What is moral integrity? Some would rather perish than bend the knee.

What is reputation? Some have their very viscera scattered upon the earth.

In this world, there are always those who cling inexplicably to certain principles. Onlookers fail to grasp, to comprehend. Yet, it is precisely these unfathomable tenacities that serve as the very proof of humanity, of why man stands between heaven and earth!

Heaven and earth itself may sin against me, all beings may revile me. How should I respond? Words are futile, arguments are vain. There exists a breed of man who, when wronged, refuses to tolerate humiliation!

Lian Que, creator of the renowned artifact, ‘Chang Xiang Si’. With this single masterpiece, he had already soared to become the most dazzling prodigy of the Lian clan, their most captivating artificer. Having only recently pushed open the Gate of Heaven and Earth, at the tender age of weak crown, his future shimmered with promise. Today, Nan Yao City teemed with esteemed guests, nobility like clouds, all converging for his creation. His brilliance had only just begun.

And yet, he resolutely turned his palm upon himself, shattering it all with his own hands. Only to uphold his own moral integrity and reputation!

This man’s resolve was absolute.

Lian Que’s body roared like a furnace fire, his palm a fiery red. Evidently, he had exerted his full strength, without reservation, wholeheartedly embracing death.

“Que’er, you cannot do this!” Clan Leader Lian Zhu Ping cried out, a mixture of shock and fury. Family Elder Lian Lu Yue was also left speechless with astonishment.

The Lian clan’s momentum had waned in recent years, desperately needing external support. In the eyes of the Lian clan’s high-ranking members, the Fourteenth Prince, Jiang Wu Yong, was an excellent prospect for alliance. Firstly, his imperial identity could help the Lian clan resolve numerous difficulties. Secondly, Jiang Wu Yong himself was not sufficiently powerful, allowing the Lian clan to cooperate on equal footing, avoiding complete subservience.

As long as they could forcefully compel Lian Que to acquiesce, this matter would have no impact on the Lian clan. After all, as Lian Zhu Ping had stated, Lian Que had agreed to forge a sword for Jiang Wang, but had never specified *what* sword. Inside the sword furnace, what transpired, how the sword was forged – which outsider could possibly know? Only Lian Que alone would bear the burden of breaking faith, a trifling matter.

They had originally believed that, for the sake of the family, sacrificing a little personal reputation was insignificant. They had originally believed that, for the family’s standing, even if Lian Que possessed a resolute temperament, he would surely understand what needed to be done. They had originally believed that Lian Que would, at most, indulge in a temporary emotional outburst. In the end, he would still grasp the superior choice.

Indeed, they had not anticipated things unfolding in this manner. It was truly unimaginable that Lian Que possessed such unwavering determination. To force the family’s prodigious artificer to his death, this stain upon their reputation was something they could not bear. When they faced their demise, they would be unable to look their ancestors in the eye.

This act of self-harm occurred with such suddenness, almost no one had foreseen it, thus no one could react in time.

Except… Jiang Wang.

The moment Lian Que spoke, he had already sensed something amiss. He initially thought Lian Que was about to lash out violently and turn against his family, secretly preparing to assist. Yet, he hadn’t expected this action at this time.

Lian Que’s palm pressed towards his own spiritual root, the fiery red palm scorching and fierce, but it suddenly stalled for a breath. Within Jiang Wang’s body, wood qi surged forth, countering from within, fixing him in place. Jiang Wang’s seal upon the second Gate of Tong Tian Palace, an instantaneously cast dao technique, ‘Bind Tiger’!

In that single breath of time, Jiang Wang had already rushed before Lian Que, grabbing his wrist. “Brother Lian Que, there’s no need for this! I believe you!”

“Yes, yes, yes! Que’er, think twice! Everything can be discussed!” Lian Zhu Ping also spoke repeatedly.

Lian Que’s palm temperature was too high. Jiang Wang, having grabbed it hastily without full preparation, already had several blood blisters on his hand. But beyond a raised eyebrow, his grip did not loosen in the slightest.

Lian Que, who had already been determined to seek death, was suddenly obstructed and had not yet fully recovered his senses. Upon hearing the voice, he was startled and hastily dispersed his inner force. Seeing the blood blisters on Jiang Wang’s hand, Lian Que felt even more apologetic. “Brother Jiang, I…”

Jiang Wang interrupted him. “This matter has nothing to do with you, I am not a muddled person.”

He turned around, looking towards Jiang Wu Yong. “Fourteenth Prince, I believe those with clear eyes can see to whom this sword artifact belongs. Lian Que’s reputation also needs no further questioning. As a descendant of the imperial family, do you still intend to continue this act of clever seizure?”

