The three armies fell silent!

Heaven and earth, all fell quiet.

It was as if only the voices of two young men echoed… echoed…

Zhong Xuanyu declared, “Who else but I?”

Jiang Wang replied, “Perhaps I can take it!”

Below the General’s Platform, Zhong Xuanyu and Jiang Wang did not lock eyes.

Yet, the vast and boundless ocean of the army, for a moment, undulated. Consciously or unconsciously, everyone vied to witness.

Who, indeed, was the foremost prodigy of the young generation in Qi?

The debate had always lingered around Jiang Wang and Zhong Xuanyu.

After the Yellow River Meet, of course, the consensus leaned towards Jiang Wang as the foremost.

But following the expedition into the Bewildering Realm, it was clear that Zhong Xuanyu seemed even more invincible.

Both continued their respective sagas, both constantly forged legends.

And today!

Perhaps a clear distinction would be drawn.

“The most excellent heavenly pride of Great Qi, the fiercest and most fearless.” On the General’s Platform, Cao Jie proclaimed, “This is the fortune of Great Qi. To command this army, to control these generals, is also my luck, Cao Jie’s luck!”

At this moment, he had already cast aside the initially designated vanguard general to the back of his mind.

Looking across the entire Qi realm, where could one find individuals more capable of being the vanguard than the two before him?

Those older than them commanded larger armies, while those younger paled in comparison.

As Zhong Xuanyu said, who else but them?

He, Cao Jie, was not an indecisive person, nor was he incapable of bearing responsibility.

Since Zhong Xuanyu and Jiang Wang actively sought the battle, regardless of their family background, regardless of how the Emperor favored them, he, Cao Jie, had no reason not to utilize them!

Thus, on this General’s Platform, he boomed, “As Zhong Xuanyu said, sharp and unstoppable, bravely topping the three armies, they should be the vanguard. Since you two both contend for this position, then fight a battle before the ten thousand-man array. The victor shall be the vanguard general for the campaign against Xia!”

Only then did Zhong Xuanyu turn, his gaze falling upon Jiang Wang. He laughed heartily and said, “Willing to be a spectacle for the three armies, to strengthen this expedition!”

Wang Yiwu’s expression was unreadable, but the hand gripping the back of his wheelchair unconsciously tightened.

He, of course, held unparalleled confidence in Zhong Xuanyu.

But he also deeply understood Jiang Wang’s formidable nature.

A defeat in the Rushing Dragon realm, another in the Inner Mansion realm.

That was the very person who had once shattered his invincible momentum!

And Jiang Wang merely spoke one word: “This is my wish!”

“Good! This battle shall be personally overseen by this commander. The bravery of my Great Qi’s heavenly prides should be witnessed by all three armies!” Cao Jie’s voice was grand, first ensuring the safety of both sides in this battle.

Then, he commanded, “Three armies, heed my order! Withdraw twenty steps!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Such a vast training ground, a tide of humanity like a sea.

The sound of the thirty thousand strong army withdrawing echoed as a single voice!

Like a giant stamping its foot, as if the earth and mountains trembled.

Thunder coursed through the sky; it was the movement of soldiers disturbing the heavens!

The thirty thousand strong army withdrew twenty steps backward, neatly and orderly, instantly creating an expansive space. Below the General’s Platform, before the ten thousand-man array, they left ample fighting ground for these two individuals.

This was a battle destined to be remembered by all present.

The leading representatives of the various Eastern Domain countries were all utterly shocked, awed by this majestic military display.

Generals like Chen Zeqing, Commander of the Southern Expedition, and Tian Anping, Marshal of the Thirty Thousand County Soldiers on the Western Road, also moved to either side.

This time, throughout the General’s Platform in the western suburbs of Linzi, Jiang Wang and Zhong Xuanyu were the absolute protagonists!

Cao Jie said, “If you two are ready, you may begin now.”

Zhong Xuanyu smiled casually, then, already in his white robes, stepped forward.

Jiang Wang suddenly said, “As both in the Outer Building realm, I with three floors against four, fear damaging the esteemed name of Zhong Xuanyu… Please, esteemed sirs, wait a moment, until I establish one more floor!”

