Jiang Wang and Chong Xuanzun walked out of the Platform of All Under Heaven side-by-side, leaving the Six Directions Pillar, which soared into the clouds, behind them.

Qiao Lin and the other soldiers of the Heaven’s Vault Army followed silently, supporting the two of them.

They left from a nearby exit, different from the one Ji Zhaonan took.

The two walked and chatted, discussing some cultivation matters, and the conversation flowed rather well.

During the five days they cultivated together on the Commander’s Stage, the two barely spoke. After arriving at the River Viewing Platform, they occasionally exchanged a few words.

It wasn’t that their relationship had suddenly improved.

It was simply as Cao Jie said, on the battlefield, they were comrades.

Here at the River Viewing Platform, they were on a united front, representing the State of Qi to fight against the prodigies of other nations. After returning to Linzi, what needed to be contended for would still be contended for, and what needed to be calculated would still be calculated.

Jiang Wang had been to the Misty Realm to fight and kill, and Chong Xuanzun came from a family of renowned generals, so they naturally understood this principle.

One was dressed in flowing white, the other in a green robe with a sword.

One was breathtakingly handsome, the other calm and composed.

Both were peerless prodigies, naturally possessing different demeanors. Even on this River Viewing Platform, which was a gathering of prodigies, they were extremely eye-catching.

They walked and chatted along the way, frequently drawing people’s attention.

“Ji Zhaonan’s spear strike absolutely cannot be avoided, it should be…”

Chong Xuanzun was speaking when he stopped.

There was someone familiar ahead.

Clad in the dark green military uniform of the Springdeath Army, supported by an extremely tall frame, with a long face, high nose, and deep eyes.

Covered in dust from travel, his battlefield aura had not dissipated.

He stood there amidst the bustling crowd.

Like a flagstaff planted in place.

When his gaze fell upon them, the arrogant disdain that filled his eyes finally receded.

Then he was stunned.

Equally stunned were Chong Xuanzun and Jiang Wang.

“Why are they together?”

“This is too sudden?”

“I should have watched a few more selection matches…”

These were likely the thoughts running through the three of them.

Silence solidified for a moment.

Chong Xuanzun and Wang Yi Wu spoke almost simultaneously.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

“My master wouldn’t let me, I snuck away.”

Then they both fell silent again.

“Well then.” Jiang Wang rubbed his nose awkwardly, saying to Chong Xuanzun, “I’ll head back first.”

Wang Yi Wu glanced at him indifferently. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to trouble you this time. As military men of our generation, the overall national situation is paramount.”

These words were meant as a temporary truce, but for some reason, they sounded utterly unpleasant.

This person named Wang is truly interesting.

Anyone who didn’t know would think I lost last time and am now particularly afraid of you!

Did I even acknowledge you? How dare you be so presumptuous?

Jiang Wang came to the River Viewing Platform with the sole purpose of becoming the number one under heaven.

The youthful spirit in his heart was currently burning brighter than ever. He wouldn’t show weakness to anyone he encountered, not even a little.

That initial awkwardness completely vanished. He pressed his hand to his sword and raised an eyebrow, his aura overbearing. “The hardest thing for a person is to find excuses for themselves. Actually, it doesn’t matter if General Wang wants to cause trouble. I doubt it will affect the overall national situation.”

Wang Yi Wu’s initial declaration upon arrival, telling the chosen number one Inner Mansion prodigy of his own country to rest assured, was already incredibly arrogant.

But Jiang Wang’s response was even more arrogant. It implied that resolving him wouldn’t require any effort, so how could it possibly cause any disruption?

Wang Yi Wu’s gaze deepened.

He had run away on his own, not even bothering to change out of his Springdeath Army uniform.

The battle on Sword Peak Mountain had made him famous throughout the world once again.

Having been tempered by war, he clearly possessed the aura of a “Master of Soldiers.”

This time, his gaze was entirely focused on Jiang Wang.

He alone was like a vast army arrayed, with horses waiting for orders and bows drawn, ready to unleash arrows.

And Jiang Wang met his gaze without the slightest hint of weakness, like a drawn sword, its edge fully revealed.

Let there be thousands of soldiers and horses, what do I fear? If men come, I shall kill them, if horses come, I shall kill them!

The two were in a state of tense opposition, looking as if they would clash right here if a single word was out of place.

