That day, too, it was in a study, on either side of a chessboard.

A soft couch rested by the window, all the windows open, carrying the scent of wind, flowers, and earth.

Only, I sat upright and proper, while he lazily leaned with his hand supporting his head.

“Perhaps we should just let it go,” I remember saying.

“Hm?” He half-lifted his eyelids, a half-smile playing on his lips.

He was always like this, as if nothing and no one could truly capture his attention.

“I said, perhaps we should just let it go.”

He finally became a bit more serious, supporting himself on the couch with his right hand and sitting up. His posture was still not very upright, one leg crossed, the other raised, his left hand resting on his knee. He tilted his head slightly, looking over at me.

He said nothing, but his dark, clear eyes clearly asked – “Are you saying something foolish?”

“We’ve both reached this point, bearing more than just ourselves. You cannot abandon the Chongxuan family, and I cannot leave the Sky-Covering Army.”

He laughed, his laughter like a pear tree in blossom, a truly unforgettable sight.

“When I was seven, they told me that every blade of grass and every tree in the Chongxuan family would one day be mine. I have never doubted that, and I have made sure that anyone who doubted it no longer does. So of course, I cannot abandon the Chongxuan family.” He said, “However, why would I abandon the Chongxuan family, and why would you leave the Sky-Covering Army?”

“We have no choice. Do we?”

“Remember this.” He raised a finger, tapping the air twice. “Those are the choices given to you by others. Not your choices.”

“Chongxuan Zun, the power of history is stronger than you imagine. I am confident in defeating any opponent, but I don’t know how to throw a punch at history. Besides, he is my master.”

“Yes, he is the Great Qi’s God of War, invincible in battle, and I respect him greatly. I also greatly respect my grandfather. But he is him, you are you, they are them, and we are us. Is this their era? Perhaps it is! But our era has already begun.”

“That’s true, but…”

“No buts.” He interrupted.

“I want the Chongxuan family too.” He sat up straight, looking over at me. “I want everything I desire.”

Wen Lianmu had already returned to the army. He could no longer help here, and staying would be pointless.

I sat alone before the chessboard.

I didn’t have many friends. Forcing him to come to Linzi and get covered in dust like this, I felt a bit guilty, but when Wen Lianmu left, I said nothing. I was not one to speak pretty words.

On the chessboard before me, the upper left corner was a mess. The pieces Wen Lianmu had conceded with, throwing them down and messing everything up there. But the formations in the rest of the area were still clear.

My gaze remained fixed on the right side of the board.

In the great dragon struggle there, the black pieces had blocked the last air hole, slaughtering the great dragon, but the “slaughtered” white pieces had not yet been removed.

I was silent for a long time.

I extended my fingers, long and slender, and picked them up, one by one.

…

Xiasha Villa.

Jiang Wang sat cross-legged on the bed, sorting out his cultivation.

He was different from those Heaven’s Chosen Ones with illustrious family backgrounds and deep foundations. People like Lei Zhangan had the “Nine Heavens Thunder Evolution Art,” and Jiang Wuxie cultivated the “Supreme Purple Star Celestial Canon,” both comprehensive and direct paths to the Great Dao.

But not long after he joined the inner sect of the Dao Academy, Maple Leaf City was destroyed. He naturally had no chance to obtain the fundamental Dao scripture of the Jade Capital Mountain lineage, the “Purple Void Sublime Supreme Scripture.”

To learn the “Purple Void Sublime Supreme Scripture,” one had to first pass the county Dao Academy, then enter the national Dao Academy, stand out from the national Dao Academy, go to Jade Capital Mountain for further study, and win the competition there before having the chance to learn the “Purple Void Sublime Supreme Scripture.”

And at the Dao Academy, Jiang Wang only learned a basic breathing technique and some Daoist techniques. But it had to be said that his time at the Maple Leaf City Dao Academy laid a solid foundation for his Daoist technique cultivation.

He had learned a variety of things, such as the Purple Qi Coming East Sword Canon and the Four Spirits Body Refining Art… mostly obtained through the Illusionary Realm, learning whatever he could.

No matter how deep his friendship with Chongxuan Sheng was, there was no way he could pass on the Chongxuan family’s fundamental techniques to him.

The fundamental techniques of the major powers were often systematic. Unlike Jiang Wang’s “Four Spirits Body Refining Art,” which only focused on one aspect.

