When Yang Dingtian finally saw the legendary Northwest Qin City, it was a sight that would be etched in his memory.
Until now, Yang Dingtian had visited many of the influential forces’ headquarters.
The Yin Yang Sect was constructed around mountains. It was imposing and majestic while containing the ancient aura. There were also traces of aloof atmosphere and had the implication of a martial world’s faction.
The Cloud Heaven City was constructed on mountain peaks. It was towering and intimidating while containing a severe aura.
The Temple of Ten Thousand Blood was constructed within the mountain that was ten thousand meters in height. It was the most bizarre and had uncanny artistry.
Be it the Yin Yang Sect, Cloud Heaven City, or the Temple of Ten Thousand Blood, they might be massive and bizarre-looking, but their population didn’t exceed twenty or thirty thousand.
But Northwest Qin City was completely different.
The Northwest Qin City was like the most completed city. In fact, the Northwest Qin City was indeed a city.
This city was smaller than West Prefecture City but had a few hundred thousand residents. As compared to the West Prefecture City, the Northwest Qin City was more like a military fort.
The entire Qin City was separated into the inner and outer city. The outer city had walls that were a few dozen meters in height and over a dozen meters in thickness. The top of the city walls was packed with soldiers and giant crossbows.
In the air, there was a team of patrolling Golden Lion Vulture riders.
The Northwest Qin City could only be considered as being exceptionally impressive and grand.
But in fact, the interior of the city was mostly square-shaped and made of grey bricks and black roof tiles. The rooftop of the houses didn’t have elaborate designs. They might look magnificent, but they were not related to being gorgeous.
The layout of the houses was also squarish and symmetrical.
On the spacious limestone streets, it was straight and unobstructed with rare bending areas.
This city actually looked rather rigid! But Yang Dingtian had to admit that among the influential forces, this was the most impressive headquarters.
The other factions would be either manor that were slightly bigger or giant castles. Only the Northwest Qin City was considered a true city. The Qin Clan Lord’s ambition was prominent. Perhaps, he didn’t just want to be the clan head of a faction but a king of a nation.
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Inside the Qin City, there was a racket of human voices. Most of the people who came and went were here to offer their birthday congratulations.
Of course, this grand occasion wasn’t comparable to the Yin Yang Sect’s decennial Tribute Ceremony!
In comparison, the Yin Yang Sect set up was much higher as the only people that could enter the mountain were the Heaven Dao Union’s factions. Furthermore, the faction leader would only be able to bring in slightly over ten subordinates to enter the sect and offer their tributes. The rest of the people would have to stay behind at the Eastern Cloud Prefecture.
The Northwest Qin City didn’t set a boundary that was a thousand miles away. Factions of various statuses were able to visit and offer their congratulations. Furthermore, every faction would bring along a huge group. Since Qin City was massive, they were all able to fit inside.
Hence, the people who visited to offer birthday congratulations for the Qin City Lord’s 50th birthday were far more than the Yin Yang Sect’s decennial ceremony.
The number of people might be overwhelming; the order within the city was still very neat and tidy. Every few hundred meters, Yang Dingtian, would see a team of patrolling soldiers wearing black. They were fully armed and looked grim and sharp.
Yang Dingtian used his eyes to estimate that there were at least 20 to 30 thousand soldiers and cavalries just within the Northwest Qin City!
Suddenly, Yang Dingtian had a clear understanding that the Cloud Heaven City and the Northwest Qin City were in completely different levels.
The Black Blood Castle had 3,000 Black Blood Cavalry soldiers, and it was already the largest military force of the Cloud Heaven City. Even after adding the disciples of the Cloud Heaven City and the military forces from other castles, the total military power of the Cloud Heaven City wouldn’t exceed 10,000 men.
But for the Northwest Qin Clan, just Qin City alone would have a 50,000-strong military force. Of course, this was just the military forces of the Qin City, and they had yet to include the 3,000-mile territory governed by the Qin City.
