Chapter 415 – Why Is the Rankings All Tianyuan?

“Newspapers! Fresh off the press! The latest Dragon Gate List! Would you like a copy?”

On the streets of Boulder City, a newsboy waved a stack of newspapers, shouting as he went.

Soon, the newsboy was surrounded by crowds of people.

During peacetime, the release of a new Dragon Gate List was absolutely explosive news. In this Eternal World where games and the internet had become rare, these commercial newspapers were especially popular.

People rushed to buy copies, eager to get a first look.

After all, during this period, the Dragon Gate List had been changing more dramatically than anyone could have imagined. There were even cases where powerful figures ranked in the middle of the list in one issue had fallen to the verge of dropping off entirely in the next.

For top-tier experts aspiring to compete on the Dragon Gate List and make a name for themselves or their territories, this was truly an era of clashing titans.

So competitive!

Absurdly competitive!

Can you imagine the despair of being on the verge of making the Dragon Gate List, only to find yourself falling so far behind you can’t even see the bottom of the rankings?

It’s hopeless!

But for the countless spectators across Taixuan, this period was incredibly exciting—a time when titans clashed and powerful experts emerged in droves.

The constant rise and fall of rankings was what made it entertaining.

Thrilling!

“Hurry, hurry! Let’s see how many experts dropped off the list this time.”

“But this issue came out rather quickly. Wasn’t the Dragon Gate List just updated a week ago?”

“What’s wrong with frequent updates? I wish it updated every day.”

“Well, there has to be actual changes in the list for that to make sense.”

Most bystanders looked at the list just for fun, unaware of the immense power of Fourth Order Great Perfection or what it truly signified.

To the vast majority, the formidable, majestic, or awe-inspiring experts on the list were somewhat akin to celebrities from the Blue Star era.

In this age, only the powerful could be stars.

And the Dragon Gate List was the closest thing ordinary people had to a celestial ranking of stars.

Many in the Eternal World had even begun “star-chasing,” supporting their favorite expert celebrities on the list.

Some entertainment newspapers had even compiled lists of the Top Ten Most Popular Dragon Gate List experts.

The authorities didn’t oppose this.

After all, these “stars” were all prodigies of the Dragon Gate. The descriptions of their achievements on the list often included feats like “single-handedly defending a city,” “fighting a dozen monster bosses alone,” “turning the tide against overwhelming odds,” and “sweeping through armies.”

These were all positive accomplishments that served as proper inspiration.

If the Dragon Gate List could guide some young people onto the path to becoming powerful experts, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

Laymen watched for the excitement, while insiders looked for the nuances and deeper meanings.

“Lord, Drag-on Gate List, here.”

A Black Knight handed over a crumpled newspaper, its speech somewhat halting.

Jiang Luoxing didn’t mind.

It was just a baby that had Awakened self-awareness two months ago. This was to be expected.

The fact that the newspaper hadn’t been accidentally torn to shreds was already decent progress.

He took it and smoothed out the paper, scanning the top first.

Nearby, the Feathered Serpent Lord was also present. Both had brought their subordinates to Boulder City to participate in instructor interviews.

The Feathered Serpent leaned its head over and read aloud.”The Dragon Gate List includes a total of two hundred powerful individuals from the Taixuan Alliance (including Lords, Heroes, troops, and professionals). This ranking is determined by the listed individuals’ most impressive combat achievements and does not necessarily represent their peak combat capabilities. Without publicly known achievements, even legendary seeds possessing epic life force, Willpower Light, and Domain will not be included.”

“The Dragon Gate List rankings are evaluated by professionals and special Miracle Buildings, and there may be minor discrepancies from the actual rankings. The final interpretation rights for these rankings belong to First Hand Commerce. Meanwhile, First Hand Commerce welcomes detailed information from public reporters.”

“This edition of the Dragon Gate List shows significant changes, with 74 new powerful figures making the list, 56 of whom are appearing for the first time.”

