Chapter 528: Chapter 505: Demon-Slaying Ranking Four years ago, when the Demon Clan at Cyan Wolf Ridge made a large-scale invasion of Zhao Kingdom, various border defenses within Zhao were in crisis, with cities falling one after another and the civilian casualties being severe. The Corpse-Driving Sect dispatched nearly all its experts, yet even so, it was extremely difficult to hold the line. The number of Foundation Establishment Elders, True Disciples, and Inner Sect Disciples fallen within the sect outnumbered those from the previous two hundred years combined. If this continued, even if they managed to withstand the Demon Clan’s assault, Zhao Kingdom would undoubtedly suffer a great loss in national strength, leaving it in ruins. Fortunately, after a series of negotiations and exchanges of interests, three years ago, other human forces came to support. This included the Red Sun Sect from Chu Kingdom, the True Blood Sect from Yan Kingdom, the Qingluan Palace from Yue Country, and even the Zhang Family and Li Family from the East Sea... These fresh forces, upon entering the battlefield, stabilized the precarious situation at once, preventing further deterioration. In fact, the unprepared Demon Clan found themselves at a slight disadvantage temporarily. However, the demon clans reacted extremely quickly, with the remaining monsters at Cyan Wolf Ridge all pouring out, engaging in fierce clashes with the human forces, refusing to yield. In these confrontations, the experts from both camps gradually became known to the world. Among the Demon Clan were the Qing Yang Demon, two Lion Demons, the Cold Cicada Demon, the Iron Camel Demon, the Hei Feng Demon... Among the Human Race were Xia Hong from the Red Sun Sect, Lu Chen from the Red Sun Sect, Jin Tingfeng from the True Blood Sect, Xin Zhiqi from Qingluan Palace, Li Jiawei from the East Sea, Zhang Xinye from the East Sea... The forces of humans and demons entangled in battle for half a year, with victories and losses on both sides, and the situation was stalemated for a while. At this moment, Elder Bi of the Corpse-Driving Sect proposed establishing a Demon Extermination Ranking at the sect meeting, which was immediately approved unanimously by the sect leadership. The Demon Extermination Ranking is an extraordinary giant stele magical artifact, personally refined by a Golden Core Master of the Corpse-Driving Sect, incorporating techniques from masters of other sects. It can monitor the demon extermination achievements of fighters in real-time, listing their specific battle records thereon. Only those who slay a Demon General can be ranked; this is the threshold. An entry-level Demon General counts one point, a mid-level Demon General counts three points, and a high-tier Demon General counts ten points. Within thirty days, the points garnered from killing demons remain unchanged. However, as time decreases, the weight of points previously gained from killing a Demon General will gradually decrease. For instance, ten points gained ten months ago will reduce to less than two points ten months later, possibly not even matching the score of a mid-level Demon General slain in the current month. Thus, the one who first kills a high-tier Demon General each month often sees their ranking soar, possibly jumping to the top, ensuring the list’s flow and real-time nature. Each month’s top ten on the finalized ranking list at month’s end will receive generous rewards from the Corpse-Driving Sect, including Spiritual Artifacts, talismans, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and even high-level cultivation techniques. The first month after the Demon Extermination Ranking was established. The first month’s top ten rewards were announced by the Corpse-Driving Sect. Included were a Defensive Spiritual Artifact, Foundation Establishment Pills to assist Peak Qi Cultivators in breaking realms, and even Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that could improve one’s original Spirit Root... The entire Cultivation Realm was amazed by the generosity of the Corpse-Driving Sect, feeling that they seemingly pulled out all their years of accumulation. Once the first month’s rewards were revealed, the enthusiasm among disciples of various sects to slay demons notably increased. Firstly, the benefits of ranking in the top ten were indeed substantial; killing more demons could earn rewards. This could allow one to progress further on the cultivation path, forming a positive cycle. Secondly, being higher on the list would spread one’s reputation far and wide. Cultivators are human too, and humans have emotions and