Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

[Demon God Ranking – Rank 8]

[Dongfang Bubai]

[Force: Sun Moon Cult of Ming Dynasty]

[Cultivation: Late Heavenly Human Land Immortal]

[Technique: Sunflower Treasure Classic]

[Reward: 3x Low-Tier Enlightenment Card (Can be used for enlightenment, increasing comprehension one hundred times, duration one hour!)]

==========

"Huh? I actually made the ranking?!"

Dongfang Bubai looked at the Enlightenment Card in her hand with a trace of surprise.

With these three cards, her cultivation speed would increase once more.

With a hundredfold comprehension boost, reaching the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Human Realm was not impossible.

A smile appeared on her face. She needed to find a place to go into seclusion.

It would only take a few hours anyway.

With a flick of her figure, she turned into a red afterimage and disappeared.

==========

Border of the Ming Dynasty.

A battered figure was fleeing in haste.

Along the way, he coughed up blood repeatedly.

His face was as pale as paper.

But Pang Ban dared not pause for even a moment.

He feared that if he stopped, his pursuer would catch up and kill him.

If that happened, he would be doomed.

Looking up at the newly refreshed Demon God Ranking in the sky, Pang Ban's expression turned dark.

Dongfang Bubai was ranked 8th.

They were both in the Late Heavenly Human Realm. Why was the gap between them so vast?

Moreover, she was actually a member of the Azure Dragon Association!

The Azure Dragon Association under Zhu Houzhao had hidden themselves too well.

Even the Demon Cult Master was merely a Vice-Hall Master.

Then what about those above her, the Hall Masters and Dragon Heads?

Compared to them, the Golden Wolf Hall under Khan was simply not on the same level.

"Azure Dragon Association... I can't believe Dongfang Bubai is one of them!"

"Again the Azure Dragon Association... Am I, the Demon Master Pang Ban, destined to be crushed by them forever?"

The last time he attacked the Azure Dragon Association's Heaven Mocking Palace, his master had died tragically.

His trusted subordinates had all perished.

If not for the desperate sacrifices of his allies, he would have died there too.

Because of this, Pang Ban's hatred for the Azure Dragon Association was deeply rooted and unshakable.

He had been gathering intelligence on them ever since, hoping one day to take his revenge.

But now?

He had merely approached the Ming-Qing War and hadn't even intervened yet.

And he was already defeated badly.

From Dongfang Bubai's expression, it seemed that her status in the Azure Dragon Association was not even the highest.

One could only imagine how terrifying the organization truly was.

And this was only one person, Dongfang Bubai. If more powerful members came, the situation would be even worse.

After sensing no further pursuit for a long time and testing several times, he was finally sure that Dongfang Bubai had not followed.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

However, at that very moment.

A terrifying force suddenly struck him.

Fast, precise, and ruthless.

Pang Ban felt a wave of unbearable pain.

His body was flung uncontrollably through the air.

He crashed hard onto the ground.

Pfft!

A mouthful of blood burst forth. His inner energy was depleted by nearly half.

"Who is it?!"

Looking up, he saw a stunningly beautiful woman gracefully descending.

She wore a faint smile, carried an extraordinary air, and possessed an overwhelmingly powerful aura.

"Greetings, Demon Master Pang Ban. I am Li Shengnan, Hall Master of the Azure Dragon Association."

"Please come with me to Heaven Mocking Palace."

The beautiful woman smiled faintly as she spoke, without the slightest intention of allowing any objection.

"You're also from the Azure Dragon Association?"

"Were you and Dongfang Bubai both sent to intercept me?"

"I have a question. How are you always able to find us?"

Pang Ban asked coldly.

"Dongfang Bubai? She and I may both be in the Azure Dragon Association, but we have no real connection."

"As for you, hmph, the Azure Dragon Association's intelligence network is beyond your imagination."

"You should've stayed in the Demon Master Palace, clinging to life. But instead, you came to interfere in the Ming-Qing War. That makes you a threat."

"You might ruin things at a critical moment."

"The Fourth Dragon Head personally ordered your execution."

"Whatever your true intentions, better to kill you by mistake than let you live."

"Besides, you are no friend of the Azure Dragon Association."

"No one forced you to get involved in the war between the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty."

"Do you really think you're qualified?"

Li Shengnan spoke coldly.

Just as she was about to strike the final blow.

The ranking in the sky trembled once more.

In the next moment.

A new ranking was revealed.

[Demon God Ranking – Rank 7]

[Li Shengnan]

[Force: Heavenly Demon Cult of Qing Dynasty]

[Cultivation: Great Perfection Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal]

[Technique: Asura Yin Fiend Exercise]

[Reward: 5x Low-Tier Enlightenment Card (Can be used for enlightenment, increasing comprehension one hundred times, duration one hour!)]

==========

"Li Shengnan?"

"Heavenly Demon Cult... you're the Heavenly Demon Cult Master, Li Shengnan?!"

"You're from the Qing Dynasty, so why did you join the Ming Dynasty's Azure Dragon Association?"

Pang Ban stared at the ranking, eyes narrowing.

He couldn't believe it.

The Azure Dragon Association had even reached into Qing Dynasty Territory.

So the high-ranking members of the Azure Dragon Association weren't only from the Ming Dynasty.

Even elites from other dynasties could be recruited.

But before he could finish speaking, he was cut off.

"You talk too much."

"The dead don't need to know anything."

She put away the five Enlightenment Cards from Heaven Dao Reward.

She was only a step away from the Mythical Realm.

Now with five cards, her odds of advancement had risen again.

The Heaven Dao Reward had come just in time.

She glanced at Pang Ban, her eyes turning cold.

She instantly unleashed her ultimate move. A terrifying palm strike shot out.

