Jiang Wang’s endurance and subsequent killing of Ji Shaoqing at Tianya Tai immediately drew the attention of almost all powerful figures in the Near Sea Archipelago.

After all, it was a microcosm of the struggle between Qi Country and Diao Hai Lou.

The various details of that event had already spread throughout the Near Sea.

Chen Zhi Bo’s words, “If I were born fifteen years later, I would certainly keep Dao You Jiang here,” resonated like gold and iron at the time, salvaging Diao Hai Lou’s perilous momentum and spreading far and wide.

So, many people present clearly heard Jiang Wang’s statement, “I, Jiang, was not born fifteen years earlier,” as a response across time, and the most powerful blow to Diao Hai Lou’s momentum.

And this response transcended that year, not only targeting Chen Zhi Bo but also including the three powerful Shen Lin elders of Diao Hai Lou.

What kind of grand confidence, what kind of high-spirited arrogance was this?

When he smiled and laughed, everyone felt they could befriend him, dare to say anything, and joke around.

When he was serious, people then knew what a king and marquis who had fought their way through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood truly were!

At the moment Jiang Wang pointed in all directions, the entire Tianya Tai fell into a moment of dead silence.

The noisy sounds seemed to have been swallowed whole.

Even the never-ending sound of the waves seemed to become very distant.

Even Zhuo Qing Ru, naturally stern and cold and difficult to move by anything, was somewhat speechless for a moment.

Is this your Wu An Hou’s low-key approach?

To open your mouth and immediately target all the Shen Lin from Diao Hai Lou present, and conveniently bring along a true successor from the Inner Treasury Realm?

You are truly too low-key!

“Wu An Hou!” Hai Jing Ping, named but not angered, proactively walked to the front, raising both hands to indicate he was not preparing any defense, repeatedly saying, “It’s not to that extent, not to that extent!”

He, of course, knew it was to that extent.

Not to mention how excessive Fang Pu’s words were.

Fang Pu’s pursuit of Zhu Bi Qiong was known to almost everyone in the Near Sea. Zhu Bi Qiong’s indifference towards Fang Pu was also obvious.

Seeing the girl he thought about day and night being as cold as ice and frost towards him, yet chatting and laughing freely with other men, the hot blood surging in a young man’s mind made it unsurprising to say anything.

This place was Huai Island, surrounded by teachers and fellow sect members, giving Fang Pu a great sense of security. Casually making a sarcastic remark was really not a big problem.

Moreover, to speak more unpleasant truths, what was one Fang Pu? What weight did his words carry? How could they represent Diao Hai Lou?

But the reason for saying this matter was “to that extent”!

It was because with the current pattern and situation in the Near Sea Archipelago, Jiang Wang, as a military merit marquis of Da Qi, was certainly looking for opportunities to suppress Diao Hai Lou.

Shen Du Zhen Jun’s one move created the Zhen Hai Alliance, greatly integrating the forces of the Near Sea. Then, returning with Wan Tong’s horn, he pushed Diao Hai Lou’s prestige overseas to a new height.

Qi Country’s suppression of Diao Hai Lou also entered a period of intensity far surpassing the past.

Ji Zhao Nan, Chong Xuan Zun, Chong Xuan Chu Liang… they came one after another.

If there was no opportunity, they would create one, and what’s more, Fang Pu actively delivered it to their doorstep today?

Fang Pu’s hot blood was just due to jealousy and rivalry, but Jiang Wang directly escalated the nature of the problem infinitely, raising it to the level of Diao Hai Lou insulting a public marquis of Da Qi! He even dragged these several unrelated elders into it…

One Fang Pu spoke without thinking, what did that have to do with his master? And what did it have to do with Chen Zhi Bo? Even less with him, Hai Jing Ping?

The previous moment they were still speaking and laughing amiably, even setting up a gambling game, the next moment they turned their faces and didn’t recognize anyone, pointing fingers even at the noses of us old men.

He Guan San Ren was right, the national system poisons for ten thousand years. These public marquises, ah, they are truly not good people!

But each contending for themselves, there was actually nothing to say.

This fight could not happen.

Not to mention that even if the several of them combined, they really had no certainty of opposing Jiang Wang, who had built such a reputation.

