Chapter 677 676: The Four Great Ranking Lists

In a quaint little courtyard.

An anxious Nangong Tianling paced back and forth in the courtyard.

From time to time, she would extend her Divine Sense to probe the situation within the courtyard.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the center of the courtyard.

Nangong Tianling was instantly overjoyed.

She walked toward the figure.

"Young Master! You're finally out. Huh? Where's Yun'Er?"

"Yun'Er is still in closed-door cultivation. Did something happen outside?"

Yang Xiao smiled faintly, but upon seeing Nangong Tianling's expression, he couldn't help but frown.

Although he had previously sensed this woman periodically probing his Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace,

it was only after coming out that he sensed she seemed to have something urgent on her mind.

"It's good news. An old acquaintance of yours is here, Young Master."

Nangong Tianling smiled faintly.

"An old acquaintance?"

Yang Xiao was taken aback.

At the same time, his Divine Thought swept out in an instant.

Scanning the entire Star God Academy, he immediately discovered a familiar aura in a nearby courtyard.

"Yang Tian? He's here?"

Yang Xiao paused.

Nangong Tianling nodded.

'So it's true,' she thought. 'That guy really does know the Young Master.'

"Junior Brother Yang Xiao, long time no see."

Just as Yang Xiao was spacing out, a figure suddenly appeared.

It was Yang Tian.

From the warm smile on his face, it was clear he had already detected Yang Xiao's earlier scan with his Divine Thought and knew he had arrived.

"It has indeed been a long time. Senior Brother Yang Tian, your cultivation has improved again. I imagine it won't be long before you enter the Demigod Realm."

Yang Xiao also smiled and replied politely.

This guy's origins might be mysterious, but Yang Xiao could sense that he held no hostility toward him, neither in the past nor now.

Besides, Yang Xiao's current strength was on a completely different level than before.

In the past, he had immense potential, but his cultivation was far too low.

Compared to Yang Tian, who was in the Great Divine Power Realm, the gap was enormous.

But things were different now.

Even if this Senior Brother Yang Tian, at the Peak of Great Divine Power Realm, really wanted to try something, it would be impossible.

Because he was no longer a match for him.

Although this Senior Brother Yang Tian's talent could be considered extraordinary.

He was likely a genius in his own right.

Perhaps even a top-tier genius.

But in Yang Xiao's eyes, that didn't amount to much.

Below the True God Realm.

Unless it was one of those peerless, Demon Level geniuses standing at the apex of the world.

Otherwise,

he feared no one could stand against him.

"I can't compare to you, Junior Brother. It's only been a year, yet you've already reached the Peak of Small Divine Power Realm. I suspect your true combat strength might not be any weaker than mine. I reckon it won't be long before you make a name for yourself in the Divine Land and get a spot on the Hidden Dragon List."

Yang Tian laughed.

He wasn't just being modest.

He had genuinely seen through to Yang Xiao's true strength.

"The Hidden Dragon List?"

Yang Xiao couldn't help but be surprised.

In both his first and second lives,

Yang Xiao had never heard of such a thing.

Naturally, he was curious.

"You don't even know about the Hidden Dragon List?"

Yang Tian was also taken aback.

He couldn't help but look at Nangong Tianling.

Logically,

someone with Junior Brother's talent should be very familiar with the Hidden Dragon List.

How could he know nothing about it?

"The Young Master just arrived from the Profound Sun Continent not long ago. I haven't had the chance to explain these things to him in detail yet."

Nangong Tianling looked a little awkward.

Deep down, she had felt it was unnecessary to mention it. After all, in her view, the figures on the Hidden Dragon List were some of the most talented geniuses in the world.

While her Young Master was remarkable, he was still just ordinary—only slightly better than she had been back in the day. Why bother telling him about such things and adding to his worries?

If things went wrong and her proud Young Master developed a competitive streak, it might motivate him to grow, but it could also deal him a massive blow.

Therefore, Nangong Tianling didn't want Yang Xiao to know about the Hidden Dragon List.

To put it bluntly,

she still thought Yang Xiao's talent was too weak.

An Upper-Grade Peak Treasure Body was good, but when it came to being a genius,

he was clearly still lacking.

"Since Junior Brother doesn't know, then allow me, your Senior Brother, to explain a few things."

