The sudden voice caused the onlookers to turn their heads, their gazes falling upon a towering young man. His features were not unpleasant, yet a fierce glint resided in his eyes, marking him as someone not easily trifled with. He fixed his gaze in a particular direction, towards a young man who appeared timid and withdrawn.

With but a single glance, the crowd understood the reason for the tall young man’s provocation. This shrinking figure possessed only the cultivation of the eighth-grade Zhou Tian realm! Among the assembly present, who among them was not at least of the Tong Tian realm to gain entry here? They were either scions of prominent families and esteemed sects or had fiercely contended for their quotas among the gathered heroes of Tian Fu City.

Not only was this young man’s cultivation low, but he was also accompanied by no elder, clearly lacking any distinguished lineage. Furthermore, his timid and cowardly demeanor, devoid of spirit, was simply revolting.

“The one speaking is Gao Jing, a disciple of the Gao family from Jing Hai,” Zhong Xuan Sheng explained to Jiang Wang. “As for the one surnamed Zhang, I do not know him.”

Jiang Wang’s gaze settled upon the young man named Gao Jing. For Zhong Xuan Sheng to specifically point him out, his strength was surely not to be underestimated. Beside Gao Jing stood another silent young man, indicating that within this Tian Fu secret realm, the Gao family held two exploration quotas. This was a testament to the Jing Hai Gao family’s foundation, rivalling even the Zhong Xuan family.

The Zhong Xuan family, as a first-class prominent family in the State of Qi, commanded a full three exploration quotas. As the core of the younger generation cultivated by the main branch, Zhong Xuan Sheng’s opinion held paramount importance in forming the exploration team centered around him. Thus, he was able to allocate one quota to Jiang Wang. Aside from Jiang Wang, the other member was a deathsworn who had accompanied Zhong Xuan Sheng since childhood. This deathsworn remained nameless, known only by the number Fourteen.

This individual was clad entirely in armor, his face concealed within his helmet. He stood silently behind Zhong Xuan Sheng, uttering not a single word. However, his mere position spoke volumes of Zhong Xuan Sheng’s trust in him.

At this moment, the atmosphere within the grounds grew tense. The crowd observed the Zhang family youth, anticipating his humiliation. Disciples of prominent families disdained being grouped with those of unknown origin, while those who had earned their quotas through hardship resented his seemingly effortless gain.

The young man lowered his head and mumbled, “I am…I am from the Zhang family of Feng Xian.”

“What? Who are you? Which Zhang?” Gao Jing’s tone was clearly intended to humiliate. “You can’t even speak clearly, and yet you dare covet the Tian Fu secret realm? Was your quota perhaps purchased with money?”

“No!” The Zhang family youth panicked, raising his head to reveal a youthful, tender face. “I am Zhang Yong.”

“…This quota was passed down from an ancestor.” Even in his anger, he dared not directly confront Gao Jing.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from beyond the high walls.

“Resist death, entwining lingered wealth and nobility long, With body donated to country, nameless general gone! The world all praises Shi Men Li, Who still knows Feng Xian Zhang?”

A hush fell over the crowd. Gao Jing’s expression abruptly shifted! Everyone knew that the rise of the Jing Hai Gao family was precisely due to the favor bestowed upon the enchanting Jing Gui Fei. Both were “deaths,” yet one “resisted death” upon a bed, while the other died in battle on the battlefield. The former achieved prolonged wealth and nobility, while the latter’s fame gradually faded. This blatant sarcasm was a clear insult to the Gao family name.

Not only Gao Jing himself but also the Gao family elder accompanying him were furious. Just as they were about to ascertain the identity of the individual who dared speak such nonsense and perhaps wash away the insult with blood, three figures entered the enclosed space.

Though only three in number, they carried themselves with a kind of imposing momentum. The leftmost figure was a Confucian-robed man with an unusually high forehead. As he walked, he spoke, “In the past, when the Jiang family lost their country and the imperial descendants fled, the Li family and the Zhang family later joined forces to support Jiang Wu Jiu in restoring the state. First, the Zhang family ancestor fought nine battles and returned nine times, exhausting his strength and perishing. Then, the Li family ancestor destroyed a male city with ten arrows, greatly breaking the rebel army. Only then was Jiang Wu Jiu able to restore the country!

