Chapter 719: Chapter 719

The mouth of the East Sea at Changning, Great Gan.

The sky was high and the clouds were light, with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine.

On the shimmering sea, ships of all sizes and structures shuttled back and forth, creating a bustling scene.

These ships varied greatly, from ancient wooden sailboats to massive ironclad ships with steel frames and thick armor. The contrast was striking, yet they harmonized perfectly, like countless stars adorning a brilliant galaxy, exuding a unique charm of time and space interwoven.

A large wooden sailboat, with the flag of Northern Zhou fluttering on its mast, was passing through the estuary, slowly entering the An River.

This sailboat seemed to have seen many years, with its hull's wooden planks deep and dark, bearing some mottled marks. Even the white sails hanging from the mast had turned slightly yellow, filled with a sense of age.

This Northern Zhou merchant ship had long been traveling between Great Gan and Northern Zhou, earning substantial rewards through transporting goods. At the same time, they also took on some passenger transport work, earning extra high returns.

After all, in recent decades, the exchanges between Northern Zhou and Great Gan had become increasingly frequent, and the number of people traveling between the two countries had significantly increased compared to the past.

On the deck, a group of young men and women, full of vigor and enthusiasm, were excitedly observing all the new sights.

"Brother Liu," a young man in white, holding a folding fan, said excitedly, "Did you see that ship? My goodness, it's seventy to eighty meters long, made entirely of steel, and runs faster than our wooden ship. By the way, why doesn't it have sails? What powers it?"

"Brother Liu, are those tall buildings on the shore? How can the people of Great Gan build such tall structures?"

"Brother Liu... is that a cloud ray flying boat overhead? It's my first time seeing a cloud ray flying boat."

"Uh... Brother Liu, is it my imagination, or did two Purple Mansion Masters just pass by in the air?"

The young cultivator referred to as "Brother Liu" was named Liu Gaoliang, a direct descendant of an ordinary fifth-grade family in Northern Zhou. At just sixty years old, he was already at the third level of the Lingtai Realm, surpassing even the Celestial prodigies of his family.

The reason he changed his fate was that, in his early years, he traveled with a fleet to Changning Garrison and was astounded by the atmosphere of Great Gan's Changning. By a stroke of luck, he became a student at Changning County School, where he worked hard and excelled, earning numerous rewards and reaching his current status.

The young people surrounding him were a group of students from Northern Zhou, preparing to study at Changning County School. Most of their families were "ordinary," with the highest being a sixth-grade family, and not even direct descendants.

Fortunately, they all had decent aptitude, and their families spent "huge sums" to send them here to study, hoping they could find a path for development at Changning County School, or even stay in Changning to establish a branch family and prosper.

Liu Gaoliang, looking at these young and naive juniors, recalled his feelings when he first arrived at Changning Garrison. He wasn't impatient but patiently answered everyone's questions.

"Changning is different from other places," Liu Gaoliang said calmly. "Here, Lingtai cultivators are everywhere, Celestials are common, and even Purple Mansion Masters and Divine Ability Masters are not rare. If you're lucky, you might even encounter a Void True Lord occasionally. So, when you see Masters, Realms, or True Lords, don't make a fuss; keep a calm heart."

Everyone was stunned by his words.

In such a small garrison area, there were so many great figures? A Void True Lord, someone that, in the entire Northern Zhou, besides the sacred places, only the Yuanping Emperor held such a title!

A young man in his early thirties bowed to Liu Gaoliang and said, "Brother Liu, could you tell me more about the Wang Clan, especially about a Master named Wang Shouye?"

The others perked up immediately: "We've heard stories about Senior Dan King and the Emperor's daughter. Brother Liu, if you know any gossip, please share it with us."

"Shh, be careful with your words," Liu Gaoliang's expression changed, and he quickly said, "Senior Dan King is the Ancestor of the Wang Clan, a person of incomparable status. Li Mingtang, I've seen you as calm and reliable these days, why are you acting like these guys?"

Liu Gaoliang had high hopes for Li Mingtang. Although he came from a remote eighth-grade fishing family, he had the rare prodigy B-grade bloodline and was calm and composed. As long as he remained patient and studied well at Changning County School, reaching the mid-stage of the Celestial Realm in the future was inevitable.

If he could make significant contributions or gain the favor of a great figure, improving his bloodline further wasn't impossible.

