Soul Emperor Martial God

During his idle days, Xiao Yi had spent over a month in the Royal Capital.

It must be said, the Royal Capital was indeed vast.

Even though Xiao Yi had only walked through various streets, it was only now that he could consider having traversed all the streets of the entire Royal Capital.

He had passed countless teahouses, countless restaurants.

Every street in the Royal Capital bore his footprints.

He had also seen millions of households, of all shapes and colors.

Some warm and harmonious, others constantly noisy, still others deceitful or plainly simple…

He had always regarded all these as a bystander.

Amidst the massive chatter and plethora of information, only by adopting an objective perspective could he truly distinguish what was useful from what was not.

Not swayed by material joys, nor saddened by personal sorrows.

This tranquil mental state surprisingly allowed him an epiphany about the Sword Dao.

Of course, this was merely a fortuitous harvest for Xiao Yi.

The real gain was the confirmation of a piece of news he had heard earlier.

Recently, the Royal Capital, without anyone knowing since when, had been enveloped in a jubilant atmosphere.

Perhaps, it was because of Bai Mohan of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, the Supreme Genius of a generation.

His marriage with the little princess Yue Fenwu was likely to be taking place soon.

Such a celebrated tale sung by everyone.

The entire Royal Capital congratulating, was not an exaggeration.

Xiao Yi, however, paid no attention.

He continued on his way, unconsciously arriving near the Sky-reaching Tower.

At that moment, he ran into someone familiar… Liu Yanran.

"Xiao Yi." Liu Yanran initially stunned, then her face lit up with surprise and excitement.

Without hesitation, she ran over and hugged Xiao Yi.

"Uh." Xiao Yi was slightly awkward, just about to say something.

A few guards from the Liu Family who had been beside Liu Yanran hurried over.

And they reprimanded, "Young fellow, let go of our Young Master of the Liu Family immediately."

Xiao Yi calmly pulled on Liu Yanran's hand, "Yanran, let go."

But to his surprise, Liu Yanran became somewhat agitated, "I won't let go."

Instead, she hugged him even tighter.

Her voice suddenly became a little choked.

"I've been looking for you for a long time, I know all that you've been doing these days in the Royal Capital."

"Oh? What's that?" Xiao Yi asked indifferently.

Liu Yanran, with a sobbing tone, said, "You don't have to lie to me."

"Now, all the upper echelons of the Royal Capital know."

"You've been wandering around like a madman these days."

"No inn willing to accommodate you, no restaurant willing to let you in."

"Everyone is making things difficult for you, everyone is targeting you."

"Madman?" Xiao Yi chuckled, "How so, I am quite fine at the moment, aren't I?"

"Really?" Liu Yanran slightly relaxed her embrace.

Tears still streaking her face, she looked earnestly at Xiao Yi.

In fact, for a knowledgeable woman like her.

Embracing a man so passionately in public.

This would have been impossible in the past.

But these days, the rumors she heard about Xiao Yi had made her extremely worried.

The once Strongest Sword Master of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, the once youthful celebrity of the Royal Capital.

The former Commander of Flame Martial Guards standing high above others.

Now, stripped of all his titles.

Even being targeted by everyone, faced with difficulties everywhere. The vast Royal Capital, yet without a place for him.

Spending his nights in the open air, exposed to wind and rain.

Like a street rat shunned by all.

Such drastic changes were indeed hard for anyone to endure.

It caused Liu Yanran to be extremely disturbed upon seeing Xiao Yi.

At that time, the expression of the Liu Family guard turned noticeably unpleasant.

"Fellow, do you think you are still the once Strongest Sword Master?"

"Do you think you are still worthy of our Young Master of the Liu Family?"

"Let go immediately, or don't blame me for being rude…"

Before the guard could finish his words, he was already grasped tightly by the throat by a delicate hand.

"Do you want to die?" Liu Yanran, her eyes previously brimming with tears, suddenly revealed a menacing blood light.

Clearly, the Blood-colored Smoke Willow Martial Soul within her had been triggered.

"Young… Young Master…" the guard struggled to speak.

"Everyone knows now, Xiao Yi is just like a homeless dog, a madman…"

The guard couldn't continue his words.

Liu Yanran's grip tightened, her voice icy to the extreme.

"It's not your place to judge him."

A sudden killing intent enveloped the surroundings.

"Yanran, stop," Xiao Yi spoke softly.

His words were plain.

But to Liu Yanran's ears, they were more sobering than anything.

The ominous blood light in her eyes promptly dissipated.

Her hand loosened, letting go of the guard.

Then she took hold of Xiao Yi again.

"Don't wander outside anymore, if the Royal Capital can't accommodate you, my Liu Family is willing to take you in."

"Come back to the Liu Family with me," Liu Yanran said earnestly.

No matter what, she couldn't bear to see the man before her, so proud and unrivaled, suffer any further.

Xiao Yi shook his head, "Why did you come here today?"

The Royal Capital was large, the spaces between powers vastly separate.

The Liu Family coming to the Sky-reaching Tower, it wasn't a short distance.

Liu Yanran hesitated for a moment, "Tomorrow, it's the wedding day of Bai Mohan and little princess Yue Fenwu."

"I have some acquaintance with Princess Yue Fenwu."

"Prepared to buy some congratulatory gifts."

"I see," Xiao Yi nodded.

Ordinary gifts, naturally, could be bought elsewhere.

But for precious gifts like treasures, visiting the Sky-reaching Tower was the best choice.

"Let's go, follow me inside for a look." Liu Yanran pulled Xiao Yi's hand, heading towards the Sky-reaching Tower.

Xiao Yi gave a wry smile and said, "I can go in with you, but please let go of my hand first."

