The Royal Capital.
The marquis's residence.
After returning to his residence, Jiang Ning headed straight to his own courtyard.
The sun was nearing its zenith, and scorching sunlight poured over the earth. It felt as though midsummer had arrived, with temperatures frighteningly high.
After entering the courtyard, Jiang Ning took the Ten-Region Heaven Patrol Envoy token hanging at his waist and hung it from a corner of the pavilion's eaves, exposing it to the sun.
Then he went beneath the verdant old pine. Rather than first inspecting the four recovered chests of resources, he closed his eyes and focused, sensing the blood and qi coursing ceaselessly through his body.
And the Dao embryo floating quietly within his Spirit Platform, wreathed in the flowing mystic radiance of yin and yang.
His fight with the leader of the Eighteen Dragon Heads had merely been a test of physical strength, yet it had given him a genuine taste of what First-Grade Martial Dao truly meant.
Although the leader had only recently entered the first grade, he had still placed Jiang Ning under immense pressure.
That tremendous strength, like mountains and seas crashing down, far surpassed that of any expert he had encountered before.
That battle had greatly tempered his disdain for the mighty figures of the world.
If that leader possessed such strength and such deep reserves after only recently entering the first grade, what of the other experts?
Granted, he knew the leader's strength could not be judged by ordinary standards. After all, the man had enjoyed a fortuitous opportunity.
But among the First-Grade Martial Dao practitioners who had risen above countless living beings, who had not enjoyed such opportunities?
He pondered for a moment, then opened his eyes and waved a hand.
A brilliant light flashed.
Four large ironwood chests, a