Chapter 106: The Martial Emperor's Power

Tianyang City, much like Yunliu City, was a town established by a sect. The sect that governed Tianyang City was called the Tianyang Sect, a top-tier four-star sect. Situated near the border of Nan County, it was regarded as one of the foremost sects in the region. It was precisely because of this that the Burning Heaven Sect had chosen this place to recruit disciples.

When Liu Pan and Xu Xiaozhan arrived in Tianyang City, riding their swords, they were genuinely astonished by the scene before them.

Tianyang City was already bustling, but with the Burning Heaven Sect recruiting disciples here, countless people had come to join in the excitement. Even at the city's outskirts, the crowd was so dense it felt like a sea of people.

Besides the swarming figures everywhere, the streets were lined with countless vendors, their shouts and calls filling the air. Clearly, these cultivators visiting Tianyang City were not merely curious about how the Burning Heaven Sect recruited disciples.

“Let’s split up here,” Xu Xiaozhan said eagerly, his expression unmistakably excited.

Xu Xiaozhan had a true passion for commerce. Seeing the bustling marketplace brimming with vendors ignited his entrepreneurial spirit—how could he possibly stay still?

Liu Pan, roused by Xu Xiaozhan’s words, thought for a moment and nodded. Ultimately, he could do little to influence Xu Xiaozhan’s future path; it was better to let him go his own way.

“Be careful with whatever you do,” Liu Pan said, a strange gleam in his eyes. “Remember, our ultimate goal is to reach the Central Plains.”

He then reminded Xu Xiaozhan not to neglect cultivation and assured him that all the pills he left behind were for his free use. After that, the two parted ways.

As for how they would keep in touch afterward, Liu Pan hadn’t given it much thought. If they couldn’t get to the Central Plains, communication would be meaningless.

Xu Xiaozhan nodded and, without hesitation, melted into the bustling crowd and vanished. Liu Pan, after inquiring about the location where the Burning Heaven Sect was recruiting disciples, headed straight there.

Liu Pan had no intention of joining the Burning Heaven Sect. After all, without exposing his spiritual power, his mid-grade ice elemental root was simply insufficient to qualify for their ranks.

His real purpose in coming to the recruitment site was to see if Liu Kuang was there, as he had a number of matters to discuss with him.

The largest square in Tianyang City was located on the western side, and it was here that the Burning Heaven Sect held its recruitment.

At this moment, the square was packed with people, filled with clamorous chatter and discussion. Sect disciples in various attires moved about everywhere.

In the center of the square, dozens of figures clad in robes embroidered with fiery cloud patterns formed a ring, leaving only one opening facing east for cultivators to enter and exit.

Inside this ring stood nearly a hundred young cultivators quietly waiting. Even the least experienced among them had reached the early Martial Artist stage, indicating that entry required meeting certain criteria.

On one side of the square stood a distinctive tavern. It was special because, unlike the others, it was unusually quiet. Even passing cultivators hushed their voices, their demeanor tense and nervous.

At the top floor window of this tavern, a young man dressed in crimson robes embroidered with cloud motifs gazed down at the entire square, occasionally glancing at a cage hanging by the window. Inside the cage, a bird with vivid red feathers was dozing.

“Senior Brother, it’s been over half a day, but the Fire Yang Sparrow shows no sign of reaction. I’m afraid there’s little hope,” Yang Yi said, turning his head to look behind him.

Inside the room, a figure clad in black was devouring food ravenously. Hearing Yang Yi’s words, he paused slightly, then nonchalantly replied, “What’s the rush? It’s only the first day—there’s plenty of time. I don’t see why you’re guarding the window. Come, sit down and eat something. Tell you, Tianyang City’s specialties are exceptional, especially the soy-braised rabbit shrimp. The taste is unparalleled—you won’t find it in Burning Heaven City.”

Yang Yi was speechless. After a moment’s thought, he casually summoned a large plate of rabbit shrimp from the table, catching it deftly. “How can I eat now? The sect sent me to follow you and investigate the evil cultivators. I’m tense beyond words—that’s evil cultivators! I’ve only seen a few in the sect’s dungeons… And that Zhang Zu, what a nuisance, sending such scant information back to the sect. By the time we arrived, the person had already slipped away. How are we supposed to investigate now? Honestly… Hey, this rabbit shrimp really is delicious…”

Suddenly, both Yang Yi and the black-clad man stiffened and turned their gaze to the birdcage.

Inside, the once drowsy Fire Yang Sparrow had suddenly become alert and vigorous.

Upon reaching the square, Liu Pan cast a sweeping glance and expanded his spiritual power with a thought, spreading it like a vast tide. He soon identified some familiar faces—members of the Yunliu Sect.

