Jiangzhou, Xujun, Baima City.
This was a prosperous city threaded through by a mighty river. Merchant ships came and went along the water, while countless rivers of all sizes ran beneath the streets, giving the city numerous stone bridges. They drew literary talents and gifted women from across the land. Some painted on the bridges, some composed poems by the willow banks, and beautiful women waved their arms from windows, every frown and smile turning the heads of passersby on the streets and bridges. The whole scene was like a flourishing age captured in a painting.
Even though the world was embroiled in chaos, Baima City remained lively and untouched by the wars.
The arrival of dusk added a touch of desolation to Baima City's prosperity.
In the northern district stood a grand residence. Three large characters were carved into the plaque above its gate.
Lingtian Mansion!
Lingtian Mansion was vast, occupying nearly a quarter of Baima City. Within it were martial arenas of various sizes, where many martial artists trained and sweated like a private army.
On one of the arenas, a man in black stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the boys and girls practicing before him. He nodded slightly, his eyes filled with gratification and anticipation.
Guardian Xiao's Body Tempering Art truly is extraordinary. By tempering the body with the qi of heaven and earth, these little fellows will be capable of roaming the martial world within twenty years—no, within ten.
The man in black was named Tian Jiang, the chief instructor of Lingtian Sect. Under him were a hundred instructors, all dedicated to teaching the young disciples martial arts.
At that moment, a man with a saber at his waist hurried over. He came to Tian Jiang's side and said, "A dozen or