Chapter 1019: Chapter 263: The Demeanor of the Strong (Extra 5/6 for Alliance Hierarch Chen Zeqing)

"What’s all this idle chatter?"

Zhongxuan Sheng’s face quivered with irritation, "Isn’t managing the Tai Xu Corner Tower your proper affair, Jiang Qingyang?!"

"Cool down, cool down." Jiang Wang patted his back soothingly as he hurried to comfort him, "You’ve worked hard these past few days, gave too much! Thanks to Brother Sheng’s bravery, willingness to assume responsibility, diligent sincerity, and fiery enthusiasm, I was able to find time to struggle in the Taixu Illusion Realm for our Tai Xu Corner Tower."

Within those effusive words, that fiery enthusiasm seemed somewhat abrupt.

Yet Jiang Wang’s expression was, oddly enough, extremely sincere.

"Heh." Zhongxuan Sheng was not so easily appeased, chuckling coldly, "Do you think I’ve forgotten where we met? You think I don’t know what it’s like inside the Taixu Illusion Realm? Even if you shattered the heavens in there, what does it have to do with the Tai Xu Corner Tower, even as much as a Knife Coin?"

"Ah, my brother, you just don’t know."

Jiang Wang sighed heavily and sat down on the chair nearby, his face clouded with worry, "Before the people from the Taixu Sect left, they hinted in every possible way that I must quickly earn the honor of a Cultivator of the Five Elements. Tell me, if I fail to obtain it, mightn’t they take back their jade token representative of the Taixu messenger?"

Zhongxuan Sheng glanced at him sideways, silent.

"Really!" Jiang Wang quickly pointed to his own eyes in assurance, "I haven’t slept these last several days; I’ve been either cultivating or fighting."

"The Taixu messenger’s jade token, granted and taken back at their whim." Zhongxuan Sheng snorted through his nose, "Isn’t the Taixu Sect being a bit too careless?"

"Who could say otherwise? But when we’re under someone’s roof, we have to bow our heads." Jiang Wang agreed, and swiftly changed the subject, "Almost forgot the important matter. I really did have something I needed to ask you!"

Zhongxuan Sheng was tempted to curse him out, to question him on how the Tai Xu Corner Tower could be anything less than a major issue. But reflecting on the weariness in Jiang Wang’s expression, which didn’t seem entirely feigned, he let it go.

By his estimation, there was a fifty percent chance that it was true.

"Ask away." He responded curtly.

"What do you know about the Yellow River Gathering?" Jiang Wang asked bluntly.

Without lifting his eyelids, Zhongxuan Sheng replied offhandedly, "A few of the old bosses sit down, have a chat, and divide up territories."

Jiang Wang waited for a while but there was no follow-up, "That’s it?"

"What else?" Zhongxuan Sheng retorted.

"Is it that simple?"

The famously prestigious Yellow River Gathering, described by Zhongxuan Sheng, sounded almost like the kind of negotiations street thugs might engage in.

"If we speak of complexity, it’s most complex indeed—events that can shake the very structure of the contemporary world, a tangled web of connections. But simplicity also holds; the very existence of the Yellow River Gathering is to simplify complex affairs by these significant figures."

Zhongxuan Sheng offered this explanation and then asked, "Are you planning to go?"

After giving Jiang Wang a look up and down, he added, "You certainly qualify now. Jiang Qingyang of the Neifu Cultivator of the Near Sea, that’s quite impressive."

That statement was a mix of both praise and disparagement, very much in the style of Zhongxuan Pang.

Jiang Wang didn’t hide his intentions, "I want to meet the heroes from all over and see where I stand among them. More importantly... I hear there are many benefits to attending the Yellow River Gathering that can make me stronger, accelerate my growth. I don’t want to miss out."

Zhongxuan Sheng pulled a wry face and sighed, "You’re already very strong."

Jiang Wang shook his head, "Not strong enough."

