Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

A moment later, the carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone road, emitting a rhythmic rumbling sound, heading towards the Imperial City.

It was still early, the sky hadn’t brightened, there were no pedestrians on the road, the long street was silent, only the sound of hooves and car wheels echoed.

Occasionally, a night patrol with torches passed by, their armor clinking.

Seeing the carriage approaching, they all stepped aside, respectfully watching it depart.

They all recognized this carriage belonged to the palace, carrying prominent figures of the Royal Capital.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Ning closed his eyes and regulated his breath, the Yin Yang Dao Embryo in the Spirit Platform circulated more intensely, and the feeling of the Primordial Spirit breaking through the embryo felt as though a drawn arrow was on the string.

In his mind, the late-night conversation with Bai Li, the presence of the Demon King, the transformation of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Core... all these thoughts flashed through his mind, yet he suppressed them one by one.

The morning assembly was imminent, and seeing Ji Xuan again, he secretly felt a certain pressure in his heart.

Prince Pingjian, Ji Xuan, was the second highest mountain in the world, the strongest existence of the Ji Clan, the foundation of the Imperial Family.

He knew much about Ji Xuan’s past.

He had heard Ji Xuan’s fame countless times.

He had never had the experience of confronting such a strong figure.

So far, the strongest opponent he had encountered was only the leader of the Eighteen Dragon Heads.

And that leader hadn’t been in the First-grade for long but still felt very powerful to him.

Even though his strength had improved continuously, when facing the more formidable Ji Xuan, he had no absolute confidence or assurance in his heart.

"Ji Xuan..." he murmured to himself.

About two moments later, the speeding carriage stopped slowly on the avenue.

The voice of the Inner Guard whispered outside, "Marquis, we have arrived at the palace gate."

Jiang Ning opened his eyes and looked outside.

Outside the palace gate, many carriages and horses were already parked.

They all carried officials here for the morning assembly.

The carriage he was in paused briefly at the palace gate and then, like last time attending the morning assembly, continued into the Imperial Palace.

After passing through the palace gate, Jiang Ning lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside, the sky was dark blue, palace walls stood tall like a Black Dragon lying dormant.

Subsequently, the carriage passed through the layers of palaces, and by the time it arrived at the plaza in front of the Taiji Hall, the eastern sky had begun to lighten slightly.

"Dongling Marquis has arrived!"

Just as Jiang Ning stepped out of the carriage, someone called out loudly.

In an instant, many gazes swept over.

Facing those gazes, Jiang Ning’s expression remained calm.

As a Second Grade official, holding the title of Marquis, his status and position were not as high as those of the First-grade officials and the titled princes.

But he could still enter the palace by carriage and announce his name.

He stepped firmly on the steps before the Taiji Hall Plaza, slowly ascending to the Taiji Plaza.

Afterward, he went to the same spot as last time, the foremost position of Second Grade officials, nodded slightly to Ji Minghao, and then nodded to Xiang Yuan and others.

It was around 5:00-7:00 in the morning.

Dong—

Dong—

Dong—

The bell tolled three times, the hall doors slowly opened.

The voice of the Ritual Supervision chief pierced the morning mist, "All officials enter the hall—"

On Taiji Plaza.

The civil and military officials lined up on both sides slowly stepped over the threshold of the Taiji Hall, entering the hall.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the floor was paved with golden bricks, and the coiling dragon pillars towered high.

The Dragon Throne was vacant, and on its lower left side stood a large purple sandalwood chair, where Prince Pingjian Ji Xuan stood with hands behind his back, in front of the purple sandalwood chair.

Today he wore a flood dragon robe, a jade crown on his head, his face calm like an abyss, his gaze sweeping over each official entering the hall.

When his gaze swept over Jiang Ning, Jiang Ning met his eyes.

In an instant, a faint ripple flashed in Ji Xuan’s eyes, then he looked towards others.

"I can’t discern Ji Xuan’s state unless I use the Heavenly Eye, but the probing of the Heavenly Eye should also be perceived by him, just like it was perceived before," Jiang Ning’s thought flashed through his mind.

A moment later.

All civil and military officials had entered the hall, arranged on both sides.

"Salute the Regent King!"

"Salute the Regent King!!"

"..."

The civil and military officials on both sides all saluted Ji Xuan, who stood with his hands behind his back on the high platform.

"No need for formalities!" Ji Xuan raised his hand slightly.

"Be seated!" he added.

As his words fell, palace maids, two per chair, arrived swiftly at the forefront of the civil and military officials, carrying ten chairs in total.

They placed the chairs behind Prime Minister Li, Beicang King, General Shen Xiao, Divine Might King, Xiao Wuque, and others.

"Thank you, Prince!"

"Thank you, Prince!"

"Thank you, Prince!"

"..."

