Life is a long, unfolding scroll.

After the destruction of Maple Forest City, Jiang Wang and Zhang Linchuan, these two former ‘senior brothers’, embarked on their own magnificent sagas, experiencing rapid growth and advancement. Yet, the paths they chose were entirely disparate.

One shone brightly amidst the gaze of all, while the other spread his influence madly within endless darkness.

Zhang Linchuan’s greatest advantage today lies in his concealment, in the profound depth of his hidden refuge. The various levels of the Wusheng Sect below him operate on a single-line contact basis, typically connecting only through the divine realm of faith. His whereabouts are incredibly difficult to pinpoint, and his strength is deep and immeasurable.

The low-key, hidden Wusheng Sect appears like a small roadside puddle, but should anyone step into it rashly, they might find themselves falling into a ten-thousand-zhang abyss.

From Jiang Wang’s current perspective, Zhang Linchuan’s greatest weakness is also precisely his concealment; he cannot exist in the light. His choice to operate an evil cult certainly allows him to grow strong at an astonishing pace, but it also renders him anathema to the bright principles of heaven.

As the ancient sages said, “What is not good openly, people can obtain and execute.”

It is this very point that makes Zhang Linchuan, even if stronger and more cunning, easier to deal with than Zhuang Gaoxian.

The greatest difference between this man and Zhuang Gaoxian is that Jiang Wang can, without reservation, utilize the full might of his status as Marquis of Wuan in Great Qi to hunt him down across the world!

This is the suppression of sunlight upon darkness.

If one were to speak of the current situation, in addition to his own cultivation and the ancient temple, Jiang Wang’s operations are what he can openly display under the sunlight: his power, his reputation, his status. Zhang Linchuan’s are the rapidly expanding Wusheng Sect in the black wax world.

Just like this time in Mu Country, Jiang Wang needed only a single word to Yuwen Duo, not even having to reach the level of Helian Yuyun, to effortlessly wipe out the Wusheng Sect stronghold in the grasslands.

Among the Wusheng Sect’s exceptional talents, the Earth Spirit Messenger, known as the “Wusheng Mother,” was conferred this title and led the team to the grasslands to spread their faith. To gain the trust of the Chihaha Tribe, the Wusheng Sect’s Guardian Dharma King Yigui personally traveled to the grasslands to negotiate with Chiyan face-to-face.

The grasslands, in the Wusheng Sect’s development plan, were certainly not an insignificant link. Yet, they were wiped out so easily.

One reason is Jiang Wang’s current status; the other is that the Wusheng Sect itself is an evil cult and cannot exist in the light. For Yuwen Duo to exterminate it was righteous and required no further consideration.

This action was a clear example. To deal with Zhang Linchuan, one should start from this aspect. Use overwhelming momentum to crush everything within the darkness, be it abyss-like or winding ten thousand ways. When the great sun rises in the east, it naturally illuminates mountains and rivers.

Dealing with Zhuang Gaoxian is different.

Zhuang Country is an orthodox empire recognized by the feudal states of the world, and Zhuang Gaoxian is the legitimate emperor. He is attached to Yujing Mountain, and his court is in Tianjing City. To contend with Zhuang Gaoxian, there is no external momentum to borrow. A thunderous strike against Yujing Mountain, regardless of success, would result in severe vitality damage. He does not possess Zhuang Gaoxian’s foundation and cannot afford multiple attempts with room for error.

However, returning to the subject, how is Zhang Linchuan not formidable? From nothing, he has built such a foundation. This kind of terrifying, extraordinary individual, if not crushed in one fell swoop, will undoubtedly leave endless trouble.

Indeed, this statement can be reversed.

In Zhuang Gaoxian’s eyes, how are Jiang Wang and Zhu Weimo not a source of immense worry? The ancient demon extermination alliance and the city of no redemption—both actions were not taken lightly; once moved, they aimed to cut the grass and remove the roots.

Zhuang Gaoxian is an enemy, but in some aspects, he is also an object of learning.

According to the tacit understanding reached between Jiang Wang and Wang Changji:

Now, Wang Changji acts as a bright piece, yet is hidden in the dark, wandering the world, hunting and being hunted by the Wusheng Sect.

Jiang Wang operates in the light, ascending step by step, yet is the dark piece, accumulating strength while secretly gathering information related to the Wusheng Sect.

“Absolutely! I’ll definitely take you there next time. I have a Dao technique called ‘Eight Sounds Burning Sea,’ which was inspired precisely by the Four Great Famous Halls.”

“Excellent, excellent.” Yuwen Duo suddenly chuckled with delight.

Jiang Wang cupped his hand in a salute: “Mountains long and waters far!”

Yuwen Duo returned the courtesy: “We shall meet again!”

By the time he lowered his hand, the Marquis of Wuan from East Qi had already vanished.

Recalling their brief association during this period, Yuwen Duo couldn’t help but sigh, “How many heroes are there in this world?”

Between the blue sky and green plains, only this one carriage continued its rapid journey.

