Recalling his initial encounter with Xu Zefu, Jiang Wang remembered that Xu Zefu had only uttered two words throughout their exchange: “Order.”

Today, in his discussion with Xu Zeming, Xu Zeming likewise spoke only two words, but these were “Great.”

“Order” is cold, devoid of emotion, yet objective and undisturbed.

“Great,” however, carries a heavy weight of subjective sentiment.

Xu Zefu always avoided any contact with Jiang Wang, leaving immediately after handing over the matters of the Taixu Corner Tower, lest he develop too much affection or animosity towards Jiang Wang.

Xu Zeming, on the other hand, spoke of “unity,” “fellow Daoists,” and the “future of the human race” with every other breath.

These represent two distinct ideologies, though both converge upon the same objective. Jiang Wang harbored no doubts regarding their dedication to this shared goal, yet a fundamental divergence persisted between them.

If asked which side he favored, Jiang Wang’s stance was already crystal clear.

Xu Zefu had repeatedly emphasized the absolute fairness, absolute justice, and absolute safety of the Taixu Illusion Realm. The prerequisite for achieving absolute fairness and justice is, inevitably, absolute non-interference.

It was Xu Zefu’s attitude of “absolute non-interference,” “absolute transcendence,” and “success does not have to be mine” that initially swayed Jiang Wang, prompting him to accept the identity of a Taixu Envoy, mobilize resources, and participate in the construction of the Taixu Corner Tower.

Now, here emerges Xu Zeming, advocating for the creation of the Taixu Scroll and proposing to mobilize the power of Taixu Illusion Realm participants through bounties. Regardless of his original intention, is it truly solely for the construction of the illusion realm? This is a deeply concerning signal.

Jiang Wang would not endorse this.

He not only disagreed with this undertaking but also with Xu Zeming’s demeanor.

Jiang Wang could no longer quite recall in which book he had encountered this particular saying, nor whose words they were.

Perhaps they belonged to Qi Wudi?

The saying went something like this: “When others proclaim ‘greatness,’ I am always filled with vigilance. I fear I am the price of that ‘greatness’.”

Jiang Wang did not presume to possess the talent, foresight, or wisdom of Qi Wudi, nor could he navigate the treacherous currents of multi-party interests with the same deftness. He simply sought to avoid entanglements and maintain his distance, safeguarding himself with prudence.

Surely Xu Zeming wouldn’t retaliate against him simply because he refused to participate?

The carriage continued its journey.

The entire envoy team seemed oblivious, as if nothing untoward had occurred.

Although Qiao Lin had a loose tongue, he possessed discretion and knew not to speak of forbidden matters.

Jiang Wang sat in silence, contemplating the potential ramifications of this matter involving Xu Zeming.

The pioneering significance of the Taixu Illusion Realm was undeniable.

Long before, Jiang Wang had recognized the Taixu Illusion Realm as a monumental creation, capable of guiding the torrents of human destiny.

The fact that nearly all the top-tier forces under Heaven participated in and oversaw its operation attested to its extraordinary nature.

To this day, it had expanded to a colossal scale, influencing the current world order, and its influence continued to grow.

One needed only observe the countless extraordinary cultivators participating in the various levels of the Sword Discussion Platforms, or the escalating intensity of Blessed Land challenges, to grasp its significance.

Every day, innumerable battles unfolded; every day, countless Dao techniques were dedicated to the Dao Performance Platform; every day, a vast number of new Dao techniques were born…

The participants in the Taixu Illusion Realm grew daily, and the Taixu Illusion Realm itself was in constant evolution.

Compared to Wan Tong, who single-handedly supported the leap of the sea race, the evolution of the Taixu Illusion Realm was undoubtedly more comprehensive, more imaginative, and possessed a greater future. Jiang Wang was certain of this.

However, the current evolution of the sea race depended solely on Wan Tong’s physical form.

The prerequisite for the safe evolution of the Taixu Illusion Realm required the collective guarantee of all forces in the present world.

When the Taixu Sect, the proponent of the transcendent Taixu Illusion Realm, began to harbor divergent thoughts internally, when a faction within attempted to alter something… differences had already emerged, and seeds of instability had been sown.

As for the kind of chain reaction that might ensue…

It was utterly unpredictable and filled him with disquiet.

“Tsk.”

A sound echoed within the carriage, interrupting Jiang Wang’s thoughts.

Jiang Wang calmly gazed at the teacup before him, observing the ripples disturbing the surface of the water.

From within the ripples, a flash of demonic green shadow leaped out, landing opposite him and transforming into a handsome, clear-featured man.

He settled comfortably and said, with some dissatisfaction, “This person is truly rude, leaving without a word. It wasted my time observing for so long.”

Jiang Wang shot him a sharp glance and retorted irritably, “Some people are even more rude.”

