Chapter 1151: What is There to Fear

Ever since the official matches began, aside from Yu Xi's inquiry about the outcomes of Chong Xuanzun and Dou Zhao's bouts, the six Supremes remained silent spectators. Their descent in effigy upon the River-Observing Platform was a matter of tradition and a statement of their stance.

In their capacity as Supremes, they observed the matches of the heavenly talents. Their role was purely that of onlookers, and they were to absolutely refrain from interfering with the entire process of the official matches.

Only at this very moment did Emperor Jing break his silence.

Among the six Supremes present, Emperor Jing certainly had reason to be angered.

The State of Zhuang was a Vassal State of the Dao, nominally under his rule.

The heavenly talent of the Jing State's Inner Mansion realm had perished behind the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, nominally withdrawing from the competition.

The heavenly talent of the Sheng State, the foremost Vassal State of the Dao, had been prematurely eliminated from the competition through Lin Zhengren's meticulous machinations within the State of Zhuang.

This meant that among all the states of the Dao lineage, only the State of Zhuang remained in the Inner Mansion realm's official matches.

And now Lin Zhengren was forfeiting without even stepping onto the stage?

Where was the dignity of the entire Dao lineage to be placed?

If it had ended there, Emperor Jing might not necessarily have spoken.

Being as noble and great as he was, he naturally possessed the capacity to encompass all under heaven. Matters concerning the mere Inner Mansion realm, by all accounts, had minimal impact.

But what kind of occasion was the Yellow River Convention?

It was a gathering where the heavenly talents of the various states vied for supremacy, a gathering which, according to tradition, was also a demonstration of human might upon the River-Observing Platform.

From ancient times to the present, human heavenly talents had displayed wisdom, courage, and their future here, to deter the water folk of the Long River.

Now the Long River Water Lord was in attendance.

What was your State of Zhuang displaying?

Displaying cowardice?

Displaying timidity?

Displaying how to flee without a fight, how to lose without contending?

That ridiculous trick of "facing backlash before battle," while perhaps capable of deceiving most people present due to genuine injuries, could it possibly deceive the eyes of the Long River Water Lord?

Lin Zhengren wasn't just losing his own face!

At least these two still knew how to cover it up a little, otherwise Emperor Jing would have had the mind to kill them on the spot.

His words were spoken calmly, but his very utterance was a statement of his stance.

Now, he had given Du Ruhui a choice.

Strictly speaking, the combatant had already fainted, and the one who had spoken to concede was Du Ruhui. Thus, this was not the final outcome.

A fainted person could awaken, injuries sustained could be healed, and Du Ruhui's declaration of withdrawal on his behalf could be retracted.

Du Ruhui naturally understood that this was Emperor Jing giving the State of Zhuang an opportunity, an opportunity to make amends.

With his wisdom, he naturally knew that he should seize this opportunity well. As a Vassal State of the Dao, would there be any good outcome from displeasing Emperor Jing?

But the prerequisite for being able to make amends was—

That he could control Lin Zhengren.

That he could, after "healing" Lin Zhengren, make Lin Zhengren bravely step onto the stage and give a performance of not retreating despite suffering backlash, risking his life for the State of Zhuang, for the Dao lineage, and even exaggeratingly, for the human heavenly talents on the entire River-Observing Platform, to reclaim the face that person had personally lost.

But could he do it?

Before today, Du Ruhui could have said he had a few points of certainty.

However, today, Lin Zhengren's decisive self-mutilation to avoid battle was a decision made decisively under his "comforting" and "urging"!

Now, it was Du Ruhui's turn to make a choice.

He was silent for a moment.

As if he had understood nothing, he lifted the fainted Lin Zhengren, lowered his head, and hurriedly left the viewing stands, heading towards the outside of the Platform of All Under Heaven.

This was his answer.

He was telling Emperor Jing that he had no face to show.

As the Chancellor of the State of Zhuang, he could not control the state's heavenly talent who was representing the State of Zhuang in battle.

