It had been a long time since the appearance of the Ten Great Masters.
This title emerged after the Great War between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Sectsâknown as the Battle of Righteousness and Evil.
While some names had changed over time, the framework remained largely intact.
After all, Zhongyuan revered martial strength, and these ten were its most renowned warriors.
Once the rankings were established, it was far more unusual for them to change.
âJust look at the Three Lords.â
The Three Lords hadnât made a public appearance in over a decade.
The Celestial Lord showed up occasionally, but the Overlord hadnât been seen in over twenty yearsâyet his position remained untouched.
This only proved how firmly their places were secured.
Now, letâs pose a question:
âHow strong are the Ten Great Masters, really?â
It was a fundamental question.
The Seven Irons and Three Fistsâthe supposed ten strongest warriors in Zhongyuan.
But were they truly the top ten?
I answered myself without hesitation.
âNo.â
I didnât think so.
Zhongyuan was filled with people hiding their strength.
Just look at my father.
Because he hadnât participated in the war, his strength was never revealed.
There must have been others like himâmasters who didnât step forward.
Perhaps they knew the war could be won without their help.
Or maybe they simply didnât care whether the war was won or lost.
Thatâs why they stayed hidden.
Butâ
âThey showed themselves during the Blood Demon War.â
When the Heavenly Demon unleashed his massacre, all of Zhongyuan was set ablaze.
There were no more excuses to remain hidden.
It was during this time that the Thunder Saint and the Warlord rose to prominence.
They were monstersâperhaps not quite at the level of the Three Lords but certainly strong enough to be counted among the Ten Great Masters.
This meant there were still warriors out there stronger than the ones currently recognized.
The current Ten Great Masters were powerful, no doubt about it.
But the story surrounding them wasnât the full truth.
Of courseâ
âIâm not saying theyâre weak.â
I simply meant that strength alone didnât guarantee a spot on that list.
Tap. Tap.
I brushed my hands off lightly and looked forward.
The Sect Leader of the Emei Sect.
The Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal stood before me with her hands clasped behind her back.
She stood there quietly, but the air around her rippled ever so slightly.
Was she flaring her energy like that idiot Clan Leader of the Peng family?
No, that wasnât it.
It was more like her presence naturally leaked out, no matter how much she tried to contain it.
âA Fist Immortal, huh.â
In the Emei Sect, which was famous for its sword techniques, this woman had risen to the top through her mastery of martial arts.
I steadied my thoughts as I observed the old woman.
At the same time, I focused on her presence and activated my body.