After leaving Yue country, Jiang Wang went to Li country again.

This time, he wasn’t using the name Jiang Zhenren, nor did he visit anyone. He simply hid his tracks and observed, walking through the country.

He had previously rushed through many places. Now, he wanted to sort out the threads of the mundane world, to grasp the “world” of the Small World and the “true” of Zhenren. He needed to experience the lives of the different water droplets within the Bitter Sea more deeply.

He still dedicated time to cultivation, but the way he cultivated had changed.

Of course, he also needed to carefully observe how different small countries handled various problems in the process of manufacturing Opening Pulse Pills under the Opening Pulse Pill system. He wanted to see if there were things worth learning. Similar work had already been done extensively by Du Yehu, Li Jianqiu, and others, who had observed the situations in almost all the small countries in the Western Border. Jiang Wang himself had also seen many, such as the Xu country he visited long ago with Yin Guan, and the Zhao country he later observed himself.

But he still needed to look again.

In Li country, except for quietly and silently saving some people from fierce beasts, he did nothing else.

This was the so-called “Zhenren wandering, unstained by fine dust.”

Leaving Li country, he went to Liang country again.

Liang country itself wasn’t strong; its strength came from the support of Sword Pavilion and Blood River Sect.

Having to simultaneously pay tribute to these two great sects of the world, the pressure Liang country faced regarding Opening Pulse Pills was not that terrible. At least, it wasn’t as demanding as Jing country’s demands on Zhuang country.

This was because great sects of the world, when accepting disciples, mostly preferred quality over quantity. Only those with extremely good talent were allowed to enter. The Opening Pulse Pills used by such carefully selected disciples would naturally not be too bad.

Although it is said that talent does not determine one’s entire life and the quality of Opening Pulse Pills cannot decide everything, countless strong individuals who opened their pulses with Ding grade Opening Pulse Pills have emerged throughout history.

However, in the initial stages of cultivation, who wouldn’t want to establish some advantages?

The vast majority of average quality Opening Pulse Pills were used as currency in great sects of the world. Their own disciples didn’t use too many.

This was one of the differences between the national system and the sect system:

The extraordinary path of a sect was pre-screened. If you lacked talent, you had no opportunity in this life.

While a country offered everyone an opportunity. As long as you were willing to work hard and fight desperately, and could take a few steps forward in the competition among millions, establishing some merit, you could obtain extraordinary resources. By continuously competing, continuously moving upwards, and continuously contributing, the country also continuously provided support.

In Jiang Wang’s view, a country was definitely more progressive than a sect.

After being annihilated and then restored, and simultaneously relying on two great sects, Liang country’s political ecology was quite different. Jiang Zhenren was still just a bystand, coming and going without causing a ripple.

Taking what he saw and heard as a boat, he floated on the Bitter Sea.

Calculating the time, Senior Brother Zhu and Dou Zhao should have waited long enough. He also set off on his journey back home.

From Liang country back to Xingyue Plain, he inevitably had to pass by Sword Pavilion.

Jiang Wang still consciously concealed himself a bit, changing from flying horizontally to walking, choosing small paths.

There were no people on the wild path, and the autumn wind rustled through the wild grass.

Jiang Zhenren’s large sleeves fluttered, and he walked alone between heaven and earth, feeling an unspeakable comfort.

But in the next moment, he lifted his boot and it froze in mid-air, not daring to land for a moment.

And the wild grass all over the ground suddenly stood straight up, like swords pointing at the sky!

A thin, long blade of thatch grass suddenly appeared horizontally in front of him.

Jiang Wang leaped, immediately retreating more than a thousand zhang, but this blade of thatch grass followed him like a shadow, still reflected in his eyes.

“Greetings, Ge Master Si!” Jiang Wang cautiously bowed.

The thatch grass trembled slightly, and Si Yu’an’s voice finally rang out: “I didn’t know Jiang Zhenren was visiting. Please forgive this pavilion for not giving a proper welcome!”

Jiang Wang’s face was pale. Si Yu’an was planning to deal a deadly blow! He quickly admitted his fault: “Ge Master adult has great tolerance, please don’t say such things, it will kill this junior! But did this boy do something to offend you?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Si Yu’an’s voice said. “It’s just that I don’t know if I’ve offended you.”

“What kind of words are these! What a good senior you are, far-sighted, a saintly hand with a Buddha’s heart, most fond of taking care of juniors… I have always been grateful to you and respect you greatly!”

