"How is this possible?!"

Profound Spirit King shivered; no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't believe that the seemingly ordinary Chu Ming could rank seventh on the Transcendence List.

Thinking of this, Profound Spirit King continued reading, taking a deep breath, and his gaze slowly scanned further.

"Seventh place, Chu Ming, proficient in Swordsmanship and Body Refining. A year ago, he tied with Emperor Wuji on the Ancient Battlefield and disappeared thereafter. He reappeared a month ago in Southern Celestial City, where he defeated Emperor Luo, making his name known throughout Celestial Martial. His cultivation is currently speculated to be at the First Layer of the Realm of Transcendence."

"Southern Celestial City?"

Profound Spirit King's heart sank; he understood well that Cyan Bird King was the City Lord of Southern Celestial City. No wonder she remained so composed when she saw that he was looking for Liu Shengchuan; she had been prepared all along.

However, what surprised Profound Spirit King was that Chu Ming had openly defeated Emperor Luo in Southern Celestial City. This was a significant event for the entire Celestial Martial Continent.

"But, obtaining the Wood Profound Fruit is not simply a matter of strength."

Profound Spirit King silently comforted himself in his heart.

...

"Ancestor, this is the newly released Transcendence List for this month!"

Central Divine Domain, Tongzhou, Lin Family.

A green-robed elder respectfully prostrated on the ground, holding a string of golden pages in his hands.

A chaotic figure sat in the grand hall, with an evil wind blowing, making the entire space eerily cold. Thunder and fire flashed around, but anything within three meters of that chaotic figure disintegrated, turning to Void.

"Hmm!"

This chaotic figure was none other than Evil Wind Emperor. At this moment, his face was pale and sinister. In a year's time, he had fully restored himself to his peak state.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Evil Wind Emperor's eyes were sharp as torches. Within his vision, the golden pages flipped rapidly, he skimmed through dozens of pages in an instant.

"Hmm?"

Evil Wind Emperor's face froze, then he stopped at the top of the latest page, revealing a slight smile.

"Seventh place, Chu Ming..."

The elder prostrating on the ground didn't know what to say upon seeing Evil Wind Emperor so focused on Chu Ming.

Generally speaking, very few of the talents on the Transcendence List could catch the eye of Evil Wind Emperor, for even those who eventually ascended to emperorship were ordinary compared to him.

"Pass down the order, do not provoke Chu Ming!"

Evil Wind Emperor's ethereal voice resonated, and he instructed the elder prostrating on the ground.

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Though the Lin Family's Grand Elder possessed the strength of a Half-Step Life and Death Realm King, he remained trembling in fear before Evil Wind Emperor, terrified of inciting his wrath.

An Emperor's wrath could bury millions, with rivers of blood.

After the Lin Family's Grand Elder left the hall, Evil Wind Emperor sighed slightly. He ordered the Lin Family not to provoke Chu Ming, not just because of his past oath, but more because he feared Chu Ming's potential.

Since Chu Ming had emerged from the Ancient Battlefield, it indicated that he had refined the Undying Tree. As one who had ascended to emperorship, Evil Wind Emperor was well aware of the terror of the Undying Tree. It was no exaggeration to say that once Chu Ming truly grew, even Ling Yun, who ranked first on the Transcendence List, wouldn't be able to rival him.

...

Celestial Realm, Celestial Hall.

"Sect Leader, you must see this month's Transcendence List!"

Yan Nanxing was dealing with the affairs of the Celestial Travel Sect, overwhelmed with work. Since Chu Ming participated in the Tea Ceremony and channeled fortune into the sect's foundation, great changes had occurred. The Spiritual Power alone had become three to four times denser, enough to compare with Great Domains like the Fire Domain and Thunder Domain. The overall quality of the disciples had risen, with almost all core disciples reaching the Guiyuan Realm.

"What's going on, shouting like this?"

Hearing the loud voice of the Grand Elder Kong Qianren outside the hall, Yan Nanxing frowned. Despite being a Transcendence Realm expert, Kong Qianren had never acted so rudely before.

"Sect Leader, you must see this, great news, great news!"

Grand Elder Kong Qianren pulled out a Transcendence List from his Storage Ring and flicked it lightly, sending it flying towards Yan Nanxing.

Yan Nanxing caught the Transcendence List with his right hand and gently skimmed through it. Seeing the seventh, Chu Ming, he felt a slight chill, then understood why the usually steady Kong Qianren was shouting.

"Do you really think this Chu Ming on the list is the same Chu Ming we know?"

Yan Nanxing asked with a calm expression.

"Isn't it?"

Grand Elder Kong Qianren was taken aback but then thought of the vast number of martial artists in the Central Divine Domain alone. Surely there would be many named Chu Ming among them, and this Chu Ming might not be their Chu Ming.

"Alas, the Central Divine Domain is vast, with talents as numerous as stars. The top hundred talents on the Transcendence List are not inferior to me in terms of combat strength. The top ten can even kill me in an instant. Do you think Chu Ming could have improved so rapidly?"

Yan Nanxing sighed lightly. In the Celestial Realm, he was a talent, but in the Eastern Hundred Domains, he was only considered a high-tier genius, becoming ordinary in the Central Divine Domain.

Hearing Yan Nanxing's words, Grand Elder Kong Qianren fell silent.

...

"Chu Ming, I will not lose to you!"

On the vast ocean, a figure in white stood steady. The blade light in his hand was like a meteor from beyond the sky, forcing a high-tier ninth-level Sea Beast in the deep sea to retreat continuously. The surrounding space was torn, and no matter how the Sea Beast struggled, it couldn't escape the barrage of the blade light.

Emperor Wuji's expression was resolute; the battle for the crown was where true talents shone.

...

The latest update of the Transcendence List had caused a sensation across the entire Celestial Martial Continent. Every talented individual on the list sent shockwaves throughout the continent. Chu Ming's seventh place ignited a range of reactions—some scoffed, some doubted, and some were filled with a fighting spirit.

Mukong Island, Black Moon City.

While practicing Black Wood Palm, Chu Ming suddenly stopped, taking out a Communication Jade Pendant from his chest.

"Finally, news?"

Chu Ming glanced at the message on the Communication Jade Pendant and gave instructions to the whole base. He then flew out of Black Moon City.

The fourth and fifth elders of the Wood Profound Sect were on their way to Celestial Sea City. Based on Chu Ming's speed, he could reach them in a few hours.

Flying through the air, Chu Ming's skin began to change slowly. His dry face turned smooth, and his hunched figure straightened up. Vitality emanated from his body.

Since he was going to ambush the fourth and fifth elders, Chu Ming naturally needed to disguise his identity. Thus, returning to his original appearance was the best disguise.