Hearing Jiang Wang’s words, Jiang Wuqi showed no anger, but instead smiled happily: “Jiang Qing upholds both etiquette and integrity, I am very pleased.”

No one present was blind; they could all see that his smile was genuine.

He wasn’t being hypocritical; he truly felt this way.

Jiang Wang stating he would only accept the Emperor’s rewards was upholding etiquette. Facing him, Jiang Wuqi, with neither humility nor arrogance, was upholding integrity.

He was very happy that Qi had produced such a talent, even if this person might not be of use to him.

Only those with a truly grand vision could consider things in this way.

And within his praise, there was a key point: the use of “Ben Gong” (本宫 – roughly translated as “I, the Prince/Master of this Palace”).

Addressing oneself as lonely or widowed wasn’t exclusive to the ruler of a state.

Princes could also refer to themselves as lonely. Both Jiang Wuyong and Jiang Wuqi had used “Gu” (孤 – I, the lonely one) to refer to themselves.

But only the master of a palace was qualified to use “Ben Gong.”

Generally, aside from the Empress and consorts with independent palaces, only the Crown Prince was qualified to use “Ben Gong,” because the Crown Prince was the master of the Eastern Palace.

However, in Qi, there were a few exceptions. Besides the Crown Prince, there were three princes and princesses who possessed independent palaces, seen as a sign that they also had the qualifications to inherit the throne.

Among them, Jiang Wuqi was the master of the Longevity Palace!

The words “Ben Gong” were a reminder to Jiang Wang—I am qualified to inherit the throne, so rewarding or punishing you is all from my heart, and you must accept it.

Having heard Jiang Wuqi say this, Jiang Wang could only remain silent.

He couldn’t possibly say, “What I do is none of your business!”

This was, after all, Qi, and Jiang Wuqi did have a chance to inherit the throne. Qi’s talents were indeed his concern.

After smiling, Jiang Wuqi thought for a moment and then said, “Being humiliated in Southern Remote was also due to my Fourteenth Brother’s lack of skill. Since Jiang Qing is so fearless, now that we meet on the road today, how about another battle?”

The meaning was clear: Jiang Wang had taught Jiang Wuyong a lesson back then, and today he would teach Jiang Wang a lesson, and they would be even.

It wasn’t excessively unreasonable.

Although Jiang Wuyong was the one who provoked the situation in Southern Remote City and brought humiliation upon himself, the Jiang Imperial Family in Qi, and even throughout the world, naturally possessed the qualification to not be overly concerned with reason.

Jiang Wang didn’t make any useless explanations, but simply tapped his sword and said, “That is exactly what I desire!”

This was what I wanted all along; I simply hadn’t taken the initiative to say it!

Although he hadn’t yet reached the level of a battle maniac who rejoiced at the thought of war, he was fearless in the face of combat.

Jiang Wuqi nodded in satisfaction, not looking back at the group of people behind him, and only asked, “Jiang Qing made his name on the battlefield, who can join in this little play?”

One person stepped out: “I am willing to play for Your Highness!”

It was Zhang Yong.

It seemed that the massacre of his family had changed him greatly. The cowardice and fear he once displayed outside the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm seemed to have been completely stripped away.

The current Zhang Yong possessed the gloominess of someone burdened with deep blood vengeance, an undisguised ambition, and a determination to contend with anyone to achieve his goals.

“Your Highness,” Li Longchuan’s jade belt on his forehead shimmered, making him appear even more heroic: “Cloud Mist Mountain is a place for leisure. Having a martial display here is probably inappropriate.”

Among Jiang Wang’s group of people…

The Yan family had inherited wealth for generations, but their true rise only occurred during the time of the former Chancellor Yan Ping. The Gao family of Linzi only became prominent after Consort Jinggui gained favor. When it came to genuine foundation, neither could compare to the Li family of Stone Gate. There was no need to mention Xu Xiangqian; although the Green Cliff Academy was famous throughout the world, the people of Qi might not be willing to give it that much face.

The only one who could stop Jiang Wuqi was Li Longchuan.

Of course, in terms of relationship, Jiang Wang had visited Marquis Destroy-City’s manor, and was naturally closer to Li Longchuan than Yan Fu and Gao Zhe.

At this moment, someone behind Jiang Wuqi spoke up, “Those who dwell in peace must think of danger. The founding of Great Qi was not based on forbearance, and what your Li family passes down is also not leisure. The more relaxed this place is, the more we must not forget the martial spirit!”

This person wore a tall hat and wide robes, with an elegant and ancient air.

Li Longchuan recognized him as Gongsun Yu, a descendant of the Grandmaster-level figure of the School of Names, Gongsun Ye.

