Chapter 222 Full-scale war and soul killing (8000)
The situation is very embarrassing now. The baby girl never expected that after she came out, there would be a ninth-rank holy hand outside. This is beyond her imagination.
"Why are you still carrying a baby out?" Director Mu just glanced at Liu Qingfeng, not taking it seriously, and looked at the baby girl in Xu Bai's hands.
The next moment, Director Mu's eyes widened suddenly.
"The body of a monster, the soul of a person, what kind of dirty thing is this?"
He almost said it aloud, even with his eyesight, it was the first time he saw such a weird thing.
Xu Bai coughed and told the whole process of Yaogui City. When he talked about what Liu Qingfeng did, Director Mu took a deep breath.
"Hiss—"
This tone has nothing to do with strength, nor does it have to do with everyone's age or personality, but a unified style, which is the feeling of extreme admiration.
"Back then I was so courageous that I made myself look like this, but now I am so courageous that I ran to do that kind of thing." Director Mu looked at Liu Qingfeng and said, "As expected of you, by the way, can this really be born? ?”
The corner of Xu Bai's mouth twitched: "How do I know? I asked you, thinking you knew."
"I'm just a luck master, at best a very strong luck master, how can I know everything." Director Mu spread his hands.
This thing is completely beyond human cognition. If you take a closer look, one person and one monster, and then the two do some things, and give birth to a child. The body of this child is monster, but the soul is human.
What the **** is this!
Xu Bai lowered his head, and his eyes fell on the baby girl: "Come on, it's up to you to explain, I worked so hard to bring you here, you can't keep your mouth shut, can't you see the old man next to him, his methods are extremely cruel of."
The baby girl looked at Xu Bai innocently, yelled twice and didn't speak.
Xu Bai shook his head and said: "At first your eyes were exposed, so don't pretend anymore, it's really boring to pretend, otherwise, you really want to die, don't you?"
After hearing this sentence, the baby girl finally closed her mouth. Immediately afterwards, those innocent eyes gradually changed, revealing a vicissitudes of life.
"Ah…"
A child's laughter sounded, and the baby girl finally spoke.
"If I say, I never wanted to harm you, would you believe me?"
"I don't believe it." Xu Bai replied decisively: "First of all, you have to tell me what the **** you are."
"I'm Sun Lan." The baby girl said.
Xu Bai: "???"
Sun Lan?
Sun City Lord?
If she was Sun Lan, who did she meet before?
Why is this thing getting more and more confused?
Xu Bai was thoughtful, and after thinking for a long time, his eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had thought of something.
"You came out of the ghost city...!"
Based on the information he received before, he only thought of this result.
When he asked this sentence, the baby girl nodded bluntly.
"That's right, I'm the only one in the whole tricky city who can use this method to get it out."
"From now on, I can continue to grow up like a human being. To be precise, I am a human being."
"I know you want to know all this, so I'll tell you all about it."
This was the first time Xu Bai saw Yaogui cooperate so much.
In fact, if you don’t cooperate, you can’t do it. If you are seen out, if you don’t cooperate, you will only have a dead end.
Don't talk about Director Mu, even Xu Bai can handle her with his own hands.
As Sun Lan spoke eloquently, everything slowly unfolded.
After Xu Bai finished listening, he only wanted to say one word.
-show!
This matter has to start with Sun Lan's own specialness. She died pregnant with a baby girl and turned into a monster.
After her death, she has been thinking about the way to get out of Yougui City.
Finally, she saw Liu Qingfeng and thought of a brilliant solution.
Sun Lan is a demon clan, and her profession is a demon soul master.
The characteristic of this profession is that the soul can separate from the body and occupy the body of others.
She saw that Liu Qingfeng didn't have any soul at that time, so she thought about occupying Liu Qingfeng's body, and then use Liu Qingfeng to get out.
But she was no match, so she tried every means to mobilize Liu Qingfeng's instinct, and the two flirted on the top of the mountain all night.
Unexpectedly, when she was about to swallow Liu Qingfeng's body, she discovered that there was a big hole in Liu Qingfeng's body, and no spirit could stay in it for long.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, she quickly withdrew, saving one life.
After that night, Liu Qingfeng also left. Unexpectedly, she unexpectedly opened up the soul-soul connection with the fetus in her womb.
