The Celestial, Earth, and Human Rankings were completely sealed every six years. Their contents were archived, and the rankings would no longer change.

During the regular cultivation years, however, the Celestial, Earth, and Human Rankings changed once a month, which coincided with the distribution of rewards.

This day was precisely when the rankings were set to change once more.

The numerous disciples of the Thunder Saint Academy gathered in the plaza, gazing up at the sky.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Celestial, Earth, and Human Rankings shifted one after another.

The movement of each name stirred up waves of commotion.

When Fang Yang’s name on the Earth Ranking rapidly climbed, leaping from thirty-sixth place all the way to twenty-fifth, it immediately caused a localized uproar.

The sheer magnitude of this leap was simply too outrageous.

"Ranked twenty-fifth on the Earth Ranking at the Tier Four Middle realm... Tsk, tsk. Everyone else in the top thirty is at Tier Four Peak!"

"It’s unbelievable. He actually killed the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King all by himself..."

"*Hiss*... With such terrifying combat prowess, this kid is horrifyingly talented. ’Outrageous’ doesn’t even begin to cover it."

"Is this the talent of a Great Saint Seed? It’s terrifying. It looks like he’s the only one on the Earth Ranking who has a chance to challenge Minghai Dongli..."

The crowd exclaimed in amazement, their clamor unceasing.

Dongfang Xuezhi and her ’brother,’ Dongfang Xueyu, gazed at Fang Yang’s name from afar, their feelings complicated.

It was because the person Fang Yang had just pushed down in the rankings was none other than Dongfang Xueyu!

Of course, Dongfang Xueyu was now ranked twenty-sixth on the Earth Ranking.

In another corner of the plaza.

Fang Min and Fang Hao were also staring at the Earth Ranking, their eyes fixed on Fang Yang’s name.

Fang Min sighed emotionally.

"Ah Yang is growing too fast. It hasn’t even been a year, and he’s already transformed again."

"If this keeps up, I’m afraid he’ll become a Dao Seed before the rest of us and reclaim the Carp Eagle Blessed Land!"

The Carp Eagle Blessed Land had always been under the control of Saints from other clans.

Its next tribulation was expected to arrive in about twenty-five years.

Regardless of whether it could survive the next tribulation, the Fang Clan was determined to reclaim it and put to rest the regrets of their people.

Hearing this, Fang Hao’s gaze grew resolute. "I have to speed up. I can’t let a latecomer like Ah Yang handle everything."

The idea of ’the next generation will take over’ was a very complicated topic.

Once a generation felt their own strength was insufficient, they would tend to push the responsibility onto the next.

This had been true for the Fang Clan, and it had been true for the Zhang Clan.

But with Fang Yang’s meteoric rise, many of these old ways of thinking had been powerfully challenged.

And no one felt this more keenly than Zhang Ye!

Zhang Ye’s gaze was heavy. ’Fang Yang single-handedly slayed the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, then advanced to Tier Four Middle, and now he’s a top prodigy ranked twenty-fifth on the Earth Ranking...’

He stood in the blizzard, dressed in a white robe.

The cold wind carried flurries of snow, yet it could not cool the fire in his heart.

Finally, he let out a long breath, stepped out of his courtyard, and headed straight for the mountain dojo of Muri Guang Huang.

He would pledge himself to Muri Guang Huang, using himself as a pawn to carve out a new future.

His rank of ninety-sixth on the Human Ranking would only earn him Grade-A treatment.

But he believed he would continue to climb higher, step by step.

’Grade-A, then Perfect Grade, and then a position second to one and above all others!’

Besides, if he didn’t do this, he would never again have the chance to compete with Fang Yang.

Relying solely on the inheritance from his ancestor, Zhang Chi, was not enough. It was far, far from enough.

He had to face Fang Yang one more time!

...

「Two days later.」

Wind Peng Dojo.

The moment Fang Yang returned, Sen Hui arrived, bringing her sister, Sen Wei, with her.

Sen Hui’s eyes were glistening.

"Ah Yang, you’re so amazing! Senior Shuiqing holds you in high regard and couldn’t stop praising you..."

"...Oh, and by the way, I haven’t been slacking off, either! I’m a Tier Four Pill Master now!"

With that, she tilted her head up slightly, her heart fluttering with nervous anticipation, looking just like a little girl hoping for a piece of candy.

"Xiaohui, you’re really something. As expected of the genius Pill Master I have the highest hopes for. It looks like I’ll have to depend on you from now on..." Fang Yang said with a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling as he softly stroked her hair.