It was almost impossible to gain the upper hand in a verbal argument with him.

Especially since his words mentioning the Li family of Stone Gate were not very respectful.

Li Longchuan’s sword-like eyebrows rose, and he said directly, “Why don’t you and I fight here to show that your Gongsun family has not forgotten the martial spirit!”

“Not so, not so,” Gongsun Yu shook his head with a faint smile. Such verbal coercion could be easily defused, and he simply regarded it as amusing.

But Zhang Yong interjected, “Since Young Master Li Longchuan insists on stepping forward…”

He turned to Jiang Wuqi and requested, “In the past, the Zhang family of Phoenix Immortal and the Li family of Stone Gate were renowned at the same time. Now, the descendants of the Zhang family of Phoenix Immortal are unworthy, and the family has been lost. In remembrance of the courage of my ancestors, I wish to request a battle with Young Master Li Longchuan!”

For Zhang Yong, fighting Li Longchuan would be far more effective in making a name for himself than fighting Jiang Wang.

The most important point was that as long as people remembered the history of that time, they would subconsciously compare the Zhang family of Phoenix Immortal and the Li family of Stone Gate.

For the Zhang family of Phoenix Immortal, which had nothing left now, this was undoubtedly the best way to elevate their family’s name.

It was just that, with Li Longchuan’s status, he might not have been willing to pay attention to him on ordinary days.

Gongsun Yu glanced at Zhang Yong indifferently, but did not speak again. This was just someone who had experienced the tragic massacre of their family and was trying their best to restore the family’s glory, and there was no need to dwell on it.

Li Longchuan had even less reason to avoid the battle, and was about to step forward.

But Jiang Wang grabbed him, “What the Eleventh Prince wants to teach a lesson is Jiang Wang, and Jiang Wang is not crippled, nor does he lack a sword. How can I let Brother Li take the task?”

He took a step across and stood outside the railing in the sea of clouds, facing the clouds with an air of his own.

“Come on, Zhang Yong! We may or may not have fought in the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm. Today, we will continue our previous meeting on this Cloud Mist Mountain!”

At that time, those who went to explore the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm were all temporary powerhouses within the Tongtian realm.

And Zhang Yong was the only participant with only a Zhou Tian realm cultivation base, and the only victor with only a Zhou Tian realm cultivation base. Even today, many people still think that he was just incredibly lucky.

But Jiang Wang had never underestimated him.

Not when Zhang Yong was only in the Zhou Tian realm, and even less now that he had pushed open the gate of heaven and earth and achieved the Tenglong realm.

However, this battle was of a hundred harms and no benefits to Li Longchuan.

If he lost, Zhang Yong would step on him to rise to power. If he won, there was nothing to boast about. It was perfectly normal for a talented member of the Li family of Stone Gate to win against an unknown person, wasn’t it?

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Li Longchuan’s strength. Even he himself didn’t have the certainty of winning against Li Longchuan. But Li Longchuan regarded him as a friend and stood up for him, so he couldn’t possibly let Li Longchuan bear this unnecessary risk.

Zhang Yong turned to look at Jiang Wuqi.

Perhaps the mountain wind was strong, Jiang Wuqi coughed several times before stopping, and nodded.

For Jiang Wuqi, teaching Jiang Wang a lesson was completely different in meaning from teaching Li Longchuan a lesson, and there was no need to create unnecessary complications.

He wasn’t narrow-minded. There was nothing to admonish Li Longchuan for standing up for his friend.

Having obtained Jiang Wuqi’s permission, Zhang Yong also stepped into the sea of clouds, facing Jiang Wang from afar.

Everyone turned to look at the sea of clouds.

At this moment, they were located at a high point on Cloud Mist Mountain, and looking down, they could only see the misty clouds, and it was difficult to find houses and terraced fields.

Spectators from both sides stood on the gallery road.

And gradually, people going up and down the mountain also gathered. Of course, not many were qualified to approach the circles of Li Longchuan or Jiang Wuqi.

Yan Fu looked at the churning sea of clouds and asked seemingly unintentionally, “Why does Your Highness have the leisure for this today? Being so aggressive is not like Your Highness’s style.”

In accordance with Yan Fu’s usual character, “aggressive” was already a relatively severe word.

It seemed that they had been getting along well these days. Jiang Wuqi thought to himself, feeling a bit cold, and tightened the sable fur around his body, saying in a clear voice, “He must know that there are people beyond people and mountains beyond mountains, and that one must not be too frivolous when young. By admonishing him, it will also benefit him; it is both punishment and reward.”

“What Your Highness says makes sense, but I’m afraid…” Xu Xiangqian’s voice suddenly popped up from the side, “It won’t be easy to do.”