The fetus has a soul connection, and she can transform freely, and when her soul falls into the fetus, it turns out to be a human soul.
But if the fetus is sent out, it is powerless.
She thought of Liu Qingfeng, if Liu Qingfeng was allowed to take the fetus out, relying on Liu Qingfeng's instinct, he would definitely take care of the fetus.
But never expected that Liu Qingfeng has since disappeared.
She had been enduring, but she couldn't bear it anymore. The baby girl was born, but she was rejected by Yaogui City.
Fortunately, she has a treacherous body, and she used her demon heart to stabilize everything, which made everything slow down. After that, what happened to Xu Bai and the others.
Xu Bai couldn't help but sigh with emotion, as expected of an old thing who has lived for many years, there is still such a way.
"Finish, then go to die."
The news has also been obtained, and there is no need to keep her.
This thing is essentially a monster, why keep it?
"Wait!" Sun Lan interrupted: "I already have a human soul, so I am no longer a monster, and I no longer hate the living, and I have effects on you!"
"Oh?" Xu Bai touched his chin: "What's the effect?"
Sun Lan answered quickly, fearing that the answer would be too late, Xu Bai cut her neck off: "Sooner or later there will be a war between the deceitful city and the human world, it's just a matter of time, but I know a lot of secret information about the deceitful city, and I can contribute to the world !"
Xu Bai: "..."
When this sentence came from Sun Lan's mouth, Xu Bai always felt more and more awkward the more he heard it.
He looked at Mr. Mu, meaning to ask Mr. Mu how to deal with it.
This thing should be related to Tiansi, not him.
President Mu said: "Leave it to me."
As soon as the words fell, Sun Lan spoke.
"He's scary, I don't want to be with him!"
This is the existence of the ninth rank of saints, and there are only nine in the entire Yaogui City. Sun Lan doesn't want to fall into his hands.
"You have no choice." Director Mu took the baby girl and said, "But don't worry, I've always said what I say, as long as you are useful to us, not only will we not kill you, but we will treat you equally. treatment."
"Really?" Sun Lan asked.
"Is it important whether it's true or not? You are already in such a field now." Director Mu didn't answer, but he pointed out the purpose in one sentence.
Sun Lan stopped talking, she knew that this was her only way.
Beside , Liu Qingfeng was still suppressed by luck, with a dull expression on his face.
"Killed?" Director Mu asked.
Xu Bai shook his head, indicating no need.
If it was the past, Xu Bai would agree. After all, this guy is an unstable existence, and he even attacked himself back then.
But it is different now, with Xu Bai's Heaven-shaking sword technique, he can completely control it, and it is still useful to keep it.
For example, in the Yaogui City not long ago, the cool breeze played a key role, so let's keep it for the time being.
Director Mu didn't say anything, and withdrew his luck.
Driven by instinct, Liu Qingfeng ran away quickly.
There is another person missing here, Xu Bai looked at the demon heart in the baby girl's hand, and took it.
"Is it this one?"
This is the key to this trip, leaving aside the others, for Xu Bai, this is the big gain.
Mr. Mu glanced at it and nodded: "As long as you insert the evil eye into it, you can succeed."
"But I must remind you that if you want Xietong to display the ability to cut the extraordinary ninth rank, you can only make one cut. After one cut, this sword will no longer exist."
Xu Bai knew, but he didn't say anything.
Compared to the fate of Eunuch Wei, this precious sword is nothing more than that.
Thinking about this, Xu Bai pulled out the evil pupil from his waist, put the demon heart on the blade, and inserted it forcefully.
The next moment, Xu Bai saw Yaoxin turning into blood and merging into the blade.
"It's done!" Director Mu smiled and said, "Give me back my luck now."
Xu Bai felt that something was pulled out of his body, which was the luck of the Great Chu Kingdom.
"If this is the case, can I enter the ninth rank of the holy?" Xu Bai looked at the evil pupil in his hand and asked, "How do I operate?"
"Did you see the eyes on the top?" Mr. Mu said: "Just use your strength to go inside, and then make the strongest knife in your life, and that's it."
I see.
Xu Bai said something in his mind, and put the knife back into the scabbard.
"It's still early, when the time comes, you and Eunuch Wei will go there together, and you will be able to kill him steadily." President Mu said.
