The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Some Saint Realm powerhouses were not currently in Ascension City and couldn't be challenged immediately. As such, the Buddhist sect's push on the True Dragon Ranking stretched over an extended period.

More than half a month passed, and a total of eight Buddhist Great Saint cultivators successively ascended the True Dragon Ranking, all securing positions in the top ten.

The cultivators on the True Dragon Ranking ranged in cultivation from Second-Tier to Eighth-Tier Great Saints.

Among them, the Western Buddhist sect held eight spots, the Northern Demon Clan five, none from the Southern Region, and three from the Eastern Region.

A few were unaffiliated cultivators, while the remainder came from other continents nearby.

Just as Wu Wang had said, seizing eight of the top ten slots helped wipe away much of their earlier disgrace and once again amazed the world.

"Heavens! The Buddhist sect is that powerful? Eight of them ranked—and all in the top ten!"

"The Western Region does have some real strength."

"Some? This is overwhelming!"

"Now the pressure's on the Fang Clan. Not a single one of them is on the True Dragon Ranking."

"Looks like the Fang Clan still lacks deep roots."

"If not for so many overlord-level forces in the Eastern Region being wiped out, and the complete destruction of the Southern Demonic Sects, there would still be competition against the Buddhists."

Cangzhou's overall strength had sharply declined after the fall of the Five Great Demonic Sects in the South and the annihilation of the Three Great Holy Lands, the Duan Clan, and the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty in the East.

That was why so many of the True Dragon Ranking's 50 names now came from foreign continents.

As the crowd marveled at the Buddhists' dominance—and even began to admire them—Wu Wang and his companions were secretly smug, though they looked down on these fickle people.

Just as they were considering how to humiliate and mock the Fang Clan further, Fang Qiufeng arrived at the Martial Arena and challenged the third-ranked monk from Lingxu Temple.

That single move instantly electrified the atmosphere.

Spectators surged forward, and even cultivators elsewhere in the city hurried to the scene.

A Great Saint-level showdown was rare to witness—especially between the Buddhist sect and the Fang Clan. This promised to be spectacular.

"It's happening! The Fang Clan is finally making their move!"

"Going straight for rank three? The Fang Clan has Great Saints?"

"This guy looks unfamiliar. Don't think he's appeared on any of the prodigy rankings."

"Who knows? Maybe the Fang Clan hired him with a fortune just to save face."

The monk from Lingxu Temple was Seventh-Tier Great Saint, while Fang Qiufeng was Sixth-Tier.

Upon hearing the disparity in cultivation levels, Wu Wang and his companions relaxed.

"What wishful thinking. Every tier in the Great Saint Realm is a huge leap. He actually dares to challenge someone stronger?"

"Typical Fang Clan arrogance."

But they hadn't even finished speaking when Fang Qiufeng unleashed the innate divine ability of his Five Elements Divine Body, the Five Elements Divine Radiance, and instantly defeated the Lingxu monk.

From the moment they took the stage to the end of the battle, not even a quarter-hour had passed. The result was already determined.

Wu Wang and the others still had smiles frozen on their faces.

There were only two possible explanations: either the Lingxu elder was too weak—or Fang Qiufeng was simply too strong.

Most of the spectators hadn't even processed what had just happened when Fang Qiufeng casually left the arena.

His name now appeared at number three on the True Dragon Ranking.

Only then did the crowd react.

"What the—he won already?"

"Wasn't the opponent a whole tier higher? Why did it look like Fang Qiufeng was the stronger one?"

"Classic Fang Clan—freakishly powerful as always!"

"Odd… He looks like he could've taken rank two. Why'd he pick rank three instead?"

Moments ago, Wu Wang and the others had been basking in glory—now their faces turned pitch-black with rage.

"Damn it! He actually won!"

Wu Wang took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.

"No matter. We still hold eight of the top ten spots. This Fang guy only made it to third—not a big deal."

But as he spoke, Fang Chen arrived.

Without saying a word or wasting motion, he declared that he would challenge the second-ranked monk from Zhenfo Temple.

Again, a Sixth-Tier Fang Clan member challenging a Seventh-Tier Buddhist elder.

Had it not been for Fang Qiufeng's earlier victory, Wu Wang and his allies would have mocked this as lunacy.

But now, watching history repeat itself, they couldn't even force a smile. In fact, some turned their heads away, unwilling to witness the repeat of that humiliation.

"Ten Thousand Thunder Annihilation!!"

Wielding a silver spear, Fang Chen rode atop a Thunder Dragon, streaking through lightning like a god of thunder. Possessing the Body of Ten Thousand Thunders, he immediately used his divine ability.

This time, the outcome came even faster—just a few breaths—and he had already won.

His opponent was slain.

Fang Chen casually put away his spear and walked off like nothing had happened. His face was calm and detached, as if he'd just handled a trivial errand.

The more effortless he looked, the more unbearable it felt for the Buddhist sect. It was as though a formless hand had just slapped each of their faces.

Being beaten was one thing.

But being killed in a higher realm—by a younger cultivator—in front of millions of spectators?

And worse, this would be broadcast to every corner of Cangzhou.

At that moment, Wu Wang and the others wanted nothing more than to vanish. Deep regret gnawed at their hearts—why had they even come? They should have just stayed home chanting sutras.

Just when everyone thought the show was over, Fang Luo arrived.

Predictably, he declared that he would challenge the number one—the strongest monk from Wuliang Temple.

Only now did the crowd understand.

Fang Qiufeng had targeted number three, Fang Chen number two, and the number one spot had been saved for Fang Luo.

Though Fang Luo was also Sixth-Tier Great Saint, his opponent was a towering Eighth-Tier—a full two tiers above him.

Wu Wang sneered coldly:

"Arrogant fool! I don't believe he can leap across two whole tiers to win!"

"He's dead for sure!"

While they were all Sixth-Tier Great Saints, Fang Luo was clearly the strongest among the three. That was why he was assigned to challenge the highest rank.

As Wu Wang had noted, every tier in the Great Saint Realm marked a profound divide. Most geniuses could at best dominate within their tier. Beating someone one tier higher was rare. Two tiers? Practically impossible.

But Fang Luo was different.

The Five Elements Divine Body was already formidable. But he was a reincarnator—someone who had lived nearly a thousand years longer than everyone else.

When he was reborn, he brought back a treasure that had been nurturing in his dantian ever since—an ancient, weathered broken sword.

After exchanging blows for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Fang Luo finally unsheathed the sword—and slain his opponent in a single stroke.

Facing the sinister ambitions of the Western Buddhist sect, he showed no mercy.

As a reincarnator, he understood the true, hypocritical face of the Buddhist sect better than anyone.

Just like Fang Qiufeng and Fang Chen before him, Fang Luo sheathed his sword and walked off calmly—leaving behind a stunned crowd.