Chapter 278: Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix Ranking

“Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix Ranking?”

Hearing the unfamiliar phrase, Wang Haoran froze for a brief moment.

But to maintain his image as an unfathomable master, his face remained perfectly calm. He nodded slightly, his tone steady. “Of course, I know that ranking. I knew of it long before you were even aware it existed.”

Bu Feiyan didn’t doubt him in the slightest. She nodded reverently. “Senior is right. But I do know quite a bit about it myself.”

“Oh?” Wang Haoran seized the chance to keep her talking. “Then tell me—why was this ranking created?”

“It was established by an information network within the martial world called Baixiaosheng. The ranking lists all martial prodigies under twenty-five years old,” Bu Feiyan explained, eager to impress him. She went on to describe in detail how the Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix Ranking came to be.

After listening, Wang Haoran finally had a general grasp of what it represented. Returning to his original line of inquiry, he asked, “And what does that have to do with the question I asked you earlier?”

Bu Feiyan straightened up proudly. “Of course it’s related. My second sister, Luo Qingqian, is twenty-three this year. She has already stepped into the realm of a Grandmaster Transformation and currently ranks second on the Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix Ranking.”

Grandmaster Transformation?

Another term he’d never heard before.

Wang Haoran couldn’t think of a way to fake his way through it this time, so he simply asked outright, “And what exactly is that realm?”

Bu Feiyan blinked in surprise. “Senior doesn’t know the stages of martial cultivation?”

“My martial path is rather… unique,” Wang Haoran said calmly, refusing to show ignorance. “It doesn’t adhere to the conventional realm divisions of the martial world.”

Bu Feiyan, eager to please, immediately began to explain. “The commonly accepted stages of martial cultivation are Light Energy, Dark Energy, and Transformation.”

“Light Energy is the use of raw physical power. By tempering the body and channeling every ounce of strength into a single strike, one can make the air itself explode.”

“Dark Energy is when one has opened their meridians and cultivated Internal Energy, also known as True Qi. By merging this inner force with physical power, one can strike far stronger blows—that’s Dark Energy.”

“As for Transformation, that’s when one tempers and strengthens the internal organs and meridians themselves, allowing the body to store far greater True Qi. Once True Qi reaches the point where it can flow outward—making one’s body impervious to blades and even capable of striking enemies from a hundred steps away—that’s

Transformation: Minor Grandmaster level.”

“When the True Qi grows strong enough to travel instantaneously and condense into tangible form, that becomes Transformation: Grandmaster level.”

Listening to her explanation, Wang Haoran finally pieced together a clear picture of martial realms. Judging by her description, the fifty years of Internal Energy he possessed placed him squarely in the Transformation Strength: Minor Grandmaster tier—and precisely at the threshold.

Before he reached fifty years of Internal Energy, he couldn’t yet block blades or injure enemies from afar. So yes, fifty years was the bare minimum for that rank.

He also realized that “years of Internal Energy” were simply a measure of True Qi accumulation—one “year” representing the amount an average martial artist could cultivate in a year. Of course, geniuses could produce several “years” worth in a single year of training.

Those people were called martial prodigies.

Bu Feiyan’s second sister, Luo Qingqian, was one of them.

“When did your second sister reach Transformation: Minor Grandmaster?” Wang Haoran asked.

“She began cultivating Internal Energy at the age of twelve,” Bu Feiyan replied. “A year ago, at twenty-two, she broke through to Minor Grandmaster.”

From that, Wang Haoran quickly drew his conclusions. Luo Qingqian had cultivated for eleven years and already achieved what most would take fifty years of effort to reach. That meant her cultivation speed was roughly five times faster than normal. By now, she’d likely built up fifty-five years of Internal Energy.

Bu Feiyan smiled faintly. “If I’m not mistaken, Senior’s cultivation must also be around fifty years of Internal Energy. You’re not listed on the Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix Ranking, but if you were, you’d probably rank around fourth.”

Her eyes shimmered with admiration as she said it.

Fourth place didn’t sound remarkable—but for someone under twenty to possess fifty years of True Qi, his potential far surpassed most so-called geniuses.

According to what she knew, even the top three on the list had only reached

Transformation

after the age of twenty-two.

“Only fourth, huh?” Wang Haoran murmured, feigning mild disappointment.

“In another two or three years of cultivation, you’ll definitely be number one,” Bu Feiyan said earnestly.

Two or three years, she said.

Wang Haoran merely smiled faintly and didn’t reply. Instead, he changed the subject. “And what about your eldest sister?”

Bu Feiyan shook her head. “My eldest sister’s identity is a mystery. Only my second sister knows a little about her—the rest of us have no idea.”

That was a bit of a disappointment, but Wang Haoran brought the topic back. “Then where is your second sister now?”

“I’m not sure,” Bu Feiyan admitted, then suddenly remembered something. “But Little Chen’s birthday is coming up soon. My second sister will definitely show up to celebrate it.”

Wang Haoran nodded thoughtfully. He was about to probe further when he heard Tang Bingyun calling for him inside the villa—her voice faint through several walls, worried that he’d been in the shower too long.

“It’s getting late. You should go,” Wang Haoran said, dismissing Bu Feiyan gently.

Bu Feiyan hesitated. “Could I ask Senior for some cultivation guidance sometime?” she asked hopefully.

Tang Bingyun’s voice was too soft to reach her ears, so she had no idea anyone else was in the villa.

“Another day,” Wang Haoran said. “When I have the time, I’ll guide you.”

Had Tang Bingyun not been there, he would’ve gladly agreed—her timing, however, was unfortunate.