"Hey, if it wasn't for Eunuch Wei who is not good at sword skills, and other people who are good at sword skills, it would be difficult to completely control the chaos of this knife, and I don't want you to participate."
"But you can't let Eunuch Wei know about it, otherwise he will never let you go, because he is worried that you will be in danger."
Xu Bai agreed, saying that he would act quietly when the time comes.
"Ahem, the treasure I gave you..." Director Mu kindly reminded.
Before going in, he gave a one-time treasure, which can temporarily possess the strength of the third rank of saints.
Looking at the situation, it seems that Xu Bai is useless.
"Alas..." Xu Bai sighed: "This trip is very dangerous, I have already used it."
"Aren't you talking nonsense with your eyes open? I can easily sense what strength I am, so bring it quickly." Director Mu stretched out his hand.
Xu Bai turned around and left: "Don't even think about it, just treat it as the travel expenses for this trip."
Director Mu: "..."
In the end, Xu Bai still didn't hand over the things.
Things are done, there is nothing else to do, Xu Bai left this place, and Director Mu also took Sun Lan away.
Because of solving such a major matter, Xu Bai finally felt relieved, and his steps became much easier.
Back to his residence, Ye Zi had already returned to the royal treasure house, Xu Bai didn't bother her, and asked her to learn more.
In this way, he suddenly felt that he seemed to be doing nothing again.
Originally, he wanted to go to Eunuch Wei for a drink, but the matter of the knife must be kept a secret. Eunuch Wei is old and sophisticated, and it would not be good to be seen by then.
"What should I do?"
"Looking for the Ninth Princess? No, the Ninth Princess gives me the feeling of hunger and thirst. Maybe I will be eaten."
"That's right! There is one more thing, this thing may become the key to my life in the future!"
Xu Bai suddenly remembered something, clapped his hands vigorously, and walked towards the door.
After leaving the temporary residence, he did not stay, but went directly to the emperor's imperial study.
There was still no one blocking the way, and he arrived at the door smoothly. Before he could knock on the door, he heard voices from inside.
"come in."
Chuhuang's voice was a little tired, as if he hadn't slept for several nights.
Xu Bai tidied up his clothes, pushed the door and entered, and closed the door with his backhand, he was slightly taken aback.
The room is filled with all kinds of books.
Chuhuang was constantly flipping through the pages.
"Wait a minute, I'll finish sorting out these materials before I can talk about it. After all, there is going to be a war soon, and there are a lot of things to deal with."
He didn't even look up, still flipping through the pages.
Xu Bai nodded, found a place to sit down, and waited patiently.
After nearly half an hour, Emperor Chu raised his head and moved his gaze to Xu Bai.
"I already know, and I feel at ease when this matter is done."
As the top spot in the Great Chu Kingdom, he is naturally well-informed, and the news is faster than Xu Bai's.
"The jade pendant...you don't have to return it to me, it's a reward." Chu Huang said again.
Listen, this is called atmosphere.
Look at other emperors, and then look at Mr. Mu. Why is there such a big gap between these people?
Xu Bai said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I still have one thing to ask for your majesty's permission when I come here this time."
Emperor Chu frowned and said, "What's the matter?"
"Weichen wants to borrow a book, a book that can destroy the soul, and the higher the level, the better." Xu Bai replied.
The book that destroys the soul?
Emperor Chu was slightly surprised, which he did not expect.
Now everyone in the world knows that Xu Bai has learned a lot of complicated things, but the Emperor Chu doesn't understand why he learns this.
"In short, this thing is very important to the minister, and must be available." Xu Bai said solemnly.
Emperor Chu fell into deep thought. After a while, he nodded and agreed.
"Go back to your own residence first, and I will arrange for someone to bring it over soon."
Although I don't know why Xu Bai wants this kind of book, but of course he will give it if he can. After all, this trip is considered a reward.
Xu Bai said no more, seeing that Emperor Chu still had a lot of things to do, he left.
Returning to the temporary residence again, it was almost dark, Xu Bai asked the maid outside to serve a table of wine and vegetables, and ate and drank alone.
It was getting darker and darker, there was a sound of footsteps, and soon the voice of the **** came.
"Prince Xu, this slave is following His Majesty's order to deliver books to Prince Xu."
Xu Bai opened the door, and saw a middle-aged **** holding a book in his hand and handing it to him.
