Chapter 1104: Chapter 332 Ning Jianke (Added for Alliance Hierarch Yun Shang Qing Bo!)

Upon the boundless expanse of the grasslands, two tall horses galloped side by side.

The man with the braided hair trailing behind shouted, "Ye Gai, have you got it wrong? Claiming a seat surely means vying for the title of the number one in the world, right?"

"No, you’re the one who’s mistaken!" Zhao Rucheng, riding ahead, retorted, "Claiming a seat means just that—literally. I’m going to watch the Yellow River Gathering. All I need you to do is secure a spot for me to sit and observe!"

"That’s not it; you’ve already gone!" Yuwen Ze didn’t give up, "Why not fight a few bouts while you’re at it!"

Zhao Rucheng: ...

Though the other man’s words lacked any logic, for some reason, they seemed awfully hard to refute...

He could only growl back, "Less nonsense!"

"Alrighty!" Yuwen Ze spurred his horse and trotted eagerly forward.

...

...

The date for the Yellow River Gathering was set for the eleventh of July.

It was said that the Imperial Court Adviser Xie Huaian personally checked the water level. In conclusion, this timing was agreed upon by the representatives of the six nations of similar standing. As for the other nations, they just had to follow the schedule.

Thus, all that remained was waiting.

For the participants of the Yellow River Gathering, this time was nothing but cultivation, nothing else.

It was unlikely anyone would be disturbed for any reason.

Aside from his daily cultivation routine, Jiang Wang’s recent focus had been on mastering the technique of the Fire Realm. Thanks to Yi Xingchen’s assistance during his time at the Pointing Generals’ Stage, he had initially completed the technique.

But to truly integrate it smoothly and make it a killer move rather than a vulnerability in combat would require more work.

This period amounted to fifteen days.

In the battle against Lei Zhanqian, he spotted a flaw, gained insight into the intricacies of Lei Zhanqian’s Fire Realm Art, and sparked inspiration. He then devoted himself tirelessly to research and, with guidance from Yi Xingchen—a True Man of the Age—he initially completed the Fire Realm Art.

It finally took another fifteen days to truly implement this technique in combat.

Jiang Wang naturally wanted to test it.

And it could only be done within the Taixu Illusion Realm.

Speaking of which, since he last fought to the second rank within the Discussion Platform’s Inner Mansion Realm, he would stop by to fight every odd few days, revisiting and defeating rivals ranked third to sixth. The top-ranked competitor had never shown up, but Jiang Wang’s ranking had not fallen either. This indicated that the current number one of the Taixu Illusion Realm had accumulated enough wins against other cultivators.

However, if the opponent continued to abstain from matched battles, Jiang Wang might take the title of the Taixu’s number one in the Inner Mansion without a fight—still, it wouldn’t be quite as satisfying.

Worth mentioning was that Zuo Guangshu, who recently unleashed his Divine Skills, was close to claiming the title among the cultivators of the five elements—after missing out on a seat at the Chu’s Yellow River Gathering for the Inner Mansion Realm, it seemed this young master was in quite a foul mood, constantly fighting within the Taixu Illusion Realm.

Jiang Wang considered how to console him after finishing his upcoming battle.

The Discussion Platform shot up suddenly, soaring into the Star River.

He had found an opponent!

The Discussion Platform converged in the midst of the Star River.

The moment he saw his opponent, Jiang Wang’s eyes lit up.

It wasn’t that the opponent’s avatar in the Taixu Illusion Realm was especially handsome or pretty, but rather that the person before him was a competitor he had not encountered before.

The current first rank in the Taixu’s Inner Mansion Realm!

Claiming the title of the first in the Taixu Illusion Realm before the Yellow River Gathering commenced would undoubtedly be an exhilarating feat.

And as for whether he could achieve it...

Jiang Wang never doubted himself.

Clearly, his opponent shared the same confidence. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Without verbal exchange, as the Discussion Platforms merged, the collision of their determined gazes was all the communication needed.

Both were swordsmen.

But Jiang Wang’s sword was just a common standard Longsword, the most ubiquitous weapon in the Taixu Illusion Realm.

Meanwhile, the opponent’s sword flowed in hand like autumn waters, clearly a recreation of a Longsword from the real world—an individual of no small "effort." Jiang Wang had indeed considered bringing in his beloved Longing, but upon reviewing the effort required, ultimately opted for a subtler approach.

The appearance of neither person was sincere.

Dugu Wudi’s face was too handsome, so flawless it lacked any imperfection.

And the current face of Taixu’s number one Inner Mansion was too ordinary, so commonplace it could easily fit any passerby, completely mismatching the proud and self-respecting look in their eyes.

But swords don’t lie.

A swordsman’s blade is inherently the most truthful language.

To draw the sword is to speak.

It’s like a breeze stirring the surface of a tranquil lake on an autumn afternoon, the sunlight glinting off the ripples.

The sword qi, gentle as a lover’s whisper, rippled forth.

It seemed soft but was unavoidable.

This was the sword of Taixu’s first Inner Mansion, this woman’s sword, possessing an ultimate beauty.

Jiang Wang, with incomparable combat talent, drew his sword and danced as if he were a drifting duckweed, involuntary in motion.

This sword wasn’t as strong as when it had been fully sublimated by a famous but down-on-his-luck scholar, but it couldn’t be more fitting for the moment.

Your sword like autumn waters, I drift along with the current.

Two swords, one leading, the other following, two people, one advancing, the other retreating, clearly in a life-and-death struggle, yet they moved with the grace of dancers.

It was a peculiar feeling.

Especially for this woman, known as "Ning Jianke" in the Taixu Illusion Realm.

The Sword Dao is a world too great and boundless, and every true swordsman has their unique understanding of it. Meeting two sword techniques so in harmony was indeed rare.

But as a swordsman, she wouldn’t let this feeling affect her swordplay. Instead, driven by her peerless talent in the Sword Dao, she flowed with this wonderful feeling and effortlessly unleashed a stroke.

Among the rippling autumn waters, suddenly, a sword like a fish leaped out of the water.

On closer inspection, it was a drop of water.

Approaching, it was revealed as a tear.

There were times when tender looks and deep feelings were exchanged.

I’d seen the willow on the street, the moon over the western tower.

And now, this sword...

Regret teaching the husband to seek noble titles!

This was a stroke of extreme sadness, resentment, and mourning; the sword of resentment born from love exceeded all others in the boudoir.

This stroke was cleverly and exquisitely turned, like an inspired stroke of genius, invoking both love and hate.

It completely mingled the sword techniques of both sides, abruptly revealing a killing intent in the natural fluctuation of emotions.

When that speck of sword light suddenly targeted the brow, Jiang Wang, "following the flow," suddenly found he had no room to retreat.

His opponent, with an extremely mournful sword stance, broke through the floating turns of the involuntary sword.

Lovers grow to resent, the boudoir holds grudges, how could you claim that you are... involuntary!

Jiang Wang, like a drifting leaf, reached the end of its path and suddenly hung suspended.

His whole figure was tense in mid-air, a tension that came after involuntary movement and boundless dejection, a sudden tightness.

It was a gathering of all remaining life force for a desperate final attempt.

Suspended in mid-air, he executed a sideways sword strike.

This stroke...

The famous and disheveled still carries charm!

Ten years of hardship, staking death against an old enemy!

...

...

ps:

"Suddenly seeing the green color of willows on the street, regretting I taught my husband to seek noble titles." — "Boudoir Resentment" by Wang Changling