Glimmering Tears

Glimmering Tears

On the Immortal Martial Realm's ranking monument, a brilliant golden light radiated from the top row, illuminating the three characters etched there.

Qin Wentian.

It was indeed Qin Wentian.

Outside the Immortal Martial Realm, an eerie silence enveloped the crowd. This momentary pause in the proceedings felt almost terrifying. Countless eyes fixated on those three characters, and within their hearts, waves of astonishment surged.

They had entertained various possibilities, from the notion that Qin Wentian might have been eliminated for unknown reasons to the hope that some forgotten Heaven Chosen might claim the top spot. But reality had shaken them to their core. It was clear now that there was no room for accidents; there was only Qin Wentian.

The same Qin Wentian who had defeated Ye Kongfan in ancient Ye, who had slain the Little Ancestor of the supreme Di Clan in front of Di Shi, had seized this opportunity within the Immortal Martial Realm to undergo an astonishing transformation. His name now graced the pinnacle of the rankings, above the eight era-suppressing geniuses.

In this journey, Qin Wentian had decisively outshone these era-suppressing geniuses. After today, his name would surely echo throughout the Royal Sacred Region. Perhaps, a new "era-suppressing genius" would emerge, and one of the current eight would be replaced.

"When did I become so blind? Is this an illusion?" A voice shattered the silence, followed by a deafening roar as a monumental uproar ensued.

The experts of the supreme Di Clan were once again struck by an overwhelming shock. Di Shi ranked #11, while the #1 spot was occupied by none other than their adversary, Qin Wentian, the same Qin Wentian who had slain Di Yu.

"I wish I could have seen how he defeated Gu Liufeng and the other era-suppressing geniuses. Unfortunately, I missed it. Witnessing that battle would have been a lifetime's regret. I envy those inside the Immortal Martial Realm who had the privilege to witness the ascent of a legendary figure," someone exclaimed.

Regardless of any doubts they may have had about Qin Wentian in the past, his name appearing at the top of the ranking monument dispelled them all. The Immortal Martial Realm's ranking monument never lied. For the one who stood at the summit, while his combat prowess might not be the strongest, there was no doubt about his extraordinary talent. Qin Wentian's top ranking indicated that, at the very least for now, his potential surpassed that of the eight era-suppressing geniuses.

The history of the Immortal Martial Realm's ranking monument spanned tens of thousands of years. Everyone in the Royal Sacred Region held it in high regard and trusted its accuracy.

This ranking was an authoritative one. No matter how they had doubted Qin Wentian in the past, the moment his name was inscribed at the top, all doubts vanished like smoke in the wind. The Immortal Martial Realm's ranking monument never lied.

"Qin Wentian," the experts of the Qinghua Mountains spoke in unison. One among them gazed at the three characters, feeling a complex mix of emotions. Back in Xuan King City, he had the opportunity to recruit Qin Wentian into their Qinghua Mountain Sect but had let it slip through his fingers.

"Why does this name sound so familiar?" a voice from the Si Clan inquired.

Behind him, a middle-aged man fixed his gaze on a young man standing nearby. A glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes as he addressed Si Qiong, "Si Qiong, is this the young man you once fought against for the top position in the Heavenly Fate Ranking? I recall you saying that you would definitely kill him to avenge the humiliation you suffered back then."

Si Qiong's body trembled involuntarily, and his face reddened with suppressed emotions. At the moment, his cultivation stood at the peak of the fourth level of Heavenly Dipper, just a step away from reaching the fifth level. He had once participated in Grand Xia's Heavenly Fate Rankings and had planned to enter the Immortal Martial Realm ten years later, hoping to have his name inscribed on the ranking monument.

However, the young man who had defeated him in Grand Xia, whose name had now appeared at the very top of the ranking monument, left Si Qiong feeling immensely ashamed, unable to show his face to anyone.

