The Demon Slayer Martial Saint Begins with Insect Refining

Chapter 396 The storm is rising
The news of the final ranking of the Dali Dragon Gate List caused a storm in the royal city.

The list was finalized based on information provided by the Demon Suppression Guard, Qintian Academy, and leaders of various sects. As soon as this news broke, many renowned and powerful martial artists from the Jianghu flocked to the capital, all for this one thing.

The significance of the Dragon Gate Ranking is not just a ranking; it signifies fame, fortune, power, influence, and other important things.

Those who make the list will become famous throughout the land, and whether now or in the future, they will become influential figures who stir up the Dali Dynasty and even the world.

He and the forces behind him will gain the attention of the world.

Wandering the martial world and learning martial arts is not something everyone can do without desires, much less be solely focused on martial arts. Everyone has desires, and many seek fame; this single "fame" is enough to drive countless martial artists to fight tooth and nail.

If a powerful force were to acquire such a title, countless geniuses would be eager to join its ranks, something that countless sects would desire.

Needless to say, the benefits are obvious. Once someone makes it onto the list, they become an extremely promising individual, attracting all sorts of benefits, which naturally aids their cultivation.

Power and influence are the same. Once you're listed on the Dragon Gate List, you continue your invincible momentum. You leap into the Dragon Gate and transform into a golden dragon, from which point you can roam freely throughout the world.

Therefore, the Dragon Gate Ranking is so powerful that it affects the whole situation, stirring up the nerves of countless people, not to mention that behind it is Grand Marshal Hong, a Martial Saint of the Sage Realm, who is also stirring up trouble.

Dali Royal City, Qintian Academy

At this moment, on the top floor of the Discussion Pavilion, a group of seven people, led by Yuan Tianji, were sitting in a room.

The incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, and the fragrance lingered all around.

Yuan Tianji sat in the head seat, wearing a light blue robe, with a yin-yang fish jade ornament at his waist and star patterns on his cuffs, standing like an ancient pine tree.

On the left and right sides stood two sword-wielding warriors, each with a thin, slightly sallow face, unshaven beard, and wearing a worn-out gray outfit, but with eyes as deep as the starry sky.

On the right is a Taoist priest with white hair and beard, a youthful face, and wearing a blue Taoist robe, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.

The Changsheng Pavilion's swordsmanship is eternal, while the Dayan Daoist sect's Wunian Daoist is like the wind and clouds.

The two naturally symbolize the leaders of the Great Li sects, and those following them are ranked below them.

There was a woman in palace attire, extremely beautiful and elegant. Her light red palace dress resembled a blooming spirit flame flower, swaying gracefully.

Hua Yueyun, the sect leader of the Myriad Flowers Sect, is a Martial Saint Realm expert and is also known in the martial arts world as the "Know-It-All".

The Myriad Flowers Sect has numerous secular businesses under various names, and no one knows whether a small shop on the street might be affiliated with the Myriad Flowers Sect.

Iron Lion of Futu Mountain, Xia You of Aurora Scattered Hands of Dongji Island, and Gu Li, Vice Leader of the Nine Nether Sect, Ghost Killer Blade.

There were seven people in total, all of whom were famous martial arts masters in the martial arts world.

"It's rare that this year's Dragon Gate Ranking has invited the three of us to act as notaries."

Iron Lion looked around and saw that everyone there was an old friend. He grinned and looked exactly like an old lion.

"Iron Lion, it's been three hundred years since we last met. Your Mount Futu must be overgrown with weeds by now."

Xia You, the Aurora Master from Dongji Island, glanced at Iron Lion.

"The disciples of Futu Mountain are all on the mountain, so how can there be any grass growing there? Even if I travel the world, I cannot neglect them. On the other hand, your Dongji Island only has a handful of disciples. I hope they won't be swallowed up by the tsunami. I wonder if you have mastered the ninth form of your Aurora Scattered Hand."

Iron Lion was not going to hold back. Xia You and he had fought each other when they traveled the world, and neither of them could gain the upper hand. Now that they had met, both of them were eager to fight.

At their level, insights and opportunities become the most important things.

