In those days in Linzi, the echoes of his duel with Lei Zhanqian had barely faded when the Palace Master of Hua Ying, Jiang Wuyou, personally extended an invitation. This act alone caused many powerful forces to reconsider their intentions towards him, though Jiang Wang himself had no clear idea of the multitude of eyes fixed upon him.

The recruitment by Palace Master Jiang Wuyou, in his estimation, was quite ordinary. After all, as far back as the Seven Stars Valley, the Palace Master of Yang Xin, Jiang Wuxie, had already offered him incredibly generous terms. Thus, Jiang Wang’s understanding of his standing within the Great Qi was not particularly profound.

Back when he was in Bei County, he hadn’t even dared to make a greeting, instead quietly and silently taking his leave. He feared that his provisional Azure Plaque, acquired through such a deceptive maneuver, might have stirred antipathy among the great figures within the Azure Plaque system.

But now… even the Night Watch had sent him invitations, and Yue Leng’s seemingly “kind” offer was enough to make him recognize the fervent attention he now commanded within the Great Qi.

He pondered for a moment, deciding not to lightly dismiss Yue Leng’s goodwill. He immediately bowed and expressed his gratitude: “Then Jiang Wang thanks Capture God for your kindness.”

Rushing back to Linzi at this moment would merely be to randomly select a secret technique from the national treasury. At best, Chong Xuan Sheng might exert a little influence to nudge the selection towards a more premium option, but the overall significance wasn’t great.

Yue Leng’s current proposal to personally impart knowledge, he knew well, would surely be a Legalist secret technique. This would further tie Jiang Wang to the Azure Plaque system. After all, within the Great Qi’s Azure Plaque ranks, at least a third cultivated Legalist methods.

Although Jiang Wang had no intention of switching to Legalism, a secret technique taught by Yue Leng himself would undoubtedly be of high caliber.

Thus, from any perspective, he had no reason to refuse, unless he wished to firmly sever all ties with the Azure Plaque and resolutely refuse to continue as an Azure Plaque Captor.

Furthermore, accepting Yue Leng’s favor offered another benefit: it could make Lin Youxie behave more appropriately and refrain from groundless suspicion.

Jiang Wang made his decision swiftly and decisively. Yue Leng, too, was straightforward, immediately imparting that particular Internal Mansion level Legalist method on the spot.

It was none other than the chains that had seemed to manifest from the void during his battle with Yin Guan.

Named “Prison Body,” it was one of the ten renowned chains of the Legalist school.

It was inherently an Outer Building level method, but Yue Leng had simplified and altered its application, allowing it to be used in conjunction with Internal Mansion level combat.

However, more so than the Prison Body chains, Jiang Wang was actually more interested in the seemingly world-piercing, cast-iron black pillar. But he knew full well that imparting such a technique was impossible.

After teaching Jiang Wang the Prison Body chains, Yue Leng pointed out a few more intricate details before stepping into the air and departing.

The secret technique Jiang Wang was entitled to from the national treasury would now be claimed by Yue Leng on his behalf. What he did with it – whether he gifted it to juniors or traded it with others – was entirely Yue Leng’s affair and had no further connection to Jiang Wang.

Yue Leng’s intentions were certainly benevolent, but at its core, this was merely a transaction, devoid of emotional ties.

Jiang Wang accepted Yue Leng’s goodwill and decided to temporarily align himself with the Azure Plaque ranks, reaping some benefits. However, this did not mean he was fixed within the Azure Plaque system from now on. He understood the situation now: an Azure Plaque Captor, at the pinnacle, was merely a Commandant of the North Yamen.

While the position of North Yamen Commandant was immensely important and offered vast scope for advancement, Jiang Wang honestly confessed that he lacked the ability to reconcile disparate forces and firmly hold the Qi Emperor’s trust, as Zheng Shi did.

Gazing at the distant border outpost, Jiang Wang turned his direction and headed towards the southwestern regions of the Great Qi.

The merchant caravan bound for the Rong Country had already been dismissed, and there was no longer any need for him to make a perfunctory trip there. He would simply proceed directly to the Suspended Empty Temple.

With the tacit understanding reached with Yue Leng, at least within the Azure Plaque ranks, no one should make things difficult for him again.

In the Senhai Source Realm, Jiang Wang had promised Guan Yan that he would return his monk’s robe to the Suspended Empty Temple. Upon his return to Linzi City, however, a series of events had caused delays.

