Jiang Wang returned to the envoy team as silently as he had departed. Within the company, only Qiao Lin knew of his temporary absence.

After all, for a diligent soul like Wu An Hou, secluding himself for focused cultivation was the most natural and commonplace of actions.

As for Qiao Lin, the mere fact of sharing secrets with Wu An Hou was an extraordinary gain in itself. Where the Hou had slipped off to and what he had done were matters he had no desire to probe.

Thus, Jiang Wang cast aside all worldly concerns and devoted himself to the peaceful study of the newly acquired immortal eye, allowing the carriage to rumble onward.

This immortal eye truly carried the authentic transmission of the “Eye Seeing Immortal Canon.”

It differed from the “Sound Hearing Immortal Canon” obtained from the Five Immortals Gate. That particular text, the so-called immortal canon reverse-engineered by the Five Immortals Gate ancestor, contained only scattered techniques for controlling sound and rudimentary cultivation visualizations. Though its quality was high due to being gleaned through sensing, crucial sections were missing, and its effect was more likely limited to broadening one’s horizons.

The true transmission of the “Eye Seeing Immortal Canon,” however, described the method for cultivating the Eye Immortal!

“Man is the universe, man is the cosmos, man is the immortal among ten thousand immortals!”

The Ten Thousand Immortals Palace, which had suppressed the world with this philosophy, relied on cultivating the myriad immortals within the human body. The Eye Immortal, as one of the Five Senses Immortals, was a being of considerable standing within this system.

Alas, the contents carried by this immortal eye were incomplete.

Whether lost to the ravages of time or other circumstances, it lacked the details concerning the technique medium. Furthermore, it only presented the “way” to become an Eye Immortal, without the “method” of utilizing its power once attained.

Perhaps these missing sections resided within the other immortal eye, seized by the Tian family.

The technique medium, being the foundation of immortal techniques and the fundamental distinction between the immortal technique system and the Dao technique system, made the value of this “Eye Seeing Immortal Canon” difficult to fully realize in its current state.

Yet, its preciousness remained beyond question.

Consider Yin Guan, for instance.

Jiang Wang refused to believe that Yin Guan would be helpless before this “Eye Seeing Immortal Canon.” It was more likely that he had already dissected and absorbed its essence, integrating it into that pair of verdant eyes within his person-invaded evil form.

A being capable of overwhelming and commanding the power of a military formation like Zheng Chao Yang, easily implanting mechanisms within that colossal turtle-beast, and even making moves against true persons – how could he be a mere ordinary Divine Arrival?

And as for Jiang Wang himself, he possessed his own means – the Like Dream Order, acquired from the Five Immortals Gate.

An immortal technique lacking its technique medium was like a castle in the air: visible but unattainable, knowable but untouchable.

The Five Immortals Gate ancestor, with ingenious craft, had created the Like Dream Order to substitute for the technique medium. In an era where the nine great immortal palaces had crumbled, this allowed for the reappearance of immortal techniques in a rudimentary form. Though its effects could be judged as clumsy, its creativity, even in this age of brilliant minds, was dazzling.

The initial Like Dream Order required four hundred seventeen hand seals to simulate – a cumbersome process with crude effects. It was only suitable for cultivation and fundamentally unusable in combat.

After refinement by successive Gate Masters and elders of the Five Immortals Gate, it was later simplified to three hundred seventy-two hand seals.

With a steady supply of technique medium, Jiang Wang could repeatedly attempt to use the Like Dream Order to replace the *Shan Fu Qing Cloud*, thereby narrowing the gap between the Like Dream Order and a genuine technique medium.

His cultivation had already surpassed all previous strong practitioners of the Five Immortals Gate. His progress with the Like Dream Order had also reached an unprecedented height in the Gate’s history.

Through his own efforts, he had simplified the Like Dream Order to one hundred twenty-three hand seals, with all aspects of its effects superior to before.

However, even so, such a Like Dream Order remained difficult to apply in actual combat. It was primarily used by Jiang Wang for recording, reviewing, and simulating.

And the Sound Hearing Immortal State was, of course, incomparable.

While the foundation of the Sound Hearing Immortal State lay in the Five Immortals Like Dream Order and the Sound Hearing Immortal Canon, the most critical component was the Dao sound Jiang Wang had accidentally captured in the Taixu Illusion Realm. Such an opportunity was encountered by chance, not sought, and could not be replicated.

In contrast, the Like Dream Order was entirely under Jiang Wang’s control. By using it to simulate the required technique medium for the “Eye Seeing Immortal Canon,” he had the opportunity to complete the cultivation of the Eye Immortal!

Naturally, to successfully simulate the technique medium, Jiang Wang first needed a sufficiently profound understanding of this “Eye Seeing Immortal Canon,” enabling him to accurately grasp the Eye Immortal’s precise requirements for the technique medium. Besides diligent effort, there was no shortcut.

Time thus passed in a hazy, leisurely state of cultivation.

Distance, too, was traversed in this haziness and leisure.

At a certain unexpected moment, that clear-as-the-sea blue sky and the vast grassland suddenly unfolded before their eyes.

The arduous journey of travel abruptly gained meaning.