“Absurd!” Jiang Wu Yong, of course, could not halt here. Even if he had originally not intended to escalate matters, he was now in too deep to withdraw. If Heavy Xuan Sheng stepped forward, and he retreated shamefully, how would others view him? He could not possibly slap his own face just to complete Heavy Xuan Sheng’s prestige!

“The treasures of the world are possessed by those with virtue! What virtue, what ability do you, Jiang Wang, possess to be worthy of this renowned artifact?”

Jiang Wang raised his eyebrows and retorted, “What is virtue?”

Jiang Wu Yong stepped forward, his purple robe fluttering. “Might is virtue!”

Following him, the ten sedan bearers, all in the Tong Tian realm, leaped onto the high platform. Moreover, the perpetually silent, pale-faced middle-aged man at the side flicked his sleeve, and instantly his aura soared to the heavens, clearly a powerful expert in the Inner Mansion realm!

While Jiang Wang’s divine abilities were promising, he was, after all, only in the Tong Tian realm. Jiang Wu Yong knew that with Lian Que’s spectacle, the high-ranking members of the Lian clan could no longer publicly fawn upon him. Otherwise, the spittle of the Lian clan’s own people could drown them.

At this point, he could only resort to force to suppress. Using might to oppress, while not pleasant to hear, was in any case better than losing face completely. As a prince, as long as he harbored even a sliver of ambition for the imperial throne, he could be overbearing, but he could not be weak, he could not lose the imperial family’s dignity.

And facing Jiang Wu Yong’s stance, Heavy Xuan Sheng, without hesitation, stood by Jiang Wang’s side, issuing an exceedingly resolute response.

Following his action, a short and stout old man seemed to materialize out of thin air on the stage. This person possessed no particular aura, merely smiled as he looked at the pale-faced middle-aged man. “Esteemed Eunuch, the disputes between juniors, there is no need for us two to intervene, is there?”

The Inner Mansion realm expert behind Jiang Wu Yong immediately placed his hands in his sleeves, lowered his eyebrows and eyes, not even uttering a word of defiance. Heavy Xuan Sheng could contend with Heavy Xuan Zun for the position of clan head; naturally, he also had powerful individuals supporting him from behind. The appearance of this short and stout old man at this moment was sufficient to steadily suppress the grand eunuch on Jiang Wu Yong’s side.

And simultaneously, beneath the stage, individuals continuously walked towards the high platform, one after another. Exactly ten, and precisely all of them possessed Tong Tian realm cultivation!

One must know that before entering the Tian Fu secret realm, Heavy Xuan Sheng had been severely lacking in manpower, unable to find even a second reliable inner strongman in the Tong Tian realm whom he could entrust with his life. And after emerging victorious from the Tian Fu secret realm, within this short span of time, his forces had almost taken preliminary shape. This was not an overnight endeavor, but rather long-standing preparations, merely waiting for that opportune moment to take a risk, and with the reputation of promising divine abilities, immediately transform into a dragon amidst the wind and clouds!

Heavy Xuan Sheng today was openly displaying his cards to slap Jiang Wu Yong’s face. Both to express his unconditional support for Jiang Wang, and to borrow this powerless prince to announce his, Heavy Xuan Sheng’s, current status. To make more people sharpen their eyes and properly choose sides.

Sending more and stronger individuals to swarm would not have been as terrifying as this current display. Precisely by suppressing Jiang Wu Yong by a single head no matter what cards he played, by precisely slapping his face in this manner, people would be unable to perceive his depth, feeling him profound and immeasurable.

Capable of surviving in the cracks between those terrifying brothers and sisters, and even extending his reach to the Lian clan, Jiang Wu Yong was also not an incompetent individual. Only, he had misjudged the intensity of Heavy Xuan Sheng’s support for Jiang Wang, and even more so, he had misjudged Heavy Xuan Sheng’s strength. At the same time, he had also misjudged Lian Que’s determination to defend his reputation.

“I’ve heard that you, Jiang Wang, are also a victor in the Tian Fu secret realm. We of Great Qi claim that those who dare enter the Tian Fu secret realm are all the strongest beneath the Teng Long realm.” Jiang Wu Yong’s expression remained unchanged, as if completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere on site. He also seemed to have never intended to swarm and use force to suppress.

But observe him, with hands behind his back, he spoke proudly, “It just so happens that this prince has also not yet pushed open the Gate of Heaven and Earth. Would you dare to test a few moves with me, to see which one is more suited to the renowned artifact?”