"You want to challenge an expert on the Dragon and Tiger List?" Shui Ruolan asked, looking stunned.

"What, is there a problem?" Shen Haoran chuckled.

"Of course there’s a problem! Let me warn you, the disciples on the Dragon and Tiger List are in a league of their own. Take Li Ge, the one you’re challenging. He’s only a Tier Three Spirit General and ranked last on the list, so countless Martial Artists have tried to take him down to claim his spot and enjoy the Profound Level Cultivation Rooms. But every single one of them failed. There were even plenty of Tier Four Spirit Generals among those challengers, yet Li Ge still managed to firmly defend his rank. That should tell you how formidable he is! So, believe me, no one on the Dragon and Tiger List should be underestimated!" Shui Ruolan said with a serious expression.

"You only just broke through to become a Spirit General. I’d advise you to wait a bit. It’s incredibly difficult to challenge someone at a higher level within the Spirit General Tier, especially when you’re competing against those geniuses. Unless... you’re a total freak!" Shui Ruolan continued, trying to talk him out of it.

At that, Shui Ruolan froze. She looked at Shen Haoran, who was still smiling warmly at her, and pressed a hand to her forehead with a bitter laugh. "My bad, I forgot you *are* a freak!" She suddenly recalled Shen Haoran’s recent arena battles at the Red Flame Hall. He had single-handedly swept through nearly all the Level Four and Five disciples from the Five Great Halls. If that didn’t make him a freak, what did? Shui Ruolan could practically see the Dragon and Tiger List being thrown into chaos because of the young man in front of her.

"I’ll go arrange the challenge for you right now!" At that moment, Shui Ruolan was suddenly dying to see what kind of sparks would fly when Shen Haoran clashed with the geniuses on the Dragon and Tiger List.

Watching Shui Ruolan’s hastily retreating figure, Shen Haoran chuckled and shook his head. ’How on earth,’ he thought, ’did someone with her personality manage to fight her way into the top ten of the Dragon and Tiger List?’

Still, more than anything, Shen Haoran was excited. He couldn’t wait to cross swords with the experts on the Dragon and Tiger List. It wasn’t just a test of his strength, but a challenge to himself. ’After all, pressure builds motivation, and motivation is what will make me stronger!’

Taking a deep breath, Shen Haoran suppressed his excitement. He closed his eyes, centered himself, and quickly entered a state of cultivation. The challenge was fast approaching, and he had to ensure he was in peak condition.

...

While Shen Haoran was deep in cultivation, the nearby Wood Spirit Hall erupted with excitement. Their goddess had actually paid them a visit!

"Hey! Look! It’s the goddess Shui Ruolan! Wow, she’s so beautiful!"

"No duh, of course she’s beautiful! She’s a goddess, isn’t she? Look at that graceful figure, that flawless skin, that heavenly face, that cascading hair... I just... I want to fall at her feet and worship her!"

"Me too..." The fervent chatter grew as more and more Wood Spirit Hall disciples gathered around.

"I wonder why the goddess came to our Wood Spirit Hall today?" someone asked, puzzled.

"Isn’t it obvious? She’s here to see me, of course!" one disciple said shamelessly. The words had barely left his mouth before those around him beat him to a pulp. ’How dare you insult our goddess? You must have a death wish!’

"I think I saw the goddess coming out of Li Ge’s courtyard. Could Li Ge have actually won her over?"

"No way. Sure, Li Ge’s an expert on the Dragon and Tiger List, but he’s dead last. Goddess Shui Ruolan is ranked eighth. How could she possibly fall for him?"

"Who knows? Let’s just watch and see..."

The crowd’s endless discussion was a testament to Shui Ruolan’s high standing among the disciples of the Five Elements Sect. She, however, paid them no mind. She had delivered Shen Haoran’s challenge letter, and her part was done.

Meanwhile, inside his room, Li Ge—the man the goddess had just visited—sat with a dark, sullen expression.

Shui Ruolan’s sudden visit had been a delightful surprise for Li Ge. She was ranked eighth on the Dragon and Tiger List, an existence he could normally only admire from afar. He was also one of her many admirers, so when his goddess arrived, he had greeted her with nothing but warmth and enthusiasm.

But Shui Ruolan had simply tossed him a challenge letter without so much as a word or a second glance before leaving. All his fervent enthusiasm felt like it had crashed into an iceberg, instantly doused.

Li Ge opened the challenge letter and saw it was merely a challenge from some new disciple who was only a Tier One Spirit General. He’d never even heard the name before. ’My goddess ignored me for some unknown punk?’ he fumed inwardly. ’Who the hell is this guy?’

"Qi Dai, have you ever heard the name Shen Haoran?" Li Ge asked the Martial Artist standing behind him, his face grim.

Qi Dai was Li Ge’s lackey. At Li Ge’s question, he hurriedly and respectfully answered, "Brother Li, that Shen Haoran is a real celebrity! During the new disciple assessment, he stormed to the very top of the Chaos Celestial Ladder. He spied on Shui Ruolan while she was bathing on Linglong Peak, but not only did he not get punished, he was even invited for tea by She Hall Master! After that, he set up an arena at Red Flame Hall and single-handedly thrashed disciples from all Five Great Halls. You know Mu Feiyu? The one with the Extreme Attribute Physique that Elder Mu holds in high regard? Shen Haoran completely crushed him, pinned him down so thoroughly he couldn’t even struggle!"

"Hmm? He’s that famous?" Li Ge frowned. He never paid attention to such matters. It made sense; experts on the Dragon and Tiger List only concerned themselves with other experts on the list. They naturally wouldn’t give a second thought to new disciples.

"A Tier One Spirit General? Where does he get the nerve? Brother Li, you can take down even Tier Four Spirit Generals. This kid really doesn’t know his place!" Qi Dai added with disdain, having also seen Shen Haoran’s challenge letter.

"Brother Li, don’t even waste your time on someone like him. He’s probably just trying to impress the goddess. How about I go and... take care of him for you?" Qi Dai whispered, leaning close to Li Ge’s ear.

"Do I need you to meddle in my affairs?" Li Ge snorted coldly.

"He wants to challenge me? What a reckless fool. Fine, I’ll let him have a taste of what it means to be on the Dragon and Tiger List!" Li Ge said icily.

"Qi Dai, post this challenge letter for everyone to see. Make sure every disciple in the entire Sect knows about it! Hmph. He made me lose face in front of my goddess, so I’ll crush him under my foot in front of the entire Sect. I’ll humiliate him so badly he’ll never be able to show his face again!" Li Ge snarled.

"You got it! I’m on it!" Qi Dai chirped, grabbing the challenge letter and bolting out the door.

「The next day」

News of the challenge spread like wildfire throughout the entire Sect.

"Did you hear? That new disciple is actually challenging Li Ge!" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"A new disciple? You mean Shen Haoran? That kid’s got a lot of nerve, aiming for an expert on the Dragon and Tiger List. He really doesn’t know his own limits!"

"Heh, there’s no shortage of idiots, but this year seems to have a bumper crop. Does he really think he’s hot shit just for beating a bunch of Level Four and Five disciples? An expert from the Dragon and Tiger List will teach him a good lesson and show him a world of hurt."

"Haha, I’ve got to be there to see it! I want to watch Shen Haoran get beaten so badly even his own mom won’t recognize him!"

Similar sentiments could be heard all over the Five Elements Sect. Not a single person thought Shen Haoran stood a chance...