The traveler’s heart, too, seemed to expand with the widening vista.

This was not Jiang Wang’s first time visiting the grassland, but each visit still immersed him in that sense of boundless heaven and earth.

*Ao ao!*

A wolf’s howl echoed between heaven and earth, like a declaration of territory.

This sound faded, replaced by a captivating, dull thunder. Similar to the muffled rumbling before a sudden downpour, it rolled low in the air, drawing closer.

A dark line abruptly appeared on the horizon.

Looking again, individual grassland cavalry warriors had taken concrete form. Led by the braided youth at the forefront, they surged like a tide.

They wielded large iron spears, clad in mail armor, each warrior robust and extraordinary.

Beneath them were agile and majestic giant wolves!

The vital parts of the giant wolves were also protected by iron armor.

Though this cavalry detachment numbered only a hundred, they possessed the presence of ten thousand troops. Galloping closer, they truly embodied the momentum to shatter cities and conquer nations.

The Qi country carriage team halted instantly. The accompanying two hundred Tian Fu Army soldiers immediately formed an attack formation.

The Tian Fu Army, the foremost of the nine armies, naturally possessed the confidence to face any powerful force in the world.

Symbols adorned their spears, war knives were drawn, and glares were fierce.

The warhorses they rode, carefully selected demon horses from Qi country’s beast control workshop, showed no fear even before the renowned grassland divine wolves.

Qiao Lin spurred his horse forward, hand on his knife: “Who approaches?”

At a safe distance, the grassland cavalry halted.

The leading general, hand on his chest, spoke with great formality: “Yu Wen Duo of the Cang Tu Divine Cavalry of the Great Pastoral Empire, greets Great Qi’s Wu An Hou!”

Qiao Lin then raised a hand.

The sound of two hundred sharp warriors sheathing their knives unified into one, conveying not just sharpness but also a sense of grandeur.

Only then did the guards lift the curtain of the central carriage, and the renowned Wu An Hou stepped out.

The Cang Tu Divine Cavalry on the scene felt their eyes brighten. In this vast blue world, they beheld a god-like presence. This man in a green robe, with a sword hanging by his side, stood straight as if capable of supporting the heavens. His eyes were clear and held immeasurable majesty. Recalling the strong individuals of their own land, they felt that this demeanor was inferior to none.

Jiang Wang, of course, remembered Yu Wen Duo.

This was the one who had stared intently at him on the Long River Nine Bridges – the same man who was also a good friend of Zhao Ru Cheng in the Pastoral country.

“General Yu Wen!” Jiang Wang called out warmly, then said: “Let your subordinates lead the way; General, you might as well come for a little chat!”

How could the Jiang Wang of today be compared to the Jiang Wang before Guan He Tai?

At that time, Yu Wen Duo had still faced him with knitted brows, almost drawing blades over a single disagreement. Today, he felt only honor!

This was the youngest person in nearly a hundred years, amongst all the nations of the world, to be enfeoffed as a marquis for military merit!

Such a figure, and yet he remembered Yu Wen Duo!

With a simple hand gesture, the cavalry he had brought turned to clear the path, and Yu Wen Duo stepped alone into the Qi country carriage team.

To avoid his divine wolf mount acting erratically and disturbing the esteemed individual, he even approached on foot.

Though called a carriage team, only Jiang Wang occupied the central carriage. The remaining carriages carried gifts exchanged between the two nations, such as wine from Lu Shuang County and medicinal materials from Zhu He County, and so on.

Jiang Wang patted the accompanying guard, signaling him to make space, and casually sat on the driver’s seat. He even feigned taking the reins, smiling and patting the seat beside him: “This way!”

Yu Wen Duo, a straightforward character by nature, felt comfortable seeing Great Qi’s Wu An Hou so informal. He sprang up and sat down, looking left and right, and praised: “Qi country’s carriages are truly exquisite!”

Jiang Wang directly handed him the reins: “Since the General likes it, this carriage is yours!”

Yu Wen Duo did not act coy. Taking the reins, he said: “Ru Cheng and I are like brothers. He regards Hou Ye as his elder brother, so I also consider you a brother. I dare not refuse what my elder brother gives. It’s just, we should switch positions and allow me to drive for you!”

Jiang Wang laughed heartily. Ru Cheng had initially described this fellow as both silly and blunt, but now, looking at him, he seemed quite clever.

As they spoke, the two switched positions left and right.

Yu Wen Duo lightly shook the reins, and the carriage continued steadily forward.

Jiang Wang leaned half-out of the carriage door, sitting in a leisurely manner, gazing into the distance: “This vast scenery truly opens the heart. On this grassland, it feels like a sin to hide in the carriage!”

Yu Wen Duo said: “Hou Ye’s thoughts are a little different from what I imagined.”

“What is different?” Jiang Wang asked casually.

Yu Wen Duo laughed: “I thought Hou Ye, now of high position and great power, would not be so approachable. I didn’t expect you to still be so without airs.”

Jiang Wang smiled: “I am not that approachable. It’s just, a friend of Ru Cheng’s is certainly worth approaching.”

Yu Wen Duo thought for a moment and grinned: “That makes sense!”