“Then why are you sneaking around, hiding and walking around the Sword Pavilion mountain gate? Could it be that you want to launch a sneak attack on me?”

Jiang Wang said faintly: “I was just passing by…”

Si Yu’an’s voice rose slightly: “Jiang Zhenren passing by this humble sect, if I, Si, did not come out to greet you, I fear I would be beaten today.”

Jiang Wang smiled stiffly: “You really love to joke.”

The edge of the grass was sharp, and the sound of swords turned into a voice: “It’s best if Jiang Zhenren takes this as a joke. I’m just afraid that Jiang Zhenren is not happy to hear it, doesn’t say anything, and harbors resentment in his heart.”

“How could you say that?” Jiang Wang was surprised: “I only respect Ge Master, absolutely no resentment!”

Si Yu’an’s voice said: “Since there is no resentment, then why, when you pass by Sword Pavilion, are you too lazy to even come and visit this pavilion? Of course, this is understandable. Qing Shi’s first Zhen is indeed qualified to look down on this pavilion.”

“I – was planning to visit Ge Master adult.” Jiang Wang forced himself to round it out: “It’s just that I came empty-handed, without any courtesy as a guest. This junior planned to return to Xingyue Plain to prepare some gifts, and then come over to greet Ge Master.”

“There’s no need for gifts,” Si Yu’an’s voice said. “Since you want to visit, then come up the mountain.”

That blade of thatch grass just jumped and disappeared. The dry grass all over the ground also drooped.

Did I just say I wanted to visit you?

Jiang Wang had the thought of just escaping, but he also knew he couldn’t. He carefully recalled, and indeed, he hadn’t done anything during this period that could offend Sword Pavilion. Only then did he turn around and head towards Tianmu Peak.

Visiting Sword Pavilion was an awkward matter, especially with Si Yu’an saying nothing. He still had to actively report his name and submit his credentials, passing through one level after another under the vigilant and guarded gazes of Sword Pavilion disciples.

It could be said that he had offended everyone in the entire Sword Pavilion except Ning Shuangrong. Where could he find a good face?

The hateful gazes of the Sword Pavilion cultivators continuously fell on him, giving him a sense of trance-like illusion – he seemed to be a world-conquering demon leader from a storybook or novel, about to wreak havoc on the mountain and wipe out a great sect of the righteous path.

But who was the hero who would save the world?

Sword Pavilion’s chief senior disciple Si Kong Jingxiao, Sword Pavilion’s most talented contemporary disciple Ning Shuangrong?

Probably far from it.

Then was it the Heartless Sword Master Tu Anli?

“What are you laughing at?” Si Yu’an suddenly asked.

He had already arrived at the top of Tianmu Peak. The simulated challenge against Si Yu’an with the Illusionary Dream Token had already gone through eight hundred rounds.

But this couldn’t simulate the real world. Jiang Wang put aside the image of the great demon leader, cupped his hands, and made his smile even brighter: “Ge Master adult’s demeanor is even better than before, Jiang Wang is just happy to see you ah!!!”

Si Yu’an said faintly: “I should thank you for taking care of my old and deaf self and coming to stand in front of me to shout loudly.”

“Well said.” Jiang Wang cooperated well and retreated a few steps, also strictly controlling his voice: “Is this volume suitable now? Do I need to adjust it again?”

Si Yu’an said again: “You are using secret methods to control your voice in front of this pavilion. Are you trying to compare Dao methods with this pavilion?”

“Look at what you’re saying.” Jiang Wang firmly did not retort. If he was wrong, he would correct it. Even if he wasn’t wrong, he would still correct it: “I’m only in my early twenties, where do I have the qualifications to compare with you?”

“Hard to say. Jiang Zhenren’s fierce reputation is well-known. He killed a country’s monarch just like that, let alone a Cave True. Now he is already Qing Shi’s first Zhen. It’s also very reasonable to challenge this pavilion, isn’t it?” Si Yu’an was expressionless: “The difference is only one realm.”

Jiang Wang sighed deeply and cupped his hands, saying: “Ge Master adult, if you have anything, just instruct me directly! Speaking like this really makes me uneasy!”

Si Yu’an showed a look of surprise: “Why does Jiang Zhenren say this? Could it be that I, Si, am forcing you? This, this is really a misunderstanding.”

