“Why don’t I know about this Tianqi Ranking Board; such an important sounding thing should definitely be recorded in books or tomes, right?” Su Qingcheng was confused, in her whole life she didn’t hear about this thing, nor did she even see it.

“Aii. Well, it’s understandable. It shames me a bit to say, but the Tianqi Ranking Board is actually something managed by underground existences. Therefore, it won’t be something easily recorded in a library.” Su Ran explained, frowning a bit. “However, entering the ranking board offers you exceptional perks and also gives you the privilege of asking for extra protection. You should know, that the Tianqi Ranking Board is split into three categories, the Man Rankings, the Earth Rankings and the Heaven Rankings. They are categorized based on a user’s Tianqi cultivation stratum. So the Man rankings would consist of people between regular users and Princes, the Earth rankings would be between Lords and Sages, while the Heaven rankings would consist only of Emperors.”

“What about Tianqi Gods then?”

“Tianqi Gods can’t materialize in the Liandou Continent without suppressing their strength to the peak Emperor stratum, if they were to do so, the will of the Universe itself would prevent it from happening and they would immediately explode…” Su Ran poked her own nose, as if recalling the memory of Yao Meiyue sacrificing herself to save her.

“Huh…”

“As I see it now, you are capable enough to enter the lower rungs of the Man ranking boards, but to enter it itself is not a simple task. There are still a couple of months before your engagement with Xiao Tie. Now, I already know how you beat him up so bad he was bedridden for a few months. That fella, he’s easily more vicious than those kind-hearted elders. He probably forgot about marrying you and wants to get revenge in a more violent manner.”

Su Qingcheng immediately understood this; she knew that Xiao Tie was a total snake and after suffering so much without dying, he would have a blood feud with Su Qingcheng herself. She didn’t want to implicate the Xiao clan at all, but hearing it from Su Ran, who was incredibly experienced by now, Su Qingcheng couldn’t doubt this advice.

“May I ask if Mother is on this ranking?”

Su Ran frowned, but laughed sheepishly after a few moments of awkward silence. “For a few years I was actually number one on the Heaven ranking boards of the Bailing Empire. However, if you were to put me on the Heaven ranking boards of the entire continent, I would probably be in the middle of the top 10. There aren’t many things that can withstand my Ghost Calamity Palm. Countless years of meaningless killing has allowed me to perfect this slaughtering art to a degree that makes me disappointed in myself…”

Su Qingcheng could sense the immense regret in Su Ran’s voice. Suddenly, she realized that a lot of the reasons why she could have such good fortune when facing other people was because Su Ran was indeed a fearsome existence that very few people would dare to offend. Even if she had abandoned this path after Yao Meiyue’s sacrifice, she had already practiced her killing art to a stage that allowed her to effortlessly extinguish a weaker Tianqi Emperor’s life in a single strike. Once again, Su Qingcheng felt her mother being incredibly hard to see through.

“That Snake Empress, that old lady who won’t die, coveted this art. She also wanted me to pass it on to you…”

“Fang Li…” Su Qingcheng groaned. “Obviously, she had designs on this move, and wanted to get it off me instead.”

“Too astute, this kid… You really put some of the older generation to shame.” Su Ran could only laugh helplessly. This kid was about to turn fifteen, yet she had the disposition and craftiness of an adult who had lived many years. “Haha. After the incident at the Heaven Thunder Prison, I don’t think she’ll pursue this matter anymore. I already threatened to kill her where she stood even with the need to maintain the Tower’s status quo.”

“You’re too domineering.” Su Qingcheng also laughed. “So, how do I enter this Ranking Board?”

