Back then, when Xiang Qian still cultivated at the Tenglong realm outside the separate dimension in Maple Forest City, Jiang Wang had already attained the Inner Mansion realm.

At that time, Xiang Qian, reconnecting with old acquaintances, boldly declared his intention to challenge Jiang Wang’s title of “Inner Mansion Invincible” within the same realm.

Jiang Wang, for his part, stated that he would allow Xiang Qian to come and sharpen his sword against him.

Several years had since passed. Xiang Qian had stepped into the Inner Mansion realm years ago, while Jiang Wang was already renowned as a Divine Arrival realm expert. Yet, Xiang Qian still carried that question, his old agreement weighing heavily on his heart.

How many star-drenched nights, before that spirit monument piled high with blood debts, could erase the dialogue between those two young souls?

A true confrontation at the same Inner Mansion realm was no longer possible, but a single sword strike, for Jiang Wang to witness, would be enough to determine strength and weakness—after three years apart, was he, in this realm, invincible?

Jiang Wang simply said, “Of course.”

Xiang Qian then slowly closed his eyes. The experiences of the past few years flowed over him like water. When he opened those dead fish eyes again, they were filled with sword light, sharp and piercing!

Without any further action, he merely raised his index finger and casually flicked it upwards.

Like a splash-ink landscape, a single wild stroke.

A sudden, sharp whistle erupted, as if it would pierce the listener’s eardrums.

The numerous wandering knights following behind the carriage all looked up into the high sky, yet they only saw a sliver of a rising tail-rainbow cutting through the layered clouds!

And in Jiang Wang’s eyes, which had turned a reddish-gold hue, it was not merely a form of ultimate sharpness, but a precise description. A description of his journey, of Xiang Qian’s decadence, his unwillingness, his accidental struggles, and his prolonged pain!

From within that pain, from within that place of hopelessness, was born “Only You.”

Jiang Wang clearly saw that small, hiltless sword, with terrifying speed, constantly penetrate the air barrier, aiming directly for the sun.

This kind of speed was absolutely the limit an ordinary Inner Mansion cultivator could reach.

But it was not the limit of *his* one sword.

Xiang Qian’s flicked index finger, launching his one sword, accelerated with every breath it took.

Layer upon layer, it flew higher and higher. It accelerated eighteen times consecutively!

Finally, it even pierced through the sky-wind, escaping the vision of Gan Yang’s Red Pupil!

With merely this single technique, among all Inner Mansion cultivators under heaven, he was almost unmatched.

No wonder he had defeated every same-realm cultivator at the Sword Pavilion, leaving Si Kong Jing Xiao so annoyed and shamed that he reversed the hierarchy.

Jiang Wang was both shocked and impressed.

Chu Yao even poked her head out of the carriage, squinting up at the sky, and after a long while, finally said, “Uncle Master, your sword? Did it get lost?”

Xiang Qian casually raised his index finger in response. A wisp of micro-shrunken and condensed sword light revolved at his fingertip.

Then, in a lifeless manner, he spoke, “After we separated, you first went to Rui Country to test your skills, probably to prevent your craft from getting rusty, and find a bit of feeling. Then you went to Luo Country, then Wan Country, and then to Jade Capital Mountain.”

Jiang Wang objectively stated, “With your killing power at the Tenglong realm, even on Jade Capital Mountain, you should have had no enemies.”

Xiang Qian continued, “That group of Taoists didn’t make things difficult for you. They even hoped you’d go after reaching the Divine Arrival realm. They’re very willing to accept challenges. Compared to the Sword Pavilion people, they’re immeasurably stronger. Coming down from Jade Capital Mountain, you went all the way south, arrived at Qin Country, and achieved Inner Mansion at the Wei River. You then passed through Wu Pass, went to Yu Abyss, not too deep. Coming out of Yu Abyss, you went all the way east, through Xuan, Qiao, over Chu Country, through Li, Yue, until you stopped at the Sword Pavilion.”

Jiang Wang asked, “In Chu Country, who did you challenge?”

He knew it couldn’t have been Zuo Guangshu, because Zuo Guangshu’s letter didn’t mention his matter. But if Xiang Qian’s opponent was Qu Shunhua, and Qu Shunhua unreservedly used the Heaven Encompassing technique, then victory or defeat between the two of them, also in the Inner Mansion realm, would indeed be difficult to predict.

