Some matters simply cannot be concealed. Especially for the powerful nations of the world.

The next day, before dawn, Cao Jie gathered the three national paragons and informed them of a shocking piece of news—

Just two days prior, the top paragon of Jing’s Inner Palace realm… had fallen in battle beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons!

So this was the true reason behind Jing’s withdrawal from the Inner Palace realm competition at the Yellow River Assembly!

In the silent room where the four of them sat, Cao Jie himself, who delivered the message to Jiang Wang and the others, could not hide his surprise.

It wasn’t that a national paragon had never died on the eve of the main tournament, but such occurrences were exceedingly rare and typically only happened to other countries. For the six major powers of the world, it was virtually impossible.

Any nation would strengthen the protection of its participating paragons before the Yellow River Assembly.

For instance, when Jiang Wang went to the Star and Moon Plain, two Divine Departure cultivators from the Capital Inspectorate accompanied him. It was said that when Ji Zhaonan underwent trials in the Maze Realm, Qi Xiao, who was stationed on Jue Ming Island, personally guarded him.

Jing definitely didn’t lack powerful individuals, nor would they be stingy with protecting their paragons.

Yet, their top paragon of the Inner Palace realm still died on the eve of the Yellow River Assembly…

This news was difficult not to be moved by.

Cao Jie knew about the great battle beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons two days ago.

A core area guarded by Jing had suddenly been heavily invaded by demonkind, and a fierce battle of attack and defense ensued. Based on the human covenant beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, Qi also dispatched troops to the corresponding demon areas in their own country at that time.

In the war-torn lands beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, this was commonplace.

It was also normal for Jing’s top paragon of the Inner Palace realm to still be undergoing trials beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons on the eve of the Yellow River Assembly. Maintaining the feeling of battle in combat and adjusting to a better state were necessary for many strong individuals.

And indeed, Jing’s top paragon of the Inner Palace realm was certainly qualified to disregard the qualifying rounds.

But this Jing paragon of the Inner Palace realm, who was undergoing trials beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, died on the spot in battle.

This matter was unusual…

Cao Jie knew the attack and defense battle in the Jing area was intense, but he didn’t know it was intense to such a degree—the peak Divine Departure powerhouse who was guarding that Inner Palace realm paragon during the trials also died in that great battle.

Jing suppressed this news for two days. Their participants had always been kept secret, and other countries simply hadn’t anticipated this possibility, never imagining that Jing’s top paragon of the Inner Palace realm could also die unexpectedly. So Jing truly managed to conceal it.

It wasn’t until yesterday, when Jing announced its withdrawal from the Inner Palace realm main tournament of the Yellow River Assembly, which sparked countless conjectures. Qi focused on excavating information in this area and only then discovered this news.

“Even so…” Jiang Wang thought for a moment and still said, “I still can’t understand why Jing would withdraw directly. Given Jing’s strength, it’s unlikely they couldn’t find a second Inner Palace realm paragon with hopes of winning.”

Take Qi as an example. Even if something happened to Jiang Wang, Lei Zhangan could step in at any time. With his Lei Realm technique, manifesting Heavenly Punishment, he was only stronger than Jiang Limeng.

Not to mention Wang Yi Wu, the number one in the army there, who had just slain a renowned Outer Tower realm powerhouse in battle and won the first merit for conquering Sword Peak Mountain. If he were to participate in the Yellow River Assembly, who could say he had no chance of contending for the championship?

Jing, with its three branches flourishing side by side, dominating the Central Domain and eyeing the world, would only have more choices.

“I think, within these two days, Jing must have also been actively searching for a replacement, finding another Inner Palace realm paragon to participate in the main tournament,” Ji Zhaonan said.

Among the three paragons present, only he felt the deepest about the war beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons: “But in an event like the Yellow River Assembly, the issues involved are simply too many.

First of all, for this Yellow River Assembly, Jing initially directly designated the participating paragons and had no internal selection. The notion of the second taking over if the first had an accident wouldn’t work. Because who the second is, is a big problem.”

Jiang Wang nodded silently. This was indeed a major issue that would cause fierce contention, especially in extremely tense times.