"Brother Liu, you've misunderstood me," Li Mingtang hurriedly explained. "I want to know more about Senior Dan King to repay a favor. Our family once did a small task for the Senior, and in return, he generously gifted us a large amount of spiritual stones and elixirs, which improved our family's situation and allowed me to be nurtured. Before I left, my ancestor said that if I ever had the chance to meet Senior Dan King, I must repay him well."

"I see," Liu Gaoliang's expression softened slightly. "Senior Dan King is indeed kind-hearted and generous, indirectly or directly helping many people. It's good that you have a heart of gratitude, but with your current strength, you don't even qualify to be an alchemy apprentice. How can you help? Instead of thinking about those things, focus on studying and cultivating. If the Wang Clan needs you in the future, perform well."

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Liu." Li Mingtang bowed deeply.

As they chatted and laughed, time flew by. Before they knew it, the merchant ship had already approached Xinping Port.

Under the guidance of a pilot boat, the large merchant ship they were on slowly docked at berth number fifty-three at Xinping Port.

Being an old hand, Liu Gaoliang was naturally familiar with everything at the port. He led the young newcomers through customs and headed straight to the reception point set up by Changning County School.

Today's Changning County School was no longer the simple establishment it was at its inception. With strong support from the sacred places, government, Wang Clan, and local gentry, the school had become one of the top institutions in the country in terms of scale and student quality, second only to the Wang Clan School in status.

Moreover, compared to the Wang Clan School, which primarily recruited clan members, relatives, and a limited group of local elites, Changning County School had a broader admission scope.

In recent years, it had continuously increased the proportion of international students, resulting in a larger student body.

Today, overseeing the reception point at Changning County School was one of the school's outstanding students—Dongfang Lingrou.

Though she was in her fifties, she still looked like a youthful girl in her twenties, vibrant and charming, with bright eyes.

The young girl who once bravely ventured into a restaurant to plead with Wang Shouye for her family had matured through years of experience, exuding confidence from head to toe.

Seeing her, Liu Gaoliang immediately greeted her with a smile and a bow, "Sister Dongfang, it's rare to see you on duty at the reception point today."

"Ah, it's Brother Gaoliang. With the influx of outsiders recently, Dean Lu and the faculty organized students to help in various departments, gaining some practical experience. I was just drafted for this," Dongfang Lingrou replied with a polite smile. "I heard you returned to Northern Zhou to visit family recently. How did you come back so quickly?"

"I was escorting our young people from Northern Zhou here for enrollment," Liu Gaoliang chuckled. "Besides, with the Duke's Banquet hosted by the Wang Clan and Young Master Fugui marrying both Princess Chunnan and Princess Zhaoyu, such a rare and grand occasion, how could I miss it?"

Speaking of these two events, Liu Gaoliang's face lit up with excitement, then he sighed with regret, "Unfortunately, this wedding banquet will be attended by many great figures, and someone like me, with no ties to the Wang Clan, probably won't even get near the outskirts of the banquet."

"Brother Liu, if you want to get closer to the action, it's not impossible," Dongfang Lingrou smiled. "This time, the Duke's Banquet and the wedding banquet are happening simultaneously, attracting countless eyes. There are so many invited guests and those who weren't invited but want to join the fun, like fish crossing the river. Therefore, the Wang Clan is also recruiting some attendants for reception."

"If Brother Liu is willing, you can ask Dean Lu for a recommendation letter. There's even extra pay."

Liu Gaoliang was overjoyed, "Such a great opportunity? Even without pay, I'd still go. Sister Dongfang, quickly help these kids register..."

He was already eager and impatient.

The young people from Northern Zhou looked at him with mixed and complex expressions.

In their eyes, such a mature and knowledgeable figure was so excited about the chance to help at the Wang Clan? And he even considered them a burden?

Why was this opportunity so precious?

"Don't rush, let's take care of these future junior brothers and sisters first," Dongfang Lingrou said as she began registering them and advised, "For the next few days, everyone will stay in hotels in Xinping Town. Take this opportunity to explore Xinping Town. In a couple of days, when more people arrive, we'll head to the county school in Changning County together."

After completing the registration, Liu Gaoliang led the young students onto a bus to the hotel.

The bus was a large vehicle with many seats, enough for dozens of people. Though it was a bit slow, it was very convenient, especially for a large group like theirs.

As they traveled, the shops along the streets, the attire of the pedestrians, and the modes of transportation were all new and dazzling, leaving the students from Northern Zhou wide-eyed and amazed, as if they had entered a whole new world.

