Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 155 Rookie Ranking Changes

Sheng Yuanyao didn't know what family rule she had broken. She went to the garden innocently and nothing inappropriate happened, so it didn't count as premarital indecency.

It was just a minor accidental touch on the lips, and nobody knew.

They didn't violate the family rule of integrity; if they said they were going out to play, they meant they were going out to play.

Old Sheng used his position to settle a personal score, saying he had broken family rules but wouldn't specify which one. Well, next time he can just ask for leave and find some other excuse to lie to people.

Sheng Yuanyao was more interested in compiling the list of heroes of the Great Qian Dynasty, which not only meant using public funds to eat melons, but also meant that she could justifiably pick melons from other people's fields.

For example, she openly sought an audience with the Imperial Advisor.

Ye Tinglan did indeed receive her: "I heard that Yuan Yao has just taken office. What brings you here?"

"It's about the Rising Star Ranking that I sought out the Imperial Advisor... Last time, I intended to include Miss Qingli in the Rising Star Ranking, but she herself said she didn't plan to be on the list. At the time, she probably didn't want to reveal her identity, otherwise, if the Holy Land's successor protected Shen Tang, everyone would immediately know that Shen Tang's identity was questionable... Now that they've all left, the matter has faded. If I conceal Qingli's past protection of Shen Tang from the list, would it allow Qingli to be included?"

Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "I didn't mean to hide Qingli. It was indeed for Princess Chaohuang's sake that it was inconvenient for her to be on the list back then. She should also experience the challenge and test of the Rising Star List. If Editor-in-Chief Sheng thinks Qingli is qualified to be on the list, then let her be on it."

"When I first met Miss Qingli, she was at the upper level of the fifth rank, and it seems she broke through to the fourth rank not long after. Now, several months have passed, I wonder if she has made any progress?"

Ye Tinglan thought to herself that her disciple was in seclusion and she couldn't contact her. Otherwise, she would have asked herself how she could have reached the threshold of the third rank and needed to go into seclusion so soon after breaking through to the fourth rank.
However, Qingli's thought process is different from others. Her so-called seclusion is not necessarily sitting in a secluded room. It may be training in deserted ruins. If she can't see anyone, she is considered to be in seclusion. And her so-called goal of breaking through to the third rank is not necessarily at the threshold. For her, the entire path to the fourth rank is called "for the third rank".

That's very clear and refreshing.

Since it's been so long, there should be at least a mid-level fourth rank by now, so he said directly, "Let's count it as mid-level fourth rank."

Sheng Yuanyao seemed to smile: "A mid-level fourth-rank, and a direct descendant of a holy land... The Imperial Preceptor also said that she needs to undergo challenges and training. Do you dare to directly let her replace Ye Wufeng's position?"

Ye Tinglan looked Sheng Yuanyao up and down thoughtfully. Why do I feel like you have some malice towards my good disciple?

The dignified master of the Holy Land truly didn't care about her disciple experiencing the Rookie Challenge; what she cared about was that her disciple's sudden rise to number one would lead to accusations that the Holy Land manipulated the rankings, needlessly tarnishing her reputation. She then said, "Editor-in-Chief Sheng..."

"what?"

"What are your considerations in wanting Qingli to be number one?"

"Because I think Lu Xingzhou will eventually take the top spot, so let's put Qingli there and challenge him, and see what he does."

Ye Tinglan: "...Just for such a trivial reason?"

Sheng Yuanyao's eyes widened: "Such a good melon!"

The Imperial Advisor is clearly not one of us; Pei the Green Tea might actually want some of this gossip. Wait, does Pei the Green Tea even know Dugu Qingli?

Poor Gua Mei still doesn't know the reason why Pei Chuyun and Lu Xingzhou met, otherwise she would probably have given Xiao Bai Mao a good scolding.

Ye Tinglan clearly couldn't understand such a ridiculous reason, and said indifferently, "First place is inappropriate, but the top three should be worthy of it."

Sheng Yuanyao was a little disappointed, but readily agreed, "Alright then, second place."

