immortal Dao progeny of the One Hundred and Eight Ancient God Clans, probably weren't willing to easily challenge the ranking to leave their names.
However, no matter how one put it, the Heaven Ranking was the goal of any young Heaven's Pride talent. As long as one stepped into the Heaven Ranking, it represented having the true qualification to contend for the final "Supreme One" immortal fate.
After hearing the explanation, Ye Chen finally truly understood what the so-called three rankings, Heaven, Earth, and Human, were.
He also recalled hearing that the Sword Heaven of the Bone Demon Clan was ranked ninety-seventh on the Earth Ranking, a rather high ranking within the Earth Ranking.
Yet he couldn't help but smile. Those Emperor Sons and Daughters and Immortal Dao progeny definitely had the qualifications to be listed on the Heaven Ranking; they just hadn't displayed that peerless combat power yet.
And according to this standard, being able to battle a ninth-level Great Power without defeat granted entry to the Heaven Ranking. Ye Chen stroked his chin. With his current strength, he absolutely had the qualification to be listed there.
And A Beinu also nearly possessed Heaven Ranking-level strength.
Mo Haishen and Luo Guyun, even if not quite there, weren't far off.
If the five young geniuses before them knew that all four of them were nearly Heaven Ranking-level Supreme Heaven's Prides, who knew what kind of shocked expressions they would have.
Of course, Ye Chen wouldn't say it out loud. While understanding all this, he also looked towards Hua Yuntian in the distant sky. Ranked one hundred and third on the Earth Ranking, a formidable figure comparable to the Bone Demon Clan's Sword Heaven, and also a high-level young Supreme One.
At this moment, a special ball of divine light appeared in his hand, from which a faint dragon's roar seemed to resonate.
Ye Chen and A Beinu exchanged a glance, clearly sensing a trace of dragon race aura.
"Go!"
With a light shout from Hua Yuntian, the ball of divine light in his hand flew out. It first flew low over the Crimson Blood Lake for a moment, then suddenly shot up into the sky, swiftly returning to the hand of the handsome Heaven's Pride with the nine-dragon divine crown.
Boom—
Simultaneously, the previously calm Crimson Blood Lake suddenly began to churn with turbulent waves, layers rising and falling. Later, even the heavens and earth changed color. Countless dark clouds surged, densely covering the sky, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. The Crimson Blood Lake itself stirred up monstrous waves.
Roar—
In a trance, a faint, prolonged dragon's roar seemed to emanate from within the Crimson Blood Lake, echoing between heaven and earth.
"It's coming! Prepare yourselves!"
Hua Yuntian solemnly shouted. The many Heavenly King-level divine ships around him swiftly charged out, descending upon the Crimson Blood Lake and taking up positions at different locations, faintly presenting a special imposing aura.
An array!
This was an array, and Ye Chen could sense it was a Great Power-level array, quite extraordinary.
Boom—
Suddenly, the Crimson Blood Lake surged with towering waves. Then, with a tremendous roar, the giant waves exploded into thousands of layers, and from within, a massive black shadow shot out like lightning before vanishing.
Then, in the dark cloud-churning sky, a massive, sinuous giant dragon appeared.