Chapter 1379: On the Road

Jiang Wuqi's life was fleeting.From that winter night in the thirty-eighth year of Yuanfeng, to this morning in the fifty-fifth year of Yuanfeng.Dragging a sickly body, he walked for seventeen years.The Son of Heaven of Qi invited all renowned physicians under heaven, offering immense rewards, yet none believed Jiang Wuqi could live past ten years.And he was already seventeen this year.These extra seven years were a result of his solitary struggle against death, snatched back day by day.The chilling poison entered his life from the womb; the higher his cultivation, the fiercer the poison.Cultivation meant embracing death. Not cultivating meant waiting for death.Jiang Wuqi knew early on that fate had not granted him more choices.Both paths, forward and backward, were dead ends.Every day and hour of his life, he endured immense suffering. Every bowl of medicine he drank was unbearably bitter, and every treatment he received was like torture and agony.Yet, he lived with stubborn resilience.Physician Wen said his Inner Palace had reached its limit; one step forward, and the chilling poison would immediately flare up, resulting in death.He merely asked, "If I achieve Divine Arrival in one step, what then?"Physician Wen said entering the Outer Tower meant death, and entering Divine Arrival also meant death. Only with True Oneness could one sever the chilling poison from one's life, but achieving True Oneness in one step was nigh impossible.He merely said, "Then I shall achieve True Oneness in one step."Dragging a body afflicted by the chilling poison that had entered his life, he sought to create infinite possibilities.Enduring the suffering of every moment, he sought to forge his own legend, that of Jiang Wuqi.How simple a thought it is for a person to wish to live.But for Jiang Wuqi, how difficult a wish it was.Alas, his steps were forever halted in this autumn of the fifty-fifth year of Yuanfeng.He solidified within this majestic and grand Hall of Violet Extremity, in this center of power of the Great Qi Empire, silently transforming into an ice sculpture.How to evaluate him?Like that solitary question in the Longevity Palace—"Who am I?"The Son of Heaven of Qi was silent.He raised his hand, as if wanting to touch Jiang Wuqi's cheek, but it hovered in mid-air, remaining still for a long time.The noble and dignified imperial robes of the Son of Heaven and the snow-white fox fur that had turned to ice sculpture stood in silent confrontation.And that hand, capable of altering heaven and earth with a flip of the palm, finally lowered in solitude.From this day forth, it could no longer touch.Earlier, Jiang Wuqi, naked with a jade in his mouth, knelt before the Hall of Violet Extremity awaiting judgment. The Son of Heaven took the jade from his mouth, pardoned him, but also estranged him.And today, Jiang Wuqi finally demanded the white jade back from him, signifying that he had reclaimed his own innocence, retrieved it himself.The imperial robes of the Son of Heaven were dignified and noble, naturally lofty and awe-inspiring, compelling all who saw them to prostrate themselves. The pearl fringes hanging from the Pingtian Crown also held deep secrets of time, concealing all the emotions of the supreme ruler of the Eastern Domain.The Son of Heaven cannot be without suspicion.The heart of the Son of Heaven cannot be clearly fathomed by others.Heaven's grace is like the sea, Heaven's might is unfathomable.There was no doubt that Jiang Shu was a qualified Son of Heaven.But in the end, Jiang Wuqi referred to himself... as son.How did he respond to his son?This supreme ruler of the Great Qi Empire stood in the Hall of Violet Extremity for a long time, no one knowing what he was thinking.Not until Han Ling, suppressing his grief, spoke softly, "Your Majesty, those two captured by the Eleventh Prince... how shall they be dealt with?"It was then that the Son of Heaven of Qi seemed to awaken.He turned and walked towards the imperial steps.The trajectory traced by the pearl fringes in the air was like a final farewell.And his voice, like it descended from the Ninth Heaven, was so indifferent and distant—"Execute them by slow slicing."This powerful ruler who commanded the Eastern Domain and subdued the world finally showed a hint of emotion at this moment.No need for probing, no need for information, no need for negotiation, no need to pursue clues.Only that they die in the most miserable manner.This was a father's offering to his son.The tall imperial steps finally reached their end. The Son of Heaven of Qi, dressed in imperial robes, turned around and sat down on that incomparably noble dragon throne.The light of the Crimson Sun Pearl could not penetrate the pearl fringes, casting a shadow over the face of the Son of Heaven.This Hall of Violet Extremity was too tall, too vast, making the person within appear too lonely.Jiang Wang received the news on his way back to Qi—The Eleventh Imperial Prince of Great Qi, Lord of the Longevity Palace, Jiang Wuqi, succumbed to the chilling poison and passed away in the Hall of Violet Extremity, at the age of seventeen.Along with this news came the account of Jiang Wuqi using himself as bait to capture all the spies of the Equality Nation within the borders of Qi.From the Metropolitan Investigation Office to the Imperial City Guard, and then to the Rain-Slaying Army on rotation in the capital...A total of twenty-three spies of the Equality Nation were rooted out!One must know that the last time