Ming Dynasty, Northwestern Desert Region.
A boundless desert stretched into the horizon.
Yet, an exceptionally rare paradise appeared within it.
Elegant pavilions stood in harmonious arrangement.
There were even mountains and rivers.
To be able to construct such an environment, its owner was clearly no ordinary being.
"Big Sister, you've been ranked on the Nine Provinces Buddhist Immortal Ranking, why do you seem so unhappy?"
A handsome young man holding a string of prayer beads asked the woman beside him, who wore a golden Guanyin mask and exuded a powerful aura.
"What difference does it make whether I'm ranked or not?"
"Buddhist Immortal Ranking? Ha, what a cruel joke."
"Someone like me, am I a Buddha or a demon?"
"Just because I cultivate Buddhist Cultivation Techniques, does that erase the fact that I am a demon?"
"What I truly longed for was to enter the Demon Immortal Ranking, but by some twist of fate, I ended up in the Buddhist Immortal Ranking instead, becoming the very thing I despise most."
"So this was your goal all along? Looks like you won after all."
The woman in the golden Guanyin mask spoke with a tone full of complexity.
Even the handsome young man beside her looked puzzled.
"Big Sister, the person you were muttering about just now, is he the man you've been thinking of all these years?"
"I thought you hated men the most."
"And yet, in the end, your heart was taken by a man."
"Big Sister, this really isn't like you."
"From what I know of you, you should have captured him, completely controlled him."
"Then, once you got bored, you would have killed him to resolve your inner turmoil."
"Why are you acting so full of self-pity now?"
The youth flicked his prayer beads and spoke with hidden intent.
"Wu Hua, just because you're my Little Brother doesn't mean you can speak so recklessly."
A flash of killing intent flickered in the eyes behind the golden Guanyin mask.
She spoke angrily.
"I won't meddle in your affairs, but stay out of mine too."
"Heh, Big Sister, whenever we talk about that person, you always lose your cool."
"Looks like he truly stole your heart."
The youth showed no fear in the face of her threat.
Instead, he continued to "provoke" her.
"Big Sister, how about this. Tell me his information, and I'll help you capture him. How about that?"
"Hmph, you? You're overestimating yourself. In his eyes, you're nothing but an ant."
"He wouldn't even need to lift a finger. Any one of his guards could kill you with a single move."
The woman sneered at Wu Hua's suggestion, full of disdain.
"You're not even in the Heavenly Human Realm, and yet you talk big?"
"Wu Hua, this world has changed."
"Your so-called schemes and calculations are nothing more than childish games in the eyes of true cultivators."
"They are completely ineffective."
"Come back and talk once you reach the Heavenly Human Realm."
"Besides, when it comes to scheming, you're not as clever as you think. Even people like Chu Liuxiang and Lu Xiaofeng have repeatedly bested you."
"You'll never accomplish anything this way."
"You need more time to learn."
"Otherwise, you'll just embarrass yourself in the Martial World. If people find out you're my Little Brother, I'd be ashamed."
Shi Guanyin spared no mercy when it came to her Little Brother Wu Hua.
She relentlessly rubbed salt in his wounds.
Wu Hua was left fuming with frustration.
His repeated losses to Chu Liuxiang were his greatest humiliation.
Now being mocked by his own sister made it worse.
Just as he was about to retort again.
A great light lit up the sky.
Their eyes flickered with anticipation.
"Big Sister, the new ranking has been revealed."
"In the Heavenly Human Realm, who could possibly surpass you?"
Shi Guanyin's eyes gleamed.
"If anyone can exceed me, it would only be that one person."
"Oh? Big Sister, you know who it is?"
"Yes. Though we are both at the peak of our realm, in terms of combat strength, she is a step ahead."
"She seems to be at the Half-Step Mythical Realm."
"She has yet to break through only because of a lingering emotional knot."
"Still, I never saw her as a rival. Given time, I will surpass her."
"Look, the ranking is out."
==========
[Buddhist Immortal Ranking – Rank 7]
[Qin Sirong]
[Force: Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land, Founder of Emei Sect]
[Cultivation: Half-Step Mythical Realm Land Immortal]
[Technique: Emei Zen Scripture (Self-created by merging multiple Buddhist Dao Cultivation Techniques and sword arts based on personal foundation)]
[Reward: 10x Low-Tier Bodhi Seed (Enhances Buddhist cultivation techniques and comprehension), 1x Low-Tier Buddhist Skill, 1x Low-Tier Buddhist Divine Weapon]
==========
"Qin Sirong?"
"Founder of Emei Sect?"
How could this be?
The Founder of Emei Sect is still alive?
And she's a Half-Step Mythical Realm cultivator?
She could ascend to the Mythical Realm at any moment.
That means the Emei Sect is far from being as simple as it appears.
They've hidden themselves well.
Wu Hua gasped sharply.
Back when he was in Shaolin Temple, he had often schemed against the Emei Sect.
