When the Technique List appeared, Zhenyuan Daxian had been confident about his A Universe Within the Sleeve technique making the list. He just wasn't sure about the specific ranking. For him, being ranked thirty-fourth was already a decent achievement. Advancing further seemed unlikely, as the competitors were numerous quasi-saints and even saints. Although his strength wasn't weak, reaching this rank was already commendable.
The reward he gained from his previous listing had little impact on his strength. Therefore, with this ranking, he believed it was highly likely he could receive another reward to enhance his abilities.
Zhenyuan Daxian's fame was mostly recognized among the powerful. Those weaker often knew little about him, as he kept a low profile. Additionally, due to the Ginseng Fruit Tree in his abode, he rarely ventured out and spent most of his time cultivating in seclusion. As such, many were unfamiliar with him.
However, following the release of the two rankings, Zhenyuan Daxian's reputation began to spread across the Primordial World.
There were many similar cases. The Primordial World was vast, and while truly famous experts were few, this didn't mean there weren't many strong individuals. Some lacked opportunities to make a name for themselves in battle, but the rankings provided a platform to amplify their fame. Every individual who made the list garnered significant attention, prompting others to investigate their background.
As the thirty-fourth position concluded, the next ranking quickly appeared:
[Technique List Rank 33: Xuanyuan Swordsmanship User: Human Emperor Xuanyuan]
When it came to swordsmanship in the Primordial World, the first name that came to mind was naturally Tongtian Jiaozhu. With the Four Swords of Immortal Execution in hand, his mastery of swordsmanship had reached extraordinary heights, unmatched in the chaos.
Beyond him, Xuanyuan was likely the strongest swordsman, boasting great strength. Although not at the saint level, he was at the peak quasi-saint or pseudo-saint level, surpassing ordinary peak quasi-saints by a significant margin. Unlike Zhenyuan Daxian, Xuanyuan was well-known due to his status as one of the Three Sovereigns.
The Three Sovereigns were second only to the saints in fame. Though their strength was immense, and they all had the potential to become saints, various reasons had prevented them from achieving sainthood. Thus, while their reputations rivaled those of saints, their actual strength fell short. This gap was not easily bridged.
The Three Sovereigns longed for further breakthroughs but had no means to do so. They had been stuck at their current level for ages. When the Grandmaster Xuandu achieved sainthood thanks to Laozi, it reignited their hopes.
However, not all Three Sovereigns appeared on the lists, and only Xuanyuan ranked this high. The other two ranked much lower. The experience of Ancestor Minghe served as a cautionary tale—lower rankings seldom yielded opportunities for achieving sainthood. Even if such a chance existed, it was minuscule and could very well be a trap. The Golden List was not as benevolent as it seemed; while it offered rewards, it could also deal out harmful ones.
With bad luck, one might lose strength instead of gaining it. While such cases were rare, the most notable being Laozi himself, even he managed to recover with subsequent rewards and by gaining a disciple who achieved sainthood—something no amount of rewards could replace.
For the Three Sovereigns to ascend to sainthood, they would likely need opportunities from the Golden List, but whether it could provide suitable rewards remained uncertain.
Despite this, Xuanyuan was satisfied with his high ranking, even though it fell short of what was needed for a chance at sainthood. Typically, one needed to rank in the top 20 to receive such opportunities. While slightly disappointed, Xuanyuan was realistic. Simply being listed was a significant achievement, proving his potential for further improvement.
Among the Three Sovereigns, Xuanyuan was the best at swordsmanship and the strongest overall. Shennong excelled in alchemy, while Fuxi held the highest cultivation realm. Despite these distinctions, the differences in their overall strength were negligible. Their unique skills influenced their rankings on the lists, not an inherent disparity in power.
Xuanyuan's appearance on the list thrilled many weaker cultivators, as his reputation was massive. Given his fame, it seemed only natural for his techniques to rank high.
Yet, questions arose about the Three Sovereigns' relatively low rankings.
[Sun Wukong]: Even someone as famous as Xuanyuan is only ranked thirty-third. Is there something wrong with the Golden List? Are the individuals ranked above him truly this powerful?
[Taiyi Zhenren]: The secrets of the Primordial World are beyond your comprehension. Similarly, the exact strength of the Three Sovereigns isn't something you fully understand. Know this: the Golden List is profound and unfathomable. If it determines the rankings, there must be valid reasons, and errors are highly unlikely. Content orıginally comes from novel fire.net
Facing Sun Wukong's doubts, Taiyi Zhenren immediately refuted him.
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