Upon Heaven Punishment Cliff, Yu Beidou ascended personally, while the Three Punishments Palace, in full view of the world, cleared Jiang Wang’s name. Yet, Jing Country remained shrouded in silence. They neither pressed charges against Jiang Wang nor offered any explanation. Across the realms, countless voices decried the Mirror World Platform’s unjust handling of Jiang Wang’s plight, yet the most influential figures remained conspicuously silent, as if an unseen veil suppressed the boiling public opinion, preventing it from truly erupting into a tempest. Though the currents surged beneath the surface, they were contained, unable to swell into a tidal wave.

All under heaven knew that Jing Country would not resolve this matter with half measures. Under Qi Country’s watchful gaze, any attempt to dilute the issue was impossible. Awaiting the stance of the world’s mightiest nation, countless eyes fixed upon this overlord of the Central Domain.

In this tense moment, Jing Country’s West Heavenly Master, Yu Xi, unexpectedly appeared in Sheng Country’s Jiangzhou City, attending the Sheng Country Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet on behalf of the Jing Emperor and personally presenting congratulatory gifts. It must be noted that this very banquet had been cancelled due to the Great Battle of Li Yuan City! Furthermore, True Monarch Yu Que, commander of Jing’s foremost of the Eight Jia legions, personally traveled to Xiang Country’s capital city to witness the giant elephants at Wan He Temple!

At such a sensitive juncture, with two of Jing Country’s powerful True Monarchs successively venturing abroad, drawing near to two separate battlefields, Jing Country’s attitude was undeniably clear – they sought to silence the world with two resounding victories! Regarding the Mirror World Platform’s wrongful treatment of Jiang Wang, the Yellow River Chief, Jing Country offered no explanation whatsoever, adopting a posture of “let the winds blow from east, west, south, or north.”

Yet, with merely the departure of these two Jing Country True Monarchs, the tide of public opinion across the realms began to subtly shift. Whispers arose: “The matter of Jiang Wang shedding the stigma of demonic communication is naught but Qi Country’s vain attempt to challenge Jing Country’s established order. Yu Beidou long harbored the desire to enter the Star Observation Tower; this time, he gambled his reputation to curry favor with Qi Country. It is all but a transaction! Since ancient times, countless ambitious fools have sought to challenge Jing Country’s might. Where now is Yang Country, which once unified the East Domain and marched westward with its armies? Qi Country is destined to repeat their mistakes!”

Others chimed in, saying: “The Three Punishments Palace has long vied for prominence in the study of law, yet it knows not how to compare itself to the Dao Gate. Their stance this time is truly suspect…”

Some went even further, proclaiming: “Yu Beidou, eager to restore the status of fate divination techniques, would do anything, no matter how outlandish. For instance, Jiang Wang’s legendary battle record this time… it is not without the possibility of fabrication.”

Jing Country spoke not, yet across the realms, countless voices spoke on its behalf. Just as before, when Jing Country publicly accused Jiang Wang of demonic communication, demanding his capture and public trial at Jade Capital Mountain, even without releasing any supporting evidence, the world erupted in condemnation of Jiang Wang.

In countless instances, Jing Country was practically synonymous with truth. Its every action, every movement, garnered innumerable followers. This is the profound influence left by a millennium of absolute dominance, an influence that cannot be altered in a single day or night.

On the Star Moon Plain, discussions regarding Jiang Wang never ceased. This battle, gathering young heavenly prides from both Jing and Qi, saw Jiang Wang’s absence, yet he remained the focal point of their discourse.

Within the military tent, Wen Lian Mu pondered repeatedly before finally speaking: “Actually, regarding this, it is said that those who hear the Dao have precedence, and skills have their specialization…”

Wang Yiwu’s face remained expressionless: “I was the first to pass through the Heavens, the first to soar like a dragon, and also the first in the Inner Mansion. As for ‘skills,’ mine lies in combat.”

“Haha, it seems so, indeed.” Wen Lian Mu scratched his head, his thoughts racing. Finally, he found another angle: “On the View River Platform, heavenly prides gathered like clouds, clashing against one another, naturally sparking many inspirations. You were in the army at the time and could not ascend the View River Platform, missing many opportunities. Otherwise, you too should have…”

Wang Yiwu, glancing at the military report in his hand, said casually: “My inability to go to the View River Platform was also because I lost to him at East Street Mouth, and was subsequently confined.”

