Asura City's walls stood a hundred zhang high and stretched for nearly a hundred li, so far that their ends were almost out of sight. The entire city was built of an unknown black stone, cold and imposing. Standing beneath its walls gave one an indescribable sense of oppression.
The enormous city gate was a full twenty zhang high. Figures clad in black battle armor stood on either side of the gate and atop the walls. A thick killing aura surrounded them, and a single glance was enough to tell that they were iron-blooded warriors who had truly faced life and death.
Ning Xuanyuan followed Ye Xuankong to Asura City. The Night Watch Army soldiers guarding it moved in perfect unison, dropping to one knee and shouting together, "Commander Ye!"
On the Myriad Heavens Battlefield, within the Night Watch Army, there was no Highness, only Commander Ye!
Ye Xuankong nodded, then pointed to Ning Xuanyuan beside him and said, "This is the Blood Scion of our Asura Domain, Ning Xuanyuan."
The Night Watch Army soldiers' gazes seemed to flicker slightly. Then they lowered their heads and saluted Ning Xuanyuan. "Greetings, Your Highness Xuanyuan."
Ning Xuanyuan waved his hand. He keenly noticed that the way these soldiers looked at him was completely different from the way they looked at Ye Xuankong.
When they looked at Ye Xuankong, there was unmistakable awe, admiration, and even fervor in their eyes. But when they looked at him, apart from coldness, there seemed to be a faint trace of hostility.
"It seems they think I came here to seize power," Ning Xuanyuan said to Ye Xuankong, pursing his lips.
Ye Xuankong waved a hand, and only then did the kneeling soldiers rise. They returned to their posts and resumed their duties, orderly and under strict military discipline.
"Let's go." Ye Xuankong led Ning Xuanyuan toward the towering city gate ahead. The soldiers who had followed them earlier dispersed in different directions rather than continuing after them.
"They're all soldiers I trained. My imperial father sent me into the army when I was eighteen, and I entered the Myriad Heavens Battlefield afterward. They've faced life and death with me and spent their days and nights at my side," Ye Xuankong said slowly, a trace of remembrance in his eyes.
"They may be soldiers, but every one of them is a brother who has shared life and death with me. I rose to the commander's position and took charge of the Night Watch Army not because I was a prince, but because of the military merits I earned fighting bloody battle after bloody battle."
"On the Myriad Heavens Battlefield, status means nothing; only merit counts. In fact, before you came along, I was the only choice for Blood Scion, whether in the army or the Asura Domain."
Ye Xuankong held nothing back. There were things Ning Xuanyuan ought to have known long ago, and there was no need to conceal them.
"That's why many people are unhappy that you became the Blood Scion. Especially in the Night Watch Army. Those fellows even wanted to..." Ye Xuankong shrugged without finishing, but his meaning could not have been clearer.
"Damn impressive!" Ning Xuanyuan grinned. He sincerely admired Ye Xuankong's prestige and standing in the army, and he also admired those soldiers' nerve.
They dared to rebel against the Asura Emperor? Heh...
That old fellow didn't look like the kind of man who would go soft, no matter how you looked at him...
"Now that you've come to the Myriad Heavens Battlefield too, it's only natural that they're hostile toward you." Ye Xuankong did not pursue the previous topic, continuing instead.
"Xuanyuan." Ye Xuankong suddenly patted Ning Xuanyuan on the shoulder, his expression turning serious. "Every one of the brothers under my command is a man of iron backbone, a fine and worthy man. I hope you can set your status aside and bear no prejudice against them. Use your actions to change the way they see you."
"One day, when you ascend the throne as emperor, they'll be willing to brave fire and water for you."
Ning Xuanyuan pursed his lips and said languidly, "If I don't agree, or if I can't do it, will you beat me up?"
Ye Xuankong paused, then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, and I'll beat you half to death."
Ning Xuanyuan: "..."
Asura City was vast, divided into numerous districts. Most were military camps. Ye Xuankong's commander's residence stood in the center of the city, but it was no palace. It was a building like those in the other camps, merely occupying a slightly larger area.
From this alone, it was clear that Ye Xuankong had not used his status to place himself above others and claim special treatment. No wonder he held such an exalted position and such prestige in the Night Watch Army.
It had even reached the point where, with one call from him, they would all rise in rebellion. Or rather, he wouldn't even need to call...
Naturally, Ning Xuanyuan moved into the commander's residence as well. After all, he was a prince of Asura and wasn't familiar with anyone else. Besides, he held no post, so it would not have been appropriate for him to live in the military camps.
Early the next morning, in the main hall of the commander's residence.
"You're planning to go to the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum? So soon?" Ye Xuankong asked, looking at Ning Xuanyuan in surprise. He had intended to have Ning Xuanyuan familiarize himself with the Myriad Heavens Battlefield first, then travel to various places for experience. He had not expected Ning Xuanyuan to ask to go to the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum on his second day here.
"Weren't you the one who told me to use my actions to change the way they see me? If I hole up in your residence, they'll only find me more and more of an eyesore," Ning Xuanyuan said.
Ye Xuankong paid no mind to Ning Xuanyuan's half-joking tone. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "All right. The Ancient Imperial Mausoleum is the closest to Asura City, and with your strength, there shouldn't be much danger in the first three levels."
"I'll arrange for a few people to go with you."
Ning Xuanyuan did not refuse Ye Xuankong's arrangement. He was unfamiliar with the place and its people, so having someone lead the way would save him quite a bit of trouble.
Before long, three Night Watch Army soldiers stood before Ning Xuanyuan. Ning Xuanyuan recognized one of them: he was one of the men who had returned to the Asura Domain with Ye Xuankong.
Chen Yuan was at the early stage of the Life Palace Realm and served as a squad leader in the Night Watch Army. The others were presumably members of his squad.
Under Chen Yuan's lead, the group left the commander's residence and departed Asura City, heading southeast toward the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum.
The Ancient Imperial Mausoleum was roughly several hundred li from Asura City, a very short distance in fact. For a Soul Sea Realm martial artist, the journey took a little under half a shichen.
In the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum, even the lowest-ranked Copper Voids were comparable in strength to Aspect Condensation Realm martial artists. Silver-ranked Voids were at the Soul Sea Realm level. If they attacked Asura City, they could reach its walls in very little time.
That showed just how formidable Asura City's overall strength was. Any other faction would probably have dared to build a city only at least a thousand li away.
Moreover, Ning Xuanyuan had not seen a single Void along the way before reaching the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum. Presumably, the Night Watch Army soldiers in charge of patrols had thoroughly cleared them out.
"We've arrived, Your Highness. The Ancient Imperial Mausoleum is just ahead."
Chen Yuan, at the front of the group, suddenly slowed down and turned to speak to Ning Xuanyuan.