Inside the carriage, Yuwen Duo again furrowed his brow: “Why didn’t I comprehend any Dao technique in the Shen En Temple just now?”

“It seems I didn’t go diligently enough,” he concluded, summarizing the reason.

Another sigh: “As expected of Ru Cheng’s third brother, the realm of the Marquis of Wuan truly makes one look up to a high mountain. No wonder he disdains playing with me!”

From then on, it was said in the grasslands that the Marquis of Wuan of Great Qi comprehended all his secret techniques from within a gentle township. This led quite a few grassland nobles to make a distant pilgrimage to East Qi to “seek inspiration.”

One doesn’t know who spread this rumor.

The grassland journey thus ended.

Carrying fragmented impressions of Mu Country’s situation, the envoy from Great Qi returned east.

Borrowing Yuwen Duo to sweep away the Wusheng Sect stronghold was the last thing Jiang Wang did in the grasslands.

Before this, Jiang Wang, under the arrangement of Helian Yuyun and in a private setting, challenged “Wolf Child” Naliang, who was already leading a separate army within the Wang Zhang cavalry, and defeated him with overwhelming superiority.

In the same environment, he challenged Yuwen Duo’s brother, Yuwen Lie, one of the “Yu Lu Three Braves,” and won by a slight margin.

After the battle, he drank with Yuwen Lie, who admitted that before Cang Ming, he was utterly powerless. It’s a pity that the current World God Envoy Cang Ming was not at the Supreme King’s Court during this time; otherwise, Jiang Wang would have very much wanted to challenge him as well. Even if he were defeated, he believed he would gain much.

However, after the two challenges ended, the envoy team had already openly departed the border.

Jiang Wang quietly remained in the grasslands for two reasons: to await an answer from Huang Sheli and to deal with the Wusheng Sect matter. Each time he went to Huang Sheli’s place, he did so in secret, his carriage stopping directly outside the military fort.

After the Qi Country envoy team left the grasslands, the Wusheng Sect incident would only happen later, making it less likely to cause suspicion and arouse Zhang Linchuan’s alertness.

Once this matter was concluded, he did not linger. Catching up with the team consecutively at night, he silently entered the ox cart – the original carriage had been given to Yuwen Duo; this one was Yuwen Duo’s return gift. The white ox pulling the carriage was a gift from Helian Yuyun, said to have been raised in the divine temple and full of spirituality, no less impressive than Yan Zhao raised in Qingyang Town.

Not seeing Ru Cheng was certainly a regret, but an envoy’s trip could not simply involve living in the grasslands indefinitely. There were many matters, big and small, at home. For example, he still had a new fief in Gu Xia that he hadn’t yet visited and should go see.

From the grasslands back to East Qi, the journey was uneventful. Jiang Wang focused only on cultivation along the way.

His previous duel with Dou Zhao had unexpectedly entangled him in Tu Hu’s scheme against the Illusion Demon Lord. Tu Hu expressed a desire to offer compensation. After reviewing their battle, he specially sent someone to deliver to Jiang Wang a god-level body refining technique called “Xuan Tian Liu Li Gong.”

Along with the technique was a segment of text. Written in ancient Tu divine script, translated, it meant: “May the Supreme God Spirit protect you, my friend from the grasslands. May you have more choices.”

Previously, Jiang Wang’s defense was almost entirely covered by his Heavenly Mansion body; he focused more on strengthening his attack. Tu Hu was clearly intending to help him supplement his shortcomings. If his physical defense improved, he would naturally have more choices in battle.

As for whether the first sentence held other meanings…

It mattered not whether it did or not. Jiang Jue Ye certainly wouldn’t understand.

He left Qi in May and returned in July.

As an envoy, the first thing Jiang Wang did upon returning to the country was to report to the emperor. Of course, the foreign affairs dispatch submitted to the Political Affairs Hall was also written on the road and delivered upon return… equivalent to reporting twice.

When the Marquis of Wuan of Great Qi returned to Linzi, the emperor was holding court in the Purple Extremity Hall. Han Ling personally came out and led him to the East Hua Pavilion to wait.

He was already familiar with this place; everything that should be in order was in place.

Han Ling led him there and then returned to the Purple Extremity Hall. Two official guards stood outside the pavilion; there were no other people inside. The incense burning in the beast-shaped censor had a very faint fragrance with the power to soothe the mind.

Jiang Wang sat in silence for a while, then couldn’t help but stand up and walk to the stone screen carved with the myriad phases of sentient beings, quietly appreciating it.

This painting always revealed new aspects upon repeated viewing. The sentient beings within were vivid and lifelike, the hundred states of human emotions leaping onto the paper. Today, Jiang Wang’s person, character, and sword had already penetrated the divine, yet he dared not say his understanding of the human way surpassed this painting. He had meticulously examined this myriad-phase painting countless times and could always discern some new interest.

Today, he discovered another detail.

