356 Chapter 356: Martial Spirit City

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Under the setting sun, the carriage was slowly moving forward. When it reached the gates of Martial Spirit City, the crimson sun on the horizon had already set, giving way to a radiant moon and a sky filled with sparkly stars.

Under the starlight, Martial Spirit City took on a mysterious and sacred atmosphere.

In front of the massive steel gates stood two rows of soldiers clad in heavy armor. They held long spears with sharp tips that emitted a chilly gleam. With each synchronized step they took, a loud and heavy clanging sound echoed, along with the intimidating aura of bloodthirstiness that made passersby shiver in fear.

Zeng Yi, sitting atop the carriage, casually glanced at these gate guards and quickly assessed their strength. Most of them were Spirit Ancestors at the Four Rings level, while their leader had already reached the level of a Spirit King.

Zeng Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of astonishment. Spirit Masters with such prowess would be considered a formidable force in any other power. In the Heaven Dou Empire, for example, a Spirit Master at this level would be granted a noble title and could even serve as the lord of a small city, possessing their own territory.

Yet, in Martial Spirit City, individuals with such power were relegated to gate guards?

The attention grabbing carriage, not to mention its luxurious exterior, was drawn by two extraordinary steeds pulling it. These Spirit Beasts were called "Swift Shadows" horses, and as their name implied, they possessed unmatched speed, racing like the wind when at full gallop.

Both Swift Shadows horses had agile and robust bodies, standing at three meters tall and measuring about five meters in length. As they stepped forward, a faint trace of wind seemed to follow their movement.

Two 1,000 year old Spirit Beasts!

When the city guards saw the approach of the carriage, their gazes paused for a moment on the Spirit Beasts pulling it, amused and intrigued by the sight. Whoever could tame such Spirit Beasts to pull a carriage must be someone of extraordinary identity.

With this in mind, the team leader, a Spirit King, stepped forward and halted the carriage.

"Please present your entry permit! Also, we need to inspect the contents of the carriage." the Spirit King team leader said calmly.

Regardless of the other party's background, this was still Martial Spirit City. No power dared to act recklessly here.

As the headquarters of the Spirit Hall, though not all the people in this vast city were members of the Spirit Hall, there were wandering Spirit Masters, merchant caravans from various countries, and others. However, anyone entering Martial Spirit City had to undergo strict inspection by the Spirit Hall.

Every person entering the Spirit Hall had to possess a unique Spirit Hall token, issued exclusively by the Spirit Hall. Even a Titled Douluo would be denied entry without it.

The carriage driver, an old man in a grey robe, chuckled, took out a token from his pocket, and handed it to the leader of the guards.

The Spirit King leader received the token and glanced at it. His eyes widened in shock for a moment, making him almost jump in surprise. He quickly handed the token back to the seemingly ordinary old man without inspecting the contents of the carriage, then turned and waved to the others, signaling them to stand down.

Zeng Yi remained seated on the top of the carriage, silently observing the scene.

From his perspective, the Spirit King had shown such respect solely because of the token. Little did he know that the driver of the carriage, the seemingly ordinary old man, represented the highest honor among Spirit Masters, a Titled Douluo.

A Titled Douluo, a revered and powerful expert, willingly worked as a carriage driver. It was beyond anyone's expectations.

If it weren't for this Titled Douluo by his side, Zeng Yi would have long escaped. Qian Renxue alone wouldn't be able to harm him.

Throughout the journey, Zeng Yi had been contemplating how to escape, attempting various escape routes, but none proved successful.

Now that they had arrived at Martial Spirit City, even the difficulty of slipping away was multiplied.

As the gigantic gates of the city slowly opened, Zeng Yi's mind couldn't help but wander.

Once inside, who knew when would be the next time he would be able to leave?

Creak…

The two 1,000 year old Swift Shadows horses began to move their hooves, the wheels of the carriage rolling, and the whole carriage slowly proceeded through the city gates.

As the carriage traveled on the dimly lit street, Zeng Yi observed the bustling scenery.

The attention-grabbing appearance of the carriage, accompanied by the imposing aura emanating from the two 1,000 year old Spirit Beasts, garnered the attention of passersby, and many couldn't help but look on in astonishment, sending shivers down their spines.

Since the carriage attracted too much attention, Zeng Yi couldn't bear the bewildered gazes of the onlookers. He climbed down from the top of the carriage and entered the interior.

The carriage driver, without saying a word, allowed Zeng Yi to enter the carriage and continued driving it towards the heart of Martial Spirit City.

Now that Zeng Yi was inside the carriage, a faint, elegant fragrance wafted through the air. Looking up, he saw a graceful figure seated on a spacious velvet sofa.

"I thought you wouldn't come in." Qian Renxue said, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zeng Yi's face. A faint smile adorned her fair, jade-like complexion.

"It was too noisy outside. It's quieter in here." Zeng Yi casually replied, sitting opposite Qian Renxue, his posture somewhat relaxed as he reclined on the plush sofa, closing his eyes.

Observing his demeanor, Qian Renxue couldn't help but chuckle.

"Are you pouting like a child? Are you mad at me?"

Zeng Yi did not respond and just closed his eyes, as if drifting off to sleep.

Qian Renxue paid no mind and continued speaking softly, "In terms of the outcome, this is probably the best result. If I hadn't personally come forward, taking you to Martial Spirit City, your life would not have been guaranteed. Furthermore, if your master had insisted on keeping you there forcefully, the situation would have been even worse. The prearranged engagement would have been used as an excuse to bring you back to Martial Spirit City against your will, defying the Promise of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This would undoubtedly have led to a war between the two sides. I believe you wouldn't want to see the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect suffer from the flames of war. At least, by bringing you to Martial Spirit City with me, you have my protection, and your life won't be in danger."

"So, should I thank you?" Zeng Yi suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Qian Renxue.

Faced with his gaze, Qian Renxue did not evade it but met it head-on, maintaining a serene smile on her face.

"Aren't we friends?"

"Since we are friends, how about doing me a favor?" Zeng Yi said.

"Tell me."

"Help me escape from Martial Spirit City. With your identity and position in the Spirit Hall, it should be simple, right?"

Hearing this, Qian Renxue was taken aback, giving Zeng Yi a questioning look as if he were a fool. She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"What kind of joke are you making?"

"If that's the case, then we're not friends anymore." Zeng Yi slumped back on the sofa, his body devoid of strength.

Qian Renxue looked at Zeng Yi's disheartened appearance and extended her fair hand. With her delicate, slender fingers, she brushed away the strands of hair obscuring her vision.

"Although I previously interacted with you under a different guise, a different identity, the person I laughed with, drank with, and shared life conversations with was still me. What else could that be if not friendship?"

Looking at Qian Renxue, Zeng Yi's emotions became complicated. "You abandoned your carefully laid plans to bring me here. Was it worth it?"

Qian Renxue gave a faint smile. "Who made you my friend? Also, who said I gave them up? Didn't you see Xue Qinghe back then?"

Her reminder made Zeng Yi recall that she had prepared a stand-in.

Sighing softly, Zeng Yi didn't continue the conversation. He turned his head, lifted the carriage curtain, and looked at the bustling streets of Martial Spirit City under the night sky.

Qian Renxue also imitated Zeng Yi's action, gently holding the curtain and looking at the scenery outside, a hint of nostalgia flickering in her eyes.

On the night street, as the carriage gradually moved away from the city center, it started climbing a hilltop towards a palace towering at the highest point, the Supreme Pontiff's Palace of the Spirit Hall.