The Great Qin Dynasty.
In a secluded canyon, a Qin military unit stood ready, glaring fiercely at two figures, one tall and one small, blocking their path.
"Tianming, are you afraid?"
Sword Saint Ge Nie lowered his head and asked a calm but deep-voiced question to the twelve-year-old boy beside him.
"Not at all!" Jing Tianming shook his head without hesitation.
"Uncle Ge, those soldiers seem afraid of you?"
"They're not afraid of me. They fear the consequences of standing in my way."
"Tianming, you must remember the look in their eyes. Engrave it in your heart for the rest of your life."
"That is the gaze of the weak. You must never become a weakling."
Ge Nie spoke with a calm face and a voice as heavy as steel.
"Uncle Ge, I want to become strong. I want my name to appear on the Hidden Dragon Ranking!"
Tianming's eyes were filled with determination.
"One day, I'll be as strong as you."
"Good, Tianming. I look forward to the day you surpass me."
Even in this moment of crisis, Ge Nie never forgot to teach Tianming the principles of life.
"Ge Nie! How dare you betray His Majesty! I will capture you and bring you before him for judgment!"
The general leading the Qin troops shouted furiously.
Not far away on a ridge, several figures silently observed the scene.
The battle between the Great Qin's Sword Saint Ge Nie and the dynasty's elite cavalry was on the verge of breaking out.
But just then, the golden ranking list in the sky lit up once more.
Lines of new text shimmered into view.
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – Rank 23]
[Jing Tianming]
[Identity: Son of Jing Ke, disciple of Sword Saint Ge Nie]
[Cultivation: Great Perfection Innate Realm]
[Technique: Ghost Valley Breathing Technique, Ghost Valley Sword Method, Hundred-Step Flying Sword]
[Reward: Earth-Grade Mid-Tier Pill – Speed Enhancing Pill. Enhances natural speed talent and doubles the effectiveness of movement technique training]
———
Xianyang Palace.
Ying Zheng stared at the newly updated ranking list, his eyes burning with barely restrained fury.
Jing Tianming.
The son of Jing Ke.
And Ge Nie's disciple.
Ge Nie, you dare betray me?
All those years of service and loyalty, and you threw them away for a mere child?
"Zhao Gao, where is Ge Nie? Bring him to me immediately. I want to question him myself! Why would he dare betray me!"
"Your Majesty, Ge Nie quietly left the palace shortly after the appearance of the golden ranking. He fled Xianyang with a young boy. Our assassins from the Net Trap organization have attempted multiple captures, but they've all failed."
"That child… is Jing Tianming?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. He should have perished in that fire years ago. But Ge Nie secretly rescued him and has been training him ever since."
"Hmph! I see. The moment the golden ranking appeared, Ge Nie realized he could no longer hide the truth and chose betrayal. Despicable!"
Ying Zheng's expression turned murderous.
It was the fury of one who had been betrayed.
"Zhao Gao, send more forces. Bring Ge Nie back to Xianyang… along with that child!"
"Your Majesty, Ge Nie is a Great Perfection Great Grandmaster. Normal capture efforts may not be enough."
Zhao Gao looked troubled.
"Then send three thousand troops. If three thousand isn't enough, send thirty thousand. If that still isn't enough, send three hundred thousand!"
"Before the iron cavalry of the Great Qin, no so-called Great Grandmaster can stand tall."
Ying Zheng's voice was filled with an unshakable aura. His gaze was lofty and domineering.
In his eyes, martial experts were nothing before the might of Great Qin.
Let alone Great Grandmasters.
Even if they were Land Immortals, they would still bow before him.
———
A Hidden Location.
Headquarters of the Quicksand organization.
Wei Zhuang looked up at the golden list in the sky, a cold and mocking smile on his face.
"Ge Nie… how ridiculous. You finally betrayed Ying Zheng for a child?"
"So much for your so-called loyalty."
Wei Zhuang had always seen Ge Nie as his destined rival. While he respected his swordsmanship, he disdained his character.
"Wei Zhuang, I think that child deserves some attention too."
"To appear on the Hidden Dragon Ranking at such a young age means he will grow into someone truly terrifying."
A seductive voice sounded as a bewitching woman strolled out, graceful and enchanting.
It was Princess Hong Lian, formerly of the Han Kingdom.
"So what? You think Ying Zheng will let him grow?"
"Also, Princess Hong Lian, why aren't you staying in Nanyue? What are you doing here?"
Wei Zhuang didn't disagree, but he didn't agree either.
"Wei Zhuang, after all these years, you're still just as cold."
"But I do have something important this time."
"Sister Zi Nu asked me to warn you: with the golden ranking list now appearing, chaos is coming to the Nine Provinces. You must be careful."
"In our search for that scumbag over the past few years, we've accidentally uncovered several major conspiracies."
"Many involve Land Immortals."
"Even Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi of the Yin Yang School is nothing in the eyes of those people."
As she spoke, Hong Lian's expression grew serious.
"Hong Lian, thank Zi Nu for me," Wei Zhuang replied more gently.
"There's no need for you sisters to get involved in the chaos of the Nine Provinces."
"In great chaos, there is great danger, but also great opportunity."
"If one cannot become a Land Immortal, then to die gloriously is not a bad ending."
Hong Lian rolled her eyes at him and tossed him a book.
"Knew you'd say that. Here, take this."
"This was left for us sisters by that scumbag. I'm giving it to you now."
"Remember to destroy it after reading!"
"Han has fallen, and my brother is gone. You're one of the few friends we have left. We don't want anything to happen to you."
Wei Zhuang didn't stand on ceremony. He opened the book and began reading.
After a long while, he sighed.
"That guy sure favored you all. He even gave something this precious as if it were nothing. Too bad he was a flirt."
"But I suppose… you all didn't mind too much either."
Hong Lian giggled.
"Hmph. That scumbag has been hiding from us all this time. With the golden list now out in the open, let's see how long he can hide!"
"Anyway, I'm heading back to Nanyue. Wei Zhuang, do you have a message for Sister Zi Nu?"
—
"Uncle Ge! I made it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking! Did you see that? I'm a real genius!"
Jing Tianming stared at the golden list and shouted with excitement.
Even Ge Nie was visibly surprised.
He had underestimated Tianming's potential.
At only twelve years old, he had already far surpassed his peers.
It was no longer a question of whether he would catch up.
Becoming a Land Immortal one day was no longer impossible.
With that thought, Ge Nie became even more determined to protect him.
He would not let Jing Tianming die prematurely.