Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates

Finally, half a month had passed.

This day, at dawn, with the eastern wind and the rising sun, the entire Marquis Kuang City began to boil, as today happened to be the Commemoration Day of Marquis Kuang.

According to the rules of many years, those Martial Artists and geniuses who came to Marquis Kuang's town would all go to pay tribute in front of the Marquis Kuang Stone Statue.

Whoosh!

In his room at the inn, Xiao Ye suddenly opened his eyes, a gleam flashing through his pitch-black pupils, strikingly awe-inspiring.

"My cultivation has improved quite a bit, thankfully with the Time Tower here!" Xiao Ye leaped up, moving his limbs around, a smile appearing on his face.

The Time Tower truly is a heaven-defying treasure, its help to him was immense, letting his cultivation rapidly improve even with normal cultivation practices, not to mention he had the Heavenly Treasure Record, a secret technique, in his possession.

"Before the disciple assessment in the Main Hall of the Holy Palace, my cultivation will definitely break through to the Late Stage of King Martial Level 4," Xiao Ye said as he pushed open the door and walked out.

He remembered that today was the Commemoration Day of Marquis Kuang.

He had originally planned to join in the festivity, certainly, he couldn't miss it.

Xiao Ye walked out of the inn and immediately noticed that many Martial Artists within Marquis Kuang City were already flocking towards the center of the town.

After carefully inquiring, Xiao Ye found out that there indeed was a Marquis Kuang Stone Statue in the city.

On every Commemoration Day of Marquis Kuang over the years, numerous Martial Artists would visit there for tributes.

Xiao Ye felt somewhat embarrassed.

He had originally planned to participate in the Commemoration Day, but was so busy with cultivation that he hadn't clarified this detail, yet now knowing it wasn't too late.

Following the crowd, Xiao Ye headed towards the center of the town.

Within the citadel of Marquis Kuang, groups of Martial Artists were walking together.

Since today was the Commemoration Day of Marquis Kuang, most of the Martial Artists were discussing the tales of Marquis Kuang's past.

Eavesdropping, Xiao Ye finally understood why Marquis Kuang, even a thousand years after his fall, could still draw many Martial Artists to pay tribute.

A thousand years ago, Marquis Kuang, initially a First-Order Independent Practitioner, forcefully broke through to the Emperor Martial Realm, and his cultivation kept advancing, eventually making his name renowned throughout Central State.

At that time, coincidentally, a Ferocious Beast frenzy erupted, placing Marquis Kuang City in the peril of being besieged by myriad beasts.

Back then, Marquis Kuang decisively acted, alone he battled numerous Ferocious Beasts for three days and nights, eventually driving back the beasts but at the cost of his own life, having exhausted all his strength due to grave injuries.

Thus, many Martial Artists of Marquis Kuang City, in memory of Marquis Kuang, built a Stone Statue in his honor, visiting annually to pay their respects.

Hearing this narrative, Xiao Ye couldn't help but feel deep respect.

Marquis Kuang stepped forward in the most perilous times, saving a city from a disastrous fate at the expense of his own life, indeed, such conduct deserves admiration.

"However, merely for this, it wouldn't be enough to attract Martial Artists from other places or even the disciples from the Holy Palace to come for the tribute, there must certainly be something more," Xiao Ye thought secretly.

Walking along the wide avenue of Marquis Kuang City for a while, Xiao Ye finally arrived at the very center of the city.

Looking around, there already stood a dense crowd, consisting of all sorts of Martial Artists.

At this moment, they were uniform in their movements, holding incense in hand, bowing and paying respects to a magnificent stone statue.

Xiao Ye looked up, the statue depicted a middle-aged man, large and lofty with a face as if chiseled by knives and axes, quite handsome; a pair of profound eyes staring up at the Heavenly Dome, as if unwilling to accept his fate, wanting to break through the Nine Heavens.

"What a powerful aura!"

A wave stirred in Xiao Ye's heart.

This stone statue is definitely not crafted by ordinary people, as it accurately captures the expression and presence of a Martial Artist to this extent.

At this moment, besides Xiao Ye, a large number of Martial Artists were arriving from all directions.

When they arrived at the central square, they all solemnly walked over and offered incense to pay homage to the statue of Marquis Kuang.

Every time disciples from any Sect appeared, it would cause a stir among the Martial Artists in the square.

Xiao Ye glanced around, his gaze slightly sharpened.

From his perspective, he spotted several disciples from powerful Sects arriving.

"What are their intentions for coming here?" Xiao Ye thought secretly. These sects obviously have no ties with Marquis Kuang, so why would they travel all the way to Marquis Kuang City?

Doubts grew in Xiao Ye's mind.

"Disciples of Taiyi Palace have arrived!" Just then, someone shouted, and suddenly the area became quiet, with all the Martial Artists looking towards the distance.

Marquis Kuang City is located within the Taiyi Domain, and the overlord of Taiyi Domain is naturally the Taiyi Palace.

In fact, in the entire Central State's Ten Great Regions, Taiyi Palace is an absolute dominator, with a history even longer than that of the Four Great Emperor Domains, having a heritage of ten thousand years and producing many strong figures, including the Undefeated Emperor who came from Taiyi Palace.

Thus, Taiyi Palace holds a status in the hearts of Central State Martial Artists almost comparable to the Four Great Emperor Domains.

Facing the disciples of such a colossal entity like Taiyi Palace, not to mention the Martial Artists of Marquis Kuang CIty, even the disciples from other Sects felt significant pressure.

Xiao Ye smiled slightly, raising his head to look. He wondered if he would encounter any old acquaintances this time.

Further off, the dense crowd split apart and five young men dressed in the garb of the Heavenly Palace Disciples of Taiyi Palace approached from afar, each with a cold expression.

Xiao Ye was slightly startled, then chuckled bitterly.

He recognized the disciples' attire but did not recognize these young men.

It wasn't strange, considering his relatively short stay at the Holy Palace.

After becoming Heavenly Hall Disciple, he immediately went out for his trials; it would've been strange if he did recognize these youths.

"Hmph, even Taiyi Palace has come to join in the hubbub, it seems the chances of me obtaining the secret technique are slim." At that moment, a cold snort sounded, drawing Xiao Ye's attention.

Xiao Ye's hearing was extremely sharp, and after catching this sound, he slightly narrowed his eyes.

Indeed!

These disciples from various Sects came to Marquis Kuang's memorial day with an ulterior motive!

A smile appeared on Xiao Ye's face; it seemed his coming here was not in vain!

The five young men from Taiyi Palace walked up to Marquis Kuang's stone statue, their faces filled with respect as they began offering incense and bowing in homage.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the entire square became extremely solemn. The mournful morning wind blew as if someone was weeping, intensely eerie.

Buzz!

Just then, suddenly an incredible atmospheric presence abruptly descended, enveloping the entire square.

"Descendants of Marquis Kuang have come!"

Other Martial Artists in the square also felt this atmosphere, and couldn't help exclaiming.

"Descendants of Marquis Kuang?" Xiao Ye was startled.

Was Marquis Kuang, a Martial Artist from a thousand years ago, still have descendants in Marquis Kuang City?