The First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng, received an urgent report at Xianyang Palace: a bizarre celestial phenomenon had appeared over Dongjun. A meteorite had fallen to earth, transforming into a massive stone that emitted a brilliant, multicolored radiance, as if a heavenly scripture had descended into the world.
Ying Zheng set aside his official documents and personally donned his armor, intending to investigate the matter himself. He ordered Zhang Han to dispatch two teams: one to Dongjun to uncover the truth, and another to the Office of the Grand Master to summon the leaders of the Yin-Yang School to the palace.
Inside the Office of the Grand Master, the five elders had gathered. The Elder of Water was adamant that this was an ominous sign, fearing that remnants of the Six States and the various philosophical schools would seize the opportunity to stir up trouble and shake the foundations of the new dynasty. However, the Elder of Gold, Xu Fu, stood deep in thought, silent. He had observed the stars the previous night and knew a disruption was imminent. His secret divinations, though not entirely clear, warned of hidden crises. Feeling apprehensive yet unwilling to voice his fears, he resolved to wait and observe how the situation unfolded.
Suddenly, Donghuang Taiyi, the leader of the Yin-Yang School—cloaked in black robes and hiding his face behind a mask—materialized in the hall. His arrival was silent, as if he had stepped through time itself. The elders, including Gan Luo, bowed in unison: "Greetings, Lord Donghuang."
Xu Fu stepped forward and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Donghuang, I am quite well."
Donghuang Taiyi did not dwell on the matter, merely stating calmly, "Rest for a few days, then go to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to retrieve some healing elixirs." He then turned to the group: "You surely have questions, and it does no harm to tell you."
He announced two things: "First, do not act rashly regarding this celestial secret; the falling star in Dongjun is not something for us to touch. Second, the radiant scroll is a grand opportunity; we must seize it, or the Yin-Yang School will fail to remain the foremost of all schools."
Upon hearing this, everyone respectfully obeyed. Donghuang Taiyi then looked up at the scroll in the night sky, deep in thought. His power was unfathomable, and his mastery of divination exceptional, yet the backlash from this interaction showed just how extraordinary and perilous this object was.
Master Xuanwei stood atop Enlightenment Cliff, his Taoist robes fluttering in the wind as he gazed at the radiant scroll in the night sky. He whispered, "The star has fallen, the celestial signs have shifted, and the scroll fills the sky. Opportunity and danger coexist. It seems the world is about to be thrown into turmoil once more."
The Master of the Heavenly Sect beside him asked in confusion, "Master, do you think this phenomenon is related to the Qin State? And what exactly is this radiant scroll?"
Xuanwei did not answer directly, instead urging his disciple to cast aside distracting thoughts and follow the way of heaven. He noted that since the star fell in Dongjun, it was inevitably linked to the Qin State, and a scroll capable of drawing the attention of the entire world must have bearing on the global situation.
Following these words, silence fell, but every faction had already sensed the anomaly and begun to move in the shadows. The Peasant Family, the Mohist School, the Confucian School—all were watching, wondering what kind of divine entity this scroll spanning the firmament really was. At this moment, with the Great Qin having unified the world, everyone wondered: had the Qin court cracked the secret of the "Seven Luminaries of the Azure Dragon," thus triggering this phenomenon? They immediately dispatched secret agents to Dongjun to investigate. Such a world-shaking sight was certainly no ordinary item. The Qin State had just unified the land, and now another strange sight appeared; no one knew if it boded well or ill.
...
Boom! Boom!
The "Radiant Scroll" in the night sky suddenly expanded, its light illuminating the horizon. Auspicious light washed over the earth, feeling as comforting as a hot spring, causing every pore to relax. The starry night sky was eclipsed by the radiance.
Suddenly, a terrifying sword energy surged from the scroll, cutting across the heavens.
*Hummmm...*
At the same time, blades throughout the world seemed to sense the aura of a king; they trembled slightly, as if they wanted to leap from their sheaths and fly toward the "Radiant Scroll." Those who held swords instinctively gripped their hilts tighter.
