Imperial Court

Chapter 25: Imperial Court (Seeking Recommendation Tickets~)

A scene like that in Nine Heavens City was playing out simultaneously in many cities within Chengtian Domain that were close to the border.

Several days later, within a hundred thousand miles of Chengtian Domain's border, all martial artists with considerable strength received the Imperial Court's 'Summoning Order'.

Facing the Imperial Court's Summoning Order, the various family forces reacted differently.

Shi Tianlu sat on a chair, expressionless, gently stroking a jade pendant in his hand.

The jade pendant was square, its jade extremely translucent, with intricate patterns carved along the edges. In the center of the pendant was engraved the character 'Wu'.

This jade pendant was precisely the Imperial Court's Summoning Order. Those qualified to receive this token represented martial arts cultivation at least above the Earth Sha realm.

Shi Feng stood by his side, looking at the jade pendant with a confused expression. "Patriarch, why have I never heard of an Imperial Court?"

"Let alone you, even I haven't heard the name Imperial Court in a long time. After all, the Imperial Court is too far from us."

"Isn't the Imperial Court a force within Chengtian Domain?"

Shi Tianlu shook his head slightly. "No, it should be said that Chengtian Domain belongs to the Imperial Court, or rather, the entire Divine Continent belongs to the Imperial Court."

A hint of shock flashed in Shi Feng's eyes. Chengtian Domain, spanning millions of miles, was already immeasurably vast in his eyes. The number one force in Chengtian Domain, the Holy Martial Immortal Sect, truly controlled an area of only a few hundred thousand miles around their sect.

And the Divine Continent had nine great heavenly domains. This vast territory of tens of millions of miles actually belonged to this so-called Imperial Court. Just how immense was the power of this Imperial Court?

"Shi Feng, I've told you long ago, this world is vast, and Tenglong City is too, too small," Shi Tianlu clenched the jade pendant in his hand, stood up, and walked to the window.

"Patriarch, now that you've received this Summoning Order, do you have to rush to the border?" Shi Feng came back to his senses and asked.

"A Summoning Order has been issued, concerning the foundation of the Human Race. Those who disobey the order will be killed without mercy. From the moment I accepted this Summoning Order, my aura has already been recorded in the Imperial Court's registry," Shi Tianlu looked up at the sky with his hands behind his back, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

Shi Tianlu had no objection to going to the border. As a member of the Human Race, it was his duty to contribute during this time of crisis. What worried him now was whether something had gone wrong with the Imperial Court.

An unknown Demon Emperor from the Demon Race was invading the border, and the Imperial Court did not immediately dispatch top experts to suppress them. Instead, they used these scattered Demon Suppressing Armies to issue a Summoning Order, seeking the help of martial artists like them.

The implications hidden within this made Shi Tianlu hesitant to even think about it.

"I will depart for Nine Heavens City later to rendezvous with the other martial artists. I will also transfer more than half of the martial artists in the manor above the Foundation Realm. As for you, you will remain in the manor and keep an eye on Shi Lan. It's been turbulent outside recently, don't let her run around."

"Your subordinate understands."

After practicing martial arts, Shi Lan felt a bit tired and was sitting in the courtyard to catch her breath when she saw over a dozen streaks of light shoot up into the sky, heading west.

What does it feel like to fly with a weapon...

Shi Lan tidied her mood and returned to her room.

With the mission issued by the System pushing her from behind, Shi Lan dared not slacken in the slightest.

Due to the excessive strain on her physical body from the Vajra Divine Fist, Shi Lan could only practice it four times a day at most now. Any more would cause damage to her body. Therefore, Shi Lan focused most of her energy on the Jade Body Forging Technique.

As one medicinal herb after another disappeared, Shi Lan's cultivation grew stronger day by day.

In the blink of an eye, nearly ten more days passed. Shi Lan finally touched the barrier of the third level of the Body Tempering Realm.

It took another three days of diligent effort for Shi Lan to break through this barrier and enter the third level of the Body Tempering Realm. The Vajra Divine Fist also reached the minor accomplishment stage. At this point, less than ten days remained until the deadline set by the System.

Shi Lan felt anxious, but practicing martial arts still had to be done step by step. She had no choice but to compress some of her sleep time and spend most of it on the Jade Body Forging Technique.

After swallowing the last medicinal herb and digesting it, Shi Lan finally felt the barrier of the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

At this moment, less than two days remained until the one-month deadline. If she continued at her previous pace, there definitely wouldn't be enough time.

After eating her evening Medicinal Cuisine, Shi Lan frowned and thought for a long time. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she ran to the wardrobe, rummaging through it until she found a brocade box.

Opening the brocade box, Shi Lan took out a dark green pill.

This Body Refining Pill was a reward from the novice mission. The minimum cultivation requirement for taking it was the third level of the Body Tempering Realm, which Shi Lan had now met.

Without hesitation, Shi Lan picked up the pill and swallowed it.

As the pill entered her mouth, the outer skin instantly dissolved. A rather complex taste spread from the tip of Shi Lan's tongue – bitter, astringent, sour, sweet, and even spicy, a mixture of five flavors.

These flavors combined, eventually turning into a unique fragrance that exploded on Shi Lan's taste buds.

Before Shi Lan could savor it further, a heat far more potent than that from swallowing the medicinal herbs surged within her body.

Shi Lan sat down cross-legged and began circulating the Jade Body Forging Technique. The airflow generated by the Jade Body Forging Technique this time was much thicker than ever before, causing Shi Lan's physical body to ache slightly.

This stream of airflow fiercely impacted the barrier of the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm. The barrier trembled slightly before returning to calm.

Shi Lan had only just entered the peak of the third level of the Body Tempering Realm, and the barrier had not been subjected to any impact, making it naturally very resilient.

After this white airflow circulated within Shi Lan's body, it once again slammed fiercely against the barrier. This time, the barrier merely swayed slightly.

Shi Lan focused her attention on circulating the Jade Body Forging Technique, relentlessly striking the bottleneck.

The airflow circulated back and forth, continuously hitting the barrier. Each impact caused every inch of Shi Lan's bones and muscles to tremble, becoming stronger once more.

Ten times...

Twenty times...

After an unknown amount of time, the barrier of the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm began to shake more violently. Finally, under the continuous impact of the airflow, the barrier was broken.

The moment she broke through, Shi Lan felt a mighty surge of power flood into her body.

[Main Quest Complete. Quest rewards being distributed.]

[Congratulations Host for obtaining 2x Beginner Lucky Draws, 1x Dust Cleansing Pill.]

Listening to the System's prompts, Shi Lan couldn't be bothered to open her eyes and check her rewards. The Body Refining Pill's medicinal effects hadn't been fully digested yet, still continuously strengthening her physical body.

After breaking through to Body Tempering Realm fourth layer, the Jade Body Forging Technique's circulation speed also climbed a tier, entering the second stage.

Under the circulation of the second stage Jade Body Forging Technique, the remaining medicinal effects of the Body Refining Pill were quickly refined, and her body gradually calmed.

After stabilizing the qi within her body, Shi Lan slowly opened her eyes.

Outside, the sky was already bright. Judging by the time, it was almost noon.