Chapter 1170: Like Red Plum Blossoms

Huang Shelizi, possessing Five Mansions and Four Divine Abilities, concealed her ultimate, the fourth divine ability, as Reverse Journey, a peak-level divine ability!

It held the magnificent power to traverse the river of time and reverse the flow of existence!

Surveying the entirety of the Yellow River Assembly, it was a gathering of celestial talents, a dazzling constellation of stars.

Countless powerful divine abilities shone brightly, each complementing the other.

Yet, Reverse Journey remained the only peak-level divine ability revealed before the world so far!

No other divine ability could compare to it!

The moment Zhao Rucheng fell, Helian Yunyun from the Mu Kingdom's observation platform immediately stood up, but a figure was even faster than her—

Jiang Wang, from below the stage, leaped onto the arena in a single stride.

Since Yu Xi had already intervened in the battle, the outcome was decided.

Although the result had not yet been announced, Jiang Wang was not exceeding the bounds of propriety.

He appeared beside Zhao Rucheng, kneeling on the ground, reaching out to cover Zhao Rucheng's neck, which had been half-smashed through. Yet, fearing to affect the pure light, he trembled and dared not approach.

Perhaps out of some sentiment, Yu Xi, who was still off the stage, said calmly, "He won't die."

Then he declared, "Victor, Huang Shelizi of the Jing Kingdom!"

The outcome was finalized.

Zhao Rucheng lay flat on the ground.

After he lost the ability to resist, the divine ability Emperor Sword had returned to the Tongtian Sea.

The smiling Buddha face imprint on his forehead had long since dispersed, but a faint indentation remained, and the three blood lines that had trickled down were not erased, now dried.

His hair was closely cropped. Amidst the neatness, a hint of fierceness was revealed.

This was a Zhao Rucheng Jiang Wang had never seen.

Two years had sculpted this face into even greater perfection.

No matter where he went, no matter what he did, this face would always garner more attention and admiration.

Once, in Qing Shan Town, they acted heroically, saving a woman who was being harassed by ruffians. The woman thanked Du Yehu, who had beaten the ruffians black and blue, Ling He, who had draped a cloak over her, Fang Pengju, who had chatted and laughed with the town's officials, and Jiang Wang, who had single-handedly repelled the ruffians' hangers-on. She spoke of repaying their kindness in the next life by "tying grass and carrying rings." Finally, she turned to Zhao Rucheng, who hadn't had a chance to fight and had only cursed the ruffians a couple of times, and said, "My great kindness is impossible to repay, I can only offer myself..."

No wonder Du Yehu always wanted to punch that face.

Now, this face, this person, stared blankly at the sky.

He was likely still wondering how he lost.

This had nothing to do with intelligence, for he had already made choices in the battle that aligned with his wisdom. Intelligent people were often also arrogant. No matter how he thought, he shouldn't have lost.

The Reverse Journey divine ability had acted upon the arena, reversing the time for him and Huang Shelizi.

However, it had not affected anything outside the arena... nor could it possibly affect anything outside the arena.

Leaving aside the six Supremes, just looking at the strong practitioners leading the delegations from the various nations on the platform, whose time could Huang Shelizi change?

Only those within it, those swept up by time, were inevitably bewildered.

Huang Shelizi, as the owner of the divine ability, had walked through time, while Zhao Rucheng, as the one whose time was reversed, remained frozen in the moment of his strike.

He couldn't understand why he had suddenly been seen through and, caught off guard, was beaten to the brink of death. One must remember that when Huang Shelizi had abruptly summoned the Thunder Sound Tower and struck him head-on, he had barely managed to dodge, but he had still deflected most of the force. Why then, at this moment, was he completely controlled by his opponent...

Not until he heard Yu Xi's declaration.

His eyes dimmed.

No need to think anymore...

The outcome was decided.

But his eyeballs did move.

He then saw Jiang Wang.

That familiar, gentle, handsome yet resolute face, a face whose features had been honed by time.

His demeanor was unique.

He had secretly observed him many times before, but at this moment, looking so closely, this person had indeed become much more handsome.

In terms of appearance, he could rank second among the Five Heroes of Maplewood.

At that moment, Jiang Wang was looking down at him, his face filled with unconcealed concern and worry.

His eyes regained their luster.

"Jiang... Jiang..."

