Zuo Guangshu, this youngster, certainly didn’t appreciate it, but Jiang Wang was not willing to crush his confidence, saying earnestly with a straight face, "If we really encounter each other at the Yellow River Gathering, with the impressive might of your River Lord Divine Skills, I truly might not be your match."

Of course, that excluded the use of the Astray Path.

However, if one were really to participate in the Yellow River Gathering, the Astray Path would most likely not be used.

It was a place where the strong nations of the world converged, and countless powerful figures would be present at that time; if one dared use the Astray Path, it would be impossible to conceal it.

Zuo Guangshu rolled his eyes, feeling no comfort whatsoever, "Do you think those strong figures are fools, to allow such unfair circumstances to arise? When the Yellow River Gathering starts, the powers of the Long River will naturally be suppressed."

Known as "the Ancestral River," the muddied waters of the Long River carry silt down across the Tianma Plateau, and in the section between Fertility Country and Jing Tianfu of Jinguo, the waters are turbid and lose their natural hue, which is referred to as the Yellow River section. (This was also the path Jiang Wang had originally taken from Yun Country to Qi Country when he traversed the Tianma Plateau for the first time.)

At the Yellow River section, the Guanhe Platform is constructed.

The famous Yellow River Gathering is held there.

In the world, there is no river called "Yellow River;" it is only a section of the Long River that is called the Yellow River.

Hence, when the two of them were discussing the Yellow River Gathering, what Zuo Guangshu talked about was the power of the Long River water.

As the first and foremost waterway in the world, flowing since ancient times and cutting across the present world, one can hardly imagine the kind of Divine Skills required to suppress the Long River’s flow.

But Zuo Guangshu’s understanding of the Yellow River Gathering was certainly beyond comparison to his own.

Jiang Wang, with a sense of self-awareness, smiled and said, "What I’m saying is, leaving aside the impact of the Yellow River Gathering. If one day we were to cross swords on the Yellow River section, you’d surely have the upper hand!"

Zuo Guangshu continued to roll his eyes, "You are in Eastern Qi, I am in Southern Chu. How lacking in common sense would we have to be to encounter each other on the Yellow River section? Unless one day you lead your troops into the eastern part of Jinguo and I lead mine into the southwest, then maybe, just maybe, there’s a slight chance we’d fight on the Yellow River section!"

"Hahaha," Jiang Wang laughed awkwardly, "You’re really funny."

Zuo Guangshu curled his lips, "It takes one to know one."

"Being so young, don’t always be so cold, try being a bit more amiable," advised Jiang Wang in an elder’s tone, "I have a friend who always carries a smile, grinning like a steamed bun, very adorable! Everyone likes him, and he’s about to inherit his family’s mantle!"

Zuo Guangshu was uncooperative, "Some steamed bun—I don’t know them. I’ve only heard that your Qi Xiao ’True Man’ kills people with a laugh."

Jiang Wang was taken aback.

No matter how inflated his own ego, he couldn’t dare to compare Zhongxuan Sheng with Qi Xiao.

He had to change the subject, "Young man, you have quite the ambition, knowing so much about Qi Country. Qi ’True Man’ is often overseas; even I’m not familiar with him, how could you know?"

Zuo Guangshu sighed, "He’s Qu Shunhua’s most admired person."

"Qu Shunhua?" Jiang Wang asked curiously.

With his River Lord Divine Skills withdrawn, Zuo Guangshu still wore splendid robes and exuded an aristocratic aura.

But at this moment, he averted his gaze slightly, looking somewhat aggrieved, "The Qu Family’s tiger of a mother, two years older than me."

Jiang Wang’s eyes lit up; there was a story here.

Ever since he knew Zuo Guangshu was Zuo Guanglie’s younger brother, he felt an inexplicable sense of responsibility towards this youth four years his junior.

"What about her?" he asked in a deliberately casual tone, "Did she bully you?"

Zuo Guangshu was not easily hoodwinked, glaring at Jiang Wang, "Is Qi Country’s prodigy only concerned with such idle gossip every day?"

"Oh... idle gossip," Jiang Wang deliberately stretched the words, chuckling, "That term shouldn’t be used lightly; it has to be a serious matter. Are there actually rumors circulating about you two? How do they go?"

Zuo Guangshu turned his head away, his ears actually reddening!

"Alright, alright, I won’t tease you," Jiang Wang wanted to follow up with a few jibes, but knowing that moderation was key, he deliberately switched back to a serious tone, "Then tell me, what should the prodigy of Qi Country care about?"

"The Yellow River Gathering, of course!" Zuo Guangshu was somewhat angrily frustrated, "You should consider how you’ll participate, for serving the country well there will reap endless benefits! Being first at the Near Sea, first in Qi Country, first in Chu Country, these don’t count as first. Dominating the Yellow River Gathering is the true pinnacle of the world!"

For someone of Zuo Guangshu’s background to mention ’endless benefits,’ there truly must be many advantages.

"It indeed sounds tempting," Jiang Wang stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then asked, "Who is the strongest Neifu Cultivator in Chu Country?"

"Inner Mansion Realm’s Zuo Guanglie."

Zuo Guangshu blurted out.

Then he clamped his mouth shut tight.

He was expressionless, as if he had just mentioned a stranger’s name without any emotion, only the most rational of analysis.

However, Chu Country had an extensive and powerful history. Since ancient times, countless prodigies and formidable figures had emerged. How "irrational" would one have to be to state unequivocally that among all Inner Mansion Realm Cultivators, Inner Mansion Realm’s Zuo Guanglie was number one?

Not wanting to press on the topic, Jiang Wang diverted, "I’m asking about now. Who do you think is the strongest right now?"

Zuo Guangshu seemed unperturbed, thought seriously for a moment, and said, "Since Dou Zhao stepped into the Outer Building a year ago, there’s been a continuous debate as to who is the new number one in Great Chu’s Inner Mansion, with no conclusive decision. Qu Family’s Qu Shunhua, Xiang Family’s Xiang Bei, and an orphan who took the nation’s name as his own, Chu Yuzhi, are all likely candidates."

Having said this, he added, "Of course, there’s still time before the Yellow River Gathering, and I have a chance too."

It turned out that Jiang Wang’s earlier concerns were completely unfounded. This youth was too proud; losing one battle did not affect his fighting spirit.

"Wow! Is Qu Shunhua really that amazing?"

Jiang Wang deliberately missed the point, earning a fierce glare from Zuo Guangshu.

"Hahaha," he laughed, "So it means that Great Chu currently lacks a Neifu Cultivator capable of overpowering everyone?"

"Not exactly. Mainly because many people have been focusing on the Yellow River Gathering since the beginning of the year. They are reluctant to reveal too much of themselves before then. Without showing their true abilities, how can they dominate everything?"

Zuo Guangshu said this, then sharply added, "Everyone is more cautious, so, acts as flamboyant as sweeping through the End of the World Platform are relatively less common."

"Guangshu, you are unaware, I am actually not a flamboyant person," Jiang Wang said with a deadpan expression, "It’s really because of those from Diao Hai Building..."

Zuo Guangshu felt uneasy. He had specifically inquired about the incident at the End of the World Platform and knew that it was the people from Diao Hai Building who were excessively presumptuous. He could not help but reflect on whether or not he should have brought it up...

But then he saw Jiang Wang grin, "They’re just too weak! None were a match for me, so I accidentally made a name for myself!"

Zuo Guangshu: ...