Pure Ritual, who had just seen Play Fate leave, looked covetously at the guard by the door, then rushed in to report. “I don’t like that person.” He said very seriously.

“Okay.” Jiang Wang casually humored him, “Since you don’t like him, then I don’t like him either.”

“I’m not being petty.” As the senior brother, Pure Ritual couldn’t let his junior brother think he was being small-minded. He very seriously explained why he didn’t like Play Fate: “He didn’t use his full strength in Floating Land. We were all fighting desperately, and he was holding back. I felt he had stronger power, but didn’t release it in the end. As a result, the evil ghost’s heavenly path saber almost killed him. It was his own dishonesty that led to that situation. And you still had to risk yourself to save him.”

Jiang Wang shook his head, “Thinking about hiding strength at the brink of life and death, I don’t know whether to call him confident or foolish…

…But considering he’s not a fool, perhaps he has his own reasons! Maybe he is ‘in Play Fate’?”

This little joke at the end didn’t make Pure Ritual laugh.

He still held a grudge about Play Fate hiding his strength and causing his junior brother to take risks. “Junior brother, you are just too honest and kind. If you don’t remember to keep your distance from this kind of person, you don’t know how many times you’ll be cheated in the future.”

“Then you can help me watch more.” Jiang Wang laughed, “Use your discerning eyes!”

Pure Ritual proudly raised his bald head. He felt a sense of responsibility, the responsibility of “senior brother protecting junior brother, teaching him how to face this world.”

Zhu Weiwo might be in the Mountain Sea Realm!

Jiang Wang was truly suddenly enlightened within the mysterious barrier.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the Great Chu’s Huai State Duke’s Mansion and the merchant world’s Yun Country helping him search for Zhu Weiwo. They had been searching for several years without result. Only the Mo Family in Bu Fu City had acted once, how could they not seek perfection? Yet they also searched everywhere without seeing that Great Senior Brother of his.

From this, he should actually have thought that Zhu Weiwo was very likely not in the present world at all.

Linking this to Huang Jinmo and Huang Weizhen’s relationship, the Mountain Sea Realm was truly an extremely possible place.

Before, he was fixated on the notion that the Mountain Sea Realm, having just opened for a short time, wouldn’t open again, yet he forgot the special nature of Huang Jinmo in the Mountain Sea Realm. There was absolutely a possibility that he could break the convention.

As soon as this possibility came to mind, Jiang Wang couldn’t sit still. But just as he stood up, he forcibly suppressed the urge.

He knew that during this period, having just returned to Xingyue Yuan, he was necessarily under great scrutiny. Chong Xuan Sheng had repeatedly emphasized that when playing chess with people, hiding your objective is the most important. Next is hiding your strength, then hiding your timing. The biggest taboo is letting people see your cards before you even sit down at the table.

No matter what he did, he couldn’t let people detect it. Especially since he had to guard against Zhuang Gaoenu having other plans, for now only Xingyue Yuan could be considered safe. Jiang Wang very seriously mentioned to Guan Yan senior that he was building a tavern in Xingyue Yuan, said that someone was covetously eyeing him, and asked Guan Yan senior to please watch over him more.

Zhuang Gaoenu, after all, was Zhuang Gaoenu. She didn’t lack adventurous courage, but she also wouldn’t take risks lightly. Without knowing the whereabouts of everyone in Baiyu Jing, she directly paused the plan. This allowed Lin Zhengren, the envoy who had been sent to various countries with such fanfare, to keep his life and return, and they could continue their wise ruler and wise minister script.

But with Zhuang Gaoenu’s style, she certainly wouldn’t stop here. Although Lin Zhengren left, it absolutely didn’t mean the crisis was over. How could someone like Zhuang Gaoenu be willing to wait until Jiang Wang reached Dongzhen? How could she sit and watch the noose tighten around her neck? One scheme failing would likely soon be followed by another.

He also didn’t know what role Lin Zhengren could still play in the next round.

Jiang Wang had expectations for Lin Zhengren’s performance, but he didn’t rely on it. He only regarded it as a possibility of adding icing on the cake.

