Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

[Nine Provinces – Dao Immortal Ranking]

[In the Nine Provinces, there are countless Dao School sects and disciples. With the Heaven Dao, the Dao Immortal Ranking is hereby established]

[All Dao cultivators within the Nine Provinces who have reached the Land Immortal Realm may be ranked, based on Daoist knowledge, strength, fate, potential, Dao heart, and accomplishments.]

[This ranking contains only ten positions. The bottom four are Heavenly Human Dao Immortals. The middle three are at the Mythical Realm. The top three are at the God Demon Realm or above.]

[All who are ranked shall receive Heaven Dao Reward.]

[The ranking is updated once every year]

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Wudang Sect, Purple Firmament Palace.

Zhang Sanfeng looked at the ranking in the sky, gently stroking his beard as a glint of sharp light flashed in his eyes.

The Heaven Dao Reward he had previously obtained from the Cultivation Technique Ranking had already given him a taste of the benefits.

The Heaven Dao Reward was simply too generous.

Even with his steady temperament, he could not help but feel excited.

He eagerly hoped to be ranked higher.

"Master, it's the Dao Immortal Ranking. Our Wudang Sect is a Dao School sect. You definitely qualify to be on it!"

"Yes, Master is in the Mythical Realm, and your Taiji Profound Exercise already made it onto the Cultivation Technique Ranking."

"There's a full chance you'll make it on!"

"Do not underestimate the Daoists across the Nine Provinces. None of them are to be taken lightly."

Although Zhang Sanfeng spoke modestly, the smile at the corner of his lips revealed his strong self-confidence.

Among the many Dao School sects he knew across the Nine Provinces, quite a few individuals were indeed worthy of attention.

But at most, they were just worth paying attention to.

Compared to himself, they were still far behind.

If even he could not make the ranking, then who could?

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Shaolin Temple.

Great Buddha Hall.

At this moment, many high-ranking monks looked at the sky above, expressions filled with displeasure.

"Abbot, do you think the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking holds some bias against our Buddhist School?"

"Why issue a Dao Immortal Ranking instead of a Buddha Immortal Ranking?"

"Junior Brother, don't speak nonsense. Perhaps the next ranking will be the Buddhist Immortal Ranking."

"Unfortunately, now that the Dao Immortal Ranking is out, the Dao School sects across the Nine Provinces are going to gain more momentum again."

The Shaolin Temple abbot wore a bitter expression, his brows furrowed deeply.

His heart was filled with unease.

Ten ranking, ten Heaven Dao Rewards.

They would undoubtedly cultivate ten top-tier Dao cultivators.

With such a formidable force, the status of Buddhism in the Nine Provinces was bound to be suppressed once more.

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Northern Song Dynasty, Imperial City Division.

Huang Shang looked helplessly at Lin Lingsu, who was calmly sipping tea before him.

Immortal energy drifted around him, his demeanor otherworldly and refined.

Truly the appearance of an enlightened Daoist master.

Emperor Zhao Ji was fond of this mystic style.

"National Master, can you please stop pretending to be a mystic in front of me?"

"Fellow Daoist Huang, you misunderstand me. I have always been this way. How could I be a mystic?"

"Every word I have ever spoken to His Majesty is true. I have never uttered a single falsehood."

"Alright, alright, you win. Let's drop the topic."

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Lin, what do you think about this Dao Immortal Ranking?"

"Do you have confidence in being ranked?"

"With your strength, you should have a great chance!"

As they brought up the Dao Immortal Ranking in the sky, the two finally grew serious.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, strictly speaking, you are also a member of the Dao School tradition, well-versed in the Three Thousand Dao Scriptures."

"Your Nine Yin True Scripture was also comprehended from those scriptures."

"You too have a chance to be ranked!"

Lin Lingsu gently flicked his horsetail whisk and spoke softly.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, you should know I am only at the Mythical Realm, and there are only three spots for that realm on the entire ranking."

"In martial combat, I may be strong, but in Daoism, I fall short compared to you."

"The Dao Immortal Ranking doesn't rely solely on strength. Other factors are just as important."

"Compared to you, I am still lacking."

Even though Huang Shang and the Daoist before him did not walk the same path, it did not stop him from respecting the man.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, you underestimate the people of the world!"

"There are countless Dao cultivators across the Nine Provinces. Compared to them, I am not particularly outstanding."

"I truly do not have the confidence to outshine them all!"

There were only three spots in the Mythical Realm.

And as far as he knew, there were several Dao School martial legends who were either equal to or stronger than him.

==========

Ming Imperial Palace.

"National Master, do you have the confidence to be ranked on this Dao Immortal Ranking?"

Zhu Houzhao looked calmly at the elderly Daoist below, who radiated an immortal aura and carried the air of an enlightened sage.

As soon as the Dao Immortal Ranking appeared.

Zhu Houzhao immediately summoned Zhang Yuchu, the Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

In his previous life, this man had been a famed Dao School Heavenly Master.

And in this life, Zhu Houzhao had become Emperor and would not let such talent slip by.

According to tradition, the National Master of the Ming Dynasty was usually inherited from the Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

So even during his time as Crown Prince, he had secured Zhang Yuchu as his ally.

In other words, Zhang Yuchu was one of his own.

"With the elixirs granted by Your Majesty and the rare Dao Scriptures, I have already surpassed my former self."

"If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to get on the ranking!"

Zhang Yuchu spoke with great confidence.

Within the Dao World of the Nine Provinces, his reputation was immense.

As the current Heavenly Master of the Ming Dynasty's Heavenly Master Mansion and the dynasty's official National Master, Zhang Yuchu was a central figure in Daoism.