Two individuals who were strangers instantly felt a sense of closeness due to a shared friend.

Jiang Wang asked casually: “Where are we heading now?”

“By the King’s command, I am to lead Wu An Hou to the Supreme Royal Court!”

Yu Wen Duo first answered formally, then added: “Not all the envoys from the various nations have arrived yet. The one in charge of this grand ceremony is Princess Yun. She heard that the envoy from Qi country is you, so she specifically sent me to welcome you and instructed me to show you the greatest respect. For one, I specifically brought a team of Cang Tu Divine Cavalry. No one else has received this treatment!”

Recalling the Pastoral country princess with the azure eyes, Jiang Wang nodded with great satisfaction: “Princess Yun is thoughtful.”

Yu Wen Duo suddenly laughed heartily again: “Once we arrive at the royal court, your younger brother here has other arrangements! Hou Ye must truly experience our grassland scenery!”

“We’ll talk later, we’ll talk later,” Jiang Wang chuckled, then as if casually asking, “Is the Divine Crown Preaching Great High Priest’s succession ceremony being held at the Supreme Royal Court this time?”

“Exactly!” Yu Wen Duo replied.

“Does the Supreme Royal Court still reside by the Mirror of Heaven?” Jiang Wang asked again.

Yu Wen Duo, attentively driving the carriage, said: “Indeed it does!”

Jiang Wang’s questions were not ordinary, and Yu Wen Duo’s answers were even more so.

The “good at reading” Jiang Hou Ye had reviewed the six volumes on the Pastoral Empire repeatedly before setting out. He was no longer ignorant regarding the history and culture of the Pastoral country.

Combining this knowledge with his experiences of traversing the grassland twice, he had formed his own views and judgments on everything happening in this land.

Always, there had been two core centers on the grassland. One was Qiong Lu Mountain, where the Cang Tu Divine Hall was located. The other was the Supreme Royal Court, the encampment of the Pastoral country’s Emperor’s royal tent.

The Supreme Royal Court initially sat at the foot of Qiong Lu Mountain, but later moved frequently, following a tradition of patrolling the four borders. In recent years, it had been stationed beside the Mirror of Heaven, vaguely creating a sense of east-west polarity.

The historical shifts between kingly power and divine power, and how they were manifested, could be set aside for now.

Speaking only of this trip, the Divine Crown Preaching Great High Priest was the one who acted on behalf of divine will, the head of the Cang Tu Divine Hall, and in terms of divine power, an existence second only to the Cang Tu God.

The succession ceremony for the Divine Crown Preaching Great High Priest should naturally be held at Qiong Lu Mountain.

How could it be at the Supreme Royal Court this time?

But Yu Wen Duo’s meaning was clear, without any hesitation or ambiguity.

Evidently, in those moments unknown to outsiders, certain changes had already occurred on this grassland.

Jiang Wang inexplicably thought of the Pastoral country herdsman girl he had met on the grassland back then… At that time, that girl had even “debated scriptures” with him. Of course, both were mediocre scholars. But the face of the Pastoral country in this era was visible – here, on the grassland, every household had books to read.

From this, and recalling the words of Qi Tian Zi before his departure, gazing at this grassland, his feelings were even more complex – it felt as though the spring wind had arrived overnight, transforming the land into a sea of green!

Given Yu Wen Duo’s identity, it was impossible for him to speak further. So, their conversation on this topic did not need to continue. To claim that he could learn the most crucial intelligence about the grassland upon his arrival was unrealistic.

At this point, Jiang Wang felt he had adequately addressed the official matters, fully embodying the role of an envoy. He then directly asked: “Where is Ru Cheng now?”

He actually wanted to ask even more – why hadn’t he come to personally welcome his third brother?

He had passed through the grassland twice, both times hoping to meet with Zhao Ru Cheng, but Zhao Ru Cheng had been on the battlefield and they had been unable to meet. His heart already held a great deal of longing.

Nearly two years had passed since their farewell at Guan He Tai. Now, with the war finally ended and himself holding the position of envoy, allowing for more official and private meetings, this fellow was still so busy?

Yu Wen Duo said with a touch of pride: “Ru Cheng is cultivating at Er De Mi!” His Majesty specifically granted him a period of eight months, and there are still two months left!”

Jiang Wang was stunned for a moment.

“Er De Mi,” in the grassland language, meant “god’s wisdom.”

And this name in Pastoral country had a more specific, more critical reference – a secret place that usually only true-blooded descendants had the qualification to enter for cultivation.

Jiang Wang, of course, knew that in a certain sense, this Er De Mi was equivalent to Qi country’s Ji Xia Academy.

Zhao Ru Cheng’s ability to enter Er De Mi despite not being a true-blooded descendant of the Pastoral country was sufficient to demonstrate how deeply he had become involved in the Pastoral country’s political system and the high degree of trust he had earned.

This also explained the kind of contributions he had likely made during the previous great war against Jing Mu.

Jiang Wang had just experienced war himself and knew how difficult a thing that was.

“Er De Mi…” Jiang Wang finally said: “Good, good.”

Growing up was a cruel thing.

But people always had to grow up.