Feathered Serpent hissed sharply upon reading this.

“Out of just 200 spots on the Dragon Gate List, 74 people got pushed out? This is ridiculously competitive. Does this mean over 120 strong figures from the last edition have fallen off the list now? No wonder First Hand Commerce rushed to release a new ranking.”

Jiang Luoxing also trembled at the sight. “Fortunately, none of our people made the list, or we’d be crushed by this competition.”

Feathered Serpent: “…Is failing to make the list something to be proud of?”

Jiang Luoxing: “…” Suddenly felt dejected.

Currently, they hadn’t even managed to cultivate a single Fourth-Order Commander Tier expert, making it impossible to compete for the Dragon Gate List within a year or two, unless they encountered some great Opportunity.

The two then flipped the newspaper to the next page, starting from the “Earth List” covering ranks 101-200.

This way they could maintain some sense of anticipation.

In the current Dragon Gate List, ranks 101-200 could be considered fourth-tier titled experts; ranks 51-100 as third-tier titled experts; ranks 21-50 as second-tier titled experts; ranks 11-20 as first-tier titled experts; while the top ten represented the zero-tier, super invincible experts.

The seventy-plus newcomers were mainly concentrated in this lower half.

“NO.198 ‘Azurewave Sword · Li Jian’ – this is Wave City Lord’s subordinate, right? I remember he made the Dragon Gate List two editions ago, got pushed out quickly, and now he’s climbed back up.”

“Let me check his achievements… in the Gnoll Tribe suppression battle… in the Root of Filth eradication campaign… in… he has so many achievements.”

Jiang Luoxing immediately understood that this Azurewave Sword was desperately fighting for a spot on the list.

After all, the list operated on “achievements only” principle, and sometimes required sufficiently powerful enemies to showcase one’s extraordinary combat prowess.

While the Dragon Gate List offered no material rewards, the exposure from making the list itself was the greatest reward.

For ordinary experts, the credential of being listed was enough to secure positions in most institutions, even allowing them to apply for legendary loans with low or zero interest, and granting access to special Miracle Buildings in many official cities.

It was equivalent to possessing a Face Fruit.

Even prestigious institutions like Tianze Academy would directly hire Dragon Gate List experts without examinations.

For Lords and territorial experts, making the list could also promote their territories and attract business investments.

Among thousands of Taixuan Lords, why would major corporations invest in you? Why would they favor you? Because I have Dragon Gate List experts.”The Wave City Lord seems to be a seasoned Lord, right? It’s truly remarkable that one of her subordinates managed to make the list. After all, making it onto the Dragon Gate List is equivalent to being on the path to legend—the only difference is whether it takes three years, two years, one year, or just half a year.”

“Damn it, I want to charge up the rankings too, but the gap is just too huge!”

“Speaking of which, Tianyuan Bro is truly impressive. He already had a subordinate on the list months ago. Why is the gap between people so vast?”

“I heard Tianyuan Bro mentioned he would also send his subordinates out. We haven’t seen any Tianyuan Experts in the past few issues; surely there should be some in this one?”

“There really should be. Didn’t Tianyuan Bro previously have two subordinates on the list? Could these two make a glorious return and directly reclaim top spots on the rankings?” Feathered Serpent said, “The competition on the list is much fiercer now than a few months ago, but the Giant Spirit God and the Martial Maniac must have grown much stronger as well. They might even break into the top twenty or top ten?”

“Top ten is unlikely. Lately, the competition among the academies has been intense, and many have specifically invited young powerhouses from top-tier territories to emerge. Haven’t you noticed? The current top ten are all from elite territories—each one an unbelievable monster.”

As they pondered, their eyes slowly scanned upward.

Many of those on the list were constantly striving to climb higher, with countless battle achievements to their names.

There were also some experts who hadn’t actively pursued ranking. These individuals often made the list by demonstrating exceptionally formidable strength during instructor recruitment drives at various advanced academies.