"The date of the Yellow River Gathering has always been set according to the water levels of the Yellow River’s sections, whenever the water reaches the Guanhe Platform, that’s when the assembly is convened. This time, the date hasn’t been announced, but it’s usually between the first and fifteenth of July, and it never extends past August."

Zhongxuan Sheng said earnestly, "If you really do want to go, now is the time to prepare."

Jiang Wang smiled, flicked his finger on the Divine Dragon Wooden Sheath, and elicited from the sword Longing a faint humming sound.

He laughed and said, "It also wants to see if it is a famed sword under the heavens!"

"With your current strength, you definitely have the qualifications to participate in the Yellow River Gathering. However, only one cultivator from the Inner Mansion can ultimately represent Daqi in battle. Many people are vying for this spot."

Zhongxuan Sheng pondered and said, "As you know, at the very top level, strength and weakness are uncertain. Without a fight to the death, it’s impossible to determine the victor. Hence, who ultimately gets that spot depends on many factors."

Jiang Wang, of course, understood this.

He wasn’t so arrogant as to think that the vast Qi Country couldn’t do without him. On paper, there were too many cultivators in Qi Country not weaker than him. And representing Qi Country in battle was an honor in itself, signifying that you are considered the first in Daqi, at least internally. Who wouldn’t want such an honor?

But who could ultimately grasp it? 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Unless you have the power to convincingly overcome everything, an invincible might far superior to cultivators of the same level, as indisputable as Wang Yiwu, the first and foremost cultivator in the Tongtian Environment through all ages. Otherwise, factors beyond combat strength also play a significant role.

The strength of Chuguo was not inferior to Qi, and the cultivator from the Inner Mansion who would represent them at the Yellow River Gathering had also not been decided yet, for the same reason. It was impossible to say that for the sake of participating in the Yellow River Gathering, such top talents should battle each other to the death. It would be absurd to have a group of prodigies kill each other off until only one remained to participate in the Yellow River Gathering. That would be like destroying one’s own Great Wall by letting water into one’s brains.

Of course, Jiang Wang wouldn’t belittle himself either. Perhaps there were many cultivators on paper whose strength was not weaker than his, but when it really came to a life-and-death struggle, he was confident that, even in a powerful country like Qi Country, there would be no more than ten Inner Mansion cultivators who could match him in a life-or-death standoff.

This confidence accrued from one life-and-death battle after another.

Many opponents stronger than him had died under his sword. On countless occasions at the brink of death, it was always he who had managed to climb back.

He was truly confident, without fear.

"Since I have this qualification, then I want this opportunity," Jiang Wang said solemnly.

As always, he was sure of himself, not hiding his desire to win, not avoiding his obsession with becoming stronger.

Perhaps this was the heart of a strong person...

Zhongxuan Sheng thought to himself and, after a moment of contemplation, said, "For this matter, you’ll need to ask Yan Fu for help."

Jiang Wang was greatly surprised, his aura of a strong man gone, "Can this also be bought with money?"

Zhongxuan Sheng’s forehead veins throbbed as he said, "Everyone says Jiang Qingyang is clever and brave; how come the more I look at you, the stupider you seem?

The shortlist of candidates for participating in the Yellow River Gathering is drawn up by the Political Affairs Hall, and then it is submitted to His Majesty for final approval.

What is the Political Affairs Hall? It is where the Prime Minister leads, and nine Imperial Court Advisers make policies.

And who is Yan Fu? He’s the direct heir of the Yan Clan! His grandfather was the former Prime Minister, and if he says just a word, the Political Affairs Hall has to give face. And his father-in-law Wen Yanyu, is currently one of the Imperial Court Advisers!"

Zhongxuan Pang said all this in one breath, then looked at Jiang Wang with an expression that said ’you’ve made me laugh with your stupidity’, and asked loudly, "Now, tell me, why should you turn to him?"

ps:

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

I love you all! I truly do!

May there be fresh starts in the New Year!

In this new year, let us all strive together, with a Red Heart to soar to new heights! (Why does this slogan feel embarrassingly... anyways, keep it up! Work hard! Fight! Be happy!)