“Come quick! The third young lady of the city lord’s mansion is looking for a husband today! The outstanding talents of all the families in the city are having a martial arts competition. No one knows who will be able to win the third young lady’s affections!”
“Not only are the elites from our Golden Martial City, but even the outstanding talents from several nearby iron-ranked cities have come over. You should know that our city lord is a Noble Realm powerhouse. If it wasn’t for the fact that he hasn’t broken through to the Royal Realm, our Golden Martial City would’ve been promoted to the bronze rank!”
“I’ve heard that the third young lady’s aptitudes are extraordinary. She’s just eighteen years old, but she’s already Xiantian stage eight. So long as she reaches the Immortal Realm, she can become an inner sect disciple of Hundred Sounds Sect. At that time, she’ll reach the heavens in a single bound!”
“That’s right. If anyone can become the third young lady’s husband, he’ll be able to get the resources of the city lord’s mansion and a spot in the inner sect of Hundred Sounds Sect. By then, this pair of immortals can start dual cultivating. Hehe…”
Discussions like these resounded between numerous martial artists.
At the same time, there was a stream of people rushing towards the raised platform on the right side of the Golden Martial City Lord’s mansion.
At the entrance of the city gates, a man more than three meters tall was wearing black robes and unhurriedly walking inside. His footsteps were very slow. His hood covered his face, making it difficult for others to see his appearance clearly.
He seemed to be an ordinary person, but if anyone took a closer look, they would discover that when he walked around, not a single step touched the ground.
It was just that, after entering the city, because it was too crowded and congested, he was unwittingly squeezed to the front of the city lord’s mansion where he saw the enormous raised platform.
The black-robed man turned around, and walked out from the tide of people. However, entering the crowds meant flowing with the current, which was naturally easy. Meanwhile, removing oneself from the crowds meant going against the current, so he was obstructed.
After that, a ribbon of flowing qi suddenly appeared around the man in black robes. It spread out inch by inch, clearing an area of two feet around him.
Though, it was quite strange. This qi flow wasn’t strong, but it seemed to contain a type of strange power. Originally, if someone wanted to use their own strength to go against the current, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction among many people. Yet, as soon as this power came out, it left people feeling fear in their hearts. Everyone who passed through this place unknowingly moved out of the way. Many didn’t even realize that they had subconsciously stepped aside.
The black-robed man didn’t pay attention to these things. With this ribbon of flowing qi wrapped around him, he slowly walked out of the turbulent crowd of people. After he withdrew to the outermost periphery, he wanted to go in another direction, but when he looked in that direction, he still couldn’t see the end of the crowd.
At this time, the qi emissions around his body abruptly became somewhat jittery and irritable. That qi flow also showed signs of rapidly expanding.
Right at that moment, someone suddenly came to his side, and called out: “Fellow brother! Hey, fellow brother!”
The qi flow on the black-robed man was still expanding.
The owner of that voice quickly went to the front, and reached out to pat his shoulder: “Fellow—”
A heart-palpitating energy suddenly shot out, and flicked his hand away.
Though, the man in black robes also turned his head, and finally realized that the other party was talking to him.
Standing behind the black-robed man, there were several robust men who were blocking the other people in the crowd. The one who opened up this space was a young master wearing brocade robes. His bright smile was conspicuous. After retracting his hand, he wasn’t angry because of the other side’s reaction.
Instead, he cordially said: “This fellow brother, there are too many people right now. If you want to go out, I’m afraid it’ll be difficult. There happens to be such a grand event in the city. It would be better to follow this one upstairs to have tea and refreshments, and enjoy yourself. Once there are fewer people, this one can send off this fellow brother. How about that?”
The man in black robes faintly raised his head.
His appearance was still hidden under the hood, but with this movement, he seemed to be staring at the young master in brocade robes.
The smiling expression on the brocade-robed young master became a little stiff.
The black-robed man took a step forward, and walked right in front of the young master.
The young master in brocade robes: “…Please?”
The man in black finally started following.
The young master breathed a sigh of relief.
The upstairs that this young master mentioned was actually referring to the restaurant behind them. His seat was by the window on the second floor. As it happened, he could watch the spectacles on the raised platform and the swaying movements of the crowd below. His field of view was wide. On the table, there were fragrant teas and light refreshments. Compared to other people, he was enjoying himself much more.
After going upstairs, the young master in brocade robes said: “Please take a seat.”
The man in black robes sat down.
From beginning to end, the attitude of the young master was friendly, polite, and amiable: “I can see that this fellow brother’s strength is out of the ordinary. Since you’ve come to Golden Martial City, you’re just in time for the groom selection of the city lord’s mansion. This must be fate. Fellow brother, why don’t you give it a try?”
At last, the black-robed man spoke again. His voice was slightly deep, but it contained an unusual magnetism. However, this type of magnetism didn’t sound pleasant to the ears. Rather, it carried a special cadence that prevented people from forgetting it: “I’m going to see Ah Zuo.”
The young master in brocade robes was taken aback: “Going to see Ah Zuo?”
The man in black robes said: “Ah Zuo is waiting for me.”
The young master suddenly understood: “As it turns out, this fellow brother already has a beloved sweetheart.”