“It’s a simple matter. First, you need to qualify for it. You, you follow me. We’ll take a trip to the Tang Gu Market. The path is hidden, so only rankers can see it at first. Once you qualify, you’ll be able to easily find it.” Su Ran explained. Su Qingcheng followed her, idly wondering about Su Yanran. This entire time, Su Yanran had entered a closed door training session. Long Po Tian, a figure who hadn’t appeared to teach Su Yanran in an absurdly long time, finally appeared. His radiant aura was incredibly overbearing. It should be said that he was an Emperor that could probably keep Su Ran on her toes if she didn’t use Ghost Calamity Palm, therefore he was a very capable teacher for Su Yanran. His disposition was sagely, and despite his youthful, feminine appearance, he was courageous and adhered to today’s standards of manliness. In fact, his girly appearance was the only reason why Su Yanran even acknowledged him as a teacher.

“Disciple Yanran, I am very concerned about you. This weight that lingers on your heart is hindering you. Your ability is not inferior to your younger sister. However, compared to you, she has been working incredibly hard and is very motivated. I already know about the matter of the Dragon Hoard Ring you have given to her. In fact, I know she’s barely used it. Even if she wanted to, she currently has no magic tools or treasures to put in it.” Long Po Tian sighed. As he was the person who made the ring, naturally he would imprint a divine sense on it to be able to track it. “You have to realize that right now, Su Qingcheng doesn’t have the time to reciprocate your affections. You must focus on the Way.”

Su Yanran sighed as she sat cross-legged on the floor. Long Po Tian stood in front of her, looking down at her with an incredibly worried expression. Su Yanran opened her mouth to speak. “Teacher, this disciple has been just a trash as of late. After the incident with my sister being kidnapped, even if she’s back safe and sound, even stronger than before, I feel…”

“I understand. It is normal to feel inferior. However, you must use this opportunity to temper your mind, and to treat this affair as a point to become stronger. Look at your sister. She was tortured by the lightning of a level seven Heaven Thunder Lion’s core,” Long Po Tian sighed. His origins were mysterious, but from his tone, he definitely did not come from Liandou Continent. He could immediately discern the type of lightning seed that was planted into Su Qingcheng, despite him not seemingly ever come into contact with her. “And look. She’s with your mother, attempting to qualify to enter the Tianqi Ranking Boards. What about you? You are disappointing me, moping about here…”

Su Yanran clenched her fists. “No, you’re right. I have been blind… If I want to protect Qingcheng’er, I must become strong. I don’t want to be a burden to her! I must stay by her side… I can’t fall behind!”

“Yes. That is the spirit. Now… Clear your mind, and follow my instructions…”

That moment…

Su Ran took Su Qingcheng to Doctor Lin Qian, that friendly apothecary. His office was pretty plain and simple. Lin Qian himself was seated on a stone chair next to a conspicuous potted plant. “Oh. Ghost Queen. What can I do for you? Why’d you bring your kid?” Lin Qian’s disposition changed to a sly one when he saw Su Ran.

“Huh? Ghost Queen?” Su Qingcheng was startled. “Doctor Qian?”

“Hahaha!” Lin Qian immediately figured out the reason for Su Ran’s arrival. “I see, I see. You’re going to have Little Miss Qingcheng enter the ranking boards? Good, very good…”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Su Ran sighed. “Hahaha. Cut the crap. I know we’re friends, but you don’t have to talk shit like that about my girl.” She laughed, causing Lin Qian to helplessly throw his hands up in resignation as the potted plant suddenly disappeared into thin air, revealing a hole that had a ladder going down.

“A concealment formation,” Su Qingcheng was shocked. “Doctor Lin Qian, you are…?”

“Doctor Lin Qian, Doctor of Demonsbane, ranked sixth on Bailing Empire’s Heaven Tianqi Ranking Board, Administrator of the Tang Gu Branch, at your service.” Lin Qian grinned as he introduced himself properly. “Friend, I wish you luck. The qualification to enter the Man Ranking Boards isn’t so simple. As administrator and your family’s doc, let me offer a piece of advice. You should abuse the hell out of that lightning power.” He smiled maliciously, showing a sign of him that even Su Ran had never seen before.

“When has our family’s doctor been so freaking overbearing?” Su Qingcheng was amazed as Su Ran shook her head and gestured for the kid to start descending the ladder. Su Ran followed suit.

