Eastward from Xu State, one reaches Qi.
To lessen the chance of frontal conflict with the Tian clan of Great Marsh, Jiang Wang was forced to conceal himself once more. He changed the style of his Ruyi Immortal Robe and donned a cloak.
Knowing that Yu Beidou had spoken out for him at Heavenly Punishment Cliff and received the approval of the Three Punishment Palaces, Jiang Wang had already imagined his glorious return to Qi…
Unexpectedly, he did return to Qi, but still had to do so furtively.
However, with his heart troubled by Master Guan Yan’s affairs, there was no room left for him to feel disappointed.
Since he had to go secretly, he could not soar recklessly within Qi’s borders. Without revealing his identity, flying unrestrained within a Hegemon’s domain was a very dangerous endeavor.
It was quite possible to be struck down in the blink of an eye.
During the day, Jiang Wang mingled with different merchant caravans, riding horses and carriages. At night, he traveled alone under the stars and moon.
Thus, day and night without pause, he hurried on at the fastest speed possible without exposing his identity.
From the moment he stepped into Qi’s territory until he entered Great Marsh Prefecture, it took only three days.
Great Marsh Prefecture is located in the northern part of Qi. Jicheng is the center of Great Marsh Prefecture, and Seven Stars Valley lies north of Jicheng’s city limits.
Jiang Wang had been to Jicheng more than once.
The first time was traveling by carriage with Li Fengyao, the second time was flying directly by imperial decree, and the third time was lurking secretly…
In short, it felt like regressing.
The character “Ji” in Jicheng resembles a person approaching food. Rumors circulated among the court and populace that “the Tian clan has a gluttonous desire, greedy and impatient.”
He wondered if Uriel and the others had spread this.
Jiang Wang paid little heed to this; he was currently only thinking of how to sneak into Seven Stars Valley.
The Tian clan had built watchtowers here, set up formations, and stationed a clan army. Ostensibly, there was only one path in and out of the valley, and when the Seven Stars Tower secret realm was not open, this passage would also be closed.
Because the sole value of this place lay in the secret realm, some might think there was no need for guarding when the secret realm was not open. This was not the case.
Each spot in the Seven Stars Tower secret realm was precious, not something everyone could contend for. Many were willing to hide in the valley, just waiting for the day it opened – similar incidents had occurred in history.
However, the defensive strength meant to guard against such characters would likely not be enough to stop Jiang Wang.
Tian Chang had drawn a secluded small path, which entered from the eastern mountain woods. Jiang Wang had specifically gone to see it; it was called a path, but in reality, it was an animal trail… He wondered how Tian Chang had found it.
Based on his current partial understanding of this person, he must possess much similar intelligence.
Even within the internal ranking of the Tian family, Tian Chang must be among the foremost in understanding the Tian family.
If there was anyone whose observation of the Tian family was surely above Tian Chang’s, the only candidate Jiang Wang could think of was Tian He.
He wondered what Tian He was doing now… Jiang Wang thought inexplicably.
This person was absolutely Tian Chang’s confidant, yet he wasn’t brought to the Star and Moon Plains.
Jiang Wang did not plan to take the small path drawn by Tian Chang. He needed Tian Chang’s information, but he did not fully trust Tian Chang. Even though the parts of this information verified so far were largely correct.
He possessed the Seamless Concealing Robe, a trump card known to few, and his reliance for sneaking into Seven Stars Valley.
With a complete understanding of the various sentry points, he draped the Concealing Robe over himself, moving a few steps at a time, perfectly avoiding the surveillance points in the intelligence. He entered Seven Stars Valley grandly from above the valley.
On this quiet night, everything went smoothly…
Except when he descended into the valley, that beam of starlight suddenly shone upon him!
This beam of starlight came from an unknown distance, connecting heaven and earth, illuminating the long night, instantly enveloping Jiang Wang within it.
This abruptly descending beam of starlight outlined Jiang Wang’s human form, preventing the Concealing Robe from quickly adapting and adjusting. It took a full two breaths before it concealed Jiang Wang’s tracks – but what was the point now?
With such brilliant starlight, the Tian family members were not all blind!
The entire Seven Stars Valley erupted.
“Intruder!”
“Quickly alert Jicheng!”
“Take him down!”
Noisy shouts exploded from all directions, closely followed by densely packed cultivators wielding swords and sabers.
Jiang Wang was numb.
Had this beam of starlight not been the familiar light of the Jade Pivot star, bearing the mark of Master Guan Yan, he would have definitely turned and fled.
But now, it seemed he couldn’t run either…
What if Tian Xili came?
What if Tian Anping came?
Master Guan Yan… what was he doing?!
Jiang Wang vaguely heard the sound of chains dragging on the ground…
Just as his heart was filled with turmoil, he suddenly felt his body lighten, enveloped by a gentle force, continuously rising.
Jiang Wang let go of himself, rising with that force, flying towards the sky at an astonishing speed.
At this moment, a slightly thin man with a refined demeanor suddenly appeared in Jiang Wang’s field of vision. He stepped through the air from afar, each step disturbing the night.
“Unknowing guest from what realm arrives so furtively! Are you perhaps afraid our Tian family’s hospitality is insufficient?”
Marquis Gaocheng, Tian Xili!
How could Jiang Wang dare to reply? He could only hope that the Concealing Robe combined with the cloak could effectively hide his face. As for concealing his tracks, he had completely given up hope; the Concealing Robe was originally difficult to hide from Divine Ascension cultivators, not to mention rising at high speed within the starlight pillar at this moment.
“Stay!” Tian Xili extended his right hand from afar.
Jiang Wang saw the nearby night sky begin to surge, quickly forming a gigantic black hand, reaching out to grasp him!
His internal Dao Yuan surged wildly; he was about to act to obstruct it a little—
In that boundless darkness, at the very top of that beam of starlight, a light point suddenly magnified, revealing a brilliant star tower. It crossed space, and with just a flicker, the radiance of the star tower had enveloped him within it.
Then, before the black giant hand closed, it lightly leaped, breaking free from restraints with Jiang Wang, and soared back into the high sky!
Instantly leaving Tian Xili far behind.
Jiang Wang was within the star tower’s radiance, suspended below the brilliant star tower. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, the Sound-Hearing Immortal State sent another warning…
An extremely light and fine sharp whistle was approaching at terrifying speed!
He saw…
In the distant sky, a beam of starlight like an arrow was flying at extreme speed.
It seemed to pierce the night sky, leaving faint fragmented traces in the dark.
The arrow-like starlight had not yet arrived.
Jiang Wang already felt his heart begin to ache.
He vaguely saw a strange small building before his eyes, and beneath the skylight of that small building…
Tian Anping, in a single garment with unbound hair, looked up!
The starlight arriving from afar like an arrow, its force aimed to pierce the heart! It emanated from this small building, from Tian Anping!
Did he see me? Did he see me clearly?
Such an astonished question flashed through Jiang Wang’s mind.
That feeling of being locked onto had already dissipated.
He landed within the brilliant star tower, finding sudden peace in the glorious light.
And in Seven Stars Valley, people saw that the star tower enveloping the mysterious person disappeared completely with just a flicker.
In the night sky, the hanging beam of starlight was gone, and the brilliant star tower was also traceless.
Only a horizontal beam of starlight remained, piercing the empty night sky, like a lonely rainbow.