Volume One, Chapter 1: The Ancient Ranking Opens
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Shhh—
At the break of dawn, the disciples in snowy robes began to ascend the mountain, treading through fresh snow. Today, the Pavilion of Immortal Arts was to open, and the outer disciples of the Ancient Dao Sect arrived early, hoping to select an outstanding immortal technique from the pavilion.
At the foot of the mountain, several youths in coarse linen were diligently sweeping snow from the steps, exchanging quiet words as they worked.
“I really envy those outer disciples. If only we could one day enter the Pavilion of Immortal Arts and choose a cultivation method of our own.”
“Ah, stop dreaming. With so many disciples in the Ancient Dao Sect, those who are lucky enough to choose their own technique in the Pavilion are few and far between. We servant mortals shouldn’t get our hopes up.”
“Hey, what’s life without a dream? Otherwise, we’re just salted fish. Dreams matter! Look how hard Lin Fan works.”
Their gaze turned to a frail youth not far away. He bent his knees slightly, lowering his center of gravity, and the broom in his hands seemed almost like a silver sword, sweeping in slow arcs that traced the pattern of a Taiji diagram in the snow.
“Tsk, that guy must be obsessed with cultivation to the point of madness. If effort alone worked, he wouldn’t be stuck sweeping snow with us.” The others chuckled, shaking their heads and returning to their work.
[After one hundred days of sweeping, the sign-in condition is met. Sign-in location: Pavilion of Immortal Arts. Sign in now?]
A faint smile appeared on Lin Fan’s sallow face as he silently thought, “Sign in!”
[Sign-in successful!]
[Congratulations, you have received: Chaos Heaven Technique, Primordial Essence Pill, and Full Mastery of the Great Cleaving Palm!]
[Chaos Heaven Technique: A top-tier earth-grade immortal art. Absorb the purple qi of heaven and earth to refine both body and spirit, shedding your mortal shell. Forge the Five Viscera and Six Bowels with the Five Elements, forming inner strength—a body that can shatter gold and tear iron as easily as breaking a stick!]
[Primordial Essence Pill: A grade-three, attribute-neutral elixir. After consumption, strengthen one of your five internal organs of your choice!]
[Great Cleaving Palm: A palm technique. Strikes fall like blades, shattering gold and stone. With inner strength, the power is doubled!]
When the notifications faded, Lin Fan exhaled deeply—these months of waiting had not been in vain!
Several months ago, he had woken to find himself transmigrated into a servant disciple of the Ancient Dao Sect, feeling as though the sky itself had collapsed. Fortunately, the sign-in system had merged with him, and now he was beginning to see results.
Host: Lin Fan
Cultivation: Late Body Refining Realm
Immortal Technique: Great Cleaving Palm (mid-grade yellow rank)
A simple panel appeared before his eyes, and Lin Fan felt a surge of indescribable excitement.
In his time at the Ancient Dao Sect, he had come to understand the nature of this world—survival of the fittest, where the strong reigned supreme.
Servants like them had to bow and yield whenever they saw an outer disciple in snowy robes. If they didn’t, and the disciple took offense, even killing them wouldn't bring consequences.
Half a day later—
As the Pavilion of Immortal Arts closed, the snowy-robed disciples descended the mountain in succession; some faces beamed with joy, while others were dark with gloom.
“Damn it! Was there no fate for me in the entire Pavilion? Why can everyone else draw a good technique but not me—another wasted chance! How am I ever supposed to make it onto the Ancient Rankings?”
Hearing the scar-faced outer disciple muttering angrily as he descended the steps, Lin Fan and his fellow servant disciples wisely stepped aside.
Just because of those snowy robes, the linen-clad servants had to keep their distance.
“The Ancient Rankings, so enviable! If only we could make it onto the list—just scraping the bottom would be enough to defy our fate!”
“Who wouldn’t want that? But it’s not that simple.”
“We’d better just stick to our servant duties. Look at Zhao Qing, living it up on his stipend at the Drunken Immortal Tavern with that Peach Blossom girl. By the way, why isn’t Zhao Qing here today?”
Lin Fan remembered Zhao Qing’s sorry state, clutching the wall as he staggered home the night before, and grinned, “He spent the whole night with Little Peach Blossom—couldn’t handle it.”
Just as he finished, the passing scar-faced disciple suddenly stopped, his eyes sharp as he stared at Lin Fan. “Is it really so funny that I didn’t get a good technique?”
Lin Fan quickly waved his hands. “Senior brother, you misunderstand. I was just—”
“Screw you!”
