Beginning with the Five Animals Fist to Become a Saint

The residence of the Marquis of Dongling.

It was late at night.

Looking in the direction where Bai Li disappeared, Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze.

Tonight's meeting made him realize that Bai Li of the Shangyang Immortal Sect was the princess of the Demon Kingdom who lived in the same world as him.

"Qingqiu Baili!" he murmured.

But in his mind, he was recalling his conversation with Bai Li.

The Demon King, and Bai Li's intention in coming here tonight to see him.

"I still can't fully trust her. She came in the middle of the night, and she's a princess from the Demon Kingdom, the Nine-Tailed Fox of Qingqiu, who's only one step away from the Nascent Soul Realm." Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

He then calmed himself down.

He looked up again at the direction where the bright moon was hanging overhead.

The moon had long since passed its zenith and was slowly sinking towards the east.

"It's getting late, but it's also too late. The court assembly starts at 5 a.m., and we have to set off more than half an hour early. There's no need to rest!" Jiang Ning thought as he looked at the bright moon overhead.

After that, he simply continued practicing his swordsmanship.

The Taixu Yin-Yang Sword is the highest level of martial arts he currently possesses.

The experience points required for a breakthrough are also the most.

This alone made him look forward to it.

Once he breaks through this skill, his strength will surely increase even further.

The more he learned about the world, the stronger his sense of awe became.

The first rank in martial arts is not the true pinnacle.

Even a martial saint as powerful as him, who had dominated the world for over eight hundred years, had things he couldn't do.

The existence of the Upper Three Heavens made that Martial Saint give up on the extermination of the blessed lands, which is why so many blessed lands were left on the land of the Thirty-Six Prefectures of the Nine Provinces.

The Martial Saint also visited the Southern Demon Kingdom. Although he doesn't know what happened there, the Southern Demon Kingdom has continued to exist to this day.

"And the northern barbarians!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

For as many years as the Great Xia Dynasty was established, the northern barbarian tribes also existed.

The scourge of the barbarians lasted for many years.

Although he didn't know the details, he understood that the northern barbarians had survived for so many years without being conquered by the Great Xia Dynasty. Even when the Martial Saint was at his peak and the founding emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty was at his zenith, the scourge of the northern barbarians could not be resolved.

From this, he understood that the northern barbarians must also have their own means of survival.

As for the East China Sea, there are three overseas islands and eighty-one smaller islands scattered throughout the sea.

"The existence of the East Sea means it doesn't have much to rely on!" Jiang Ning thought to himself. "The truly powerful ones include the Southern Demon Kingdom, the Northern Barbarians, and the Immortal Paradise. Each of these entities has something that even a Martial Saint at his peak couldn't do anything about, which is why they have been able to exist for over eight hundred years."

"Therefore, my strength is far from enough! Even if I reach the level of a Martial Saint, I will still be fearless and undaunted."

"Not to mention, according to the true teachings of Haoyang, the fusion of the ten domains is the choice of heaven and earth. At that time, heaven and earth will be revived, returning to the ancient era, and the environment of heaven and earth may even surpass that of the ancient era!"

"Moreover, even after the great changes in the world in ancient times, there are still incredibly powerful beings still alive."

At that moment, two figures appeared in his mind.

One was a woman in an ice coffin.

After he was awakened, he emerged from the ice coffin, broke through the boundary, and left. He did not know where he went.

There was another figure, the woman by the Moon Palace Lake inside the goddess statue in the Water Moon Sword Palace.

Based on his current understanding and knowledge, both of them are at the third realm of the four realms of immortality.

Such beings do not believe that the two they have seen are the only ones.

Within the Ten Directions Realm, there are desolate places like Li Yan Tian, ​​where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is exhausted, the land is barren and life is extinguished.

However, there are also complete worlds like Haoyang Zhenchuan and the Chihuang Sword Sect to which Shen Yueru belongs.

Among the many realms, there must be beings comparable to the two women he saw, or even beings surpassing them.

At this moment, many thoughts flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

Then, he steadied himself again.

"However, there is no need to worry too much. In the current environment, the Martial Saint is still the strongest being in this world. Otherwise, how could the world tolerate his existence?"

"We had already taken advantage of his old age, weakness, and declining health to surround and kill him."

"The Martial Saint's power, if placed among the four realms of immortality, is perhaps comparable to the peak of the second realm, the Celestial Immortal. Even the third realm beings in the current world might not be able to defeat him!"

"After all, he alone has suppressed the world for over eight hundred years!"

"If it were that easy to deal with, he would have been surrounded and attacked long ago!"

"Why would I be so afraid?!"

Jiang Ning thought to himself.

He then cleared his mind of all distractions and devoted himself entirely to practicing swordsmanship.

At the fourth quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), before dawn, a black, flat-topped carriage was already quietly parked outside the Marquis's residence.

The imperial guard driving the carriage, draped in a black cloak and holding a palace lantern, stood beside the carriage with his head bowed, like a silent stone sculpture.