Even the hotel they stayed in was different from the traditional inns of Northern Zhou—clean, tidy, and equipped with various advanced facilities, things they had never heard of. And according to Brother Liu, this was just an ordinary hotel in Xinping Town.

Staying at one of the top hotels would be a real treat.

However, those hotels were truly beyond the reach of these students, with even the most basic rooms requiring payment in spiritual stones. A casual meal there might cost them a year's living expenses.

After everyone had settled in and rested a bit, Liu Gaoliang took the excited students out for a tour, visiting some of Xinping Town's unique spots, such as the large docking area filled with cloud ray flying boats.

Throughout the journey, they were in constant awe.

Some had visited the capital of Northern Zhou, but compared to here, it was like a rural backwater, two completely different worlds.

Here, anyone you met was at least in the Qi Refining Realm, with most adults in the mid to late stages of the Qi Refining Realm. Lingtai Realm cultivators were everywhere, and you could hit two or three with a brick.

These were all Lingtai Ancestors, who, in a seventh-grade family, would be respected elders with considerable authority.

Here, they were just ordinary passersby.

Occasionally, massive spiritual beasts would stroll down the street, sometimes stopping to purchase items with spiritual stones, almost indistinguishable from ordinary people in behavior.

The other pedestrians and shopkeepers on the street were clearly accustomed to such scenes, their expressions calm and composed.

"Up ahead is Zhiwu Street."

Liu Gaoliang led the Northern Zhou students to a bustling street.

The shops along the street sold various weapons, spiritual pills, Basalt techniques, and even a wide array of Basalt martial arts halls.

"Spiritual tools, this top-grade spiritual tool is just sitting in the display case for sale? Hmm, priced at nine thousand low-grade spiritual stones! So expensive, I could never afford it in my lifetime."

"A Tianling Dan isn't supposed to be auctioned? Yet here it's sold directly... Not just Tianling Dan, even Xisui Dan can be purchased anytime, eighteen hundred low-grade spiritual stones... but you have to register, limit one per person, selling me wouldn't be worth that much."

Faced with the dazzling array of goods, the Northern Zhou students had only one thought: Why am I so poor?

"Don't be discouraged," Liu Gaoliang smiled and encouraged them. "There are many ways to make money here. After you enroll, you can earn credits through hard work or find part-time jobs. You saw that Dongfang Lingrou earlier, right? She's an alchemist and works part-time at the Wang Clan's Alchemy Division, earning a lot of money each year... Ah, envy, envy."

Everyone showed envious expressions.

It's well known that being an alchemist is a very lucrative profession, but training one requires not only talent but also a massive investment of resources. Without family support, it's not easy to advance as an alchemist.

"Brother Liu, is there a quick way to make money?" someone asked.

"Quick money? There is," Liu Gaoliang replied with a mysterious smile. "You see those arenas in the center of Zhiwu Street? If you can demonstrate enough combat power, you can find a job at a Basalt martial arts hall, provided you have Lingtai Realm cultivation."

Upon hearing this, most people's eyes dimmed, except for two or three who seemed eager to try, especially Li Mingtang from the eighth-grade family.

At thirty-one, he had already reached the Lingtai Realm, considered a prominent young talent in their area.

As Basalt cultivators, they naturally had a keen interest in arena duels, and soon they gathered around Liu Gaoliang at the arena.

The first batch of over a dozen arenas was for Lingtai Realm use. These arenas were quite advanced, made of precious materials and equipped with protective formations to prevent accidental injuries to spectators.

However, these arenas weren't free to use. To activate a Lingtai Realm arena, one had to pay ten low-grade spiritual stones.

At this moment, several arenas were occupied by Basalt cultivators in combat, each displaying their skills and spiritual tools, showcasing impressive strength.

"Private duels are not allowed in Changning Garrison. Cultivators use the arena either to resolve disputes or to challenge renowned experts and gain fame," Liu Gaoliang explained. "If you're strong enough to make it into the top hundred of the Lingtai Ranking, you'll be set for life!"

"Top hundred of the Lingtai Ranking?" Li Mingtang was eager to try.

He considered himself talented, with a prodigy B-grade bloodline. Although he had just entered the Lingtai Realm, he possessed a low-grade spiritual tool, and even the two ancestors in his family weren't his match.

And he wasn't the only one thinking this way.

"What are you thinking?" Liu Gaoliang guessed their thoughts from their expressions and couldn't help but laugh, "Do you think the top hundred of the Lingtai Ranking is something any random person can enter?"