"This is the slave's honor. I hope that Prince Xu will meet Eunuch Wei in the future and say something nice for the slave." The middle-aged **** flattered.
"Definitely." Xu Bai answered briefly.
After the **** left, he closed the door and returned to his position. With the help of the oil lamp on the table, he looked at the golden progress bar on it, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
What can you do in ten days?
You can follow a progress bar, but you must have a purpose and prepare for what happens next.
He thought about it carefully, besides the knife, there is another way to save his life, that is his golden finger.
But you can't ask others to attack the soul every time, so you have to have your own way to attack yourself.
Speaking of it this way, although it seems a little bad, it is indeed Xu Bai's idea.
If he goes to Dayue Kingdom again in the future and there is another danger that cannot be avoided with the Xietong Knife, he can only use this method.
In the future, he will be equivalent to having a real killer.
"Continue, let's do it!" Xu Bai opened the book and stared at it intently.
The faint oil lamp is shaking, and with the help of light and shadow, the progress bar is slowly increasing.
…
Time is passing by.
In the blink of an eye, the half-month deadline is getting closer and closer.
Recently, there have been various rumors.
Especially at the border, there have been more and more frictions recently, and all of them are provoked by the Great Chu State.
More importantly, the merchants at the border always feel a tense atmosphere spreading.
No one knows, no one understands, but everyone is worried.
This worried atmosphere weakens the closer one gets to the capital.
Especially in the capital, the people here are living as usual, without the slightest tension.
In the imperial palace of the capital.
Xu Bai sat in the temporary residence and slowly closed the book in front of him.
"Finally... the liver is finished, fortunately, it's at the critical moment."
Looking at the light blue smoke in front of him, Xu Bai smiled.
The light blue smoke gradually converged, gradually forming a line of text, which appeared in front of Xu Bai.
【You observe the soul killing tactic and comprehend the soul killing tactic. 】
This time, no new text appeared, just light blue text, which gradually disappeared and turned into information, which entered Xu Bai's mind.
In front of you, the latest property panel appears.
【Name: Xu Bai. 】
【Realm: Extraordinary First-Rank Sanren. 】
【Three Master Swords (Extraordinary Level 9): Full level. 】
【Wan Xiang Tian Yin Shan Hai Jue (Extraordinary Level 1): Full level. 】
【Returning Wind and Liuxue (Level 5): Full level. 】
【Phantom Dafa (Extraordinary Level 1): Full level. 】
【Moving Heaven and Earth (Extraordinary Level 1): Full level. 】
【Immortal Devil Soul Buddha Body (Supernatural Level 1): Full level. 】
[Strengthening the Kidney and Returning to Yuan Method (Extraordinary Level 1): Full level. 】
【Hundred Poison Gang (Extraordinary Level 1): Full level. 】
【Smart Puppet True Solution (Level 9): Full level. 】
【Water adaptation method (level 5): full level. 】
【Feng Shui Arithmetic (Level 9): Full level. 】
[Thousands of Miao Wan Mian Jue (Level 9): Full level. 】
【Coexistence of Yin and Yang (Level 1 of Metamorphosis): Full level. 】
【Mountain and Sea Invitation to God (Level 9): Full level. 】
【Corpse control method (8th level of transformation): full level. 】
【Soul Killing Art (Extraordinary Level 9): Full level. 】
【Comprehension: full level. 】
…
The skill of Divine Soul Killing Art has a level of Transcendent 9, and Xu Bai reckons it is enough, after all, there is only Transcendent 1 now.
This skill is mainly aimed at the attack of the soul. Although it is contradictory to the ground cover in his sword and sword, this skill is of the 9th level of extraordinary.
According to his current strength, he can only use it twice in a row, just like Fan Tian in the Three Great Swords.
Of course, Xu Bai is not stupid enough to try it now, he still clearly remembers the pain, and it is not worthwhile if the golden finger is triggered during the try.
"The time is approaching, shouldn't the war be about to start?" Xu Bai thought for a while, and went out the door without staying any longer.
Inside the palace, it was still the same as before, and it didn't change because of the war.
Xu Bai walked around for a while, and after finding nothing unusual, he left the palace and went to the Zhaixing Tower.
