The word “fate” has always carried a touch of the illusory.

Without substance, without form.

Legends tell of divine powers at the absolute pinnacle who can grasp fate as a thread, weaving cause and effect. But ultimately, for the myriad beings, many times, they cannot command it themselves; they can only submit to heaven’s decree.

Lin Zhengren did not believe in this concept of “fate”; he only believed in himself.

For instance…

If not for his relentless efforts, his life-risking gambits to set up a scheme, how could he possibly have entered the Huangliang Secret Realm?

That is a Secret Realm belonging to the Dao Sects. So many Dao-affiliated nations vied for its allocation, battling each other until heads bled. If not for the Zhuang Kingdom’s victory in the Zhuangyong battle, its national power expanding sharply, it would have been impossible to be allocated a quota.

And if not for Zhu Weiwu’s betrayal, how would this quota have fallen to him?

If one were to speak of “fate,” then that originally should have been Zhu Weiwu’s “fate.”

But in the end, it became his, Lin Zhengren’s, deserved “share.”

So “fate,” ah, is a thing that bullies the weak and fears the strong. Whoever can seize it, it belongs to them.

This time, Prime Minister Du Rujui personally accompanying him to the Yellow River Assembly undoubtedly underscored the Zhuang Court’s immense importance placed on this gathering.

The Zhuang Emperor, having just secured victory in the Zhuangyong battle, urgently needed to demonstrate the Zhuang Kingdom’s potential at the Yellow River Assembly. And this potential was worth the Jade Capital Mountain bestowing more support, the Jing Kingdom allocating more resources.

In the Outer Building stage and the unrestricted under-thirty stage, the Zhuang Kingdom simply did not send anyone.

Because there truly were no talented prodigies qualified to participate. There was no need to make an attempt; it was better to conceal weakness than to reveal ugliness.

But it wasn’t just the Zhuang Kingdom that was like this; the vast majority of small nations were the same.

Compared to the world’s powerful empires, the great nations, and the regional strong countries, many small nations only held some hope in the Inner Mansion stage. Even regional powers like the Yong Kingdom were no exception.

Because combat power at the Inner Mansion level is heavily influenced by divine abilities. And the acquisition of divine abilities relies significantly on luck. Sometimes, a powerful or exceptionally suitable divine ability can instantly elevate a cultivator.

Upon reaching the Outer Building realm, the exploration of the “Dao” heavily tests a nation’s foundation. Without the guidance of a strong master, it is extremely difficult to achieve success alone.

As for the unrestricted under-thirty stage, there is even less to say. Without reaching the Divine Arrival realm, there is fundamentally no need to participate. And looking across the world, how many individuals can reach the Divine Arrival realm before the age of thirty?

If resources are insufficient, then one must gamble with their life. And the words “gamble with one’s life” are not just mere words; many lives must truly be sacrificed for this matter to be called “gambling with one’s life.”

Precisely because in previous sessions, the number of participants in the Outer Building stage and the unrestricted under-thirty stage were far fewer than in the Inner Mansion stage.

Thus, many people believed that at the Yellow River Assembly, the Inner Mansion stage was the most competitive.

Whether this conclusion was correct or not was unimportant; what was important was that for many small nations, it served as a good cover – we have sent our nation’s most talented prodigies to participate in the most intense stage of the Yellow River Assembly; how can it be said that we lack successors?

For Lin Zhengren, this battle would determine his development in the Zhuang Kingdom for the next ten years.

The more intense, the better.

But returning to the point, going to participate in a world-renowned grand assembly like the Yellow River Assembly, just he and Du Rujui flying rapidly through the air, really wasn’t grand enough…

Lin Zhengren was not being vain; it was just that many times, pomp and circumstance could illustrate strength.

Back in Wangjiang City, he had never paid attention to the Lin family’s enterprises; in his eyes, it was the National Dao Academy.

As his cultivation advanced and his horizons broadened, slowly, the Zhuang Kingdom’s National Dao Academy also became merely thus… what he wanted to seize were Zhu Weiwu’s resources.

When participating in the Huangliang Secret Realm, he had witnessed the prodigies of the Jing Kingdom, and only then did he understand what was meant by spectacle, what was meant by foundation.

However, the Zhuang Kingdom was now prospering, and he had no peers in his generation. For a very long time, the resources available to him would also be sufficient.