In Wen Lian Mu’s eyes, the more casual his demeanor, the more deeply he cared. Wiping away cold sweat, he quickly argued on his behalf: “One cannot say that. At that time, you first battled Heavy Xuan Sheng and that fourteen-year-old, then fought Jiang Wang. It was inevitable that your strength was somewhat depleted, unable to display your peak…”

Wang Yiwu finally cast a glance at him: “I still suffered from depleted strength after fighting a Heavy Xuan Sheng? Wen Lian Mu, are you sure you want to insult me so?”

“Cough! What I actually meant to say is…” Wen Lian Mu felt his head about to explode. After a long struggle, he huffed: “Now is different from then. Your Soldier Lord divine ability requires time to grow, and it needs experiences to supplement. Afterward… the days are still long!”

Wang Yiwu seemed to smile faintly: “Do not bully the young who are poor, do not bully the middle-aged who are poor, then at old age, do not exert yourself, and then death is the greatest?”

“…That is not what I meant.” Wen Lian Mu said with a look of exasperation: “I am saying… when the time comes, heaven and earth will exert all their force, when luck favors heroes… there will always be opportunities!”

“Alright, alright.” Wang Yiwu waved his hand: “A single step’s difference is just a single step’s difference, it is not some great matter. Others can fall behind; am I, Wang Yiwu, some son of destiny, not allowed to fall behind a single step?” He looked at Wen Lian Mu with great displeasure: “But you don’t need to keep reminding me, do you?”

“Hey hey, hey hey.” Wen Lian Mu scratched the back of his head, playing dumb and laughing awkwardly.

He was, of course, fearful that Jiang Wang’s legendary battle record as the first in the Inner Mansion would shatter Wang Yiwu’s fighting spirit, hence his elaborate attempts at persuasion. Yet, he temporarily forgot…

How could Wang Yiwu be anyone other than Wang Yiwu! This was a heavenly pride who had risen step by step through the ranks of the military, achieving the name of invincible within his realm by fighting his way through nine ranks. He had reached this point not through others’ flattery, but through a pair of iron fists and an unwavering heart.

So, in the end, was he worried about Wang Yiwu’s damaged fighting spirit, or was it because he himself, before that legendary battle record, had retreated? Was he helping Wang Yiwu find excuses, or was he devising ways to comfort himself?

With an Inner Mansion realm, defeating four human-demon peak Outer Tower cultivators… exactly how was that achieved? Even now, knowing the outcome, he could not conceive of how to reverse-engineer the process!

“Let’s go.” Wang Yiwu put down the military report: “The front lines have exchanged blows several times, neither inflicting much damage. Let’s see what today’s military council discusses.”

Wen Lian Mu pursed his lips: “It’s still those perfunctory matters. Fang You is eager for battle, yet always proceeds with such lackluster intensity.”

“After all, they are his own soldiers; one less is one less. Of course, he wants to play delaying tactics with Lian Jingzhi.” Wang Yiwu offered an explanation, then coldly added: “But he cannot do as he pleases.”

The two rose and walked towards the outside of the military tent. The so-called “delaying tactics” is a type of cheating in chess, referring to continuously using repetitive and meaningless threats to maintain the situation, which is usually prohibited.

Xiang Country’s Great Pillar Country Lian Jingzhi and Xu Country’s Great Marshal Fang You had, during this period, achieved a tacit understanding. There were not a few battles, yet not many casualties. This, of course, did not escape the eyes of Wen Lian Mu and Wang Yiwu. Having grown up in the army, they could discern at a glance whether a battle was being fought seriously or not.

Two Inner Mansion realm heavenly prides casually commenting on a top-tier Divine Arrival and a world-renowned general, not without a hint of mockery… this scene was somewhat audacious. But the two of them were accustomed to it, and even if Fang You himself overheard, he would likely only pretend not to hear.

This was the disparity between Qi Country and Xu Country, a gap so vast that even multiple realms could not bridge it.

The Great Legalist Sage, Han Shentu, in his world-renowned work “Theory of Power,” wrote: “A strong country’s mischievous child, holding a sharp weapon in a weak country’s marketplace, people dare not confront. Is it fear of the sharp weapon? Fear of the mischievous child? It is fear of the strong country!” The very next sentence provides the answer: “It is fear of the strong country!”

The affairs of the world are, in essence, no different.