CHAPTER 336: CHAPTER 33: THE ROOT OF CALAMITY

Qi Yun Golden Ranking.

This ranking is crafted by the Second Ancient Emperor, using the supreme treasure, the Golden Bell, as its core, combined with the True Dragon Secret Technique and Heaven’s Mystery Secret Technique for secondary refinement.

This ranking automatically senses the conflicts of the Tianjiao within the realm who are still at the golden age of cultivation, thus arranging the ranking, allowing those with leading strength to enjoy more world fortune favors.

Whenever Tianjiao engage in battles in some observable areas within the Celestial Essence Continent, and no extraordinary experts help to conceal heavenly secrets, they are generally captured by the Qi Yun Golden Ranking.

There are also rare cases where the Qi Yun Golden Ranking is unable to sense, such as when Tianjiao enter Grotto Heaven or other independent spaces.

However, after all, the Golden Ranking is a man-made treasure. Although it is bonded with the world fortune to some extent, during its creation, the Second Ancient Emperor did not consider all situations thoroughly.

Thus, aside from normal operations, a dormant Artifact Spirit remains within the Qi Yun Golden Ranking, responsible for adjusting the ranking list.

"What’s happening?"

Several years after the Golden Era began, the Artifact Spirit of the Golden Ranking awoke for the first time, and the ranking malfunctioned for the first time, losing its autonomous ranking ability.

"Let me see."

The golden dragon-shaped Artifact Spirit perceived the issue and found the problem was with the current twelfth ranking, the Dragon Carp that defeated the Buddhist Sect Saint Heir!

"Hmm."

According to the fortune form and color displayed, the Dragon Carp belongs to the Demon Court, and is also contracted with another, recognized by the Celestial Essence Realm’s rules as one entity with that person.

But since the Dragon Carp first appeared on the ranking alone, the Golden Ranking made its name the subject to log into the ranking.

Now, the Artifact Spirit of the Golden Ranking perceives that the Beast Taming Cultivator of this Dragon Carp is suppressing its power using the Beast Taming Contract, then beating it fiercely!

Therefore... the Golden Ranking now appears malfunctioning, not knowing whether to retain the Dragon Carp’s position, add Lin Jing to the ranking as well, or let Lin Jing’s name replace the Dragon Carp’s name.

This issue was not considered by the Second Ancient Emperor during the initial refinement.

"I see." The Artifact Spirit fell into contemplation.

"That carp being able to defeat the Buddhist Sect Saint Heir single-handedly is its ability..."

"My existence is to cultivate Tianjiao in the Celestial Essence Realm, allowing more powerful Tianjiao to enjoy fortune favors and cultivation boosts. If their positions are merged, only the main body can enjoy the fortune boost, which is unfair to one of them."

"Hmm, let this Beast Master replace its position, while it moves back one rank. It’s merely an individual case, there’s likely no need to consult with the Ancient Emperor."

After thoughtful consideration, the Artifact Spirit acknowledged Lin Jing’s victory over the Dragon Carp.

It felt that if a Tianjiao couldn’t even defeat another’s pet beast without the help of a Beast Taming Cultivator, they should move back, leaving the world fortune for more gifted potential individuals.

Meanwhile, at Immortal Burial Volcano.

The Dragon Carp was in great distress, its power undoubtedly surpassing Lin Jing, as it had already reached the Nascent Soul Stage, while Lin Jing was merely at the Golden Core.

But the issue lied in its Beast Taming Contract with Lin Jing; with this contract in place, as long as Lin Jing had a thought, its power couldn’t manifest.

If it were an ordinary Beast Taming Cultivator, the Dragon Carp could easily ignore the contract restriction with an advantage of an entire major realm. However, Lin Jing, at the thirteenth layer of Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, and trained into the Beast Taming Body, made the contract’s suppression effect far stronger than an ordinary Beast Master, so the Dragon Carp understandably fell into Lin Jing’s hands.

"Seems impossible—" Nevertheless, Lin Jing looked at the Qi Yun Golden Ranking and noticed no changes.

It turns out that defeating his own pet beast atop the ranking indeed does not make him ascend the ranking, even if rank coverage is not possible?

