Across the boundless prairie, two tall horses galloped in the same direction.

The braid-haired man trailing behind shouted, “Yi Gai, are you mistaken? ‘A place to sit’ means fighting to be the world’s foremost, doesn’t it?”

“No, you’re the one who’s mistaken!” Zhao Rucheng, riding in front, replied, “‘A place to sit’ is the literal meaning. I want to watch the Yellow River Meet. Just get me a spot where I can sit and observe!”

“No, since you’re already going!” Yuwen Duo still didn’t give up. “What’s wrong with having a few fights while you’re there?”

Zhao Rucheng: …

Though his words were completely illogical, for some reason, it seemed incredibly difficult to refute…

He had no choice but to grow fierce: “Less nonsense!”

“Alright!” Yuwen Duo urged his horse with a squeeze of his legs and scampered forward.

The date for the Yellow River Meet had been set: the eleventh day of the seventh month.

It was said that the Imperial Advisor Xie Huai’an had personally inspected the water levels. In any case, people of roughly equivalent status from the Six Kingdoms had collectively agreed upon this date. As for the other countries, they simply followed the arrangement.

So, all that remained was waiting.

For the participants of the Yellow River Meet, this period was dedicated solely to cultivation.

Virtually no one would be disturbed by anything.

Aside from the fixed daily cultivation routines, Jiang Wang’s recent energy was entirely focused on the technique of the “Fire Realm.” During his cultivation period at the Pointing General Stage, with the help of Yi Xingchen, he had initially completed this technique.

However, to truly make it smooth and natural, to introduce it into battle as a killer move rather than a vulnerability, still required meticulous work.

This took fifteen days.

During his battle with Lei Zhangan, he had seen a flaw, perceived the operational details of the Thunder Realm technique, and thus gained inspiration to replicate it. This involved sleepless nights of research, followed by the guidance of the contemporary True Immortal Yi Xingchen, which led to the initial completion of the Fire Realm technique.

Finally, it took fifteen days to truly apply this technique in battle.

Jiang Wang naturally had to try it out.

And he could only do so within the Taixu Illusionary Realm.

Speaking of which, since reaching second place in the Inner Mansion Realm of the Sword Discourse Stage last time, he had been coming to the Sword Discourse every few days, almost fighting the opponents ranked third, fourth, fifth, and sixth again. The opponent ranked first had never appeared, but their ranking had also never dropped. This indicated that the current first Inner Mansion in the Taixu Illusionary Realm had also accumulated enough victories against cultivators of the other Five Elements.

But if the other party didn’t participate in matching battles any longer, perhaps Jiang Wang wouldn’t even need to fight them to claim the title of the Taixu’s first Inner Mansion, though that wouldn’t be entirely satisfying in the end.

It’s worth mentioning that Zuo Guangshu, who had unlocked his divine ability, was also close to claiming the title of a Five Elements cultivator recently – it seemed that after missing the Inner Mansion Realm spot at the Chu Kingdom’s Yellow River Meet, this young master was in a very bad mood. In any case, he had been fighting in the Taixu Illusionary Realm constantly.

Jiang Wang was just thinking about how to comfort the other party a little after the battle ended.

The Sword Discourse Stage suddenly soared up, directly into the star river.

A match had been found!

The Sword Discourse Stage met in the star river.

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

Not because this opponent’s image in the Taixu Illusionary Realm was particularly handsome or beautiful, but because the person who appeared before him was an opponent he had not encountered before.

The current first Inner Mansion of the Taixu!

Before the Yellow River Meet began, claiming the top spot in the Taixu Illusionary Realm was undoubtedly a very morale-boosting event.

As for whether he could do it…

Jiang Wang never doubted it.

It was clear that his opponent possessed the same confidence.

There was no communication. When the Sword Discourse Stages linked together, and two pairs of eyes filled with battle intent met, that was the communication.

Both used swords.

But Jiang Wang’s sword was just an ordinary standard longsword, the most common weapon in the Taixu Illusionary Realm.

While his opponent’s sword was like a clear autumn stream, flowing in their hand. It was clearly a replication of a real-world longsword into the Taixu Illusionary Realm – this was clearly someone who didn’t lack “Merit.” Jiang Wang had also considered replicating the Longing Sword, but after seeing the Merit cost, he ultimately decided to keep a low profile.

Both of their appearances were clearly insincere.

Dugu Wudi’s face was too handsome, flawlessly handsome.

And the face of the current Taixu first Inner Mansion was too ordinary, so ordinary that it could be applied to almost any passerby’s face. It completely failed to match the pride and self-satisfaction in their eyes.

But a sword doesn’t lie.

A swordsman’s sword is the most truthful language.

Drawing the sword is speaking.

Like an autumn afternoon, on a calm lake, the slightest breeze stirs, creating shimmering ripples.

That sword qi, gentle as a lover’s whisper, just rippled outwards.

It seemed soft and yielding, yet there was no way to avoid it.

This was the sword of the Taixu first Inner Mansion, this woman’s sword, possessing a sense of extreme beauty.

Jiang Wang, with his unparalleled fighting talent, directly drew his sword and danced, his body like a floating reed, unable to control himself.

This sword was already not as strong as the refined “Impoverished Scholar,” but used at this moment, it couldn’t be more suitable.

Your sword is like autumn ripples, I drift with the waves.

Two swords, one after the other, two people, one advancing, one retreating. Though fighting for life and death, they danced gracefully.

This was a very peculiar feeling.

For this woman, known as “Ning Swordsman” in the Taixu Illusionary Realm, it was especially so.

The way of the sword is a world too grand and too vast. Every true swordsman has their own unique understanding of it. To encounter two sword styles so compatible is truly not easy.

But as a swordsman, she naturally wouldn’t let this feeling affect her sword style. Instead, with her exceptional talent in the way of the sword, she gracefully turned out a sword following this peculiar feeling.

Within the rippling autumn waves, a sword suddenly emerged, like a fish leaping out of the water.

Looking closely, it was a drop of water.

Closer still, it was a drop of a tear.

Once, autumn waves flowed, full of deep affection.

Once, I saw the willows by the roadside, once, the moon rose over the west building.

And now, this sword…

Regretting having urged my husband to seek glory!

This was a sword filled with extreme sorrow, hurt, and resentment. In this world, those who give rise to resentment from love are most likely to wield this sword from within the inner chambers.

This sword turned and twisted with such cleverness and subtlety, it was truly a stroke of divine inspiration, both beloved and hated.

It completely blended the two sides’ sword styles, suddenly revealing a killing intent within the natural emotional change.

When that point of sword light suddenly struck towards his brow, Jiang Wang, “drifting with the waves,” suddenly found himself with nowhere to retreat.

His opponent, with an extremely resentful sword stance, broke the drifting of the involuntary sword.

Lovers hating each other, resentment in the inner chambers, how can you claim yourself… unable to control yourself!

Jiang Wang was like a floating leaf, drifting to its end, suddenly suspended.

His whole body tensed in the air. It was a sudden tension after being unable to control oneself and falling into endless despair.

This was a tension that gathered all remaining vitality, a desperate struggle for survival.

He was in mid-air, drawing his sword horizontally.

This sword…

The impoverished scholar, still with charm!

Ten years of hardship, using death to provoke hatred!

“Suddenly seeing the color of the willows by the roadside, I regret having urged my husband to seek glory.” – “Grievance in the Inner Chambers” by Wang Changling