Cultivating in Different Professions

After that, he left the city to guard the outskirts of Daxing Mountain and hadn’t returned since.

If Luo Anning hadn’t mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten.

"Is the city in chaos?"

Su Mu asked.

"Senior Brother Su, how did you know?"

Luo Anning asked in confusion. "After the Dragon and Tiger List was released, there have been duels between experts in the city almost every day.

Lord Zhao told me to remind you to be careful."

"What do I have to be careful about?"

Su Mu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Senior Brother Su, you’re number two on the Rebirth List."

Luo Anning said, "There will definitely be many unconvinced people coming to challenge you.

Martial artists covet fame. If they defeat you, they can take your place.

Not even the Taiping Bureau can forbid such challenges."

The Da Xuan Dynasty revered martial prowess, and the law did not prohibit duels between Martial Artists.

Even as a Taiping Captain, Su Mu could still be challenged by others.

He could, of course, refuse, but that would damage his reputation.

"Second on the Rebirth List?"

Su Mu wasn’t concerned about the challenges and asked with keen interest.

"Who’s first?"

’I have to admit, this Dragon and Tiger List really does stir up one’s competitive spirit.’ Su Mu had considered himself quite detached, but his first reaction to hearing his rank was to wonder who was ahead of him, let alone other Martial Artists. ’My initial worry wasn’t wrong. This Dragon and Tiger List will surely cause countless conflicts.’

"Taishi Tianbi."

Luo Anning said.

"That brute who was number one on the most-wanted list?"

Su Mu said, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, that’s him."

Luo Anning said, "He’s been famous for over ten years. Senior Brother Su, your only disadvantage is your youth. Otherwise, number one on the Rebirth List would surely be you."

"It’s just a list. It doesn’t mean much."

Su Mu gave a calm smile. ’He didn’t believe anyone in the Rebirth Realm could defeat him. Still, there was no need to argue about it.’

"Besides the Rebirth List, what other lists are on this Dragon and Tiger List?"

Su Mu asked curiously.

"There’s also the Blood Transformation List, the True Essence List, and the Soaring Dragon List."

Luo Anning said, "The Soaring Dragon List only has ten names. They are the ten strongest in the world."

"Lord Zhao had someone send a copy of the Dragon and Tiger List over. It’s at the supply point. Senior Brother, you can go back and take a look at the specifics."

Luo Anning added.

Su Mu nodded and returned to the supply point with Luo Anning.

Unlike the single imperial scroll Su Mu had imagined, the Dragon and Tiger List was a thick booklet.

He flipped to the page with his name on it.

"Rebirth List, Second Place: Su Mu. A Sixth-Grade Taiping Captain of the Taiping Bureau, with cultivation at the Great Success stage of the Rebirth Realm. He practices the Taiping Bureau’s Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique. This man reached the unprecedented Eleven Times Blood Exchange Realm, awakened the Physical Divine Power Blood Body, comprehended the Kan Water and Xun Wind Realms, and is also suspected of having mastered the Gen Mountain Realm. He possesses the Renowned Blade Thunder Shock, ranked eleventh on the Divine Weapon List, as well as the Profound Weapon Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. His greatest feat was shooting and killing a Tier Three Demon. Commentary: His greatest feat relied on the power of the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. His strength is formidable, but lacks the support of other public achievements."

After Su Mu finished reading the text on the page, a smile appeared on his face.

’It’s true, I rarely make a move in public. And killing the Tier Three Demon was only possible with the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. As for the other times... anyone who’s seen me go all out is already dead.’

Filled with curiosity, Su Mu flipped to the entry for first place on the Rebirth List.

"Rebirth List, First Place: Taishi Tianbi. Origins unknown. Cultivation: Rebirth Perfection. Awakened the Physical Divine Power: Immense Strength. Mastered the Gen Mountain and Thunder Shock Realms to the Great Success stage. Possesses the Dragon Roar Saber, ranked seventh on the Divine Weapon List. Greatest Feat: Killing an Initial-Tier True Essence Realm Martial Artist in a frontal assault. Commentary: To kill an Initial-Tier True Essence Realm Martial Artist in a frontal assault while only at the Rebirth Realm, with two realms at the Great Success stage, his strength is unfathomable."

Su Mu curled his lip. ’Rebirth Perfection cultivation, two realms at Great Success, and one Physical Divine Power... his strength is decent, I suppose. But calling it ’unfathomable’ just shows how ignorant the list-makers are.’

Su Mu casually flipped through a few more pages.

Wu Yiqi, the Fourth-Grade Inspector from the Inspection Bureau in Wuling, was surprisingly only ranked sixth on the Rebirth List.

Xue Shan was ranked eighth.

In nineteenth place, Su Mu was surprised to see another familiar name.