Within the 1,000-mile territory of the Cloud Heaven City, most of the forces were vassal forces. But within the 3,000-mile territory of the Northwest Qin City, they were all managed by direct line descendants of the Qin Clan. It also meant that all the personnel within this 3,000-mile territory would receive orders from Qin City.
For those vassal subjects within the Qin City’s various other territories, it would extend more than 10,000 miles.
Purely in terms of territory and military power, Qin City already surpassed the Yin Yan Sect and Mystic Heaven Sect.
Yang Dingtian clearly knew in his heart that it was impossible to launch a frontal assault at the Northwest Qin City. If they were to fight with cities and lands, ten Cloud Heaven Cities still wouldn’t be a match for the Qin City. The mobilization strength of the Qin City was ten times to a few dozen times more than the Cloud Heaven City.
There was only one method to defeat the Qin City, that would be to defeat Qin Wanchou, who was the pillar supporting the sky of Qin City. But Qin Wanchou was a Grandmaster class expert, and among the world’s experts, he was currently holding the top three rankings. If Yang Dingtian wanted to defeat him, he would need to wait until he was able to defeat Dongfang Bingling first.
If Yang Dingtian were to win the martial contest and obtain the city lord position at the end of the year, the first thing he had to do was to clear up the interior. He didn’t only have to eliminate the opposing clans, and the Qin City’s infiltrators, he had to conform the entire Cloud Heaven City’s 1,000-mile territory completely. He had to do things more thoroughly than Ximen Wuya and turn the entire 1,000-mile territory’s vassal subjects into his direct subjects. He would have to turn the factions like the Iron Sword Hall into forces like the Black Blood Castle, which took direct orders from the Cloud Heaven City.
Only after doing all those things, would they have the ability to resist the annexing from Qin City. As for the counterattack, it would be impossible unless Yang Dingtian’s cultivation surpassed Qin Wanchou. Yang Dingtian’s biggest mission after becoming Cloud Heaven City Lord was to conform to Cloud Heaven City’s 1,000-mile territory and turn it into a fist.
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After entering the inner city, Qin Mengli immediately went to pay her respects to the Qin City Lord, Qin Wanchou. As her lover, Yang Dingtian’s current status would never suffice for such a meeting. Hence, if it weren’t for the martial contest with Ye Feng, Yang Dingtian wouldn’t even have the qualification to meet with Qin Wanchou from start to end!
As such, after Qin Mengli paid her respects to Lord Qin Wanchou, Yang Dingtian stayed inside Qin Mengli’s residence and basically never left.
Qin Mengli’s private residence was around forty hectares in size, and it belonged to Qin Mengli alone. This place was absolutely safe for Yang Dingtian!
This was also the only residence that had things like flowers and plants, making it more like a manor. It could be considered as one of the Qin City’s largest manors.
The entire residence had over 2,000 individuals.
There were a few hundred maids, a few hundred warriors, and a few hundred servants! These people were entirely loyal and belonged to Qin Mengli.
When Yang Dingtian entered this place, the servants were all respectful on the surface, but their eyes were filled with disdain. Especially some of the veteran housekeepers who didn’t even behave politely.
“From today onwards, you will be staying in this courtyard.” An elder wearing an embroidered robe led Yang Dingtian to a rather secluded courtyard.
This courtyard was in the northwest corner of the residence, and it was where Qin Mengli would use, especially for her lovers.
Qin Mengli would return to Qin City two to three times a year, half of the year would be spent in this residence. Hence, these servants had already witnessed seven or eight of her previous lovers. These lovers would only stay for at most ten days in the residence. Once Qin Mengli was sick of them, she would wed her lover to her personal maid and bestow the lover with an estate and a business in Qin City or West Prefecture City.
Hence, in the eyes of the residence’s veterans, Qin Mengli’s lovers were no different from servants as they would ultimately have to marry a servant. The veterans of this residence believed themselves to the Qin Mengli’s close family while her lovers were outsiders even among servants; thus, they didn’t even put the lovers in their eyes.
Yang Dingtian paid no attention to the cold shoulders that the residence’s servants were giving him. This courtyard was secluded and quiet, making it even better for staying.
