Marquis Jiange’s Residence, Conference Hall.

Marquis Jiange sat in the highest seat. Although he was more than eighty years old, and his sideburns were graying, he was still full of vigor. His gaze was penetrating, and he exuded a presence that was naturally imposing.

For those whose Cultivation had reached the level of a Martial Supreme, eighty years old was not considered old. Some long-lived Martial Supremes could even live to a hundred and eighty.

Ning Qianwen, Ning Qianwu and the other significant members of the second- and third-generation of Marquis Jiange’s Residence were sitting below, upright and still. No one dared to meet the eyes of the Old Marquis. This was the power of a Martial Supreme, transcending all martial artists.

Ning Qianwu said, “Father, the Bloodthirsty Devil Sect dared to openly kill a direct descendant of Marquis Jiange’s Residence in Imperial City. They’re essentially challenging the dignity of Marquis Jiange’s Residence. Revenge is necessary!”

The Old Marquis was unruffled. “The Bloodthirsty Devil Sect can’t possibly have been responsible!”

Ning Qianwu replied, “Those two servants died due to their bodies being drained of blood and essence, resulting in two withered corpses. Who but the Bloodthirsty Devil Sect uses such a crude and vicious Devil Technique?”

“I said that it’s not them, so it’s not them. I haven’t gotten that old yet. Do I need you to make judgments for me?” The Old Marquis’s Blood Qi was potent. His voice resounded like a bell, causing Ning Qianwu’s Blood Qi to bubble to the point where he could not utter a single word.

“The old man’s Cultivation has grown stronger.” Ning Qianwu was dumbstruck. The vibrations from the Old Marquis’s voice caused his eardrums to ache. All over his body, his blood vessels were blocked, and even his Combat Qi could not circulate.

Old Marquis said, “Fourth Son, I know that your heart is filled with hatred because your son is dead, but I guarantee that this wasn’t done by the Bloodthirsty Devil Sect. The murderer is sure to be someone else. We must get to the bottom of this. Whoever dares to make an enemy out of Marquis Jiange’s Residence must pay a serious price.”

“I understand!” Ning Qianwu stepped down. It was not wise to argue with the Old Marquis, who had lived for close to a hundred years. He would not turn a blind eye to things, and nothing could be hidden from him.

The Old Marquis continued, “In three months, the Heavenly Emperor Academy will be recruiting students. The major Marquises’ Residences are sure to compete against each other. The higher the number of descendants who qualify for the Heavenly Emperor Academy, the greater the next generation of the Marquis’ Residence will be. This time, we must not lose to the other Marquises’ Residences. Qianwen, currently, how many descendants from the younger generation of Marquis Jiange’s Residence have advanced their Cultivation to Stage Seven?”

Ning Qianwen was the eldest son of the Old Marquis. Most of the family property in Marquis Jiange’s Residence was managed by him. Despite this, and though he was over fifty, he still revered the Old Marquis. “Among the young descendants, there are a hundred and thirty-four who are under eighteen and whose Cultivation has reached Stage Seven Qi. Out of this group, Xiner has recently attained the Divine Body Realm. Her talent is astonishing indeed.”

“Oh!” The Old Marquis’s initially blank face soon broke into a cheerful expression, as he slapped his seat and chortled. “Good! Good! That Xiner girl has true resolve. To enter the Divine Body Realm when she’s only fourteen – that’s more impressive than what I did back then. She can be said to be the number one genius of Marquis Jiange’s Residence.”

The Old Marquis was filled with joy. At the same time, Ning Xiaochuan’s figure emerged in his mind. That poor child – were it not for his inborn fetal disease, he would certainly be even more outstanding than his sister. Sigh! What a shame!

Ning Qianwen did not bat an eyelid and continued, “Quite a number of these young geniuses of the Marquis’ Residence have gained practical experience outside. Some even joined the barracks for training. Now, seventy-nine of them have returned. Their Cultivation has reached Stage Seven Qi or higher.”

The Old Marquis said, “Call them in then! Also… summon Ning Xiaochuan as well! I have something important to announce.”

Ning Qianwu narrowed his eyes and his face turned stiff. Secretly he was thinking, ‘Don’t tell me that the Old Marquis wishes to name Sicken Ning heir to the Marquis’ Residence?’

In the Conference Hall, many of them revealed surprised looks, thinking the same thought as Ning Qianwu.