"Jing Ke, Silver-faced Killer of Golden Wind Tower. Origins and specific cultivation unknown. Suspected to have reached Great Success in the Gen Mountain Realm. Possesses the Renowned Blade Po Jun, ranked thirteenth on the Divine Weapon List. Greatest Feat: Assassinating an Inspector from the Inspection Bureau. Commentary: This person’s strength may be no less than that of Xue Shan, the Young Master of Golden Wind Tower."

Su Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He hadn’t expected even Jing Ke to be ranked by the Hundred Knows Hall.

’Nineteenth place... not too shabby.’

Su Mu roughly flipped through a few more pages and saw many familiar names, all of them Taiping Captains from the Wuling Taiping Bureau.

Lin Qi Huan’s name was ranked seventh, only one spot below Wu Yiqi, but still above Xue Shan.

’The top five on the Rebirth List all have a record of single-handedly killing an Initial-Tier True Essence Realm cultivator.’

Su Mu glanced at the few people ranked above Wu Yiqi and thought to himself.

’As expected, the world is full of rising heroes. I, Su Mu, am not the only genius out there.’

"Fifth, Xin Mengtai, True Disciple of the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

Fourth, Taiping Captain Mei Yingfeng.

Third, Wenren Jiangbo of the Wenren Family."

Su Mu muttered to himself. Other than Taishi Tianbi, the rest of the top five on the Rebirth List all came from various major powers.

The Divine Weapon Pavilion needed no explanation. The Wenren Family was one of the great clans of the Da Xuan Dynasty, a leading Civil Servant family, known for boasting "three Prime Ministers from one house."

Within a few generations, their family had produced three Prime Ministers.

For such a great family to also produce a Martial Dao genius was surprising.

Then again, a great clan like that would naturally not lack for Martial Arts Techniques and cultivation resources.

In this world, it was hard to draw a line between Civil Servant Families and Military Families. Even Civil Servants possessed cultivation; in Da Xuan, there were almost no powerless government officials.

’Two of the top five on the Rebirth list are Taiping Captains. Within the top ten, a full five are Taiping Captains,’ Su Mu thought to himself. The Taiping Bureau really was the most powerful martial organization in the Da Xuan Dynasty.

For all the Inspection Bureau’s swagger, only Wu Yiqi, an Inspector from their ranks, made it into the top ten of the Rebirth List.

When it came to Martial Dao foundation, no power in the world could truly compare to the Taiping Bureau.

...

Just as Su Mu was looking through the Dragon and Tiger List, a young master in lavish attire arrived in Wuling City.

The young master had an extravagant flair; upon entering Wuling City, he immediately booked out the city’s largest inn.

And immediately, people began to renovate it.

A continuous stream of luxurious goods, the likes of which the people of Wuling had never seen, was brought into the inn.

In just one day, the inn was completely transformed.

The people of Wuling had never witnessed such a spectacle.

Besides the Dragon and Tiger List, this young master named Wenren Jiangbo became the new hot topic of discussion for the people of Wuling.

"Pah! What’s he so smug about? He’s still ranked below my Brother Mu, isn’t he?"

Wuling City’s top young master, Wang Guan, commented with a sour tone. Compared to the truly top-tier young masters of Da Xuan, he had suddenly become a country bumpkin.

In any case, he could never spend hundreds of thousands of silver on a single trip.

Damn it, the man even had his own bed specially brought along.

What, does sleeping in that bed let him sleep for an extra four hours or something?

Though Wang Guan was disdainful in his words, he was incredibly envious in his heart.

Inside the splendidly renovated inn, a young man in a large cloak leaned lazily in the arms of a beautiful woman.

The beauty was draped in light gauze, her snow-white skin almost glowing. She gazed affectionately at the young master whose head rested on her chest, her fingers, slender as spring onions, gently kneading his shoulders.

"Go. Deliver my written challenge to Su Mu."

"Yes, sir."

Below, a guard replied without daring to lift his head.

"Young Master, should I go test Su Mu’s strength for you first?"

The guard said, "He once shot and killed a Tier Three Demon, and the Hundred Knows Hall ranked him above you, Young Master..."

"Hmph!"

The young master snorted coldly. "He just relied on the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. The Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow can’t even hurt me.

His Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique specializes in fire, while my Celestial Pig Rebirth Technique excels in water. I counter him perfectly.

It would be one thing if he doesn’t use the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. But if he dares use it in front of me, I’ll show him just how water extinguishes fire!

The people at the Hundred Knows Hall must be blind to rank me third.

After I defeat Su Mu, I’ll go after that Taishi Tianbi. And then, I’ll pay a visit to the Hundred Knows Hall to wash out their eyes for them and make them see clearly who is *really* number one on the Rebirth List!"