Taking this journey to Yun Country to see An An, he might as well accomplish the other pending matters as well.

Being alone, Jiang Wang naturally had no reason why he could not exit the country.

To the southwest of the Great Qi lay a country named “Xu.” After annexing the Yang Country, the Great Qi’s territory had a protrusion towards the northwest. Starting from Yang Di, the Xu Country would be to the southwest. In truth, relative to the entire Great Qi, the Xu Country should be situated to the west.

From its name alone, the Xu Country seemed to have some connection to the Yang Country.

And indeed, they shared a common origin.

Not only the two countries of “Yang” and “Xu.”

Slightly south of the Great Qi’s southwest lay a country named “Zhao.” To the southeast, there was a country named “Chang.”

These four countries were, in fact, originally split from a single nation.

Before the Great Qi became the overlord of the eastern domain, that position was held by a country named “Yang.”

Yang Valley was the legendary birthplace of the sun, and the Yang Country, named after it, showcased its grand ambitions.

During its most prosperous era, the Yang Country had once completely unified the eastern domain. To the northwest, its influence stretched to the boundless quicksand. To the southwest, it reached the Sword Edge Mountain, a renowned peak on the border of the current Xia Country. To the west, it pushed into the central domain, vying for supremacy with the Jing Country.

Alas, at the peak of its prosperity came decline. Overnight, the dynasty collapsed, and its hegemonic aspirations turned to dust.

The entire country fractured into four parts, ultimately splitting into nine nations, known at the time as the Nine Countries of Sunrise.

All could be considered to have sprung from the same origin.

However, each claimed to be the true orthodox successor of the former Yang, when in reality, at most, they were merely divergent branches of the main lineage.

The true imperial bloodline of the Yang Country had long since been extinguished by their own hands.

As the Great Qi later rose, the Wu Emperor orchestrated a revival, and the subsequent decisive struggle between Qi and Xia solidified the Great Qi’s position as the undisputed overlord of the eastern domain. The Yang Country gradually faded into obscurity.

And among the “Nine Countries of Sunrise” of that era, only four nations now remained.

Speaking of which, among the former “Nine Countries of Sunrise,” the Yang Country was the most powerful, having inherited the largest portion of the Yang Country’s legacy, thus allowing it to retain the name “Yang.”

But precisely because of this, it was most feared by the Great Qi. It was gradually devoured over many years, finally being swallowed whole in one gulp.

The Buddha land governed by the Suspended Empty Temple lay directly to the south of the Xu Country.

After entering the Xu Country, in a small town, Jiang Wang unexpectedly encountered a beast tide.

Looking at the completely irrational ferocity of the beasts, he felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

He had stayed too long in the peaceful Great Qi and had almost forgotten what other countries were like.

Jiang Wang drew his sword to help the residents of the small town defend it, but he did not pursue the beasts’ tracks to eliminate their nest.

He protected the people of the small town, and for that, he might receive their gratitude. But if he were to exterminate the beast nest, he would only invite pursuit.

By now, he understood what beasts meant to a small country. It was the fresh blood of countless innocent people, but at the same time, it was also an indispensable resource.

The grateful residents of the small town, filled with thanks, inquired about the name of their life-saving benefactor, expressing their desire to build a shrine for him.

Jiang Wang, without a word, hastily departed.

He wanted to tell them that the existence of those beasts was something tacitly approved, even indulged in, by their country’s rulers.

But after informing them, would the situation change? It would only plunge these ordinary people into despair.

So, in the end, he said nothing, and thus could not bear their gratitude.

It seemed as though all the ruling cultivators under heaven jointly guarded a tacit understanding, concealing from the common people the source of the beasts.

Later cultivators, some learned early, some learned late. But in the end, all maintained that terrible “tacit understanding.”

Whether willing or unwilling, in the end, it all converged into a single figure – even Dou Yuemei, who had broken through the Five Mansions and forcibly pulled down Jade Balance Peak, after learning the truth, lost her soul and fell from Jade Balance Peak.

Jiang Wang had once viewed this as the greatest injustice.

But why, he asked himself, had he actually become a member of this “tacit understanding”?

He had no answer.

P.S. The reality of the world, in my opinion, is embodied in its local customs, its clothing, food, housing, and transportation, and also in its history and legends.