Although Ning Xiaochuan was afflicted by an inborn fetal disease and thus could not practice martial arts, he was completely capable of getting married and having children.

At the moment, the Old Marquis was still in his best years. Considering his favoritism towards Ning Xiaochuan, he could spend a few decades nurturing Ning Xiaochuan’s son into the heir of Marquis Jiange’s Residence.

This was what truly troubled Ning Qianwu and the reason he was in a hurry to get rid of Ning Xiaochuan.

Marquis Jiange’s Residence’s Conference Hall was enormous and majestic. Even after accommodating a few hundred people, it would not seem crowded.

Ning Xiaochuan and the seventy-nine geniuses of Marquis Jiange’s Residence’s younger generation entered the Conference Hall together. They stood in a uniform line and bowed respectfully to Marquis Jiange.

As Ning Xiaochuan walked amongst the crowd of geniuses, he was slightly startled. There were far too many young talents in Marquis Jiange’s Residence, both male and female. The boys were handsome and heroic, while the girls were beautiful and proud. Every one of them was a martial art practitioner, and none of their Cultivation was weaker than his.

These were not just the direct descendants of Marquis Jiange’s Residence, for there were quite a few collateral descendants too.

This was the thousand-year legacy of a hereditary Marquis’s Residence. Its foundation was robust, which the non-hereditary Marquises’ Residences could not compare to.

The Yulan Empire had been nation-building for more than eight centuries. There were numerous kings, marquises, generals, and ministers. Currently, the empire was in an exquisite, prosperous, and golden age. Nobles emerged in large numbers, and martial arts were widely practiced.

The Nobles were further divided into “hereditary Nobles” and “non-hereditary Nobles”.

Hereditary Nobles referred to “the Eighteen Officials”, fourteen marquises and four kings, who were there when the Yulan Empire was founded. These Nobles could pass down their titles through the generations. When the father passed away, the son could succeed him as a Noble. When the son passed away, the grandson could succeed him.

Marquis Jiange’s Residence was one of the fourteen hereditary Marquises’ Residences. It had been passed down for over a millennium, with a deep and extensive heritage, tremendous influence, and various internal systems. Based on strength alone, the non-hereditary Marquises’ Residences that had started late could not compare in any way. Even when compared to the Martial Art Sects, Marquis Jiange’s Residence was not that much weaker.

Hereditary Nobles were also called “True Nobles”, while non-hereditary Nobles were called “Promoted Nobles”.

Ning Xiaochuan subtly cast a glance in Ning Qianwu’s direction, then swiftly retracted his gaze. Immediately, he withdrew the Combat Qi of his entire body into his Atrium, keeping up with his pretense of being sick.

“In three months, it’ll be the quinquennial day when the Heavenly Emperor Academy opens their doors. You are the most outstanding descendants in Marquis Jiange’s Residence. Now’s the time when you should push yourself. In the following three months, you’ll be sent to Fire Devil Mountain to gain experience. This will be an arduous experience, and death is a possibility. If anyone is afraid, they may step forward now.” The Old Marquis sat high above, his eyes mildly flashing over these young descendants of the Marquis’s Residence below him.

Upon hearing Fire Devil Mountain, even the adults of Marquis Jiange’s Residence’s second- and third-generation changed their expressions slightly.

“Legend has it that Fire Devil Mountain is a primitive, ancient hill with a perimeter of a few thousand miles. Black Fire Trees grow there, and the soil burns all year round. For a millennium, it has never been extinguished. That’s a truly dangerous Devil Mountain.”

“I’ve heard that inside, there are ferocious Mystical Beasts, whose bodies are as massive as a palace, able to tear a mountain to shreds with a swipe of their claws.”

“I’ve heard that a Martial Supreme fell in Fire Devil Mountain and was turned into an undead guardian of the mountain. At night, they haunt the place, aiming to kill any martial artists who have intruded.”

Although the young descendants treated Fire Devil Mountain as taboo, their determination was unshaken, and no one withdrew.

The Old Marquis nodded in satisfaction. “Rest assured! At your level of Cultivation, charging into Fire Devil Mountain is a suicide mission. This time, your training shall be held at the Five Desolate Ridges in the northwest area of Fire Devil Mountain. This location is considered Fire Devil Mountain’s outer rim, and its level of danger is much lower in comparison.”

