The appointed time for the duel was noon. As the hour approached, more and more people arrived.

“Why isn’t he here yet? Could it be that Lei Zhangan doesn’t dare to show his face?” Jiang Wuxie said with a hint of impatience, swallowing the grape in his mouth.

It sounded like a casual grumble, but he made sure to speak loudly.

“Our Jiang Wang has been waiting for a long time. If the duel can’t start because of the opponent… the money is non-refundable!” Zhongxuansheng quickly declared.

Everyone laughed.

With Zhongxuanzun still at Jixia Academy and Wang Yiwei having been “driven out” of Linzi, Zhongxuansheng was currently the most sought-after individual, and no one would bother arguing with him over such a trivial matter.

“Palace Lord Changsheng has arrived!”

Just then, the Eleventh Prince of Qi, Jiang Wuqi, arrived alongside Lei Zhangan, the other protagonist of this duel.

Jiang Wuqi was draped in a white fox fur, exuding nobility and grace as he walked in, surrounded by a throng of cultivators. Lei Zhangan walked beside him, shoulder to shoulder, while Zhang Yong, from a renowned family, seemed rather unremarkable among the crowd. Gongsun Yu, whom Jiang Wang had seen at Cloudmist Mountain, was notably absent.

Along with everyone else present, Jiang Wuyong reluctantly rose to his feet once again…

Only Jiang Wuyou remained seated, while Jiang Wuxie leaned back lazily, eating another grape.

“Greetings, everyone. I am here merely as a spectator, just like all of you,” Jiang Wuqi greeted the crowd calmly, gesturing for everyone to be seated.

Many people sat down, unable to resist discussing the situation.

Even the Eleventh Prince had arrived. Of the four individuals most likely to become the future Emperor of Qi, three were already here! Only Crown Prince Jiang Wuhua was missing.

The scale of this duel was truly grand!

If only the location was more fitting…

“Eleventh Brother,” Jiang Wuyong greeted again.

“Wuyong,” Jiang Wuqi responded warmly, scrutinizing him carefully. “It’s been quite a while. You’ve lost weight.”

He turned and instructed, “Didn’t a batch of Jing Kingdom tonics arrive a few days ago? Select some of the finest and send them to the Fourteenth Prince’s manor tomorrow.”

“Indeed, I have lost some weight,” Jiang Wuyong said, touched. “Eleventh Brother, you must also take care of yourself.”

Even as a member of the imperial family, accustomed to intrigue, he knew that Jiang Wuqi was not being insincere.

“Very well,” Jiang Wuqi smiled gently, then turned to greet Jiang Wuyou and Jiang Wuxie, “Third Sister, Ninth Brother, I didn’t expect to meet you here today. And Fourteenth Brother, it’s been a long time since we siblings watched a show together.”

“Indeed, there’s no better day than today,” Jiang Wuyou said.

Jiang Wuxie chuckled, “This isn’t a show today. Your cousin is the one on stage. It won’t look good if he loses.”

“That’s none of your concern,” Lei Zhangan interjected coldly.

He had heard Jiang Wuxie openly questioning whether he would dare to come.

He was still fuming. He had rushed to Linzi the moment he received the challenge, spending most of his time searching for the “Invincible Martial Arts Arena.” Despite the Lei family’s influence, he had been unable to find it for half a day, and at one point, he had even suspected that the location on the challenge was incorrect and had planned to send someone to ask the Zhongxuan family.

Only when Zhongxuansheng started “promoting” it did he realize it was in such a dilapidated place…

That fat Zhongxuansheng was even using this opportunity to make money!

Although he, Lei Zhangan, didn’t care about such trivial amounts, he felt stifled.

Why should you profit from me, you provoke me and then still take money from it.

The only thing that could balance his mood was a satisfying victory in the martial arts arena.

“Hahahaha,” Jiang Wuxie laughed. “Indeed, I’m not too concerned. I have high hopes for Jiang Qingyang!”

Jiang Wang’s title was Qingyang Town Baron, and by calling him Jiang Qingyang, he made it seem as though they were close in private.

He had tried to recruit Jiang Wang back in Daze Prefecture, and of course, he had been rejected. But by deliberately creating a sense of closeness, he hoped to deter Jiang Wuyou and Jiang Wuqi from having any similar ideas.

