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

Qin Dynasty Territory.

Little Sage Manor.

Fu Nian, Yan Lu, and Xun Kuang looked at the newly released ranking in the sky with joy in their eyes.

"Uncle, with your strength, you will surely make the Confucian Immortal Ranking!"

"Once you are ranked on the Confucian Immortal Ranking, the Qin Emperor Ying Zheng will surely show more restraint toward our Little Sage Manor."

"He won't be as aggressive as before!"

With the appearance of the Confucian Immortal Ranking, it was an immense advantage for all disciples of the Confucian School in the Nine Provinces.

From now on, all Confucian scholars would have a grand goal.

To ascend the Confucian Immortal Ranking.

"Alas, Fu Nian, Yan Lu, you underestimate Ying Zheng far too much!"

"Once he makes up his mind, how could a single ranking possibly restrain him?"

"Uncle, are you saying we have no chance at all?"

"I've heard rumors that the Qin Emperor is planning to take action against our Little Sage Manor."

"Moreover, the ones leading the operation are Shang Yang and Li Si!"

"Especially Li Si, he will show no mercy to our Little Sage Manor."

A trace of worry flashed in Fu Nian's eyes.

In the past, there were still the forces of the Six Kingdoms to block the way.

But now, Xiong Qi and the powers of the Six Kingdoms had been wiped out.

Even the mighty Hundred Yue City had been forced to leave Qin Dynasty Territory.

No one could stop Emperor Ying Zheng anymore.

"We're not at the point of despair just yet. If it truly comes to that, I'll cast aside my pride and reach out to the Confucian forces in the other dynasties."

"Given that we all belong to the same Confucian lineage, as long as we pay an appropriate price, they will surely be willing to help."

==========

Northern Song Imperial Palace.

"Hahaha, excellent! The Confucian Immortal Ranking has finally appeared!"

"A ranking solely for the scholars of the Nine Provinces!"

"Given how our Song Dynasty treats scholars, I'm sure we'll have no shortage of those who make the ranking!"

Emperor Zhao Ji laughed heartily.

The Song Dynasty was excessively generous toward scholars.

They were granted many privileges.

Scholars practically formed the ruling class of Song Dynasty.

With the entire country pouring its resources into cultivating them, if none of them made the ranking, it would be truly shameful.

"Your Majesty, it's true that our dynasty has many learned men, but they are focused solely on reading the Book of Sages. They know nothing of martial cultivation and lack strength. How could they qualify for the Confucian Immortal Ranking?"

"At the very least, one must have the strength of a Land Immortal Realm."

"And right now, there's no such person in our Imperial Court!"

When Huang Shang said this, Emperor Zhao Ji froze.

He didn't know how to respond.

Forget Land Immortal.

Even Great Grandmaster Realm individuals were rare.

The tendency to value literature over martial arts had deeply permeated the very marrow of the Song Dynasty.

Even a Mythical cultivator like Huang Shang did not hold a prominent position in the Imperial Court.

Now, to ascend the Confucian Immortal Ranking, one had to excel in both the literary and martial aspects.

Neither could be lacking.

Clearly, the Song Dynasty lacked such individuals.

Emperor Zhao Ji was left dumbfounded.

Could it be that the Song Dynasty would have no one on the ranking this time?

This thought left him feeling very unwilling.

==========

Ming Imperial Palace.

Zhu Houzhao stared at the ranking and fell into contemplation.

There were countless scholars across the Nine Provinces.

But most only read Book of Sages in hopes of earning academic titles.

They paid little attention to martial cultivation.

Even if they did practice, it was only as a supplement.

There were very few scholars who possessed real strength.

And among those, reaching the Land Immortal Realm was one in ten thousand.

Far fewer than those in the Daoist, Buddhist, or Demon Gate.

At this thought, Zhu Houzhao looked at the refined figure below and asked calmly:

"Minister, you count as one of the Confucian Schools. You should be familiar with the Confucian forces in the various dynasties across the Nine Provinces."

"What do you think? Who has the potential to make the Confucian Immortal Ranking?"

"Your Majesty, forgive me, but I only have knowledge of the Confucian forces within the Ming Dynasty. As for those in other dynasties, I know little."

"Although we all belong to the Confucian lineage, internal strife among us is especially severe."

"In fact, the ideological disputes within the Confucian School are even more brutal and intense than conflicts with other sects!"

"Therefore, under normal circumstances, I have little desire to involve myself with the Confucian forces of other dynasties."

"Whether they are strong or weak, I truly do not know."

Zhu Houzhao lightly furrowed his brow upon hearing this.

He was not very satisfied with the answer.

However, knowing this man's temperament, he did not blame him much.

"The ranking has begun!"

"I want to see how many hidden talents still lie within the Nine Provinces!"

Zhu Houzhao had truly paid less attention to the Confucian School.

He understood far more about the Daoist, Demon, and Buddhist sects.

It was time to start observing them more closely.

If there were true talents, he didn't mind recruiting them.