He stayed well-informed on which cultivators and newcomers emerged in the Dao World.

He did not believe there were more than three people of his realm who could surpass him.

"Then I shall look forward to your performance!"

Over the years, the elderly Daoist before him had been Zhu Houzhao's prime candidate for National Master.

If he could not even make the Dao Immortal Ranking.

Then it would prove that this so-called Heavenly Master was no more than a name.

He would not be worthy of great responsibilities in the future.

Of course.

That was a very unlikely possibility.

==========

Northern Song Dynasty Territory.

Spirit Vulture Palace.

Wu Xingyun stared at the sky above, momentarily stunned.

The Dao Immortal Ranking!

Sigh!

If her master, Xiao Yaozi, were still alive, he would surely be ranked!

Unfortunately.

Decades had passed, and she had not seen her master again.

She did not know whether they would meet again in this lifetime.

==========

Tang Dynasty, Bad People Headquarters.

Bad Marshal Yuan Tiangang sat at a chessboard with Li Chunfeng.

Each held a chess piece.

They were playing through an unfinished game.

"The Dao Immortal Ranking? Interesting!"

"I wonder if either of us will make the ranking?"

Yuan Tiangang said calmly.

"What if we do? What if we don't?"

"It's just empty fame. As long as one's Dao heart is firm, the path ahead will always be bright."

"If someone's heart is clouded for the sake of a mere ranking, then that is truly putting the small before the great."

Li Chunfeng remained unshaken at the sight of the Dao Immortal Ranking above.

His mood was calm and undisturbed.

Graceful and carefree, he remained composed.

"This is not just about empty fame."

"Even I greatly desire the Heaven Dao Reward. Not to mention, after being ranked, one gains the blessing of fate from the unseen."

"This would make cultivating the Great Dao far easier."

"Have you not seen how those who were previously ranked have all made rapid progress?"

"Even those who were once merely Innate now have mostly advanced to Great Grandmasters."

"As long as they do not fall from grace, their path to becoming Heavenly Human Realm cultivators is dozens or even hundreds of times easier than ordinary people."

"The Nine Provinces Golden Ranking is far from just a hollow title."

Yuan Tiangang sighed softly and spoke.

"Have you been moved?"

"Indeed, I have. If I could be ranked on the Dao Immortal Ranking, could the Heaven Dao Reward possibly help me return to being a normal person again?"

As he said this, Yuan Tiangang unexpectedly revealed a trace of longing.

==========

Han Dynasty Territory.

A towering mountain that pierced the clouds.

A white-haired old Daoist in a plain robe stood at the summit.

"The Dao Immortal Ranking?"

"I wonder if I qualify to be ranked?"

"If my master were still alive, he would surely make the ranking!"

"Only three spots?"

"Among those in the same realm in the Nine Provinces, there should be none who surpass me, right?"

"Then again, the Nine Provinces are full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Perhaps some mysterious cultivator has remained in hiding all this time."

"That Di Shitian from Heaven Gate has survived for over two thousand years."

"In this world, there must be many such extraordinary individuals."

"I may not necessarily be able to make it!"

"Sigh, forget it. Leave it to fate!"

"If I obtain it, it is my fortune. If I lose it, it is my destiny!"

With that, the old Daoist stopped paying attention to the Dao Immortal Ranking in the sky.

He slowly returned to the stone table in front of his thatched cottage.

He picked up a copy of 'Zhuang Zi' and began reading.

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Qin Dynasty Territory.

Dao School Heaven Sect.

Bei Mingzi looked at the ranking in the sky, visibly excited.

The Dao Immortal Ranking?

Those who reached the Land Immortal Realm could be ranked.

He wondered if he had a chance.

During his last visit to the Han Dynasty, he had narrowly missed obtaining the Dragon Essence, leaving him full of regret.

His strength was lacking.

He could only watch helplessly as the Dragon Essence was taken away, powerless to stop it.

For the first time, he realized just how weak he truly was.

A rare sense of competitiveness stirred in him.

There were four spots for the Heaven and Human tier.

He wondered if he could take one of them.

If even he did not qualify.

Then the entire Dao School sect of the Qin Dynasty would be utterly humiliated.

If Dao School Master Zhuang Zhou were still alive, he would surely top the Dao Immortal Ranking.

But even he did not know if the patriarch was still in the world.

==========

Boom!

Amid the eager and nervous gazes of all Daoists across the Nine Provinces.

The ranking in the sky slowly began to reveal itself!

[Dao Immortal Ranking – Rank 10]

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List of Characters:

Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber ( 倚天屠龙记 )

・Zhang Sanfeng ( 张三丰 ) — Founder of Wudang Sect

Legend of the Condor Heroes ( 射雕英雄传 )

・Huang Shang ( 黄裳 ) — Director of Imperial City Division

・Temujin ( 铁木真 ) — Emperor of Yuan Dynasty

Historical

・Lin Lingsu ( 林灵素 ) — National Master of Northern Song Dynasty

・Zhang Yuchu ( 张宇初 ) — National Master of Ming Dynasty

Painting Jianghu ( 画江湖 )

・Yuan Tiangang ( 袁天罡 ) — Master of Bad People

・Li Chunfeng ( 李淳风 ) — Imperial Observatory of Vast Sea Dynasty

Romance of the Three Kingdoms ( 三国演义 )

・Old Immortal Nan Hua ( 南华老仙 ) — Loose Cultivator of Eastern Han Dynasty

Qin's Moon ( 秦时明月 )

・Bei Mingzi ( 北冥子 ) — Former Master of Dao School Heaven Sect

Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils ( 天龙八部 )

・Wu Xingyun ( 巫行云 ) — Master of Spirit Vulture Palace