Because his neck was half-smashed through, and despite Yu Xi's pure light helping him recover, it was still difficult for him to speak.

"I'm sorry..."

He smiled.

This smile was truly captivating.

This peerless beautiful man, severely wounded and dying, lay on the ground and smiled tragically.

What a moving sight!

Heartbreaking, yet intoxicating.

Huang Shelizi, as the victor, couldn't help but take a step closer, but remembered that it was she herself who had beaten him to this state... and awkwardly retracted her leg.

Jiang Wang gently supported Zhao Rucheng's upper body, allowing him to speak more smoothly.

"Sorry for what?" he asked gently.

He was always like this. Towards family and friends, he always held forbearance. Having experienced deceit, he could still continue to believe. Having witnessed darkness, he was not tainted by it.

Zhao Rucheng closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them and looked at him.

Wounds on his body, a smile in his eyes.

"I said I'd win the top spot, I said I'd bear everything, I was bragging... I didn't do it."

Jiang Wang looked into his eyes and said nothing else.

He only said, "You have to know who's the elder brother."

Zhao Rucheng then smiled again. As he smiled, he couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood and coughed it out.

He wanted to turn his head, but ultimately had no strength.

Blood splattered onto Jiang Wang's green robe.

This sense of powerlessness, of being unable to control himself, tormented him.

Because...

He had clearly forbidden himself from being powerless again!

Jiang Wang followed his suddenly pained gaze, looked down, and said, "Like plum blossoms."

Zhao Rucheng's eyes seemed a little blurred. In this blur, he saw the few splashes of blood on Jiang San Ge's green robe, which indeed resembled blooming red plum blossoms.

He wanted to smile again.

"That..."

Just then, a very gentle female voice sounded.

Jiang Wang looked up and saw a pair of pale green eyes, incredibly beautiful.

The owner of these eyes seemed to be an extremely gentle woman. Even her voice was soft and low, as if she feared disturbing someone.

"I am Helian Yunyun, the princess of the Mu Kingdom, Rucheng's friend."

The woman, dressed in traditional grassland attire, pointed to Zhao Rucheng in his arms: "His injuries, I'll have someone take care of, alright?"

Saying so, she half-squatted down on Zhao Rucheng's other side, a gentle and kind smile on her face, and extended her hands, indicating for Jiang Wang to hand him over to her.

Trailing closely behind her, Yuwen Duo was stunned. When had our Yun Dianxia been so gentle? So gentle it sent shivers down one's spine...

On this River Observation Platform, this woman's identity was naturally not false.

Moreover, she was a very intelligent woman. A simple sentence, completely non-aggressive, conveyed her willingness and ability to provide treatment, minimizing Jiang Wang's resistance as much as possible.

But Jiang Wang still looked at Zhao Rucheng.

Not until Zhao Rucheng gave him a confirming look did he half-cradle Zhao Rucheng and send him forward...

"I'll do it, I'll do it!"

Yuwen Duo, with a head full of braids, rushed forward two steps, skidding to his knees, eagerly reaching out and taking Zhao Rucheng, declaring boldly, "Yun Dianxia, leave this rough work to me! Rucheng is my brother, I should be the one to take care of him!"

Because he was afraid of affecting Zhao Rucheng's injuries, Jiang Wang did not evade much and let him carry the person away—so eagerly that it almost seemed like he was snatching him.

Jiang Wang looked at him with some unease, then at the Mu Kingdom princess with the pale green eyes.

Helian Yunyun subtly withdrew her hands and slowly stood up, her smile still gentle: "It's the same whether it's handed over to Yuwen Duo, they are also good friends."

Jiang Wang confirmed with Zhao Rucheng's eyes again, then felt relieved.

He bowed respectfully to this princess: "My little fifth, I'll trouble you."

Hearing the address 'little fifth', Helian Yunyun's smiling eyes became even gentler: "We are family, there is no need for formalities. Taking care of Rucheng is what we should do. You can come to Mu Street later to see him, just mention my name and you can pass freely."

It seemed that Rucheng had also experienced a lot in the Mu Kingdom, and they regarded him as one of their own...

Thinking this, Jiang Wang's gratitude became even more sincere.

He watched Helian Yunyun and Yuwen Duo leave the stage.

Do you remember what Jiang Wang said when he saw Zhao Rucheng after miraculously escaping death in Sanshan City?