Upon hearing this, the young geniuses instantly sighed in relief.

The Old Marquis continued, “For this training in the Five Desolate Ridges, each of you will be given a hundred drops of Grade One Heart-nourishing Liquid and a hundred drops of Grade One Blood-increasing Liquid. Aim for an essential breakthrough in your Cultivation and obtain excellent results in the Heavenly Emperor Academy’s evaluation three months later. Everyone who qualifies for the Heavenly Emperor Academy will be awarded a mid-grade Pill, and the most outstanding one will be awarded a piece of Mystical Equipment.”

“Rumble!”

Excitement flared up!

This was a generous reward, causing everyone to shake with excitement. A “mid-grade Pill” was something every martial artist yearned day and night for, whereas a piece of Mystical Equipment would be a gem of immeasurable value in a battle.

Ning Xiaochuan was also exclaiming to himself, “As expected of a hereditary Marquis’ Residence that has been successful for a thousand years. How rich and powerful! For everyone to receive a hundred drops of Heart-nourishing Liquid and Blood-increasing Liquid – that’s an immense sum of wealth, what more the value of the mid-grade Pills and the Mystical Equipment.”

The Marquises’ Residences were really generous with their wealth when it came to nurturing Genius Descendants, and only geniuses would receive such treatment.

“There’s another thing I want to announce!” The Old Marquis fixed his steely gaze upon Ning Xiaochuan, his eyes shining with a complicated expression. Love, pity, and helplessness struggled within him, and he finally seemed to come to a decision. “Because my grandson Ning Xiaochuan was born with a fetal disease, he’s unable to cultivate Combat Qi. I’ve decided to bestow upon him Begonia Manor, which is at the Southern Mountain Cluster outside of Imperial City. From today onwards, he’ll be the proprietor of Begonia Manor, and no longer has to stay in the Marquis’ Residence. Xiaochuan, do you accept?”

Everyone looked at Ning Xiaochuan in pity.

Although the Old Marquis had gifted him a manor, those who were astute could tell that by sending him away to the Southern Mountain Cluster, the Old Marquis was giving up on him completely and leaving him to fend for himself.

He did not even qualify to stay within the Marquis’ Residence and had become fully marginalized from the place. It would be impossible for Ning Xiaochuan to be the heir of Marquis Jiange’s Residence.

Ning Qianwu’s heart leaped with glee. It looked like the Old Marquis had completely given up on Ning Xiaochuan. Nonetheless, this was only natural. Who would endlessly look after an invalid? It was a huge waste of the Marquis’ Residence resources.

Ning Xiner said hurriedly, “Grandfather, though Begonia Manor isn’t far from Imperial City, my elder brother is in poor health. If he goes to Begonia Manor, with no one to take care of him, he…”

“Xiner, the Marquis is doing this for Xiaochuan’s sake. Begonia Manor’s environment is tranquil, and the air is fresh. It’s practically a paradise. He’ll have his own servants to take care of him, so it’s a good place to recuperate!” Ning Qianwen chastised her.

“Uncle.”

Ning Xiner clenched her jaw, then once again directed a pleading look at Old Marquis, saying, “Grandfather, if you’re really going to send my brother to Begonia Manor, I’m not going to the Five Desolate Ridges to train, nor am I going to the Heavenly Emperor Academy. I’ll go to Begonia Manor to take care of him. I only have one elder brother, and no one is more important than him!”

She pursed her lips, her hands tightly gripping Ning Xiaochuan’s arms, as if she was deeply afraid that someone would take her elder brother away.

Ning Xiaochuan gently patted Ning Xiner’s small hands, then said with a solemn expression, “I’m willing to go to Begonia Manor. I’ll accept the Marquis’s bestowment.”

“Elder Brother!” Ning Xiner cried out.

“Xiner, will you listen to what I have to say? Go to the Five Desolate Ridges and focus on training. Once your Cultivation has grown formidable, come to Begonia Manor to visit me. I’ll surely be very pleased.” Ning Xiaochuan smiled.

Ning Xiaochuan was afraid that his ability to cultivate Combat Qi would be exposed and had intended to leave the Marquis’s Residence for some time. Now that he had received such a perfect opportunity, how could he let it go?

The heavens were truly helping him!

Upon seeing that Ning Xiaochuan had actually agreed to go to Begonia Manor, Ning Qianwu cracked a knowing smile. This kid was done for!