Yu Dao took out his Earth Ranking token, the number one on the list, glanced at it, and tossed it over: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Ning."
Ning Lin caught the Earth Ranking token: "Right now, I truly lack the strength to claim a spot on the Heaven Ranking. I'm merely doing a favor."
For Ning Lin, once his injuries healed, challenging any of the disciples ranked thirty or below on the Heaven Ranking should pose no problem.
Ning Lin changed the subject and said, "Master Yu, I actually have another request."
Yu Daohen's expression remained unchanged, but he had a good guess as to what Ning Lin wanted: "Master Ning, please speak plainly."
Ning Lin didn't beat around the bush and stated directly, "It's rumored that at the Midnight Spirit Shop in Jiangdu, one can stay simply by drinking three cups of 'Qingren Tea.' My current condition, to be frank, makes it difficult to even deal with juniors. I hope Master Yu can give me an opportunity then."
After speaking, Ning Lin added, "Of course, I know the rules of the Midnight Spirit Shop. Just giving me a chance to drink the tea is enough."
Yu Daohen nodded in agreement: "Alright. If you need it, Master Ning, just come to the shop."
Seeing Yu Daohen agree, Ning Lin cupped his hands: "Thank you, Master Yu. I won't disturb you further."
Although he didn't know if he could actually drink three cups of Qingren Tea when the time came, he now had an added layer of security.
Yu Daohen cupped his hands in return: "Master Ning, please take care."
Ning Lin turned and walked towards the woods. As soon as he entered the trees, Ning Lin covered his mouth and coughed again.
Ning Lin felt a warm, wet substance on his palm. He knew it was blood.
Ning Lin lowered his arm and sighed: "It seems my condition is worsening."
He walked to a large tree and looked at the dagger stuck in it, lost in thought.
The moment the dagger clashed with the Kang Long Jian, a tremendous force had caused the dagger in Ning Lin's hand to fly out and embed itself in the tree behind him.
Ning Lin knew clearly that in that clash of cold weapons, the force Yu Daohen exerted was no less than that of a top thirty expert on the Heaven Ranking. Even though he was injured, in his prime, he might not have been able to guarantee his weapon wouldn't be dislodged by such a blow.
"Is this the strength of an unparalleled prodigy? Truly remarkable," Ning Lin couldn't help but exclaim.
Ning Lin gripped the dagger and pulled with all his might. As the dagger was pulled out, it shattered into several pieces.
"What?" Ning Lin was incredulous.
Looking at Ning Lin, who had already disappeared from sight, Yu Daohen glanced at the Heaven Ranking token in his hand, still finding it hard to believe.
Getting onto the Heaven Ranking seemed too easy, making Yu Daohen wonder if he was dreaming.
He had expected to fight a fierce battle to secure a ranking on the Heaven Ranking, but it had been resolved so effortlessly.
Yu Daohen turned and walked towards the small wooden house, still thinking that his mastery of the Kang Long Jian was not yet perfect and he needed to practice diligently.
Yu Daohen pushed open the door and entered. He saw Liu Feng still cultivating to heal his injuries.
Liu Feng opened his eyes when he heard the door open and looked. Seeing that it was Yu Daohen, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Yu Daohen nodded, signaling Liu Feng to continue his cultivation. Liu Feng understood Yu Daohen's intention, closed his eyes, and resumed his healing.
Yu Daohen sat in a chair by the table and waited. Honestly, he was curious as to who could have inflicted such severe injuries on Liu Feng.
After about an hour, Liu Feng slowly opened his eyes, his complexion having recovered considerably.
Yu Daohen wanted to ask who had the ability to injure him so badly, but since Liu Feng had just recovered, there was no need to rush.
Liu Feng looked at Yu Daohen: "You must be very curious as to who could have injured me so severely."
Yu Daohen nodded at Liu Feng's words: "Could it be an expert from the Black Ranking?"
Liu Feng didn't intend to hide anything and nodded: "That's right, it was indeed a Black Ranking expert."
"Who!?"
Yu Daohen's expression changed. It seemed his guess was correct. In this world, besides the great demons of three thousand years, only Black Ranking experts could be his opponents. But who exactly could injure him so badly?
Yu Daohen listed the Black Ranking experts he was familiar with: "Haotian Fist? Or Meng Dalong? Or perhaps Huang Yong? Could it be another Black Ranking expert?"
Liu Feng shook his head: "None of them. The true trump card of the Celestial Master's Mansion, the Black Ranking's second most formidable expert."
"The second on the Black Ranking?" Yu Daohen was filled with disbelief.
It was said that the first and second positions on the Black Ranking had not changed for over a hundred years. The current recognized strongest in the human world was Haotian Fist, ranked third on the Black Ranking.
There was very little information about the first and second individuals on the Black Ranking. Yu Daohen didn't even know who these ranked individuals were; he hadn't even heard their names.
He only knew that the first and second positions on the Black Ranking had remained unchanged for over a century. Some even said that the people in these positions had already died of old age, as it had been nearly two hundred years.
"Who lives to two hundred years old normally?"
Seeing Yu Daohen's disbelief, Liu Feng continued: "That's right, it's that expert who has been ranked second on the Black Ranking for nearly two hundred years without change."
"Can someone really live for two hundred years?" Yu Daohen found it hard to believe.
Liu Feng rolled his eyes: "The one standing before you has lived for over a thousand years."