Chapter 46: Martial Soul Avatar

Chapter 46: Martial Soul Avatar

From within the carriage, the voice of the Cloud Marquis rang out, "A direct descendant of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House? Are you the offspring of Ning Qianwen or Ning Qianwu?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied with neither humility nor arrogance, "Ning Qianyi!"

"Oh?"

A note of surprise escaped the Cloud Marquis's lips. "So it's Ning Qianyi. I see, I see. That makes sense. You should indeed be around this age."

Ji Hanxing was also taken aback, staring fixedly at Ning Xiaochuan. He was actually the only son of Ning Qianyi?

That unparalleled genius of the past, the one even the Marquis had lost to four times.

The Cloud Marquis said, "Since you are the child of an old friend, I shall not trouble you today. Step aside! I am here to apprehend a major criminal of the court. No one can stand in my way. To resist is to court death."

"Whoosh—"

Luo Mufeng led the Cloud Marquis's personal army, their imposing aura surging as they marched into Haitang Manor.

With the Cloud Marquis's decree, anyone who dared obstruct them would be opposing the entire court—even a direct descendant of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House could be executed without hesitation.

"Hah! The Cloud Marquis sure has a grand air about him, daring to disregard our Jian Pavilion Marquis House!" A domineering, resonant voice boomed from the skies like a rolling thunderclap.

"Clatter, clatter!"

A group of soldiers riding Iron Hoof Blood Wolves charged forth from the distance, their killing intent overwhelming.

At the forefront was a man astride a colossal azure Dragon.

The Dragon's body towered like a mountain, each step shaking the earth beneath it. With a single roar from its maw, all living creatures within a hundred kilometers trembled in fear.

The man leaped from the Dragon's back, his entire body enveloped in Profound Qi as he crossed over ten kilometers in an instant, landing outside Haitang Manor beside Ning Xiaochuan. His gaze swept over the Cloud Marquis's personal army, and he barked, "Kneel!"

Under the immense pressure of his presence, the entire contingent of soldiers dropped to their knees.

The crowd was stunned.

Who was this man, daring to oppose the Cloud Marquis?

With just one command, he had forced a group of elite warriors from the Cloud Marquis's household to their knees.

Ning Xiaochuan and Ji Hanxing stood beside this man, acutely sensing the overwhelming power radiating from him—like an ocean, vast and boundless, as if a single stomp could shatter an entire city.

It was an awe-inspiring sensation!

The man appeared to be in his thirties, though his true age undoubtedly exceeded fifty. His posture was upright, clad in battle armor with a billowing cape behind him. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, brimmed with unbridled arrogance, making few dare to meet his gaze directly.

With a single inhale, the man summoned a fierce gust of wind.

In the distance, the soldiers riding Iron Hoof Blood Wolves and the azure Dragon dissolved into streams of energy, which were then sucked into his mouth, vanishing from the plains.

"Soul Shadow!" Ji Hanxing regarded the man with reverence, recognizing him as a peerless powerhouse.

Ning Xiaochuan nudged Ji Hanxing with his elbow and asked, "What's a Soul Shadow?"

Ji Hanxing took two steps back, glared at Ning Xiaochuan, and said, "That is something only the most supreme experts can cultivate. We ordinary people only have three souls and seven spirits, but those who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts can integrate other elements into their souls, forming a Soul Shadow, making their souls many times stronger than ordinary people."

"Just like the group of soldiers riding Iron Hoof Blood Wolves and that azure Dragon you saw earlier—none of them were real. They were merely this man's Soul Shadow! It's truly strange. Legends say Soul Shadows are hidden within the body, a latent power. How could his Soul Shadow manifest so visibly?"

Ning Xiaochuan stared at the man. Could he also be a descendant of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House?

"Who dares disturb the Cloud Marquis's procession? Don't you know this is the Imperial City Border Market? Even if you're some demon or ghost, you must keep your distance!" someone roared angrily.

The man merely gave him an icy stare and said, "Yue Wuyang, ten years apart, and your arrogance has only grown. Even the soldiers under your command dare to shout and bark in front of this Marshal."

"Pfft!"

With just a single glare from the man, the armored soldier who had spoken earlier coughed up blood and collapsed into the crowd.

A single glance, sharp enough to kill.

The Cloud Marquis's words revealed the man's identity. "Ning Qiancheng, so you've truly returned!"

This man was the second son of the Jian Pavilion Marquis, Ning Qiancheng.

Also the elder brother of Ning Xiaochuan's father.

Ning Qiancheng had been away from the Imperial City for ten years, leading troops in battle. Recently, news of his victory had spread—he had commanded two million soldiers to conquer the Tianji Dynasty and would soon return in triumph.

This event had already caused a massive stir in the Imperial City. Many speculated what rewards Ning Qiancheng would receive upon his return, with some even suggesting he might be enfeoffed as a Marquis.

Now, this legendary figure had returned.