The few of them cupped their hands toward Ji Xuan, who stood with his hands behind his back in front of the large purple sandalwood chair at the Nine-layered Platform.

Seeing them salute him, Ji Xuan nodded slightly and was the first to take his seat.

As Ji Xuan sat down, Prime Minister Li, Beicang King, and others also took their seats one after another.

For a moment, Jiang Ning became the person standing at the very front of the line.

"Announce, the envoy of the Demon Country for an audience," Ji Xuan said indifferently.

"Announce—the envoy of the Demon Country for an audience—" As Ji Xuan’s voice fell, louder voices echoed through the Taiji Hall, shaking the hall.

After several breaths.

The sound of footsteps arose outside the hall.

Led by Bai Li, the seven-member envoy team from the Demon Country appeared in the glance of the civil and military officials who turned their heads toward the hall doors.

Bai Li’s face was still covered by a veil, and she wore a silver long dress that complemented her hair color.

The hem of her dress dragged on the floor slowly, and her ice-blue eyes were calm.

Beside her walked a gloomy man in a dark robe, with the other five following closely with their heads bowed.

The group looked up at Ji Xuan, who was seated on the large purple sandalwood chair on the Nine-layered Platform, and they all saluted.

Subsequently, Bai Li stepped forward, her voice as clear as jade striking.

"Great Xia’s Regent King above, on behalf of my Emperor, I lead the envoy team here, first to congratulate Great Xia’s enduring fortune, second to engage in a mutual exchange and to forge everlasting friendship."

As Bai Li spoke, one of her attendants offered a jade box carved from a whole piece of cold jade with both hands. When the lid opened, the temperature in the hall dropped sharply, and a nine-leaf ganoderma appeared, crystal clear, wrapped with a faint frosty aura, and its spiritual energy overflowed.

"This is a specialty of our Demon Country, the Nine-leaf Mysterious Ice Ginseng. It has the effect of strengthening the foundation, nurturing the original spirit, and suppressing heart demons. It’s presented to Great Xia as a token of sincerity."

Ji Xuan’s gaze swept over the jade box, his expression unchanged, only nodding slightly, "The Demon Emperor has been considerate. Grant them seats."

As his words fell.

The palace maids, agile as willow branches and swift as the wind, appeared once again, lifting and placing a chair behind Bai Li swiftly.

"Isn’t this Regent King of Great Xia a bit rude? Does this king here not deserve a seat?"

The dark-robed gloomy man beside Bai Li stepped forward.

In an instant.

A surging wave of demonic energy spread, freezing the air instantly, and an invisible pressure permeated.

Within the court assembly, civil and military officials were simultaneously astounded, some involuntarily stepping back, some wavering unsteady.

Looking at the dark-robed man who suddenly advanced, Xiao Wuque, Divine Might King, and others were even more greatly alarmed.

"Demon King!!" Xiang Yuan slowly uttered these two words, his expression filled with apprehension.

"It’s indeed him!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

And at this moment.

Most affected by the forceful pressure, Ji Xuan’s expression remained unchanged, still calm.

"Since the Demon King is here, he ought to be treated with courtesy. Grant him a seat!"

As his words fell, a wave of ochre spread out, instantly enveloping the entire Taiji Hall.

Inside the hall.

The civil and military officials instantly felt the pressure around them vanish, their entire bodies feeling as though bathed, completely at ease.

Seeing this scene, the Demon King squinted slightly before speaking slowly.

"The Regent King truly possesses impressive methods; the Emperor’s Domain, what a remarkable capability! You have indeed forged your own path!"

As his words fell, the aura that had been diffusing from him instantly retracted, returning to normal.

The ochre light that had spread from Ji Xuan’s body also disappeared accordingly.

"The Emperor’s Domain, is it?" Jiang Ning murmured to himself.

Just now, he personally experienced this force.

He initially sensed this power.

It was a domain where the Mixed Element Domain itself forms a small world, expanded into the external world.

He roughly understood that within the range enveloped by the Emperor’s Domain, Ji Xuan was the absolute ruler.

As the saying goes, when the time is right, the entire cosmos aids you.

In his view, the Emperor’s Domain had such an effect.

"Indeed, it’s not bad, but it’s still somewhat lacking compared to my expectations! Now, I just don’t know if Ji Xuan’s recent seclusion is a breakthrough or recovery, and if it’s recovery, whether Ji Xuan still has injuries! Moreover, Ji Xuan’s actual strength, what level is it exactly, and how many times stronger is he than the Dragon Head of the Eighteen Dragon Heads?" Jiang Ning’s mind flashed with numerous thoughts.

At this moment, Bai Li’s gaze paused briefly on Jiang Ning’s face.

In the bright Taiji Hall, she could see more clearly.

It was indeed Jiang Ning she had seen in the Shangyang Inner Scenery.

Subsequently, she withdrew her gaze.