desires; few can completely disregard fame. Thirdly, there is the competitive desire among the geniuses of various sects; each considers themselves no less than others, and no one wants their sect’s list position to be trampled by others. Jin Tingfeng from the True Blood Sect swiftly slew several high-tier Demon Generals after the Demon Ranking came out, topping the Demon Ranking for four consecutive months. He even boasted that he would remain at the top until he left Zhao Kingdom. Jin Tingfeng, with considerable gusto and overwhelming spirit, immediately garnered a throng of supporters, and even many folk storytellers called him the top prodigy of the Northern Domain of Central Continent. As a result, the geniuses from the Red Sun Sect, Qingluan Palace, and the Zhang and Li families from the East Sea couldn’t sit still. Everyone went into battle to slay demons, with enthusiasm utterly unlike before. In the fifth month, Xia Hong from the Red Sun Sect forcefully slew the high-tier Spider Demon General, climbing to the top of that month’s Demon Ranking, displacing Jin Tingfeng for the first time. In the sixth month, Jin Tingfeng again slew the high-tier Hippo Demon General, along with three mid-level Demon Generals, reclaiming the top spot. In the ninth month, Zhang Xinye from the Zhang family in the East Sea emerged unexpectedly. He alone fought two high-tier Demon Generals without falling behind, eventually slaying them both, and took the top spot on the Demon Ranking for the first time. In the tenth month, the fairy Xin Zhiqi from Qingluan Palace... In the second year after the Demon Extermination Ranking was established... The third year... The top position on the Demon Ranking gradually became a standard for the prodigies of various human sects to compete; not obtaining it seemed a notch below others. Of course, the Corpse-Driving Sect was not stingy, offering especially generous rewards to the top, effectively exhausting their resources against the Demon Clan. The talents of each sect took turns sitting at the top of the Demon Ranking. Adding to this, with the intentional or unintentional promotion by the Corpse-Driving Sect, the influence of the Demon Ranking gradually surfaced, even drawing individuals from sects in more distant countries to come for trials. Two and a half years into the establishment of the Demon Extermination Ranking, a mindful person tallied the achievements of talents from various sects. The individuals with the most monthly topping achievements, their names and deeds have been widely circulated. Among these, the achievements of Jin Tingfeng from the True Blood Sect and Xia Hong from the Red Sun Sect, among seven others, stood out magnificently. Each had achieved over two monthly top rankings, and all broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm within fifty years, with great prospects, being hailed as the Seven Demon Exterminators. Unfortunately, the current generation of the Corpse-Driving Sect lacked successors of their own. Among them, only a few aging elders occasionally ranked mid-tier on the Demon Ranking. The primary task of these elders was to guard the cities, lacking many opportunities to venture and slay Demon Generals outside the city. The strongest disciple of this generation, Qiu Shaojie, despite breaking through to Foundation Establishment only a few years back, barely made it to fifteenth place at his highest. But if one never scored a top ten in the Demon Ranking even once, it was hard to garner others’ respect and recognition. Occasional remarks like ’Corpse-Driving Sect is the weakest sect’ surfaced, making the sect disciples feel both angry and helpless. In the Cultivation Realm, strength is always respected. The Corpse-Driving Sect never having a young adept in the top ten of the Demon Ranking explains why others might look down upon them. This actually served to motivate many Inner Sect and True inheritance disciples in the sect, causing the atmosphere of cultivation within the sect to become extremely competitive. ... Three hundred miles outside the Corpse-Driving Sect, on an unknown and remote mountain peak, the trees were dense and lush. A young man with thick eyebrows and a hint of heroic spirit on his face, clad in a deep blue Daoist Robe, sat cross-legged beneath a lush pine tree, his eyes closed. "Finally, I can break through." Lou Yi looked at the three-dimensional, semi-transparent, colorful Attribute Panel before him; the realm column was already capable of change. Then, he imagined pressing onto a surge of power. Martial Saint Initial Stage (600/600) → Martial Saint Mid-Stage (0/600) ...