At the edges of the square, there were seven or eight taverns. One of these taverns had the Yunliu Sect occupying the highest floor. Evidently, the Yunliu Sect still held considerable influence and status in this border region of Nan County.

After casually surveying the Yunliu Sect’s presence, Liu Pan shifted his attention elsewhere.

He had already decided to leave the Yunliu Sect after placing his identity token at Cangyun Peak. Thus, the Yunliu Sect members here held little significance for him, and he had no intention of approaching them.

Soon, Liu Pan’s focus settled on the quiet tavern at the edge of the square, known to be occupied by the Burning Heaven Sect.

The moment Liu Pan fixed his attention on that tavern, a sudden, overwhelming oppressive aura engulfed the entire square.

Silence fell. The once noisy square became deathly quiet, everyone frozen in place. Whether mid-sentence or mid-step, all were petrified, only their eyes able to move, wide with shock.

Liu Pan’s mind trembled violently. Instantly, he retracted his spiritual power and concealed his aura.

In that suspended moment, Liu Pan understood that the arrival was beyond his ability to detect. Even his True Lake-level spiritual power was useless. The one who had immobilized everyone was not merely wielding pressure—it was a domain!

A domain was a power awakened only after reaching the Martial Emperor stage, granting complete control over the surrounding space.

If awakening spiritual perception at the Martial Artist stage was the first significant hurdle on the path of martial cultivation, then mastering spatial control at the Martial Emperor stage was the second.

Those who passed this threshold were unparalleled prodigies. According to Liu Pan’s records, only two such individuals existed in the entire Nan County.

How could this be? Liu Pan’s heart raced wildly, overwhelmed by a flood of anxiety. He had never imagined such a monstrous being would appear in Tianyang City.

Had he known such a power would come, he would never have ventured here. A single move by such a master could reduce the entire city to ash and smoke. Liu Pan was determined not to place himself in such an uncertain and deadly predicament.

The domain enveloped the square, plunging it into an eerie stillness, yet the areas beyond the domain’s reach remained noisy. Soon, those outside the domain’s grasp realized something was wrong, and the crowd beyond the square gradually quieted, all staring silently at the sky above the square.

High above the square, the black-clad man appeared without warning.

He cast a sweeping glance downward, then fixed his gaze on the Fire Yang Sparrow in the cage, a strange light flickering deep within his eyes.

Pausing briefly, he opened the cage and hung a white jade pendant, about the size of a palm, around the sparrow’s neck. Freed from the domain’s constraints, the bird regained its ability to move.

The Fire Yang Sparrow opened its beak, letting out a soft chirp that, within the enclosed space, went unheard. The next moment, it spread its wings and soared above the square.

Anyone watching would notice the sparrow carefully scanning the crowd below, as if searching for someone.

After some time, just as the black-clad man grew impatient, the sparrow folded its wings and alighted atop the head of a cultivator in the square.

Liu Pan’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily. Though trapped within the domain and unable to move or hear, his vision remained unhindered and his mind active. Upon seeing the sparrow, he could not suppress his emotions.

The sparrow had not landed on Liu Pan’s head but on that of another cultivator standing before him. What unsettled Liu Pan was the sparrow’s head tilt as it scrutinized him.

The Fire Yang Sparrow was a bird of extreme Yang nature. Though not powerful in attack, it was highly intelligent and extremely sensitive to opposing extreme Yin energies and malevolent spiritual forces.

As the sparrow examined Liu Pan, he distinctly felt a spiritual perception lock onto him. Moments later, a black figure appeared before him as if by teleportation.

The man eyed Liu Pan, frowning slightly in thought before signaling the sparrow back into its cage. Then, he grasped Liu Pan and, stepping through the void, ascended to the top floor of the tavern occupied by the Burning Heaven Sect.

Once the black-clad man departed, the domain’s suppression instantly lifted. Chaos erupted in the square—those above the ninth level collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, their garments soaked with sweat. Their eyes betrayed lingering terror.

...

Atop a tavern on the square’s edge, beyond the domain’s reach, an unusual silence reigned. Since the black-clad man’s arrival, nearly everyone gathered by the windows, peering outside without a sound.

“So terrifying,” someone murmured after a long pause, swallowing nervously. Only then did he notice his clothes were drenched in sweat.

“Master, it seems the senior who just left took Senior Brother Liu Pan with him…” a deliberately lowered voice said. In the stillness of the loft, the words sounded startlingly clear.

Almost instantly, every person in the loft tensed, their gazes fixed on the speaker.

(To be continued.)