"Pass my order: recall all members of our Si Clan from Grand Xia completely. From this day forward, no one from our clan is to have any dealings with Grand Xia. Let go of all grudges and hatred from the past," the middle-aged man spoke calmly. His Si Clan had suffered a loss in Grand Xia. Si Qiong had initially planned to accumulate more strength before forcibly breaking through the Royal Tomb of Grand Xia to gain entry. But now, that plan was no longer feasible.

Their Si Clan had no intention of provoking a Heaven Chosen with boundless potential.

In the present moment, all it took was Qin Wentian's agreement, and he could seamlessly step into the Royal Sacred Sect, assuming the mantle of a core disciple. This was the sheer weight of the Immortal Martial Realm ranking; anyone with their name inscribed upon it didn't need to undergo any testing to join the Royal Sacred Sect; their wish was the only prerequisite.

Furthermore, Qin Wentian was a member of the Battle Sword Sect. With his ranking unveiled, one could only imagine the elevated status he would now hold within his sect.

In the vicinity, many disciples from the Battle Sword Sect rejoiced. Prior to this, they were already celebrating because three members of the Battle Sword Sect had managed to secure positions within the top ten rankings. Among the Nine Great Sects, Seven Supreme Clans, twin empires, and other major powers of the Royal Sacred Region, where countless contenders vied for the top ten slots, the Battle Sword Sect alone held sway over one-third of them, demonstrating the immense influence the sect wielded.

Moreover, the name atop the list belonged to a disciple of the Battle Sword Sect.

However, amidst the jubilation, one member of the Battle Sword Sect found herself entangled in a web of complex emotions. She was none other than the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness.

Her gaze remained fixed on the ranking monument before her. Even with her disciplined heart, it was an arduous task to quell the intense surges of emotion. It had been many years since her heart had been rocked so profoundly. Presently, she struggled to put her emotions into words.

The Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness recalled their initial encounter when Qin Wentian had refused her offer of mentorship. At that time, she had conveyed that he didn't comprehend the vastness of the world. Their second meeting further deepened her impression of him.

When he became Ye Qingyun's foster son and dared to challenge her with his words within the royal palace of Ye, she couldn't help but look down on him, believing him to be insignificant and powerless compared to her. Yet, he had spoken with bold arrogance, displaying blatant disrespect. She had vowed then that her disciple, Lou Bingyu, would teach him a lesson in the Immortal Martial Realm.

However, the reality was now unveiled. The hope she had vested in Lou Bingyu, granting her the treasure plundered from Ye Qingyun, had yielded only a ninth-place ranking. In contrast, Qin Wentian had claimed the coveted first position.

In this moment, the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness revisited the memories of the ancient palace in Ye. Back then, Qin Wentian's gaze had gleamed with sharpness as he stared at her, standing unwaveringly in the sky, his youth unmasked by any veneer.

She had no choice but to concede that Qin Wentian had indeed imparted a profound lesson to her.

It had been an exceedingly long time since a junior had stirred such intense emotions within her. Even Ji Feixue, one of the eight era-suppressing geniuses, hadn't managed to do so.

The Sword Sovereigness soon became aware of numerous gazes trained upon her. In the midst of the crowd, hushed whispers and mutterings circulated about her.

"I heard that Qin Wentian is the foster son of the Human Emperor of Ye. Back in the ancient palace of Ye, the Violet Thunder Sect, the War Country, Spirit Luan Country, and even the formidable Li Clan were all present to claim the treasure of the Human Emperor. The Human Emperor stood defiantly against all, even injuring a Supremacy from the Violet Thunder Sect. Afterward, the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness personally confronted Ye Qingyun, who was cornered by enemies on all sides, using an unspoken threat to force him to part with his own flesh and blood, his treasure. It was an incredibly ruthless act."

"At that time, although Qin Wentian was a disciple of the Battle Sword Sect and a junior of the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness, he stood up for justice, openly confronting her. Now, Qin Wentian has secured the top-ranking position, and while everyone in the Battle Sword Sect celebrates, the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness can't possibly be feeling too pleased, can she?"

"Hehe, it was all well and good in the past, but now that reality stares us in the face, the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness has lost all dignity," chuckled one person.

