Chapter 42: The Powers of the Tianwu Continent

“Ayan said he just returned and hasn’t had a chance to look around. He’ll come to see me at the palace after he’s rested for a couple of days.” The emperor spoke with resignation, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of displeasure in his tone.

The personal eunuch smiled faintly. “In all of Yu, I suppose only Young Lord Rong dares to refuse Your Majesty so casually.”

Duan Qing also smiled. “Let him be. In the end, Yu is not a place that can truly keep him.”

The eunuch simply nodded and said nothing more.

With a long sigh, Duan Qing thought of Ayan… Who knew how long he would stay in Yu this time?

Meanwhile, on the streets of Jin’an City, two figures—one tall and one small—were strolling leisurely among the crowds.

The smaller figure, in particular, drew many curious eyes.

At seven years old, a little girl should have been lively and energetic, but this child was calm and serene, like a little immortal walking out of a painting.

Her bearing wasn’t that of a noble daughter—none of those rigidly practiced manners—her movements were slow but crisp and clean, with a natural elegance that set her apart from ordinary children.

This alone made her utterly distinct from the children of common families.

Ji Tianxin’s hair was especially black. She had always been too lazy to fuss with it, usually tying it up in a simple knot. But since Suqing had come, her hair had become much more carefully styled.

“Master, though Yu is not a large country, Jin’an City is certainly lively,” Suqing remarked as she followed behind Ji Tianxin.

Ji Tianxin nodded. “Mm.”

On the continent of Tianwu, Yu was not considered a major power. Only in the western part of the continent did it carry any significant weight.

This was because the royal family of Yu lacked martial experts; their sole support came from the Chen clan, whose ancestral home lay within Yu’s borders.

This was something Baishu had told her.

As for the Chen family, they ranked only at the bottom among the eight great martial clans.

Above the nations, there existed even more formidable powers. The entire Tianwu continent was divided among four great forces.

All the countries depended upon these four, each ruled by martial artists, and a strict hierarchy existed between them.

States could only use the title “Emperor,” their rulers called “Emperor” or “Sovereign” by inheritance.

But the heads of the four great forces were called “Lords,” and were known as the Four Monarchs.

The four forces were: Sanghai, Snowlands, Peerless City, and Fengdu.

So, power on Tianwu was divided among martial sects, the four great forces, the eight great clans, and the countries subject to the four powers.

Each power was independent, ruling its own affairs, yet the weak would always bow in humility before the strong.

This was an ancient, unchanging law.

Yu was subordinate to one of the four great powers—Sanghai.

Of course, Ji Tianxin remembered only a few scattered facts; she couldn’t be bothered to memorize any more.

Yes, it was simple laziness.

So when she listened, she barely paid attention.

As the world changed, all things became different from what she remembered.

She never liked to remember, only to see with her own eyes.

Just like now—walking through the streets, she looked at the bustling sights with the fresh wonder of a first encounter, her face lit with rare, gentle curiosity.

Seeing her master’s faint smile as she gazed with curiosity at the strange trinkets, Suqing grew cheerful as well.

Now her master looked like a child at last.

How pretty she was when she smiled!