Zhong Xuanyu paused his steps, his chin slightly raised, his eyes revealing an interested expression.

And Jiang Wang simply looked up.

Looked up at the sky!

One glance moved the wind and clouds.

The edge of the sky instantly responded, illuminating a brilliant star, projecting light from the distant star dome, a radiance that actually did not pale before the sun.

Furthermore, starlight surged like a flood, like a heavenly river pouring down, instantly cascading from the Nine Heavens to the mortal realm, paving a broad road of starlight!

The other end of the starlight road was that dazzling star tower, and this place, at the end of the starlight road, was this mortal world’s heavenly pride.

“Eh?”

Court Physician Chen Fu’s eyes revealed a look of surprise.

Even someone like Tian Anping, for a moment, looked up, showing some inquiry.

The Star Road Secret Method, obtained from Xiao Shu, displayed its brilliant spectacle before the three armies of the Great Qi Empire.

Almost simultaneously with the paving of this Star Road, two more star towers in the distant star dome lit up.

Three stars echoed remotely, as if linked by some force, giving a mixed feeling.

Li Fengyao, in military uniform today, her figure like sculpted frost jade, appeared taller, colder, and more beautiful. Looking up at the star dome, she raised her eyebrow and said, “The Big Dipper!”

But behold the sky above.

Belonging to Jiang Wang, the fourth starlight holy tower, corresponding to the position of the Yaoguang star in the ancient star dome, lit up brilliantly!

With the positioning of the Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Tianshu star towers, and the paving of the Star Road Secret Method, connecting the ancient and distant. No need for excessive exploration, the Yaoguang star tower directly established itself in the conceptual center area of the Yaoguang star, and in one go, instantly completed!

In Jiang Wang’s star dome concept, this was a majestic and grand seven-story purple building.

Stern with infinite majesty, pressing horizontally in all directions.

Yaoguang one, also named Break Army.

Ancient texts call it the “Consumption Star,” representing destruction, consumption, a thoroughly ensnaring star.

Establishing this star tower before a ten thousand-man army, lighting this star before a strong-on-strong confrontation, was most appropriate!

With the world’s elite troops, with the world’s renowned generals, with an absolute heavenly pride as an opponent, with the war against a great country as the backdrop—this was the so-called timely heavenly opportunity, advantageous geographical location, and harmonious human relations.

It was water carving its channel, and also momentum on the battlefield like breaking bamboo.

In the Yuheng star tower, Jiang Wang established it with the word “Faith.” In the Kaiyang star tower, Jiang Wang established it with the word “Sincerity.” In the Tianshu star tower, Jiang Wang established it with the word “Benevolence.” In the Yaoguang star tower, Jiang Wang established it with the word “Martial.”

Bravery and fierceness is martial, resolute and vigorous is martial, winning with force is martial.

Jiang Wang was undoubtedly a person with “martial merit.”

All the way he had come, experiencing countless battles, winning people with force.

And martial arts have seven virtues, saying to forbid violence and store soldiers, preserve great deeds and fix merit, secure the people and harmonize the masses, and bring about abundant wealth. (jí)

The word “戢,” meaning to hide.

The so-called fixing merit and storing soldiers, hence stopping weapons is martial.

Martial arts do not bully others.

The virtue of martial arts lies in overcoming chaos, in protecting the border and securing the people, in stopping weapons.

This tower, once established, in the Hidden Star Sea, had a broad mind, starlight filling the sky, a soaring dragon riding the fog!

Hidden Star Sea, also named the Four Limbs Sea, corresponding precisely to the four floors of the star dome.

These four floors stood together. A cultivator in the vast universe then had a foundation. In the ancient past and present, up and down, in all four directions, all had a definite “position,” gaining “self”!

This was the so-called completion of the four realms of the Outer Building.

Cultivators in this realm grasped themselves, thus being able to impact the barrier between heaven and human.

Four star towers lit up together in the sky, bringing a mythical illumination, but in the eyes of the people, everything was far from over.

Connecting Jiang Wang and the Yuheng star tower was a brilliant starlight road.

Its light was like a waterfall, as if penetrating ten thousand ages.