Ye Tinglan casually asked, "Where are Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice?"

"Lu Xingzhou is seventh. It's better if Anuo isn't on the list. Protecting children is everyone's responsibility."

Ye Tinglan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright. By the way, I have some information here that you can also include in the character biography."

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a moment: "What news?"

“I have a good friend, Madam Ye, who said she is willing to help Lu Xingzhou heal his leg… It can be predicted that this person will be highly regarded on the next list.”

Sheng Yuanyao's heart stirred.

Remembering what Lu Xingzhou had told him, he needed a respectable reason to stand up, such as receiving treatment from a high-grade alchemist or pursuing further studies at an alchemy academy. However, the latter was clearly inferior to the former. Further studies only demonstrated an improvement in medical technology, but did not necessarily provide suitable rare and precious herbs to treat his ten-year-old broken leg. If he had the help of a high-grade alchemist, then resources would not be an issue.

Who is this Mrs. Ye? It's like a godsend, what a kind person!

…………

Sheng Yuanyao was very enthusiastic about her new job and full of energy. After asking the Imperial Advisor, she went to ask Lu Xingzhou.

This was the first time recently that she had sought out Lu Xingzhou for serious business, rather than using it as an excuse to see him.

"Your Shen Tang has broken through, right?" Even when talking about Shen Tang, there was no jealousy; serious matters occupied more of her thoughts.

"Hmm." Lu Xingzhou found her expression amusing. "What's wrong?"

"She's already at the third rank, should we move her directly to the Heroes Ranking instead of the Rising Star Ranking? Won't that cause her trouble?"

This question made Lu Xingzhou think for quite a while: "If she wants to develop the Heavenly Sword Sect, as the sect leader, a top-tier reputation and deterrent power are essential. As for the rest, as long as she maintains her attitude of not treating her leg, there shouldn't be any problem..."

Sheng Yuanyao was very satisfied and continued the interview: "May I ask a few questions about the biography?"

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her sideways: "What?"

"Can we say that she keeps her own male concubines as male lovers?" Sheng Yuanyao asked seriously. "By the way, has she ever eaten any of the male lovers' cooking?"

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: "When is Editor-in-Chief Sheng going to treat me to a meal? The kind he cooks himself."

“No,” Sheng Yuanyao said. “Someone made a more detailed promise but hasn’t fulfilled it yet.” “Are you sure you want me to give it to you?” Lu Xingzhou stood up.

Sheng Yuanyao turned and ran away, shouting, "No, no, I have so much to do..."

Lu Xingzhou sat back down and examined her new hair tie.

The grass ring had obviously been replaced; it was unclear whether she had lost it or put it away somewhere.

Sheng Yuanyao ran a few steps but saw that Lu Xingzhou didn't chase after her, so she stopped and looked back: "Madam Ye said she would help you treat your leg."

Lu Xingzhou paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "I understand."

Sheng Yuanyao then asked, "Does your green tea girl want to be on the list this time?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Of course, Prime Minister Pei would very much like to see his daughter on the list."

Sheng Yuanyao scratched her head, then suddenly a light shone in her mind: "Hey, you're always full of crooked ideas, how about becoming the deputy editor-in-chief?"

"Then you'll need a position in the Demon Suppression Division, right?"

"Then being an advisor is fine, right? What, you can be someone else's guest advisor, but not your brother's advisor?"

“My surname isn’t Xue…” Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, “But you can give it a try, it’s quite fun.”

Sheng Yuanyao was delighted: "Does Consultant Lu have any creative proposals? Aside from the timeliness you mentioned before, that's too difficult. Come up with something else."

"Yes, your lists are too dry. You can't add any comments or anything; it's all just a gimmick..."

"You you on the line."

In mid-March, Sheng Yuanyao, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of the Heroes Ranking after half a month of research, released a new edition of the "Great Qian Heroes Ranking". The new version, which was completely different from the previous ones, quickly captured everyone's attention, and even other countries and demon races paid attention to it.