Even if they could luckily win, how would they explain it?

Three protector elders of Diao Hai Lou, plus the foremost young generation of Diao Hai Lou, and one true successor, jointly surrounding and attacking a young person from Qi Country in their twenties?

If they won, it would not only be difficult to explain, but even more difficult to handle!

Insulting a public marquis of Da Qi, and then beating a public marquis of Da Qi. At that time, the one surnamed Jiang would shamelessly give himself a few more hits, turning a light injury into a heavy injury, a heavy injury into a dying state… wouldn’t this give the Qi people an excuse? And how would that be different from Fang Pu’s behavior?

“It’s really not to that extent!” Hai Jing Ping was extremely sincere: “A child who speaks without thinking, it’s also a lesson for Wu An Hou to slap his hand and kick his buttocks twice. How can we, as elders, also follow suit? Spreading it out would make people laugh!”

Amidst the repeated mention of “a child” and “slap his hand,” Fang Pu was so ashamed and angry that his cheeks were all red.

A twenty-four-year-old child?

But apart from clenching his fists tightly, even clenching his nails into his flesh, he couldn’t say a word.

Liu Yu, as Fang Pu’s master, saw his disciple so suppressed and could only remain silent. Because only if Fang Pu was an insensible child could Diao Hai Lou avoid losing this face.

After all, who would argue with a little fool?

Jiang Wang was never afraid of people being tough, only afraid of Hai Jing Ping, this kind of worldly old slick, with his opponent opening his hands and not setting up a defense. He really couldn’t draw his sword.

He was thinking about finding another reason to erupt a bit, also to give Qi Shuai a meeting gift.

Or perhaps blame Hai Jing Ping’s voice for being too loud, shaking his ears, and suspecting a sneak attack?

Chen Zhi Bo had already taken large strides forward, saying in his mouth: “Wu An Hou has shamed me to death!”

Jiang Wang looked at him, not speaking.

Chen Zhi Bo said forthrightly: “In 1919, you were younger than now, and I was also more childish than now. At that time, I spoke boldly, saying that if I were born fifteen years later, I would certainly suppress you and keep you at Tianya Tai.”

“No need for fifteen years, you only used three years to prove how conceited and ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth I was at that time!”

He sighed: “And what’s the use of three years? At the Yellow River meeting that year, you already let me know the talent gap between you and me. I in the Inner Treasury, struggled to enter the top eight. You in the Inner Treasury, were the world’s first.”

“Today’s duel, I don’t want to continue, not because I have any opinion on Wu An Hou.”

“It’s just that with the world’s heavenly pride at my side, I am ashamed to call myself heavenly pride!”

“Today I stand before you, only with long years and empty wind and frost. I truly admire you very much.”

“I am not as good as you. I am not as good as you now, and it will be very difficult to catch up with you later.”

“But the Dao path is long, Chen Zhi Bo will strive hard on my own.”

“But how far is the high sky, how vast is the great sea, rivers and mountains give birth to talented people. Mountains do not decline, roads do not stop flowing, wearing out iron shoes for thousands of miles. I hope that my junior brothers and sisters, or my disciples and grandsons, someone can catch up with you today… I will strive hard!”

To let a heavenly pride who had long been praised, openly admit inferiority in public, truly required courage.

To let a figure who had long held power, almost certain to grasp the future leadership of a large sect, swallow his own words, truly required faith.

But was it a shameful thing for Chen Zhi Bo to be not as good as Jiang Qing Yang?

This person at Guan He Tai had long ago defeated all the world’s heroes. To say not as good as, was to say not as good as all of them.

He directly faced the gap and strived for the future.

This was a first-class heart nature.

Can’t fight anymore… Zhuo Qing Ru sighed lightly in her heart.

She was somewhat interested in the duel between the Near Sea’s foremost heavenly prides. Watching excitement was something you shouldn’t miss if you can. Moreover, Chen Zhi Bo was not weak.

And Da Qi’s Wu An Hou challenging Diao Hai Lou with his sword, she almost couldn’t wait.

Jiang Hou Ye’s low-key approach was truly not low-key, but the play was truly good to watch.