When Jiang Ning pushed open the gate of the mansion, a cool breeze rushed towards him, passing through the cracks in the gate and blowing into the mansion.

Today he was dressed in a purple python robe, a marquis's court dress, with a jade belt around his waist, and he walked down the stone steps with steady steps.

"Please be careful in everything, my lord!" Green Ripple bowed as she saw him off at the door.

"Let's go back! It's still early, we can go back and catch up on some sleep!" Jiang Ning said.

After saying this, he walked towards the carriage.

"Lord Dongling, please board the carriage." The guard jumped down from the carriage, lifted the curtain, and spoke respectfully.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, boarded the carriage, and bent down to enter.

The carriage was spacious, lined with brocade, and a glass lamp was fixed in the corner, emitting a dim yellow glow.

The guards behind him also boarded the carriage and sat in the driver's seat.

A moment later, the wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a regular rumbling sound, and headed towards the imperial city.

It was still early, the sky was not yet bright, there were no pedestrians on the road, and the long street was quiet, with only the sounds of horses' hooves and wheels echoing.

Occasionally, night patrols would pass by carrying torches, their armor clanging.

Upon seeing the carriage approach, they all stepped aside and respectfully watched it depart.

They all recognized it; it was a palace carriage, and the passengers were all important figures from the capital.

Inside the car, Jiang Ning closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. The light of the Yin-Yang Dao Embryo in his spiritual center flowed more and more rapidly, and the feeling of his primordial spirit breaking free of the embryo was already imminent.

In his mind, the conversation with Bai Li late at night, the existence of the Demon King, the transformation of the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core... all sorts of thoughts swept through his mind, only to be suppressed one by one.

With the court assembly approaching, he felt a sense of pressure upon seeing Ji Xuan again.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with King Ji Xuan, that is the second highest mountain in the world, the strongest existence of the Ji clan, and the foundation of the royal family.

He learned a great deal about Ji Xuan's past.

He had heard of Ji Xuan's reputation countless times.

He had never fought against such a powerful opponent before.

So far, the most powerful opponent he has encountered is only the head of the Eighteen Dragon Heads.

The leader, though not long after reaching the first rank, seemed very powerful to him.

Even though his strength has improved continuously, he still lacks complete confidence and assurance when facing the even more powerful Ji Xuan.

"Ji Xuan," he murmured to himself.

About half an hour later, the carriage that had been speeding along the main road slowly came to a stop.

A guard's voice whispered outside: "My lord, we have arrived at the palace gate."

Jiang Ning opened his eyes and looked outside.

Many carriages and horses were already parked outside the palace gate.

Those were all carriages and horses carrying officials from the imperial court.

His carriage stopped briefly at the palace gate before continuing into the palace, just as it had done when he attended the court assembly last time.

After passing through the palace gate, Jiang Ning lifted the curtain of the carriage and glanced out. The sky was dark blue, and the palace walls stood tall like a black dragon lying in wait.

Afterwards, the carriage passed through many palaces and arrived at the square in front of the Taiji Hall. At that time, the eastern sky was already beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

"The Marquis of Dongling has arrived!" Jiang Ning had just stepped off the carriage when someone announced loudly.

In an instant, many gazes swept over.

Jiang Ning remained calm despite the sweeping gazes directed at him.

As a second-rank official with the title of marquis, his status was not as high as that of first-rank officials or those who were granted the title of king.

However, they were still able to enter the palace by carriage and give their names.

He slowly stepped onto the Taiji Square from the steps in front of the Taiji Hall.

He then went to the same spot he had been in before, the front seat for a second-rank official, nodded to Ji Minghao, and then nodded to Xiang Yuan and the others.

It was the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).

thump—

thump—

thump—

The bell tolled three times, and the palace doors slowly opened.

The voice of the Grand Eunuch pierced the morning mist: "All officials, enter the palace—"

On Tai Chi Square.

Civil and military officials, standing on the left and right sides, slowly crossed the threshold of the Taiji Hall and entered the hall.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the floor is paved with gold bricks, and towering dragon pillars stand tall.

The dragon throne was empty, and a large rosewood chair was placed to its left below it. Princess Xuan stood with her hands behind her back in front of the rosewood chair.

Today he wore a dragon-patterned robe and a jade crown, his face calm and composed as he glanced at the officials who entered the hall.

As the gaze swept over Jiang Ning, Jiang Ning met that gaze.

For a fleeting moment, a faint ripple crossed Ji Xuan's eyes before he turned his gaze to the others.

"I can't tell Ji Xuan's condition unless I use my Heavenly Eye. But even with the Heavenly Eye, he should be able to see through it, since he's seen through it before." Jiang Ning thought to himself.

After a while.

All the civil and military officials had entered the hall and were lined up on the left and right sides.

"Greetings, Regent!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!!"

"."

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

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

"Please take a seat!" he said again.

