Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning was slightly taken aback, then smiled and shook his head: "Being in the midst of the whirlpool, actions are beyond one’s control. Thinking less might make you fish on someone else’s chopping block by tomorrow."

Bai Li’s ice-blue eyes quietly gazed at him, her expression shifting: "I observe that Marquis’ current power is beyond ordinary first-grade, why such caution? It seems to me that the Marquis is perhaps... being overly cautious."

"You don’t understand!" Jiang Ning shook his head: "You are the royal daughter of the Demon Country, noble beyond words, acting without any restrictions, without needing to consider much, after all, your status itself gives you confidence and reliance."

"But I’m different!" At this point, Jiang Ning shook his head: "I was born at the bottom, rising from a humble county town. Initially, I was nothing but an ant in the eyes of the royal daughter, yet the pressure between life and death was given to me. I’ve come step by step, if I hadn’t considered three steps ahead with every step, I would have died midway, how could I have reached where I am now!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Li’s ice-blue eyes studied Jiang Ning.

"Marquis’ journey seems quite legendary, it makes me curious to explore."

"It’s nothing legendary!" Jiang Ning shook his head faintly: "In hundreds of years of Great Xia’s history, who knows how many characters like me have emerged. Yet most fall in the gap, unable to grow enough to appear in the world’s eyes."

"Only a small portion, being cautious in all matters, planning before acting, grew to where I am. Let’s not talk far-off, just say recently, Prince Huaian, Lu Zhan, born to a lowly concubine in Huaian Marquis Mansion, his background, in some sense, doesn’t compare to the sons of rich families, yet he surpassed me now in rank, being granted a title of king, truly a hero."

Upon hearing these words.

Bai Li faintly shook her head.

"I haven’t heard of this person, from what I see, though he’s titled a king, how can he compare to the Marquis? The Marquis gives me a sense of nobility beyond words, surrounded by purple aura, a feeling I’ve seen described in ancient texts."

"Purple aura?" Jiang Ning was startled.

Bai Li nodded slightly, her smooth silver hair rippling instantly.

"Nobility beyond words, surrounded by purple aura, it’s the legendary naturally close-to-Dao prodigy, a true prodigy. No wonder the Marquis, despite not practicing the Immortal Dao, could become a true disciple of Shangyang Immortal Sect."

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Ning steadied the ripple in his thoughts and his own inner voice.

Then he smiled faintly: "Miss Bai Li sure knows a lot, even knowing I’m a true disciple of Shangyang Immortal Sect! Miss Bai Li and your brother have quite a good relationship, truly open about everything."

"Being siblings, of course, there’s nothing untold between us." Bai Li nodded slightly.

"Indeed!" Jiang Ning couldn’t help but smile faintly, knowing Bai Li’s pure nature, not hearing his words’ emotional undertone, then nodded slightly.

"Miss Bai Li, did you really come tonight for just this simple reason?" he asked again.

"Of course!" Bai Li nodded: "Just this simple reason!"

Then she said: "During the day, hurriedly passing through Vermilion Bird Avenue, felt the Marquis was somewhat familiar, meeting tonight, indeed true! The Marquis is the person my brother spoke of, making tonight’s visit worthwhile."

"There is something I wonder if Miss Bai Li could help clarify?" Jiang Ning asked.

"What is it?" Bai Li asked.

"Can the Demon King still hold Ancient Times’ power?" Jiang Ning asked.

Upon hearing this, Bai Li’s ice-blue eyes slightly narrowed, looking at Jiang Ning.

"Why does the Marquis ask this question?"

"I came to understand some related information before, hence the curiosity, taking this opportunity to ask." Jiang Ning stated.

"Marquis is not being honest!" Bai Li shook her head: "Marquis must have seen that my Demon Country delegation hides a Demon King, right?"

"It appears Miss Bai Li is not that naïve!" Jiang Ning nodded, speaking in a serious tone.