They traveled the world in search of an opportunity for enlightenment.

"If you two want to establish a Martial Saint Ranking, I can be a referee for you."

Gu Li, the Ghost Killer Blade of the Nine Nether Sect, glanced at the two of them sideways, his voice icy.

Hua Yueyun chuckled: "We don't have the ability to set the Martial Saint Ranking, but we can try the Dragon Gate Ranking. I heard that this year's Great Li Dragon Gate Ranking started with a champion marquis at the Dharma Aspect Realm?"

"Fellow Daoist Hua's abilities are probably not as simple as I've heard. Why don't you tell me in detail?"

The speaker was Xia You from Dongji Island. He narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a hint of curiosity.

"He began practicing martial arts at sixteen, broke through to the Dharma Aspect realm at twenty, and entered the Great Dharma Aspect realm at twenty-one. He possesses a high-level innate martial body, suspected to be the body of the Taiyue Ancient Insect. He is also a fourth-tier advanced alchemist, cultivating both physical and magical abilities, his physical body comparable to a spiritual weapon."

Hua Yueyun knew her like the back of her hand, and everyone present, except for Yuan Tianji, was shocked.

"Fellow Daoist Hua, which sect paid you to promote such a prodigy like this?"

"Praise?"

Iron Lion spoke without restraint, and Hua Yueyun snorted coldly: "What I know is only a small part, and I'm afraid Fellow Daoist Yuan knows much more. Of course, perhaps Fellow Daoist Wunian and Fellow Daoist Xiang also know quite a bit."

Since Tie Kuangshi, Xia You, and Gu Li did not operate in the royal city, they naturally knew less about it.

Daoist Wunian nodded slightly: "The disciples of the sect mentioned that this boy broke through in the Demon Suppression Valley. Before he had fully broken through, he single-handedly slaughtered tens of thousands of evil spirits and suppressed fourth-order evil spirits."

Changsheng Sword said to Zhiheng, "There was a rebellion in Xizhou Prefecture. I heard that he broke the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation all by himself."

Gu Li suddenly opened his eyes, a purple light flashing in them: "This child is worthy of being included in the Dragon Gate Ranking."

The initial selection of the Dragon Gate Ranking was determined by several martial arts masters at the Martial Saint Realm.

With the Qintian Academy, Dayan Dao Sect, Changsheng Pavilion, and Wanhua Sect as the main representatives, and three top-tier martial saints from various sects as witnesses, the evidence is truly convincing.

Yuan Tianji asked, "Of the thirty-three people on the Dragon Gate Ranking, where do you all think they should rank?"

Gu Li narrowed his eyes slightly: "Which generation of disciples from the Wanhua Sect formed the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation?"

"The Hua generation has four individuals who possess the seventh-level Dharma Image."

The Nine Nether Sect and the Buddhist sect have a long-standing feud, and the Nine Nether Sect is also familiar with the Buddhist sect's formations.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Four Dharma Aspect Seventh Level martial monks, plus the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation, if there are enough monk soldiers, their strength is comparable to the Golden Body Realm. Su Yan can break the formation and kill the enemy, and his strength can be ranked seventeenth on the Dragon Gate Ranking."

Seventeenth place, which puts him in the middle of the Dragon Gate Ranking. But Gu Li knows that Su Yan has combat power equivalent to the Golden Body Realm, even if he uses all sorts of methods, and it's a special case.

But this is still an extremely exaggerated thing.

However, those present did not show much disbelief.

"Too low"

Hua Yueyun shook her head slightly: "This child cultivates the Dao through ferocious insects, yet he also possesses the ability to cultivate both the physical body and the Dharma, and he also cultivates the Dao of Alchemy, capable of refining the superior-grade Golden Body Pill of Returning to Origin. With such talent and combat strength, he is only ranked seventeenth? I think he should be ranked seventh."

Iron Lion said in a gruff voice, "Combat strength? Among those who can enter the Dragon Gate Ranking, which one is below the eighth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm? Which one cannot fight beyond their level? Su Yan only has the sixth level of the Heavenly Realm. I admit that he is talented, but he is a bit lacking. If this ranking were re-evaluated in a few years, he could be in the top five. But now, he can't even get on the initial ranking."

