Nuclear-powered Sword Immortal

Chapter 399: Chapter 395: Settlement

Stepping over the city walls was akin to entering another world.

In the sight, there were buildings ten stories high.

Some of the buildings even reached dozens of floors.

In the distance, there were skyscrapers that pierced the clouds, resembling pillars that supported the sky dome.

Every now and then, one could see Primordial Spirit Monarchs capable of sword flight or Martial Artists riding fierce beasts entering those skyscrapers.

Gu Jinlai observed carefully.

At the city gate, he had sensed the strength of the guard force, especially on the city tower; he distinctly felt an aura from a Demon God Warrior that rivaled the Demon Demon King Level.

Now that he entered the city...

It must be said, the number of experts was much greater than in Starlight City and Lingxiao City.

On the road, Zhao Yang was diligently introducing the dos and don’ts to Gu Jinlai.

For instance, pay attention to the curfew, and purchasing items required not only silver coins but also contribution points.

Hedonism was forbidden.

Private individuals were not allowed to operate martial arts schools or establish Sects.

All martial forces needed to be uniformly deployed.

Greater power entailed greater responsibility; only through unity could they survive this hard period and lead humanity towards hope and glory, and so forth.

After listening for a while, Gu Jinlai faintly understood the environment and atmosphere of Wind and Rain City.

Although everyone was filled with hope for the future, due to the ongoing crises and various hidden dangers within the city...

For example, those forces that had fled to the city were accustomed to lording over others locally, resisted discipline, and caused public disturbances.

Also, once a Demon God Warrior’s Heart Realm was broken, there was still a possibility of loss of control.

And then there were those who traded forbidden materials for profit, and so on.

While filled with hope, the city also maintained a high-pressure policy.

Only such pressure could ensure the city’s order and local stability.

Even more so, listening to Zhao Yang’s introduction, the city’s high-ups imposed even greater restrictions on Martial Artists than on regular people.

The reason was very simple.

Ordinary people’s misdemeanors were limited in harm.

But if Martial Artists broke the law, it could lead to disasters.

Therefore, crimes committed by Martial Artists often resulted in severe punishments.

However, correspondingly, they were also afforded ample honor.

Everyone cherished the Demon Slayers, composed of Martial Artists and cultivators; if any household had a Demon Slayer, it was considered a great honor.

In this way, the potential for Martial Artists and cultivators to cause internal damage was avoided.

This was probably a lesson learned from the infighting within the Twelve Domains that led to failure.

"The Holy Dynasty Martial Records Institute is just ahead."

Zhao Yang led Gu Jinlai to a building only ten stories high.

Though not tall, the building covered a large area, and inside it clearly housed a Martial Sect comparable to an Upper-level Demon who exuded their aura, intimidating to lesser beings.

From time to time, Divine Thoughts swept through, warning everyone that a prominent figure was present. _{𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚}

Upon entering the main hall, Zhao Yang bowed to one of the receptionists, "Hello, I have brought this senior here to register."

"Senior?"

The receptionist glanced at the military general medal hanging on Zhao Yang’s chest; such a general referring to Gu Jinlai as ’senior’, coupled with the fact that refugees often were highly skilled, made him dare not slacken in the slightest.

"Please wait, we will immediately call the Dean over."

As the receptionist spoke, he invited Gu Jinlai into a private reception room.

Shortly after, an old man, intentionally emitting Primordial Spirit fluctuations, came out and smiled, bowing, "I hadn’t expected that someone outside the Holy Dynasty had progressed to such a level on the path of the Demon God. My apologies for my oversight."

Speaking, he inquired, "Your body doesn’t have much demonic fluctuation, it seems you’re practicing one of the first batch of Body Refinement Methods that spread from our Holy Dynasty. Which one is it? Yinglong Nine Transformations? Creation Qilin Body? Chaos True Demon Body? Innate Nirvana Technique?"

Gu Jinlai was somewhat surprised by the old man’s words: "I primarily cultivate the Chaos True Demon Body. This Cultivation Technique, it spread from Holy Land?"

"Yes, we hope to integrate more people into our Martial Artist System," the old man said. "The Chaos True Demon Body, which was propagated before the twenty-ninth, is quite a mature version. The probability of loss of control is relatively low, but for safety reasons, we hope you come to the Martial Records Institute once a year for us to observe."

"Every year..."

Gu Jinlai looked at the old man.

An incredible thing was that this Primordial Spirit Monarch was not even a Light Red name, nor a Yellow name.

He was a White name.

A Primordial Spirit Monarch with a White name.

This was the first White Monarch Gu Jinlai had seen in his years.

Even Xin Tianqi, who once harbored great righteousness, had not achieved such a level.

Although not a Purple, the fact that a Primordial Spirit Monarch could so faithfully adhere to their principles...

Gu Jinlai suddenly viewed this city, which he found somewhat oppressive upon his entry, in a new light.

Although this city was fraught with various flaws and strict rules, some even harsh, for the first high-level cultivator he had seen...

"I will come every year,"

Gu Jinlai said.

Although he did not know how many years he would spend here, he answered, while asking, "I am Gu Jinlai. May I know how to address this Monarch?"

"Ha, you can just call me Chen Xuan,"

Old man Chen Xuan said with a smile, then asked, "What level has your Chaos True Demon Body reached?"

"My body strength is comparable to a Demon Demon King, in the terms here, that’s a Martial King."

"King Realm!?"

Chen Xuan was taken aback and immediately rose to his feet, looking at Gu Jinlai with a gaze filled with surprise.

"To think one could cultivate to the realm of a king outside of the Holy Dynasty? Incredible, truly incredible."