The lord of the Hell No Door was completely oblivious to this jab, saying lazily, “Just like that rude person just now. In a person’s life, they will always encounter troublesome matters, troublesome people. You detest them, but you are helpless. Or perhaps, due to your identity, it’s inconvenient to deal with them…”

“Contact me.”

He chuckled, “It only requires a little yuan stone, a very small price. The Hell No Door can help you resolve these troubles.”

Jiang Wang leisurely asked, “Do you know why he came to find me?”

“I don’t know, but it’s not hard to guess,” Yin Guan said. “He doesn’t seek you out early or late, but finds you after you leave Qi Country. If not a thief, then a scoundrel.”

Jiang Wang looked at him, sighing meaningfully, “If not a thief, then a scoundrel, indeed.”

Yin Guan replied without change, “Of course, a meeting between old friends like us doesn’t fall into this category.”

“Old friends?” Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow. “How do I remember the last time we met, you still cheated me out of ten blocks of yuan stone. That time I told you we were friends.”

“You paid me no mind.”

“Was there truly such a thing?”

“Indeed there was.”

“That’s also normal.” The infamous King Qin Guang smiled. “The poor in the market are ignored, the rich in deep mountains have distant relatives. Marquis Jiang, you are now prosperous, you can have friends.”

“Truly, I don’t know what difference there is between your excellency and that person just now?” Jiang Wang asked.

“There are many differences,” Yin Guan said righteously. “For example, I indeed wished to see you in Qi Country, but as you know, I am a wanted criminal.”

Jiang Wang used his index finger to push the teacup towards him. “Please, have some tea.”

Yin Guan looked at it with a disgusted expression. “Can’t you pour another cup?”

Jiang Wang said seriously, “That person hasn’t drunk from it.”

Yin Guan looked at the teacup, and finally did not take it.

“You don’t trust me?” Jiang Wang asked.

“I am a killer, and the head of a killer organization,” Yin Guan said. “My profession requires me to be a cautious person.”

“But are we not friends?”

“Then you swear.”

Jiang Wang let out a light laugh and changed the subject. “I find that I am often disturbed while sitting in a carriage. I wonder if it’s a matter of compatibility… You came to find me today, surely not just to reminisce about old times?”

Yin Guan said faintly, “You are also often chased and killed while walking, that has nothing to do with your walking.”

“What if there is a possibility?”

Jiang Wang took out a jade card from his bosom and lightly placed it on the low table. “Qi Country Capital Patrol Office, third-rank green card catcher, here to arrest the Hell No Door’s King Qin Guang and return him to custody?”

“Tsk, already a third-rank green card.”

“Genuine.”

“How much money do you plan to spend this time?”

“First fight. If I can’t win, then I’ll spend money.”

Yin Guan looked at him. “So curious about my strength?”

Jiang Wang nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “To be able to fight with the strongest in my heart, it wouldn’t be in vain that I’ve strived for so long.”

That time outside the twenty-seven cities of You Country, he had personally witnessed Yin Guan’s great battle with You Country’s Negative Tablet Army Commander Zheng Chaoyang. He was enraged by You Country’s Prime Minister Zhao Cang’s ruthlessness and astonished by Yin Guan’s genius and strength. He had deeply felt the arduous and prolonged nature of the Dao path and was determined to seek it out.

That time on the official road outside Linzi City, he was ambushed by Su She and had no power to retaliate. It was Yin Guan’s intervention that saved his life. At that time, he had silently vowed to himself, “I will never again lie on the ground waiting to die.”

Just like this… he had walked all the way to today.

From a fragile passerby who could be casually crushed to death, he had walked to a point where he now had the qualification to influence the situation under Heaven.

Even a transcendent power like the Taixu Sect, wanting to push for the creation of the Taixu Scroll, had to come and invite his assistance to gain Qi Country’s agreement.

Even an absolute talent like Yin Guan, who had forged a heavenly path through a rugged road, inevitably uttered the words, “Marquis Jiang is now prosperous!”

He, of course, wanted to cross swords with Yin Guan.

Because Yin Guan was the first person to achieve Divine Arrival before him, because with every meeting with Yin Guan, he could feel that person’s terrifying progress speed.

Because from the moment he first encountered Yin Guan, this person in his heart was synonymous with strength!

Regardless of emotion.

He simply wanted to challenge the strongest in his heart, to verify just how strong he was.

Yin Guan looked deeply at him. “Greatly regretful. I must now maintain a state of full strength, so I cannot satisfy your curiosity.”

“But…” He changed his tone. “You can accompany me on a mission. I will display my power without reserve, letting you see my strength clearly.”

Jiang Wang picked up the teacup and simply replied, “Hehe.”