And from within the Yuheng star tower, an unmatched flow of starlight, again extending out two clearly visible starlight roads!

A starlight road visible in the human world!

Xiao Shu initially linking the star towers in the depths of the star dome, the starlight roads were not enough to show traces. While Jiang Wang had the massive star force support of the Yuheng star tower, and the selfless divine power dedication of the ancient old dragon of the Sea of Trees, the stability of this starlight road, how could it not be more than double?

But see, with the Yuheng star tower as the core, one starlight road instantly connected to the Kaiyang star tower, and then from the Kaiyang star tower extended to the newly established Yaoguang star tower. And another starlight road, still winding in the distant star dome, passing through Tian Quan, folding at Tian Ji, over Tian Xuan, finally turning at Tian Shu!

Only four star towers in the sky, but the starlight road passed through seven stars!

Jiang Wang combined the Star Road Secret Method and the Seven Stars Holy Tower Secret Method, maximizing the advantage of his own Yuheng star tower.

Now the four floors stood, the starlight roads connected.

The edge of the sky seemed…

To light the Big Dipper!

People consciously or unconsciously cast their gaze.

That man in green robes, standing before the ten thousand-man array, facing the absolute heavenly pride Zhong Xuanyu alone, for a moment, his momentum was like a rising dragon, giving people a feeling of “majesty”!

Above, the Big Dipper shone, below, the ten thousand-man army was displayed.

The so-called unyielding peak, the so-called inexhaustible river, the so-called propping up heaven and supporting earth, the so-called peerless in the world!

From ancient times to now, where did such an Outer Building exist?

Those who saw this scene, who could not be moved?

Even those who had more confidence in Zhong Xuanyu, seeing this situation, this scene, this momentum, this person, at this moment, were inevitably somewhat shaken.

What kind of person was this?

What could be his enemy!

But for Jiang Wang, this was still far from the end.

This was only the beginning.

Although the four floors were complete, although he had combined the Star Road Secret Method and the Seven Stars Holy Tower Secret Method, completing the unprecedented Seven Stars Four Floors.

But he still had not touched his own Dao Path.

The Outer Building realm had three important levels.

They were the completion of the four floors, the Divine Power Outer Building, and the Dao Path Outer Building!

The completion of the four floors needed no explanation. The inner showed the Hidden Star Sea, the outer shone upon the distant star dome. The star dome holy tower from one to four was a leap in small realms, and even more so, a process of the cultivator gradually anchoring their own “position.”

And from the perspective of combat power, the Dao Path was not necessarily stronger than divine power.

But in terms of realm, the Dao Path was the foundation of this realm, a truly distinguishing existence between top Outer Building cultivators and ordinary ones.

Divine power cultivators might explore the most fearsome killing force of the Outer Building level, but those who could not grasp the Dao Path could not achieve the realm of “penetrating reality.”

Senior predecessors had long paved broad roads, with words like “威” (might), “诚” (sincerity), “仁” (benevolence), and “杀” (kill), paving Dao Paths for later disciples, allowing ten thousand people to walk the same path, greatly increasing the possibility of reaching the Divine Arrival.

The so-called “reason” relied on strong spirit, relied on a tall body, relied on holding the head high and striding forward bravely.

But even so, one must read the classics to understand the true meaning of the predecessors, and then one could grasp that path that penetrates the entire life.

In Buddhism, it was “compassion in the heart.” In Confucianism, it was “righteousness where it is.”

Today’s cultivators, one in ten thousand could reach Divine Arrival, which was already the result after the predecessors opened the way.

While a person like Jiang Wang walked the most difficult road, pursuing a Dao Path that belonged to him.

Of course, he also read Daoist classics, of course, he also memorized history books, read some Confucian classics, and even flipped through military classics. All day long, being entangled by Ku Jue and called “Little Junior Brother” by Jing Li, it was hard to have no impression of Buddhist classics. Not to mention being born in a strong country, having a title and a name…

Of course, he knew those roads.

Of course, he had a vague concept, knowing how to proceed relatively easily.

But he still chose his own road.

To verify himself, to temper this heart.

That most free… and most dangerous road!

It was for… the true self.