Going around various streets, came to a remote location, looked at the nine-story building in front of him, Xu Bai went up the stairs all the way, and finally reached the ninth floor.
On the ninth floor, Director Mu is still the same as before, pretending to be playing chess with himself.
Seeing Xu Bai coming, he didn't lift his head, holding a chess piece, as if he was thinking, but Xu Bai knew that this guy was just pretending.
"Where did Shadow Moon go?" Xu Bai asked.
Ever since he came back, that night, Shadow Moon sent him the news, and he didn't know anything after that.
"The war is about to start. She has a strong specialty in intelligence, so I went to work on her affairs again." Director Mu thought for a long time, and finally played a chess piece, took another chess piece from the side, and fell into the trap. meditation.
Xu Bai found a seat and sat down on his own: "I'm ready, when are we going?"
All the preparations that should be done have been made, and Xu Bai came here specially this time to discuss the follow-up plan.
"No rush, the war won't start in a few days." Director Mu put the chess pieces back in place and waved his sleeves at the same time.
When he waved his sleeves, the chess pieces on the chessboard were automatically classified into black and white, and returned to the original chess basket.
"Eunuch Wei is still in the palace now, after he leaves, you can follow him." Director Mu took out a red cloth from his arms, only the width of a finger.
"Tie it on your wrist, and it will be able to isolate your breath, and Eunuch Wei will not be able to detect it."
"You have quite a lot of babies." Xu Bai took it in his hand and tied it on his wrist.
Immediately afterwards, he felt as if he had become non-existent.
This red cloth has no other function, nor can it increase combat power. It can only hide oneself, not the kind of complete invisibility, but to hide the breath.
"With it, combined with the Qianmiao Wanmian Jue, it can be completely silent." Xu Bai pondered: "Why didn't you give me this when I went to Dayue Kingdom?"
When I went to Dayue, if I had this red cloth, I would have saved a lot of trouble.
"Your disguise method, except for becoming a saint, you can't see anything else, and this red cloth can't block the level of becoming a saint." Director Mu explained.
"So it's just tasteless to give you, but this time it's different. During the whole process, you can't make a move except at the end. I just increase your chances of not being discovered."
Eunuch Wei is very strong, and he can exchange one with the ninth rank of the holy.
But his real strength is only the ninth rank of extraordinary.
So Xu Bai's method of disguise can fool Eunuch Wei, and with the addition of this red cloth, it can be stabilized.
"Just follow, what if I get lost?" Xu Bai asked again.
Minister Mu took a strange look: "It doesn't matter whether you follow or lose, your purpose is the same, you just need to go to the capital of Dayue Kingdom."
Xu Bai finally understood.
Eunuch Wei’s purpose is to go to Kyoto to assassinate the emperor, and his own purpose is also to go to Kyoto. The two are the same, so you just need to go there.
Then the two chatted for a while, discussing the implementation details emphatically. Xu Bai did not return to the palace, but stayed directly in the Zhaixing Building.
…
Several days passed.
Something big happened!
Great Chu and the barbarians, let's go to war!
This battle came very suddenly. Of course, this suddenness was only felt by the people around.
When the battle started, all the soldiers and horses of the Great Chu Kingdom in the border, all went towards the barbarians.
Except for a few soldiers left behind, King Shengyou led the army and had already invaded the barbarians in an all-round way.
War together, the most uncomfortable thing is the country of Dai Viet.
At this time, the Royal Palace of Dayue Kingdom.
Emperor Dayue looked at the silent ministers below, and patted the armrest of the dragon chair vigorously: "At the critical moment, you **** will play silence for me, prime minister, do you have any opinions on this war?"
Originally, everyone was good, and the three-legged situation, although the three-party forces wanted to destroy each other, did not have this opportunity.
However, the situation is different now.
Da Viet's domestic turmoil continued, and the rivers and lakes were in turmoil.
The Great Chu State took advantage of this time to aggressively invade the barbarians, and there were only three roads before the Dayue State.
First, guard your own one-third of an acre of land, don't meddle in this nosy business, and concentrate on healing your own internal turmoil.
This path has good and bad, but it is the most moderate one.
Everyone knows that the Great Chu Kingdom is the most powerful. If the Great Yue Kingdom ignores it at this time, the barbarians will definitely die.
Secondly, taking advantage of this time, when the Great Chu State was attacking the barbarians with all its strength, the Dayue State sent troops to attack the Great Chu State.
