Chapter 2681: Carry My Light Boat

“Child, you must be sensible.”

“Child, you must learn to read people’s expressions.”

“Child, you absolutely cannot make your master angry.”

Zhang Cuihua was just an ordinary, yet not so ordinary, rural woman.

She wasn't pretty, didn't understand music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and certainly didn't understand cultivation. All she knew was that her husband, Chu Haoxue, had risked his life for an opportunity, and she and her son had to treasure it well.

She wanted her son to listen and be sensible. She herself also worked tirelessly, transforming herself from a rural woman who knew nothing into the top recommender in the De Sheng Trading Firm.

Now, everyone in the firm called her “Sister Hua.”

The more she did, the more she understood how little she could actually do. Regarding her son’s extraordinary future, she couldn't help at all. But besides working desperately, telling the important figures who called her big sister that she wasn't useless, and that she wouldn’t let down their good intentions… what else could she do?

She gave her all to her work, treating the De Sheng Trading Firm as her own home, only hoping that even if she couldn't help her son, she wouldn't drag him down.

How she wished she could hold her son in her palm and tell him not to be so well-behaved, to occasionally be willful and play!

But this was a child without a father, and she was a useless mother…

She didn’t want to cry.

Seeing her son’s heroic posture on the stage, she had originally wanted to smile and tell him, “Son, you’re truly amazing! You did too well! Quickly go and report your victory to your master!”

But as soon as she opened her mouth, it turned into sobs. She wanted to keep her eyes open, but tears fell.

Chu Haoxue, did you see it?

Did you see your son step onto Guan He Tai and become such an outstanding person!

He is your seed, your legacy in the human world. He did what you couldn’t do, walked to places you couldn’t reach, and saw a more brilliant scenery for you.

You, in your world of illusions, were a hero!

Your son, on Guan He Tai, is the world’s focus!

This is the fiercest competition in the world; only the most excellent young people in the world can ascend this stage.

And your son, Chu Yao! He walked onto the stage and defeated his opponents…

He is someone fiercer than a genius.

He must have worked incredibly hard to reach this point.

Did you see it?

Whether you see it or not…

Why is she crying? Zhang Cuihua didn’t know. It was clearly a time of extreme happiness.

She wanted to show off to everyone, whether they recognized her or not. She wanted to loudly tell people, “This child is called Chu Yao, he is my son, he is especially well-behaved, especially sensible, how excellent he is!”

It seemed like she was embarrassing her son… but she couldn’t stop crying.

Finally, Lian Yuchan walked up and gently comforted her, "Sister, there’s still a second match in a little while…"

Zhang Cuihua suddenly found strength and immediately sprang up, agile like a foraging marmot.

She could cry, and her image didn’t matter, but she couldn’t affect her son’s competition.

"Sorry, sorry," she kept apologizing, not knowing who she was apologizing to, turning around in confusion a few times, then frantically hurrying down from the stage.

"Mother, don't be nervous, this competition is hosted by my master," Chu Yao followed her, softly reminding her.

Zhang Cuihua suddenly turned her head and scolded in a low voice, "Then we absolutely cannot misunderstand the rules!"

Then she turned to Lian Yuchan and said, "Sorry, Chan girl, I'm an ignorant rural woman. I was too happy, too rude. Thank you, thank you for teaching the child so well."

She then pushed her son towards Lian Yuchan, "There's still a match in a while, you go prepare. Please ask the adults for guidance. Mother is fine… Mother still has things to do, go now, hurry!"

Chu Yao always listened, so he stopped in his tracks. He looked at his mother, looked at Aunt Yuchan, and then looked at the floating De Wen Yu—that fish wagged its tail at him, which was a sign of praise from his master.

He really wished life could stop at this moment forever.

He felt extremely happy.

This was the first day of the preliminary rounds of the Yellow River Assembly in the year Daoli 3933.

Some people wept, some people laughed, some were joyful, some were worried.

Within the still-sealed inner enclosure of the Six Harmonies Pillar, above the World Stage, Jiang Wang sat cross-legged alone, his mind divided into thousands of threads, simultaneously controlling the two thousand eight hundred matches happening throughout the Yellow River Assembly.

The Immortal Mind Star River slowly rotated above him, like the celestial dome of the universe unfolding for him.

The Demon Ape, the Immortal Dragon, All Beings, True Self, and Heaven Human occupied the five directions of the World Stage, sitting around him, each with their own dignity.

The solemn and noble Great Headmaster Yu Xi of Yujing Mountain, who was unreachable, walked in at this moment.

His daoist robe, previously adorned with gold and jade, had been changed to the headmaster’s robe, yet it still primarily used the colors of gold and jade, not reverting to the white robe that Zong Dezhen wore that year. It lacked some solemnity but gained several points of nobility and grandeur.

He looked left and right, "This place truly brings back memories."

That year, he stood here under the various Sons of Heaven. Now, he came again, but he would not appear here simultaneously with the Son of Heaven of Jing.

Jiang Wang opened his eyes, rose to salute, expressing his respect to this newly appointed Great Headmaster of Yujing Mountain.

The five great dharma bodies also lowered their heads in salute, showing their respect.

Jiang Wang walked down the high stage to greet him, with a smile on his face, "Thank you, Headmaster Yu, for your protection that year, allowing this junior to have the fortune to walk to this day, to bear the kindness of the Sect Master, and to take responsibility for the world."

Yu Xi waved his hand, "This seat just clocked in to work that year, and you today are only taking responsibility for the human race."

His identity was different, and his strength was also different.

Yu Xi was also a bit more humorous after becoming headmaster.

Jiang Wang maintained his politeness, "Everyone just does what they can within their abilities. It’s not about doing more or less. Sometimes, some things can succeed because the situation makes it so."