Iron Lion's statement was not without basis. He recounted the details: "I have met Chu Jinglan, the current successor of the Heavenly Xiao Sword Pavilion in Yaoshan Prefecture, who is at the Dharma Aspect Realm. He exchanged thirteen sword strikes with me, leaving a sword mark on my iron fist. The Thirteen Heavenly Xiao Swords are capable of defeating someone at the Golden Body Realm. He may not be inferior to Su Yan. And his cultivation level was already at the ninth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm back then."

Xia You then said, "Luo Hongshao of Chixia Manor in Chijiang Prefecture is at the ninth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm. Her 'Rainbow Burning Heaven Melody' once fought Ghost Crane Ancestor, who was at the Golden Body Realm, for fifty rounds without defeat. She is not necessarily inferior to Su Yan. Moreover, Daoist Wunian and Fellow Daoist Xiang Zhiheng, your two sects' current successors and prospective successors are probably even more powerful than Chu Jinglan and his companion, aren't they?"

Wu Nian Dao Ren smiled slightly and then said, "Bai Nian Dao Zi and Ye Qing Mei Dao Zi have only taken half a step further and can contend with the Golden Body Realm, but if it is the second level of the Golden Body Realm or an old Golden Body Realm expert, I'm afraid they will be outmatched."

Xiang Zhiheng continued, "Yan Heng is at the half-step Dharma Aspect realm, and his Eight Desolations Sword can slay a fifth-tier Green Wood Kui Niu, so he can be ranked third. Sikong Huo is at the ninth level of the Dharma Aspect realm, and he has comprehended a trace of the sword dao rules. He can slay lightning and withstand Golden Body realm warriors, so he can be ranked in the top five." In the imperial court, Su Yan swept through the Dharma Aspect realms in front of the Ascending Dragon Hall, and he was virtually unmatched.

However, the circumstances at that time were special and could not represent the general laws of the world.

Now that the Dragon Gate Ranking has been released to the world, geniuses will naturally flock to it like a swarm of locusts crossing a river.

Gu Li coldly said, "Xiao Wujiu, the disciple of the Nine Nether Sect, was born with a ghost body and can control a hundred ghosts to roam at night. His cultivation at the ninth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm is among the top ten."

Seeing everyone speaking like this, Yuan Tianji smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists, please don't tease me by recommending your own people."

The crowd remained silent, only glancing at him to see what he wanted to say.

Yuan Tianji knew that these people were not afraid of trouble, and he didn't care about their opinions.

"I thought Su Yan's ranking was too low."

"Appreciate further details"

Yuan Tianji said calmly, "When he broke the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation, he was only at the fifth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm."

Everyone gasped in shock; each of the five levels was a hurdle, and overcoming them was like climbing to the heavens.

Only those who have passed through the fifth level can be considered cultivators of the Great Dharma Aspect.

After a moment of silence, Xiang Zhiheng finally spoke up: "Sixth place."

Daoist Wunian frowned slightly: "Fifth place."

The group exchanged glances and pondered their options. Hua Yueyun gave the fifth place, while Tie Kuangshi and Xia You thought the sixth place was the best. After careful consideration, Gu Li immediately chose the fifth place.

In this way, Su Yan's ranking on the Dragon Gate List was finalized.

Yuan Tianji said, "Now that the initial list has been determined, fellow Daoists, why don't you write down the remaining thirty-three names one by one, and we will refute them one by one?"

"Can"

All of them were at the Martial Saint realm, and their movements were swift and agile. In no time, all thirty-two names were written down.

The lists vary slightly, but only in the rankings; most of the people on the lists are the same.

Obviously, they couldn't, and wouldn't bother with, such a list.

"Second place: Yan Heng of Changsheng Pavilion; third place: Bai Nian of Dayan Dao Sect; fourth place: Li Zhanhai of the Dali Royal Family; fifth place: Su Yan of Beast King Sect and Demon Suppression Guard; sixth place: Ye Qingmei of Dayan Dao Sect; seventh place: Luo Hongshao of Nishang Manor; eighth place: Xiao Wujiu of Jiuyou Sect; tenth place: Chu Jinglan of Tianxiao Sword Pavilion..."