That's a good idea, but then what?
People are trying their best to encircle and suppress the barbarians. This lair doesn’t matter. You can take down his lair and wait until someone cleans up the barbarians before coming back to settle accounts with you.
And the most important thing is, if you dare to send troops now, those gangsters in Dayue Kingdom will definitely turn Dayue Kingdom upside down.
Third, aid the barbarians, at least ensure that the barbarians will not be wiped out.
Three paths, but this one is the safest.
There is no need to send a lot of soldiers and horses, but only a part of them, so that the strength of the barbarians can be equal to that of the Great Chu.
Although this will weaken the border defense, it is much better than the second one.
Liu Yue, the prime minister in white, stood underneath until the emperor asked him, and then came out from inside.
"Wei Chen feels that it is necessary to help the barbarians, continue to maintain the three-legged situation, and then seize the time to resolve the internal turmoil in Dai Viet."
As soon as this remark was made, the officials who were originally silent at first, now all echoed.
The emperor of Dayue Kingdom didn't speak, looking at the ministers below who were actively agreeing, he was also thinking about what Liu Yue said just now.
After thinking for a long time, he lightly patted the armrest of the dragon chair to silence the scene.
"It's not too late. I will pass on my will and order Bai Chong at the border to lead some soldiers and horses to the barbarians and help them."
He thought a lot, and finally decided to send troops to help, because this three-legged situation cannot be broken.
It can be broken at other times, but not now, because the current turmoil has not been resolved.
"yes!"
Since the emperor had spoken, and all the people present were smart, of course they all agreed.
After discussing for a while, the court ended.
Ministers went back to their homes, each looking for their mothers.
Liu Yue left the palace, went to his mansion outside the palace, returned to his room, and closed the door.
Turning his head, he saw a woman behind him.
"You are really brave. You didn't kill you last time, yet you dared to come to me in person."
Around the woman's body, there are black shadows writhing. If Xu Bai were here, he would definitely find that this woman is none other than Yingyue.
Yingyue said with a smile: "But the prime minister didn't kill me, which proves that my words are still useful."
"When the emperor of Dayue Kingdom dies and Bai Chong is supporting the border again, the prime minister can get the position of emperor first."
"At that time, even if Bai Chong wants to come back, it will be useless."
Liu Yue didn't say a word. In the dark room, his gaze was always lowered.
Although she looks like an ordinary person, and Yingyue's performance is very relaxed, at this moment, Yingyue is extremely nervous inside.
This is her task. Even if Eunuch Wei wants to change the limit, it will take time. If Liu Yue rushes over at this time, then everything will be avoided.
Therefore, the key must be solved.
The reason why she was sent here was because she was the most familiar with the country of Dayue.
After about half a stick of incense, Liu Yue finally raised his head, his gaze was still indifferent.
It's done!
Seeing this appearance, Yingyue knew that Liu Yue hadn't killed her immediately, so everything could be discussed.
Before coming here, her father, Director Mu once told her that among the three major powers, there is only one power that is not monolithic, and that is the Kingdom of Dayue.
Therefore, this behavior is a measure of alienation.
Of course, they couldn't let Liu Yue take action against the emperor.
Because Liu Yue is extremely cautious, if the matter fails and the emperor recovers, Liu Yue will be in absolute danger, so he will never make a move.
Seeing the possibility of success, Yingyue waited quietly. She was waiting for Liu Yue's next words.
Sure enough, although Liu Yue looked indifferently, he still opened his mouth slowly.
"I can sit in this position not only because of my strength, I am not a fool, I know your plan."
"After destroying the barbarians first, then turn around and destroy the country of Dayue. I will cooperate with you, but what can I get?"
"My goal is the throne of the Dayue Kingdom. If you destroy the Dayue Kingdom, where will my throne be? You must at least give me sufficient conditions."
The words are such words, and the reason is such a reason.
Liu Yue has already made it very clear.
He is for the position of emperor, but the country of Dayue will eventually be wiped out.
After being wiped out, what should we do?
He can't sit on the position of emperor, no matter how you look at it, it's a loss.
Yingyue smiled: "Master Prime Minister, your lifespan should be running out..."
When Liu Yue heard this, his pupils shrank.
(end of this chapter)