Pang Ban only saw a flash before his eyes.

A sharp pain tore through his chest.

A dreadful yin fiend energy pierced through his heart, leaving a gaping hole.

He had no chance to resist.

Against Dongfang Bubai, he could at least react.

But in front of Li Shengnan, he didn't even have time to move.

One strike. Instant kill.

He was full of unwillingness.

He hadn't broken through to the Mythical Realm yet. He wasn't a Martial Deity yet.

How could he die here like this?

How would he face his mentor and his followers?

They had risked their lives to save him.

And he had taken it all for granted.

In the final moment of his life, memories of the past flashed before his eyes.

With his talent and brilliance, he should have been a dominating force across the Nine Provinces.

Why did it have to end like this...

Before darkness swallowed his consciousness, he was filled with confusion, doubt, despair, and regret.

To Li Shengnan, he was nothing more than an ant. She gave him a final glance before losing all interest.

Then something came to her mind.

Her eyes lit up.

She quickly stepped forward and searched his body briefly.

Soon, she found two Enlightenment Cards identical to her own.

That meant two more hours of hundredfold enlightenment.

With that, she was even closer to the Mythical Realm.

But first, she needed to report back to the Fourth Dragon Head.

Then, she would find a safe and hidden place to cultivate.

Once she broke through to the Mythical Realm, her status in the Azure Dragon Association would rise again.

One day, she would stand before that man on equal footing.

Even if that man had an awe-inspiring identity and terrifying power that could plunge one into despair.

She had never stopped chasing after him.

More importantly.

If not for that man, she would have died long ago at the hands of her enemies.

Not only had he saved her life, but he also helped her improve her technique, tailoring it perfectly for her.

Without his help, she would never have achieved what she had today.

Sigh.

The only pity was that he was too far out of reach. She was still nowhere near strong enough to approach him.

She had to keep improving herself.

Mythical Realm.

God Demon Realm.

Only then would there be a glimmer of hope in the future.

Clutching the Enlightenment Card tightly, her heart surged with excitement.

Her goal had just advanced a little more.

She had to keep pushing forward.

With a flicker of her figure, Li Shengnan vanished.

All that remained was the corpse of Pang Ban, lying alone in the wilderness.

A renowned Demon Master, and yet he died in the desolate wilds, with no one to even bury him.

How pitiful. How tragic.

==========

Ming Dynasty Territory.

Luoyang, Green Bamboo Alley.

Residence of Ren Yingying, Holy Maiden of the Sun Moon Cult.

"Saintess, look! It's Dongfang Bubai!"

"He made it onto the Demon God Ranking!"

(T/N: You might be confused about why Dongfang Bubai is referred to as "he" in some parts and "she" in others. In the original novel, Dongfang Bubai is a man who castrated himself in order to cultivate the Sunflower Treasure Classic. This technique was created by the Sunflower Ancestor, who was previously killed by Phagpa in this story. The cultivation method is designed for eunuchs.

However, in the TV series adaptation, Dongfang Bubai's gender was changed to female, portrayed as a woman dressed in male clothing. Because she is a woman and lacks strong yang energy like men, she is able to practice the Sunflower Treasure Classic. People who know her true identity refer to her as "she", while those who are unaware continue to call her "he".)

"Oh my god, Late Heavenly Human Realm? How can his strength be that high?"

"Wasn't he just a Great Grandmaster?"

"When did he advance to the Land Immortal Realm?"

Lan Fenghuang stared in disbelief at the ranking in the sky, her mouth wide open.

Beside her, Ren Yingying was also frozen in shock.

She was completely flustered now.

Dongfang Bubai had reached the Late Heavenly Human Realm. How could her father possibly take revenge?

If he approached Dongfang Bubai, it would be nothing short of suicide.

Her father was only a Great Grandmaster. The gap between them was simply too vast.

Dongfang Bubai could likely kill him in a single strike.

No, she needed allies.

Heavenly Human Realm?

Only someone in that realm could contend with another of the same realm.

Better yet, if they could find a Mythical Realm cultivator, success might be possible.

But how could she make that happen?

Between Ren Yingying, her father Ren Woxing, and Dongfang Bubai, there was a deep and irreconcilable grudge.

They could never coexist.

For revenge and for survival, she would never give up, no matter the cost.

Heavenly Human Realm? So what?

As long as he was still human, as long as Dongfang Bubai was not truly invincible, she still had a chance.

==========

Ming Dynasty.

Mount Hua Sect, Righteousness Hall.

Sect Master Yue Buqun stared at the ranking in the sky with deep resentment.

Late Heavenly Human Realm?

How could this be?

Why was Dongfang Bubai so powerful?

The Sunflower Treasure Classic?

Could cultivating the Sunflower Treasure Classic really lead to the Land Immortal Realm?

At that thought, Yue Buqun's desire only intensified.

The Sunflower Treasure Classic had originally belonged to Mount Hua Sect.

But it had been stolen by the Demon Cult, costing Mount Hua Sect its chance to ascend further.

No, he still had a chance.

Time and time again, he had watched the ranking update and seen others receive Heaven Dao Reward.

And yet he could only stand by helplessly.

It was unbearable.

He too wanted rewards. He too wanted to be ranked and become famous across the Nine Provinces.

But sadly, with his current cultivation at the Grandmaster Realm, he was not worth mentioning.

Not to mention Grandmasters. Even Great Grandmasters were nothing in front of the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking.

He needed more advanced techniques.

At this thought, Yue Buqun's eyes flashed with determination.

The current Nine Provinces was in the midst of a grand era of competition.

Not just between dynasties.

Even the martial sects would face a great cleansing.

He would never allow the Mount Hua Sect to vanish under his leadership.

He would lead Mount Hua Sect to rise again.