Ji Zhaonan continued, “Secondly, Jing’s participating paragon in the Inner Palace realm this time came from the Jade Capital Mountain lineage. This designated participation slot belongs to Jade Capital Mountain. It’s very difficult for Jade Capital Mountain to find another paragon capable of replacing the first. And if a paragon from one of the other two great sacred lands were to replace them, who would be willing to give up their chance? Jing’s three branches flourish side by side, with intricate internal connections. As the oldest major nation, the relationships within are especially complex and cannot be sorted out in a short time.

Lastly, finding a suitable candidate to match the top paragon of the Inner Palace realm is not that easy. And for Jing, sending a paragon without hope of winning the championship is itself a sign of weakness.”

His words were very clear, but Jiang Wang also had his own thoughts: “While that’s true… I still can’t quite understand the withdrawal. Who to send, which lineage’s paragon to send, is nothing more than an internal transfer of interests. Direct withdrawal, however, is a loss of Jing’s overall interests. Isn’t it better to eat a little less than to not eat at all?”

Cao Jie took over the topic and said, “The reason you can’t figure it out is because you don’t understand where Jing’s interests lie.”

“What the nations compete for at the Yellow River Assembly is the allocation of interests beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons. But the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons is suppressed beneath the Heavenly Capital City…”

Cao Jie’s tone was full of emotion: “While it’s true that the power of this allocation is now jointly held by our six nations, it’s also unavoidable that Jing holds the largest share.”

Jiang Wang suddenly understood even more why, at the Platform of the World earlier, as soon as Xian Nankui spoke, Cao Jie, Namudo, and Xiahou Lie immediately attacked as a group. Of course, Xian Nankui’s statement was very problematic, but Jing being the strongest in the current era was even more at the core of the issue…

If the high-level officials of Qin and Chu were to clash, no other major power of the world would speak up for either side. They would simply watch them fight to the death with cold eyes.

“At the Yellow River Assembly, the nations compete for the allocation of interests beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, vying for the right to participate in war and plunder spoils. And what are we, the world’s six great powers, who have territory and military strength beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, vying for? We fight as far as we can. What are we six nations, who preside over the allocation of interests, competing for?”

Jiang Wang immediately grasped it: “More allocation rights, limited within the six nations?”

Cao Jie had something else he didn’t explicitly state, but Jiang Wang understood.

For countries other than the world’s six great powers, the Yellow River Assembly did indeed represent interests beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

But these interests were merely what leaked through the fingers of the world’s six great powers.

In essence, the Yellow River Assembly, where the paragons of various nations competed, was merely a hope painted by the world’s six great powers for other countries, giving them the possibility of breaking free and striving forward.

It was still part of the Spirit Opening Pill tribute system.

With such a hope in place, other countries would strive to integrate into it. Participate in the existing order of the world, small countries becoming big countries, big countries becoming strong countries… instead of having no hope and finally having to choose destruction and confrontation.

Like Rong, which painstakingly hid Lin Xian to allow him to make a stunning debut at the Yellow River Assembly.

If Lin Xian could truly advance further, Qi would also recognize Rong’s victory and give them the opportunity to fight beyond the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

Because maintaining the fairness of the Yellow River Assembly is maintaining the existing order of the world. Maintaining order is maintaining the absolute hegemonic position of the world’s six great powers.

Of course, this kind of “fairness” would also be regulated within a framework that benefits the six great powers.

“So Jing’s interest lies in being ‘the strongest’. In establishing this impression, this status.”

Cao Jie said calmly, “If I’m not mistaken, since the Inner Palace realm competition has already been given up… when the participants for today’s Outer Tower realm main tournament are confirmed, they will give it up as well.”

He looked at Ji Zhaonan: “And this can only mean that for the under-30 unlimited realm competition, they have absolute confidence in winning the championship!”

Jing wants to deepen the impression of being the strongest in the world. With the loss of the top Inner Palace paragon, how can they achieve this?

Directly give up the Inner Palace realm and Outer Tower realm competitions, only retaining the under-30 unlimited realm competition which represents the strongest paragons of each country.

Leaving no room for maneuver is itself the greatest confidence.

Once they ultimately succeed in winning the championship.

It can then be said that the champion of this Yellow River Assembly, their Jing, can take it if they want, and give it up if they want.

How arrogant is that!