Not only him, but Zhao Yang also widened his eyes in shock at Gu Jinlai.

When Gu Jinlai had effortlessly slain three Demon Generals, he had speculated that Gu Jinlai was highly likely a Martial Sect with a Martial Arts Body; he hadn’t expected...

That he was a Martial Arts King comparable to a Demon King!?

"Fortuitous."

Gu Jinlai declared.

"To be able to cultivate to a king outside of the Holy Land shows the height of your talent..."

Chen Xuan observed Gu Jinlai.

He could feel that Gu Jinlai was probably not young, but his body contained a lot of vitality.

Living for a few more decades should be no problem.

Immediately, he addressed him directly, "Given the talent and capabilities of the Ancient Martial King, it would be an undershelling to directly place you in the Heavenly Martial Camp. I plan to recommend the Ancient Martial King to study in the Martial Saint Institute. After studying for one year and observing your progress, we will then discuss job assignments. How does that sound to the Ancient Martial King?"

"Martial Saint Institute."

Gu Jinlai had already been briefed by Zhao Yang about it.

In the entire Wind and Rain City, the cultivators most commonly interacted with, and similarly the most important institutions, were four.

City Lord Mansion, Demon-slaying Hall, Guardian Army, and the Martial Arts Academy.

The Martial Arts Academy, having dozens within Wind and Rain City, was crowned with titles like the First Martial Arts Academy of Wind and Rain City, the Second Martial Arts Academy, etc.

It was only after individual students from these academies stood out, at least achieving the rank of military general, could they enter the Martial Saint Institute for further studies.

It was evident that the Martial Saint Institute was a higher-level institution, even a managing institution over the Martial Arts Academy.

Besides, while the dean of the Martial Arts Academy was held by a Martial King, the dean of the Martial Saint Institute was a Martial Saint.

As it happened, Gu Jinlai was curious about what differences existed between the Saints of the Holy Land and the path he had forged himself. Upon hearing Chen Xuan’s request, he immediately agreed, "It would be best if I could enter the Martial Saint Institute."

"Good, I will arrange it for you right away."

Chen Xuan said and then asked, "Do you have a sect or relatives that need to be registered together?"

Clearly, he thought that Gu Jinlai had first come to explore Wind and Rain City, or perhaps the Holy Land more broadly.

"Not at the moment."

Gu Jinlai shook his head.

"That’s fine."

Chen Xuan did not press further.

Many who were like him, newly entered into the Holy Dynasty Giant City, were cautious in their observations.

They had probably suffered a great deal along the way; he was no stranger to such cases.

However, once they understood the broad-mindedness of the current emperor, they would willingly become members of the Holy Dynasty, contributing to its strength.

Thereupon, Chen Xuan led Gu Jinlai toward the Martial Saint Institute.

Zhao Yang, who had long admired the Martial Saint Institute, followed enviously behind.

Under Chen Xuan’s guidance, Gu Jinlai arrived at the Martial Saint Institute.

The Holy Dynasty, truly worthy of being a great nation capable of guarding against the demonic invasions and protecting the safety of four billion citizens, had Martial Kings in the Wind and Rain City’s Martial Saint Institute, showing their presence by the dozens.

One of them, holding the title of vice dean and also a Martial King, personally welcomed Gu Jinlai and helped him with the necessary procedures.

Moreover, Gu Jinlai discovered that his name had not even reached the Light Red Level.

After completing the necessary procedures, this Vice Dean named Yan Lie smiled and said, "Ancient Martial King, the Wind and Rain Martial Saint Institute welcomes you. I hope that in the forthcoming studies at the Martial Saint Institute, we can exchange ideas and elevate our Martial Arts together."

"Thank you, Dean Yan."

Gu Jinlai responded.

"As a Martial King, you do not need to stay in the Martial Saint Institute at all times like other refining military generals or Martial Sects. With our realms, sometimes a real battle, a moment of enlightenment, is much more useful than theoretical works. You only need to remember three dates, the first, tenth, and twentieth of each month, when our dean of the Martial Saint Institute will personally come and instruct us Martial Kings in cultivation. Don’t miss it."

"I definitely won’t."

"Hmm, additionally, on the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth, our Martial Kings within the Martial Saint Institute will also exchange cultivation insights. The next meeting is on the fifteenth, which is in three days."

Yan Lie said this, his tone pausing, somewhat sternly, "Although this exchange isn’t mandatory, I hope that the Ancient Martial King will participate. The wisdom of others can polish your own, as they say. By exchanging ideas, you never know when inspiration might strike."

"I am also very curious about the techniques and cultivation insights possessed by my fellow Martial Kings."

Gu Jinlai declared.

"That’s good to hear."

Yan Lie laughed as he spoke and gave Gu Jinlai an identity plaque.

With the identity plaque in hand, Gu Jinlai bid farewell and departed.

As soon as they were out of the Martial Saint Institute, Chen Xuan clasped his hands in farewell and left.

He was left with only Zhao Yang at his side.

This military general looked at Gu Jinlai, appearing hesitant to speak.

"Is there something you’d like to say?"

"This..."

Zhao Yang was somewhat embarrassed as he spoke, "I wonder if our Yellow Dragon Commerce is honored to invite the Ancient Martial King to take up a ceremonial position?"

He immediately added, "If you agree, Ancient Martial King, the corresponding treatment and contribution points, our Yellow Dragon Commerce will not let you down."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go to your Yellow Dragon Commerce."

Gu Jinlai declared, "I am still waiting for the courtyard you promised."

"Wonderful."

Zhao Yang was instantly overjoyed: "This way, please, Ancient Martial King, this way please."