"Damn, what is going on? My sword is out of control, vibrating on its own."
"What kind of divine object is that? It can actually control all the precious swords in the world and unleash such power."
"Indeed, that sword energy earlier felt as if it could rip the heavens asunder. Its power far surpasses that of the Sword Saint; it is terrifying."
"Blast it, my sword actually developed a crack under that sword intent. It seems I'll have to find a blacksmith to reforge it tomorrow."
...
At Xianyang Palace, before the Emperor's bedchamber, Ying Zheng gripped the vibrating Tianwen Sword, his gaze darkening. "Sword Saint, it seems your guess was correct; the scroll is indeed related to swords."
The Sword Saint gripped his own sword, Yuanhong, his face grim. "Your Majesty, the sword energy emitted by the scroll is something even my master, Guiguzi, could hardly match. Could this scroll itself be a 'Famous Sword'?"
"We shall know soon enough," Ying Zheng said with a faint smile.
A falling star? A radiant scroll? Although these phenomena exceeded Ying Zheng's understanding, he remained calm. No matter what happened, the might of the Great Qin's armies was fearless.
The Sword Saint replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is quite right."
*Swish, swish...*
Just then, the "Radiant Scroll" slowly unfurled from top to bottom. It was engraved with large, flowing characters. Even from ten thousand miles away, the content was clearly visible. Only when it appeared did the world learn of the scroll's origin and purpose.
This scroll was called the "Famous Swords Ranking," recording and ranking the famous swords of the world. Holders of the swords on the list would receive generous rewards. The higher the rank, the greater the reward. Furthermore, the scroll contained many other lists, though these would not appear all at once; they would be revealed on the next full moon.
The people were ecstatic.
"My god, a Famous Swords Ranking? And we can receive generous rewards? These rewards must be extraordinary."
"Indeed, if we are granted an elixir, we might be able to break through to the Xiantian Realm. Just thinking about it is exciting!"
"I hope my sword makes the list. If it does, I can join the Qin State and be sure to be treated with importance; wealth and honor will be within my grasp."
...
Inside Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng heard of the "Famous Swords Ranking" and its benefits. He murmured, "As long as one makes the list, there are generous rewards. I wonder if there is an elixir of immortality?"
*The Famous Swords Ranking?* He was confident that the Tianwen Sword would make the list. Ying Zheng stood in the hall, his mind racing. He knew that despite his high status, who could remain unmoved by the temptation of immortality? He summoned the Prefect of the Middle Carriage and ordered, "Whatever can extend life or grant longevity—should anyone present such an elixir, they shall be heavily rewarded and granted a noble title and ten thousand gold."
Zhao Gao accepted the order and departed. Ying Zheng’s gaze landed on the Sword Saint. "The Yuanhong sword is surely among them. What is your desire?"
The Sword Saint pondered for a moment and spoke frankly, "If I could obtain a God-level sword manual, this life would be complete."
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's laughter echoed through the hall, a laugh that seemed to carry profound meaning.
In the Mohist School's secret city, an old man held the radiant scroll, his expression full of regret. "If not for the loss of the heirloom, the Mohist School would certainly have a place on the Famous Swords Ranking, and those rare rewards should have been ours. Now, we can only gaze at the list and sigh."
Elsewhere, on the Taoist Enlightenment Cliff, the laughter of Master Xuanwei rang out: "My disciple holds the Qiuli sword; it will certainly make the list, and its rank will be high. As for the rewards, they will be generous indeed."
His disciple looked puzzled, but Xuanwei stroked his beard and smiled. "The Famous Swords Ranking is merely the beginning. Later, there will be a Ranking of Strength. With your talent, your future is limitless; this is a heaven-sent opportunity."
Suddenly, the Radiant Scroll slowly unfurled further, and the words "Famous Swords Ranking" came into everyone's view. The list was initially blank, but as it fully unfurled, exquisite small characters appeared at the bottom. The crowd buzzed with discussion, and upon learning the effects of the Guiyuan Pill, everyone was shocked.