In the following period of time, he honestly stayed in the Baiyu Jing tavern, cultivating and meditating every day, quite having the demeanor of someone sitting steadily on a fishing platform, unmoved by the eight winds and as stable as a mountain. He left all matters, big or small, to Bai Yuxia and the others, and absolutely did not go out, as if he was in seclusion until death, not leaving the mountain until he reached Dongzhen.

Under this seemingly Ao Huangzhong-like closed-door tactic, anyone wanting to target him would find it very difficult to find an opportunity.

Zhuang Country’s envoy Lin Zhengren had already left. According to the prior agreement, Lian Yuchan, who represented Xiang Country’s sincerity and was quite like a hostage, could also return to her country.

But she seemed to have completely forgotten about this matter, and was still happily continuing her serving work.

“There’s no meaning in going back!” She said, “I’ve already fallen in love with this self-reliant life!”

This was a transformation from a “helping hand” temporary worker to a formal employee… Since she had said this, it was impossible not to pay her wages.

And he left that headache to Bai Yuxia.

Jiang Wang, as the boss, only played the good cop, giving his employees meticulous care: “Yuchan, have you already seen the scenery on the other shore?”

Lian Yuchan didn’t hide it either: “My trip to Floating Land benefited me greatly, I indeed gained something!”

Jiang Wang nodded: “Finish today’s work and then quickly go cultivate. Work hard. I always feel that you will be the first to reach Shenlin!”

In the cultivation world, there were always various records, some of which were even engraved as monuments. Among them, the record of cultivation speed was pursued by many people. For example, “the youngest Dongzhen in history,” or “reaching Shenlin before the age of thirty can be called a prodigy of the present world.”

But before Shenlin, no one competed on cultivation speed; at most, they competed on who was the strongest in the same realm.

Because before the barrier between heaven and man, it was all a time for laying foundations. Spending seven or eight years in Maipai was not uncommon, and three or five years in Zhou Tian was very common. Many children with good conditions, although they cultivated a good body early and took pills to open their veins, still needed to wait for their bodies to grow and for their Dao veins’ root system to become more stable. And the Zhou Tian realm was a realm of initially establishing world cognition. Being too young with too little experience, they couldn’t feel its true meaning. Rushing for success would affect the future.

From Tongtian to Tenglong, one needed to push the heaven-earth gate. From Tenglong to Neifu, one needed to clear away ignorance. An ignorant child is an ignorant child. If knowledge is not opened, how can we talk about clearing ignorance?

Those who are born with innate knowledge might not be in this category, but they also need to wait for the flesh to mature in order to carve the body as the boat on the sea of suffering.

Bai Yuxia, Lin Xian, and Lian Yuchan were all within thirty years old, and they had all reached the verge of the heaven-human barrier, with the possibility of proving themselves as prodigies of the present world. Although they didn’t explicitly say it daily, they were all diligently cultivating with a hint of competitive spirit.

In fact, for people like them who could represent a country, there was usually only one or even no prodigies in the same period. If they couldn’t reach Shenlin before the age of thirty, they would lose heart, and it would be even harder to achieve it after thirty.

When people’s expectations fall short, they become a mountain on the shoulders, a spine-breaking thorn. The most terrifying thing is a cultivator’s own mental imbalance, which then severs the great Dao.

Hearing the boss’s confidence in herself, Lian Yuchan smiled like a flower and happily went downstairs.

Leaving Xingyue Yuan quietly wasn’t too difficult. Pure Ritual guarded the top-floor staircase every day like a door god, and no one knew if he was in the room.

Of course, when he actually set off, he still needed to say a word to Shopkeeper Bai. “…That’s how it is. I’ll be back after I finish my business.

“Boss, rest assured.”

Boss Jiang rambled on and on, but Shopkeeper Bai’s response was very concise.

He had originally planned to give a few more instructions, but it seemed there was nothing left to instruct. Shopkeeper Bai was excellent in both civil and military matters, and handled things reliably, which was very reassuring.