For the awareness of the Dao Path, Jiang Wang actually possessed it very early.

He was always a person who knew where he wanted to go.

However, he was also very clear about how immeasurable this road was.

Was human nature originally good, or originally evil?

This was a philosophical debate that had been endless since ancient times.

Jiang Wang did not think he possessed the wisdom to penetrate life, and absolutely did not dare to make a final judgment on the discussions of his predecessors. But in his limited life experience, he saw…

Life was born with god and demon in one body, possessing both good and evil.

People had natural compassion, and people also had basic desires seeking in life.

He absolutely would not force others to be a certain way, nor would he view his own road as the only truth.

But he believed that if he wanted to pursue the power of his natural true self, he must forge a cage to imprison demons for himself.

People instinctively yearned for sunlight, cleanliness, beauty.

But were those dark, indulgent, fallen things also instincts?

All living beings were born with both divine and demonic natures.

One thought for good, one thought for evil.

Seeing people hungry and cold, compassion born in the heart, wanting to give clothes, wanting to share food, of course, this was the true self.

Anger rushing to the crown, wanting to draw a sword, hunger wanting to eat, cold wanting clothes, wanting to show fame, wanting to climb high… was this the true self?

Daoist, Confucian, Military, Buddhist, Ink… the four words of the Dao Path set by the predecessors of these sects were the road to guide people to good, to educate the world. They possessed supreme great power and supreme virtue.

While Jiang Wang, imitating cultivators of the Hundred Schools, set four words for himself.

The so-called faith, the so-called sincerity, the so-called benevolence, the so-called martial.

Some were his persistence, some were his virtue, some were his road, some were his pursuit.

But at the same time… all were his bindings, his cage, his “rules.”

Faith, sincerity, benevolence, martial, he bound himself with these four virtues, not out of self-praise, but precisely to guard his original heart. It was to prevent the Dao Path from deviating, to prevent himself from walking down a “wrong path”!

He realized the power of his Dao Path very early, but at the same time, he also realized its danger, its unknown nature, its uncontrollability.

So why did he want to proceed step by step, so why did he want to restrain himself?

Could he not become a demon in a single thought?

If only for strength, back in the ancient demon cave under the mountain range of Wu Mengdu, he could have done so.

Facing the old case of Lei Guifei, before one after another cold fact, in the extremely oppressive aura of death, he told himself to restrain. Restrain anger.

Facing the real power of the Northern Ya Captain, facing the opportunity to rise, he told himself to restrain. Restrain impatience.

When he left Bushu City alone, he told himself to restrain. Restrain hatred.

He could not cultivate faster, gain power faster, reap rewards faster, but he wanted to walk a longer road.

Life, of course, had many choices, but he would always think.

He would always think—

In Fenglin City’s Feima Lane, in that home, he hugged Jiang An’an, sitting on the roof, looking up at the stars.

“Do you remember what I told you about the stars? Dad is there, Aunt Song is also there.”

“So far away, ah.”

“Yes, so far away.”

But my sister, Jiang An’an.

But that young man holding his sister.

You must know—

Stars die, but their light remains in the long night.

Thus, step by step, thus a distant journey until now.

Jiang Wang was forging his “demon-imprisoning cage” and exploring his “Divine Arrival Road.”

Divine Arrival to others was “I am like Divine Arrival.”

To himself, beyond such meaning, it was more about human nature, about manifesting “divine nature” after restraining “demonic nature”… this was “Divine Arrival.”

In the vision of the people.

In the four great holy towers, the connected light of the seven-star road shone.

Jiang Wang changed once again.

His eyes were clean and clear, filled with surging, unrestrained battle intent.

His figure was straight, directly as if propping up heaven and earth alone.

He became more real, and more himself.

He was still in the Outer Building realm, of course, but he was confident that he was no longer inferior to Zhong Xuanyu.

Moreover, the four floors were like a cage.

Thus, one could fix the heart monkey, subdue the mind horse, and attain enlightenment in emptiness.

Imitate the predecessors, pursue the supreme realm of “following the heart’s desires without overstepping the rules”!

(1, “Stars die, but their light remains in the long night.” – Qing He Yi Shen · “About My Love”)