"However, right now, the happiest person undoubtedly has to be Mo Qingcheng of the Medicine Sovereign Valley. When Qin Wentian defeated Ye Kongfan in ancient Ye, the weak triumphing over the strong, the reason behind it all was Ye Kongfan's humiliation of Mo Qingcheng. Ye Kongfan had sought the affection of the Holy Maiden Mo Qingcheng and failed, resorting to spreading vile rumors about her. This incited Qin Wentian to action. Back then, when Qin Wentian slew Ye Kongfan, I already knew he was destined for greatness," another person added with a grin.

"I don't need to hear your nonsense. Jumping two levels to defeat Ye Kongfan and daring to challenge the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness, who wouldn't believe that Qin Wentian was destined to be one of this era's Heaven Chosen?" someone sneered, as if they had already forgotten the shock of Qin Wentian's name appearing on the ranking monument.

"Speaking of Qin Wentian's greatness, let's not forget about his match with Ye Kongfan. The number one beauty in the Royal Sacred Region, Mo Qingcheng of the Medicine Sovereign Valley, is a fifth-ranked alchemist. They're practically a match made in heaven. I heard they've been in love since they were young and were even engaged," someone remarked.

"Cough, when did the Holy Maiden of the Medicine Sovereign Valley become the number one beauty in the Royal Sacred Region?"

"Are you clueless? Would the beauty of the Holy Maiden of the Medicine Sovereign Valley pale in comparison to Lin Xian'er? It's just that not many knew about her before. Now that she's here, news of her beauty will spread far and wide. Moreover, she's the wife of the top-ranked Immortal Martial Realm cultivator, Qin Wentian. It's only a matter of time before she's recognized as the number one beauty in the Royal Sacred Realm."

Discussions like these buzzed through the crowd. Qin Wentian, once looked down upon, had now become the expected outcome, the chosen one, and the stuff of legends.

As for the love story between Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng, it spread like wildfire, with various versions circulating simultaneously.

Qin Wentian hadn't left the Immortal Martial Realm yet, but stories about him were already sweeping through the Royal Sacred Region.

Mo Qingcheng, her face radiating joy and excitement, gazed at the three dazzling golden characters at the top of the ranking monument. Her eyes welled with tears, as if she had something to say, but with Qin Wentian still inside the realm, she had no one to share her words with.

The maidens from the Medicine Sovereign Valley behind her remained silent. They remembered the first time they met Qin Wentian, when the Holy Maiden had rushed into his embrace, breaking down completely. Back then, they had felt a deep sense of unhappiness. Their displeasure had grown when Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng shared a room. To them, Qin Wentian was unworthy of Mo Qingcheng.

Now, they sighed, realizing that nothing in this world was predictable. Perhaps from the beginning, this couple had been destined to capture everyone's attention and adoration.

"Number one?" The Medicine Sovereign's long beard fluttered in the wind as he smiled deeply. "Is this the young man you love?"

Mo Qingcheng nodded vigorously, her eyes brimming with emotion as she looked at the Medicine Sovereign.

Seeing her like this, the Medicine Sovereign's heart trembled. He ruffled her hair and said in an affectionate tone, "Silly girl..."

"Master, do you like him?" Mo Qingcheng's beautiful eyes were filled with determination, and she couldn't control her tears, which flowed freely down her flawless cheeks.

"Daring to make my darling disciple cry? How could I possibly like someone like him?" The Medicine Sovereign intentionally sounded stern, glaring at her with widened eyes. His actions made Mo Qingcheng smile, even as she fought back her tears. That smile on her face remained as enchanting as ever, causing the Medicine Sovereign to sigh helplessly in his heart. Just how deep was this young woman's love for Qin Wentian?

The old man standing beside the Medicine Sovereign remained silent throughout, his gaze fixed on the name at the top of the ranking monument. His eyes, filled with the weight of time and brimming with tears, spoke of the profound emotions he felt. How brilliant and radiant was Qin Wentian's performance!