Someone sighed, "If one could secure a spot on this list, gaining both fame and fortune, one would have no regrets in this life."
Others speculated whether the appearance of other lists would rewrite the fate of the Great Qin.
"Overthrow the Great Qin? Brother, you aren't teasing me, are you? Don't forget, the Great Qin has collected all the famous swords of the world, especially the First Emperor's own—the Tianwen Sword. That is certain to occupy the top spot on the Famous Swords Ranking, and the reward will be unimaginably generous."
...
As the lists were announced one by one, on a cliff ten miles from the Peasant Family, stood a robust, dark-skinned man. His body was covered in scars, and alongside the scars were tattoos from various nations, making him look as terrifying as a demon from hell.
He was the Black Swordsman—Chen Sheng. He was the owner of the Juque sword, ranked 200th on the Famous Swords Ranking. He had once been a hall master of the Peasant Family, only to be expelled after being framed.
He stared viciously at the restricted grounds of the Peasant Family, his voice hoarse. "Peasant Family, the pain you have caused me, I will repay tenfold, a hundredfold."
Having said this, he slowly raised his palm. In it lay a crystal-clear, fragrant pill.
"Is this the Guiyuan Pill? Once I absorb it, I will possess matchless strength to sweep across the world's swordsmen and let Juque climb the ranks of the Famous Swords Ranking."
"By then, your death will be upon you."
With those words, he casually hoisted the ink-black, massive Juque onto his shoulder and turned to leave, his figure vanishing into the night.
[Famous Swords Ranking, 34th place—Frost Soul. Reward for the holder: Profound-grade mid-tier sword technique—Gale Swordplay. Strikes are like wind, shadowless and formless.]
[Famous Swords Ranking, 33rd place—Zhanlu. Reward for the holder: Profound-grade mid-tier elixir—Breakthrough Pill. Consuming it increases the probability of reaching the Xiantian Realm.]
[Famous Swords Ranking, 32nd place—Chixiao. Reward for the holder: Profound-grade top-tier sword technique—Dragon Slayer.]
...
The Golden List was announced from the lowest to the highest rank. The world's swordsmen were burning with excitement. In this world of Great Qin, based on the refinement of sword techniques and the efficacy of elixirs, levels were divided into "Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven," with the legendary "God-level" above them. Each level was subdivided into low, mid, and top tiers.
Usually, an Earth-grade sword technique was the ultimate secret art of a major sect, accessible only to the contemporary master. As for elixirs, they were even more precious. A single healing pill was almost equal to a life. Because elixirs were consumables, each one used was one less in existence. It was rumored that some would exhaust a thousand gold and still fail to buy a single Profound-grade healing pill, which showed their rarity.
Yet now, the reward for the 30th place on the Golden List was already a Profound-grade top-tier elixir. By this calculation, the rewards around 20th place must be Earth-grade elixirs. When this news spread, the world was in an uproar.
Particularly those holding power or immense wealth began posting notices:
"Hurry! I am willing to pay a thousand gold for a Profound-grade low-tier elixir. For every tier higher, I will add another thousand!"
"A thousand gold? Keep dreaming! For every tier higher, my merchant house will add five thousand gold, and Earth-grade elixirs will be bought at an astronomical price!"
"Whoever makes the list will be granted a title and ten thousand gold—no hesitation!"
...
As the Golden List unfurled, various factions began to scramble. Every swordsman who made it onto the list immediately became a target for recruitment by the major powers.
Inside Xianyang Palace, in front of the bedchamber, the First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng, stood on a high platform, gazing at the rankings on the Golden List. He radiated an awe that no one dared to look upon directly. Especially when he saw the 32nd-ranked Chixiao, a surge of unease and anger rose in his heart. With a burst of fury, he stirred up a massive disturbance.
*Swish... Swish...*
In an instant, all the guards knelt in unison. The sound of armor striking the ground was exceptionally harsh in the vast palace.
Quiet... silence...
The space seemed to freeze, so still that the fall of a needle could be heard.
