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

A sense of despair.

"Enough, Longevity Immortal God. Just now I released you from the formation. According to our agreement, you should now join the Stitched Cloth Guard!"

"Hahaha, how amusing. You think your Stitched Cloth Guard is worthy of me joining?"

"What? You're going back on your word?"

"So what if I am? Inside the Divine Search Palace, I needed your help to escape the formation. That was merely a temporary arrangement."

"Now that I'm free, no one can imprison or command me ever again."

"Even the Demon Lord is not worthy. What are you then?"

The Longevity Immortal God looked at the man before him with utter disdain.

"You're choosing to make an enemy of the Stitched Cloth Guard then? Do you think I'm the only God Demon Realm in our ranks?"

"Or do you think I was lying before?"

"Remember this. The Stitched Cloth Guard is far stronger than you imagine. The Han Dynasty is also far more formidable than you think."

"The Han Dynasty? Heh, it's about to be destroyed. What's so formidable about it?"

"The current Han Dynasty is not the true Han Dynasty."

"It needs to go through a true rebirth. Only then will it become the real Han Dynasty."

"Only then will it be capable of competing with the other states of the Nine Provinces. Perhaps even unifying them all!"

"Interesting."

The Longevity Immortal God curled his lips, about to mock again.

Suddenly.

A furious roar thundered from the distance.

His expression immediately changed.

"That crazy woman is here again!"

"My strength hasn't fully recovered. I'm no match for her right now!"

He glanced at the Stitched Cloth Guard Leader and hesitated. For now, he decided to join them.

Once his injuries healed, he would leave again.

"Fine. I agree to join the Stitched Cloth Guard. Let's leave now!"

==========

Southern Song Dynasty, Southern Territories.

These lands had first been ravaged by the Yuan Dynasty armies.

Before the Yuan Dynasty could establish full control, they were taken over by the Vast Sea Dynasty in a surprise assault.

Now, under the administration of numerous Vast Sea Dynasty officials, these cities had quickly become increasingly stable and peaceful.

Even the common people had begun to gradually accept their identity as citizens of the Vast Sea Dynasty.

In fact, they had developed a growing disgust for the foolish Southern Song Dynasty and the brutal Yuan Dynasty.

Everything was about comparison.

As citizens of the Vast Sea Dynasty, they had food, warmth, and safety.

Compared to life under the Southern Song Dynasty or Yuan Dynasty rule, there was no contest.

Because of this, they supported the Vast Sea Dynasty's rule even more.

At a heavily fortified military camp.

Inside the marshal's command tent.

Yue Fei looked at the ranking and sighed inwardly.

As expected, the top two names included General Li Jing.

There were many accomplished generals under the Vast Sea Dynasty.

All with distinguished military records.

But the most outstanding were himself, Han Xin, Li Jing, and Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu, the Grand Commander, was not directly comparable, as he commanded the navy, which served a different purpose.

Among the land forces, he had interacted with both Han Xin and Li Jing and had studied their tactics.

He naturally understood their exceptional abilities.

Since he and Han Xin had made the ranking, there was no way Li Jing wouldn't.

What he hadn't expected was for Li Jing to rank higher than both him and Han Xin.

Even higher than Bai Qi of the Qin Dynasty.

It seemed Li Jing had never revealed the full extent of his capabilities before.

But now, Yue Fei still couldn't guess who could surpass Li Jing and claim the Rank 1 spot on the Renowned Marshal Ranking.

Could someone really be stronger than him, Han Xin, Bai Qi, and Li Jing?

Could it be Wu Qi?

He had certainly heard of Wu Qi's reputation.

This man's treatise, The Art of War by Wu, was widely studied across the Nine Provinces.

Naturally, he was well aware of Wu Qi's brilliance.

It must be him.

Since Wu Qi was still alive and had the cultivation of a Mythical Realm being, then being ranked 1st would come as no surprise.

Though it was a bit frustrating, he had to admit, it was well deserved!

==========

Zhu Houzhao, who had just left the Han Dynasty, had no idea that a dramatic event had taken place inside the Divine Search Palace.

The Stitched Cloth Guard Leader he had been searching for had actually appeared.

And even freed the Longevity Immortal God.

However, even if he had known, he would have only sighed.

He wouldn't have been overly excited.

Now that the leader had appeared, he could no longer hide.

As for the Longevity Immortal God inside the Divine Search Palace, Zhu Houzhao had probably long forgotten about him.

Even if he was freed, so what?

Could he still pose a threat?

If he sought death, there would be no second chance at being sealed again.

Death would be his only fate.

