Heading to Jiang Domain

"No..." Jiang Ming had barely opened his mouth when he sensed a black shadow striking from behind. Nalan De was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth as he lay unable to move.

Jiang Ming turned, wrapping his free right arm around Nalan Yu's waist and shielding her behind him. At the same time, his Golden Eyes erupted with scorching solar rays. Crimson light pierced through the black shadow at an unmatched speed, and blazing solar fire immediately ignited across its body.

"No, spare my life! I am the Wu Family's ancestor! Whatever you want, I can give it to you..." Before the words had faded, the Wu Family ancestor had become a heap of black ash on the ground.

The Wang Family ancestor's pupils shrank sharply. Knowing he had provoked an existence he could not contend with, he swiftly retreated. Yet under Jiang Ming's pressure, his speed was crippled, giving Jiang Ming time to glance back at him. With that look, half the main hall collapsed, and another heap of black ash appeared on the ground.

Only then did Nalan Yu come to her senses and run toward Nalan De, who had been blasted away.

"Father, are you all right?"

Jiang Ming rolled his eyes. He was already coughing up blood, and she was still asking whether he was all right? He stepped forward and stuffed a healing pill into his mouth.

Before long, Nalan De's injuries improved, and he regained consciousness. Rising to his feet, he bowed to Jiang Ming. "Thank you, Young Master, for saving my life."

Jiang Ming waved a hand, pulled Jiang Naicha along, and left the hall for the carriage. Along the way, whenever members of the Wang Family saw Jiang Ming and sensed the invincible aura around him, they all hid to one side, not daring to approach.

Nalan Yu glanced at the departing Jiang Ming, bowed to Nalan De, and quickly jogged after him.

Nalan De shook his head with a bitter smile, yet there was nothing he could do. After steadying himself, he took out a communication jade pendant and contacted the Nalan Clan ancestor to explain the situation.

After getting into the carriage, Jiang Ming asked the late-arriving Nalan Yu, "Can you drive a carriage?"

Looking at the man before her, Nalan Yu felt somewhat nervous, but she still forced herself to remain calm. "Young Master, I can drive a carriage." Her voice was icy and devoid of emotion, making her difficult to read.

Hearing this answer, Jiang Ming nodded in satisfaction. Then he said softly, "Then you drive. We'll first return to your home and change carriages. Remember to pick a good horse—preferably a demon beast. Also, don't call yourself this servant girl anymore. Just call yourself Yu'er." With that, he closed his eyes and said no more.

Nalan Yu silently nodded and drove the carriage back to the Nalan Clan as Jiang Ming instructed. Along the way, everyone remained silent, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward and oppressive. Meanwhile, Nalan De stayed behind to deal with the aftermath.

After all, the strongest members of the Wu Family and Wang Family had both died at Jiang Ming's hands. It was undoubtedly a devastating blow to them, and the Nalan Clan had to seize this opportunity to secure the greatest possible benefits. However, none of this had anything to do with Jiang Ming, and he could not be bothered with it.

Upon arriving at the Nalan Clan, Jiang Ming carefully selected a carriage and horses. He chose a spacious, comfortable carriage, as well as two first-rank demon beasts, White Spirit Steeds. These demon beasts were snow-white all over and possessed exceptional endurance, making them highly suitable for long journeys. Nalan Yu said nothing, merely standing quietly to the side and awaiting Jiang Ming's instructions.

"Prepare to head to Jiang Domain. Go say your goodbyes." After saying that, Jiang Ming boarded the carriage, with Jiang Naicha following close behind.

Jiang Domain? Jiang Domain was the strongest region in Central Province. Though Nalan Yu was puzzled, as a maid, she only needed to obey orders.

Jiang Clan members with limited talent would leave the Spirit Realm and be sent to Jiang Domain to govern Central Province. The Lord of Jiang Domain was a Jiang Clan member. As for Azure Region, it had no regional lord, because Azure Region was remote, small in territory, and limited in resources. Jiang Domain basically did not concern itself with such minor places.

