Jicheng.

This city, straight and square, with everything in neat order, had stood so perfectly within Daze Prefecture for many years.

It is said that it was not always this way. While still orderly, it wasn’t as meticulously so as it is now, where every detail seems to demand symmetry.

But how it was before, few people can recall.

It is difficult for those within a city to notice its subtle changes. People gradually accept, slowly grow accustomed.

As for outsiders…

Apart from when the Seven Stars Tower Secret Realm opens, outsiders rarely come to Jicheng.

Among all the top noble families in Great Qi, the most secluded is the Tian Clan of Daze. The reason for this is well-known.

And since that being, whose name is avoided, took up residence in the Imperial Tutor Tower, discussions about this city and the Imperial Tutor Tower have dwindled.

What is there to discuss that is not taboo?

One need not seek death by provoking a madman.

After all, if one simply wishes to die, there are more comfortable ways.

Tian Xili, the clan chief of the Tian Clan and Marquis Gaochang, is currently in Linzi participating in the grand ceremony. Another Divine Ascension expert of the clan, Tian Huanwen, is presiding over important matters overseas.

But the entire city of Jicheng continues its calm and monotonous operation, without the slightest disturbance.

Because that being… greatly dislikes disturbances.

Political wisdom and administrative talent are irrelevant; the officials of Jicheng need only know two things. First, it is best not to cause that being trouble. Second, it is best not to be the trouble oneself.

Because that being’s method of resolving trouble is too simple. So simple that there is no opportunity for amends, let alone regret.

Today is a fine day.

Because of the grand ceremony taking place in distant Linzi, the weather throughout the entire Qi Kingdom will be fair today.

“Man bids the heavens smile, the heavens must smile.”

This is a phrase heavily underscored in the history of cultivation, and several legendary ancient sages are associated with it, making it unclear who first spoke it. But the art of altering celestial phenomena has become simpler since then.

Of course, this “simplicity” is only a relative concept, but for a powerful nation like Qi, whether it’s simple or not, it’s simple.

At this moment, clouds are traceless, the sky is vast for miles, and sunlight falls upon the city walls.

A person of medium height, wearing a hood, walked from the end of the official road and entered through the open city gate. Their pace was unhurried, neither fast nor slow.

Tian Sifu, a guard at the city gate, yawned lazily, a drowsiness from the end of summer clinging to his eyelids.

In Daze Prefecture, no one dared to cause trouble for the Tian Clan.

And in Jicheng, the Tian Clan had no trouble.

Thus, guarding the city was truly boring work.

But as he finished his yawn, he suddenly jolted awake, quickly adjusted his posture, and stood at attention, eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Damn it, I’ve grown lax,” he thought, feeling a touch of unease.

No matter how tedious, guarding the city had its rules.

Jicheng was a city that greatly emphasized “rules.”

The people of this city had learned about its rules many times, deeply and profoundly. They neither needed nor wished to be reminded again.

The mood of the guards held no interest for the hooded figure.

After following the crowd through the city gate, he stood on the street and looked around.

People hurried past on the street, and occasionally someone who noticed him would give a fleeting, curious glance.

The people of Jicheng seemed exceptionally busy, too busy to accommodate curiosity.

On either side of the street were nearly identical houses. Eaves, doors, windows, and overall layout were almost mirror images. Even the signs of the various shops were of a unified style.

Only the people within the shops were different, but their clothing was also of a similar style. It seemed that in Jicheng, people of all professions wore clothing of a fixed pattern.

This was truly an exceedingly strict city.

“Hey! You there! Don’t stand in the middle of the road!”

At the city gate, a guard barked out.

Tian Sifu’s eyes remained fixed forward. Maintaining order was also a guard’s duty, and he was accustomed to such things.

Looking forward from here, the entire street possessed a strange sense of order.

There seemed to be an invisible line in the middle of the street, neatly dividing the crowd into two halves.

Those coming and those going were distinctly separated.

And the hooded figure happened to be standing precisely on that invisible center line, looking rather abrupt and conspicuous.

“Oh, oh, alright, sorry,” the hooded figure apologized meekly.

It was a somewhat weathered male voice.

The apology was sincere, but he did not actually move aside. His feet seemed rooted to the spot, unmoving, still standing in the middle of the road.

He looked around, sighing to himself, “This place is different from before.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? Are you ignoring me when I’m talking to you properly?” The guard who had spoken was enraged. He drew his saber and strode towards the figure, saying sternly, “Do you want to die!?”

The hooded figure didn’t even turn his head, but simply pressed his hand backward.