Finally, Boss Jiang only encouraged: “Yuxia, cultivate well. I always have faith in you. You’ll definitely be the first to reach Shenlin.”

Bai Yuxia said “Oh” and went about her business. Huh? How come it wasn’t very effective with him here?

Clearly, when he praised Lin Xian earlier, Lin Xian had happily chopped several hundred jin of firewood.

Boss Jiang scratched his head, then pushed this small doubt to the back of his mind. That night, he left Xingyue Yuan… The destination, of course, was Chu Country.

Ever since he had a guess about Zhu Weiwo’s whereabouts, Jiang Wang had started preparing for a rescue. Since it was inconvenient for him to act in Xingyue Yuan, he fully entrusted it to Zuo Guangshu.

Except for the one in Bu Fu City that went missing with Zhu Weiwo, the other Nine Chapters Jade Bi were all in the hands of Chu people. The status of the Huai State Duke’s Mansion in Chu Country was self-evident. During this period of Jiang Wang’s low profile, they had already gathered all the jade bi. They were just waiting for Jiang Wang to arrive to try and open the Mountain Sea Realm again.

Chu land, since ancient times, had an unyielding romantic temperament.

No matter how many times he came, it was very difficult not to praise the magnificent splendor of this place.

Under Zuo Guangshu’s reception, Jiang Wang low-key snuck into Huaichang County and arrived at Luo Mountain.

Nowadays, the name Jiang Wang was too conspicuous, and the Huai State Duke’s Mansion was also a place under great scrutiny from all sides. If Jiang Wang lived there, it would be very difficult to be quiet.

Once the news of his trip to Chu leaked, not to mention, Zhong Li Yan would certainly cause a commotion. Because he had defeated Chong Xuan Zun by half a move after leaving Qi, Dou Zhao, who overlooked the world, would also absolutely not miss the opportunity to fight.

Not to mention his whereabouts might alarm Zhuang Gaoenu, and whether or not Zhu Weiwo’s Mo Family would secretly pay attention… Luo Mountain was a forbidden area that was not allowed to be entered without Zuo family’s order, so secrecy was absolutely not a problem, thus it became the choice for this trip.

“Big Brother Jiang.” Returning to Luo Mountain, Zuo Guangshu relaxed a lot and came out of that sneaky state. While walking, he stared at Jiang Wang: “How do I feel… Compared to seeing you in Taixu Huanjing, you are even stronger now?”

“Your feeling…” Jiang Wang said concisely, “is not wrong!”

Zuo Guangshu hummed.

They often sparred in Taixu Huanjing. Most of the time, Jiang Wang suppressed his cultivation, but there were also times when Zuo Guangshu would request Jiang Wang to show more power, and he would unleash himself, fully practicing his various ingenious ideas in Dao techniques.

After being tempered in the Mountain Sea Realm and obtaining the Nine Phoenix divine ability, Young Duke Zuo’s strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. Even the current Jiang Wang could often get inspiration for the usage of techniques from him.

What made Young Duke Zuo unhappy was that Big Brother Jiang didn’t completely replicate his power in Taixu Huanjing; he was still holding back.

But he calculated the accounts every day, often counting how far the difference was. This time he miscalculated!

“I heard you defeated Chong Xuan Zun when you left Qi?” Zuo Guangshu asked again.

Mentioning Chong Xuan Zun, Jiang Wang became a little serious after all. After thinking, he said seriously: “Although I won by half a move in the last fight, fundamentally, the win or loss of that fight was actually unrelated to strength… It was because our determinations were different.”

“Determination?”

“My determination to step on my own path. And his determination to win against me.”

“He didn’t want to win against you that much, did he?”

“No one won’t want to win against me, Jiang Wang. I’m just saying that day, I carried the resolve to abandon everything. While he only had the resolve to respect his opponent and go all out.”

Zuo Guangshu thoughtfully: “That is to say, if you fought again, you wouldn’t be absolutely sure of winning?”