It was precisely because of these academy recruitment efforts that Fourth Order limit-breakers seemed to sprout up one after another, like bamboo shoots after rain.

Among them, they spotted two Tianyuan Experts.

“As expected, Tianyuan Bro has people on the list. Both are unfamiliar names—likely newly advanced experts.”

One of them, ranked 134th, wielded the power of Holy Light and wore a white robe, appearing utterly sacred.

He seemed to be a Holy Light High Priest?

The other, ranked 101st, was a burly man stripped to the waist, brandishing two large hammers, exuding an imposing aura.

Both had very few public battle records, with only one notable appearance: the instructor selection battle not long ago at Boulder City Advanced Academy.

They made a name for themselves in a single battle.

“Thinking about it, it makes sense. Tianyuan Bro wouldn’t send out his strongest subordinates. Yet even so, Tianyuan Experts still easily made the list. That’s just how Tianyuan Bro rolls!”

…

“Tianyuan… already has two on the list? Could there be more ahead?”

At the same time.

Dragon Mountain Pass Warzone, No. 1 Logistics Base.

First Hand Commerce had transmitted the Dragon Gate List updates through special channels, quickly printed them, and began selling them on the spot.

The Tyrant Dragon Lord held a fresh, newly printed copy of the Dragon Gate List commercial report.

Two of his own people had made the list.

One was his most powerful General, ‘Crimson Dragonkin Hogg,’ and the other was the Tyrant Dragon Lord himself. After all, he had fought tirelessly in the Great Warzone for a long time, with many public battle records to his name. It was only natural for someone of his caliber to make the list.

Originally, his epic-tier unit, the ‘Burning Steel Dragon,’ would have qualified for the list, but the Dragon Gate List had become excessively competitive lately.

By the standards of two months ago, Burning Steel would have easily made the cut.

“Burning Steel’s training period has been somewhat short, after all. But in the future, Burning Steel will undoubtedly climb to the very top of the Dragon Gate List, standing above all others.”After scanning his own ranking, Tyrant Dragon thought of his ‘rival’ Tianyuan.

Of course, he admitted that Tianyuan was slightly stronger than him—a Dragon-type Lord he acknowledged.

Wasn’t he working hard to catch up too?

This time, Crimson Dragonkin Hogg had broken into the top forty—though just the top forty, in normal times, it would have been enough to reach the top thirty or even top twenty.

This was Crimson Dragonkin’s limit.

It couldn’t compare to the monsters in the top ten.

Tyrant Dragon didn’t even think about comparing.

Many of the monsters at the top of the Dragon Gate List came from top-tier territories, truly sky-high big shots, cultivated with immense effort and resources. What could a small fry like him use to compete?

Just breaking into the top forty made Tyrant Dragon immensely proud.

His only regret was that Limitless Lord had entered the top twenty, ranking 17th, still significantly stronger than his Crimson Dragonkin.

“Wuji is still impressive. Can’t catch up to him.”

“However, Youshan’s former epic general, ‘Lord of Flesh Mountain,’ only ranked 59th this time, not even making the top fifty. Looking at it this way, my Crimson Dragonkin is still pretty unbeatable.”

Only one person from both Limitless Territory and Youshan Territory made the list.

As for Tianyuan Territory…

Tyrant Dragon flipped to the previous page and continued browsing from the bottom up.

Soon, he found the third Tianyuan Expert on the list.

NO.96 「Ghost Claw Shadow · Soul Loss」

Record: Performed excellently in the Water Dragon’s Song Formation trial at Tianze Academy, already awarded the title of Second-Class Instructor at Tianze Academy.

The image showed a powerful figure manifesting a massive ghost claw, wreathed in blazing black flames, looking quite majestic.

“A third Tianyuan Expert! Worthy of the Tianyuan I acknowledge!”

“But why isn’t any of them a Dragon-type expert? Tianyuan clearly pursues Dragon-type troops too.”

