Chapter 040: Martial City

  After two days of swift travel, Yang Tian gradually slowed his pace. He had now crossed the mountain range and began encountering more travelers on the road.

  "Martial City, finally here," Yang Tian's rapid steps came to an abrupt halt. His gaze fixed on the distant horizon, and his ordinarily calm eyes lit up at the sight before him.

  The first thing that caught his eye was the towering city wall, a hundred zhang high, teeming with a sea of people, exuding an aura of grandeur. From afar, divine rainbows soared above the city, and even from a distance, Yang Tian could feel a faint pressure. The city stood like a slumbering lion, majestic and imposing.

  In front of the city, several massive mountain peaks rose, their summits lost in the clouds. Within the misty layers, faint human figures moved, mythical beasts roamed, and the cries of celestial birds echoed.

  What astonished Yang Tian was that, despite being thirty li away from the mountains, a faint martial will descended upon him. This wisp of martial intent emanated from the central peak.

  "It's said that there's a rare treasure on Martial Mountain. This martial intent must be radiating from it," Yang Tian thought, his eyes burning with desire as he gazed at the peak. Training one's will with martial intent daily would make it nearly impossible not to become a powerhouse.

  Typically, disciples from major families were tempered daily by the martial intent of their elders. Although this consumed significant energy, the results were evident, which was why these great families stood unshaken.

  After pausing for a moment, Yang Tian wrapped himself in a black cloak, hiding Xiao Bai within, and dashed towards Martial City.

  Today was the day Martial Mountain opened, and many young talents from major families had been waiting for this moment, suppressing their cultivation. This was a gathering place for geniuses, where one would either remain silent or astonish the world with a single feat. It was said that Martial Mountain was a fragment of an ancient space, containing the legacy of ancient powerhouses, something even the ancient clans coveted.

  On this journey, the ancient Li clan would undoubtedly not let Yang Tian off easily, so he had to avoid revealing his identity at all costs, or disaster would surely follow.

  Martial Mountain did not belong to any single faction but was instead controlled in rotation by the top powers of the Eastern Continent.

  "Truly a place where geniuses gather. Even the city guards are at the Martial Warrior level, and their leader is even stronger," Yang Tian observed, his gaze falling on the guards, especially the burly leader whose strength seemed to surpass that of a Martial Warrior.

  Clad in his black cloak, Yang Tian approached one of the guards. Seeing the guard's wary expression, Yang Tian handed over a jade slip.

  "Welcome, esteemed sir," the guard quickly nodded. Those who could present an invitation to Martial Mountain were either young talents from major powers or individuals with extraordinary gifts.

  Although he was a Martial Warrior, he dared not offend these influential figures.

  "Hmm?" As the guard rubbed the jade slip, he noticed the characters "Qingyang" inscribed on its edge. His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes continued to scan the slip.

  "Well, well, it's the mark of the Grand Prince," the guard muttered, spotting a five-clawed golden dragon beneath the "Qingyang" characters. His expression froze, and he quickly clasped his hands in respect. "So you're from the Qingyang Empire, sir. My name is Mu Shan. Please let me know if there's anything you need."

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  "Hmm?" Seeing the guard's reaction, Yang Tian was slightly taken aback. He mused to himself, "It seems the jade slip the Grand Prince gave me isn't just any ordinary item."

  Mu Shan's behavior drew the attention of the surrounding guards, their eyes falling on the cloaked figure. They had seen many influential figures pass through daily, but for Mu Shan to show such deference, this person's status must be extraordinary.

  "No need for formalities. Just take me to my residence," Yang Tian said indifferently, waving his hand.

  "Of course, sir. This way, please," Mu Shan nodded and led the way into the city.

  Watching the guard's respectful demeanor, Yang Tian couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. If the guard knew that Yang Tian was just a small martial arts school disciple, what would he think?

  He couldn't help but marvel at the benefits of high status.

  Martial City's interior was a hundred times larger than Kuangyun City. The main stone road was nearly a hundred zhang wide, with shops lining both sides. Judging from the city's architecture, it was a prosperous place in the cultivation world.

  Every jade slip holder was entitled to a private courtyard in Martial City. Under the guard's guidance, Yang Tian arrived at a courtyard spanning a hundred zhang, luxuriously decorated and with spiritual energy several times denser than outside.

  "Truly a gathering place for geniuses. Even the residences have a branch of a spiritual energy spring," Yang Tian couldn't help but praise as he looked around the house.

  Yang Tian turned and sat on a chair inlaid with golden threads. Beside him, a incense burner wafted thin wisps of smoke, the faint aroma refreshing his mind and body.

  Sitting in the chair, Yang Tian toyed with the jade slip in his hand. Mu Shan had informed him that there would be an auction in two days, one that had been in preparation for a long time and had attracted many powerful figures.

  "Martial Mountain opens once every thirty years. This auction is bound to be spectacular," Yang Tian licked his lips, a smile forming on his face. After a moment of thought, he shook his head with a bitter smile. Although his bloodstones made him a top-tier wealthy individual in Kuangyun City, they were insignificant in Martial City.

  High-end treasures in the cultivation world often cost hundreds of thousands of bloodstones, sometimes even more. Yang Tian's current wealth was far from sufficient.

  In Martial City, the streets were bustling with people, most of whom were formidable cultivators. Clad in his black cloak, Yang Tian had already encountered several terrifyingly powerful elders on the street.

  "What a terrifying young man," Yang Tian thought as he glanced at a youth passing by, about the same age as himself but with an exceptionally vigorous life force, almost manifesting into a phenomenon.

  Divine rainbows continuously streaked across the sky, and mythical beasts frequently galloped from afar, creating an impressive spectacle. Various factions made their appearances, and even the ancient clans showed up for this grand event.

  People in the city kept glancing around, and even Yang Tian's gaze frequently swept the sky. These individuals were too powerful, each a formidable adversary, and Yang Tian wasn't confident he could handle them.

  After wandering around the market for a while, Yang Tian's initially eager gaze gradually calmed. Although the items on display were rare, few were of use to him.

  At this moment, Yang Tian's steps halted as Xiao Bai suddenly popped out from his robe, eyeing a stall selling inner cores with a look of longing.

  "You greedy little thing," Yang Tian patted Xiao Bai's head, feeling somewhat helpless. The inner cores stored in his spatial ring had already been devoured by the little creature, and its appetite was so vast that Yang Tian was starting to wonder if he could afford to keep it.

  He walked over to the stall, run by a red-faced man selling first-grade beast cores.

  When the red-faced man noticed the black-cloaked figure approaching and saw Xiao Bai's lively demeanor, he immediately dismissed any underestimation. Anyone who could possess such an intelligent beast was no ordinary person.

  Eagerly, the man began his pitch: "Esteemed customer, feel free to pick anything you like. My stall is known for its honesty and quality, one of the best in Martial City..."

  The red-faced man's words poured out like a flood, as if he could talk endlessly. Yang Tian, feeling a headache coming on, didn't engage in small talk and simply picked up ten inner cores.

  "How much?"

  "Sir, you have an excellent eye. These cores are rare treasures. The total comes to two hundred and thirty bloodstones," the red-faced man beamed, delighted with the bulk purchase.

  "Here," Yang Tian, having some wealth to spare, didn't bother haggling and tossed over a small bag of bloodstones. Just as he was about to leave, a coquettish voice suddenly rang out.

  "Young master, what an adorable little beast. I want it~~"