Chapter 8: Martial Rankings

"To drinking! One day, we brothers will also charge into the 'Martial Rankings' and trample these people underfoot"

Guo Yida was overjoyed; having someone with greater strength offer guidance could significantly enhance his practical experience, something he could rarely seek out on his own, so he naturally accepted with delight

Is this really the reaction speed of a warrior at the sixth level of the "Great Martial Canon"? It's almost on par with my own reaction speed. Li Yuan held great admiration for Guo Yi, and a strange thought crossed his mind: "He might even step into the realm of Martial Saint before I do"

What exactly is her identity? Guo Yi felt that Ji Youran's status in the Enclosed City might be quite extraordinary, after all, her cultivation is so terrifying

Moreover, the "Martial Ranking" does not impose a limit on the number of participants; as long as your strength meets its requirements, you can appear on the list. Furthermore, if someone breaks through to become a spiritual practitioner or dies, they will automatically disappear from the "Martial Ranking". Therefore, the number of individuals on the "Martial Ranking" is constantly changing.

At the dining table, Guo Yi asked while eating, "Brother Li, I have had a question in my mind for a long time. Could you possibly answer it for me?"

Guo Yi, have you gotten up so early to practice your boxing?

Guo Yi fell into silence, while Li Yuan smiled and patted Guo Yi on the shoulder, saying: "Entering the 'Martial Rankings' is no easy feat. In the entire Secluded City, there are a million Martial Saints, and each of these talents is an extraordinary figure, rare in a thousand miles. Yet, among so many, fewer than ten have received the imprint of the 'Martial Rankings.' These individuals possess terrifying combat power, and even Spirit Masters cannot kill them. Those ranked higher in the *Illustrated Book* can even counterattack Spirit Masters."

Guo Yidao: "Still, Brother Li Yuan is somewhat more formidable. It is likely that before long, he will break through to the tenth level of the 'Great Martial Canon' and become a Martial Saint. At that time, the gates of the Secluded City will surely open for you."

Guo Yi has heard Ji Youran mention the "Martial Rankings" several times, and it is evident that she has a strong desire for Guo Yi to enter the "Martial Rankings," which seems to symbolize a measure of strength.

After becoming a Spirit Master, the mark on the Martial Ranking will not disappear, but it will be removed from the Martial Ranking, as you are no longer a martial artist, but a Spirit Master

"We still need a little opportunity." Li Yuan shook his head and sighed, then suddenly said, "It has been three days since we last sparred. I have come to practice with you, hoping that we can step through the gates of the Prison City together"

Only the Martial Saints are qualified to enter the Forbidden City, yet there are still no fewer than one million people. The city is filled with experts, as numerous as the fish in the river. Outside the city, warriors are everywhere. The Forbidden City is surrounded by mountains on all four sides—north, south, east, and west—within which countless billions of young people aspire to enter the city.

Li Yuan shook his head and sighed: "The population of the world is incredibly vast, and the number of martial artists is beyond counting, reaching countless trillions. Even if we select one from one hundred million martial artists to enter the 'Martial Ranking', that is still a staggering figure"

Guo Yi smiled calmly and said, "Only the Martial Saints are qualified to challenge the Martial Rankings. We should first cultivate ourselves to become Martial Saints, and then we will surely compete with these individuals in the Prison City."

Guo Yi was drenched in sweat, feeling that all his meridians were unblocked and invigorated. His fighting spirit was even stronger than before, and he had exchanged five hundred moves with Li Yuan before finally stopping

The distance from Nagatani Country to the Forbidden City is ninety thousand miles. Within the sphere of influence of the Forbidden City lies a small kingdom with a radius of only a few thousand miles, which cannot be compared to the vastness of the Yunxin Empire. The Forbidden City spans a radius of one hundred thousand miles, and there are thousands of such kingdoms. In the eyes of these kingdoms, the Forbidden City is regarded as an absolute sacred place, where even the ruler of a nation can be appointed at will.

Some say it is an immortal from the celestial realm, while others claim it is a thread of order between heaven and earth, and so on. Opinions vary widely, yet no one has been able to truly verify it

The imprint not only displays your ranking, but also allows you to check others' rankings. In short, this imprint is the list of the "Martial Arts Rankings".

Ji Youran informed Guo Yi that once he reaches the rank of Martial Saint, he should go to the City Lord's Mansion to find her. As long as he mentions her name, no one in the entire Youjin City would dare to harm him

Guo Yi lamented: "The spiritual beings have transcended the mortal realm, crossed the threshold of cultivation, and embarked on the path of immortality. It is truly terrifying that the experts of the 'Martial Rankings' can actually contend with these individuals. I must seize the opportunity to meet these masters of the 'Martial Rankings' at some point."

For these two individuals, Guo Yi expresses heartfelt gratitude. Two months ago, when he arrived here, it was they, the siblings, who helped him build a thatched hut.

"So it is Brother Li Yuan, you are also quite early, aren't you?" Guo Yi stopped boxing; his ears were exceptionally sensitive, and he heard two footsteps, one light and the other heavy.

