In the fifty-fifth year of Yuan Feng, on the twenty-third day of the fifth month.

This day was of great significance.

Emperor Qi would personally attend The Imperial Ancestral Temple to worship the ancestors.

Then, in the presence of the Jiang Family’s royal ancestors, he would select talents for the nation, offer encouragement in person, so that they may fight at the Yellow River Gathering.

And the nation’s proud sons had to, under the watchful eyes of the Son of Heaven and all the people, showcase their exceptional talents, to prove they indeed possessed the qualifications to represent Qi Country in battle.

By then, civil and military officials would all be present, and the members of The Royal Family would attend.

Residents of Linyi City over a hundred years old who were not cultivators, along with ninety-nine randomly selected households from the clan mansions, would all come to the site to watch.

This was known as the "Grandmaster’s Rite."

The Grandmaster’s Rite was for the masses to witness.

When a king went on an expedition, every movement of the troops was ceremonious. Especially when the Son of Heaven personally led the campaign, the majestic grandeur was unparalleled.

That is to say, from top to bottom, Qi considered the Yellow River Gathering as a great battle to be faced. They treated it with the ceremony of national warfare.

Everything that happened during this ritual sacrifice would be recorded by historians.

And each result during the entire "Grandmaster’s Rite," such as who secured a position in the Inner Mansion or who triumphed over whom in the Outer Building would be posted and announced by appointed individuals, spreading the news throughout Linyi, allowing the whole world to witness.

To prove that this person was truly the proud son recognized by the entire Qi Country. Someone who could truly represent Qi and vie for supremacy with the heroes of the world.

It was not until this moment that Jiang Wang realized the Yellow River Gathering was even more important than he had imagined.

It wasn’t merely about being the world’s number one talent!

It was also because...

Why Zuo Guangshu had said that being the first in Qi or the first in Chu was not truly first, only the one who emerged first at the Yellow River Gathering was the real number one in the world.

At the Yellow River Gathering, there must be something worthy of the competition of the world’s number one, something that made the proud sons of all countries spare no effort, making this title of the world’s number one truly recognized as persuasive by the world.

Because Jiang Wang took the initiative to participate in the Yellow River Gathering, Zhongxuan Sheng and Yan Fu thought he was fully aware of its meaning, so neither of them elaborated further to him.

Up to now, Jiang Wang’s understanding of the Yellow River Gathering was limited to being "the world’s number one" and "negotiating territory"—he even had no idea how that territory would be divided...

However, it didn’t seem very important.

Regardless of what the contest was for or how important the Yellow River Gathering was, Jiang Wang had already decided to participate, and he would not back down.

The more important, the better!

The more important it was, the more he could strive for.

The more important it was, the more worthwhile it was.

As a listed talent of the Inner Mansion, Jiang Wang set out by palanquin early in the morning when the sky was still dim, accompanied by Zhongxuan Sheng.

With Zhongxuan Sheng’s family background, he was naturally one of the "spectators" of the rite and also brought along Fourteen.

Fortunately, all the palanquin bearers were transcendent cultivators; otherwise, it would have been difficult to carry two people, one plump with flesh and the other clad in heavy armor.

The palanquin from the Marquis of Bowang’s Mansion was of exceedingly high standard, and Jiang Wang himself, one of the key figures in the "Grandmaster’s Rite," was inside. The Court had specially issued a nameplate, which was now hanging in front of the palanquin door.

Thus, the large palanquin was carried all the way to the vicinity of The Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The "Grandmaster’s Rite" would begin on the plaza in front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The martial tradition of Qi was profound, having a custom of capturing prisoners or offering heads in front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple after conquering other nations.

Holding the "Grandmaster’s Rite" in front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple was not out of the ordinary.

A sorrowful sound!

As Jiang Wang’s palanquin had not yet come to a stop, he was still resting with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, the sound of a horse’s neigh broke the silence, hooves pounding on the ground like rumbles of drums before abruptly stopping in front of the palanquin.

Who was this, galloping near The Imperial Ancestral Temple?

Although they hadn’t arrived at The Imperial Ancestral Temple, so it couldn’t be considered highly disrespectful, it still seemed... rather arrogant!