His sweet words coaxed a dazzling, dimpled smile from Sen Hui, leaving her completely flustered.

Even Sen Wei watched Fang Yang with a hint of surprise.

She hadn’t expected someone as cold and distant as Fang Yang to have a side like this.

Only after Fang Yang and Sen Hui finished their exchange did she finally speak.

"Fang Yang, you’re now ranked twenty-fifth on the Earth Ranking. That’s a truly remarkable achievement."

"If you were to pledge yourself to Black Tower City or Muri Guang Huang, you would undoubtedly receive exceptional treatment."

"The treatment you’d get from them wouldn’t just be Grade-A, or even Perfect Grade. You’d likely receive a special status, second only to the leaders themselves—a position above tens of thousands!"

The potential of a young Great Saint was plain to see.

Fang Yang grew thoughtful upon hearing this.

He instantly understood. If he had stayed within the academy to complete assessment missions, he really might have been dragged into the maelstrom.

Even if he could have extricated himself with Sen Hui’s help, the trouble would have likely persisted.

Thus, his interest in the identity of the mastermind behind all this only grew.

...

The Thunder Saint Academy covered a vast expanse of land.

Over time, it had gradually evolved from a simple institution of teaching and learning.

Now, it was more like a massive university city, fully equipped with all manner of facilities.

The rain had dissipated, and the sky had cleared.

It was the perfect weather for an outing.

At Sen Hui’s request, Fang Yang set aside some time to go strolling and shopping with her, heading in particular to the commercial district to buy various items.

Within the Thunder Saint Academy, everything—food, clothing, shelter, and travel—required Merit Points.

However, Fang Yang already had over five thousand Merit Points to begin with. Now that he had become twenty-fifth on the Earth Ranking, he had received another large allotment.

Combined with earnings from other miscellaneous tasks, he now had roughly ten thousand Merit Points.

Even some figures on the Celestial Ranking didn’t have as many Merit Points as him, simply because he rarely spent them!

So, now that he was out to procure supplies, his pockets were full and there was a spring in his step.

"Xiaohui, let’s go to the Four Seas Pavilion."

Fang Yang led Sen Hui into a grand, resplendent building.

He soon zeroed in on the Mind-Calming Sandalwood Incense produced by the Four Seas Pavilion.

The Mind-Calming Sandalwood Incense here cost three hundred Merit Points a stick, making it one of the most top-tier varieties available.

"Xiaohui, this Mind-Calming Sandalwood Incense will be perfect to aid you when you’re performing Alchemy or deep in your studies," Fang Yang said, striding forward to make the purchase.

But upon seeing the price, a pained expression flashed in Sen Hui’s eyes.

She tugged on the corner of Fang Yang’s sleeve and said softly, "Ah Yang, I don’t like the smell of the Four Seas Pavilion’s Enlightenment Dao Sandalwood."

With that, she pulled Fang Yang and hurried out of the Four Seas Pavilion.

She walked out quickly, not sparing a single glance for the surrounding magnificent buildings.

Finally, she led Fang Yang to a building that was bustling with people, yet extremely modest.

"Ah Yang, many of the seniors from the medicine hall buy their Mind-Calming Sandalwood Incense here," she said, a brilliant smile on her face.

The Mind-Calming Sandalwood Incense here only cost twenty Merit Points a stick.

Fang Yang could tell at a glance that this shop focused on providing good value for the cost.

"Come on, come on," she said, nudging Fang Yang forward.

A quarter of an hour later, she was cheerfully leading Fang Yang by the hand, heading directly for the easternmost part of the commercial area.

The easternmost district was where all the expensive robe emporiums were located.

"Ah Yang, I haven’t seen you wear a snow-white robe in ages. Let me buy you eight sets of clothes, for all four seasons," she said, her smile like a blooming flower.

Her clear, limpid eyes were filled with nothing but the sight of him.

The robes in that area possessed various special functions. If she were to actually buy eight all-season sets for Fang Yang, even her ten thousand-plus Merit Points wouldn’t be enough to cover the cost!

But for Fang Yang’s sake, she considered it a sweet expense.

’Worst case, I’ll just have to refine a few dozen more batches of Pills,’ she thought to herself.

"*Sigh*..."

Fang Yang sighed inwardly, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

There was joy, touched sentiment, and even a hint of fear. For a moment, he was overwhelmed by a hundred different feelings.