With a face as serene as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, Jiang Wang strode forth, his disinterest palpable. Though he offered a perfunctory acknowledgment, claiming anticipation, he didn’t even bother to ask the name of the person from Xia.

This was truly the mark of a great nation’s heaven’s pride, arrogance writ large, utterly disregarding the other.

The group from Xia Country were left fuming, their eyes blazing with indignation, yet they could only glare. No matter what, they could not engage in conflict with Jiang Wang on the viewing platform.

While projecting an air of arrogance, Young Master Jiang had in fact quietly transmitted a query to Qiao Lin. “Who was that just now?”

This fellow, Qiao Lin, was prone to chatter and prone to slips of the tongue, yet correspondingly, his intelligence network was quite extensive. One could say he was the “Hundred Xiaosheng” of the Qi Country team.

“That individual is the heaven’s pride of Xia Country’s renowned Chu family, named Chu Mian,” Qiao Lin transmitted back.

“Oh, I see,” Jiang Wang replied, his face devoid of expression.

Inwardly, however, he had already decided to focus his observation on this Chu Mian’s battle later.

This, he mused, was the true strategy: to crush one’s opponent in momentum, then to study them diligently in battle.

This, verily, was the path to victory.

Jiang Wang selected an empty seat on the viewing platform and settled in. The ten soldiers of the Heaven Fu Army who had accompanied him scattered and seated themselves in a circular formation, guarding him in the center.

This single group occupied a significant portion of the seating area, remarkably conspicuous and overtly arrogant.

Jiang Wang was still not quite accustomed to this display of blatant dominance befitting a noble scion. He insisted on having Qiao Lin sit beside him.

His primary task for Qiao Lin was to serve as a “storyteller,” introducing him to the various heroes of the realms.

Qiao Lin, being quick-witted, had already obtained the day’s selection list early. He selectively explained to Jiang Wang which participants were not to be underestimated and which battles held particular significance.

With eight martial arts platforms operating simultaneously for the selections, each one featured a battle of extraordinary quality, leaving spectators spoilt for choice.

Even with Jiang Wang’s current perception, it was difficult to discern strength and weakness at a glance. He could only combine Qiao Lin’s explanations with the participants’ affiliations to various countries and forces to perform a rough screening, then observe the situation on the platforms to determine which battles to focus on.

Those sturdy soldiers, standing like sculptures beside each martial arts platform, their backs adorned with three golden throwing spears, were none other than the Shen Ce Army, one of the Eight Armors of Jing.

The Jing Eight Armors commanded awe throughout the central domain, with the Dou E and Shen Ce armies both under the direct control of the Jing Country’s royal family.

Before the main competition of the Yellow River Assembly, those responsible for maintaining order on the martial platforms were exclusively soldiers of the Shen Ce Army.

Jiang Wang didn’t pay them much heed, his attention fully absorbed by the battles unfolding before him.

With each battle, he employed the secret technique of the Ru Meng Ling, simulating it in his mind, substituting himself for the combatants. He would practice the responses he would make in that moment, then compare them to the actions of the heaven’s pride currently fighting.

He analyzed whose response was more brilliant, why the fighters on the platform chose their particular actions, and what larger strategy each move was serving.

This was profoundly interesting.

Sometimes, his response would be completely different from that of the cultivator on the platform, yet after two or three exchanges, they would arrive at the same outcome through different paths. Other times, his response would be superior, while on occasion, the choices of the platform cultivator would utterly surprise him…

Truly magnificent.

Heroes from countries across the vast world converged here to battle, stirring the winds and clouds, igniting the hearts and spirits of the onlookers.

Confucian scholars wielded their brushes like flying blades, ink marks leaping from the paper to condense into airborne birds and striding beasts, a hundred peculiar forms, a testament to their mastery of technique.

Moist drivers commanded towering mechanical beasts, charging and colliding head-on, impervious to blades and swords. Swallowing gold and spitting fire, their might was astonishing.

Military cultivators unleashed torrents of killing aura, their blades like flags fluttering across a battlefield, their charges like horses trampling through passes and mountains, their solitary figures drawing onlookers into the very atmosphere of war.

Cultivators performed sword arts depicting the four seasons, spring rain and winter snow transforming with each stroke, causing the Long Xiang to tremble incessantly within its sheath.

Some held daggers upside down, their forms like a raging tempest. The battle began with the rising wind and ended with its cessation, victory or defeat already decided…

It was breathtaking.

Jiang Wang’s eyes remained fixed, unblinking.

He witnessed the long river of talent, understood its vastness, felt its majesty, and was seized by a desire to draw his sword and howl.