Looking up at the ranking in the sky.

Rank 2, Li Jing.

Zhu Houzhao frowned.

Li Jing was only 2nd?

Then Rank 1 must be...

He glanced at Wu Qi.

A hint of displeasure rose in his heart.

The top spot didn't belong to one of his own people.

Which meant the Heaven Dao Reward of national fortune was completely lost to him.

Should he immediately bring Wu Qi under his command?

No.

If he accepted him just for that reason, wouldn't Wu Qi become even more arrogant?

He hadn't been fully subdued yet!

Of course, Zhu Houzhao's own pride played a role here as well.

His plans would not be affected by any outside force.

Not even by the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking.

Even if accepting Wu Qi now would bring immense national fortune, he would refuse.

Meanwhile, Wu Qi stood nearby with a faint sense of pride.

Bai Qi was already on the ranking.

There was no one else who could compare to him.

So who else could take the top spot on the Renowned Marshal Ranking, if not him?

Thinking this, he glanced confidently at Zhu Houzhao.

He was certain that once he was named Rank 1, all the dynasties of the Nine Provinces would offer enormous rewards to recruit him.

At that time, even the Ming Emperor would respectfully seek his guidance.

He would surely gain great power within the Ming Dynasty.

To be enfeoffed as a duke or prime minister, or even a king, would be no surprise.

In the future battle to unify the Nine Provinces, Wu Qi would undoubtedly have a vital role to play.

Thinking this, Wu Qi's mood brightened.

Even his expression became more cheerful.

And at that very moment.

The Renowned Marshal Ranking in the sky trembled violently.

Golden light radiated outward.

The Rank 1 spot was about to be revealed!

[Renowned Marshal Ranking – Rank 1]

[Long Xiao]

[Nation: Ming Dynasty]

[Marshal Rating: Six Stars]

[Military: Super First-Rate]

[Political: Super First-Rate]

[Strength: Super First-Rate]

[Reward: Saint-Tier Coiling Dragon Set (includes one Coiling Dragon Halberd and one set of Coiling Dragon Armor), three Saint-Tier Military Formations, national fortune of the affiliated nation increased by 100%]

==========

"What?"

"The Rank 1 on the Renowned Marshal Ranking is Long Xiao, not Wu Qi?"

"And who even is Long Xiao?"

Wu Qi's face froze, his eyes full of confusion.

This result was completely unexpected!

He had never even heard of Long Xiao!

But this doesn't make sense!

He, Wu Qi, was an unparalleled strategist.

Even if he couldn't claim Rank 1, surely he should have made the top three or five.

So why wasn't his name in the top ten at all?

Could the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking be biased against him?

Impossible.

There had to be something else he didn't know.

A thought flashed through his mind.

Compared to all the other renowned marshals, he seemed to have one glaring flaw.

He currently commanded no troops. He was a lone man.

Every other ranked marshal commanded an army.

They belonged to a nation, or even a dynasty.

That alone made them eligible for the ranking.

He, having no army, had no qualification to be ranked as a renowned marshal.

In the past, he might have been eligible.

But now, as a lone cultivator, he was merely a Mythical Realm cultivator.

No matter how brilliant his strategies were, they were irrelevant to the ranking.

Realizing this, Wu Qi was filled with deep regret.

If that were the case, he should have joined a dynasty long ago and taken command of a military force.

Now that he had missed such an extraordinary opportunity, who knew how long he'd have to wait for the next one?

Still, who was this Long Xiao?

He had taken the top spot on the Renowned Marshal Ranking.

Even surpassing Bai Qi?

Wu Qi didn't know much about Li Jing.

But Bai Qi's fame was known to all.

To surpass Bai Qi, Long Xiao could not possibly be ordinary.

Moreover, Long Xiao belonged to the Ming Dynasty.

Surely the Ming Emperor, Zhu Houzhao, standing nearby, knew about him.

With that thought, Wu Qi turned to look at Zhu Houzhao.

His eyes were filled with curiosity.

His questions only multiplied.

He wanted to hear the truth from His Majesty.

He wanted to know everything about this so-called Rank 1 marshal of the Nine Provinces.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )

・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Wind and Cloud ( 风云 )

・Longevity Immortal God ( 长生不死神 ) — Master of Divine Search Palace

Yue Fei Complete Legend ( 说岳全传 )

・Yue Fei ( 说岳 ) — General of Vast Sea Dynasty

Chronicle of Eastern Zhou ( 东周列国志 )

・Wu Qi ( 吴起 ) — Prime Minister of Chu Kingdom