Yang Tian, however, was unaware of the woman's thoughts.

If he had known, he probably would have laughed his head off.

The idea that someone of Yang Xiao's talent was merely "ordinary" in her eyes was a complete joke. If he knew the full story, he'd probably have to admit that prejudice is a terrifying thing.

Of course, he didn't know any of this.

Instead, he conscientiously began to explain the Hidden Dragon List to Yang Xiao.

"So you're saying there are three lists in the world, calculated by the mysterious top-tier Great Emperor, Master Tianji? They are the Hidden Dragon List for those below the True God Realm, the Extreme Dao List for the True God Realm, and the Ultimate World Chart for the Divine King Realm?"

After hearing Yang Tian's explanation, Yang Xiao was rather surprised.

"That's right. In fact, above these three lists, there is also the Venerable List, which records all the Great Emperors and Saint Emperors. However, the Celestial Secret Pavilion has not made the Venerable List public; it only circulates among Great Emperor and Saint Emperor Level powerhouses."

"The Venerable List!"

A glint flashed in Yang Xiao's eyes.

'If that list truly records all the Great Emperors and Saint Emperors, then I really must take a look. For no other reason than to find the person who schemed against me back then.'

'There's a good chance they'll appear on that list.'

'If they really are on it, it would be a massive help to my plans.'

However, even if Yang Xiao wanted to know,

he wasn't qualified to find out yet.

With his current cultivation, at most, he was only qualified to enter the Hidden Dragon List.

Even the Extreme Dao List,

had no place for him.

And through Yang Tian's explanation, Yang Xiao also learned something else.

The Hidden Dragon List recorded a total of one thousand names.

The rankings were based on potential,

which meant the ability to fight across tiers.

If two people had the same tier-crossing ability, their ranking would be determined by their maximum combat power, which is to say, their cultivation.

Currently, the top ten on the Hidden Dragon List,

all possessed the ability to fight at least six tiers above their level. They were known as true hidden dragons with the chance to become peerless, Demon Level geniuses.

The one ranked first among them,

was even at the Half-step True God Realm. He could fight seven tiers higher, possessing power comparable to a Tier Seven True God—Divine Marquis Level strength. He was an existence named Li Yunxiao.

"I've heard of this Li Yunxiao. He seems to be the closed-door disciple of the Longevity Emperor. He's apparently not even three hundred years old yet but has already reached the Half-step True God Realm and holds the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List. The moment he breaks through to the True God Realm, he'll be recognized as a peerless, Demon Level genius, one of the most outstanding individuals in the world."

Nangong Tianling couldn't help but chime in.

After speaking, she glanced at Yang Xiao, her eyes seeming to say, 'If only my Young Master had such peerless, Demon Level talent like Li Yunxiao.'

'How wonderful that would be.'

At this, Yang Xiao just smiled faintly.

But deep down, he couldn't help but feel a yearning,

a desire to compete with these so-called peerless, Demon Level geniuses.

After all, they weren't like him—reborn twice and aided by the Heaven and Earth Origin Flame. As long as he utilized his foundations, he could easily fight six, or even seven, tiers above his level. The Heaven and Earth Origin Fire alone was enough to boost his aura, allowing him to kill enemies three tiers higher.

The same was true for his Flame Emperor Divine Fist.

Therefore, it wasn't surprising at all that he currently possessed such strength and combat power.

But other people,

were a different story.

Yang Xiao knew perfectly well how difficult it was to comprehend a Cultivation Technique from a Dao Attainment Emperor.

And to have an aura that could cross three tiers—that was a level that could surely only be achieved with a Sacred Body.

Of course, if it weren't so difficult,

those people wouldn't be called peerless, Demon Level geniuses.

Similarly, when Yang Xiao had borrowed the Power of the Emperor to break the Nine Prohibitions and kill an enemy more than nine tiers above him, it wouldn't have earned him such high regard from Emperor Xuanyuan.

Therefore, Yang Xiao was very interested in these people.

Yang Tian clearly noticed this.

He smiled faintly,

and said something that both surprised and shocked Yang Xiao.

"It seems Junior Brother Yang Xiao is interested in this Hidden Dragon List. And as it happens, there's a perfect opportunity right now for you to compete with the people on it and reset its rankings! I wonder, Junior Brother, would you be willing to contend for a spot?"