My Hidden Strength Was Exposed by the Heavenly Dao Ranking List

Peng Feng, a 1.8-meter-tall young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, transmigrated into the Northern Song Dynasty, a world that outwardly mirrors history but secretly possesses powerful martial artists capable of splitting mountains and breaking seas. He was reborn into a ninth-rate martial family known as the Five Tigers Broken Door Saber Peng Family. Unlike a common civilian, Peng Feng was determined to practice martial arts and soon discovered he was a monstrous genius unseen in a thousand years. He learned any martial art instantly and experienced enlightenment every few days. After more than ten years of cultivation, at only seventeen years old, his strength had reached the fifth level of the fourth major realm, the Diamond Realm, far surpassing his own sect leader who was only at the fifth level of the second major realm, the Innate Realm. Despite his explosive power, Peng Feng kept a low profile, only revealing the strength of a sixth-level Acquired Realm weakling to his family. His only goal was to stay hidden and cultivate until he reached the Land Immortal Realm or beyond, believing that only those who remained hidden and lived longest were the ultimate winners.

One day, while drinking wine and leaning lazily on a wooden corridor, golden lights appeared in the sky above all cities in the Great Song with populations over 300,000. A voice announced itself as the Heavenly Dao of Great Song, declaring three rankings: the Hidden Dragon List for youths under twenty-five, the Earth List for experts below Land Immortal, and the Heaven List for all Land Immortals of Great Song. These lists were to be revealed in three days. A Celestial Phenomenon Realm grandmaster who attacked the golden light was severely injured by the counterforce, and even the Land Immortal State Preceptor Lin Lingsu confirmed that the ranking was beyond any Land Immortal, possibly created by the true Heavenly Dao. Everyone began speculating about the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List. Among the young talents, Cai Yun, son of Chancellor Cai Jing, cultivated the Fire Phoenix True Scripture and reached the eighth level of the Acquired Realm. He arrogantly declared that the first place was destined for him. In the Western Route Army, Zhong Hao, son of Grand Marshal Zhong Shidao, mastered the Great Divine Demon Skill and reached the half-step Divine Strength Realm, also wanting first place. His sister Zhong Hongluan encouraged him. In the capital, Li Qingzhao, the famous poetess and martial arts genius, had also attained the eighth level of the Acquired Realm and confidently claimed she would secure the top spot to prove women could dominate. Peng Feng, upon seeing the Heavenly Dao ranks, realized that his true cultivation level would now be exposed; he had been planning to stay low until he became a Land Immortal, but the ranking could reveal him.

On the third day, the Hidden Dragon List was announced. The first place was Peng Feng, origin: Five Tigers Broken Door Saber Peng Family, age seventeen. Second was Zhong Hao, third Li Qingzhao, fourth Cai Yun, and the list continued with other names such as Su Yuluo, Zhao Bing, and Song Jiang. The entire Great Song was stunned. No one had ever heard of this Peng Feng. Investigation showed the Five Tigers Broken Door Saber Peng Family was merely a ninth-rate sect with a low-level saber technique. Cai Yun was furious that a nobody from a ninth-rate sect had taken his rightful first place and vowed to defeat him. Li Qingzhao was dumbfounded and also wanted to challenge him to prove herself, but was confined to the capital by her parents. Zhong Hao was excited to find someone stronger but was unable to leave due to military duties against the Western Xia. Meanwhile, the Western Xia Emperor Chongzong learned of the Great Song Hidden Dragon List. Realizing Peng Feng's potential to become a great expert if allowed to grow, he ordered the First Rank Hall to send assassins to eliminate this peerless genius.

Three days after the list release, Peng Feng was training in his room, aiming to break through to the sixth level of the Diamond Realm. Suddenly, screams came from outside. He rushed to find two disabled old men—one missing a left hand and one missing a left foot—who had seriously injured more than ten disciples of the Peng family. They identified themselves as Earthly Defect and Earthly Imperfection, assassins from the Western Xia First Rank Hall. They had come specifically for Peng Feng. Peng Feng confronted them, determined to face these assassins head-on. Now, the conflict that Peng Feng had long tried to avoid was upon him as the world recognized his genius and powerful enemies moved to end his life.