Ning Qiancheng swept his gaze over the soldiers and said, "Yue Wuyang, in the past, you could still compete with my third brother. Now, you're only fit to contend with my third brother's son. It seems you've been regressing all these years!"

The Cloud Marquis said, "This Marquis acts on behalf of the court, shares the Emperor's burdens, and considers the welfare of the realm. Ning Qiancheng, do you dare oppose the court? Oppose the Emperor? Oppose the people of the world?"

Ning Qiancheng retorted, "With the mere title of a non-hereditary Marquis, you dare barge into the estates of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House? Who gave you such audacity? Do you have an imperial decree from His Majesty?"

In the current court, the Cloud Marquis wielded immense power, favored by Emperor Yulan. Even ordinary princes and marquises wouldn't dare speak to him so boldly.

Only someone as unrestrained as Ning Qiancheng would dare rebuke him so harshly.

Ten years ago, Ning Qiancheng was infamous in the Imperial City as a troublemaker—someone who dared to beat the Crown Prince and smash the gates of the Grand Preceptor's residence, a veritable tyrant in the capital.

Now, a decade later, he returned with military achievements, making him even more unbridled.

Ning Qiancheng swept his gaze over the soldiers and said, "Do you think the Jian Pavilion Marquis House is easy to bully? Or do you believe the Cloud Marquis's authority outweighs ours, that you dare surround our manor? Do you believe this general could have your heads rolling in an instant?"

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, each filled with fear.

The Jian Pavilion Marquis House had endured for over 800 years without decline. The Cloud Marquis had only been enfeoffed in recent years—in terms of heritage and influence, they were not even on the same level.

"We leave!" the Cloud Marquis said indifferently.

The army surrounding Haitang Manor withdrew like a receding tide.

Ji Hanxing, riding a Dragon Elephant, followed beside the Cloud Marquis's carriage and said, "Marquis, why must we fear Ning Qiancheng? Tianchenzi is undoubtedly hiding inside Haitang Manor. Once we find him, the entire Jian Pavilion Marquis House will likely be implicated."

"Hanxing, you are still too young. Ning Qiancheng recently conquered a Fourth-Grade Dynasty, achieving unparalleled merit for the Jade Orchid Imperial Palace. He returns with overwhelming momentum, his edge sharp. If we clash head-on with him, even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory. That is the first reason."

"Second, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House has been entrenched in the Jade Orchid Imperial Palace for over 800 years. Their roots run deep, their branches spread wide—their influence permeates every corner of the empire: the court, the imperial harem, the military camps, the common folk. Even His Majesty must tread carefully around such Hereditary Nobles and cannot act against them lightly. Even if we find Tianchenzi in Haitang Manor, we still cannot shake the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

"Third, we lack absolute proof. We cannot guarantee Tianchenzi is truly inside Haitang Manor."

Ji Hanxing said, "But the footprints clearly lead into Haitang Manor. Tianchenzi must have been rescued by Ning Xiaochuan."

The Cloud Marquis replied, "Can you be certain this isn’t a trap laid by the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and Tianchenzi to lure us into storming Haitang Manor? What if we fail to find Tianchenzi there? How do we salvage the situation? What counterattacks might our enemies launch?"

Ji Hanxing narrowed her eyes. "This disciple has learned much. I always thought Ning Xiaochuan knew nothing of cultivating Martial Arts Profound Qi, yet he managed to rescue Tianchenzi. There must indeed be a scheme at play. Marquis, do you think the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and Dark Emperor City are collaborating against us?"

"Whether there is a conspiracy remains uncertain, and it is not something we should speculate lightly. Remember to weigh your words and actions carefully henceforth. Neither the Jian Pavilion Marquis House nor Dark Emperor City are forces you can afford to provoke now. A single careless word could cost you your life." The Cloud Marquis spoke gravely.

Ji Hanxing broke into a cold sweat and added, "This disciple has one more question. Wasn’t Ning Qiancheng supposed to return triumphantly in two months? Why has he come back so soon?"

"What you saw earlier was not his true form—it was merely his Martial Soul Avatar!" the Cloud Marquis said.

Martial Soul Avatar!

No wonder Ning Qiancheng’s return was accompanied by a Soul Shadow. So it was only an incarnation of his Martial Soul.

If his Martial Soul Avatar was already this formidable, how terrifying must his true form be?

Ji Hanxing suddenly stopped and said, "Marquis, I wish to stay behind. I believe Tianchenzi is still hiding within Haitang Manor."

"Then stay. But remember to be cautious. If you truly discover Tianchenzi, flee immediately—because the moment you spot him, he will have already noticed you. Escaping his grasp won’t be easy. This will be a challenge for you."

The Cloud Marquis extended his hand outside the carriage, and a white mystic pearl flew from his palm, landing in Ji Hanxing’s grasp.

"In times of danger, swallow this 'Dragon Wing Mystic Pearl.' It may just save your life."

The Cloud Marquis’s carriage gradually departed into the distance.

Ji Hanxing, meanwhile, dismounted from the Dragon Elephant and secretly slipped back into Haitang Manor.