Jiang Wang was analyzing the sound when he heard the newcomer ask, "Is this Jiang Wang?"

He wasn’t exactly ferocious.

Just outside the palanquin, a nameplate was hung – there was no avoiding it.

At that moment, Jiang Wang sat on the left side inside the palanquin, and despite its size, he was squeezed to the edge by Zhongxuan Pang and the discipled in heavy armor Fourteen.

Hearing this call, he lifted part of the palanquin curtain to look outside.

What he saw was a rather handsome yet ostentatiously flamboyant young man.

The man wore brocade robes and rode a tall, strong horse adorned with colorful pompoms and fluttering red silk, looking for all the world like a bridegroom!

A nameplate hung around the horse’s neck, signaling that he was one of the main characters of the day. However, it was turned inward so the name on the front was not visible.

He seemed like the scion of a military clan, but Jiang Wang guessed he might actually come from an aristocratic family of civil officials.

Speaking of which, there was this interesting phenomenon that Jiang Wang had observed himself.

In Linyi City these days, the young nobles from families of civil servants liked to ride horses to show their masculinity, while those from military families preferred to be carried in palanquins to display their refined culture. In short, everyone strived to appear as if they were accomplished in both the literary and martial arts.

Of course, the reason Zhongxuan Sheng took a palanquin was unrelated to this; he simply wanted to be comfortable.

"...Who are you?" Jiang Wang asked politely.

"Heh," the newcomer scoffed coldly, "Just so you know, gilding can never be true gold. Any pretense is bound to be the butt of all jokes!"

Jiang Wang:...

What is this nonsense?

Jiang Wang glanced back at Zhongxuan Sheng with a look that asked: Is there something wrong with this guy?

Zhongxuan Sheng didn’t bother with pleasantries, he pushed forward and flung aside the other curtain and poked his head out, bellowing angrily, "Scram!"

Zhongxuan Pang’s shout was indeed thunderous, rolling out like a clap of thunder.

It held the momentum of an army charging as if intent on slaying his very mother.

It startled the challenger’s horse so much that it shivered.

Thankfully, the horse was of an extraordinary breed and didn’t disgrace itself any further.

Jiang Wang noticed that many people nearby were looking over in surprise. After all, those present at The Imperial Ancestral Temple today—apart from the lucky commoners and elderly—were all rich or noble. There weren’t many things that could make them lose their composure.

Cursing in the street near The Imperial Ancestral Temple—was he mad to end up in the history books?

The eyes that converged on him from all directions, overtly and covertly, made the man who had obstructed the palanquin quite uneasy.

He had not expected Zhongxuan Sheng to be in the palanquin, much less for Zhongxuan Sheng to roar furiously without a word of polite conversation. If things truly blew up, how would it end? The Imperial Ancestral Temple was not far from here!

His face turned from green to white, ultimately incapable of trading insults with Zhongxuan Sheng, he issued a threat, "Jiang Qingyang, you’d better show up at the Yellow River Gathering, and I will instruct you properly on the road!"

With that, he turned his horse and rode away.

Jiang Wang was at a loss for words. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Even someone as well-mannered as he couldn’t help but feel like cursing.

You provoke me out of the blue, and I haven’t even said a word.

The one who cursed you was Zhongxuan Pang, and you don’t seek him out—that’s one thing. But to leave behind a harsh statement, and it’s directed at me!

Is my face, Jiang Qingyang, marked as ’easy to bully’?

Judging from his tone, he must be a participant in one of the two other events. Among those in the Outer Building and the unregulated matches for those under thirty years old, Jiang Wang only knew of Bao Bozhao.

The one with a grudge...

Could this be War God’s second disciple, Ji Zhaonan?

Acting like a complete fool!

No, that couldn’t be right...

If Qi Country’s number one under thirty were this reckless, we might as well not bother showing our faces...

Jiang Wang resettled in the palanquin, shooting an inquiring glance at Zhongxuan Sheng—"Who have you offended now?"

"Why are you looking at me?"

Compared to Jiang Wang’s baffled ignorance, Zhongxuan Sheng knew exactly what was going on but merely curled his lip, "Blame the Dog Steward!"