To stand upon Guan He Tai, to witness the ebb and flow of ancient and modern times, to see the years unfold like a song, to comprehend what it meant to be truly great.

To behold the heroes of the world, and to know that one was, verily, in the midst of the storm!

Just as Jiang Wang was completely engrossed in the battles before him,

On the south face of the “Six Harmonies Pillar,” a group of people approached.

Leading them was a middle-aged man, clad in white, his appearance strikingly handsome.

Beside him were several elderly individuals who appeared to be of no ordinary status. They conversed and laughed around him, subconsciously trailing half a body length behind.

The only woman walking shoulder to shoulder with him wore a light veil over her face, her pair of excessively clear eyes casually sweeping left and right…

And then she saw Jiang Wang.

It was impossible not to.

On such a vast circular viewing platform, filled with countless spectators.

Yet, no one was as ostentatious as this fellow.

He traveled alone, yet brought ten guards.

Nine guards surrounded him on all sides, with one personal bodyguard.

Eleven individuals in total, occupying several dozen seats both front and back!

Those guards, each with an expressionless face, made no effort to conceal their killing aura.

In other places, such arrogance might not be particularly striking.

But on Guan He Tai, during this convergence of wind and clouds, this gathering of the world’s heroes, 999 novel m.999xs

There were truly few who dared to behave in such a manner.

Upon closer inspection, only the heaven’s pride of the world’s six great powers could act in this way. So-called powerful nations naturally possessed the qualification to overlook the world.

And aside from this fellow…

The heaven’s pride of the world’s six great powers had not yet arrived to grace this selection event with their presence. Thus, this individual appeared exceptionally out of place.

Beneath the veil, she couldn’t help but purse her lips and chuckle.

She had seen this person draw his sword against an enemy, his appearance heroic and fearless.

She had seen him patiently and gently coax his younger sister.

She had seen him brush away fallen white hair, walking alone down Bao Xue Mountain…

She had witnessed his moments of despair, and she had witnessed his unwavering resolve.

Yet… this was the first time she had seen this person so flamboyant, so outwardly displaying his “rank.”

She did not favor those who bared their fangs and claws, but because she knew this person was not like that, she found this “arrogance” rather rare and thus, somewhat amusing.

To see him surrounded by a circle of sturdy soldiers, occupying such a large section of the viewing platform, was truly eye-catching.

However, upon closer observation, one could still discern his focused demeanor.

Clearly, his heart and spirit were entirely dedicated to the martial arena, with scarce a thought for enjoying this display of “military might.”

Suddenly, her wrist was grasped.

It was her father, who had just finished communicating with several small country high-ranking officials about cooperation intentions, who had taken her hand.

He led her towards the right side of the viewing platform.

A voice resonated in her ear: “I know you disapprove of Zhuang Gao Xian’s choice. But one matter is separate from another. This Zhuang Gao Xian, he can kill Han Yin; his strength is not inferior to mine. In fact, if he had not ventured into that battle year ago and suffered severe injury in Yong Country, the time he ascended to Cave True would not necessarily have been slower than mine.”

Ye Ling Xiao, while conversing and laughing freely with several elderly men, transmitted a message to his beloved daughter’s ear: “Though we need not fear them. There is also no need to deliberately provoke them. We can protect Jiang An An, but it is best not to make it obvious. So… don’t look at him.”

On matters of this kind, Ye Qing Yu was still very obedient.

Thus, she obediently withdrew her gaze and turned towards the martial field.

That person, so invested in the battle, just how wonderful was it, she wondered?

With a sudden intuition, Jiang Wang abruptly pulled his gaze from the battle and looked towards the right side.

Immediately, his eyes brightened. It was Daoist Friend Ye!

Though the charismatic Ye Ling Xiao was right beside her, he had indeed not based his judgment on Ye Ling Xiao, but had recognized Ye Qing Yu at first glance.

That pair of clear eyes was very familiar to him, and that veil was also not strange!

Jiang Wang’s heart filled with joy. He was about to stand up to greet her when a cold voice suddenly resounded in his ear.

“To protect your younger sister from being discovered by the Zhuang Country monarch and his ministers, you best not stare at my daughter any longer.”

In such a setting, only a transmitted voice from a True Person could ensure concealment.

Great Qi’s heaven’s pride, Jiang, felt a warmth rise to his face. He transmitted back: “True Person Ye, you misunderstand. I, I was not staring…”

Ye Ling Xiao’s cold snort quickly cut him off: “It is best you were not! Watch your martial arts!”