Atop the walls of Heavenly Gate City.
As Jiang Ning's words fell,
all the soldiers woke as though from a dream. Clarity returned to their eyes, their expressions mingling bewilderment with the lingering terror of having narrowly escaped disaster.
The next moment,
a figure appeared soundlessly atop the walls.
He wore a black flood-dragon robe, a jade belt cinching his waist. His figure was tall and straight, his face handsome, his features carrying a faint air of composure and calm.
It was Jiang Ning.
He seemed to have been there all along, unnoticed by anyone. Only when he spoke did the others suddenly become aware of him.
Now,
Jiang Ning stood with his head lowered, watching the figure in purple-red monastic robes three li ahead. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.
From the disturbance just now, he could plainly sense the formidable strength of this Northern Barbarian Kingdom state preceptor's mind.
It gave him the impression of someone seeking to vie with heaven itself.
With that immense mental power alone, without lifting a hand, the state preceptor had made the many soldiers defending Heavenly Gate City drop their weapons and kneel in worship, regarding him as a god.
At that moment, the Wheel-Turning King also looked over calmly, his gaze settling on Jiang Ning.
"Luo River King... Jiang Ning?" he said slowly.
"Indeed!" Jiang Ning inclined his head.
"So it was you. Before coming here, I had already guessed it would be you!" the Wheel-Turning King said.
"As expected, nothing escapes you, State Preceptor!" Jiang Ning said evenly.
Hearing this, the Wheel-Turning King calmly scrutinized Jiang Ning, looking him up and down.
Then he said, "Second Under Heaven is a distinction shared by five. I have met the other four before, but this is my first meeting with