“That Doctor Lin Qian is an eccentric. He is an incredibly capable apothecary, rivalling many of the continent’s geniuses, but he is a cultivation freak that deliberately keeps a low profile. He is close to the peak of a Tianqi Emperor, and he specializes in a type of flame called Divine Flame,” Su Ran explained as they were climbing down the ladder. “One of the ten relic-class natural treasures of the continent is called the Prismatic Divine Lotus Flame, and is in no way inferior to the Night Lily Foxfire which Master had obtained… That old fart, Lin Qian, actually refined it into his soul!!” Su Ran gasped out.

“So domineering?!” Su Qingcheng felt her pupils involuntarily constrict. Her family’s doctor was actually this powerful?

“Thanks to this Prismatic Divine Lotus Flame, he became one of the premier experts in elixir and pill refining. However, he never enjoyed the fame from being an apothecary, so he deliberately faked disappearing and hid here in Tang Gu City. As for how he qualified for the continent’s ranking boards, even I don’t know that. That’s not a story he likes to talk about. However, his power can’t be underestimated. I can only beat his Prismatic Divine Lotus Flame by directly using a Nightflower Tianqi infused Ghost Calamity Palm to directly corrode the flame. Otherwise, he could burn through my skin!”

“Scary!”

“He became our family doctor because of me.” Su Ran laughed.

“You’re even scarier!” Su Qingcheng gasped. She didn’t even want to know.

Eventually, after what seemed like eternity, the pair of them arrived at a majestic den of veritable cultivators. It was just one giant cavernous chamber with three big tablets in the center. It seemed to be powered by a formation that allowed it to display words… It was much like an LED from Earth. Su Qingcheng was amazed at this sight. She also spotted an arena-like pit in the distance.

“It should be known that you have to adopt a nickname for yourself when you enter the ranking boards. That is why Lin Qian addressed me by my nickname, the Netherworld Ghost Queen. My clash with the Demon Flame Sect has earned me this nickname…” Su Ran sighed, recalling her memories once again.

“I see.” Su Qingcheng went to the Tianqi Ranking Boards, and on the Heaven Board, she indeed saw the Netherworld Ghost Queen’s name, but she was ranked Number 2. The person in first place was a fellow only known as Void King. “Who is this Void King fella?” Su Qingcheng tugged on Su Ran’s clothing like a child in a new place.

“Void King dethroned my position after he challenged me to a duel. But this was many years after my prime, and I unexpectedly lost since I didn’t use my Ghost Calamity Flame. At that point, I lost my killer instincts and am nowhere as powerful as I once was.” Su Ran explained, sounding a bit disappointed. Su Ran inhaled a sharp breath. If she was weaker than her prime now, didn’t that mean she was an unparalleled existence in the past? Yao Meiyue was really not kidding around when she said Su Ran could have become a god, but chose not to.

“I never found out the Void King’s real name, I only know that he’s a member of the Bailing Empire’s Imperial Family. As for whether he’s a grand elder type of figure, I’m not too sure about this either. But I do know… He’s not a bad person. He seemed to challenge me with the intent of not just proving his strength, but actually testing it. He never spoke to me arrogantly, and his last words to me after defeating me were telling me that if he had challenged me a few years earlier, I would have killed him in a single strike.”

Su Ran looked down at the ground. “Mom…”

“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, because he was right. I respected his insights; if he challenged me when I was still in my prime, before that whole mess with the Netherworld Shura, he would just be a stray dog. But he probably didn’t have the qualifications to even challenge me back then…” Su Ran laughed. “Come on. I don’t like talking about this, your old ma really doesn’t like bringing up these sad memories. Let’s go register you.”

The two of them went to a conspicuous counter near the giant tablets in the center of the cavern. A friendly-looking woman wearing glasses waved excitedly when she saw Su Ran holding Su Qingcheng’s hand moving over.

