The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Before the Fang Clan emerged from that remote corner of the Great Qi Dynasty, the power structure of the Eastern Domain of Cangzhou had remained virtually unchanged for tens of thousands of years.

At that time, the Eastern Domain was the largest among Cangzhou's four major regions — East, South, West, and North. It housed the most cultivators and the most powerful factions.

Four massive cities, each with populations in the tens of millions, dominated the region: Holy City, Broken Mountain City, Great Xia Imperial Capital, and Nine Li Imperial Capital.

Yet after just a hundred and twenty years of development, the Fang Clan turned not just the Eastern Domain but the entirety of Cangzhou upside down.

They fundamentally disrupted the established power dynamics of the entire continent.

The once-dominant four cities of the Eastern Domain had now become one major city and three minor ones.

Following the fall of the Great Xia royal family and the dynasty's absorption into the Great Qian, most of the imperial capital's powers relocated to Ascension City. The number of cultivators and factions in the capital plummeted, and its former prosperity became a thing of the past.

The three great sacred grounds were either destroyed or had fled, and the Holy City, once managed by them, likewise fell into decline.

Compared to the Great Qian, the Nine Li Dynasty lagged significantly behind. As people always strive upward like water flowing downward, many of the cultivators and factions from its imperial capital also moved to Ascension City.

This caused the Nine Li Dynasty's overall strength to continue its downward spiral. Yet they could do nothing — all they could do was watch it happen.

Consequently, the number of cultivators and sects in Ascension City exploded, ushering in a golden age of prosperity never seen before. Its population now exceeded a hundred million.

Ascension City became the most populous and prosperous human city in the recorded history of Cangzhou, spanning over a hundred thousand years.

Fortunately, foresight during its original construction ensured sufficient preparations had been made. Even with this massive influx of cultivators and powers, Ascension City still had ample space to accommodate them all.

The Empress Song Yushu spent most of her time cultivating in Fang Ting's courtyard — occasionally even working with him on making a second child.

Meanwhile, the Great Qian Dynasty was governed by the Crown Prince Fang Kong, who resided in the Eastern Palace. In both competence and demeanor, he more closely resembled a true divine emperor.

On this day, Fang Kong left the Eastern Palace and returned home to speak with his father Fang Ting.

"Father, your child has a proposal and would like to seek your opinion."

Though Fang Kong bore himself more like a divine emperor than Empress Song Yushu, he still acted cautiously in front of his father.

Fang Ting replied, "Speak."

"I wish to emulate the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and establish two ranking lists in Ascension City: one, the Flood Dragon List, to include all non-Saint Realm cultivators under one hundred years old; and the other, the True Dragon List, for Saint Realm cultivators under five hundred."

"Every twenty years, we'll reward the top-ranked individuals with rare treasures unique to the Fang Clan's Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

"This will not only attract powerful cultivators across Cangzhou to Ascension City but also allow us to discover and claim talents — while giving competitive types an appropriate battleground."

Fang Kong explained his plan calmly and methodically.

Fang Ting nodded with approval.

"Not bad. Have the Hidden Dragon Guards participate as well. In the past, when the Fang Clan wasn't strong enough, we had to keep a low profile. But now, our wings are fully spread — it's time to reveal our edge and demonstrate our power and dominance."

The Fang Clan now had seven Heaven's Mandate children, their clan's talents enhanced seven times over. They'd also mastered methods to attain Five Element Bodies and Divine Five Element Bodies.

The Hidden Dragon Guards, elite cultivators chosen from within the clan, possessed unparalleled talent and strength. Even many of the former prodigies ranked on the Heaven's Chosen Rankings were no match for them.

Thus, if the Hidden Dragon Guards competed for places on the new rankings, the lists would undoubtedly be filled with Fang Clan members.

People respect power, not virtue. If you are strong enough, all will fear and revere you, and none will dare to plot against you.

The Fang Clan needed to declare to the world: the Fang Clan has risen. From now on — and for a very, very long time — they would reign supreme.

Wherever one might encounter them, one should retreat three steps, behave, and suppress all schemes.

"Understood, Father," Fang Kong replied sincerely.

"Good. Go."

"This child takes his leave."

Once Fang Kong returned to the Eastern Palace, commands were swiftly dispatched.

Thanks to the vast intelligence network built by Drunken Immortal Pavilion, word spread rapidly to every corner of Cangzhou. On every street and in every alley, people buzzed with discussion.

"Hey, did you hear? The Great Qian Dynasty established two new rankings — the Flood Dragon List and True Dragon List — open to all qualified cultivators in Cangzhou!"

"Great Qian's no Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. What's the point of doing this?"

"Who cares why! What matters is — this is my chance to make a name for myself! I swear I'll climb that Flood Dragon List and become famous!"

"You? Please. You'd top the Mudfish List at best."

"Don't look down on me! I'll prove you wrong!"

"The rewards are generous too. Just for that, it's worth a try."

"If you want to join the Great Qian or the Fang Clan, this is your opportunity."

"You're right! The Fang Clan's the strongest force in all of Cangzhou now. If you can join them or Great Qian, you're set for life!"

"Let's go — to Ascension City! Let's dominate the rankings!"

Cultivation was always a struggle against others and against the heavens. Barring a few secluded hermits, most sought to be the best — to make their name known throughout the world.

Previously, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's Heaven's Chosen Rankings only included peak geniuses, leaving many cultivators excluded. But now, with looser restrictions, the Flood Dragon and True Dragon Lists became highly accessible.

Besides, if one could make a name and catch the attention of the Fang Clan or Great Qian, that could be a ticket to ascend in a single leap.

Thus, after news of the lists spread, waves of cultivators surged toward Ascension City — some to become famous, others for the rewards, and still more hoping to join Great Qian or the Fang Clan.

The number of cultivators in Ascension City spiked once more.

Most came for the generous rewards. Fewer aimed to join the Fang Clan or Great Qian. Very few actually sought fame through the rankings.

And the rewards were indeed tempting.

The True Dragon List, intended for Saint Realm experts, offered a Heaven Spirit Pill — capable of pushing True Saint experts to the next realm — just for tenth place.

This pill only appeared during the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's grand auctions every twenty years — and even then, securing one was uncertain.

Likewise, the Flood Dragon List's top ten would receive Fang Clan-exclusive pills like the Nine Li Pill and Myriad Cloud Profound Pill, as well as Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Jades, Four Spirit Mountain-River Formation Flags, and even Fusion Realm Puppets.

That said, the Flood Dragon List would likely be dominated by the Fang Clan's Hidden Dragon Guards, so these rewards would largely fall back into clan hands.

Yet no one could object — because, ultimately, they simply weren't strong enough.