The Great Tang Empire, Chang'an City.
Deep within the imperial palace, inside a magnificent palace.
Qian Renxue, dressed in a light gold palace gown, quietly gazed at the list on the sky.
"The Harp of Life... Cai Wenji?"
She murmured the name, her beautiful golden eyes gleaming.
She remembered that name.
She remembered this woman too.
It was she who saved her grandfather, who was seriously injured and on the verge of death.
Qian Renxue never expected that this woman's martial spirit would actually be able to reach the tenth place on the martial spirit ranking!
This is only tenth place!
It should be noted that her proudest achievement, the Six-Winged Angel, which is hailed as a god-level martial soul, is only ranked fifteenth.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart, but the shock lingered for a long time.
Just then, a steady sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.
Qian Renxue turned around and saw a tall, slender figure slowly walking into the hall.
The newcomer was dressed in spotless white robes, with an exceptionally handsome face and an extraordinary, otherworldly demeanor; it was none other than Qian Yu.
Behind him followed a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe and wearing an imperial crown, whose brows exuded an air of dominance over the world.
She was the ruler of the Tang Dynasty, Empress Wu Zetian.
Upon seeing Qianyu, Wu Zetian's majestic phoenix eyes softened instantly, and a bright and charming smile bloomed on her face.
"Brother Qianyu, you've arrived?"
Her voice carried a hint of joy, a stark contrast to her usual image as a powerful empress.
Qian Yu nodded slightly, walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down, his movements natural and unhurried, as if he were the true master of the place.
Wu Zetian didn't care at all, and instead personally poured him a cup of fragrant tea.
Qianyu picked up the teacup, gently blew on the steam, and spoke calmly.
"The Heavenly Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire can make their move now."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power.
Upon hearing this, Wu Zetian's phoenix eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she nodded in agreement without hesitation.
"Alright, I will give the order now for Li Xin and Meng Tian to prepare to send troops."
She didn't even ask why; she simply carried out Chiyu's orders unconditionally.
To her, Qianyu-gege's words were like a royal decree, the will of Heaven.
...
Meanwhile, in Wuhun City.
Inside the offering hall deep within the Douluo Palace.
The white-haired and bearded Grand Master Sendo Ryu was looking up at the roof of the temple, where the scene on the sky was also clearly reflected.
"Tenth on the Martial Soul Ranking, the Life Harp?"
"The holder, Cai Wenji?"
Sen Daoliu's face was filled with shock.
"Controlling the ultimate life force? Able to heal any injury? Wow... what an amazing martial soul!"
He knew, of course, that Cai Wenji's martial spirit was extraordinary; after all, it was this martial spirit that had pulled him back from the brink of death.
But he never dreamed that the rank of this martial spirit would be so high!
You should know that his six-winged angel martial soul, which was inherited from the God of Angels and was hailed as the top martial soul on the continent, was only ranked fifteenth!
A support-type martial soul is ranked even above a god-level martial soul?
This completely overturned his understanding.
He turned his head and looked at the little girl sitting on a soft cushion not far away, swinging her two fair legs, his tone carrying a hint of respect.
"Your Majesty Cai Wenji, congratulations! Your martial spirit has made it onto the Martial Spirit Ranking."
That little girl, who looked only three or four years old, with delicate features and extreme cuteness, was none other than Cai Wenji, the holder of the Life Harp.
Upon hearing this, she raised her delicate face, glanced at the sky, and pouted slightly, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied.
"Only tenth?"
Her voice was soft and pleasant, with a touch of childlike innocence.
"There are still nine people ahead of me. Besides Brother Qianyu, there are so many people taller than me."
Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu's lips twitched slightly.
Only... tenth?
This is a height that countless Soul Masters across the entire continent dream of but can never reach!
However, when his gaze fell upon the rewards in the sky, he was once again deeply captivated.
[Gained the divine skill: Echo of Life!]
Cai Wenji's eyes lit up, and a look of joy finally appeared on her small face.
"A divine skill? Echo of Life? That sounds incredibly powerful."
She stretched out her delicate white hand and gently touched the sky.
"I, Cai Wenji, here to claim my reward!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a dazzling golden beam of light descended from the sky, completely enveloping her small body.
Buzz—!
A powerful and vast life force instantly filled the entire hall.
Immediately afterwards, to Qian Daoliu's astonishment, nine spirit rings slowly rose from beneath Cai Wenji's feet.
Yellow, purple, black, black, black...
No!
wrong!
The color of the spirit ring was undergoing a dramatic change under the baptism of golden light!
In the end, all nine spirit rings turned into a dazzling blood red!
Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red!
Nine 100,000-year soul rings!
Each spirit ring exudes a terrifying pressure that makes one's heart tremble!
"Nine...nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings?!"
Qian Daoliu's voice trembled as he stared wide-eyed at the miraculous scene before him.
"The rewards on this leaderboard are... incredibly generous!"
Just then, a cold and arrogant voice came from outside the hall.
"Great Venerable One, I have come to see you."
The palace doors were pushed open, and Bibi Dong, dressed in her papal robes and with a graceful figure, slowly walked in with Hu Liena.
She spotted Cai Wenji surrounded by nine red spirit rings at a glance, and her beautiful purple eyes instantly blazed with intense light.
She suppressed her excitement, put on a warm smile, and spoke softly to Cai Wenji.
"This must be Her Majesty Cai Wenji, right? She is indeed a gifted and extraordinary talent of our time."
"I am Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, and I sincerely invite you to join the Spirit Hall."
"If you agree, I'm willing to appoint you as the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, second only to me in status, and you can command all the resources of the Spirit Hall!"
Bibi Dong extended an olive branch that no Soul Master could refuse.
However, Cai Wenji merely raised her head and glanced at her, her pure blue eyes filled with undisguised disgust.
That's the wicked woman!
It was her who made Qianyu brother sad!
Now, she actually wants to win me over?
Cai Wenji's face instantly turned cold. She hugged her erhu and said in a childish voice.
"Bibi Dong, you old woman?"
Upon hearing this, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.
Bibi Dong's smile froze instantly, and a terrifying killing intent emanated from her body.
"Cai Wenji, don't be ungrateful."
Her voice turned sinister, carrying a chilling edge.
"presumptuous!"
Qian Daoliu suddenly took a step forward, blocking Cai Wenji's path, and an equally powerful aura soared into the sky.
"Bibi Dong! You've gone too far! Her Majesty Cai Wenji is my savior, how dare you run wild here!"
Bibi Dong looked at Qian Daoliu, who was blocking her way, and a disdainful sneer appeared on her lips.
(End of chapter)