Martial Emperor City

After several days of travel, a city finally appeared ahead.

"Spirit Martial City!" Jiang Ming murmured the name once, then entered through the city gates.

To be honest, Jiang Ming had no idea where Spirit Martial City was, so he needed to find someone to ask.

Heavenly Martial Tavern was the largest tavern in the Martial Domain, with branch establishments spread throughout the domain.

Jiang Ming took out a Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone and tossed it to the waiter. "Bring me all your best dishes."

"Sir, our finest dishes are all made from third- and fourth-rank demon beast meat and heavenly treasures. If you want them all, it will cost three hundred and ninety-eight High-Grade Spirit Stones," the waiter said calmly.

Jiang Ming expressionlessly tossed out three Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones. "Keep the change!"

"Right away! Please wait a moment, sir!" The waiter beamed. The extra was definitely his tip—he had struck it rich again.

After a while, all the dishes were served. They looked quite appetizing.

"Waiter, come here. I have a few questions for you." Jiang Ming tossed out another Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone.

"Ask away, sir!" The waiter's face lit up with excitement. A wealthy patron like this was a once-in-a-century encounter!

"Where is Spirit Martial City located?" Jiang Ming asked.

After thinking for a moment, the waiter replied, "Spirit Martial City is in the south of the Martial Domain, close to the Cloud Domain. It is one of the more prosperous cities in the southern Martial Domain. Several tens of thousands of miles north of here lies Martial Emperor City, the center of the Martial Domain!"

"How do I get to the Heaven Domain?" Jiang Ming asked again.

"Head north all the way and you'll reach the Heaven Domain. I presume Young Master is going there for the Hundred Domains Competition? Recently, Martial Emperor City has been holding the Martial Domain Competition to select the Martial Domain's representatives for the Hundred Domains Competition."

"Oh? The Hundred Domains Competition requires qualification slots?" Jiang Ming asked curiously.

The waiter looked at him strangely.

"Young Master, every domain participating in the Hundred Domains Competition has five slots. Only those who obtain a slot may participate. Most domains, like the Martial Domain, hold competitions to choose their candidates," Zhang Lingyue explained from the side.

"You knew this? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I thought Young Master knew," Zhang Lingyue said softly.

"Young Master, there is still some time before the Martial Domain Competition. If you wish to participate in the Hundred Domains Competition, you can visit Martial Emperor City," the waiter said.

"Can anyone participate in the Martial Domain Competition?"

"Yes. It does not matter whether you are from the Martial Domain. In the end, you will be fighting on behalf of the Martial Domain."

After eating and drinking his fill, Jiang Ming set off for Martial Emperor City with Zhang Lingyue.

At the speed of the Black Jade Black-Gold Carriage, they would arrive at Martial Emperor City around the time the Martial Domain Competition began.

Martial Emperor City.

As the central city of the Martial Domain, Martial Emperor City was far larger than Cloud City. It was the grandest city Jiang Ming had seen on this journey.

"Young Master, where is the Martial Domain Competition being held?" Zhang Lingyue asked as she followed behind Jiang Ming.

"Why not ask around and find out?" Jiang Ming said blandly.

"Oh..." Zhang Lingyue approached a passerby. "Um... excuse me, where is the Martial Domain Competition being held?"

"Stop bothering me... Eh-heh-heh, beauty, the Martial Domain Competition is in the city center. I'll take you there!"

"No need!" Jiang Ming stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Lingyue, and left. Why did it feel like Zhang Lingyue was getting more and more foolish, like a complete idiot?

At the center of Martial Emperor City, the Martial Domain Competition grounds were packed with people. A massive arena stood in the middle of the enormous square.

"Brother, I just got here. What are the rules for this competition?" Jiang Ming asked the person beside him.

"See those five seats over there? If you're under twenty-five, pick one and go up to fight. Win, and you take the seat and the slot. Lose, and you lie on the ground. Life or death is irrelevant."

Under twenty-five? The Hundred Domains Competition's age limit was twenty-five. Generally, most cultivators in that age range were in the Nascent Soul Realm.

The Hundred Domains Competition was held once every ten years. Based on past results, the winners were usually at the Tenth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm or the First Layer of Tribulation Transcendence.