Xiang Qian said, “Originally, I wanted to challenge Xiang Bei, but he was in seclusion. I had to miss him. You challenged Dou Mian of the Great Chu Wei State Duke Manor.”

Jiang Wang knew that Xiang Bei had chosen seclusion shortly after leaving the Mountain Sea realm, but he hadn’t known it had lasted so long.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “Xiang Bei’s talent is extraordinary, his overbearingness unparalleled. But his Swallow Thief Overbearing Body would also have a hard time withstanding your ‘My One Sword.’ The variable in your victory and defeat lies in whether he could succeed at the soul level with his innate heavy pupils. But you have the Dragon Light Shoot Fight sitting in your Tongtian Palace, so his chances of winning are very low. Of course, I don’t know the results of his seclusion, my judgment is only based on our previous contact.”

Xiang Qian slowly said, “All the way here, from north to south, then west to east, you only lost one match at the hands of Qin Zhizhen. In that battle, you entered the Inner Mansion on the spot, and lost very miserably.”

Jiang Wang said, “If you and Qin Zhizhen had entered the Inner Mansion simultaneously, Qin Zhizhen shouldn’t have been your opponent. But he is a person who becomes more terrifying the further he goes. Comparing your current Inner Mansion state with Qin Zhizhen’s peak state at the Inner Mansion realm, then victory and defeat is unknown.”

With his current vision, he could, of course, make an accurate judgment of Xiang Qian’s strength from that single “My One Sword” just now.

Xiang Qian lowered his eyes, “Qin Zhizhen’s peak state at the Inner Mansion realm is also not as good as your limit state at the Inner Mansion realm. After all, the green history does not have anyone who reached your level. Your meaning is that the current you has not yet reached the limit of the Inner Mansion realm?”

Jiang Wang seriously said, “There is a chance to win against the him of that time, but the probability of victory and defeat is a three-seven split.”

“You seven, him three?” Xiang Qian asked. Jiang Wang smiled and did not speak.

Xiang Qian sighed spiritlessly and powerlessly, “The road is long and far, I will search up and down!”

“Not walking?” Jiang Wang asked.

Xiang Qian laughed, “He who knows me, Jiang Qingyang also!”

As this voice fell, in the eastern sky above, in the direction where that single sword had flown, a brilliant star suddenly lit up!

Just like that single sword that had escaped everyone’s vision, in the time it took to speak, it had actually killed its way into the Eastern Azure Dragon star domain!

Even the white ox pulling the carriage at that moment was intimidated by the sharpness, and lowered its head to gaze at the high sky.

And Xiang Qian merely sang in a long voice, “Azure Dragon belongs to wood, nourish my sword!”

The Four Spirits star domains were always the most sought-after choice for extraordinary cultivators stepping into the Outer Tower realm. Their stability and potential were beyond doubt, having been expanded to near infinity by predecessors over long years.

It was precisely flying sword techniques, such as “My One Sword,” which represented ultimate sharpness, that most needed a stable landing point.

In the time it took to speak, Xiang Qian had already erected a starlight holy tower. It was formed by a single sword chop. This tower, high in the sky, was vast and endlessly distant. Starlight hung down, giving this decadent man a kind of radiance.

He still did not stop, his voice speaking again, “White Tiger belongs to metal, sharpen my edge!” Then, in the western White Tiger star domain, starlight also lit up. Xiang Qian’s long song did not end, and in the distant starry sky, four more star towers rose in succession.

“Vermilion Bird belongs to fire, burn my furnace!” “Black Tortoise belongs to water, quench my fire!”

Four starlight holy towers lit up in succession, their radiance reflecting like flowing water. “Sword Become!”

Between heaven and earth, a cry for his one sword resonated.

The several hundred wandering knights who followed him, their suspended military knives, all cried out with it.

Even Jiang Wang’s Long Xiang Si in its sheath had a natural response.

The wisp of condensed sword light virtually suspended on Xiang Qian’s fingertip suddenly burst forth with radiance, so bright it seemed to reflect the starry sky. When it became clear in people’s vision, it had already transformed into the hiltless Dragon Light Shoot Fight!

The sword tip pointed towards the sky, quietly rotating.

It was simply unique in its sharpness, sharp beyond compare.