The black-robed man nodded his head: “Sweetheart.”
The young master sighed: “So it’s like this.” Soon after, he introduced himself, “This one is Jin Yuan. I’m the second son of the Golden Martial City Lord. The one selecting a groom on the raised platform today is this one’s third sister.”
Due to his wide field of vision, Jin Yuan, who was on the restaurant’s second floor, caught sight of the black-robed man acting strangely down below. Although the identity of the other party was unknown, Jin Yuan felt that this person had an indescribable temperament. Moreover, this fellow didn’t seem old, so he could’ve been a worthy match for third sister. Thus, when Jin Yuan saw that the other party wanted to leave, he hurriedly went downstairs and invited this person to come up.
However, the matter of the groom selection couldn’t be forced. Since the other party said that he had a sweetheart, Jin Yuan naturally wouldn’t force anyone into doing something. Now that marriage was off the table, they could still be friends!
Jin Yuan brushed away his previous thoughts, and asked with a smile: “How should I address this fellow brother?”
The man in black robes: “Tian…” Speaking up to here, he paused.
What came after couldn’t be recalled.
Jin Yuan said: “So it’s Brother Tian.”
He thought that this back-robed man was only willing to declare his surname.
Brother Tian nodded with tacit approval.
At this moment, Jin Yuan also noticed that the nature of this person was very reclusive and introverted. Although, martial artists with this kind of nature weren’t rare. More often than not, they were people who completely devoted themselves to practicing martial arts, and their strength was extraordinary. In addition, so long as one managed to befriend them, they would fully open their hearts.
Hence, Jin Yuan quickly continued to chat: “Brother Tian, you said that you want to go find your sweetheart?”
The black-robed man said: “Want to go.”
Jin Yuan thought for a moment: “Where is Brother Tian’s sweetheart? Is there anything this one can do to help?”
The back-robed man paused again. After that, he said: “Ten Ultimates Sect.”
Jin Yuan’s complexion changed slightly: “Ten Ultimates Sect? Brother Tian’s sweetheart is a disciple of Ten Ultimates Sect?”
The man in black robes thought about it, and shook his head.
Jin Yuan wasn’t disappointed. He felt that he understood a little bit: “Brother Tian’s sweetheart lives in Ten Ultimates City?”
This time, the black-robed man nodded.
Jin Yuan smiled and said: “Ten Ultimates City isn’t close to this place. If Brother Tian rushes over like this, it’ll be a waste of time. Brother Tian, how about you wait here for a while. Once third sister chooses a groom, this one will personally guide Brother Tian to the teleportation array and send off Brother Tian.”
The other party listened and understood: “Thank you.”
Seeing that the man in black robes didn’t refuse his kind intentions, Jin Yuan was in a happy mood. Right away, he pointed at the raised platform, and started discussing the outstanding talents who were in the middle of competing in martial arts.
His own strength was already at the Immortal Realm, but he couldn’t see through the strength of the black-robed man. As such, the other party was at least on par with him… During the discussion, the majority of those he pointed out were the elites who were infinitesimally close to the Immortal Realm.
Although the black-robed man didn’t say much, Jin Yuan could sense that the other party was listening. Thus, he felt even more strongly that this Brother Tian was reliable.
Soon, a young man who fought till the end emerged from the battles and confrontations on the raised platform. His strength was just a hair’s breadth away from the Immortal Realm. Very quickly, the third young lady of the city lord came out. The third young lady was born with a beautiful appearance, so this young man was also very pleased. He joined hands with her, and they walked into the city lord’s mansion together.
At this moment, the groom selection had concluded.
Jin Yuan smilingly invited the black-robed man to stay the night at the city lord’s mansion.
But the man in black robes shook his head: “Find Ah Zuo.”
Jin Yuan sighed in his heart: This Brother Tian’s affection for his sweetheart is really deep.
After that, Jin Yuan sent someone to the city lord’s mansion to inform his father that he was going to bring the black-robed man to the teleportation array.
On the way, Jin Yuan kept deepening his friendship with the other party. Brother Tian said little, but he would occasionally nod or shake his head, which made Jin Yuan feel that this person was really easy to get along with… At the same time, Jin Yuan decided that when they reached Ten Ultimates City, he had to ask the manager at the Jin Family’s storefront to help find the whereabouts of Brother Tian’s sweetheart. It would also satisfy Brother Tian’s desire to meet his beloved.
After roughly two days, they reached Ten Ultimates City.
Because the Jin Family had business in this city, this wasn’t the first time Jin Yuan came here. However, every time he came to this place, he was shocked by the majesty of Ten Ultimates City’s outer walls, the bustling splendor of the city, and the strength of the martial artists coming and going on the streets.
He intended to develop Golden Martial City into something like Ten Ultimates City, but he also knew that it would take too long to realize such an aspiration…
The Jin Family’s store.
What this store sold were resources that martial artists needed the most. The products inside were a mix of things, but anyone who came here would have a wide variety of choices.
Within every city, these types of “general goods stores” were the most numerous.
As a result, the Jin Family’s competitiveness wasn’t that high. In other words, they could barely gain a foothold in the city.
T/N: Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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