“If a senior has matters, this junior will serve.” Jiang Wang said with a voluntary expression: “I have admired Sword Pavilion and Ge Master since I was young. I really want to do something to express my admiration – I don’t know if there’s anything in Sword Pavilion that I can be of use for?”

Si Yu’an’s expression eased a little: “Sit down, Jiang Zhenren.”

Jiang Wang looked around. It was a high cliff, empty.

Except for the thatch grass house not far away and the green stone under Si Yu’an’s butt, there was fundamentally no place to sit.

He respectfully said: “Ge Master is lecturing on the Dao, where do I have the qualification to sit?”

Si Yu’an nodded with satisfaction: “You, this child, I looked upon you favorably very early, and indeed I didn’t look at the wrong person. There are not many young people as polite as you anymore!”

Jiang Wang just laughed humbly.

Si Yu’an then asked: “Why did you come to Sword Pavilion?”

Didn’t you tell me to come?!

Jiang Wang said thoughtfully: “I wanted to visit you?”

Si Yu’an probably couldn’t hold it in either, paused for a bit, then said: “Not entirely, right?”

Jiang Wang thought for a while, then said: “I want to ask for a sword from the Heaven and Earth Sword Box?”

Si Yu’an frowned.

Jiang Wang really couldn’t figure it out: “Then I – what exactly am I here for?”

Si Yu’an had no choice but to hint: “You have a like-minded friend in Sword Pavilion. You two are similar in age, and your talents are comparable… Do you still remember?”

Jiang Wang didn’t laugh.

Nor did he flatter.

He took a step back, his hand on his sword, standing with a straight spine: “Please forgive me for not being able to comply with your orders! I and Jianke Ning are just friends discussing sword Dao. We have no feelings between male and female. Although you are at the absolute peak of the extraordinary realm, you cannot sway my heart!”

“You’re thinking too much!” Si Yu’an suddenly got angry: “I just want you two from the same generation to exchange sword techniques more, and if you have any cultivation adventures, bring Shuangrong along. What kind of grand dream are you having?”

Jiang Wang’s face was a little red: “That, haha, misunderstanding!”

Si Yu’an looked at him: “You also said that I take good care of you. Right?”

Jiang Wang immediately understood: “If there’s a partner to adventure with, I will also take good care of Miss Ning. You don’t need to tell me, we are already Dao friends!”

Si Yu’an’s face eased a little: “You said before that you want to come to Sword Pavilion after returning to Xingyue Plain. What for?”

“To bring gifts and see you, ah.”

“Alright, stop with these nonsense words.”

Jiang Wang said honestly: “I want to go to the Calamity Water to cultivate for a while, and I will still pass by Sword Pavilion. I can’t hide it.”

“Go to the Calamity Water to cultivate, ah…”

“Of course, my team greatly needs a sword technique expert. I was just preparing to invite Miss Ning along!”

“These are matters for your young generation. This pavilion will not inquire.” Ge Master Si’s enthusiasm came quickly and went just as quickly. With a flick of his sleeve: “Go!”

Before leaving, Jiang Wang said again: “Going down this mountain requires reporting level by level again, which is really inconvenient. I still want to come next time! Can Ge Master grant me an order to allow this boy to come and go freely?”

Si Yu’an had already put on a posture of quiet cultivation and was too lazy to speak. He casually took out a small order in the shape of a sword and threw it over.

Jiang Wang caught it in his hand and strode away—

He of course wouldn’t just leave so simply.

Jiang has never lost to anyone in his life. You, Si Yu’an, cannot just command me as you please.

At least not command me for free!

The first Zhen of the Qing Shi Hall, how could he come to Sword Pavilion for nothing?

He quickly left the mountaintop, his feet stepping on the plank road without a sound, his target clear, pointing directly at the Heaven and Earth Sword Box.

Along the way, if Sword Pavilion cultivators occasionally blocked him, he wouldn’t say a second word, only raising the order given by Si Yu’an. With this, he passed unimpeded.

Guarding the Heaven and Earth Sword Box was the strongest of Sword Pavilion’s five great sword masters, Wanxiang Sword Master. This person’s name was no longer known in detail. Even in Sword Pavilion, no one remembered his true name, but the title “Sword Maniac” resonated throughout the world.

Sword Pavilion has three realms, namely the All Living Beings Sword Tower, the Heaven and Earth Sword Box, and the Years Sword Pavilion.