First up is Shen Tang, the former 30th on the Rising Stars List and the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect. He has broken through the third-rank barrier and is no longer considered a rising star. He has officially entered the bottom of the Heroes List and is now competing with heroes from all over the world.

The editor thoughtfully added a comment: "Sailing against the current, the waves are stopped by the flying boat."

This was certainly not the idea given by Sheng Yuanyao; it came from the new consultant, and nobody knows who it was.

Shen Tang is only twenty-three years old this year, and hasn't even celebrated his birthday yet. To break through to the third rank at such a young age, while not unprecedented, is certainly an extremely rare feat of genius. Even Gu Zhanting didn't achieve this back then; the last person to break through to the third rank at this age was Ye Tinglan.

This one thing alone is enough to spark global discussion, but the biggest change in this year's rankings is not in this, but in the rookie rankings.

Ye Wufeng, the former number one rookie, died at the hands of Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice, and was expelled from the team.

Qi Tuizhi, the former second-ranked rookie and young master of Lingtian Pavilion, has been promoted to first place.

The player who was originally third did not advance to second place; he couldn't even retain third place.

The second is a completely new character who has suddenly appeared: Dugu Qingli, the direct descendant of Tianyao Holy Land and the only disciple of Ye Tinglan, the number one disciple in the world. She is eighteen years old and at the middle level of the fourth rank.

Editor's Note: Frosty sky, frozen moon, reflecting on the cold river.

The third is also a completely new character who was parachuted in: Pei Chuyun, the daughter of the Pei family of Hedong, eighteen years old, a fourth-rank lower official.

Editor's Note: Returning to the martial arts world, his name is renowned throughout the capital.

This sentence wasn't written by Lu Xingzhou. Sheng Yuanyao refused to let Lu Xingzhou write it, so the magazine editors enthusiastically added it, and it sounded quite good, much to the editor-in-chief's dismay.

Pei Chuyun had already reached the upper fourth rank, but unfortunately, without revealing her true skills, she could only remain at the lower fourth rank. Under normal circumstances, someone at the lower fourth rank wouldn't be ranked in this position, but the advisor believed she was qualified, the editor-in-chief wanted her to get beaten up, and ultimately, the review leader, Lao Sheng, wanted to give the Pei family some face, so they agreed to place her here.

These two parachuted-in personnel alone are astonishing, but then a third one parachuted in as well.

Lu Xingzhou, a guest elder of the Tianxing Sword Sect who was originally only on the alchemist secondary list and had not entered the new talent main list, brazenly replaced the original seventh position of the new talent and was squeezed to eighth by the parachuted-in talent.

This figure pleased a certain consultant, but he was too embarrassed to add any comments for himself.

The editor-in-chief personally wrote in red ink: "A gentleman as fine as jade, unparalleled in the world."

The list with annotations is several orders of magnitude more interesting and readable than before. People who enjoy gossip are engrossed in reading it, while serious people can only gasp in surprise at the drastically changed list.

Three newcomers, all in the top ten, two eighteen and one twenty.

Add to that Shen Tang, who is also so young... Is this a collection of abnormal people on one list?
This is still with Ah Nuo hidden; if Ah Nuo were on the list, it would be even more outrageous, almost like a completely different generation. Even without Ah Nuo, the discussion surrounding this list has already reached a level that has swept the world.

Generally speaking, such a situation is called a year of rising winds by fortune tellers, which often symbolizes the beginning of some changes; and there is often a core in the storm, which is the eye where the storms meet.

At least in Ye Tinglan's eyes, the core issue was basically focused on Lu Xingzhou, because almost everyone involved in the incident could be connected to him.

However, upon closer examination, this year's upheaval did not begin this year, but rather last year or even the year before.

Two winters ago, Lu Xingzhou left the Yama Palace on a snowy night, just as the wind began to rise.

Last autumn, in early winter, Lu Xingzhou met Shen Tang; this was the day their paths crossed.

Thus, this year's rookie rankings have caused a sensation, shaking the world.

(End of this chapter)