==========

[Confucian Immortal Ranking – Rank 10]

[Li Qingzhao]

[Force: Endless Sea of Learning Academy of Ming Dynasty]

[Cultivation: Early Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal]

[Technique: Pacify Change Literature Classic (self-created by fusing multiple Confucian Dao Cultivation Techniques)]

[Reward: A wisp of Low-Tier Grand Righteous Qi (enhances Confucian Cultivation Techniques), 1 Low-Tier Confucian Skill, 1 Low-Tier Confucian Divine Weapon]

==========

"It's actually Miss Li?!"

"The last time I saw her at the Endless Sea of Learning Academy, she was only at the Grandmaster Realm. I didn't expect such progress after just over a year!"

The refined figure beneath Zhu Houzhao clearly knew the one who ranked 10th on the Confucian Immortal Ranking.

Admiration appeared on his face.

"With Miss Li's talent, she certainly deserves a place on the Confucian Immortal Ranking!"

"Even if her martial cultivation is only at the Early Heavenly Human Realm, she fully qualifies!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded in agreement.

Li Qingzhao, a famous poetess in her previous life.

She was someone he had gone to great lengths to recruit.

Back when Zhu Houzhao was still the Crown Prince, he had already planned to create a Confucian academy that followed his personal philosophy and will.

It was built solely to serve him.

That was today's Endless Sea of Learning Academy.

To avoid contamination from the already "corrupted" scholars of Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Houzhao carefully selected dozens of learned scholars from other dynasties.

And brought them into this academy.

They became the faculty.

Li Qingzhao was one of them.

Originally a delicate scholar with no martial strength, she had been nurtured into a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator in the Confucian Dao by Zhu Houzhao.

While this did involve the consumption of massive resources.

More importantly, it was due to Li Qingzhao's extraordinary cultivation talent.

Her training speed far surpassed others.

Now, although Li Qingzhao had not joined Zhu Houzhao's Imperial Harem, she had become one of the leading figures of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy.

She was contributing in her own way.

Over the years, though still young, she had trained many capable individuals.

Some had already entered the Ming Dynasty officialdom.

With remarkable achievements.

Li Qingzhao had unexpectedly become Rank 10 on the Confucian Immortal Ranking.

Even Zhu Houzhao was pleasantly surprised.

It was a tremendous delight!

==========

Northern Song Imperial Palace.

Emperor Zhao Ji looked at the new ranking and was momentarily stunned.

"Minister Huang, why does Li Qingzhao sound familiar to me?"

"Your Majesty, Li Qingzhao is the daughter of our former Song Dynasty official Li Gefei. She showed great literary talent from a young age."

"Before the age of ten, she could already compose poetry."

"At the time, Your Majesty even praised her!"

Huang Shang immediately replied.

"So it's her?! I remember now. But how did she become a citizen of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhao Ji asked with a dark expression.

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Back then, the entire Li Family was falsely accused by Cai Jing and nearly exterminated."

"Later, someone intervened, and they all vanished overnight."

"It became an unresolved mystery."

"Now it seems that it was the Ming Emperor who sent his dark guards to rescue them."

"Who would have thought that the little girl from back then would now become a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator in the Confucian Dao?"

"Damn it, Cai Jing misled me!"

"Otherwise, the Rank 10 on the Confucian Immortal Ranking would belong to our Song Dynasty!"

Zhao Ji was full of regret.

At the same time, his face was full of hatred toward Cai Jing.

Below, Huang Shang curled his lips.

If Li Qingzhao had remained under your command, she would have forever remained a frail and helpless woman.

She would have missed her greatest opportunity.

Unlike now, becoming a well-known and powerful Confucian Immortal across the Nine Provinces!

Being under the Ming Emperor's command was the opportunity of a lifetime for her.

Regardless.

Li Qingzhao's ties with the Song Dynasty were completely severed. That was an undeniable fact.

==========

Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

At this moment, the Bad Marshal, Yuan Tiangang, had already returned from the grasslands.

He was once again at Li Shimin's side.

"Master Yuan, what is this Endless Sea of Learning Academy?"

"Your Majesty, the Endless Sea of Learning Academy is a Confucian academy established by Zhu Houzhao when he was still Crown Prince."

"Today, this academy holds unimaginable influence within the Ming Imperial Court."

Yuan Tiangang answered without hesitation, listing the facts like a well-read book.

"What an audacious Zhu Houzhao!"

"To think he had such foresight so long ago."

"Zhu Houzhao, you truly are one of the greatest enemies I have ever acknowledged."

Though Li Shimin was extremely displeased, he hadn't given up yet.

"Master Yuan, immediately send the Bad People to investigate this Endless Sea of Learning Academy thoroughly."

"Especially to find out if there are other talents like Li Qingzhao."

"If they can be recruited, do so. If not, we must prepare defenses."

"We must not suffer a major loss in the future."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will see to it immediately."

"Phew!"

"Also, Li Ji has already wiped out the northern Turkic Kingdom. Now, the Tang Dynasty can finally breathe for a moment."

"However, the challenges we will face next are even more daunting."

"Master Yuan, we cannot afford to take a single misstep."

"Otherwise, we may follow in the footsteps of the Sui Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty."

"Not only would we fail to compete in the struggle for the Nine Provinces, but we might not even survive."

Even the utmost caution would not be excessive.