Air condensed into a massive, translucent palm that descended from the sky, instantly crushing the guard into a pulp!

“Ah! Ah!”

Screams erupted, and the hurried crowd scattered in pandemonium.

The city guards immediately drew their waist sabers, and some went to beat the war drums.

But the man remained standing in the middle of the road, seemingly indifferent to it all.

“Someone has always spoken properly, has always been speaking properly.”

He shook his head and said, “It’s you people named Tian who don’t understand!”

Tian Sifu, who had drawn his standard long saber, had trembling hands and was shouting chaotically, but his feet did not move forward a single step. Everyone could see that this hooded figure was not someone they could handle…

For some reason, at this moment, apart from the danger, he inexplicably thought that the guard who had just been crushed to death wasn’t actually named Tian. He himself was named Tian… Of course, his surname Tian wasn’t particularly distinguished, otherwise he wouldn’t be guarding the city gate here.

But his legs felt even weaker.

The person who had brazenly attacked and killed the guard, standing on the main street connected to the city gate, casually removed his hood and tossed it aside.

The ordinary-looking hood whistled as it spun far away, its sound abruptly intensifying, and it flew directly into a shop, smashing a smooth hole through the entire building!

With the hood removed, his face, stubbled and appearing middle-aged, was revealed.

Standing on this long street, this man let out a long cry: “Years of friendship, long estranged greeting. Liu Xiao of the Fufeng Liu Clan comes to pay a visit! Who of the Tian family is present!?”

Liu Xiao, the sole Divine Ascension realm expert of the Fufeng Liu Clan!

The very Liu Xiao who had personally led men to surround and kill Tian Anping in Changming Prefecture that year, but failed due to the latter’s breakthrough in battle!

The sworn enemy of the Daze Tian Clan!

On this day when Tian Huanwen and Tian Xili were both absent, in July, as Tian Anping’s ten-year sentence was about to end.

He came to pay a visit!

He asked who of the Tian family was present, but presumably he had no need to see anyone else.

His voice rolled like thunder, covering the entire city.

Under Tian Sifu’s terrified gaze, Liu Xiao directly soared into the air, flying rapidly over the heads of the chaotic crowd, cutting a sharp arc through the sky, his target aimed directly at the Imperial Tutor Tower in the very center of Jicheng!

Linzi.

Before the Ancestral Temple, on the square, everyone’s expression was solemn.

A ritual official held the imperial decree and read aloud before the imperial steps: “…Now, there is Chongxuan Zun of the Chongxuan Clan, of unparalleled grace, who contended for the nation. He displayed his might at the Observation River Platform, making the world aware of the heroes of our Great Qi… Granted one hundred Yuan Stones, and a Yellow Tier Absolute Grade Daoist technique! Encouraged in his heart, and guided in his actions. He shall not forget the ambition of ascending to the clouds, and shall always bear the virtue of carrying the weight. This is hereby decreed!”

Chongxuan Zun, in his snow-white robes, bowed to express his gratitude. His demeanor and appearance remained impeccable.

The rewards were not light, but for Chongxuan Zun, they were not particularly heavy either.

However, everyone also understood that in previous Observation River Assemblies, securing second place did not warrant such a grand ceremony. Chongxuan Zun’s recognition was largely due to the glory of winning the championship this time.

But then again.

The four characters “unparalleled grace” appearing on the imperial decree were sufficient to show the Qi Emperor’s expectations of him.

It was a form of validation for the popular saying that he “stole the grace of his peers.”

The other rewards were not so important anymore.

And this elegant noble young master in white still wore a faint smile on his lips, showing neither arrogance nor humility.

It was Chongxuan Zun’s willingness to be a supporting character that truly demonstrated his unparalleled confidence.

Even knowing that today was Jiang Wang’s stage, he had no intention of avoiding the spotlight in the slightest.

Even if he had left early, finding some excuse to go into seclusion, no one would have said anything about him. After all, his performance at the Observation River Platform was witnessed by all, and people knew what a proud person he was.

But he participated in this grand ceremony as usual, walking alongside Jiang Wang, who was destined to be the most dazzling figure today.

Witnessing Jiang Wang’s glory.

His transcendent bearing was self-evident.

Even for those who intended to see him make a fool of himself, their contempt dissipated behind his flowing white robes.

The title of champion at the Observation River Assembly was certainly the highest honor.

But such a title alone was not enough to suppress Chongxuan Zun.

While Jiang Qingyang was indeed dazzling, why should he shy away from the limelight!