The list is meticulously compiled, and each of them represents the most outstanding Dharma Aspect Realm martial artist in the world. Although their opinions differ slightly, their achievements are all based on evidence.

In the words of Tie Kuangshi and Xia You, the ranking is as follows, but to truly determine who is superior, we'll probably have to wait until these guys actually come down from the mountain and enter the world, and then we'll fight them to find out.

This is also the most direct battle that has been triggered after the Dragon Gate Ranking was issued in previous years.

Like ten thousand carp vying to cross the Dragon Gate, only a few can leap over it.

"The first place is still vacant."

Yuan Tianji smiled when he saw that everyone's first place was empty.

Xia You pouted: "What's the suspense about first place? Don't you all know about that prodigy?"

"Shi Fengyi, the daughter of a sage from Donghai Mansion, Dongxian Island".

Hua Yueyun read out her name and then said, "Although Shi Fengyi rarely travels the martial world, her cultivation has been suppressed at the half-step golden body level for a hundred years. Her Nine Yuan Dharma Image has probably reached the eighth Yuan and will soon be perfected. Once she enters the golden body realm, the road ahead will be smooth."

"It is extremely"

The Daoist Wunian said, "There are only a handful of martial artists in the world who are called sages. The one on Dongxian Island is only below the terrestrial immortals. Although he has disappeared for many years, his bloodline is probably unmatched."

In this way, the thirty-three Dragon Gate Rankings are all fixed.

Yuan Tianji took out a long scroll and wrote down his name on it one by one on the golden scroll.

He formed a sword-like finger with his hand, and shook it, manipulating the flow of fortune: "I beseech the fortune of the Great Li Dynasty to appear!"

Within the imperial city, Li He sensed Yuan Tianji's request and said in a deep voice, "Granted."

A golden dragon phantom, carrying the imperial fortune of the Dali Dynasty, rushed straight towards the Qintian Academy and immediately fell into the Dragon Gate Ranking.

This fortune is no weaker than the fortune of the Three Palaces, although it is only bestowed upon them by their positions and not completely controlled by them.

However, this good fortune is enough to allow those on the list to reach new heights in their understanding, cultivation, and opportunities.

"Please sign your names."

Iron Lion laughed heartily: "Your Majesty is truly generous. I'll go first."

Iron Lion's name was written on the list, and the remaining five Martial Saints followed suit.

Yuan Tianji immediately threw the long scroll out the window.

The golden scroll surged like a dragon, rushing into the clouds and growing longer in the wind, instantly transforming into a ten-thousand-foot-long scroll that enveloped the royal city.

"The Dragon Gate List is open; let the world witness it."

Everyone was enveloped in golden light from the sky and hurriedly looked up. The martial artists were even more shocked.

"How many years, a hundred or two hundred years? The Dragon Gate Ranking has actually reopened."

"Look who's at the top of the list!"

The crowd surged, and the martial artists were even more excited. Now that they had made it onto the Dragon Gate Ranking, they might become Martial Saints a hundred years from now.

Starting from the first place, those in the know recounted the reasons for being on the list, and even those who were unaware found their reasons for being included.

At less than three hundred years old, at the ninth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm, fighting beyond one's level—every extremely unfamiliar term is merely a label for the geniuses on this list.

Such combat prowess commands respect from everyone, regardless of whether they know him or not.

However, when it came to Su Yan, many people were stunned.

Can someone at the sixth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm even make the list?

Upon closer inspection, however, one is utterly astonished: could someone at the sixth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm be able to fight against someone at the Golden Body Realm?

For a moment, everyone was stunned, but they also became increasingly curious about who this champion was.

However, Su Yan has now plunged into the Dali Treasure Vault, preparing to search for the treasures that will help him advance his ferocious insect.

Not only the Blood Bone Centipede King, but also the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion and the Wind and Thunder Insect.

(End of this chapter)