the State of Xia bound and sent high-level Divine Arrival realm figures of the Equality Nation to Qi, they failed to unearth any important figures.And these twenty-three individuals this time had woven a huge dark web within Qi. They did not know each other but acted for the same goal when necessary.Among them were not a few high officials. There was a Grand Master of Rites who presided over grand ceremonies, a Grade Three Blue Badge constable from one of the Four Great Blue Badge families, Li Youjiu... and even the commander of the Rain-Slaying Army, Yan Tu!A person of the rank of a Nine Army Commander was actually a high-level figure in the Equality Nation!This was almost impossible in other hegemonic nations.Only in Qi, as the "youngest" hegemonic nation among the six powers of the world, did such a thing occur. Its rise was too rapid, its expansion too hasty, and in this process, many hidden dangers were buried.The iron hooves of Qi had trampled across the Eastern Domain, conquering countless nations and absorbing countless talents. While rapidly expanding, it also created too much hatred and buried too much pain.This was an experience that every hegemonic nation had gone through, requiring sufficient historical depth to digest them.The current Qi was clearly still too "young."Someone like Yan Tu, who had fought for Qi since Jiang Shu was the Crown Prince, had he not exposed himself this time, who could have discerned his true intentions?But these old festering wounds hidden within Qi's body were this time, by Jiang Wuqi using himself as bait, thoroughly excised.Even if there were some stragglers, they were merely minor figures, difficult to pose any threat."What, the news of the Eleventh Prince seems to have touched you greatly?" asked Chong Xuan Sheng in the moving carriage.The main army had gradually withdrawn from the Star and Moon Plain, and the army of the State of Xu had returned to the hands of the people of Xu. Except for Li Shuwen of Xu, the various paragons who had led the battles could also let go and rest.Of course, although they were all paragons returning in glory, as they journeyed back to Qi together, their paths were not entirely the same, reflecting their varying degrees of closeness.For example, Chong Xuan Sheng immediately pulled Jiang Wang into his carriage to question him about the stories of the Outer World.Apart from Jiang Wang, who had not planned to participate in the war beforehand, the various paragons of Qi had brought their own attendants or clan soldiers and had personal guards on the battlefield. Those brought back to Qi were also these individuals. At the time of dividing the camps, Chong Xuan Sheng, Yan Fu, and Li Longchuan had even assembled a team of personal guards for Jiang Wang, but unfortunately, Jiang Wang left overnight and did not get to use them.This time returning to Qi, the entourages of the various paragons formed a convoy.Frankly speaking, Jiang Mouren naturally wanted to ride with Brother Yan. It wasn't just for the enjoyment of a top-tier luxury carriage, but simply because he was "agile and eager to learn" and enjoyed chatting with learned people!Furthermore, although Chong Xuan Sheng's carriage was not bad, with a big fat man on the right and a metal lump opposite, it was still somewhat crowded no matter how spacious it was.Having enjoyed wealth and status for too long, Duke Jiang was no longer willing to suffer when he could avoid it...Amidst the rumbling of the carriage wheels, Chong Xuan Sheng continued, "Do you remember me telling you? In the Star and Moon Plain war, to limit the scale of the conflict, the number of Jing State paragons we killed should ideally not exceed three."Jiang Wang looked at him.He continued, "For Jing State, this quota is five."Chong Xuan Sheng said no more, but he had already said everything.The truth of the world is sometimes exceptionally cruel.Compared to Qi, Jing State is stronger, so Jing State has a greater margin for killing.Today, the Xu State army suffered heavy casualties, and Li Shuwen had to, under the watch of Lady Xidu, visit and greet the Qi paragons one by one. Wasn't this for the same reason?As stated in the "Treatise on Circumstances" - "Why is this so? The difference lies in the circumstances of strength and weakness!"Jiang Wang fell silent for a moment.But what he thought of was not how cruel this world was.Rather, it was Chong Xuan Sheng, who was sitting in the same carriage with him at this very moment.Chong Xuan Sheng always emphasized to him how cruel this world was, always making him recognize the so-called "reality." But when danger arose, this fat man always stood by his side."Alright," Jiang Wang patted his backside and stood up, "I'm going to chat with Brother Yan!""About what?" Chong Xuan Sheng asked casually.Jiang Wang glanced at him, quite arrogantly, "Topics for scholars."In Chong Xuan Sheng's widened eyes, Jiang Wang lifted the carriage curtain and proudly strode away.The fat man let out a dissatisfied snort.He turned his head and said to Fourteen, "See that? This arrogant and haughty demeanor was really corrupted by Xu Gaoxu."As he spoke, he leaned towards Fourteen, "He finally left! I'm telling you, he was just an unnecessary eyesore!"Fourteen remained silent, only placing the black heavy sword between herself and Chong Xuan Sheng.Chong Xuan Sheng very naturally twisted his body and lay down on the other side of the carriage."It's really quite boring, isn't it, this journey?"He said dryly.Fourteen did not say a word.