Seated in the attic were three people.

The Duke of Huai Commandery had first hosted the two juniors for a meal, where they ate many spiritual foods and chatted for several days. Mostly the old man asked and Jiang Wang answered.

Regarding his operations on the Star Moon Plain, the people inside the tavern, and his experiences in the Floating Land World, including Wu Han Gong and Ghost Dragon Demon Lord, he answered truthfully.

For things he couldn’t speak about, such as why he left Qi or his future plans, he said he was walking his own path, seeking his own truth.

“Your tavern has so many talented people?!” Zuo Guang Shu listened excitedly. “When can I go play there too?”

What truly excited him was the thrill of the Floating Land World. The Zuo family guarded him very strictly, and he found staying in Chu Country too boring. Every day it was either the Tai Xu Illusion Realm or the Mountain Sea Purgatory. Although he had Qu Shun Hua for company, it was inevitably calm.

Jiang Wang deliberately teased him: “It might not be that fun to play. No matter if it’s Liuli Buddha Son or the country’s heaven’s pride, they might all have to work in my tavern.”

“I can work too!” Zuo Guang Shu was even more moved. He had never worked and earned wages.

“What work would you do?” Jiang Wang asked.

“Help boil water in the kitchen or something!” Zuo Guang Shu said. “I’m very good at boiling water!”

“Alright, Guang Shu.” The Duke of Hui Commandery timely interrupted his thoughts. “To handle proper matters, you first go to the Yan Fa Pavilion to practice Dao techniques.”

Zuo Guang Shu said “oh” and left, looking back three times with each step.

The Duke of Hui Commandery raised his hand in his seat, and eight pieces of jade bi floated in mid-air, forming a vertical circle. He gently brushed his hand down, and the circle of eight jade bi calmly transformed into a door of light.

What was seen from this side was not the other side, but the magnificent and splendid world after the door.

The old man instructed: “This opening is not welcomed by the Mountain Sea Realm. Neither the opening time nor your current cultivation are allowed by the Mountain Sea Realm.

“With the intensifying changes in the Mountain Sea Realm, this time I can instead rely on the Nine Chapters Jade Bi to temporarily open a small door along the previously opened passage and raise the door threshold, expanding the cultivation limit, so you can enter.

“But you will still inevitably be rejected by that world. Regarding the targeting of heaven’s will, presumably, you have already experienced it deeply…

“This trip must be extra careful. You cannot take anything from the Mountain Sea Realm, including cultivation techniques. It is best not to kill Yì Shòu either, to avoid triggering immeasurable changes. Follow the path I have opened for you, go quickly and return quickly.”

Jiang Wang responded, stood up, and stepped through the door.

That journey to the Mountain Sea in Dao Calendar 3920 had too many impressive scenes. Thinking back on it even now, it was still a quite important journey in his life.

Standing on the high platform condensed by Zuo Chao’s power, with the door to leave the Mountain Sea Realm behind him, Jiang Wang didn’t move for a while. Having hidden under Zuo Gong Ye’s wings for a while, there was no need to rush to cause trouble for the Yì Shòu of the Mountain Sea Realm.

In the Mountain Sea Realm, Shen Lin level Yì Shòu were everywhere. Although he was not afraid of most of them now, he didn’t want to get tired early from running around.

And there were also existences like Corpse Phoenix Ga Xuan and Heaven Phoenix Kong Yuan, equivalent to Hun Dun and Zhu Jiu Yin… A giant eagle with wings drooping like clouds flew across the sky. Jiang Wang used a Huo Dou Seal to first hide his aura in place.

The Mountain Sea Realm was infinitely vast, and the scene each time he entered was different. Previous experiences could not be used as reference – but he also couldn’t just wander aimlessly in the Mountain Sea Realm.

When the targeting of heaven’s will became increasingly intense, he just wouldn’t be able to stay. Being unable to stay was a small matter, but being unable to find Zhu Wei Wo was a big matter.

So, on this stone platform suspended on the sea, Jiang Wang didn’t move a step. He first used his left hand to support his right hand, his right hand with parallel index and middle fingers, bending the other three fingers, erect in front, fingertips parallel to his brow center.

His blue shirt moved without wind, and point after point of light appeared in the void. Stars dotted, instantly like the Milky Way around his body!