As he finished speaking, two palace maids on each side carried a chair together, their bodies swaying like willows and their movements as swift as the wind, and they quickly arrived at the front of the civil and military officials. There were more than twenty of them in total, carrying more than ten chairs.

They placed chairs behind Li Xiang, the King of Beicang, General Shen Xiao, the King of Shenwei, Xiao Wuque, and others.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"..."

The group bowed to Ji Xuan, who stood with his hands behind his back in front of the large rosewood chair on the nine-tiered steps.

Seeing the people bowing, Ji Xuan nodded and took his seat first.

As Ji Xuan sat down, Li Xiang, the King of Beicang, and others also took their seats.

In an instant, Jiang Ning became the person standing at the very front of the line.

"Summon the envoy from the Demon Kingdom to an audience," Ji Xuan said calmly.

"Summon—the envoy of the Demon Kingdom to an audience—" Ji Xuan's voice fell, and then a series of even louder voices pierced through the Taiji Hall, shaking the palace.

After a dozen or so breaths.

Footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Led by Bai Li, the seven-member delegation from the Demon Kingdom appeared in the line of sight of the civil and military officials who were turning their heads to look back at the palace gate.

Bai Li still wore a veil, and a silver dress that complemented her hair color.

Her skirt trailed on the ground as she moved slowly, her icy blue eyes calm and serene.

The sinister-looking man in black robes followed beside her, while the other five people all bowed their heads and followed closely.

The group looked at Ji Xuan, who was sitting upright on a large rosewood chair on the nine-tiered steps, and all bowed.

Then, Bai Li stepped forward, her voice clear and melodious like jade striking each other.

"Your Majesty the Regent of Great Xia, I have come here on the orders of Your Majesty, leading a delegation, firstly to congratulate Great Xia on its long-lasting prosperity, and secondly to exchange goods and establish lasting friendship."

As Bai Li spoke, a follower presented a jade box carved from a single piece of cold jade. The moment the lid was opened, the temperature inside the hall plummeted, revealing a nine-leaf Ganoderma lucidum that was crystal clear and surrounded by a faint frost, exuding spiritual energy.

"This is a specialty of my Demon Kingdom, the Nine-Leaf Mystic Ice Mushroom. It has the effect of strengthening the body's foundation and suppressing inner demons. I am offering it to Great Xia as a token of my sincerity."

Ji Xuan's gaze swept over the jade box, his expression unchanged, and he only nodded slightly: "The Demon Emperor is very kind. Please take a seat."

The words fell.

The palace maid, who had just been as graceful as a willow and as swift as the wind, reappeared. The two of them carried a chair together and quickly came behind Bai Li, placing the chair down.

"Isn't the Regent of Great Xia being rather rude? Am I not even worthy to be offered a seat?"

The sinister-looking man in black robes standing next to Bai Li stepped forward.

In an instant.

A powerful demonic aura permeated the air, instantly freezing it and spreading an invisible pressure.

On the imperial court, the civil and military officials on both sides all changed color. Some couldn't help but back away, while others swayed as if about to fall.

Upon seeing the black-robed man suddenly step forward, Xiao Wuque, Shenwei King, and the others' expressions changed drastically.

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

"It really was him!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

And this moment.

Despite facing the most powerful pressure, Ji Xuan remained calm and composed.

"Since the Demon King has come here, we should treat him with courtesy and offer him a seat!"

As he finished speaking, a yellowish-brown color spread out, instantly enveloping the entire Taiji Hall.

Inside the hall.

The civil and military officials instantly felt the pressure around them disappear, and their whole bodies felt as if they had been bathed, feeling completely comfortable.

Seeing this, the Demon King narrowed his eyes slightly and then slowly spoke.

"The Regent has brilliant methods, and the Imperial Heaven Domain is truly capable! He has indeed forged his own path!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the aura emanating from him instantly dissipated, and he returned to normal.

The earthy yellow light that had emanated from Ji Xuan's body also disappeared.

"The Imperial Heaven Domain?" Jiang Ning murmured.

He just experienced this power firsthand.

I got a preliminary feel for this power.

It is a domain that forms its own small world within the Primordial Chaos Domain, and then spreads out into the outer world to form other domains.

He roughly understood that within the area covered by the Imperial Heaven Domain, Ji Xuan was the absolute king.

As the saying goes, when the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength.

In his view, the Imperial Heaven Domain had such an effect.

"It's not bad, but it's still a bit short of what I expected! Now I just don't know whether Ji Xuan's seclusion these days is for a breakthrough or to recuperate from injuries. If it's for recuperation, is Ji Xuan still injured? And what level is Ji Xuan's own strength? How many times stronger is he than the head of the Eighteen Dragon Heads?" Many thoughts flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

At that moment, Bai Li's gaze lingered on Jiang Ning's face for a brief moment.

In the brightly lit Taiji Hall, she could see even more clearly.

It was indeed the Jiangning she saw in the inner landscape of Shangyang.

Then, she looked away. (End of Chapter)