In order not to lose greater face, he could only maintain the lie. And then... truly go down to recuperate!

This was an accident!

Like many times before, Du Ruhui was like a diligent repairman, always doing his best to mend every aspect of this state.

He had thought that coming to the Yellow River Convention this time was just a formality, but then there was unexpected good news, as if it could bear honor...

In the blink of an eye, it became an illusion, and he still had to mend!

But not all leaks can be mended. Not all mistakes can be compensated for. Du Ruhui was a rare virtuous chancellor in Zhuang land for a thousand years, but looking at the whole world, the things he could do were very limited.

Today, he had reacquainted himself with Lin Zhengren, who could withdraw from the competition under such circumstances, at all costs, just to survive.

He did not think he could offer any conditions that would make Lin Zhengren fight on the stage.

If he were to wake Lin Zhengren and forcibly throw him onto the stage, that丑态 (chǒutài - ugly behavior, disgraceful appearance) would be even more unsightly...

For the State of Zhuang, it would be like tearing off the last fig leaf—the fig leaf that Lin Zhengren had pulled up with self-mutilation by blood ghosts before "fainting."

He could only choose the lesser of two evils.

Even if the sixteenth-ranked resources so hard-won, the increased demonic beast quotas, the more vein-opening pills... were all to be forgotten from now on.

He could only do this.

Lin Zhengren must truly be suffering from backlash injuries, must truly be fainted, rather than being timid and afraid of battle. This way, it could also be used to coincidentally elevate the heavenly talent of the Sheng State, claiming that Jiang Limeng was too strong, causing the lingering injuries to be difficult to heal.

Otherwise...

In front of the representatives of over a hundred states present, the State of Zhuang would lose face again and again!

With Emperor Jing angered, the only thing he could do now was to keep a low profile, diligently minimize the State of Zhuang's presence, and make this matter as understated as possible.

Argument was useless, explanation was even more futile.

Punishment... could only be endured.

Who called him Du Ruhui so muddle-headed in his old age, choosing the wrong person for the Yellow River Convention!

Within the entire Platform of All Under Heaven, after Emperor Jing's utterance, a strange silence fell.

Many people were unaware of the inside story and did not understand why Emperor Jing would speak out, concerning himself with the Inner Mansion heavenly talent of a mere weak Vassal State. Was it because the entire Dao lineage had been wiped out in the Inner Mansion realm?

Another part of the crowd observed their noses and hearts, trembling with fear and not daring to think further. After all, imperial favor was unpredictable.

But there were certainly not a few intelligent people.

The heavenly talent of the Mu State, "Deng Qi," wearing a heavy bronze mask, looked at Du Ruhui's retreating back with a deep gaze.

He naturally recognized Lin Zhengren.

Back at the Three Cities Discussion, this Lin Zhengren was very formidable, outshining the Dao Academy students of the same realm. He had stepped on Fu Baosong, abused Zhang Linchuan, opened the Heaven and Earth Gate on the spot, and made Sun Xiaoman of Sanshan City spit blood.

Later, when Brother Jiang San went to Wangjiang City to cross the Lin clan's gate with a single sword, he had already made other contingency plans.

As a result, a single薪尽枪 (xīn jìn qiāng - literally 'firewood exhausted spear', a powerful spear technique) had silenced this person.

At that time, he felt that this person was cautious enough and certainly not lacking in scheming, but he was too protective of himself and appeared cowardly, with very limited prospects.

It was only when he looked at the list of participants in the official matches that he noticed this person had also managed to get onto the River-Observing Platform, and he was quite surprised.

He knew full well why the heavenly talent of the Qi State had picked the combatant from the State of Zhuang.

But he truly had not expected that in this kind of occasion where "the heavenly talents of the various states vie for supremacy, everyone must strive for the lead," this Lin Zhengren could still put on a performance of spitting blood and withdrawing from the competition.

Unlike others who were filled with contempt after seeing through the trick, he actually thought more highly of the person because of this.

Not everyone had such decisiveness.

But that was all.

