Chapter 436: The First

The final words on the scroll, which had drawn the attention of countless lives in Anhai Prefecture City, slowly emerged one by one.

“First place…”

“Wushan Starfield…”

Guard Guan, who had just been celebrating the Seventh Plum Rain, still holding a wine cup in his hand, suddenly widened his eyes in shock. His fingers involuntarily clenched, and with a series of sharp *crack* sounds, the extraordinary material of the cup twisted under his grip.

“It’s our Wushan Starfield,” General Tu and the other Realm Gods were momentarily stunned.

“Yes, yes, it’s me, it’s me,” muttered the red-haired man wearing a half-mask, his gaze fixed nervously on the scroll.

The entire courtyard watched with bated breath.

The deities of the Xia Clan, Yu Jingqiu, and even Dongbo Xueying all looked up at the massive, fully unfurled scroll in the sky, where the final words were slowly appearing.

“Dongbo!”

“First place, Wushan Starfield, Dongbo!”

The most dazzling, radiant, and largest line of text at the very top of the scroll shone brilliantly. At this moment, countless eyes in Anhai Prefecture City were fixed on this name, etching it into their memories. Across the entire Bloodblade Divine Court’s territory, there were only nineteen prefectures. To rank first in a prefecture’s Sorting Battle was a testament to one’s strength and potential. Throughout history, those who achieved first place in the Sorting Battle—if they didn’t perish—inevitably became Realm Gods, and their futures were extraordinary, far surpassing ordinary Realm Gods.

In the courtyard, even Guard Guan scrutinized the scroll again, fearing he had misread it.

But there was no mistake.

At the very top of the blood-red scroll unfurled in the sky, the radiant golden characters were unmistakable: “First place, Wushan Starfield, Dongbo!”

“Hahaha…”

“Dongbo!”

“Brother Dongbo, you’re truly incredible.”

“Haha, Dongbo, I knew you could do it—first place, the top rank in the entire Anhai Prefecture’s Divine Court’s Myriad Flowers Banquet Sorting Battle!”

The courtyard erupted in cheers and laughter. Even Guard Guan, Lady Sang, General Tu, and the master of Feiyun Lake—all Realm Gods—came forward to congratulate him. Most of the surviving divine-level experts from the Sorting Battle, who had little hope left, also offered their congratulations. Regardless, they shared the bond of participating in the Divine Court’s Myriad Flowers Banquet together, and they hailed from the same starfield. With this connection, seeking Dongbo Xueying’s help in the future for minor matters would likely not be an issue.

The sounds of celebration soared into the sky. Divine-level experts from other starfields in distant estates immediately understood—the one named ‘Dongbo,’ who had taken first place in the Sorting Battle, must be in this direction.

“Brother Dongbo,” the handsome, white-robed youth, His Highness the Seventh Plum Rain, smiled at Dongbo Xueying. “You’re truly remarkable to have claimed the top spot in the Sorting Battle. Among nearly two thousand starfields in Anhai Prefecture and countless visiting divine-level experts… in the end, you proved to be the strongest.”

“Brother Meiyu, you flatter me too much,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “First place in the Sorting Battle doesn’t guarantee first place in the Survival Battle. And even if one ranks first in both, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the strongest in life-or-death combat.”

“Brother Dongbo, you’re too modest,” the Seventh Plum Rain said, his voice cool yet gentle. “Do you know that such humility can be rather irritating?”

Dongbo Xueying was momentarily speechless.

The Seventh Plum Rain chuckled at his reaction.

Meanwhile, Yu Jingqiu, standing beside Dongbo Xueying, observed the exchange and sent a mental message: “Xueying, I’m right here, you know.”

“Uh…” Dongbo Xueying turned to his wife. “Jingqiu, what’s the matter?”

“I’m standing right beside you, and you’re still exchanging glances with someone else?”

“He’s a man!”

“Who says so? He looks like a woman to me.”

“You really…”

“What, you disagree? Am I in the way here?”

Dongbo Xueying and his wife continued their silent exchange.

His Highness the Seventh Plum Rain glanced at the couple, smiled faintly, and then walked away.

“How… how could it be…? Impossible. I must have misread. I must have misread.” The red-haired man stared fixedly at the blood-red scroll stretched across the sky like a celestial curtain, his gaze locked onto the golden names—especially the largest, most radiant one at the very top. He refused to believe it. He refused to accept that the name wasn’t his.

He scrutinized the entire scroll from top to bottom, over and over, searching for any oversight, any trace of his own name.

But the scroll listed only two names from Wushan Starfield—one at the very top, and the other at ninth place.

“Me…”

“I lost?”

“It’s over?”

The red-haired man gripped the hilt of his blade, gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and turned to leave without a word. He disdained offering congratulations to Dongbo Xueying or the Seventh Plum Rain.