In the painting, there was a long street, where a wine-selling flag was unfurled by the wind, half-covering a street-facing window. Though only half a window, one could see a desk inside the room. A piece of paper was pressed on the desk, with words written on it.

Upon closer inspection, it read:

“Release the yellow child,
Lean on a staff, the white-haired old man,
Wandering steps,
When shall we meet again?”

This street within the painting was near the city gate. In the field outside the city, an old man leaning on a wooden staff and smiling kindly was depicted, along with a naughty child running back and forth, flying a kite.

He had an impression of this scene, but the corresponding piece of paper and this line of text were only seen today. This seemed quite inappropriate because it wasn’t a matter of subtlety or metaphor omitted, but a concrete detail that was missing.

At the time he solved the case related to this painting, he examined it repeatedly countless times. How could he have missed such a detail?

He looked closely at the old man again and discovered that his appearance vaguely resembled… the current emperor.

Jiang Wang understood.

This was not a detail he had overlooked, but a detail added later by another person. That person modified this painting, modified this small place, and brought an ordinary old man to life within the painting.

Ten thousand dry words are difficult to exhaust the state of mind. Just one sentence—When shall we meet again?

“What are you looking at?”

A voice suddenly asked. The voice was gentle, yet it moved in the nine heavens.

The voice of the Qi Emperor!

This Supreme Being of Great Qi had unexpectedly arrived at the East Hua Pavilion without a sound, simply wishing to scare people to death.

Jiang Wang instantly woke up, hastily turned around, and bowed: “Greetings to Your Majesty!”

“Dispense with the formalities.” The Qi Emperor merely raised his palm, his interest still focused on the painting on the stone screen, as if only concerned with the question he had just asked.

Matters of the Emperor’s mind—is it better to know or not know?

Jiang Wang hardened his heart and said loudly: “Your subject dares to offer a deathbed remonstrance!”

The Qi Emperor was clearly somewhat surprised, shifting his gaze to look at Jiang Wang: “Speak.”

“Your Majesty’s conduct cannot be without dignity,” Jiang Wang said. “How can you come and go like this, quietly without a sound, without giving your subject a single notification?”

Han Ling’s eyelids twitched silently on the side.

It was difficult to imagine that upon returning from his envoy mission to the grasslands, the Marquis of Wuan would actually dare to “complain first.”

Yet, he had indeed grasped the reason.

How is that saying put?

Reason makes one bold?

“Uh, Your Majesty’s conduct cannot be without dignity. My beloved minister speaks very reasonably, it seems you have read books.” The Qi Emperor said leisurely, “But when I just returned to the East Hua Pavilion, there were clearly ceremonial guards in front and announcers behind, very noisy indeed.”

His voice was not heavy; instead, he lowered it: “Exactly who is speaking incorrectly?”

…Jiang Wang lowered his head: “It is Your subject who is speaking incorrectly. It is only because Your subject was distracted just now and did not hear clearly.”

The Emperor smiled and pointed a finger at him: “Jiang Qingyang ah…”

Turning, he walked towards the dragon throne and said casually: “Tell me, then. What did you see and hear on this trip to the grasslands?”

Jiang Wang honestly followed behind the Emperor and narrated everything he had seen and heard on this trip to Mu Country, without mixing in any personal opinions.

The Emperor sat high, his presence deep and vast like the sea throughout, without expressing any views on the affairs of Mu Country. Only after Jiang Wang finished speaking did he suddenly ask: “Marquis of Wuan, on this visit to the grasslands for the ceremony, amongst the world’s envoys, with whom did you spar? What were the results?”

Jiang Wang said loudly: “Your subject has never tasted defeat!”

The Emperor laughed: “It seems my beloved minister is very good at selecting opponents.”

“Truth be told, Your subject refused no one!”

This time, Han Ling also laughed.

The Emperor asked again: “Then among the opponents my beloved minister faced this time, was there anyone who left a relatively deep impression on you?”

“No one left a deep impression on Your subject. Your subject focused only on my own cultivation and fought for the honor of Qi Country.” Jiang Wang continued.

Jiang Wang hastily added: “However, Dou Zhao of Chu Country was a bit troublesome.”

The Qi Emperor nodded: “The Golden Bridge to the Other Shore. That old lady Dou’s fundamental technique is still very difficult to match… Han Ling, later take the Marquis of Wuan to the inner treasury and help him select a secret technique that can counter divine soul techniques. Avoid letting people say that our Ji Country’s techniques are not as good as others, and also let our Marquis have less trouble in the future, so he can speak louder next time.”

Han Ling lowered his head and said: “Your minister will certainly do so with care.”

Jiang Wang knew this was the “reward” for this envoy mission.

He bowed and cupped his hand in salute, showing his satisfaction, bowing properly and respectfully: “Your minister thanks Your Majesty!”

But his waist had not yet straightened.

He then heard the Emperor casually ask, as if without much thought: “I heard that this time, for a considerable period during the envoy mission, you were not with the envoy team?”

Suddenly, it was as if thunder had erupted from the ground. These words caused Jiang Wang’s heart to pound!