They generally included how to construct formation points to complete the foundation, how to build the Small Heavenly Cycle and Great Heavenly Cycle, how to push open the Gates of Heaven and Earth… all in a coherent lineage. How to fight, and the Daoist techniques and combat methods most suitable for this system… cultivators could follow the steps and naturally wouldn’t be too bad.

But these so-called fundamental techniques were not of much use to Jiang Wang now. He had obtained some and only used them for reference. Stumbling and staggering to this day, he had slowly found his own path.

To be honest, he didn’t even care much for techniques that could directly cultivate to the Outer Building Realm anymore.

Although he hadn’t had a famous teacher guiding him every step of the way, nor had he had a top-notch technique to follow, he had taken each step steadily.

He had asked Chongxuan Chuliang for guidance, and he often discussed cultivation with Chongxuan Sheng, including Xiang Qian, Zhu Biqiong, and even Xu Xiangqian and Li Longchuan after coming to Linzi…

Chongxuan Chuliang was needless to say, his few words had benefited him greatly. And the peers he associated with were either from top-tier lineages or famous families, and all had remarkable horizons.

It could be said that Jiang Wang had “scrounged” his way to a broader horizon, relying on an unconventional path to get to where he was today.

Recalling his journey—

He had perfectly opened his spiritual channels with the Spiritual Meridian Opening Pill left by Zuo Guanglie, obtaining an incomparably vast Palace of Heavenly Passage. It could be called perfect.

He had used the Stellar Array Diagram of the Heavenly Cycle deduced by the Stage of Deduction to lay the foundation and achieve the Wandering Meridian Realm. It could be called perfect.

He had achieved the Heavenly Cycle Realm with the Lesser Three Talents of Sun, Moon, and Stars. The three lights of sun, moon, and stars were grand and magnificent, and their artistic conception was naturally remarkable, not necessarily inferior to anyone.

He had achieved the Heavenly Passage Realm with the Great Heavenly Cycle of Heaven, Earth, and Man. The “Heaven” of Heaven, Earth, and Man perfectly covered the sun, moon, and stars, a coherent lineage. His Great and Small Heavenly Cycles were formed from his own experiences and insights, grand enough and complete enough. The three sword stances he had created were the natural result of this perfection.

He had explored the limits of this realm in the Heavenly Passage Realm, and he had pushed open the Gates of Heaven and Earth ahead of schedule outside Qingyang Town, due to circumstances, which was slightly regrettable. But it was still undoubtedly powerful.

After pushing open the Gates of Heaven and Earth, he had obtained a Heavenly Isolated Island far larger than that of ordinary cultivators, and this Heavenly Isolated Island had been revitalized in the world’s origin of the Mori Sea Source Realm. It could be said that the foundation of the Soaring Dragon Realm was already sufficient.

And the supernatural powers that marked the highest achievement of the Inner Mansion Realm, each person could only seek them from themselves, and no technique could save them. Jiang Wang had won the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm, and the seed of supernatural powers had already been reserved.

And there was also the top-level Seven Stars Sacred Building Secret Method waiting ahead for the Outer Building Realm.

If Jiang Wang could summarize his cultivation process into a concrete, feasible, and replicable cultivation method, it could be said to be a fairly excellent technique. Of course, this was something he was far from being able to do.

But then again, if a “Purple Void Sublime Supreme Scripture” fell from the sky at this time… he still wouldn’t refuse it. That was a supreme scripture leading directly to the pinnacle!

Ending his cultivation for the day, he fought another match in the Illusionary Realm, consolidating his reputation as the number one Soaring Dragon in the Illusionary Realm.

Only then did Jiang Wang leave the room.

He took a turn around, not seeing Chongxuan Sheng and Fourteenth, so he randomly asked a maid.

The maid replied, “Young Master Chongxuan Sheng personally went to receive the shops, it seems to be at the East Street intersection.”

Jiang Wang knew that it was probably the last shop under Chongxuan Zun’s control. After being suppressed for so many years, Chongxuan Sheng would inevitably have to personally “witness” the final moment.

He happened to want to go out for a walk anyway.

So he smiled, “I’ll go take a look.”

ps: The editor told me yesterday that if the subscription continues to grow, I will definitely get a recommendation. The current average subscription is 600. I think I can actively ask for a recommendation when it reaches 700. Please subscribe as much as you can, I really don’t want to be running naked again…