Among these, the Heaven and Earth Sword Box, where “ancient and modern sword leaders all seek swords,” was the most famous.

Ever since the Tianmen plank road entered from the southeast Wangji Tianmen, the final destination was always the Heaven and Earth Sword Box.

The rule of the Heaven and Earth Sword Box was: enter the Heaven and Earth Sword Box to seek a sword. If you win, you can take any sword canon you want. If you lose, you must leave one sword canon.

It sounded very simple, but sword fighting was not something that could be held back. Countless people have died and swords have been broken here. Sword Pavilion cultivators regarded staining the sword box with fresh blood as glory and often fought life and death battles.

When Jiang Wang came last time, he really wanted to try. But because of prior relationships, he first fought against Si Kong Jingxiao, then challenged the Heartless Sword Master, and even threatened Si Yu’an… He extinguished that thought.

Now, he was cultivating the Yanfu Sword Prison and urgently needed powerful sword canons to supplement his Small World. And when it came to sword techniques in the world, Sword Pavilion was the leader!

There was no better place than the Heaven and Earth Sword Box.

With his current strength, entering the Heaven and Earth Sword Box could only allow him to participate in the highest level of challenge, only against that legendary “Sword Maniac.”

The target of others who came here were the countless exquisite sword canons inside the Heaven and Earth Sword Box.

While his target was precisely the Sword Maniac himself, who had mastered all the sword techniques inside the Heaven and Earth Sword Box and reached the realm of self-Wanxiang!

He wanted to fight with the Sword Maniac and experience myriad top sword techniques.

For this! He found Si Yu’an to ask for a life-saving order…

As long as Si Yu’an did not speak against it, the Sword Maniac would naturally acquiesce. He was a guest invited by Si Yu’an, thus he would not truly kill him.

Who dares say that Qing Shi’s first Zhen is not good at strategy?

With a casual plan, everything was arranged clearly!

The so-called Heaven and Earth Sword Box, in appearance, was a huge, horizontal square stone peak shaped like a sword on a mountain platform. Its interior was hollow like a sword box, hiding millions of sword canons. It itself was a sword, and heaven and earth were its box.

It absolutely did not give off a sharp feeling. The mountain wind and rain had made its sword shape somewhat round.

But the closer Jiang Wang walked, the more he could feel Longxiang Si’s excitement. The strongest swords in the world for thirty thousand years had all left their sword marks here. Countless millions of world-class sword canons competed right here!

Which sword guest in the world did not desire to pursue the sword leader here?

Longxiang Si was a world-famous sword, having defeated countless powerful opponents. But in the forest of sword leaders, it also became a challenger again.

Jiang Wang walked quietly.

Being watched, being looked up to, being feared.

The entrance of the Heaven and Earth Sword Box was located at the hilt of the stone peak sword. Stone was chiseled as a seal, opening a huge stone door horizontally.

There were mottled sword marks on the stone door, leaving no sword intent, like a naughty child casually holding a sword and graffitiing. But true strong ones could feel that above every sword mark, there was a world-class sword guest who had left their mark, having already killed their way into the Heaven and Earth Sword Box, thus leaving this mark empty and only retaining this form!

Although the sword intent was faint, there was a lingering charm within it.

Jiang Wang glanced from afar, and in his mind’s eye were countless sword guests, killing their way in with one sword after another… And in an instant, a cold edge appeared, piercing through his five senses, penetrating the four seas, and all the illusions in his mind’s eye scattered into emptiness!

He lightly walked forward to look.

Standing in front of the door was an old acquaintance – Si Kong Jingxiao.

It was evening time now, different from before.

Si Kong Jingxiao’s mood was complex.

In the battle when Jiang Wang visited before, he was defeated convincingly, but he also thought that there would be a long time ahead. He dared to carry a sword to Chi Fu, so naturally, he was not afraid of failure, nor afraid of what others said.

He had the courage to rise from a desperate situation.

But the gap with Qing Shi’s first Zhen was too large.

So large that it was fundamentally not on the same level.

“What are you here for?”

He raised his hand, holding it horizontally in front of the door.

He paused and paused again, finally adding a sentence: “Jiang Zhenren!”

As soon as this voice came out.

He suddenly realized—

Originally, Jiang Wang’s rampage in Sword Pavilion was relying on Qi country’s background.

Now, Jiang Wang himself was the background.