Gazing at the youth before him, wounded but standing tall, listening to his questions, his fervent cries, Hai Jingping couldn’t help but recall the scene in his mansion. He had clearly refused, explicitly stating he would not involve himself in the matter of Zhu Biqiong.

Back then, this young man had bowed deeply, pleading in a sorrowful voice, “This junior only seeks a chance to speak!”

He had heard of a new prodigy emerging in the State of Qi, but he truly hadn’t imagined that Qi’s chosen one would bow his head for a discarded disciple of Fishing Sea Pavilion, one with no future prospects.

For such a young genius, one who was the focus of all eyes and laden with expectations, to lower his head was often the most difficult thing.

Moved by the sincerity of that young heart, he had granted him the chance. A chance to speak was not a transgression.

And the words spoken by the young man had indeed been like a thunderclap, awakening the deaf.

Alas…

He weighed the matter carefully, again and again, ultimately taking a step forward.

But a voice from behind halted his movement.

“Well said!”

True Being Chong Guang praised, looking down at Jiang Wang with a hint of appreciation, “Even now, this seat does not know you. Who are you?”

With True Being Chong Guang having spoken, all authority on the Celestial Platform now belonged to him. Hai Jingping silently yielded to the side, no longer speaking.

Jiang Wang looked at the True Being, radiant with divine light, and earnestly replied, “This one is Jiang Wang, precisely the… outsider Zhu Biqiong colluded with.”

A clamor erupted from the audience. People exchanged startled glances, astonished by this man’s disregard for his own life.

But for Jiang Wang himself,

He did not declare his noble title, nor did he mention his official rank. Because such things could only intimidate ordinary cultivators. On this Celestial Platform, they were meaningless.

Instead, he exposed his own shortcomings, seemingly placing himself in danger, before the fury of Fishing Sea Pavilion.

Appearing to walk into a dead end, he was in fact retreating to advance.

Regarding the dispute between him and Hai Zongming, Fishing Sea Pavilion had already tacitly accepted the outcome in their wrangling with the State of Qi. Fishing Sea Pavilion had no reason to target Jiang Wang again for that matter.

And at this moment, True Being Qi Xiao from Jue Ming Island was also present. Jiang Wang could face trouble, but not because of the Hai Zongming affair. Because the State of Qi had already vouched for Jiang Wang in that matter.

Therefore, the “identity” he declared was the most opportune and safest choice.

True Being Chong Guang smiled.

In the “charges” publicly announced by Fishing Sea Pavilion, they did not specify who Zhu Biqiong had colluded with, nor who she had harmed. Because the person she “colluded” with had not been pursued. To speak of it would only be to lose face for Fishing Sea Pavilion.

But this person had actually stood forward at this moment!

It would have been one thing for him to brazenly sail the seas.

It would have been one thing for him to openly reside on Huai Island and attend the Sea Sacrifice Ceremony.

But he actually dared to speak out in protest at the Sea Sacrifice Ceremony! Seeking to save Zhu Biqiong!

How interesting.

Did he truly believe that Qi Xiao could protect him?

A newborn calf, was he truly not afraid of the tiger?

True Being Chong Guang looked at Jiang Wang, the smile lingering on his lips, “Young man, do you know what you are saying?”

“I may be too young, and sometimes my words are inappropriate, and I truly don’t know what I’m saying. But I know what I’m doing, Your Excellency.” Jiang Wang responded, “I am seeking justice for a disciple of Fishing Sea Pavilion, appealing to the elders of Fishing Sea Pavilion.”

True Being Chong Guang glanced at Yang Feng, who wore an expression of enjoying the spectacle. He also looked at Qi Xiao, whose face was cold and impassive. He even took a glance at the beloved daughter of the Qi Ruler, Her Highness the Princess Hua Ying, whose expression was calm, concealing her thoughts deeply.

“Regardless of intent, the words are certainly beautiful.” As True Being Chong Guang spoke, his smile suddenly vanished, “But what qualifications do you have to dare pronounce the word ‘injustice,’ and by what authority do you appeal for justice for a disciple of Fishing Sea Pavilion?”