But for various reasons, he gave up in the end.
In hindsight, that was a stroke of luck.
If he had provoked this founder, he would've been doomed.
And this founder is also from Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land.
How is this possible?
A sect founder willingly joined another force?
"Big Sister, what kind of force is this Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land exactly?"
"It's powerful enough that even someone like you, and the Founder of Emei Sect, would join without resentment."
"Hmph, Wu Hua, until you're strong enough, don't go poking around Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land."
"If you provoke the Punishment Head, even I won't be able to save you."
Seeing Wu Hua's dismissive tone, Shi Guanyin's expression turned grave.
"The Punishment Head? He's that strong?"
"Strong is an understatement. If he targets you, he could kill you from a thousand miles away."
"I once saw with my own eyes, a powerful Mythical Realm cultivator from the Han Dynasty–"
"Slain in one strike by the Punishment Head."
"It was effortless, as if slaughtering a pig."
"Wu Hua, you may be clever among the younger generation, but in the eyes of real cultivators, you're nothing."
"You don't even have the right to be arrogant."
"When you reach the God Demon Realm, then perhaps Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land will begin to notice you."
Shi Guanyin stopped looking at Wu Hua and turned back to the Buddhist Immortal Ranking.
"With this Heaven Dao Reward, she will surely break through and reach the Mythical Realm."
"In the future, she may not be any weaker than the Zhang Sanfeng she longs for."
Wu Hua's heart stirred.
Could it be that the Founder of Emei Sect had some hidden history with Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang Sect?
Interesting.
Seems he had more work to do.
The Martial World of Nine Provinces was becoming ever more fascinating.
How could he not be part of it?
Chu Liuxiang, just wait. When I return to the Martial World, I'll give you a real shock.
==========
At the same time.
Wudang Mountain.
While bickering with Dong Tianbao as usual, the Buddhist Immortal Ranking updated.
When Zhang Sanfeng saw the Rank 7 name, he was completely stunned.
Qin Sirong?
How could it be?
How could she still be alive?
And she joined the Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land?
Could it be that she faked her death back then?
Zhang Sanfeng felt a surge of conflicting emotions.
Excitement mixed with bitterness filled his heart.
His once calm inner world rippled with emotion.
He now had a powerful urge.
He wanted to immediately seek out the mysterious Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land and confirm whether Qin Sirong was truly alive.
Was he dreaming?
"Junbao? Is this Qin Sirong your lover?"
"I heard you met her after you killed me."
"Lover? Tianbao, are you looking for a beating?"
Zhang Sanfeng, rarely angered, snapped.
"There was nothing improper between us. You can insult me, but not her."
"If you do, I won't let it go."
"Junbao, you know what I despise most about you? Your indecisiveness."
"If you both loved each other, how did it end with you both becoming monks?"
"Tianbao, what do you know? I've long seen through romance and focused solely on Dao."
"Between her and me, only friendship remains. It's not the kind of love you think it is."
"Hmph, I can't argue with you on this, nor do I want to."
Dong Tianbao scoffed, eyes full of contempt.
Though he admitted he wasn't Zhang Junbao's match now, he still looked down on his personality.
He felt nothing but disdain.
Still, the situation forced him to yield at times.
"Tianbao, what is the origin of this Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land?"
"I was once the Gold Wolf Hall Master of the Yuan Dynasty, and even I never heard a whisper about it."
"Does this place truly exist?"
"It must. Now that it has been exposed, there's no doubt."
"We just never paid attention before."
"Shi Guanyin, now Qin Sirong, both are in the Heavenly Human Realm."
"There must be Mythical Realm, even God Demon Realm cultivators there too."
"Seems the Buddhist forces are even stronger than we imagined."
"Junbao, do you think the Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land harbors some dark secrets?"
"I can't shake the feeling that this force is strange and dangerous."
"As a Buddhist force, it might threaten your Daoist path in the future."
"A clash between Buddhism and Daoism may not be far off."
Zhang Sanfeng wanted to refute him immediately.
To someone like Dong Tianbao, everything in the world was seen through a negative lens.
He assumed the worst of every person and force.
As if there were no good people in the world.
Though Zhang Sanfeng hesitated, he believed the Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land might not be evil.
If someone like Qin Sirong joined it, it wouldn't be a wicked place.
He had faith in Qin Sirong.
Still, to be cautious, he would prepare accordingly.
He also needed to gather more information about the Heavenly Buddha Ancestral Land.
Whether good or bad, he needed clarity.
"Half-Step Mythical Realm, huh?"
"I hope that when we meet again, you will already be a true Mythical Realm cultivator."
Regardless, learning that Qin Sirong was still alive filled Zhang Sanfeng with immense joy.
Even while exchanging barbs with Dong Tianbao, he couldn't help but smile.
Dong Tianbao ground his teeth in frustration.
It was unbearable.
He couldn't stand another day at Wudang Sect.
This was pure mental torture.