Chapter 120: First Arrival in the Empire

In the Heaven Dou Empire, within the Bichi Province, lies the city of Sabak.

A group of six riders casually entered the city, ebbing with the flow of people. The six splendidly groomed steeds commanded attention, and so did the dignified riders atop them, exuding an aura that naturally drew the eye.

On the city walls, Vice-Captain of the City Guards, Woma, caught sight of these six horsemen. His gaze particularly fixated on the young man leading the group, and he couldn't help but shudder—a master, at least a soul king level expert.

Sabak City, being one of the five major provinces of the Heaven Dou Empire and a principal city of Bichi Province, afforded someone as capable as Woma to serve as the vice-captain of the city guards.

His martial soul, "Limitless Staff," was at a formidable fortieth-eighth level as a strong assault type battle soul sect, making his accomplishments at the age of thirty-six commendable.

However, today, Woma found himself overshadowed by a young man whose presence seemed more robust, yet appeared younger than himself.

"Could he be from another province's soul master family, or from the Sylvis Kingdom next door?"

Woma silently mused as he watched the figure vanish from his sight through the city gates. With the ongoing grand auction at the Sabak Auction House, the city had indeed seen an influx of outsiders. Yet, few boasted prowess as that youth did, especially at such a seemingly young age—just over thirty at most.

After all, the genuinely good stuff is always scoured by the imperial capital, Tiandu City, leaving only a variety here that might marginally attract some mid-tier spirit masters.

On the bustling road within the city, Ling Yi rode forward, drawing close to Jiang Yuan, who was at the head, and softly said, "Brother Yuan, the person we just saw atop the city gate must be Woma, the vice-captain of the Sabak City Guard…"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan turned around with some surprise to look at Ling Yi, and asked, "Ah Yi, isn't this your first time here? How did you recognize him just by a distant glance?"

Faced with Jiang Yuan's astonishment, Ling Yi shrugged and responded breezily, "Precisely because it's my first time, I made sure to prepare... I asked the association's procurement and equipment salespeople to come here in advance and glean some information about Sabak City, from the City Lord's Mansion and the three major spirit master families to even solo spirit master experts."

"Someone like Vice-Captain Woma, who frequently appears, I've seen both descriptions of his appearance and rough sketches…"

Listening to Ling Yi, Zhang Mufeng, Qingqiu Xin, and Long Yin, riding behind, weren't surprised at all, while Li Zhishu, who was with them, showed a dumbfounded expression akin to Jian Yuan's.

Long Yin, with a flick of his whip, lifted the sagging double chin of Li Zhishu, who was open-mouthed, with a chuckle, "Alright, Old Li, spend enough time with Brother Yi and you won't be so surprised—"

Li Zhishu waved off the whip that brushed against his face, glared at Long Yin, "When was I surprised? I… I was just pondering if we might encounter some distinctive dishes when we eat later—"

"Fine—"

Long Yin didn't press the issue. He swayed casually atop his horse, utterly nonchalant, and replied, "At worst, you, Old Li, will personally cook. Could you really let down our taste buds and stomachs?"

Half a month ago, Ling Yi left Zhang Lei behind to oversee matters in Blue Silver Territory, while he took Zhang Mufeng and the other two companions out of Mountain and Sea Garden, embarking once again on their journey.

Their first destination was Woodplant City, where they intended to meet with Old Master Jin and learn the specifics of the message in the previous letter.

They also awaited more detailed information.

In the year 2601 of the Douluo calendar, Jiang Yuan first met with the main commander of the Cold Wind Camp, Marquis of Cedar, Song Yao, at the age of twenty-eight, thanks to his granduncle Old Master Jin. This was when Ling Yi was just ten years old.

Now, six years have passed. Jiang Yuan, who is now thirty-four, has advanced from a level forty-four strong-attack system battle soul sect to a level fifty-two battle soul king.

On the Iron Casting Gauntlet, the inherited martial soul of the Jin clan, his accumulated military merits have earned him the assistance of Master Song Yao, a level sixty-nine soul emperor, to hunt a soul beast that had just surpassed ten thousand years for his fifth soul ring!

At such an age and level of strength, though not comparable to those notable heirs of powerful factions across the continent, Jiang Yuan is certainly a high-caliber individual, entitled to respect wherever he goes.

For the first time leaving home without a trusted master by his side, Ling Yi naturally felt a lack of security.

Recognizing his own limitations, Ling Yi did not dare to hope for protection from a prestigious Title Douluo — that privilege was reserved for the main protagonists, Tang San and Qian Renxue.

As for having a Contra level expert as a bodyguard, even royal princes don't receive such treatment unless they belong to the Heavenly Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire.

However, if one possessed exceptional talent, it was possible for a Soul Sage or Emperor from top Soul Master academies, sometimes even a principal out of love for talent, to serve as both an instructor and protector.

At the poverty-stricken Shrek Academy depicted at the beginning of the original story, how could Dai Mubai, a prince of the Star Luo Empire, so willingly acknowledge the academy's teaching quality?

Besides Dean Flender's persuasive skills in appealing to rebellious youths, the substantial faculty comprised of three Soul Sages and two Soul Emperors, contributed significantly to earning respect.

Unfortunately, even with Ling Yi's improved talent and cultivation speed, it was still far from enough to have a principal-level figure from an advanced academy provide close guidance.

Reflect on the Royal Academy Team in the original story, featuring genius students like Yu Tianheng from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Dugu Yan, granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, and Ye Lingling, inheritor of the continent's top healing spirit Nine Heart Begonia. Their instructor was merely Qin Ming, a newly ascended Soul Emperor.

A Soul Emperor leading seven Soul Elders traveled across major provinces and cities within the Heavenly Dou Empire, competing in the Great Spirit Arena until an encounter with the ridiculously powerful protagonist team. Despite having the absolute advantage, they suffered a crushing defeat due to underestimating their opponents and lack of information!

Fortunately, thanks to Lou Gao's prior personal experiences and the intelligence network spread by the [Blacksmith Association] Waterwood Principality Branch, Ling Yi knew that a Soul King was more than capable of traveling across the continent safely as long as he avoided provoking the strong.

Even more so, these companions weren't entirely without combat ability.

Ling Yi, at sixteen, just three months shy of seventeen, wielded the martial spirit "Blue Silver Grass." As a twenty-seventh level healing support soul master, his strength was comparable to a Soul Elder, capable of both attacking and healing.

Zhang Mufeng had the martial spirit "Mixed Iron Staff," and was a twenty-fourth-level assault-type battle soul master.

Qingqiu Xin's martial spirit was the "Wind-Chasing Gull," making him a twenty-fifth-level agility-type battle soul master.

Long Yin's martial spirit was the "Snow Spirit Bear," and he, too, was a twenty-fifth-level assault-type battle soul master.

Even Li Zhishu, another support-type soul master with the food-type martial spirit "Long Staff Bread," could keep most ordinary Great Soul Masters at bay with a Thousand Refined Steel Staff, due to years of practicing the "Beast Martial Soul: Form-Intent Fist."

A Soul King traveling with a Soul Elder and four Great Soul Masters formed a formidable team as they made their first step into [Heaven Dou Empire] territory.

(End of Chapter)