He pondered again.

Perhaps a ceremonial procession should be sent to Guanhe Platform; only then would it match the Zhuang Kingdom’s gradually rising status.

But firstly, Du Rujui was truly too busy. He had waited until today to depart, having already gone sleepless for how many days just to handle state affairs as much as possible.

Secondly, sending only one Inner Mansion realm cultivator to Guanhe Platform really did not require a ceremonial procession.

Furthermore, sending a ceremonial procession only to be subservient and deferential in front of the Jing Kingdom was better than not sending one at all…

Thoughts swirled in his heart, yet his face showed not a hint; he maintained an elegant smile at all times.

Leaving aside other matters.

An old man with black hair draped over his shoulders, possessing an exceptional temperament, and a gentle and elegant youth, flying side by side in the air, neither fast nor slow, indeed possessed a somewhat immortal and ethereal quality.

Precisely the wise prime minister and the talented prodigy, the glory of the Zhuang Kingdom.

To be able to represent the Zhuang Kingdom and set out for Guanhe Platform today, he himself was already the foremost genius within the four thousand li of mountains and rivers.

Lin Zhengren’s smile held a trace of sincerity.

Suddenly, he heard the cry of cranes.

Lin Zhengren looked back with keen eyes.

He saw four exceptionally divine cloud cranes, flying up and down in concert, pulling a supremely luxurious, enormous carriage behind them.

With five-colored gemstones as wheels, and spirit fragrant wood for the seating.

Inlaid jade pillars, and railings carved with seal script.

Adorned with beautiful pearls, and tassels made of light feathers.

The four cloud cranes cried out together once, and this luxurious carriage suddenly stopped.

A strong wind followed, blowing Lin Zhengren’s dao topknot all askew. His composure was greatly lost.

After all, he could not achieve Du Rujui’s effortlessness and composure; secretly circulating strength to stabilize his body, there were inevitably some traces.

However, he could not even attend to his annoyance. With his wisdom, he naturally guessed who the newcomer was.

He tried to maintain his elegance, observing with utmost composure.

On the exceedingly luxurious carriage sat two people radiating an aura of immortality.

The man wore white robes that fluttered in the wind, his posture relaxed. His long hair was not meticulously arranged, with a black wooden hairpin slanted within. Yet, his temperament was otherworldly, and he was exceedingly unrestrained.

On the right-hand spirit fragrant wood seat sat a woman with her face covered by a thin veil, yet it could not conceal that pair of clear and bright eyes.

Some beauties, even with just a single glance, could make you understand… the reason for a beauty being a beauty.

But these two people did not look at him.

“Prime Minister Du, is this journey to Guanhe Platform?” the white-robed man on the carriage asked.

“Traveling east this time, there is naturally only this one destination,” Du Rujui smiled warmly. “Pavilion Master Ye, does the Cloud Kingdom also wish to participate this year?”

Ye Lingxiao smiled. “With my Qingyu’s talent, if she truly wanted to participate, she certainly could! However, the Cloud Kingdom has always avoided the disputes of the various nations, so we are merely here to observe.”

Du Rujui looked at the woman who sat quietly without speaking and also laughed. “That is only natural.”

Ye Lingxiao rested his elbow on his knee, a handsome smile on his face. He leaned over and looked, his tone filled with concern. “Coming to participate in a grand assembly with no hope, and you still personally lead the team. What is it? Are you all that relieved about Han Xu?”

His posture was originally somewhat frivolous, but when he adopted it, it felt remarkably natural, even pleasing to the eye.

Du Rujui still responded with a smile, but the content of his words seemed very confident. “After losing the Zhuangyong battle, the death of True Person Han Yin, and the failed reef expedition, whether the Yong Kingdom can continue to maintain its position as a regional power is still questionable. What does my Zhuang Kingdom have to fear?”

These words were indeed not without merit.

Although the Yong Kingdom had the support of the Mohists, from the current perspective, that support was also very limited—otherwise, why could the reef expedition be obstructed?

“Also.”

Ye Lingxiao straightened from his whispering posture and sat back. “The carriage is too small, so I won’t invite you along. We’ll meet again at Guanhe Platform!”

Lin Zhengren looked back with a slight sense of regret.

Where was it small… it was clearly so spacious.

But the crane cried out, and the carriage was already far away.

One second of genius: m.173kxs