Ming Province.
Chong City, the sunshine gleamed, a rare good weather.
The tavern was almost full, business was bustling.
The owner of this tavern had gang affiliations, so martial world people frequented here.
When Yu Hong, carrying a saber, stepped into this tavern, it immediately attracted the scrutiny of several tables of martial enthusiasts.
But people only glanced at him and quickly withdrew their gaze, losing interest.
Young, with no trace of evil qi and the smell of blood on him, obviously just a fledgling out in the world.
Yu Hong called the waiter:
"Are there any separate seats available?"
Waiter: "No separate tables left, would you mind sharing?"
Yu Hong nodded, easygoing: "That's fine."
The waiter quickly found him a willing tablemate, an old gentleman dressed in scholar's robe, gray-haired, wearing glasses.
Yu Hong sat down opposite: "Sorry to intrude."
Old gentleman: "No problem, meeting is fated."
Yu Hong glanced at the old gentleman, smiled, and asked:
"Are you a teacher?"
The gentleman had scholarly air, indeed looked like a teacher.
Old gentleman: "I am not a teacher, though I have taught before."
Yu Hong glanced at the dishes on the table, sniffed, and said to the waiter:
"Please bring me the same dish and wine as this gentleman."
The old gentleman glanced at Yu Hong's saber on the table and asked:
"Are you a martial artist?"
Yu Hong smiled and nodded: "Yes, learned some skills, wanted to see the world."
"Young people should see the world, without experiencing heaven and earth, martial skills can't be honed."
"Do you understand martial arts, sir?"
"I might not understand martial arts, but many principles in this world are interconnected. Reading ten thousand volumes is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, which also applies to martial arts."
"Sir, you make a valid point."
"Sages say reading has three levels: 'Last night's west wind withered the green trees, I ascend the high tower, gazing as far as the horizon' is the first level; 'The belt gradually loosened without regret, For her to thin and pale' is the second level; 'Seeking him a thousand times, Suddenly turning, That person appeared at the dim lights' is the third level. Reading like this, martial arts might also bear similarities…"
Yu Hong regretted initiating conversation with the old gentleman.
The gentleman was too talkative!
And liked to show off his knowledge, Yu Hong hadn't read much, found it headache-inducing.
"The latest issue of Fengyun List is out, five yuan a copy!"
A shout interrupted the gentleman's talk.
Yu Hong was relieved and looked over.
This tavern had gang ties, thus selling martial world information.
The Fengyun List was undoubtedly the best-selling information in recent years.
"Give me a copy."
Yu Hong raised his hand.
Five yuan per copy, not cheap.
When Yu Hong got the list, he found it beautifully bound, with illustrations, and couldn't help but nod in praise of the tavern owner's business acumen.
He glanced at the talkative old gentleman opposite, noticing the gentleman seemed uninterested in the list, clearly not a martial world person.
Yu Hong lowered his head and opened the list.
He skimmed through the Earth and Human lists swiftly, barely paying them any attention.
Upon the Heavenly List, Yu Hong gasped in astonishment: "Sangji actually made it to the third spot on the Heavenly List?"
Upon hearing this, a few martial enthusiasts at the next table looked over.
These people couldn't afford to buy the list, only could eagerly stare at Yu Hong's side.
"Brother, did 'Heart Sword Clarity' get on the Heavenly List?"
Yu Hong looked at the next table, unhesitant in sharing:
"Yes, 'Heart Sword Clarity' Sangji Grandmaster not only made it to the Heavenly List but ranked third! The list omitted his past battle records, only listed the latest one—
Last month, Sangji challenged 'Snow Hidden Blade' Hou Xingye Grandmaster and won!"
"Whoa—"
The martial enthusiasts at the next table also exclaimed.
Their discussion immediately sparked heated debate among almost all martial enthusiasts on this floor.
'Heart Sword Clarity' Sangji was undoubtedly the most dazzling new star in the martial world in recent years!
Started cultivation at 17, incorporated Implant.
By 18 reached Qi Change Late Stage.
At 19 became a Dao Foundation Stage Martial Artist!
Became Martial Arts Master at 21, Grandmaster at 25!
Upon entering the Grandmaster Realm, he defeated the third-ranked Dao Establishment Grandmaster Hou Xingye on the Heavenly List!
From an ordinary grassland boy to Heavenly List's third-ranked Grandmaster, Sangji took less than eight years.
Such a growth trajectory easily brings to mind another person.
If not for someone else setting the precedence, Sangji would have broken many cultivation records.
Unfortunately, someone else went from nothing to world's top within less than eight years.
Sangji resembles him three parts, and that's already enough to astonish the martial world!
"Amazing, Peak State Grandmaster defeated Dao Establishment Grandmaster, only three people in the history could achieve that, he makes it four."
Yu Hong wore a face of admiration.
He was 25, the same age as Sangji.
Over the years, he witnessed Sangji ascend from the Human List step by step to the Heavenly List, long viewing Sangji as his idol.
"However, Sangji aiming to become first on the list, as he did on the Human and Earth lists, might be challenging."
Yu Hong heard this notion and subconsciously felt displeased.
But he couldn't refute it.
Sangji's cultivation journey, after reaching the Human and Earth lists, quickly made him leader of the list.
But the Heavenly List was different.
Yu Hong continued flipping, unsurprisingly finding that familiar name at the top of the Heavenly List—