As the most prosperous city in the Sun Moon Empire—and indeed all of Douluo Continent—the closer a residence in Ming Capital stood to the Imperial Palace, the more illustrious its owner's status was.
Apart from the imperial clan, the residences of the Crown Prince's Mansion and many of the Sun Moon Empire's high-ranking ministers were located near the Imperial Palace.
"Is this the Kong Family?"
Stepping down from the carriage and looking at the sprawling estate before him, Xu Tianming raised an eyebrow.
Kong Deming's status in the Sun Moon Empire was second only to the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Calling him the man beneath only one was no exaggeration.
Yet although his family estate covered a vast area, it lacked the gold-and-jade extravagance common among nobles. Instead, it exuded a restrained simplicity everywhere.
The towering walls were built from an unknown gray stone, their surfaces faintly marked with intricate Core Arrays.
On either side of the main gate stood several guards bearing imperial insignia, their vigilant gazes falling upon Xu Tianming.
"Xu Tianming, son of Xu Xiang, Lord of Dongyang City, has come with this token to pay respects to Elder Kong."
With a flick of his wrist, a palm-sized token appeared in Xu Tianming's hand.
The token appeared to be forged from some rare metal. The reverse bore the emblem of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, while the front displayed only a single character: "Kong."
Kong Yue had given him this token before he came to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.
It was said to be a Soul Tool as well, used to verify one's identity.
The guards at the entrance stepped forward and took out a device, which they swept over the token in Xu Tianming's hand.
"Please follow me!"
Only after the