Deep in the palace gardens, the long sky is devoid of wild geese calls.

The empty, vast sky stretches endlessly over the continuous palaces, filling the field of vision. All the way, carriages give way to palanquins, then walking.

Walking on the desolate ground bricks, weeds grow in the cracks. The White-clothed State Marquis passed by the Blue Stone Palace.

Blue eaves are draped with spiderwebs, and sparrows flutter among the red tiles.

Amidst the prosperity of the Qi Palace, this is a corner in decay.

Qiu Ji explained in front: “Fewer people know about your duel with Wu An Hou… although it can no longer be hidden.”

There are many ways to enter the palace, and he was explaining why they were walking here. Chong Xuan Zun did not care.

He had not yet sobered up from the wine, so it would do no harm to let this world be more confused for a while.

The current Emperor has ruled for fifty-eight years. In these fifty-eight years, his will has always covered this piece of sky. Where the sword edge points, myriad armies tread. Where the eyes reach, the hearts of billions turn. But not everyone will follow his will.

People call him the Holy Emperor, but their hearts differ.

For example, Jiang Wu Liang of the Blue Stone Palace advocates peace with all his heart, for example, Chong Xuan Ming Tu refuses to lead the army, for example, the Duke of Lou Lan openly raised a rebel flag…

But without exception, all those who went against the Emperor’s will ultimately met with a bad end. No matter if you were the noblest of the nobility, or the top commander talent in the world, even the country’s heir apparent.

History has repeatedly proven the current Emperor’s correctness.

History also repeatedly interpreted how to win back the Emperor’s heart and how to face the current Emperor’s correct choices.

For example, Chong Xuan Ming Tu’s self-exile to the sea, Chong Xuan Yun Bo putting on armor in his later years, Chong Xuan Ming Shan dying on the battlefield, Chong Xuan Chu Liang becoming a fierce butcher in one battle… and Chong Xuan Sheng’s plan to secure the eastern front, Chong Xuan Zun’s carefree roaming of Xia soil. Only then was there the saying, “A famous clan protecting the country, a family of glorious generals, is called Chong Xuan!”

But this world is full of vast waves precisely because each person is different. Jiang Wang is Jiang Wang.

He is not the Duke of Lou Lan. He will not wait until his wings are full, enough to command soldiers and rebel against the country, then leave, even taking everything he owns in Qi country and splitting the land as the Bright King. He removed his armor, crown, and seal, gave up everything he had won, and asked to resign alone.

He is also not Jiang Meng Xiong. He cannot become the Great Qi military god, not only in strategy but also in specific choices. Even between the court and the wilderness, everyone has expectations for him to become the future military god. Very interesting.

Chong Xuan Zun only feels that this world is truly too interesting!

He can always see the road ahead at a glance, hence he is very joyful about the unexpected. He indulges in drunkenness, and also indulges in unrestrained freedom.

He now impatiently wants to see the Emperor’s expression, and impatiently wants to see Jiang Wang’s power. But his steps are still leisurely.

The more interesting the scenery, the more one should slow down to appreciate it.

He and Qiu Ji did not say another word, only their boots knocked on the stone bricks. One in front, one behind, like a Zen sound.

The road, no matter how long, finally has an end.

The palace garden, no matter how deep, finally reaches the front of Ji Lu Palace. Han Ling is standing outside the palace gate. Qiu Ji stopped in front of the palace, performed a rite, and wanted to leave.

“You, Duke Qiu, just wait here,” Han Ling’s voice said. “You will still need to send the Champion Marquis back later.” Qiu Ji then stopped, nodded slightly, indicating obedience.

The power of all inner officials comes from the Emperor.

The Emperor bestows official positions and titles, all requiring merit. No matter how much someone is appreciated, that person must also have enough achievements to match the merit. No matter how much someone is hated, they cannot be punished without crime. This is a necessity for a healthy court system.

But inner officials are different. Within the palace city, it is the Emperor’s family matter, governed by preference, awarding or demoting as he pleases.

As long as one thing aligns with the Emperor’s heart, one can immediately soar to great heights.

However, within the Great Qi palace city, truly smart people will absolutely not actively approach the Emperor… because that is Han Ling’s position.

By this time, the sun had already risen.

Han Ling stood in the shadows hanging from the palace eaves, bowing his head towards the palace interior to report: “The Champion Marquis has arrived…” Chong Xuan Zun then heard the Emperor’s voice—”Roll out.”