He did not care about the State of Zhuang. As for Lin Zhengren, he did not care at all.

What made him re-examine things was...

Had that Brother Jiang San, without realizing it, already possessed such terrifying deterrent power?

He could force his opponent to resort to self-mutilation to withdraw from the competition even before the battle began!

"Deng Qi" seemingly inadvertently glanced at the heavenly talent of the Qi State, then turned his gaze back to his opponent, the heavenly talent of the Song State, Yin Wenhua, who had already stepped onto the stage.

Now, he also had his own path to walk. At the Yellow River Convention, he was no longer just a bystander.

Yu Xi's voice sounded at this moment: "Geng character performance stage, winner Qi State's Jiang Wang!"

"Congratulations," he said to Jiang Wang, his voice flat. "You are the heavenly talent who has won the fastest victory in history. This record is unprecedented and it will be difficult for anyone to surpass it in the future."

As a True Monarch, Yu Xi's words already carried resentment.

Of course, it wasn't directed at Jiang Wang.

In his opinion, this Lin Zhengren from the State of Zhuang was simply cowardly to a degree rarely seen in the world.

Especially using this kind of cowardice to insult him, Yu Xi.

Could it be that he, a dignified True Monarch, was not enough to protect your life? You needed to resort to self-mutilation to avoid battle?

Were you so afraid of this opponent named Jiang Wang, so lacking in confidence in me?

Originally, as a True Monarch of the Jade Capital Mountain lineage, he had an appreciative attitude towards Lin Zhengren's performance in the previous decisive battle against Jiang Limeng.

Now, he felt as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly.

Facing Yu Xi's "praise," Jiang Wang calmly bowed, neither humble nor arrogant: "Thank you, True Monarch, for the announcement."

With just this sentence, he stood still and said no more.

With his hand on his long sword, he stood alone on the performance stage, his calm and confident posture, the kind that could face anything at any time, demonstrating to everyone present what a true "heavenly talent" was.

On the other side of the viewing stand, Jiang Limeng, dragging her unrecovered body, persisted in coming to watch the battle, almost bit through her silver teeth, feeling a tremendous humiliation—I actually lost to such a person?

She had originally come today to carefully observe Lin Zhengren and seriously find the reason for her defeat.

Bravelly facing defeat was the mindset of a strong person.

But in Lin Zhengren's contrived withdrawal from the competition, her mindset completely collapsed.

Others might not know, but she, who had experienced it personally, could she not know Lin Zhengren's control over those few ghosts?

If there really was a problem of easy backlash, no matter how careless she, Jiang Limeng, was, how could she have lost so miserably?

This Lin Zhengren, facing the heavenly talent of the foremost Vassal State of the Dao, had plotted and schemed endlessly, never giving up. Although she lost, she also admitted that he could be considered a figure.

Turning around to face the heavenly talent of a hegemonic state, he didn't even dare to step onto the stage, preferring to self-mutilate to avoid battle!

If you didn't dare to go up, you should have honestly conceded earlier and let me go up.

I would die on the stage!

Such cowardly and timid behavior was worthy of being spat upon and abandoned...

But she had lost to such a person!

Then what was she, Jiang Limeng?

This was simply a lifelong disgrace!

It seemed that Du Ruhui had left with Lin Zhengren without much fanfare, but the actual shock caused was far from over.

Even the most beautiful woman of Great Chu on the viewing stands couldn't help but look at Jiang Wang a few more times.

What kind of reliance did this person have? How strong was he?

One must know that even Dou Zhao, whose Seven Battle Forms pushed aside everything, and even Chong Xuanzun, whose Five Mansions shined together and whose Vanishing Slice astonished the world, never had an opponent concede before the battle!

Could it be that this Jiang Wang, at the Inner Mansion level, actually possessed stronger dominance than the former two?

Huang Sheli, who had already stepped onto the Jia character performance stage, was full of complacency, looking left and right.

It was time for this old lady to show her face!

Look at me, look at me, look at me, Ye Lan'er the great beauty, Chong Xuanzun the handsome young man, look at me properly!