This time, Jiang Ming wanted to take a look at Jiang Domain. After all, it was his own family's territory. This was called traveling incognito to inspect the people.

At the side, Nalan Yu repeated Jiang Ming's words to Nalan De through her communication jade pendant.

"Yu'er, I've wronged you." Nalan De's tone was helpless.

"I don't feel wronged. Young Master's talent is astonishing. By going to Jiang Domain, he may wish to use this Hundred Domains Competition to establish connections with Jiang Domain. Following Young Master is actually me reaching above my station." Nalan Yu spoke calmly.

"It's good that you can think that way." Nalan De paused before continuing.

"The journey from Azure Region to Jiang Domain is far. After crossing the nearby Cloudwater Region, you must continue through Cloud Domain, Martial Domain, and Heaven Domain. Jiang Domain lies at the center of Heaven Domain."

"Even though White Spirit Steeds are good at traveling, the distance is still immense."

"The Hundred Domains Competition is five years away. There should be enough time."

"Set off!!" Jiang Ming sat inside an ordinary carriage pulled by two White Spirit Steeds. Jiang Naicha sat beside him, fanning him, while Nalan Yu controlled the carriage.

Azure Region was too remote. It was not that Jiang Ming did not want a handsome mount, but there was only this sort of ordinary stuff here. Still, it did not matter. He would just treat it as an experience.

Jiang Ming ate grapes held to his lips as he watched the scenery outside the window.

A month later,

"Young Master, Lin City is ahead. Should we bypass it directly, or enter the city to rest and resupply?" Nalan Yu's voice came from outside the carriage.

"Let's enter the city first."

Nalan Yu had the physique of an ordinary person and could not endure driving for long periods. Jiang Ming had already learned that she possessed an Ice Physique, a type of King Physique—and a top-tier King Physique at that. Without a cultivation method corresponding to ice spiritual energy, she could not cultivate.

Special physiques, from lowest to highest, were divided into Variant Physiques, King Physiques, Emperor Physiques, Sacred Physiques, and Imperial Physiques.

Jiang Ming had plenty of cultivation methods and resources in his storage ring, but he did not want to bother with such matters for the time being. After all, they were out traveling for fun, and Jiang Naicha had not even begun cultivating yet, so there was even less need to rush Nalan Yu.

Lin City

After Nalan Yu paid the city entrance fee, she drove the carriage slowly along the streets.

Vendors' cries occasionally rang out from both sides of the street.

"Freshly steamed meat buns! Made from first-rank demon beast meat! Five for one spirit stone!"

"Candied hawthorns! Candied hawthorns made with spiritual hawthorns! Three spirit stones per skewer!"

"Yu'er, go buy three skewers of candied hawthorns." Jiang Ming tossed out nine supreme-grade spirit stones.

Nalan Yu stared silently at the supreme-grade spirit stones in her hand.

"Is there a problem?" Jiang Ming lay on Jiang Naicha's lap, looking at Nalan Yu, who had stopped where she was.

"Young Master, the candied hawthorns don't cost this much. Nine low-grade spirit stones are enough." Nalan Yu pursed her lips. This young master truly spent money like dirt.

"Oh, then keep the rest as your tip." Jiang Ming did not care. He had plenty of this stuff.

Nalan Yu silently left the carriage. Before long, she returned with three skewers of candied hawthorns. Jiang Ming gave one skewer to each person, and they began eating.

The taste was mediocre. He had not eaten anything delicious these past few days. It seemed he needed to find a cook—preferably a female cook.

After resting and resupplying briefly, Zhang Chengzhen asked Nalan Yu, "Which way do we go next?"

"Young Master, about half a month's journey beyond Lin City lies Border City, at the edge of Azure Region. After that, we will enter Cloudwater Region. The closest city to Border City is Luo City." Nalan Yu lowered her gaze.

Jiang Ming nodded. "Then let's head that way!"