These points of light began to enlarge. Each point of light was a crystal-clear thought. Within each thought, the image of Zhu Wei Wo was manifested.

In the Fang family of Maple Forest City, a point of star fire tore through the night curtain. That extremely flamboyant figure descended from the sky, a single spear strike shattering the shadow.

In the Three Points Fragrance Building of that small city, already famous throughout the country, it was precisely the black-haired man drinking alone, who, regarding the request of a nameless junior to borrow a spear and power, only said “come over and drink”.

Also in the Mountain Sea Realm, fighting together against the enemy. In the prison tower, drinking opposite each other… Immortal technique, Thought!

Secret technique, Pursuit of Thoughts!

Thoughts like the surrounding Milky Way, carrying the bit-by-bit Pursuit of Thoughts secret technique etched with Zhu Wei Wo, explored towards the entire Mountain Sea Realm. Instantly, starlight filled the Mountain Sea!

Thoughts were traceless, Pursuit of Thoughts was silent.

But if Zhu Wei Wo was here, he could hear the call of his junior brother to his divine soul… Deafening! A parting in Not Redeem City, but in fact, they were separated by life and death, and there had been no news for a long time!

Thoughts were limited, but the Mountain Sea was boundless. Jiang Wang didn’t know how long he could search, only that he would search until he couldn’t. If Zhu Wei Wo wasn’t in the Mountain Sea Realm either, he really didn’t know where else he could search.

Although the immortal technique Thought had already extremely diluted the movement, it was impossible for Shen Lin level Yì Shòu to be unaware. In the process of searching, many mountain gods and sea gods were alarmed, but they all ended with Jiang Wang timely shattering his thoughts.

And there was that type that could trace to the root and had keen perception of thoughts—

An ape with a red face, double heads and four arms, chattering incessantly, then after about half an hour, walked in the void, sneaking closer.

Jiang Wang was too lazy to waste words. He manifested the Six Desires Bodhisattva to invade its divine soul world. It rolled and crawled away with just one face.

Recalling his and Zuo Guang Shu’s rolling and crawling last time, it truly felt like a different world. Fortunately, time had never been neglected by him.

Searching for someone aimlessly was a boring process, especially in a vast and boundless world. Without strong belief, it was hard to persist for long.

For a very long time, Zhu Wei Wo was the pride of the Maple Forest City Dao Academy, and the topic of conversation among the city Dao Academy disciples. Jiang Wang initially was also one of the disciples who talked about him.

Their actual time together wasn’t much. After Jiang Wang left Zhuang Country, they mostly only heard about each other’s deeds. But their first meeting had a tacit understanding, and their first drink was very congenial.

Perhaps because… each could see the other’s brilliance, and were not afraid that their own light would dim. They were friends. After Zhu Wei Wo rebelled against Zhuang Country, they were even more comrades.

How could Jiang Wang not think of him?

Not knowing what the end of this world was, not knowing where Zhu Wei Wo was, looking at the vast sky and boundless blue sea, driving thoughts to wander in heaven and earth, he truly felt a sense of loneliness!

Jiang Wang stood alone with his eyes closed, quietly feeling this world.

He didn’t know how long passed. His thoughts flew very far, some already so far that he couldn’t feel them, only marked at the original place, waiting for him to pass by and then explore…

At a certain moment, he suddenly opened his red-gold eyes, and his hands were already forming seals!

And the sky was also dyed with splendor at this instant. The sky-blue splendor light poured down like a waterfall. From within that splendor light leaped out a noble and beautiful sky-blue phoenix, spreading its wings, covering the sky and sun.

Powerful pressure declared its identity. Heaven Phoenix Kong Yuan!

Actually alarmed?

Jiang Wang did not retreat but advanced, leaping off the high platform and heading towards the high sky. Just as he was about to exchange blows with Kong Yuan, who stood at the limit of the Mountain Sea Realm, the sky-blue phoenix’s eyes only looked down, curiously examining him.

Breaking the barrier regarding “empty,” and breaking through Kong Yuan’s pressure, Jiang Wang at this time only noticed that on Kong Yuan’s magnificent feathered back, there was still a man sitting cross-legged.

Long hair scattered, both hands empty, beard like weeds, face covered in old dirt. Zhu Wei Wo!