Chu Yao inside the carriage blinked her eyes. For the first time, she discovered that this unkempt Uncle Master Xiang actually possessed a great imposing presence.

Sitting opposite the skinny black Chu Yao, Bai Yu Xia, whose skin was as white as snow jade, was somewhat stunned at this moment.

As a friend who had shared hardships with Xiang Qian, he was naturally happy for Xiang Qian’s leap. But at the same time, there was also an abnormally complex feeling.

Just like the old story of the shepherd sleeping on the hillside and the woodcutter also sleeping on the hillside. When night fell, the shepherd drove his sheep home, the sheep already full. The woodcutter, however, hadn’t chopped a single piece of firewood.

Looking at Xiang Qian, his eyes were full of resentment. *You still had your “My One Sword”? You should have said so earlier! Letting you be decadent for so long!*

In everyone’s perception, Xiang Qian asking Jiang Wang to witness one sword, then using that one sword to chop apart the four towers, leaping from the peak of the Inner Mansion to the peak of the Outer Tower in an instant, was of course not a disappointment to the elegance of the ancient flying sword technique.

Only Jiang Wang understood that at that moment, Xiang Qian had given up on the effort of challenging the green history record of the Inner Mansion realm.

Only Jiang Wang could see Xiang Qian’s “Dao” and understand his mood.

If Xiang Fengqi’s “Only You” meant “Only You are invincible,” with no one under heaven being able to withstand him.

Then Xiang Qian’s “Only You” was “Only You are incapable.”

“Incapable” was a kind of cognition.

It was in witnessing the most top talents in this world, in understanding the gap between himself and those absolute top prodigies.

It was in clearly seeing the difficulty of the path he walked. In already knowing that the things he wanted to do might never be completed in a lifetime.

Compared to the vast majority of cultivators in this world, he possessed more talent. But compared to figures like Xiang Fengqi and Jiang Mengxiong, he could only be counted as an incapable generation. This was his objective view. He lived a very tormented life.

He also didn’t want to save himself.

He understood that he liked not being good, but, that’s just how he liked it. Previously, he had lived day by day, drifting through life.

Now, he was only barely moving forward, thinking “perhaps it’s possible.”

If in the end it still wasn’t possible, then it was no big deal.

Fail, then fail. Die, then die.

The world had its most absolute top figures, but sadly, you were not among them. The world had its most wonderful stories, but you were only an incapable person.

But there were many incapable people in the world.

“Only you are incapable, and Xiang Qian.”

Admitting one is a waste, admitting one cannot possibly succeed. But still having to walk forward. That was his path.

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment, then said, “Do you still remember the two people you spoke of in Qingyang Town? One of them carried immense pressure, breaking through the limit of the Tongtian realm. Then he consecutively lost two matches in the Tenglong and Inner Mansion realms, and the gap between him and his opponents grew wider and wider. Yet, he himself never for a moment stopped believing in himself. You saw his fist, it was still you. Suddenly rising and falling but his pride unchanged. You believed he would sooner or later rise again. In fact, on the battlefield, you already saw it.

And that other person you spoke of at that time, he has already won the struggle for the family successor position. At that time you said you believed he would certainly obtain the final victory. Didn’t you still not believe it?

It is evident that in the matters of this world, as long as you put in your heart and effort, there is always a ray of hope.

Now I want to say to you, I believe that one day, you will also walk to a height you never imagined.”

Bai Yu Xia, who was eavesdropping in the carriage, was inspired by these words and felt infinite fighting spirit.

Little Chu Yao also secretly resolved to struggle for three days.

Only Xiang Qian, sitting beside the Wu An Hou, casually retracted his index finger. The unparalleled sharpness of the Dragon Light Shoot Fight thus disappeared, the star towers on the horizon vanished, and the radiance from his body suddenly retracted.

He was once again that unkempt, half-asleep, half-awake fellow.

He lazily leaned against the carriage compartment, twisting like a pig, finding the most comfortable posture, closing his eyes. “Drive your carriage, struggling brother.”

Old Mountain was indeed a good place. The location of the Wu An Hou Manor was very suitable.

It was said that there was previously a separate manor belonging to the Feng State Duke Zhou Ying here, which was later flattened for some unknown reason.

To use Lian Que’s words, the great craftsman sent by the Qi Heavenly Emperor, who supposedly carefully selected the location, was just following old traces! Who couldn’t select that?