Inside the Sky-reaching Tower, there were many figures from the upper echelons of the Royal Capital.

Entering intimately with Liu Yanran like this, he was afraid it might bring her unwanted gossip or trouble for the Liu Family.

However, Liu Yanran said earnestly, "I won't let go."

"I know your personality. The moment I let go, you will leave."

"Uh." Xiao Yi touched his nose awkwardly.

Then, he could only be forcibly pulled along by Liu Yanran.

However, just as the two reached the entrance of the Sky-reaching Tower.

The guards of the Tower immediately stopped them.

"What are you doing?" Liu Yanran's face turned cold.

The two guards spoke coldly, "Young Master of Liu Family, you may enter, our Sky-reaching Tower welcomes you."

"But this gentleman beside you cannot enter."

"Why?" Liu Yanran asked coldly.

"For no reason," the two guards replied, "Our Sky-reaching Tower does not wish to do business with this gentleman."

"You..." A murderous intent flashed in Liu Yanran's eyes.

Xiao Yi said lightly, "Yanran, just go inside, I'll wait for you out here."

"But..." Liu Yanran wanted to say something else.

Xiao Yi interrupted, "Don't worry, I won't leave."

"Also, pick a gift for me."

"I and little princess Yue Fenwu do have some acquaintance with each other. It counts as having some connections."

"This... alright." Liu Yanran hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Get out of the way." Liu Yanran glared at the two guards of the Sky-reaching Tower and then went in by herself.

Xiao Yi retreated to a nearby spot and waited on his own.

Just then, a figure appeared out of nowhere.

It was Patriarch Liu.

"Patriarch Liu." Xiao Yi said lightly.

In fact, Xiao Yi had known of Patriarch Liu's presence earlier.

"Xiao Yi my friend." Patriarch Liu's face was cold.

"You should know the awkward position you currently have in the Royal Capital."

"Although my Liu Family does not support Bai Mohan, we also do not want any involvement with you."

"So..."

"I understand," Xiao Yi interrupted, "Just taking wise steps for self-preservation."

"Patriarch Liu should indeed put the family first."

"I'll be leaving soon."

"Sorry, and thank you." Patriarch Liu spoke with a hint of guilt, then vanished into the shadows again.

Xiao Yi nodded and didn't pay it any more mind, simply standing with his hands behind his back, looking nonchalantly at the Sky-reaching Tower.

Though he was wandering around, it was not aimless.

Especially today, he did not just happen to be outside the Sky-reaching Tower but came here purposely.

His perception had already covered the Sky-reaching Tower.

With his current strength, even standing on the street, anything within several hundred meters couldn't escape his ears and eyes.

At the moment, everything inside the Sky-reaching Tower was within his view.

Including Liu Yanran picking out gifts, and the surrounding guests, shop attendants, and so on.

At this time, some argument seemed to arise inside the tower.

An old man, accompanied by a child, was at the shopping counter, disputing with a Sky-reaching Tower attendant and a young man.

"This Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, I've already paid for; now you say you won't sell it?" the old man furiously questioned.

The Sky-reaching Tower attendant said guiltily, "Old Master Xu, please calm down."

"This Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade is immensely precious, and our Sky-reaching Tower cannot produce another so quickly to sell to you."

"However, with the capabilities of our Sky-reaching Tower, we should be able to find one in at most half a month."

"Can Old Master Xu wait for half a month?"

"Our Sky-reaching Tower will offer you a discount next time, is that acceptable?"

"Bullshit," the old man yelled. "If I cared about that discount, would I be here at your Sky-reaching Tower?"

"My grandson is in the middle of Martial Arts enlightenment, and he urgently needs this Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, how can we wait any longer?"

"We know that your Sky-reaching Tower currently has Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, just sell it to me."

The old man then looked towards the young man beside him.

At that moment, the young man was playing with three pieces of Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade.

"Old fool, if you want to buy, buy; if not, get lost. This young master is not interested in any more of your nonsense." The young man said disdainfully.

"You…" The old man was furious, "Is this how your Sky-reaching Tower does business?"

"I've already paid, and the transaction was concluded, now you say you won't sell."

"So much for customer fairness. Good, very good."

"Just because you think my Xu Family has no power, right?" The young man sneered dismissively.

"Our Sky-reaching Tower belongs to the Ao Family, and this young master says we won't sell it to you."

"Let me tell you the truth, these three pieces of Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, I'm giving them to my three dearest darlings."

"HAHAHAHAHA."

The young man was the Eldest Young Master of the Ao Family.

That old man, from a minor family within the Royal Capital, the family head of the Xu Family.

The dispute seemed to originate from the old man wanting to buy Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, having already paid for it.

But the newly arrived Eldest Young Master of the Ao Family seized the Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, declared he wouldn't sell it, and simply refunded the money.

Pure Yang Nourishing Heart Jade, classified as a Seventh-grade Treasure, was something the Sky-reaching Tower could only produce three pieces of at the moment.

The old man initially wanted to buy just one for his grandson.

In Xiao Yi's perception, it was apparent the child had some congenital deficiency and needed precious treasures to nurture his body and lay the foundation for Martial Arts.

But the Eldest Young Master of the Ao Family just snatched all three pieces, merely to please some women of pleasure.

No wonder the old man was extremely angry.

Then, the Eldest Young Master of the Ao Family said scornfully, "Get this old guy out of here."

"Save me the trouble."

"Understood," several guards from the Sky-reaching Tower immediately acted, forcing the old man and child out.

The old man was furious, grinding his teeth, "What a fine Sky-reaching Tower, what a fine Ao Family."

"Just a family that has risen to power in these past dozen years, yet so vile in triumph."

"Back when the Sky-reaching Tower was named Yi, what were you? Where would such absurd and filthy affairs even arise?"

...

First update.