Jiang Wang recognized him at a glance. But then he hesitated.

Was this still that sharp-edged, incomparably proud Zhu Wei Wo? Was this still that high-spirited, radiant senior brother?

He now sat there without a hint of sharpness, plain like an old farmer at harvest.

“It’s me.” Zhu Wei Wo opened his mouth and said.

He was like a mud statue that had been silent for a long time, finally starting to move after a long wait. He leaped down from Kong Yuan’s feathered back, falling towards the high platform where Jiang Wang stood.

Strong wind howled, blowing the corners of his clothes that could no longer be seen in their original color. His dry, barren hair described the days he had spent here.

Kong Yuan let out a light cry, seeming to bid farewell. He raised his head and flapped his wings, rolling up the full sky of splendor light, and went straight to the sky. Only a touch of sky-blue halo remained, flowing on the sky curtain.

At this time, waves rose in the blue sea, the sea wind brushed their faces, shadowy floating mountains extended to the end of the sky. Jiang Wang and Zhu Wei Wo stood opposite each other on the high platform.

Behind them not far away, was that ring-shaped door.

It had been a long time since they last met.

Jiang Wang had many doubts in his heart, and many words to say, but in the end, he only said: “Senior brother, wash your face, I’ll take you back.”

Zhu Wei Wo said calmly: “This is what Tian Gong Zhen Ren left on my body that day. I won’t wash my face.”

He was the holder of the fastest record for building the foundation in all the city Dao Academies in Zhuang Country, successfully building his foundation in just nine days.

He first entered the Teng Long Realm, then single-handedly with one spear chased and killed the Teng Long Realm expert Heart Devourer Demon Bear Wen, fighting over ten times, growing stronger with each fight, forcing the evil-filled Blood River Sect apostate to flee everywhere.

He did not participate in the Three Cities Discussion, but after Lin Zheng Ren spoke arrogantly, he went down the Green Willow River alone in a boat, and suppressed Wang Jiang City with his horizontal spear.

In Not Redeem City, he speared White Bone Face. In the Three Countries Meeting, he force-suppressed Yong Luo.

He was first in the city academy, and also first in the country academy.

As long as he was there, no one else in Zhuang Country dared to think of being the first heaven’s pride.

In the last battle where he decided to abandon the country, he force-broke ten cities, settled the country’s cultivation grace, and then declared the Zhuang Tian Zi his enemy!

This kind of sharp-edged genius was the most dazzling existence all the way. His life, actually, had not encountered any setbacks, only choices.

Until that battle in Not Redeem City…

He had already achieved Shen Lin, almost steadily waiting, letting Zhuang Gao Xian stretch his neck and wait for death.

As a result, the winds and clouds suddenly changed. Huang Jin Mo was framed and captured, and he was sent into the Mountain Sea Realm. His Xīn Qi was exhausted, his spear broken, and Not Redeem City collapsed overnight.

He fought, but it did not change the outcome in the slightest.

The old dirt on his face was the blood dirt from that year, which he was always unwilling to wipe away. Because he needed to remember.

This was his scar, also his pain, and even more his shame. He couldn’t protect the one he loved, he had no place to hide, and he couldn’t forgive himself!

Jiang Wang was silent for a long time. He took out a long spear from his storage box and held it horizontally, presenting it to Zhu Wei Wo: “Your Xīn Qi Exhausted Spear… I asked people to help you repair it.”

Zhu Wei Wo looked at the spear, silently looking at it. He was still calm.

He reached out and took it, gently stroking the spear body with his palm, then inverted it behind his back as before.

“You know,” he finally said, “everything in Zhuang Country I have already cut off. Everything in Not Redeem City no longer exists. I have no relatives or friends in this world. Sometimes I don’t know how to continue cultivating in this broken place. I will think, if someone comes to pick me up, who will it be?”

He said: “Jiang Wang, I knew you would come.”

The sea wind brushing their faces was somewhat rough, blowing his words into sand. The timing was just right. Jiang Wang only said: “Go back and drink.”

Zhu Wei Wo stayed in Luo Mountain.

His whereabouts could not be known by Zhuang Gao Xian, nor by the Mo family. Luo Mountain was the best choice. Before leaving, the two of them drank a lot, but neither was drunk.