“That is Chong Xuan Zun. In the same realm, who can be absolutely sure of winning against him?” Jiang Wang walked forward calmly. The winding mountain path under his feet was like a tamed snake: “I can only say that if we fight again, I still believe I will be victorious. Of course, he will certainly have the same confidence.”

“But no matter what, you still won. You drew with Dou Zhao at the Supreme King’s Court, and defeated Chong Xuan Zun in Linzi. Can I understand it this way—” Zuo Guangshu’s eyes were shining: “Are you already the first in Shenlin among the young generation?”

“Eh~ Xiao Shu! Be low-key! Being a person still needs to be humble!” Jiang Wang strode forward, humbly waving his hand: “But I really don’t know who among the chiefs of various sects and the prodigies of various countries is my opponent… Perhaps I am ignorant! Very punchable…

But very imposing!

Zuo Guangshu was full of fighting spirit: “Then you have to sit firm in that first seat, and wait for me to challenge you when I reach Shenlin!”

Jiang Wang said with a smile: “Okay.”

Of course, there were people who could fight. For example, Chong Xuan Zun, Dou Zhao, not to mention some older ones like Ji Zhaonan, Chunyu Gui, Huang Budong, Murong Longji, Cang Ming, Ye Er…

Ancient sects also had experts, for example, Glazed Buddha Son Pure Ritual little holy monk, for example, Play Fate who unleashed all his strength…

The royal families of various countries hid even more dragons and crouching tigers, self-opening the Dao Martial Jiang Wuyou, the unfathomable Jiang Wuhua, possessing the “Heaven’s Eye” He Lian Yuyun…

But no matter who he faced, Jiang Wang had the confidence to fight and win.

Within the realm of Shenlin, among all the people who could be called “young,” no one could suppress him. This was the confidence tempered through patrolling the world and defeating countless strong enemies.

It’s just that the Shenlin realm is, after all, a realm of sublimation that breaks through the barrier between heaven and man. A lifespan of 518 years means infinite possibilities.

Coupled with the characteristic of Shenlin never stopping cultivating until death, no one knew what kind of terrifying power the old monsters who had accumulated in this realm possessed. It was also inevitable to have existences like Xiong Tu once was, who could not reach Dongzhen because his Dao path was too strong, and continuously polished himself, waiting to become a strong True Person in one step.

Therefore, Jiang Wang could not call himself the first in Shenlin after all.

Add the prefix “young generation,” and then no one would have any objections!

As of today, all the renowned young prodigies, in the same realm, were at most equal to him, impossible to be stronger than him. He could completely say such bold words!

Deep in Luo Mountain hidden was the Zuo family’s self-made training ground, Mountain Sea Purgatory, guarded by a scar-faced big man. But this trip was not towards there, but to the top of the mountain.

After parting the clouds, there was a group of pavilions built along the mountain ridge. Those who could live here were all people who had served the Zuo family for generations.

The largest of the Zuo family’s three Fashu Pavilions was here. And then Jiang Wang saw Zuo Xiao.

The Great Chu’s Huai State Duke put down his official duties and personally presided over the opening of the Mountain Sea Realm this time!

“I also have some curiosity about the Mountain Sea Realm, so I’ll take this opportunity to come and see.” The old duke said calmly.

The opening of the Mountain Sea Realm had its own cycle, which lay in the development of the inner world. Forcing it open this time, he feared there would be disharmonious places, so he personally came to observe.

As for the Nine Chapters Jade Bi scattered among various families, he had come forward to gather them and exchanged quite a few resources. He also didn’t say any of this.

“Grandpa Zuo.” Jiang Wang bowed deeply: “Junior is unable to often greet you, and feels ashamed in his heart!”

The Zuo family had done too much for him. If it weren’t related to Zhu Weiwo, he wouldn’t feel good about troubling them again no matter what.

“No need for polite words.” The Huai State Duke casually lifted him up, looked at him again, then turned and walked in front: “The old man is not yet bedridden and unable to take care of himself, where is there a need to greet often? When you have matters and can think of me, that counts as remembering.”

That grandson who was wholeheartedly trying to prove himself, yet was unwilling to talk to his grandpa at any time.