Tyrant Dragon’s gaze continued upward, reading line by line.

Before long, his eyes paused once more.

NO.88 「All-Encompassing · Ailin」

This was a human girl holding a longsword. She couldn’t be called ordinary, but rather, she had no distinctive features.

No dragon horns, no dragon wings—neither majestic nor fearsome. In Tyrant Dragon’s eyes, this image was inferior.

But the rankings from First Hand Commerce were always fair.

The achievements of All-Encompassing · Ailin had been witnessed by many, so she must be a powerful expert.

Four people now.

On the small Dragon Gate List, there were four Tianyuan Experts.

Tyrant Dragon felt the pressure.

He knew very well that the strongest subordinate of Tianyuan Territory wasn’t one of these four.

Tianyuan Bro was the man who owned a Frost Dragon!

Tyrant Dragon’s mind wandered, his thoughts drifting, but his eyes continued scanning out of habit.

When he caught sight of two specific characters, Tyrant Dragon jolted, all his wandering thoughts snapping back.

「Shattering Star Arrow · Zhou Yi」

「Affiliated Territory: Tianyuan」

「Ranking: …」

Tyrant Dragon’s pupils contracted sharply.

19th place!

Another expert from Tianyuan Territory had broken into the top twenty! And it was a completely new face!

This edition of the rankings had seen significant changes, but the upper ranks of the Dragon Gate List were relatively stable, with experts typically moving up or down by just one or two positions.

For instance, Crimson Shadow Skywolf, previously ranked 12th, had dropped to 13th this time.

“Huh, why did Red Shadow drop?”

“Wait, the experts previously ranked 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th all dropped one position too—it’s not that they surpassed Red Shadow. So who did?”As if struck by a sudden thought, Tyrant Dragon’s gaze swiftly swept upward.

Soon, he spotted an extremely unfamiliar name among the top ten.

“Lord of Netherworld · Red Robe”!

“Battle Record: Shattered illusions with a single glance, broke spells with a mere thought. Utilized inconceivable power to dismantle the Water Dragon’s Song Formation in an extremely short time, achieving legendary fame.”

A being who reached the top ten with just one battle record!

“Rank: 6th”

“Note: Due to the brevity of ‘Lord of Netherworld · Red Robe’s’ combat process and limited display of techniques, comprehensive evaluation temporarily places her at 6th position.”

First Hand Commerce had even specially included a note!

This clearly indicated they believed this Red Robe Your Excellency was far beyond 6th place caliber.

Truly terrifying.

“Which major power’s newly emerged star is this?”

Tyrant Dragon’s gaze slowly moved downward, then suddenly froze.

…

The name Tianyuan resonated strongly among many young Lords.

However, after all, Tianyuan hadn’t appeared publicly for over half a year, and his publicly known battle records were scarce—merely a mysterious genius living in legends.

For the vast majority of ordinary ‘former Blue Star’ people, the name Tianyuan remained completely unfamiliar.

Tianyuan? Who’s that? Is he more impressive than my idol?

Today they witnessed.

“Tianyuan… Tianyuan… yet another Tianyuan…”

“Did this Dragon Gate List raid Tianyuan’s nest?! There weren’t any last issue, and now six powerful figures appear at once? Is this the legendary Tianyuan?”

“Tianyuan truly… remains Tianyuan after all! Should I say this was completely expected?”

“Primordial Spirit Fan Support Group recruiting new members~”

Tianyuan Territory.

Mu Yuan had also obtained the Dragon Gate List freshly copied from Boulder City.

Excluding Lu Liu, Dolai and Uta who had already fallen off the list, Tianyuan City actually had more than six entrants.

There were nine.

Seventeen still maintained her position on the rankings.

Sophia had left the name ‘Mystery’ during the defense of Baijiang City.

Sickle Moon had also briefly intervened during a trade expedition, instantly establishing a formidable reputation.

However, their affiliated territories on the Dragon Gate List remained unknown.

(End of Chapter)