After Jiang Wang left Qi, he was already considered to be openly opposing and killing Zhuang Gao Xian. Each understood in their hearts without declaring it.

He dared not be negligent in the slightest, like a nail driven into the Star Moon Plain, not approaching the West Border by half a step again, even not going to accompany Jiang An An on his tenth birthday.

The Spring Festival of Dao Calendar 3922 was spent in the Floating Land World. He mistakenly entered the game between Magic Spirit and Wu Han Gong, exhausting all his strength just to seek a point of life, and fundamentally didn’t think about Spring Festival or not Spring Festival.

For a person with a mountain pressing on their heart, those days defined as happy by most people had no meaning to commemorate. This mountain does not move, this heart is not peaceful.

It was now already Dao Calendar 3923.

That is to say, Zhu Wei Wo had stayed in the Mountain Sea Realm for nearly three years.

Although because of Huang Jin Mo’s relationship, the Mountain Sea Realm did not reject him, and he even gained Kong Yuan’s friendship. But every day he only saw Mountain Sea Yì Shòu, and because he was in the Mountain Sea Realm, there was no possibility of Cave True. He couldn’t see his loved ones, had no hope of revenge, and was in a bitter prison. How did he endure these three years!

Jiang Wang also welcomed his twenty-third birthday.

At the end of twenty years old, he stepped into Shen Lin and was sealed Marquis in one battle.

At twenty-one years old, he was an envoy to the grassland, hosted the South Border official exam, challenged the Sword Pavilion, leveled the Flat No Birth Cult in one stroke, force-killed Zhang Lin Chuan, yet at the time when his momentum was almost at its peak, he was trapped in Frost Wind Valley.

At twenty-two years old, he returned from the Demon Realm, created a miracle, became a human race hero, yet in the Maze Realm he lost everything and abandoned his title to leave Qi.

At twenty-three years old, his radiance faded, his hood covered his head, and he walked low-key on the land of Chu Country. Perhaps someone knew his mood, or perhaps no one knew.

In the vast sea of people, he came and went freely, just one drop of water among them.

“How does the atmosphere here feel very tense?” Jiang Wang suddenly asked. At this moment, they had just walked out of Huai Chang County.

Walking beside him was Zuo Guang Shu—Young Master Zuo volunteered to send Big Brother Jiang off, and at the same time, in order to let Big Brother Jiang better appreciate the scenery of Chu land, he insisted on taking Big Brother Jiang on foot.

The dignified Young Master Zuo of Great Chu wore fish clothes in the market, just to chat with Big Brother Jiang for a couple more sentences. Jiang Wang was also very willing.

“Oh, there’s a Tai Xu Corner Tower nearby.” Zuo Guang Shu said casually.

Jiang Wang was even more confused: “Will a Tai Xu Corner Tower make people tense?”

Zuo Guang Shu was about to answer, then suddenly smiled: “This matter, however, started fermenting from Qi Country. How could you, this Big Qi Country Marquis who is unwilling to serve Chu… not know?”

Jiang Wang added: “Former.”

Zuo Guang Shu said “oh,” and then said again: “I remember you are still a Tai Xu Envoy. Just from this identity alone, shouldn’t you know about this matter?”

“Don’t mention it,” Jiang Wang said. “At that time, there was also a person in front of me. I asked him a question, but he asked me back. You know my temper. As soon as I got impatient, I smashed the Tai Xu Jade Card on his face.”

Zuo Guang Shu blinked: “Then what?”

“The Jade Card blossomed, his face also blossomed, and then I wasn’t a Tai Xu Envoy anymore…” Jiang Wang clenched his fist and sighed: “I was still light with my hits back then.”

In front of this shiny fist, Zuo Guang Shu honestly said: “It’s all because of that Xu Ze Ming matter.”

“Xu Ze Ming?” Jiang Wang frowned.

“You know what he did better than me.” Zuo Guang Shu looked left and right and said softly: “He didn’t resist capture later, didn’t the Qi Country people catch him? After the investigation, it was discovered that someone had adjusted the Tai Xu Scroll’s tasks and secretly covered up for him…”

Jiang Wang was suddenly shocked. This was too serious an event!

With the current coverage of the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, the impact triggered by this matter would be immeasurable!