However, these two from Diao Hai Lou, one old and one young, cooperated extremely seamlessly. One resolved new enmity, one mended old grudges, both with sincere attitudes, fundamentally not giving any opportunity to flare up.

Unless Jiang Wang now acted unreasonably, picking up his sword and chopping—in which case, it would be difficult to win back the hearts of the Near Sea Archipelago.

Diao Hai Lou, after all, was a glorious and long-standing world-class sect, after all, quite contributing to the human race. Giving Diao Hai Lou a slap without distinguishing right from wrong… the world’s people all had eyes to see.

Now they would see how Jiang Hou Ye would conclude.

“I, Jiang, have always admired Brother Chen.” Jiang Wang cupped his hands in courtesy: “I also sincerely wish brother to strive hard, rectify the mountain gate, regulate with laws, bind with rituals, punish with laws, so as not to give an outsider like me the opportunity to overstep and act on behalf. Brother’s words are extremely humble and sincere, and I have benefited greatly, except for one thing…”

“When I said I was not born fifteen years earlier, I was not holding a grudge against Brother Chen. I just thought of that figure from three years ago, and had some emotions… which I have now completely let go of!”

“Brother Chen.” Jiang Wang said seriously: “That year, I did not feel I was not as good as you, and today, you also don’t need to feel you are not as good as me. Without truly fighting, how can we lightly speak of victory or defeat?”

Chen Zhi Bo returned with the same serious expression: “Wu An Hou has established unprecedented merit in the demon world and is a well-deserved hero of the human race. Although I have also fought and endured in the maze world these past few years, I am ashamed to have no noteworthy war records, though I have had thirteen near-death experiences. Where Brother Jiang is, I should yield a seat… Before the Cave True, I dare not ask for advice!”

Having said that, he cupped his hands and directly retreated backwards, flying like water droplets, falling into the sea.

Jiang Wang was originally preparing to say, “Your duel with Fu Yan Qing fell through, how about we have a match to entertain the audience.”

But Chen Zhi Bo obviously had predicted this early on and fundamentally did not give him this opportunity to publicly crush the chief true successor of Diao Hai Lou.

He could only look towards other potential punching targets on the scene.

However, apart from the seemingly sincere Hai Jing Ping, no one else made eye contact with him.

Finding fault is not that easy either… forget it.

Jiang Wang felt quite bored and was about to bid farewell and leave when his gaze happened to fall on Zhu Bi Qiong’s body.

Zhu Bi Qiong suddenly said: “Senior Brother Chen’s duel with Fu Yan Qing fell through, so many people waited in vain for a match, which is quite regrettable. How about Dao You Jiang slightly suppress your cultivation and have a match with me to entertain the audience? What do you think, Dao You Jiang?”

“…It’s not early today, I’m urgently rushing to Jue Ming Island, so I’ll spar with Dao You another day.” Jiang Wang cupped his hands and bid farewell to everyone present.

Although there was no physical collision, the confrontation between Jiang Wu An and two generations of Diao Hai Lou’s true successors was also considered interesting. Zhuo Qing Ru thought this and returned the courtesy: “I look forward to meeting Brother Jiang in the maze world again.”

Tian Xing Ya’s prestige was indeed prestige, but sometimes it was unavoidably boring. She desired to travel and study ten thousand miles, to glimpse the Cave True, and looked forward to more wonderful chapters in the maze world.

Jiang Wang looked deeply at Zhuo Qing Ru: “I am someone with bad luck, so I hope Senior Sister Zhuo has better luck.”

Before his voice had faded, the green cloud had already connected to the heaven ladder, flying far away!

People of the time would say that the peerless heavenly pride Zhu Bi Qiong, with a single word, had shocked back Jiang Wu An.

From beginning to end, Jiang Wang did not take up the matter of Fang Pu being a child, nor did he truly go to slap Fang Pu’s hand. He did not even look at Fang Pu more than once.

But Fang Pu’s master, Liu Yu’s inability to say more, and Liu Yu’s silent endurance, were already sufficient responses.

A thoughtless remark led to his master suffering insult.

Presumably, he would always remember this from now on.

Diao Hai Lou would discipline Fang Pu’s rashness and rudeness on their own.

