Bang!
Ye Rong slammed his wine cup down hard. "Qianlan Northern Palace? I've heard they were arrogant, with their disciples often committing robbery and murder. I always thought the rumors were exaggerated. So it turns out the rumors were conservative, if anything."
"Brother, don't get angry. Just remember every single one of these bastards. One day, they'll pay back every last bit with interest."
Jiang Chen smiled. "They're just clowns, not worth your attention. Don't worry about them, Brother Ye. I can handle this little matter myself."
"Haha, exactly! Brother, with your talent, if you can join the Treasure Tree Sect, you can step on these scumbags as much as you want in the future."
Jiang Chen nodded noncommittally and raised his cup. "Come, Brother Ye, let's have a drink."
After the meal and wine, Ye Rong said, "Brother, now that you're here in the Royal Capital, there are many things I must clarify with you."
"Go on."
"First, you are my guest counselor, not my attendant. This means you cannot live in the Prince's manor. Because those who live in the manor are either part of the household or servants. A guest counselor is ultimately an outsider, so you must acquire your own residence outside."
Jiang Chen hadn't planned on living in the manor anyway. With so many people, it would be inconvenient, and depending on others' hospitality was no fun.
"That's simple. I'll find a quiet place and buy an estate." Jiang Chen had astonishing wealth. Even though this was the Tiangui Kingdom, he didn't believe he couldn't afford a single estate.
Ye Rong rubbed his nose and smiled bitterly. "It's not that simple. Buying an estate isn't just a matter of purchase."
"Oh? Is land in the Tiangui Kingdom so precious that estates are sold at astronomical prices?"
"Astronomical prices aren't the issue. I believe your finances can handle it. But in the Tiangui Kingdom, you can't just buy a large estate if you want. The level of estate you're allowed to own corresponds to your rank. In the Eastern Kingdom, you held a high status. Here in the Tiangui Kingdom, you are currently of commoner status."
Ye Rong's words made Jiang Chen understand.
So, acquiring property in the Tiangui Kingdom was stratified by rank. Without a noble title, you couldn't buy the corresponding residence.
If that was the case, Jiang Chen got it.
It was similar in the Eastern Kingdom; luxurious districts weren't open to just anyone. Even wealthy merchants without the appropriate status or connections couldn't enter the noble areas.
The Eastern Kingdom had no written laws, but the unwritten rules clearly demarcated social circles.
The Tiangui Kingdom, however, was even more systematic, with explicit legal regulations.
What rank you held determined what estate you could occupy—clearly defined. Crossing that line? Not a chance. Even with money, you couldn't buy it.
Come to think of it, the Tiangui Kingdom was indeed different from ordinary nations. With Jiang Chen's reputation, the Black Moon Kingdom had directly offered him a First-Rank Marquis position.
Here in the Tiangui Kingdom, even a prince like Ye Rong couldn't bend the rules for him.
It seemed the governing machinery of the Tiangui Kingdom operated far more systematically than that of the Eastern or Black Moon Kingdoms, and its rules were much harsher.
"Brother Ye, so what channels are there to obtain status?"
"There are quite a few. Official posts and military positions, obviously. You can rise quickly in those two paths, but the competition is fierce."
"Besides official and military positions, there are various sect-affiliated institutions. For example, those related to alchemy, artifact refining, and other cultivation-related departments. They all have large quotas for noble ranks. The Treasure Tree Sect has four major dojos in the Tiangui Kingdom. These four dojos also control a significant number of noble quotas."
"Four major dojos?"
"Yes, four major dojos. The Qianlan Northern Palace you encountered is one of them. There's also the Qianlan Southern Palace, the Qingyang Dojo of Qingyang Valley, and the Duobao Dojo. Together they are known as the Four Great Dojos."
"Qianlan Northern Palace and Qianlan Southern Palace?" Jiang Chen knew they were separate factions, but hearing the name still left a slightly unpleasant taste.
"Let's skip using connections. Tomorrow, I'll walk around the Royal Capital and get a general understanding of the situation. When you arrive in a new place, familiarize yourself first. As for lodging, I'll just find an inn for now."
Ye Rong felt a bit ashamed. He was a prince, but in many matters, princes of the Tiangui Kingdom didn't have much room for nepotism or favoritism.
More importantly, the King evaluated his sons on this very aspect. If a prince constantly used his royal status for special treatment or to pull strings, it would certainly cost him dearly in the King's eyes.
Jiang Chen, on the other hand, was remarkably carefree.
Despite the lukewarm reception in the Tiangui Kingdom—a world apart from the grand positions and influence promised by the Black Moon and Eastern Kingdoms—he remained unperturbed.