When that veteran housekeeper left, he spoke while acting indifferent, “During this period, there will be many esteemed guests visiting Madam. If Young Master Shen didn’t get summoned, it is best to stay in this courtyard to avoid being embarrassed.”
This statement was extremely impolite to the point of being rude.
Yang Dingtian didn’t mind and smiled. “Great!”
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When Qin Mengli returned to the courtyard, it was already night time and the equivalence of the Earth’s 9 pm. It was apparent that she had accompanied her elder brother for dinner and had a long conversation.
Qin Mengli’s expression instantly turned cold when she noticed Yang Dingtian staying in the most secluded courtyard. She immediately issued an order, “Everyone in residence is to assemble in front of the grand hall!”
Half an hour later, more than 2,000 servants were gathered at the plaza in front of the grand hall.
Qin Mengli stood on the platform and held Yang Dingtian’s hand while yelling out coldly, “Everyone, kneel!”
In an instant, more than 2,000 individuals knelt in unison.
“Remember, from today onwards, this man, Shen Lang, will be this residence’s Master and the only Master.” Qin Mengli spoke in a stern voice, “I don’t care what the outsiders are saying, but in this residence, he is my husband!”
Everyone on the plaza was astonished as they looked at Yang Dingtian with surprised expressions.
“Did you hear me?” Qin Mengli asked in a cold voice.
“Yes!” Everyone responded in unison.
“Then, are you not going to greet your Master?” Qin Mengli questioned.
Everyone immediately kowtowed to Yang Dingtian and greeted, “These servants pay their respects to Master!” especially that veteran, who spoke rudely to Yang Dingtian today.
His face was terrified, and his head was bleeding as he kowtowed to Yang Dingtian.
“Everyone, please get up, I have troubled everyone.” Yang Dingtian smiled.
“Are you not going to thank your master?” Qin Mengli asked while giving a cold glance to that housekeeper with the bleeding forehead.
Everyone stood up, timidly, and yelled out, “Thank you, Master!”
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On the couch…
Qin Mengli was feeding Yang Dingtian some grapes while speaking gently, “Shen Lang, my elder brother flared up on me today.”
“What happened?” Yang Dingtian asked.
“In the past, Ye Wuzheng would put on an act and reside in my residence. During the family dinner today, I immediately told Ye Wuzheng not to enter and for him to stay in other residences. I had also said that he shall not take another step in my residence ever. When the elder brother heard it, he immediately flared up and immediately wanted to send someone to kill you.” Qin Mengli continued, “I said if you died, I would also die in front of him. Immediately after, he smashed his wine cup!”
Yang Dingtian let out a bitter smile and said, “You are too impatient.”
“I truly cannot wait for that day.” Qin Mengli said in a tender voice, “Originally, I wanted to brag to my elder brother about how good you are. I didn’t expect to anger him and didn’t have the chance to say anything else.”
“It is fine.” Yang Dingtian hugged her tightly and said, “I don’t mind the eyes of others. After I defeat Ye Feng during your elder brother’s birthday banquet, I will accompany you for another period and will continue wandering in the world.”
When Yang Dingtian said this, Qin Mengli’s beautiful eyes turned dull while she spoke in a soft voice, “Can’t you stay? I cannot bear to be separated from you for even a single day!”
Yang Dingtian laughed and said, “A love that can last longer is better than spending time with each other every day. As long as our hearts are together, even if we are 10,000 miles apart, it would feel like we are close to one another.”
“My husband!” After hearing Yang Dingtian’s speech, Qin Mengli got emotional and spoke in a soft voice, “Tens of thousands of people will come to offer congratulations to my elder brother’s 50th birthday. Thus, I will be very busy for the time being, and I will not be able to accompany you all the time.”
“It is fine. I just happen to have to cultivate for these few days. It is for preparation to deal with that foolish Ye Feng.” Yang Dingtian replied.
“Can you really win?” Qin Mengli asked with concern.