"Chixiao sword? Dragon Slayer technique? Interesting."
The First Emperor Ying Zheng laughed coldly. The Black Dragon Banner—that was the flag of the Great Qin army. And he was the so-called "True Dragon Emperor."
*Dragon Slayer?* Was it meant to slay him? This greatly displeased him.
"Your subject requests permission to bring the Chixiao sword and its wielder to justice."
At this moment, a shrill voice spoke up. Following the sound, one could see a fair-skinned man in eunuch robes kneeling behind the Emperor. Under the golden light, his delicate hands were particularly clear. One must never underestimate him due to his status as a eunuch. This man was the Prefect of the Middle Carriage, Zhao Gao, who controlled the [Net].
The First Emperor waved his hand, signaling him to stop. "There is no rush; we shall deal with this after the Famous Swords Ranking is revealed." His words carried an inherent dignity.
Zhao Gao replied respectfully, "As you command."
He then looked up, smiling obsequiously. "Your Majesty, your Tianwen Sword will certainly top the Famous Swords Ranking. Looking across the world, I fear no one can compare to Your Majesty's Tianwen Sword."
The art of flattery was often mundane, but only genuine flattery was precious. Upon hearing this, the corners of the First Emperor's mouth lifted. Since ascending the throne, he had wielded the Emperor's Sword to conquer the Six States and stabilize the Central Plains. Using the seven nations as his blade, he had set the order of the five elements and yin-yang, establishing the cycle of the seasons.
*The Emperor's Sword?* It should indeed be the best in the world.
To this, the First Emperor chuckled: "Tell me, what reward do you think the first place on the Famous Swords Ranking will have?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject believes it must be a treasure rarely seen in the world, perhaps a divine elixir that grants longevity or immortality."
Zhao Gao made a bold guess. He was not dull; he knew the Emperor's yearning for the elixir of immortality. Saying this would surely please the Emperor. Otherwise, he would not be able to remain a favorite by the Emperor's side.
Upon hearing this, the First Emperor laughed heartily. "This answer deserves a reward."
Zhao Gao quickly thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Throughout the exchange, the Sword Saint remained silent, standing beside the First Emperor, quietly gazing at the "Golden List" in the night sky. In truth, he had no fondness for Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao was like a wolf hidden in the shadows—sly, vicious, and waiting for the moment to strike. One never knew when he would deliver a lethal blow.
*Boom... Boom...*
The earth shook, and the night sky shone brilliantly. The Golden List continued to update the rankings. When the Sword Saint saw the ranking, his usually calm expression froze. He instinctively tightened his grip on the hilt of the Yuanhong sword and whispered to himself, "He actually made the list as well? It seems the reward is quite generous."
Who would take the top spot on the Famous Swords Ranking?
Following his gaze, the Golden List had already reached 12th place.
[Famous Swords Ranking, 12th place—Shark Tooth. Reward: Heaven-grade low-tier elixir—Qianyuan Sword Intent Pill. Whoever consumes it can comprehend the Qianyuan Sword Intent.]
The owner of the Shark Tooth was none other than his junior brother, and the leader of Quicksand. That was the reason for his shock.
*The Qianyuan Sword Intent Pill?* This was a Heaven-grade low-tier elixir. Its efficacy could be described as heaven-defying.
"If my junior brother consumes this pill, I wonder how much his strength will increase."
The Sword Saint pondered secretly. He and his junior brother had come from the same school but followed the rules of the Guiguzi School: only one person was allowed to inherit the ultimate arts. Therefore, his junior brother had always wanted to defeat him. Now, with his junior brother having obtained the Heaven-grade elixir, based on his knowledge of him, he would surely challenge him again once his strength increased!
As he was thinking, the Emperor's domineering voice reached his ears.
"Master Gai, your junior brother's reward is not bad. If he comes to Xianyang to challenge you again, I shall certainly watch the fight."
His words were filled with expectation. When the King of Qin first ascended the throne, he had visited the Han State with the Sword Saint.