Tracing back even further, the Great Yan Lian Clan had also once built a residence here. One couldn’t help but wonder if Lian Que, living here for so long, had any special induction.

Jiang Jue Ye successfully completed the southern journey, bringing Jin An back to Xia land. The carriage returned to the manor, naturally receiving a warm welcome.

The official exams had ended several days prior, and officials from various places had already formally taken office. Thus, on the road back to the manor, there were continuous visits from officials, each considering themselves a disciple of the Wu An Hou.

Bai Yu Xia secretly gasped, gaining a deeper understanding of Jiang Wang’s influence in Xia land. Saying “among the few” might be a bit exaggerated, but even Gao Xiang Ye in Yue land likely wasn’t more influential.

However, Jiang Wang directly hid inside the carriage, using cultivation as an excuse, and generally didn’t meet guests.

He didn’t want to ascend to heaven by borrowing from the myriad threads of the mundane world, nor did he want to be tied down.

The newly received Yu Xintian was not suitable to handle some of these matters. Xiang Qian’s expressionless, lifeless fish face was very good at declining visiting cards, thus he became the carriage driver—he slept everywhere anyway. He didn’t care about returning to the manor.

Bringing back a few more people actually made the cold Old Mountain separate manor livelier.

Bai Yu Xia often actively sought advice from Jiang Wang. Jiang Wang was not stingy, actively testing the effects of different killing methods on this prodigy of Yue Country.

Chu Yao still read books and practiced martial arts, Lian Que still forged iron, and Xiang Qian still slept his big sleeps.

Speaking of Bai Yu Xia, Xiang Qian, and Lian Que, the three of them could actually be considered young talents, extraordinary talents. Purely in terms of cultivation talent, Lian Que was undoubtedly the worst among the three. But he now solely held the Lian Clan, backed by the Qi Court, with great power in his hands. The Lian Clan was also developing very well, and coupled with the fate card suppressing the disaster water, he vaguely seemed favored by heaven’s will, so his cultivation speed was not slow.

However, while others competed with killing techniques, for him, refining weapons was the way to seek Dao.

Jiang Wang was also happy to live a secluded life in the manor.

He completely disregarded the situation in the southern border, the changes in the officialdom, and the dynamics of the world.

Besides cultivating every day, he drank wine with his several friends of similar age and different personalities, sparred with them, chatted about ancient and modern great matters, and pointed at maps and cursed. He also taught his little disciple from time to time and occasionally inspected the Old Mountain iron cavalry. Besides these, he wrote letters every three or five days.

Such days were substantial and comfortable.

Until the end of August, when Chong Xuan Pang’s paper crane flew into the Taixu Illusion Realm.

Meeting in the Star River Pavilion, Jiang Wang still felt a little embarrassed.

Because it wasn’t until Chong Xuan Pang’s letter arrived that he suddenly remembered the Ming Kong Cold Mountain matter. Before going to Jin An County, he had specially sent Ti Qi to the station, but on the return journey, he completely forgot about it.

Only after returning to the Old Mountain separate manor did he remember, and then felt that delaying for a few more days wouldn’t hurt… and so he had dragged it on until now.

Chong Xuan Pang, on the other hand, had diligently and conscientiously operated their business in Qi Country, taking care of his Qingyang Town. He had been on the edge of South Xia for so long. He claimed he wanted to work hard, but the fief had been given to Du Gu Xiao, Ti Qi had been given to Xue Ru Shi, and he himself hadn’t even set foot inside Chong Xuan Pang’s fief gate.

“Well, your Ming Kong Cold Mountain,” Jiang Wang preemptively struck, “it’s very good, it has great development potential.”

If it had been in the past, Chong Xuan Sheng would have immediately realized that this fellow hadn’t done any work at all, and there would have been at least one round of cold mockery and sarcasm. But today, he only looked at Jiang Wang.

He looked at Jiang Wang so uncomfortably that he almost wanted to actively admit his mistake.

“Come back to Linzi once,” he said casually.

His expression was calm, but his voice was a little hoarse.

“Okay.” Jiang Wang agreed first, then asked, “What’s the matter?”

He added with a smile, “Don’t tell me you were beaten to tears by the Champion Hou and want me to go avenge you.”

“The old master is gone,” Chong Xuan Sheng said.