“You have indeed grown.” This time, Yin Guan’s face truly showed regret. “No longer the youth so easily manipulated by Zhao Cang. It’s also very difficult for me to deceive you.”

Jiang Wang slowly and methodically drank his tea, offering no response.

Yin Guan spoke again. “Suppose there is a monster that eats people before you. How will you act?”

Jiang Wang held the teacup. “You came to find me today, originally for this.”

Yin Guan simply looked at him, not speaking.

Regarding Yin Guan’s question, he of course knew the answer before asking it.

If Jiang Wang had the ability to save people, he would certainly save them. If Jiang Wang had the ability to kill that monster, he would most certainly kill that monster. And if Jiang Wang could do nothing at all, he would preserve his own life and wait until he had the ability to then resolve the problem.

And Yin Guan came from You Country, where there was precisely such a monster!

A protective giant turtle, rumored to possess the bloodline of Ba Xia, at the Divine Arrival level and approaching the battle power of the Cave True realm.

The You Country court maintained this giant turtle by regularly feeding it human geniuses, making it carry cities and patrol the border, aweing the four neighbors.

Jiang Wang had personally witnessed this.

If Yin Guan hadn’t escaped back then, he would have long since disappeared into that giant turtle’s maw.

Thinking back, it wasn’t just because Xu Xiangqian had a strong background that he rashly stepped forward; he might not have been able to leave You Country at all.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Wang asked, “Do you have a plan?”

Yin Guan’s target was to kill that protective giant turtle, overturn the rule of the upper city in You Country, and liberate the people of the lower city—an action that could almost be equated with exterminating You Country.

And exterminating a country was not a simple matter.

Jiang Wang, who had just left Zhuang Country back then, might have thought the problem was very simple. Nothing more than burying oneself in cultivation, enduring hardships, and when one’s power reached a certain level, one could kill the target.

Having experienced so much now, and having become a high-ranking official in Ba Country, Jiang Wang saw clearly the complexity behind this matter.

You Country had been able to stand for so long partly due to the existence of that giant turtle with Cave True realm battle power, partly related to the You Court’s corrupt but centralized ruling mode in the upper city, and another aspect was its location within the radiating influence of Jing Country, nestled within the order established by Jing Country.

For many lone powerhouses, exterminating You Country might not be difficult, but gaining Jing Country’s tacit approval was absolutely impossible.

“Meng Country’s convening of the successor ceremony for the Divine Crown Preaching High Priest of the Cang Tu Divine Hall is a very good opportunity,” Yin Guan said. “The gazes of the world will all fall upon the grassland, and Jing Country is no exception. We kill the giant turtle and Zhao Cang and then leave. You can still make it in time to continue your envoy mission to the grassland.”

Jiang Wang said, “If we’re talking about opportunity, the earlier period of full-scale war between Jing and Meng should have been a better opportunity, right?”

“Indeed so,” Yin Guan sighed. “But at that time, I was recuperating, my condition was not good. And the strength of the Hell No Door was not enough.”

Or perhaps, especially in his weakened state, the strength of the Hell No Door could not be fully displayed.

Thinking of that group of fierce thugs in the Hell No Door, Jiang Wang deeply agreed.

And that Yin Guan had suffered heavy injuries and missed the Jing-Meng war, Jiang Wang was not surprised.

Engaging in a business that involved licking blood from the blade’s edge, where would there be a stable time? Yin Guan had experienced more life and death crises than he had, not fewer.

When he was tired, he could still rest in Qi Country, live in Linzi, and no one could do anything to him.

Yin Guan, the leader of the Hell No Door, could never have a truly safe place.

Jiang Wang slowly put down the teacup.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Yin Guan looked up, a little surprised.

When he had come to find Jiang Wang today, he naturally understood that with Jiang Wang’s character, he would likely agree.

But he had not expected Jiang Wang to agree so straightforwardly.

After all, today’s Jiang Wang was already the Marquis of Wu An of Great Qi, no longer the lone youth he was initially.

A commoner’s rage can cause blood to splatter ten steps. But one who holds a high position and heavy power involves tens of thousands of sides. How can they easily become enraged?

“Don’t misunderstand,” Jiang Wang said. “I agree to go to You Country with you to kill the giant turtle not because you invited me, but because I also very much want to kill it!”

Yin Guan nodded. “I’ll wait for you in front.”

He naturally wanted to give Jiang Wang time to settle the envoy team.

Saying this, he took out another mask and placed it on the low table. “To avoid trouble, wear this.”

Then his body transformed into a green light and disappeared within the carriage.

The carriage continued to move forward.

The carriage was eerily quiet.

Between the two teacups lay that static Yan Luo mask.

Entirely black, with exposed eyes and mouth. On the forehead was drawn a stark white door, and within the door were printed two blood-red characters.

Bian Cheng!

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