"Are you implying I’m foolish?" Bai Li’s eyes widened, glaring fiercely at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning smiled sheepishly.

"I can answer this question for you! It’s not much of a secret!" Bai Li began, continuing: "Since the great change in the world’s environment, Immortals have disappeared, those powerful beings seem to vanish overnight, now those remaining, hiding in grotto heavens, were those not very noticeable in Ancient Times. It’s as if there was a net suddenly sweeping away all the big fish."

"A net?" Jiang Ning was stunned.

Bai Li nodded: "Yes, it’s like that feeling."

She continued: "Immortal Dao’s four realms, now the surviving Immortals are mostly of the first Immortal realm, only a few, due to fate, in the second realm of Heavenly Immortal, managed to survive."

"But due to the limitations of the world’s environment, the existence of Heavenly Dao Will, these Immortals are mostly trapped in grotto heavens, without the world’s environment support, those existences are mostly in a deep slumber."

"The powerful demons are the same!"

"The powerful demons are the same?" Jiang Ning showed confusion.

"Yes!" Bai Li nodded, continuing: "Great Demons are manageable, but Demon Kings are different! Demon Kings rival true Immortals, their demon bodies are powerful, being alive alone consumes greatly. Previously, with suitable world environment, ambient Spiritual Energy could support themselves, but after the great change in the world’s environment, ambient Spiritual Energy couldn’t achieve this, so the remaining Demon Kings had to, like Immortals, fall into a slumber."

"But unlike Immortals, Demon Kings don’t need to be in grotto heavens, just sleeping can reduce their body’s consumption, whereas Immortals, due to their Immortal Body’s special reasons, can only shrink in Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, coming to the outside world, the Immortal Body would collapse, returning to the world. Demon Kings won’t."

"So just now, the Marquis’ question was very clear."

Bai Li continued: "Demon Kings are a bit better off than Immortals in this current environment, able to exert greater power. Therefore, any Demon King’s power exceeds ninety percent of the world’s First-Grade Martial Arts Strongmen, or even more."

"This! This is why my Demon Country can stand at the south of Great Xia."

"Even when the Martial Saint visited my Demon Country at his peak, he acknowledged Demon Country’s existence."

Speaking the last sentence, Bai Li’s eyes shone bright, her gaze full of confidence.

"Thank you Miss Bai for informing!" Jiang Ning bowed towards Bai Li, speaking words of gratitude.

"Marquis showing such courtesy seems slightly unfamiliar!" Bai Li smiled lightly under her veil.

"Miss Bai Li wearing a veil, not revealing herself, isn’t that a bit unfamiliar!" Jiang Ning smiled faintly.

Upon hearing, Bai Li’s ice-blue eyes held a trace of laughter.

"I see, the marquis wishes to see the appearance beneath my veil."

"Miss Bai Li is indeed clever!" Jiang Ning followed along.

Upon hearing this, Bai Li’s brows and eyes smiled, bending like a crescent moon.

Then, she stretched her fair fingers towards her ear.

Her slender fingers lightly moved, the veil slipped away with the wind, revealing a stunning face.

Skin like snow, lips like crimson clouds, ice-blue eyes reflecting bright light under the moonlight.

"How is it? Does the appearance of this royal daughter meet the Marquis’ expectations? Considered beautiful?"

Jiang Ning looked at her, his gaze slightly rippled.

Then he nodded: "Very beautiful!"

Hearing this, the laughter in Bai Li’s eyes grew deeper.

"Marquis’ compliment was sincere, not perfunctory, very pleasing to hear."

"Just now, Miss Bai Li was the same!" Jiang Ning said.

Upon hearing, Bai Li smiled softly, then hung her veil again, covering her face.

"This face, after leaving the Demon Country, Marquis is the first to see."

"Then it’s my honor!" Jiang Ning said.

At that moment, the distant sound of a watchman was heard.

"Alright, I have to leave!" Bai Li looked towards the direction of the watchman’s voice, speaking.