“My journey in the Divine Court’s Myriad Flowers Banquet has ended. But in the future, I will grow stronger—stronger than the Seventh Plum Rain, stronger than Dongbo.” With icy determination in his eyes, the red-haired man strode back to his estate.

Across the vast Divine Realm, the Abyss, and the Material World…

Countless personalities existed.

Some, who had believed themselves peerless talents in their small corners of the world, only realized the immense gap when they arrived in the Divine Realm. There was always someone greater, always a higher peak. Those who constantly compared themselves and insisted on being the strongest would only find their minds increasingly unbalanced. Dongbo Xueying, as a Paragon of the First Grade True Intent, dared not show the slightest arrogance during the Divine Court’s Myriad Flowers Banquet, keeping his First Grade Divine Heart hidden. He maintained a clear understanding of himself. His goal was simply to participate in the Divine Court’s battles, hoping to become a disciple of a mighty figure. If he could obtain a Myriad Flowers True Fruit, that would be even better.

As for rankings? He would simply do his best.

—

The Sorting Battle would be followed by the Arena Battle three years later. Three years after the Arena Battle concluded, the Survival Battle would commence. Another three years after the Survival Battle, the participants would depart for the Divine Court to compete in the final Divine Court Battle!

The three-year intervals between each stage were designed by the Bloodblade Divine Court to give the divine-level experts ample time to absorb the lessons and gains from each trial. After all, such high-level tempering was rare. Three years was neither too long nor too short—just enough for quiet cultivation. For beings with the long lifespans of deities, three years was truly insignificant.

“Brother Dongbo, you’re welcome to visit my territory in Cuijiao Starfield anytime. I’ll ensure you’re treated with the utmost hospitality,” said a towering figure covered in golden fur as he stepped out of Dongbo Xueying’s estate. His head, also covered in golden fur, bore a single horn.

Dongbo Xueying personally escorted him out. “Brother Ju, take care. I’ll certainly visit when I have the chance.”

After watching the figure leave, he turned and returned to his estate.

“Dongbo, that makes over thirty Realm Gods who’ve come to visit you, and this one was even a Second Heaven Realm God,” Purple Thunder Emperor remarked with a laugh.

“Fame does come with its headaches,” Dongbo Xueying sighed.

Just then, a voice called from outside.

“Dongbo!” A soldier from the garrison approached respectfully. “By order of Guard Commander Guan, I bring you newly acquired intelligence!”

“Intelligence?” Dongbo Xueying walked over in surprise.

“It’s information on the top one thousand divine-level experts from the Sorting Battle. Intelligence on them is now being sold outside, and the Guard Commander purchased copies for you and His Highness the Seventh Plum Rain,” the soldier explained.

“Please convey my gratitude to the Guard Commander,” Dongbo Xueying said, accepting a crystal jade slab from the soldier.

The soldier saluted and departed.

Dongbo Xueying immediately began reviewing the intelligence. As soon as he touched the crystal jade, a flood of information poured into his mind, and the slab itself quickly dissolved into nothingness.

“One thousandth place: Yan Feng of Cuijiao Starfield, cultivation age over 1,653,000 years. Defeated a Fierce Witch Soldier with ease.” The intelligence even included a scene of Yan Feng’s battle against the Fierce Witch Soldier during the starfield preliminaries.

“Nine hundred ninety-ninth place…”

Each entry followed the same format.

This intelligence primarily listed cultivation ages and included battle scenes from the starfield preliminaries.

Due to its simplicity, it wasn’t particularly expensive.

After all, gathering more detailed information—such as battle scenes from the Sorting Battle itself—was far more difficult. Only the Divine Court’s envoys and the Prefect of Anhai had access to those. Even the Spacetime Temple couldn’t infiltrate the scroll artifact to observe. As for gathering past intelligence?

Take Dongbo Xueying, for example. As a Material World Lord, intelligence on him alone was costly, let alone on a thousand divine-level experts.

—

Dongbo Xueying wasn’t the only one reviewing this intelligence. Many experts, including Realm Gods and even scions of wealthy families within Anhai Prefecture, had obtained copies.

Naturally, their focus was on the top ranks.

“Third place: Jiu She of Dongya Starfield, cultivation age over 5,916,000 years.”

“Second place: Zui Guke of Gongshu Starfield, cultivation age over 21,500 years.”

“First place: Dongbo of Wushan Starfield, cultivation age over 2,300 years.”

As the intelligence spread, while the battle scenes from the preliminaries were included, it was the cultivation ages that truly captured attention.

“What? 2,300 years?”

“He’s only cultivated for a little over two millennia?”

“This Dongbo…”

Throughout Anhai Prefecture, those who saw the intelligence were stunned by the cultivation age of this ‘Dongbo.’