Chapter 260 - 135: The 9 Great Dukes, Like the Sun in Central Heaven! A Rootless Drifter in Jiangyin Prefecture, Challenging the Power Fist

Chapter 260: Chapter 135: The 9 Great Dukes, Like the Sun in Central Heaven! A Rootless Drifter in Jiangyin Prefecture, Challenging the Power Fist

"If I meet an untimely end, prioritize forbearance in all things. Do not stir up trouble."

"First, find Gu Baichuan and enter the Mansion Courtyard to become one of the Prefecture Students. Find a sanctuary to secure your life and livelihood. If you have questions about your Cultivation, you can seek out Sect Leader Chen He. He is the descendant of a Titled expert and has nearly reached the Leakless state. For thirty years he has nurtured his blade, keeping it sheathed and its edge hidden; he is more than qualified to teach you."

"Do not enter a Daoist School or provoke the various Schools until you have become a Grandmaster. Do not clash with the Grand Lineages or act on impulse before you have firmly established your roots."

"From your master, Duan Chenzhou."

After reading every last word, Ji Xiu chuckled softly. With a flick of his fingertips, he used his Outer Gang to turn the note to dust.

At his side.

Jiang Li stood with her arms crossed, having approached silently at some unknown point. But he was long accustomed to the woman’s incredible Divine Techniques, so her appearance was no surprise.

"You’re going to enter the Prefecture?"

Jiang Li asked, her gaze lingering on the headband across Ji Xiu’s forehead.

"My Master is dead. As his disciple, how could I not attend his funeral?"

As the dust from the note settled, a thoughtful look appeared in Ji Xiu’s eyes.

"Miss Jiang, let me ask you something."

"You’re knowledgeable and worldly."

"A Marquis of the Great Xuan... can one of them truly hold sway over an entire Prefecture?"

Jiang Li was silent for a moment before replying:

"Without exception, every single person who becomes a Marquis in the Great Xuan has performed great deeds in suppressing the ’Outer Dao’."

"They must have suppressed and killed a Titled Level entity, quelled a Titled Level Calamity, and already possess a title of Fiefdom. All three conditions are indispensable."

"As for whether they can hold sway over a Prefecture..."

"Think of the noble ranks in the Six Great Xuan Registers. Prefecture Official, Fiefdom, and Fief—each of these first three registers represents a major hurdle."

"Only those who can surpass all of those... are called Marquises."

"Among Marquises, the most exceptional can be granted an entire Prefecture as their Fief. Do you have any idea what that means?"

Ji Xiu looked over at her.

Jiang Li said nonchalantly:

"It means that in an entire region like the Jiangyin Prefecture, the power of life and death, of taking and giving, rests entirely on a single whim of that Marquis."

"The reason the Nine Great Families can stand on par with the Old Ten Directions Celestial Pillar, which hides the Human Immortal Secret Treasure..."

"...is ultimately because, aside from having proteges scattered across the world, each family is a Dukedom with a Fief, passed down hereditarily without fail!"

"All the Dukes and Vassal Towns of every size that control the strategic locations of this land—they are either related to the Great Families by blood or marriage, are old allies, or are collateral branches of the main family."

"The nine Dukes are like nine Fiery Suns that have illuminated the Great Xuan for centuries. The foundations of some stretch back a millennium. Their power is no laughing matter."

"If you could win the favor of a Marquis, the Grand Lineages and Schools in the Prefecture would never dare to touch you, no matter what you did."

"And if you managed to become related by blood or marriage..."

"...they would probably be falling over themselves to curry favor with you."

Ji Xiu raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so..."

’Granny Shi.’

’A Dragon Tiger Realm expert from the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion. A formidable person who had battled Daoist Armor and Buddhist Soldiers and quelled a calamity of Divine Beings. It would be no exaggeration to call such a person the Marquis’s right hand.’

’Over a month ago, a figure of her standing had actually condescended to come to this backwater mountain County...’

’That alone was enough to guess how important the Mountain and Sea Search was to that Young Lady Heir.’

’The Marquis’s Mansion wanted to recruit him as a Guest. That was an excellent protective card to have up his sleeve, one that would at least make it easy to gain a foothold in the Jiangyin Prefecture.’

’But it’s not enough.’

’He thought of the Young Lady Heir he had yet to meet, and the staggering power she represented...’

"Silver-striped Sharks, Glazed Trout, Profound-Scaled Dragon Carp... I hear that in the distant East Canghai, these aquatic Alien Species are exceedingly rare. Ordinary people almost never see them. They’re considered Spiritual Objects, comparable in value to a Spirit Pill."

"And according to Granny Shi, even Fifth and Sixth Grade Spirit Fish are of great benefit to the Young Lady Heir."

"Before, I hadn’t demonstrated my value, so I could only be a mere Guest."

"But if I can increase my bargaining power, prove my worth, and catch the eye of that Young Lady Heir—or even Marquis Beicang himself..."

"...then even when facing all the old grudges in the Jiangyin Prefecture, I’ll be able to stand tall!"

Recalling Master Duan’s note, Ji Xiu’s eyes grew cold.

’Master Duan, it makes no sense to bow your head and yield to your enemies.’

’If I had no way to secure my footing, I wouldn’t be going to this funeral.’

’Instead, I would have changed my identity, found a quiet place to cultivate until my Martial Arts reached Great Success, and then stormed the Jiangyin Prefecture to cut down every last one of your enemies and place their heads before your cenotaph.’

’But now, since I have the qualifications to become a Prefecture Student and take the Examination for Officials, as well as the chance to connect with a Marquis Level figure...’

’I absolutely must go to the Jiangyin Prefecture.’

’I’m eager to see,’

’if I, a rootless drifter, will be the one to fall first in this Dragon’s Pool and Tiger’s Den...’

’or if those Grand Lineages, Daoist Schools, and School Grandmasters will be the ones bowing their heads to me!’

I have wrestled with myself for long enough.

I will be who I am!

Having come to this decision, Ji Xiu made arrangements for Ji Wei, telling the old Daoist Fan Nansong to take good care of her as he would be heading to the Prefecture City first. Then, robes fluttering, he strode to the docks.

He watched as the head of the Flood Dragon, the Cangming Monarch, broke the surface of the water.

Ji Xiu gazed out at the massive Prefecture City floating on the sea, its true form hidden by the distance, and stepped onto the Flood Dragon’s head!

This time, by entering Jiangyin, this rootless drifter would challenge the Power Fist!

(PS: The day before yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and yesterday I was pretty tired, so I took the day off. I haven’t quite sorted out my ideas for the next arc, so I really couldn’t get a Chapter written. Before dawn tomorrow, I’ll post today’s missed Chapter and write another one.)

(I promise I’ll make it up this time. I’m not going to sleep until they’re finished!)