Just as Lin Jing was about to give up and decide to ascend the ranking through formal channels, a faint glow spread from the Golden Ranking in the heavens, finally undergoing change, catching the attention of many cultivators throughout the Celestial Essence.

Numerous cultivators concentrated, wanting to see which Tianjiao’s strength had improved.

Then suddenly, all cultivators fell silent.

Qi Yun Golden Ranking, twelfth place, Lin Jing, cultivation, Mid-Stage Golden Core, reason for ranking: defeated his own contracted pet beast, Dragon Carp...

Qi Yun Golden Ranking, thirteenth place, Dragon Carp, cultivation, Early-Stage Nascent Soul...

Cultivators everywhere: ???

"Huh?" Not only the cultivators worldwide but even Lin Jing himself was dumbfounded—it really worked, but this time the Golden Ranking’s reaction was too slow.

Was the calculation insufficient?

Moreover, this scene completely dissipated the previous doubts, indeed this Dragon Carp was the Demon Court Saint Child’s pet beast holding fire-type Treasure Beast Divine Techniques!

The Buddhist Sect Saint Heir was really singlehandedly defeated by Lin Jing’s pet beast!

"Damn, what’s with this ranking? A Beast Taming Cultivator and a pet beast can appear together? Shouldn’t it be considered as one entity? Also, the Beast Master beat his own contracted pet beast with contract suppression, is such power against only the pet beast considered strength? If the pet beast is part of his strength, why can the pet beast appear alone on the ranking?"

"What’s the Demon Court Saint Child doing."

Many Tianjiao were defenseless, nearly all dropped one ranking due to Lin Jing’s insertion.

Especially the Tianjiao at Perfect Golden Core who was squeezed out of the top one hundred ranks cursed furiously.

Ancient Country.

Above the court.

Not long after, the Ancient Emperor also received feedback from cultivators below, claiming that having both a Beast Master and pet beast on the ranking was somewhat inappropriate.

"This is the decision of the Golden Ranking’s Artifact Spirit and is not improper."

Confronted with such circumstances, the Ancient Emperor chose not to modify the rules of the Qi Yun Golden Ranking but acknowledged the Artifact Spirit’s arrangement.

After court dismissal, the Second Ancient Emperor shook his head, not because he favored Lin Jing, but because the Qi Yun Golden Ranking had already formed. To modify the rules would require some exertion, currently, his true self supports the realm barrier beyond the heavens, and the current avatar’s power is limited. Since the Qi Yun Golden Ranking can still function, minor accidents can be ignored without major impact.

Moreover, if he did this, the Second Ancient Emperor believed, the Demon Court’s Lady Tiger surely would not take it lying down.

Thus, let it be.

He looked at the Golden Ranking, first and second, one being the Ancient Clan’s prince, one the Ancient Clan’s princess, since they do not affect the Ancient Clan, it’s fine.

"Treasure Beast, to defeat the Sun Body Tianjiao of the Buddhist Sect at Early-Stage Nascent Soul, its Treasure Beast Divine Techniques must be exceptionally powerful, but alas, alas." The Ancient Emperor shook his head, lamenting fate as well, for the Longevity Body was destined to have no fate with the Ancient Country.

The Ancient Emperor only lamented slightly, as even if Lin Jing was in the Ancient Country, he wouldn’t put all effort into cultivating the Longevity Body, or even the Treasure Beast Dragon Carp.

Compared to Lin Jing, the Ancient Emperor cared more about the Tianjiao of the Ancient Clan, his descendants.

He took out a Secret Technique book.

"True Dragon Secret Technique: Physique Chapter" requires the formidable force of the world fortune, and cultivation in union with the Breaker Bird, it can break the limits of the Divine Body and evolve a stronger physique to the level of the Immortal Body.

"With the arrival of the Golden Era, the world fortune massively increased, the Immortal Body Chapter of the True Dragon Secret Technique left by the former emperor finally has the cultivation condition. As long as these two can gather the strength of the Ancient Clan and Celestial Essence, cultivate the ’Acquired Immortal Body,’ neither the Demon Clan nor Treasure Beasts could shake the foundation of the Ancient Country..."