Immediately, he saw Great Qi’s Wu An Hou, oh no, the commoner Jiang Wang, “roll” out.

Indeed, he should be called a commoner, because after this battle, regardless of win or loss, this person will no longer be a State Marquis.

His state was actually quite good, with no particular expression on his face.

Walking out from under the high, wide palace gate, his whole person was resolute and determined, walking from the shadows into the sunlight, his steps still retaining a certain carefree quality.

The glory of a hegemonic country, the nobility of king and marquis, fame, power, influence, all the best among contemporary young men, won through nine deaths and one life, yet he says he can put it down just like that… of course he is carefree!

Making a choice that brings a hundred harms and no benefit to oneself, with Divine Realm cultivation, still with incomplete wings, going to meet the winds and rains previously hidden beneath the shadows of Great Qi. He previously went against the Equal Country because of Great Qi, offended the Mirror World Platform because of the first leader of the Yellow River, the remnants of Yang Country, the remnants of Xia Country, demon race taboos, sea race hatred… and so on. Actually, he didn’t think about anything. From the moment he stepped out of the hall door, and every step thereafter, he faced life-and-death danger, yet he was still so determined, so resolute… indeed, he was carefree!

Chong Xuan Zun thus understood that the square in front of Ji Lu Palace was their platform for a fight to the death. And the Great Qi Emperor did not seem to plan to come out.

Indeed, with the Emperor’s cultivation, sitting inside or outside the palace does not affect the observation of this battle. But he just couldn’t capture the Emperor’s expression… what a pity.

Jiang Qing Yang also seemed like a wooden person, slowly walking to the opposite side, showing no emotion on his face.

“Champion Marquis…” Han Ling respectfully called out, walked closer, and softly explained the rules of this duel to Chong Xuan Zun.

As Han Ling explained, the drunkenness in his eyes gradually faded. A pair of pitch-black, bright pupils, like being washed by water, became black chess pieces embedded in this human world like a chessboard, impossible to ignore. The piece falls, and the chessboard chops a great dragon.

“This minister has a report!” Chong Xuan Zun quietly listened to Han Ling explain the rules, then directly waved his large sleeve, cupped his hands, and bowed towards the palace.

“Speak,” the Qi Emperor’s voice was low and deep, majestically suppressing, like a mountain rain about to come, with thunderous anger. The eunuchs and palace maids of Ji Lu Palace dared not breathe.

And Chong Xuan Zun reported himself: “This minister… requests to execute Jiang Qing Yang!” Qiu Ji’s steps trembled, and Han Ling was astonished.

The prodigies of this generation in Qi country are truly each one unexpected! Jiang Wang was silent like a stone sculpture.

From inside Ji Lu Palace, the Emperor’s voice only said: “Reason.”

“A battle that must be lost need not begin,” Chong Xuan Zun spread both hands, his large sleeves fluttering. At this moment, his leisureliness, his casualness, all vanished, scattered with the wine intent. In its place was a crown covering the capital, power filling Linzi, unparalleled confidence: “It has been almost two years since I attained Divine Realm without regrets! No one under heaven can bind their own hands and feet and fight me in the same realm.”

“Bold!” Han Ling quickly stepped forward to rebuke: “Champion Marquis’s meaning, could it be that this duel is a waste of your time?”

The Chong Xuan clan is a thousand-year-old family, a top prestigious household. Now it is even one family with three marquises, magnificent Linzi… but this is not Chong Xuan Zun’s confidence.

His confidence comes from himself.

At this moment, he glanced at Han Ling, and only said lightly: “I am a Great Qi State Marquis, diligent in cultivation, never letting go of a book. How precious is time, how can it be wasted? If you only want a certain result, you might as well kill him directly! Why make this Marquis expend extra effort?”

Hearing “diligent in cultivation,” Qiu Ji, who had just been found by him from the wine house, couldn’t help but lower his eyes. Hearing “never letting go of a book,” Han Ling’s eyelids twitched.

But the Emperor’s voice only said: “What does the Champion Marquis intend?”

“Allow him to kill me!” Chong Xuan Zun said directly: “It has been almost two years since the battle to conquer Xia. Jiang Wang and I have not yet seen life and death. If you want me to draw my sword, a spar cannot quench thirst, only death can drink sweet.”

He looked towards Jiang Wang: “I also want to see, what makes Jiang Qing Yang look down on everything, actually thinking himself capable of surpassing later?”