“Hey, hey, hey!” the bespectacled woman who was at the counter kept waving and ushering Su Ran over. “You brought your kid over? She’s cute! Don’t tell me you plan on having her qualify for the Man rankings?”

“Jeez, does everyone know about this matter?” Su Ran groaned. “Aii. Rideword…”

The girl only known as Rideword giggled. “Ghost Queen, this matter spread through the Bailing Empire like wildfire, let alone the continent. The Heaven Thunder Prison was something that came from Cloud Nine, yet you killed its owner in a single strike to rescue your daughter. How noble! The underground gets its news pretty fast, so most of us here already know this kid has a unique thunder power. We want to see it too.”

Su Qingcheng furrowed her brows and realized now why Lin Qian told her to abuse her lightning power. It wasn’t only because it could be very useful, but it was also to give a nice show to those here. Controlling lightning without an external source was not a small matter. It must be emphasized that the only normal way to do it without a lightning core was to channel it from a natural thunder source. Yet, Su Qingcheng could easily manipulate it without the need to draw energy from a natural source. Deep down inside though she knew she could do it because of the combination of the lightning seeds forcefully planted in her being activated by the absorption of the Lightning Wyvern Prince’s core.

“Yeah, fine, Rideword, help me register my kid…” Su Ran sighed in resignation. Rideword looked like a timid, but cheerful little girl, but being here in such a position of administration meant she was probably like Doctor Lin Qian, a girl who kept a low profile but had a terrifying power. Therefore, Su Qingcheng dared not to do anything offensive.

“Haha. Not a problem. We are good friends after all, right?” she smiled, taking out a stone tablet. “Hey, kiddo, you got a nice fortune. It’ll be nice to see you take the qualifying test, but first you have to give yourself a nickname.”

“A nickname, huh…” Su Qingcheng stood on the spot for a few moments. “Dark Lily.” She suddenly spouted out.

“Cute…” Rideword giggled as she used her fingers to easily carve out the words for Su Qingcheng’s nickname. “Okay… Dark Lily. You’ll need to go to the qualifying stage. I’ll make the announcement.” Rideword smiled sweetly as she pointed to the arena-like pit Su Qingcheng saw earlier.

Rideword’s expression suddenly became hellishly fierce as her expression contorted into an unexpectedly savage one. Her toothy smile became incredibly scary that Su Qingcheng couldn’t help but back away. Su Ran, naturally, just smiled and stood there. “Yooooo!! Boys and girls! Mad Bookworm Rideword announcing a new challenger is arriving! Make a round of applause for our ranking hopeful, Dark Lily, as she tries to qualify for the Man Ranking boards!”

Su Qingcheng was thoroughly scared and before Su Ran could react, she had already dashed to the arena pit. She was shivering but quickly calmed down after she ran away from Rideword, who looked like a beast in human form. Su Ran helplessly sighed once Rideword finished her announcement and her look instantly shifted back to her usual self. “Huh? That Dark Lily kid already rushed to the platform?”

“You scared her.” Su Ran laughed.

“Hahaha. First timers are always scared of my Sonic Wolf Scream technique,” Rideword giggled. “She’ll get used to it.”

“Yeah. She’s been through worse.”

“I don’t doubt it. Anyway, you going to go watch?”

“No. I have business to take care of.”

“That’s too bad. Well, you’ll know if your kid qualifies, right?”

“Naturally, I’ll know.”

“Well, see ya around.” Rideword helplessly waved Su Ran goodbye as the latter quietly left the caverns.

Back in the arena pit, Su Qingcheng stood in the center, and saw countless experts flooding in and sitting around her. It felt like she was a gladiator in Roman times, waiting to face a terrifying beast of an opponent. The iron gate which barred a huge entrance further reinforced this notion. Su Qingcheng sighed as she faced it with a determined expression. “I must qualify.” She inwardly muttered to herself. The Tianqi Ranking Board isn’t simple, you must not underestimate this challenge. Do your best. I won’t be able to guide you much under the gaze of so many experts…

“Got it, Master. I’ll test out this new strength of mine…!”