But looking to the left, Chong Xuanzun was staring at that Jiang Wang. Glancing to the right, Ye Lan'er was also staring at that Jiang Wang.

This was outrageous!

Huang Sheli was furious and glared fiercely at Jiang Wang.

Although Jiang Wang didn't know what was going on with this heavenly talent from the Jing State, his heart inwardly froze.

This woman's killing intent is so strong...

She wasn't even paying attention to her own opponent, but instead releasing killing intent towards himself on another performance stage.

Although Yelü Zhi of the Liao State might not be a match for her, what was the need to be so arrogant?

Was she planning to defeat everyone on the field and meet in the finals at the end?

Was she challenging me to a battle?

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang returned a determined look and nodded—

What is there for me, Jiang Qingyang, to fear! Then I'll see you in the finals!

Upon receiving this look, Huang Sheli almost lifted her foot and went to the Geng character performance stage. Facing this old lady's soul-searching questions, this小子 (xiǎozi - kid, derogatory term for a young man) not only didn't reflect, but actually dared to provoke this old lady? And even nodded to show off!

So ordinary-looking, yet so confident!

At least she remembered that this was the official match of the Yellow River Convention, and the matchups were already determined, so she couldn't break the rules.

Just wait and see.

She gritted her teeth and looked back fiercely at Yelü Zhi.

Yelü Zhi's lungs were about to explode. The Jing State people were too bullying! First, they looked left and right as if I didn't exist, and now they were face-to-face intimidating me. Do I dare to come to the Yellow River Convention if I'm afraid of you?

He glared back fiercely.

Leaving aside how Yelü Zhi was determined to fight to the death, and how the other heavenly talents on the eight performance stages were fully prepared for battle.

Jiang Wang, the heavenly talent of the Qi State, who had forced his opponent to withdraw with a single smile on the Geng stage, now suddenly became the most idle person.

He was quite at ease, looking left and right, then staring at Deng Qi and Yin Wenhua on the Bing character stage, assuming the posture of a spectator.

The reason he chose to watch this battle was, firstly, this Deng Qi from the Mu State made him very curious, and secondly, he was also very interested in Yin Wenhua's Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword.

Cao Jie below the stage was still a little worried that Jiang Wang might feel unwilling if he didn't achieve his goal.

But Jiang Wang actually had no such problem.

He was surprised by Lin Zhengren's sudden "blood ghost backlash."

He had already prepared two contingency plans, attempting to kill the person on the stage. He didn't expect the opponent to not even step onto the stage.

But besides being surprised, there was no unwillingness, but rather a little... amusement.

He felt that his serious approach was a bit of an overreaction.

Did this person deserve it?

He had originally regarded Lin Zhengren as a very important opponent. To completely deal with him, he had not hesitated to ask Cao Jie to change the match list, wanting to try and kill the person under the nose of True Monarch Yu Xi.

But the moment Lin Zhengren self-mutilated and fainted, and he stood alone on the performance stage.

He asked himself, why did I come to the River-Observing Platform?

To kill Lin Zhengren? To humiliate the Sovereign and officials of Zhuang?

No.

I came here to contend for the number one under heaven!

On this path to being the unparalleled Inner Mansion cultivator of the present age, Lin Zhengren didn't even have the资格 (zīgé - qualification) to stand.

Because he had already fallen down himself.

In this kind of occasion where heavenly talents gathered and the world paid attention, that person didn't even have the courage to make a move.

He didn't even dare to probe!

Could such a person, even with the deepest scheming, truly be considered an opponent?

The path of cultivation is long and arduous, and one cannot always be fully prepared before setting out!

Without courage, how can one improve?

Today, he, Jiang Wang, was stepping on this bright path, advancing towards being the number one in the present age. Regardless of the outcome, whether good or bad, whether he succeeded or not, he had already stepped onto a higher ground. And Lin Zhengren had been forever left behind on the roadside.

He would never stop and wait.

If he saw him again someday, he would simply kill him with a casual strike.