Jiang Wang opened his mouth, intending to explain that this duel was entirely the Emperor’s arrangement, and he had no autonomy whatsoever. But after thinking about it, he still didn’t say a word.

And in the moment of silence that followed, the Emperor only said: “Approved!”

“Clear the field!” Han Ling instructed timely: “All people completely leave the palace!”

Eunuchs and palace maids filed out with lowered heads, the gate of Ji Lu Palace slowly closed, and Qiu Ji also stood guard outside the gate.

The entire Ji Lu Palace, except for the two people about to engage in a life-and-death duel, was left with only Han Ling and the Emperor. The Emperor was in the palace room, Han Ling was outside the field.

This duel did not have too many spectators, although countless pairs of ears were all gathered outside the palace gate, listening for the result.

“When I walk up the steps, the duel begins!” Han Ling said, taking a step back, and directly standing at the edge of the corridor pillar of Ji Lu Palace.

Just as he took this step, a sword hum rose between heaven and earth!

No one in this world could perceive Chong Xuan Zun’s power more profoundly. He once established four floors in the Trial Sword World. After comprehending his true self, he was smashed to the ground by the sun wheel in front of myriad armies, missing the position of vanguard in the conquest of Xia.

At that time, he had already exhausted his full strength and indeed could not find any opportunity. Chong Xuan Zun held the initiative absolutely, refusing to let go, pressing one line to the extreme of death.

He had come this far, fighting countless battles, not lacking victories with the weak against the strong, not lacking desperate victories, not lacking seeking life from death. Only two people, in a frontal duel, made him feel profoundly that even with similar strength, the fight would be difficult.

The fighting talents of these two people were both top-notch in their generation. Their hearts, natures, and wills were all flawless. One was in Chu country, named Dou Zhao.

And the other was right in front of him.

Today’s battle was a life-and-death struggle for him.

Indeed, he was dissecting his heart and guts, asking the Qi Emperor to give him a chance to leave with his whole body intact. But if he could not grasp it and unfortunately died at this time, then he would die at this time.

Whether out of pride or mutual respect, Chong Xuan Zun helped him untie the restraints and gave him a truly fair duel opportunity. But Chong Xuan Zun would never die, and the Emperor would even personally guard him.

Just as the Emperor said, he is a Great Qi State Marquis, and you, Jiang Wang, are unwilling to be one again.

For Jiang Wang, this only represented one thing—he could unleash himself without scruples and truly show his full killing power.

He had to go all out!

Truly walk his own path with his own sword!

When Han Ling’s boots stepped onto the steps, it was also the moment he drew his sword. The blue shirt was already covered by absolute clouds, and the sword hum was majestic and thorough throughout the Qi King’s palace!

This sound of sword hum resonated with a rumble!

The sky suddenly became dense with thunder clouds, and terrifying thunder pillars, one after another, covered the entire square, turning it into a forest for a time! The thunder light struck the ground like pythons, clearing all of Chong Xuan Zun’s maneuvering space.

And he only took one step forward, stepping into the Sun God Palace.

This external path Vajra Thunder Sound was something Chong Xuan Zun had already seen, he didn’t expect it to be so grand today… but that was all it was!

Facing him, Chong Xuan Zun, how could Jiang Wang strive for the lead with old moves? What made him care was the sword that Jiang Wang chopped directly at him.

Glazed tiles, golden bricks, white jade railings, bright pearls illuminating the god-king. The splendid palace traveled within the thunder net, the god light and thunder light contrasting.

Chong Xuan Zun stood in the god palace with his hands behind his back, his hair lightly dancing, his cold, star-like eyes falling like chessboard pieces, directly embedding into Jiang Wang’s eyes!

Pupil technique, Stars Chess Array!

He knew Wu An Hou’s pupil technique was superb, and today he would try it!

Jiang Wang’s pair of pupils had completely transformed into red gold. Under the booming thunder light, outside the splendid god light, they were still so conspicuous, emitting immortal, bright light.

But around this red gold color, group after group of black appeared, like a chessboard game. There were only two red gold pieces, but the black pieces were infinite.

The immortal light was quickly being strangled!

Jiang Wang lightly turned his eyes, not caring about the approaching dense killing intent, but in the already formed Stars Chess Array, he again searched for Chong Xuan Zun’s eyes.