“I can.” Yang Dingtian said, “From tomorrow onwards, I will reside in the most secluded place and cultivate in seclusion. Ah Li, do you have a place that is uninhabited for a few dozen miles in radius? Furthermore, it has to be an absolutely hidden location and must have a secret underground basement.”
Qin Mengli thought for a moment and replied, “There is, and it is 100 miles away from the city. There is a lake there, and under the lake, there is a hidden room. I constructed it back then when I got carried away by a whim. It has never been used before, and it is under my private properties, and no one else knows about it.”
“That will be good.” Yang Dingtian then said, “For the next few days, I will be cultivating in that hidden room in seclusion. I will only be coming out on the day of the martial contest with Ye Feng.”
“En, don’t worry!” Qin Mengli responded, “I understand. If you need any materials, elixirs, or manuals, you just need to inform me. As long as Qin City has it, no matter the rarity and the quantity, I will deliver it to you. Your woman might not be formidable in martial strength and doesn’t have powerful authority, but in terms of wealth, there are just a few individuals that can rival me. All of my wealth will belong to you.”
Yang Dingtian spoke softly, “I do need some items. I will give you a list later, and you must get the most reliable person to arrange for those items.”
Qin Mengli spoke in a coquettish voice, “I will arrange it personally.” Subsequently, she giggled and said, “It is rather nice to have a super-wealthy woman, right?”
Yang Dingtian laughed and said, “That is true. It is rather nice to be living off a woman.”
Hearing this reply, Qin Mengli felt a little embarrassed as she knew that her man, Shen Lang, was a person that wasn’t interested in authority and wealth.
Afterwards, she acted as though she was trying to explain, “Now that I think about it, my underground palace at West Prefecture City is truly boring. I used to like it in the past and would gather all the valuable treasures inside that place. Right now, I do not have any interest in it. In fact, I am not interested in the valuable treasures of the world anymore. No matter how valuable the item is, it looks just like a piece of rock to me.”
“I believe that you will find something meaningful to do.” Yang Dingtian replied.
Qin Mengli giggled and spoke softly, “Being together with you is the most meaningful thing!”
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Next day, Qin Mengli left early in the morning.
Yang Dingtian had also used the most secretive method to travel a hundred miles away from the city and into that secluded, uninhabited, secret room.
This lake was a few hundred hectares in size, and the entire place was Qin Mengli’s private property. There were no signs of human habitation in the nearby few dozen miles, making it the best place to go into seclusion for Yang Dingtian.
After submerging to the bottom of the lake, Yang Dingtian arrived at the secret underground room and started his cultivation in seclusion.
The secret room might be underwater, but the entrance was filled with energy crystals that would repel water. Hence, even when opening the secret room’s thick stone door, not an ounce of lake water entered.
There were still four days before the birthday banquet’s martial contest.
If Yang Dingtian wanted to defeat Ye Feng, Yang Dingtian would have to breakthrough the Martial Mystic class. But, this difficulty was truly overwhelming.
According to normal cultivation and learning the third rank of the Pig Slaying Sword Art, Yang Dingtian would breakthrough by two levels at best.
But if Yang Dingtian conducted the fourth layer of meridian cleansing, he might breakthrough more than just two levels. If Yang Dingtian conducted the fifth layer of cleansing, his breakthrough would exceed even more, but he would never exceed three levels.
In this case, Yang Dingtian would only be able to breakthrough to the 8-star Great Mystic Martial Master. He would still be two levels away from becoming a Martial Mystic. For these two levels, if he cultivated normally, it would take at least half a year.
An 8-star Great Mystic Martial Master was still one class and eleven levels inferior to Ye Feng. It was possible to defeat Ye Feng, but Yang Dingtian wanted it to be a complete victory and not a miserable victory! Hence, he had to breakthrough to the Martial Mystic class.
In just three to four days, apart from the breakthrough provided by the Pig Slaying Sword Art, Yang Dingtian would have to find another way to breakthrough an additional of two levels.
The result of this martial contest was very important, and it was the most important part of Yang Dingtian’s plan. In fact, the possibility of obtaining the other half of the Heaven and Earth Mystic Flame map was completely dependent on this martial contest’s victory.