The scar-faced disciple swung his hand at Lin Fan with full force, venting his frustration without restraint.
The other outer disciples passing by paused to watch. It was clear to anyone with eyes that this was no mere slap—he was using an immortal technique!
To use a technique on a mere servant was shameful; many looked on with contempt.
Lin Fan’s fellow servants paled and quickly backed away, calling out, “Watch out, Lin Fan!”
Lin Fan’s expression changed as well. The man's powerful aura was clearly at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he was attacking a servant. Shameless!
The scar-faced man was angry, but Lin Fan was even angrier.
“Great Cleaving Palm!”
Raising his arm, Lin Fan met the descending hand with a slicing motion, blocking the blow.
“Oh? You dare to resist?”
The scar-faced man, feeling humiliated, unleashed a surge of true qi and swept out with a whip-like kick.
“He’s done for! To provoke Sun Hu—he’s mid-Foundation Establishment!”
“Sun Hu is notorious for his ruthlessness. That guy’s got to lose something today!”
Those nearby watched, already pitying Lin Fan.
Lin Fan reacted at once, sinking his body lower.
“Sun Hu! Stop disgracing us outer disciples. Bullying servants doesn’t make you stronger—fight me instead if you’re so bold!”
At that moment, another group of outer disciples descended from the Pavilion. The leading youth spoke up.
Sun Hu halted, knowing his actions were out of line, and left with a flick of his sleeve, spitting out a threat as he went: “Watch yourself, brat, or next time I’ll break your bones and feed you to the monsters in the back mountain!”
“Thank you, senior brother, for stepping in,” Lin Fan said, clasping his fists to the young man.
“Shi Zhan,” the youth replied, returning the gesture. He stepped closer and said in a low voice, “Brother, your cultivation isn’t bad. How did you end up as a servant? When did the servant ranks hide such dragons among snakes?”
Shi Zhan showed none of the outer disciples’ usual arrogance, which made Lin Fan like him all the more. “Senior brother flatters me. It was just luck.”
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“Luck? Strength is strength, don’t be so modest! The Ancient Rankings are opening soon—everyone has a chance. If you have skill, show it. Hiding your talent and being overly humble isn’t always a virtue.”
Shi Zhan took a jade bottle from his robes and pressed it into Lin Fan’s hand. “Here, a Marrow Cleansing Pill for you. I like making friends. Consider this a favor owed!”
Without giving Lin Fan a chance to refuse, Shi Zhan walked off.
Looking at the jade bottle in his hand, Lin Fan shook his head, smiling wryly. This fellow truly was different from the rest.
“Lin Fan, you’re on your way up! Even an outer disciple is backing you now!”
“If I’m not mistaken, that’s a Marrow Cleansing Pill! My heavens, what luck!”
“Why couldn’t that scar-faced guy have hit me instead? Maybe I’d have gotten a Marrow Cleansing Pill too…” Hearing his companions’ laments, Lin Fan could only shake his head.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
Just then, three peals of a great bell echoed through the sect, accompanied by a distant, ethereal voice.
[The Ancient Rankings of the Ancient Dao Sect open today!]
[All disciples within the sect are eligible to participate, ranked by strength!]
[The Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings will list core disciples, inner disciples, and outer/servant disciples, respectively. The top one hundred of each will be rewarded!]
[Please note: the lists are updated in real time!]
High above, three illusory lists—gold, silver, and bronze—slowly manifested in the sky.
The lists were out!
Every disciple in the Ancient Dao Sect stopped what they were doing and stared up with tense anticipation.
“They’re here! The top of the Heaven List for core disciples is Xing Tiandao! He’s already reached the Nascent Soul stage—stronger than some elders!”
“First on the Earth List is the inner disciple Gu Xuhang—a peak Golden Core master!”
“What about the Mortal List?”
“It’s Xiao Wuming, just as expected—late Foundation Establishment!”
As names appeared on the lists, some rejoiced while others despaired. Lin Fan, of course, had no illusions about making the Mortal List—his strength was still too far behind.
When all the names had appeared, Lin Fan noticed the last spot on the Mortal List was none other than Sun Hu—mid Foundation Establishment.
Shi Zhan, who had spoken up for him earlier, was also at mid Foundation Establishment, but ranked five places higher at ninety-fifth.
“So even with the same cultivation, the rankings vary. It seems the lists consider more than just realm and power,” Lin Fan mused, feeling the fierce competition of the Ancient Dao Sect.
So many spent their lives never reaching Foundation Establishment, yet here, mid Foundation Establishment was only enough to barely make the list.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Fan’s eyes burned with fervor.
One day, his name would be on that list!