Inside the red gold colored pupils, there was a crystal clear thought, lightly rotating. Previously, there were even thousands of chess pieces.

One eye’s dust thought, searching for stars in the night sky. Found it!

Towards the Heaven Threshold, descend! Rumble rumble!

The ancient, noble Heaven Threshold descended into Chong Xuan Zun’s spirit soul world.

Jiang Wang saw that the world was so vast, the universe boundless, the starry sky dreamlike. The high, mysterious Spirit Storage Hall sat in the center of the universe.

But as soon as the Towards Heaven Threshold was pushed open, a fierce sun was right at the door.

A dazzlingly incomparable, figure spinning with golden light,

stepped out from within that fierce sun. With vaguely visible eyebrows and eyes, one could discern elegance.

Before Chong Xuan Ming Tu went to sea, he had recorded all his learning in the ancestral temple. This was the spirit knowledge killing method he had personally created, the Heaven’s Decree Martial Spirit Phase!

It was specifically for spirit knowledge combat, invincible, and impossible to achieve without reaching the Divine Realm. At this moment, Chong Xuan Zun himself walked towards the front of the door.

The god-king descends into the world, white clothes hanging at the edge.

The five-light ten-color Buddha palm probed out, confusing the six desires, ready to suppress everything.

Chong Xuan Zun only lifted a hand, and the snow-bright knife light was like the Milky Way!

The waterfall of knife light roughly crashed the six-desire Buddha palm back inside the Heaven Threshold.

Chong Xuan Zun lifted his knife to cross the door. A sweep of light after the door revealed the face of the Six-Desire Bodhisattva! Jiang Wang’s revered appearance was solemn. Light turned into six desires, yet a golden flame flower leaped out from his eyes. The Three Flavors Divine Fire!

The Three Flavors True Fire was the divine ability Jiang Wang first obtained. It accompanied him throughout his growth, from that lonely, brave youth who drew his sword and stood in front of Chong Xuan Sheng, to the hero of the human race today.

It was after traveling south and north, conquering east and west, going through the desert disaster, the Water Mist Realm, the demon world, killing all the way, seeing true demons, sky demons, transcendent beings, and all living beings, constantly supplementing his knowledge… he felt the emotions of the world, chewed the bitterness of the mundane world, and bloomed.

The same divine ability has different expressions in different people.

In Jiang Wang’s case, the core of this divine ability is “Three Flavors,” which is the essence and truth of all things. Before blooming, it is sought from the outside; after blooming, it is sought from within.

If explained with Jiang Wang’s current knowledge, it is “Broad Hearing” and “My Hearing.” Having seen the three flavors of the human world, one returns to view the three flavors of one’s own heart.

It is precisely because of this that one can so clearly see one’s own truth and clarify the road ahead. The heart is the sovereign fire, also called the divine fire, and its name is the upper flavor.

At this moment, Jiang Wang ignited the Three Flavors Divine Fire in the spirit soul battlefield, and his spirit knowledge power received unmatched nourishment.

His spirit knowledge manifested a body, thus giving him the qualification to cross the door and clash hard with the Heaven’s Decree Martial Spirit Phase. He also truly stepped over the threshold!

If the Towards Heaven Threshold suppressed Chong Xuan Zun’s spirit soul world and leveled Chong Xuan Zun’s home advantage, then the Three Flavors Divine Fire allowed Jiang Wang to probe the truth of the spirit soul.

The surge of spirit knowledge power happened in an instant. In this instant, Jiang Wang’s front foot stepped out of the ancient stone door, and with one horizontal palm, he grasped the edge of the knife! With a reverse hand, he pulled up this Heaven Threshold, extremely barbaric, and smashed it towards Chong Xuan Zun’s head!

How to be deeply emotional…

Author’s Notes:

Thank you to book friend “我和非常宝贝解决战争袍” for becoming the Alliance Master of this book. This is the 454th Alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thank you to book friend “浪翻云蓝” for becoming the Alliance Master of this book. This is the 455th Alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Additionally, I recommend a book called “The Last Machine Martial God.”

A Republic of China style steampunk rebirth story: “Once, this piece of land was called Jiang Song. It was the city with the most foreigners. Teahouses, racecourses, martial arts halls were everywhere… At that time, this country was just beginning to welcome the new wind of the era. The empire’s fleet, laden with new-style warships equipped with Qi metal engines and cannons, struck all the way to the nearby sea, remotely overlooking the capital…”