Especially since Jiang Wuyou had just suggested a private conversation with Jiang Wang, perhaps she had some thoughts of her own. Planting a thorn in their side wouldn’t hurt him.

Lei Zhangan sneered, “After all, your Inner Mansion is still unopened. It’s understandable that you don’t understand combat at our level.”

The implication was… did he really have the qualifications to judge?

Jiang Wuxie, however, showed no annoyance. A wicked smile curved his lips, “In the Seven Stars Tower secret realm, I seemed to have emerged from the third star position. What was yours?”

Lei Zhangan’s face darkened, and he said coldly, “Then Ninth Prince, you should watch carefully today and see where I end up!”

As they spoke, a beautiful palace maid had already peeled a grape and was offering it to his lips with her slender fingers.

“Hmph,” Jiang Wuxie bit into the grape with satisfaction. “I shall wait and see.”

Lei Zhangan snorted and headed towards the martial arts stage.

The Lei family needed his reputation as a prodigy, and he himself needed it even more.

Since returning from Daze Prefecture, he had repeatedly emphasized that his failure in the Seven Stars Tower secret realm was due to the Zhongxuan family’s extravagant spending and Jiang Wang’s underhanded methods.

And he did believe that in his heart.

Therefore, he had no reason to refuse Jiang Wang’s public challenge.

He was well aware that Jiang Wang had removed his divine power and had even defeated Wang Yiwei head-on. But this did not shake his confidence.

Although Wang Yiwei was incredibly talented, in his eyes, he wasn’t all that impressive.

What was the point of being the number one in the Heavenly Passage realm since the dawn of time? Wasn’t he still just a cultivator of the Heavenly Passage realm?

Lei Zhangan hadn’t deliberately suppressed his cultivation, otherwise, he might have broken the limit even in the Heavenly Passage realm.

While Wang Yiwei was still striving to reach the limit in the Heavenly Passage realm, he had already opened two Mansions and removed the Thunder Seal divine power!

Now, Wang Yiwei and Jiang Wang had both opened their Inner Mansions, while he was on the verge of opening his third Inner Mansion.

He admitted that Jiang Wang did have talent, but he had been cultivating the Inner Mansion realm for much longer! At most, Jiang Wang had opened his Inner Mansion for less than a month. How much could he have developed it in such a short time?

Jiang Wang had become famous by stepping on Wang Yiwei. Now, it was time for him to step back on Jiang Wang.

He, Lei Zhangan, was no ordinary Inner Mansion cultivator, and he had no reason to lose.

Below the stage.

A cultivator subtly squeezed past Zhang Yong and approached Jiang Wuqi, whispering, “This subordinate will prepare a brocade chair for Your Highness. Would Your Highness like to try any food?”

Zhang Yong remained expressionless, his gaze falling on Jiang Wang on the stage, only glancing at him briefly.

Jiang Wuqi waved his hand in refusal. “If others can sit here, why can’t I?”

He naturally saw the undercurrents between his subordinates, but he wouldn’t express any preference.

Sitting down on the wooden bench, he shook his head helplessly towards Jiang Wuxie. “Why do you two always argue whenever you meet?”

Jiang Wuxie smiled. “Royal Brother, can’t you control your cousin? Why does he want to interrupt whenever I speak to you? Heh, he shows no respect at all.”

He was actively trying to stir up discord, but Jiang Wuqi said softly, “Although rules are essential, if we are too strict with them, we lose our humanity. Ninth Brother, although we were born into an imperial family, we are not surrounded only by servants.”

“Alright, alright,” Jiang Wuxie waved his hand impatiently. “Why are you always so old-fashioned? You always want to lecture me whenever you get the chance? I don’t know who the elder brother is.”

“Er…”

Jiang Wuqi fell silent with a wry smile.

But he couldn’t help but cover his mouth, coughing lightly.

Jiang Wuxie’s impatient expression hadn’t faded, but he glanced at Jiang Wuqi and slowed his voice.

“Are you… feeling better?”

Perhaps it had been too long since the brothers had spoken to each other like this, Jiang Wuqi’s expression was somewhat delighted. “I’m doing very well!”