I wonder if Brother Li has heard of "Wubang" wwwhetushucomcom

At this moment, Li Yuan was also slightly out of breath, not expecting that after just a few days apart, Guo Yi's combat power had increased so much; he truly was a monster. Despite being three realms higher, he still found the battle somewhat challenging.

It is said that those who bear the imprint of the "Martial Ranking" can cultivate at a faster pace than others, and after becoming a spiritual practitioner, they can even kill across ranks, fighting on par with individuals several realms above themselves

Guo Yi and Li Yuan drank together, both filled with boundless ambition in their hearts

These individuals are all nearly below the level of Martial Saint, and they are relatively young. Some are residents living within a million miles of the Imprisonment City, while others are the sons of nobles from various small and large kingdoms, and even include princes and princesses from certain regions

Early in the morning, Guo Yi began practicing the Grand Martial Arts in the courtyard; this was his new home

"Dog's nose," Li Xiaoyan murmured.

Upon arriving at the City of Imprisonment, Guo Yi realized the rules of the city: only those with martial saint cultivation or higher are qualified to enter the city

Li Yuanda's Great Martial Fist can already unleash eighty punches in one breath. If he can deliver just one more punch, he will be able to complete a full set of the Great Martial Fist and achieve the status of a Martial Sage. However, he has been stuck at this step for half a year. This is a hurdle that, once crossed, signifies entry into the realm of martial arts mastery

In the courtyard, the wind from the punches surged, causing the ancient willow at the entrance to rustle with each strike. Guo Yi stepped into the sixth level, possessing a single-arm strength of six hundred pounds, which is remarkable in the eyes of ordinary people, allowing him to serve as a junior general in the army, commanding a thousand men.

The Nine Dragons Flying Boat traveled for a month and finally reached its destination, which was nearly 100 million miles away from the mysterious bamboo forest. It would take an ordinary person ten lifetimes to traverse such a vast expanse.

The Li siblings also wish to join the Enclosed City, but their strength does not reach the Martial Saint realm. They live very close to Guo Yi, thus maintaining a good relationship.

A chance encounter is also a form of affection

Li Yuan and his siblings originally belonged to a prominent family in Changguo, but due to their collateral lineage, they were subjected to bullying. Consequently, they traveled thousands of miles to Youjin City, hoping to join a certain cultivation sect there and become outer disciples. Upon returning to their family, they would then have the leverage to speak up, and no one would dare to look down on them.

Guo Yi felt that "The Martial Rankings" was truly mysterious and unfathomable, and asked, "What exactly is this mysterious power?"

Guo Yi touched his nose and smiled, saying: "I smell that today's meal is particularly fragrant, with the scent of venison, banyan mushrooms, and snow duck."

Guo Yi still has doubts: "Since entering the 'Martial Rankings', one must surely be aware of the rankings above the 'Martial Rankings'. Why is it that no one in the world knows how many people have entered the 'Martial Rankings'?"

Li Yuan approached with a smile and said, "Just now, I saw your boxing technique flowing like water, delivering sixty-one punches in one breath. I didn't expect that in just two short months, you have made further progress and entered the sixth level of the 'Great Martial Classics'!"

A newly built thatched cottage, backed by green mountains and facing a small stream, has several ancient willows, each over a hundred meters tall, planted in the courtyard. In the early morning, the mist in the mountains has not yet dissipated, and amidst the haze, the faint sounds of birdsong can still be heard

Beside Li Yuan is a little girl who appears to be around twelve or thirteen years old, with sparkling eyes that are quite adorable. This is Li Yuan's younger sister, Li Xiao, and the bookish Yan.

Guo Yi is one of them, having built a thatched hut over a hundred miles north of the city. As long as one reaches the level of Martial Sage, they can enter the city to reside. The Ghostly Forbidden City is a sacred ground for the selection of geniuses. If one possesses outstanding talent, they may even be noticed by a certain immortal sect and have the opportunity to study the classics of spiritual communication.

"But feel free to say it." Li Yuan replied readily

A tall and slender youth greeted Guo Yi from a distance. He was dressed in luxurious attire, walking at a leisurely pace, and his height was nearly two meters, making it hard to believe that he was merely a fifteen-year-old boy

"It's time to eat, you two martial arts enthusiasts." Li Xiaoyan placed her hands on her slender waist, pouting as she watched the two people tumbling around in the courtyard, feeling quite displeased.

Li Yuandao: "Let's go eat, or else someone might get scolded, haha"

Li Xiaoyan's nose is about to crinkle with anger. Did these two fellows even hear what they said? Her small hands clenched tightly, ready to erupt.

The title of "Martial Saint" is indeed a pinnacle that requires mastery of the "Great Martial Scripture" at the tenth level. Becoming a Martial Saint is a significant threshold; only by crossing this threshold can one qualify to challenge the gates of immortality and enter the profound realm of the "Spiritual Being".

Even if you transcend your mortal form and become a spiritual being, this mark will not disappear. It is not only a symbol of glory but also a testament to a person's potential

Li Yuan listened to Guo Yi's words and immediately spoke solemnly: "The 'Martial Ranking' is a list established for all martial artists who have not yet transcended the mortal realm. No one knows how many have entered the 'Martial Ranking', but once you do, a mysterious force in the universe will imprint a mark upon you."