Jiang Wang had not anticipated Jiang Mengxiong’s presence beforehand, but before resolving to challenge Ji Shaoqing, he had already meticulously weighed the possibility of success.

To fell a scion of heaven like Ji Shaoqing, relying on opportune assassination was simply not feasible. Setting aside the protection Fishing Sea Tower afforded its prized disciples, and the countless gazes fixed upon Huai Island, even a successful ambush would undoubtedly invite Fishing Sea Tower’s unyielding vengeance. This was unlike the matter of counter-killing Hai Zongming; it struck directly at Fishing Sea Tower’s core. The Tower would retaliate with the fiercest determination to see him perish, and Qi Country’s protection, perhaps, would not possess sufficient might. He could not withstand it.

Thus, he chose to challenge openly, through a life-and-death duel, to elevate the matter, to make it as grand as possible. The establishment of the Sea Merit List, the ranking as second on the Vice List… his audacious act of blocking the entrance to Fishing Sea Tower’s station and challenging by name. These actions undoubtedly thrust this duel to its apex; across the near-sea archipelago, there was virtually no soul unaware.

In such a scenario, Qi Country would not remain silent. The Town Sea Alliance had been forged, Fishing Sea Tower’s many maneuvers were yielding results; one could say that under Wei Xun’s leadership, Fishing Sea Tower was expanding at an astonishing pace. Qi Country had already shown repeated forbearance. Now, if even this modicum of fairness could not be guaranteed for its own country’s heavenly scion engaging in a life-and-death duel, who would still hold Qi Country in awe? That would be tantamount to declaring to the world that Qi Country could no longer suppress Fishing Sea Tower. Who could possibly permit this?

Important as the overall situation against the Sea Race was, Qi Country could not completely relinquish its contention for maritime supremacy. Preserving Jiang Wang’s sea merit and allowing him to ascend to second on the Vice List was itself a declaration of stance. Jiang Wang needed no other aid; all he desired was fairness, and nothing more! Since the fairness of the duel could be guaranteed, then Jiang Wang was unhesitatingly resolved to slay Ji Shaoqing, not a moment’s delay could be borne.

So he came. So he spoke with Dao techniques, spoke with divine abilities, spoke with his sword. First defeating Bao Song, then engaging with Ji Shaoqing, fighting to this juncture. But now, that contemporary True Person, Fishing Sea Tower’s Fourth Elder, had clearly shown his intent to save Ji Shaoqing after the battle concluded. How could he endure?

He desired Ji Shaoqing to die a death of crushed bones and scattered ashes, a death from which there was absolutely no revival, not merely a formality of death and rebirth. That would not dispel the hatred! Gu Huai Xin had expended how much resource, poured in how much effort, yet all could not offset a life. Only Ji Shaoqing’s life could offset Zhu Biqiong’s life.

What of a contemporary True Person arriving in person? Since all must abide by the rules of the duel, then before life and death were decided, no one could intervene. He would not grant Ji Shaoqing a swift demise; he wanted to cripple Ji Shaoqing’s cultivation, and then, in the state of a crippled person, slowly drain away his life, enduring until the last flicker of the “lamp oil.” The suffering Zhu Biqiong had endured… he wanted Ji Shaoqing to experience it as well.

Jiang Wang’s words struck the observers into a silence akin to winter cicadas. What shocked them was not the courage to defy a True Person, but the profound depth of his hatred towards Ji Shaoqing!

Gu Huai Xin gazed deeply at Jiang Wang, silent. Jiang Mengxiong’s will hung in the high sky, not merely for show. As a True Person, he could not engage in a fight of the strong against the weak with Jiang Wang. Since that was the case, what meaning was there in a contemporary True Person engaging in a war of words with a small Inner Mansion cultivator? It would only be a loss of face. Better to remain silent. This silence was perhaps disdain, or perhaps disbelief.

From the crowd, a Fishing Sea Tower disciple indignantly spoke: “Killing does not exceed the point of laying the head on the ground! You win, then stop; kill, then kill, why so malicious!?”

“Killing does not exceed the point of laying the head on the ground, these words are well-spoken! Very reasonable!” Jiang Wang suddenly turned back, looking towards that person: “Previous days, Ji Shaoqing blocked Tianya Terrace, not allowing anyone to approach to treat—thus causing Zhu Biqiong to endure until death while still alive. Why did you not say this to him then?”

“I…” That person’s face flushed red: “I did not know at that time!”

“You did not know?” Jiang Wang raised his voice, speaking in fury: “Did the entire Fishing Sea Tower, from top to bottom, so many people, all not know?!” No one could respond. “Or perhaps, you did not care?”

Jiang Wang’s voice, as it fell, held a sorrowful cadence: “Is it that you feel a discarded disciple, no matter what happens, it matters not? A heavenly scion, being a little willful is nothing wrong?”

“The people of the world are just like this! Matters not concerning oneself, naturally bring no pain, no itch.”

He turned back, looking towards Ji Shaoqing, speaking towards the surrounding people: “You all look at this person; he can wide-eyed watch others suffer hardship and calamity, endure until death, yet himself is carefree, even smiling and greeting me at that time. But…” He unleashed a punch, directly shattering Ji Shaoqing’s knee! Flesh and bone shattered at the scene. The impact caused that person to hunch his entire form, his cheeks twitching from the unbearable intense pain, and a wail escaped his lips. Only then did Jiang Wang, while casting a healing Dao technique for him, calmly state: “When the pain is on his own body, only then does he know pain.”

“Esteemed individuals.” He spoke with a very serious tone: “No matter which sect or school you belong to, I hope you all remember today. No matter what you wish to do in the future, before deciding, please first think a bit. Suppose someone were to treat you like this, could you endure it?”

He was like an old scholar, like an earnest moral guardian, sincerely stating: “‘What you yourself do not desire, do not do to others.’ If every person could remember this sentence, this world perhaps would be a little better.” At this moment, it was unclear what he thought of; though his face was calm, his eyes clearly held a flicker of tear light.

But… who would care? Some felt he was imposing, some felt he was hateful, some felt he courted death. He was very earnestly expounding reason, but some people, only felt he was displaying his might.

“Jiang Wang! Jiang Wang!” Ji Shaoqing recovered slightly from the intense pain, his four limbs already restricted, unable to move, only able to curse wildly: “You should die! You should die! Even as a ghost, I will not let you go!”

“Good.” Jiang Wang said flatly: “I hope you have this opportunity.” As he spoke, he flicked a finger, and a segment of tongue flew high into the air! The cursing abruptly ceased.

“But you are too noisy now,” Jiang Wang said. Many Fishing Sea Tower cultivators wore ugly expressions, unable to endure Jiang Wang’s public torment of their sect’s heavenly scion.

At that moment, a young cultivator stepped forward: “Surname Jiang! I will confront you in a life-and-death duel! Do you dare not accept my challenge!”

Jiang Wang raised his head, glanced at him, and lightly said: “You may.” His gaze slowly swept over the surroundings: “A killer is constantly killed. I ascended Tianya Terrace today with such awareness. As long as they are within the same cultivation level as me, I will accept anyone’s life-and-death challenge. After Ji Shaoqing dies, we can begin.”

One stone stirred a thousand ripples. He was willing to welcome the challenges of all Inner Mansion realm cultivators from Fishing Sea Tower… How arrogant!

In a scene of shock and uproar. Jiang Wang looked at the indignantly speaking young cultivator and added: “However, I suggest you discuss this with your elders. Because you are truly not enough to fight.” Calm, composed, confident!