In the end, with Jiang Wang’s current status and strength, he did not even have the right to speak on the Celestial Platform!

Whether or not he could speak depended entirely on True Being Chong Guang’s discretion.

This was precisely the danger of this journey.

Rowing a boat amidst raging waves was indeed courageous. But to contend with the wind and waves depended on whether the sea would grant the opportunity.

True Being Chong Guang appeared unwilling to give the opportunity, and Jiang Wang could only remain silent.

“This palace believes… that grievances must be addressed, and reason must be spoken. This originally requires no qualifications, no status.” Jiang Wuyou spoke at this moment.

Unlike Jiang Wang, she had obtained the right to speak with True Being Chong Guang the moment she arrived, so this utterance was not presumptuous.

She sat upright, her bearing heroic and composed, and asked True Being Chong Guang in return, “What does True Being think?”

True Being Chong Guang turned back, glancing at Jiang Wuyou with some surprise.

He had not expected that this Princess Hua Ying, having obtained the opportunity to speak, would actually speak. Did she not know that with just a single word, Fishing Sea Pavilion could cause her efforts overseas to fall far behind her other siblings?

What was her relationship with this Jiang Wang? Was he worth her personally intervening on his behalf in this manner?

And that Zhu Biqiong, an ordinary disciple, how could she have such deep connections…

Perhaps fearing that his pressure would disturb Princess Hua Ying, Qi Xiao raised her eyes, intercepting True Being Chong Guang’s gaze, “This general believes that Princess Hua Ying’s words are reasonable. Of course, public justice will not be swayed by the views of any one person.”

She was supporting Jiang Wuyou!

“Oh, is that so?” True Being Chong Guang’s gaze deepened.

“Hehe.” Yang Feng, the Vanguard General of Yang Valley, who was sitting to the side, chuckled lightly, “Anyway, in Yang Valley, rewards and punishments have always been clear. Even in the case of execution, we would not deny a person the opportunity to speak.”

His eyes were full of wicked amusement as he glanced at the pitiful prisoner, half-dead, and his words were laced with meaning, “However, what Fishing Sea Pavilion does is Fishing Sea Pavilion’s own business, and this general is not in a position to comment.”

For a moment, the two True Beings present had simultaneously spoken, allowing Jiang Wang to speak!

Jiang Wuyou would definitely speak, but whether Qi Xiao would speak was uncertain. Yang Feng was a completely unexpected surprise. Of course, he might not truly care whether Zhu Biqiong was wronged or not; perhaps watching Fishing Sea Pavilion’s misfortune was his real aim.

Seeing that the situation was greatly in Jiang Wang’s favor, True Being Chong Guang was about to speak when suddenly another voice resounded from afar.

“This old woman has something to report!”

An old woman with white hair suddenly descended onto the Celestial Platform, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, and bowed to True Being Chong Guang.

True Being Chong Guang extended a hand, offering a gesture of support, “Rise.”

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she had interrupted the momentum of the two True Beings joining forces to support Jiang Wang.

One wave had barely subsided before another arose.

This First Elder of Fishing Sea Pavilion took the opportunity to extricate himself from Jiang Wuyou’s question, looked at the old woman with white hair, and asked, “Bi Zhu, why have you come here in such haste? What is your business?”

The one who had come was none other than Zhu Biqiong’s master, Granny Bi Zhu.

Although True Being Chong Guang appeared much younger than Granny Bi Zhu, it was only because he had attained the Divine Threshold realm very early on, and his physical body had not declined. His true age was far greater than Granny Bi Zhu’s.

Jiang Wang cupped his hands in greeting and followed with a concerned word, “Granny.”

However, Granny Bi Zhu did not even look at him, as if he were a stranger, and only said to True Being Chong Guang, “This old woman accuses Protector Elder Hai Jingping of improper conduct and ill intentions! He has presided over the Sea Sacrifice affairs but disregarded the sacred meaning of the Sea Sacrifice, privately accepted bribes, colluded internally and externally, and attempted to wash away sins. Moreover, he has abused his power to give treacherous villains the opportunity to confuse and mislead!”

Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!