"Brother Liu, are you in the top hundred?" someone curiously asked.

"Don't mock me," Liu Gaoliang blushed, "With my strength, I can't even make it into the top thousand, no, the top ten thousand."

Not even the top ten thousand?

Everyone was skeptical, raising doubts.

"Let me show you," Liu Gaoliang led them to the white jade stele recording the top hundred of the Lingtai Ranking and pointed to the last name on the list, "The hundredth, Chen Jinying, a young elite from the Donggang Chen Clan, forty-seven years old, fifth level of the Lingtai Realm, prodigy bloodline!"

The stele had a hundred slots, each with a corresponding number, and a plaque engraved with the person's name and basic information, clear at a glance.

"Prodigy? Fifth level of the Lingtai Realm? Such strength, and barely making it into the top hundred?" Li Mingtang rubbed his eyes, hardly believing it.

Facing such opponents, he wasn't sure he could withstand three moves! For origınal chapters go to novel※fire.net

"It wasn't always this exaggerated," Liu Gaoliang explained helplessly, "Over the decades, the rankings have changed, gradually becoming . Now, the top hundred of the Lingtai Ranking, sigh, it's hard to describe."

"I see Dongfang Sister's name," suddenly, a young person exclaimed excitedly, "Ninety-first, Dongfang Lingrou, from the Jingang Dongfang Clan, a direct disciple in the alchemy department of Changning County School, fifty-six years old, fifth level peak of the Lingtai Realm, prodigy bloodline."

"Wow, that gentle-looking Dongfang Sister is actually ninety-first," everyone was shocked, "So impressive, much better than Brother Liu."

Liu Gaoliang's face turned red.

I'm just an ordinary student, how can I compare to Sister Dongfang?

"Wait! What did I just see..." suddenly, someone exclaimed, "First on the Lingtai Ranking, Wang Baoguang, from the Changning Wang Clan, an outstanding student of the Wang Clan School, twenty-five years old, peak of the Lingtai Realm, peerless prodigy bloodline."

Twenty-five years old, younger than some of the students present, yet already at the peak of the Lingtai Realm, likely close to breaking through to the Celestial Realm.

Below Wang Baoguang, a series of great prodigy bloodlines followed, with the last of the great prodigies being only thirteen years old, a child from the Shanyin Liu Clan, yet ranked eighty-seventh on the Lingtai Ranking, with combat power surpassing even Dongfang Sister.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"This is just the beginning," Liu Gaoliang chuckled at their inexperienced expressions.

When he first saw this ranking, his reaction wasn't much better than theirs. Looking back now, it felt like a dream.

"Let me take you to see the Celestial Ranking, it's even more astonishing," Liu Gaoliang said, leading them to the Celestial Ranking.

The Celestial Ranking was also a white jade stele, but it appeared taller and more grandiose, with more intricate and luxurious decorative patterns, exuding a more majestic aura.

"First on the Celestial Ranking, Wang Jidie, from the Changning Wang Clan, Princess Huari of Great Gan, forty-seven years old, peak of the Celestial Realm, bloodline unknown."

Forty-seven years old and at the peak of the Celestial Realm? Isn't that just a step away from becoming a Purple Mansion Master?

Becoming a Purple Mansion Master before fifty?

That's too exaggerated, unheard of!

Liu Gaoliang was equally excited, "Indeed. We now generally believe that Princess Huari is not only the first Celestial in Changning but also the first Celestial in the world."

Someone nearby shouted, "A challenge! A challenge! A Celestial Realm prodigy from the Wu Clan of the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty is challenging the ninth on the Celestial Ranking, Gongsun Chaoye!"

"A member of the Red Moon Demon Dynasty's royal family, Shentu Xingchen, is challenging the nineteenth on the Purple Mansion Talents Ranking, Wang Luotong."

"A direct descendant of the second-grade Situ Clan of Liang is challenging the twenty-first on the Celestial Ranking, Lei Wansui..."

"A super first-grade noble from the Red Moon Demon Dynasty, Chao Qianrui, is challenging the thirty-ninth on the Purple Mansion Talents Ranking, Shangguan Yunque."

With the continuous shouts, the surrounding area became lively.

Liu Gaoliang was momentarily stunned, then immediately became excited.

This, this is a storm brewing?

He knew that with so many people coming to Changning for the Duke's Banquet and the wedding, such excitement would surely lead to disputes over these rankings. Those young talents from other countries couldn't hold back!

Our Changning's arena rankings might really align with the global rankings this time.