In the wilderness, deep in the mountain forest.
After gathering the spoils, Jiang Ning gave the four grandmasters simple burials.
On the way back, he kept replaying the fight in his mind.
It had been a long time since he had fought without holding back.
His opponents today had not been especially strong.
But they had not been weak, either. All were seasoned grandmasters.
Though they were old and their vitality had waned, like Shangguan Guyun, they fell far short of seasoned grandmasters at their peak.
Even so, they were far from weak.
With a grandmaster's talent, advancing years could still bring slow progress in martial intent.
This fight had shown Jiang Ning exactly how strong he was.
He far surpassed so-called seasoned grandmasters.
Even someone as formidable as Shangguan Guyun had been no match for a single exchange once Jiang Ning used the Six-Foot Golden Body.
Water-Blue Fairy Aunt of the Sky-Pervading Sect could not even withstand his mountain-like palm strike.
Perhaps I really can fight a second-rank grandmaster now! The thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind as he looked toward Dongling City's gate, with the Dongling Mountain Range sprawling beyond it.
The Ten-Li Pavilion was only ten kilometers from Dongling City.
Once he let himself run at full speed, he arrived in moments.
By then,
night had fallen completely.
The last wave of travelers was entering through the city gate.
Jiang Ning mingled with them and slipped into the city unnoticed.
Then,
he sped through the West District, sweeping onward like the wind.
A short while later,
he reached the suspension bridge connecting the East District and the West District.
Dongling City was unlike Luoshui County.
It had no inner and outer city, only eastern and western districts.
The Nu River cut through its center, dividing the two.