Just like Jiang Wang’s wish for Chen Zhi Bo…

“Regulate with laws, bind with rituals, punish with laws.”

Now was precisely the time when Diao Hai Lou’s influence was rapidly expanding, and also the time when it was easy to be ‘overstepped and acted on behalf’ if one was slightly careless.

Lying beside a strong neighbor, it was truly difficult to sleep peacefully.

Zhuo Qing Ru went to arrange matters for entering the maze world, Liu Yu took away his disgraced disciple, and Hai Jing Ping worked to soothe the aftermath of the event…

The crowd on Tianya Tai dispersed, each returning to their respective homes, and soon only the empty high platform remained.

Like a palm held high in reverse, as if holding up the rising sun in the sky.

Some people, however, said that it was not early.

Was it the time, or the people, that was late?

Perhaps both were late!

Zhu Bi Qiong returned to her private courtyard and sat in front of the dressing mirror again.

There was no need to dress up again.

She did not plan to tell Gu Huai Xin about today’s events. Of course, Gu Huai Xin would not miss any small detail of the event. But her not telling simply meant there was no need for her master to step in.

Although it was said that she was absolutely the most dazzling heavenly pride of Diao Hai Lou in the past two years, and it was not an exaggeration to say that she progressed a thousand miles in a day, because of Ji Shaoqing’s death, her position within Diao Hai Lou was actually somewhat subtle.

Although Gu Huai Xin himself did not mind and gave her great support. Although in official ranking, as a true successor of Jing Hai, she crushed her peers with rapidly rising combat power, her position was only below Chen Zhi Bo.

But the gazes of her fellow sect members still held much scrutiny and strangeness.

Even though from beginning to end, she was not the one who made a mistake!

Fang Pu’s presumptuousness today, although partly due to out-of-control emotions, how could it not be an embodiment of his inner heart not respecting her?

She had experienced people looking down on her, and also people looking up to her. She had received sympathy and also been spurned, revered, hated, and admired. She no longer cared.

Like a water mirror reflecting a virtual moon, letting the waves rise.

Among the hundred states of all sentient beings, with their various kinds, only one person remained constant.

She loved this constant nature extremely.

And also resented this constant nature extremely.

“I also want to go to the maze world,” she said calmly.

Reflected in the mirror was still another face, one that was originally gentler, but now becoming more and more vicious. This time, the voice was not as sharp: “You can go to the maze world, and you often go to the maze world, but you should not go for others. Especially not for one man.”

Zhu Bi Qiong thus said: “I want to go to the maze world.”

The voice in the mirror said sinisterly: “Deceiving yourself, how long can you keep it up?”

Zhu Bi Qiong did not answer, but only said: “He is someone with bad luck. I also am. Perhaps there is no opportunity to meet in the maze world.”

In the water basin not far away, a familiar voice also jumped out, very similar to that person, yet different from that person— “You say you cannot meet him in the maze world, is that good luck or bad luck for you?”

This voice added with a hint of malice: “For him, that is?”

Zhu Bi Qiong’s emotions were becoming increasingly difficult to influence. Feeling the sea breeze blowing outside the window, she even felt some serenity: “Whether I can meet him, I am cultivating.”

The male voice in the water asked: “If you cannot meet, then why are you still going?”

Zhu Bi Qiong said: “But it’s not entirely impossible to meet. I am trying to pursue a possibility. Finding joy in it, the wonder is beyond words.”

“Hehehehehe… Finding joy in it, the wonder is beyond words…” The voice in the water laughed: “It’s been a long time since you last laughed, Zhu Bi Qiong! Do you think he stepped out for you today? You have forgotten your position, forgotten his identity!”

“Even if he stepped out today for Qi Country’s political purposes,” Zhu Bi Qiong said calmly: “At least one point of anger… was because of me, right?”

“Good sister, you should sober up a bit.” The woman in the mirror said: “Today he looked at your eyes… perhaps very clean and pure.”

Zhu Bi Qiong slightly lowered her eyes: “Very good. That was the appearance I initially liked about him.”

Thus, both the water and the mirror were silent.

Outside the window, there was the sound of flapping wings. A blue-beaked gull brought a white eyebrow azalea.

This hard-mouthed bird, as if borrowing flowers to say it was not sad.