"Brother, you look quite young. You'd better not go up there. They won't show mercy," the man advised.

"Thank you for the warning." Jiang Ming thanked him and pulled Zhang Lingyue elsewhere.

"Young Master, are you going to compete?" Zhang Lingyue asked.

"Sigh, they're twice my age. It feels a little like bullying the young," Jiang Ming sighed.

Twice your age? What did he mean? They were twice his age??

Zhang Lingyue's mouth formed a round O. Was Young Master only twelve? Then her little face flushed crimson. She had actually... actually developed feelings for a little brother, and had even wanted to kiss him. Though in the end, the little brother had kissed her.

"Young Master, you... how old are you?" Zhang Lingyue even stammered. She was already twenty-one.

"Eleven." Jiang Ming smiled faintly. "Sister Yue is quite the old cow eating tender grass."

Jiang Ming had been away from home for two years. During those two years, he had not cultivated and had remained at the First Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm. No one knew the details.

Eleven years old?? Nani?! Zhang Lingyue's beautiful eyes widened in shock. He... I... damn it.

"Let's go!" Jiang Ming waved his hand and left the square. It was rather boring. The Martial Emperor City competition was filled with fights between people at the seventh, eighth, and ninth layers of the Nascent Soul Realm. Without anyone possessing the strength of the tenth layer, it was far too dull for him.

Zhang Lingyue hurried after him, the vast age gap leaving her completely at a loss.

"Y-Young Master, where are we going?" Zhang Lingyue asked curiously.

"There are still three years until the Hundred Domains Competition. Let's go home for a visit," Jiang Ming said wistfully.

Two years away from home had been quite a long time. After all, he was still young. This time, he needed to return and see the situation within the clan; it would determine his future standing. Back then, he had been so focused on going out to have fun that he had forgotten about it.

Those few ancestors should have supported him, but as far as he knew, he did not even know how many ancestors the Jiang Imperial Clan had. They were basically all hidden trump cards, sealed away within the Spirit Realm.

One of the requirements for becoming a Jiang Clan ancestor was to be a Peak Saint. In an era where no Emperor had emerged for ten thousand years, no one knew how many Jiang Clan members had become Saints over those ten thousand years.

"Going home?" Zhang Lingyue suddenly grew nervous. Although she was technically a maid, following Young Master home was practically the same as meeting his parents.

"Y-Young Master, where is your home?" The age gap made her temporarily uncomfortable with how she addressed Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming looked at her. "You'll know when we get there."

After saying that, he took out a token with the character Jiang engraved on it. He poured spiritual power into it, and the token erupted with boundless light. When the light faded, Jiang Ming and Zhang Lingyue were no longer where they had been.

"? Weren't there two people there just now?"

"Yeah, I saw them too."

"Why did they disappear? Did we see ghosts in broad daylight?"

"Were there people there? Why didn't I see anyone?"

Central Province, Jiang Domain.

Jiang Clan Spirit Realm.

The token directly transported the two of them to the entrance of the Jiang Clan. A huge plaque bore the words "Jiang Heaven Gate." This was the Jiang Clan's main gate, the passage connecting to the outside Jiang Domain.

As for the token Jiang Ming had used, it was the Imperial Son Token. One of its functions was allowing him to return to the Spirit Realm anytime and anywhere. It had been forged by an ancestor who cultivated the laws of space.

It was said that as long as one remained within the Heavenly Profound Realm, one could instantly return to the Spirit Realm no matter where one was.

"Who goes there?" the guards at the gate shouted.

"You don't recognize me?" Jiang Ming raised a brow. Compared to two years ago, he had grown a little taller. His black hair was simply tied into a ponytail, but his brilliant Golden Eyes remained his unmistakable mark.

"Greetings, Imperial Son!" The hundred guards at the gate all dropped to their knees in salute.

"Rise." Jiang Ming spoke blandly, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked into the clan.

Zhang Lingyue followed tightly behind Jiang Ming, hardly daring to breathe. Where the hell was this? What was all this? Every one of those hundred gate guards was stronger than her, and she was in the Nascent Soul Realm too.

The standard for the Jiang Imperial Clan's guard corps was the Sixth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm or above. Though the guards possessed only thin Jiang Clan bloodlines, they still had some. Outside, each of them would count as a minor genius.