Only the Heaven’s Vault Army soldiers following behind looked at each other, exchanging glances.

Logically speaking, they should all be supporting Wang Yi Wu, after all, Wang Yi Wu was the pride of their army and the personal disciple of the Great Qi Army God. But the Heaven’s Vault Army soldiers represented by Qiao Lin had genuinely enjoyed their time with Jiang Wang over the past few days.

Most importantly, their current duty was to protect Jiang Wang.

Military personnel would definitely stand by their duty, but if Jiang Wang and Wang Yi Wu… fought, would it count as being attacked?

If Jiang Wang was overcome with bloodlust, should they stop him?

Thus, for a time, they found themselves in a dilemma.

However, the white-robed Chong Xuanzun, with a casual stance, stepped forward, effortlessly cutting off the clash of auras between the two.

He shook his head helplessly. “I say, why don’t the two of you settle your scores after returning to Linzi? This is the River Viewing Platform, after all. The nations of the world are watching!”

The Six Directions Pillar still stretched into the clouds behind them.

In the distance, the waves of the great river still rolled by.

On the River Viewing Platform, people in the attire of various nations still came and went.

Those Heaven’s Vault Army soldiers were still looking at each other.

Wang Yi Wu lifted his chin and finally retracted his gaze, his expression blank.

If it weren’t for his unyielding arrogance, Jiang Wang wouldn’t have bothered with him. Now he also didn’t want other nations to see a joke, so he took his right hand off the sword hilt.

“Let’s go,” Chong Xuanzun sighed. “Let’s go back to Qi Street first.”

Although these two were at loggerheads, there was nothing they could do. There was only one path and one place to stay, Qi Street. Deliberately walking one after the other would only make it more awkward, and who would go first? One wrong move and they might start fighting again… so they had to return together.

Chong Xuanzun walked silently in the middle.

With Jiang Wang there, it was awkward for Chong Xuanzun and Wang Yi Wu to talk to each other alone, and even more awkward to force Jiang Wang into their conversation.

In short, it was very uncomfortable.

The three of them walked the entire way in silence, quietly quickening their pace – in this regard, they were remarkably in sync.

With this increased speed, Qi Street was reached very quickly.

In the ranks of the Heaven’s Vault Army soldiers, Qiao Lin also let out a sigh of relief. Just now, he had almost used the military’s alert artifact to summon General Cao.

Turning the corner ahead was the tall archway of Qi Street.

A Heaven’s Vault Army soldier was standing at the front. As soon as he saw them, he immediately turned and went inside, likely because Cao Jie was waiting for their news.

Jiang Wang and the other two walked a few steps forward, feeling a sense of relief from their awkwardness.

Suddenly, drums and gongs roared, firecrackers exploded continuously, and fireworks lit up the sky.

In the sudden surge of noise, a large crowd of people rushed out, their faces beaming with smiles.

There was Xu Xiangqian, Zhao Wuyan, Zishu, Li Longchuan, Yan Fu, and Wen Tinglan.

Fourteen, wearing armor, held a copper gong and stood steadily.

Chong Xuan Sheng, who was twice as wide as a normal person, held a gong hammer tied with a red ribbon and beat it cheerfully.

“Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!!”

He spread his large, fleshy hands, turned around, and his fat face crinkled with laughter. “Surprise!”

His smile froze.

The words “Jiang Qingyang” on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

Appearing before him, from left to right, were Wang Yi Wu in the dark green uniform of the Springdeath Army, the white-robed Chong Xuanzun, and finally, Jiang Qingyang in a green robe with a sword.

Wang Yi Wu was expressionless, Chong Xuanzun’s eyebrows twitched, and Jiang Qingyang covered his face with one hand.

What a stiff scene this was!

For a moment, the gongs stopped, the drums ceased, and the people with smiling faces stopped talking.

Zishu, unaware of the situation, was clapping her hands but slowly stopped…

The congratulatory verse she had been reciting, composed by the talented Master Xu, “Qingyang, Qingyang, you are the strongest! Jiang Wang, Jiang Wang, the first is in sight!” finally couldn’t be ‘in sight’ anymore…

Only the firecrackers and fireworks that had already been lit were still exploding in bundles.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Brilliant colors danced in the sky, as if providing a lively commentary on this awkward scene.

Genius in one second: m.173kxs