Remnant Immortal City, early March.
The snow had melted, the grass was growing, and orioles were taking flight.
Crowds packed the streets from every direction, converging toward the city center like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
Such a grand spectacle was rare not only in Remnant Immortal City, but even among the other Seventy-Two Cities, where it might not be seen once in a century.
For today was the day of Martial Combat to Determine Master!
The city lords of the Seventy-Two Cities were generally held by powerful martial artists.
Such beings possessed profound realms and lifespans far beyond those of ordinary people, often living for centuries. To mortals, even over the course of an entire lifetime, they might never witness a city lord being replaced and a new master chosen.
Yet this time, it had happened in Remnant Immortal City!
In truth, everyone had foreseen this day when the former city lord departed ten years ago. They simply had not expected the old city lord to leave behind no decree whatsoever, allowing matters to reach the brutal point where the city lord's position would truly be decided through martial combat.
Among the streams of people, those dressed in splendor led the way, and no one dared contend with them for precedence.
These people were all among the foremost figures in the city. Either they possessed vast holdings within the city, or their businesses had spread into other cities. They were powerful figures who ranged across the four quarters, usually with one or two Furnace Realm Strong Experts under their command.
Behind them came Remnant Immortal City's local wealthy elites. Their strength fell short of the former group, and they could not produce enough wealth to hire Furnace Realm strong experts to personally guard them. Most could only