Chapter 678 - 675: Challenge

Chapter 678: Chapter 675: Challenge

The Celestial List was a ranking established by the Spirit Heaven Pavilion in the Divine Capital.

It recorded the one thousand strongest Martial Artists below the rank of Venerable. Every change to the list was enough to cause a stir, but recently, a previously unknown young man had ascended to the top ranks with thunderous momentum, shaking the entire Divine Capital!

This young man’s name... was Qin Ya!!

What was even more bizarre was that this young man’s Cultivation was only at the King level. Among those on the Celestial List, his Cultivation was by far the lowest. And yet, the combat prowess he unleashed had constantly shattered people’s perceptions of him, leaving everyone in awe.

"Did you hear? The Spirit Heaven Pavilion released the latest Celestial List rankings. Patriarch Bai was knocked off the list, and his former eighteenth-place spot was taken by Qin Ya."

"Old news. This Qin Ya is probably the greatest King in history. The Celestial List is filled with masters, almost all of whom have a Half-Venerable Cultivation, yet Qin Ya fought his way onto the list with just a King’s Cultivation—and near the top, at that."

"Tsk tsk, someone like him is a true rarity."

.........

Spirit Heaven Pavilion, compilers of the Celestial List.

Just then, two guests arrived at the Spirit Heaven Pavilion.

One of them wore a cyan long robe and carried a longsword on his back. His expression was aloof, filled with a razor-sharp aura. The other, dressed in fluttering white robes and holding a Jade Fan, had the air of a dashing young nobleman. A faint smile graced his lips, warm and pleasant as a spring breeze.

"Xifeng... have you truly decided?" the white-robed young nobleman asked Xifeng slowly, his tone laced with a rare hint of concern.

"I always pay what’s owed."

Xifeng replied coolly, then stepped into the Spirit Heaven Pavilion. The white-robed youth sighed in resignation and followed close behind.

The arrival of these two took the entire Spirit Heaven Pavilion by surprise.

When the staff members saw them, their expressions turned serious. A short, chubby Steward stepped forward, smiling and clasping his hands in greeting. "Your Excellencies, Xifeng and Shen Yun, grace us with your presence. My apologies for the poor reception."

Xifeng?! Shen Yun?!

Even though many had their suspicions, hearing the names still sent a shock through the crowd. There was a simple reason for this: these two were the most powerful individuals on the Celestial List.

Xifeng, first on the Celestial List!

Shen Yun, second on the Celestial List!

"Steward, there’s no need for such formalities," Shen Yun said with a faint smile, lightly waving his Jade Fan. "We only came today to ask the Spirit Heaven Pavilion to help spread a message. Hmm... it would be best if the entire Divine Capital knew about it."

"Oh? And what message might that be?"

"Xifeng challenges Qin Ya. In ten days, at Nine-Fingered Celestial Peak!!"

Before Shen Yun could speak, Xifeng, who was standing beside him, spoke coldly. The moment the words left his mouth, the air fell silent. Everyone was in utter disbelief.

What?

Challenging Qin Ya? The number one on the Celestial List is challenging number eighteen?

If this news were to get out, it would be enough to send the entire Divine Capital into an uproar.

"Your Excellency Xifeng, are you serious?" the Steward couldn’t help but ask, his expression grave.

"Ten days. I will wait for him."

He said nothing more, but those six words carried a resolute finality, leaving no room for doubt. With that, Xifeng turned and left the Spirit Heaven Pavilion.

Shen Yun smiled at the chubby Steward. "We’ll be counting on you, then."

"Of course."

Watching their departing figures, the chubby Steward’s eyes glittered with excitement. "Xifeng is challenging Qin Ya? Ha! Now *that’s* explosive news."

He immediately turned to the surrounding staff. "Quick! Use every communication channel we have! Make sure this news is all over the Divine Capital within half a day!"

"Yes..."

.........

Soon, thanks to the Spirit Heaven Pavilion’s efforts, the news that Xifeng, the number one master on the Celestial List, had challenged Qin Ya spread throughout the Divine Capital. The topic was on everyone’s lips, in every street and alley.

"Xifeng? That guy is actually challenging Qin Ya?"

"Gods, this came completely out of left field! Does Xifeng have some kind of grudge against Qin Ya? Otherwise, with his aloof personality, he’d never make such a big deal out of challenging a young man who’s only a King."

"Haha, that Qin Ya is a real trouble magnet. Trouble follows him wherever he goes. He was just minding his own business, and suddenly Xifeng issues a formal challenge."

"Things have certainly gotten a lot more interesting in the Divine Capital since he arrived."

"In ten days, at Nine-Fingered Celestial Peak? Interesting."

「In the Divine Palace, within Shenxiu Pavilion...」

Beneath a giant flowering tree, Qin Ya heard the news and couldn’t help but offer a faint, casual smile, as if he thought nothing of Xifeng.

Seeing this, Fang Mei, who was beside him, looked puzzled. "What is it? You don’t seem concerned at all. That’s the number one expert on the Celestial List we’re talking about."

"So what if he’s first on the Celestial List? Am I supposed to beg for mercy?"

"Well, but you’re being a little *too* casual."

"Am I?" Qin Ya said with a faint smile. "I’ve been cultivating so much lately, it’s not a bad thing to relax a little. A balance between work and rest is the only way to go."

"And that’s your reason for not taking the number one on the Celestial List seriously?"

"When did I say I wasn’t taking him seriously?"

"Er... never mind. So, are you going to accept the challenge or not?"

Qin Ya slowly extended his hand and caught a flower petal. "I don’t like looking for trouble," he said, "but when it comes knocking on my door, I can’t just ignore it."

"This challenge... I accept."

Qin Ya accepted the challenge. The news spread beyond the Divine Palace.

In an instant, the Divine Capital was in an uproar.

Everyone was filled with immense anticipation for the duel. On one side was the number one on the Celestial List; on the other, a King whose true combat power remained a mystery, a creator of repeated miracles.

In the battle between these two, who would emerge the victor?

The major powers all watched with bated breath.

Betting houses were even set up, looking to make a fortune on the outcome.

.........

"Xifeng: Number one expert on the Celestial List. Cultivation: Half-Venerable. A lone Martial Artist."

"Sixty years ago, he was a nobody. But after his Cultivation had an Era-Defining breakthrough, he began challenging the great masters on the Celestial List. His combat record is spectacular. Twenty years ago, he defeated the previous number one on the Celestial List, Shen Yun, to take the top spot for himself."

"For twenty years, he has faced countless challengers. For the first ten, there were still those who could put up a decent fight. But after he emerged from a three-year seclusion, his combat prowess soared. Since then, no one beneath the rank of Venerable has been able to withstand ten of his sword strikes. He even once crossed swords with Yann Yuntian, one of the Ten Great Celestial Marquis, and survived three moves undefeated—a feat that shook the entire Divine Capital."

"One man, one sword, dominating the top of the Celestial List for twenty years!"

With time on his hands, Qin Ya went to the Divine Palace’s library and looked through a scroll about Xifeng. In just a short while, a battle he hadn’t given much thought to suddenly piqued his interest. He began to feel a sliver of anticipation at the prospect of facing Xifeng, the top master on the Celestial List.

He didn’t care much for the other achievements. What truly surprised him was the feat of surviving three moves against Yann Yuntian without being defeated. Even though he had a grudge against Yann Yuntian, he had to admit that in his current state, he was absolutely no match for a Venerable.

’Survived three moves without being defeated? Interesting.’