Now, the heroes’ bones have rotted, and prominent families have declined. The world says the Shi Men Li family produces heroes generation after generation, but who still remembers the nine battles and nine returns, the blood-soaked armor, that protected Jiang Wu Jiu and completed the Feng Xian Zhang?”

This individual was precisely Xu Xiang Qian, whom Jiang Wang had encountered in You Guo, and they had unexpectedly reunited here. The crowd remained silent. Prominent families had declined, and the heroic deeds of the past had been weathered by wind and rain. Given the fame of the Feng Xian Zhang family in those years, how was it that they now held only one quota in this Tian Fu secret realm? Years of inheritance had dwindled, leaving but a single descendant. Furthermore, this lone youth, only in the Zhou Tian realm, had come alone, without even a single guard elder by his side. The decline of the Zhang family was evident.

However, could the descendants of heroes be insulted without reason? The field was silent, save for Zhang Yong, whose face was streaked with tears. Gao Jing turned his attention, gritting his teeth as he addressed Xu Xiang Qian. “Did you write this poem?”

At this moment, Zhong Xuan Sheng whispered to Jiang Wang, “This person must be an external aid invited by the Shi Men Li family. The one beside him is named Li Long Chuan, our second major opponent! Li Long Chuan’s uncle, Li Zheng Shu, also came; he is a renowned Confucian from the Qing Ya Book Academy.”

Shi Men Li was indeed a prominent and powerful clan. The Qing Ya Book Academy was one of the four world-renowned Confucian academies. With a strong Qi prominent clan on one hand and a world-class book academy on the other, it was no wonder that even the arrogant Jing Hai Gao treated the unfamiliar Xu Xiang Qian with extreme caution.

Unexpectedly, Xu Xiang Qian grew indignant. “I, Xu Xiang Qian, am confident in my poetic talent and would never deceive the world or steal a name! This poem was a feeling expressed by my teacher. It simply fit the scene too well, and I couldn’t help but recite it.”

“Then who is your teacher?” The elder from Gao Jing’s family pursued, his anger palpable and his questions pointed.

Li Zheng Shu was a tall and upright middle-aged man, with a touch of frost in his hair yet an extremely charming demeanor. Hearing the question, he chuckled lightly and said, “Xiang Qian is a disciple of my close friend Mo Ya. He entrusted me to look after him a bit on this journey to the Tian Fu secret realm. I ask Brother Gao for his understanding.”

While he said he requested his understanding, mentioning a “close friend” and “looking after,” it was clear he was standing up for Xu Xiang Qian. Furthermore, Mo Ya, a great Confucian from the Qing Ya Book Academy, was known for his quick wit and sharp tongue. It was not uncommon for him to write poems mocking or even insulting others. The rare day was when he didn’t scold someone.

The Gao Jing family elder’s face alternated between shades of green and white. Finally, he could only brush his sleeve indignantly. “Since he is a junior, Brother Li should still exercise a little restraint!”

The poem Xu Xiang Qian recited was practically a slap to the face of the Jing Hai Gao family. However, they could neither provoke the Shi Men Li family nor, more importantly, the Qing Ya Book Academy. They could only swallow their temper.

Yet, even though the Jing Hai Gao family wished to let the matter rest, Xu Xiang Qian had no intention of stopping.

“Speaking of being confident in my poetic talent, I actually have a feeling to express as well!” Xu Xiang Qian cleared his throat, likely preparing to compose something on the spot.

“Feeling about what? Where do you have feelings?” Li Zheng Shu smiled, his eyes narrowing as he patted Xu Xiang Qian’s shoulder, effectively stifling his burst of poetic talent. While the Shi Men Li family did not fear the Jing Hai Gao family, there was no need to offend them to the death.

“Fine, fine, fine, I don’t.” Xu Xiang Qian, who feared neither heaven nor earth, only feared these damned great Confucians. He had already reached capping age, yet if he didn’t agree word for word, they would slap his palm. Where was the logic in that? He couldn’t argue with them anyway.

He drooped his head dispiritedly, his eyes darting around, when suddenly they brightened. “Hey! Brother Jiang!”

*On Reading History, Part Three*
—— Mo Ya after wine

*Resist death, entwining lingered wealth and nobility long, With body donated to country, nameless general gone! The world all praises Shi Men Li, Who still knows Feng Xian Zhang?*

Note 1: Hereafter, whenever a full poem appears, the source is a character within the book. All such poems are borrowed names created by the novel’s author.