These words were indeed true. If he were the referee in Daoli 3919, it would be absolutely impossible for the Yellow River Assembly to have a referee beyond influence.

Let alone reforming; even a slight unconventional opinion might be suppressed at the bottom of the long river and used as a lesson for others.

The death of the Long River Dragon Lord not only shook the Nine Provinces. The imminent Shenxiao Great War might also not just be a war.

But Yu Xi said, "However, heroes create situations."

Indeed, situations create heroes, and heroes also create situations. But what exactly did it mean for Yu Xi to say this with his identity?

The vastness and ancientness of the Daoist Gate, the strength and depth of the Central Empire, were already that "situation"!

Now, many people say that Yu Xi, this Great Headmaster of Yujing Mountain, just picked up the position.

Zong Dezhen was exposed in an accident and was instantly struck by a group of strong cultivators. Ji Fengzhou had heaven-reaching methods, promoting a Lou Yue to the position, yet Lou Yue fell and became a demon lord—Yu Xi, who fundamentally didn’t fight for the position, just sat on the throne of the Great Headmaster of Yujing Mountain and gained all the power of Yujing Mountain… he “sat and became a saint.”

But was Yu Xi really just waiting for the position?

The Four Great Heavenly Masters were already second only to the Headmaster in the Daoist Gate. Yu Xi had been guarding the West Heaven Gate for so many years; how could he be underestimated by people?

Although Zong Dezhen died, and died in an extremely ugly posture, casting a huge stain on Yujing Mountain, to the extent that for a long time, this branch of Yujing Mountain had difficulty raising its head in the Daoist country…

But Yujing Mountain was not without cards to play.

The history of Yujing Mountain was its lifeline.

Just like the Emperor of Jing could cry at the Taomiao.

Yujing Mountain still had a Yujing Dao Lord enfeoffed.

That was the most ancient transcendent in the human race!

How could an absolute hero like Ji Fengzhou, with the Immortal Court and repeated advances into Jinghai, holding the Dizang and unable to make him bow his head, and Lou Yue falling to demonhood and defeat, just let him go?

Based on Jiang Wang’s rough understanding of this Central Son of Heaven, after Lou Yue’s fall, he would quickly smooth things over, and then promote another person, always promoting the person he intended to be the Great Headmaster of Yujing Mountain.

Bringing a Zhen Yi relic up to Yujing Mountain may not have been solely to force back Yuan Tian Shen.

But in the end, things developed to today’s outcome.

Thinking carefully, it is impossible for Yu Xi to ascend to the position without the will of the Yujing Dao Lord.

But having ascended to this position, overlooking all the mountains, can Heavenly Master Yu secure his heavenly destiny? Can Headmaster Yu completely rely on the will of others and sit firmly?

He should seek that step forward for himself!

The slogan of "Re-ascend Yujing," although Jiang, as someone who wholeheartedly sought the Dao, also heard it clearly, it was deafening.

Dividing a part of his mind from the Yellow River events, the True Monarch of Zhen River smiled humbly, "Yujing Mountain is the orthodox branch of the Daoist Gate; the Daoist Gate is the source of a hundred schools. Although you have not cultivated for a thousand years, you already hold the great teaching of Yujing, ascending to the top of all heavens. You can be called a hero!"

"The name of 'hero' has now become a dangerous title! I am sincerely sighing, yet you are throwing a hot potato—" Yu Xi sat down at the edge of the field, laughing, "Should I properly flatter you for a bit?"

He truly was worthy of being the Great Headmaster of Yujing Mountain.

As he sat there, this ordinary viewing seat instantly became noble.

He truly had the momentum of being at the noble extreme center, with ten thousand Daos converging.

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Jiang Wang just stood below the stage, standing in the empty space between the first row of viewing seats and the World Stage, smiling gently, "The Yellow River Assembly can have today's situation, all thanks to the support of various Sons of Heaven, the tolerance of high people from all realms, and the unity of the ten thousand people of our present world. I dare not say that I created the situation. The human Dao is a surging flood; fortunately, it carries my light boat."

"According to the old rules of the Yellow River Assembly, I, this former referee, have come to hand over some matters to you." Looking at the new referee in front of him, Yu Xi, this old referee, also had a very complex heart.

They were both referees of the Yellow River Assembly, but he had passed it on plainly and simply, while the other party had caused such a stir?

It was no exaggeration to say—this grand gathering profoundly changed the present world!

But how could they compare? When he was the referee that year, he was only one of the four Heavenly Masters of the Daoist Gate, everything depended on the Son of Heaven of Jing’s mood, and the other several overlord Sons of Heaven all guarded against him like thieves… As long as there was a slight negligence or impropriety, they probably all wanted to personally come and punish him.

While now… the Son of Heaven of Li, the strongest country under the overlord countries, called him brother. The Son of Heaven of Da Mu called him "Big Brother Jiang" and "My Brother Jiang Wang" one mouthful at a time; there was no need to mention the countries of Qi and Chu.

Even that jumping Yuan Tian Shen now had a spring breeze on his face.

They actually all tolerated his maneuvering.

Regardless of whether they agreed with his ideas, they all had to admit that he had made things happen.

"Recalling the moment you drew your sword to win the championship, it feels like yesterday," Yu Xi was filled with emotion.

Jiang Wang smiled faintly, "Now seeing those who come after, it should also feel like yesterday."

Yu Xi looked at the five venerable figures on the stage, feeling their unconcealed power, and changed the subject, "When will this World Stage open?"

He only asked this, and Jiang Wang only answered this, "The preliminaries will end in three days, then there are two days of the losers' bracket. Only after all the main race spots are determined will this World Stage be open."

But after saying this, he still half-probed, "This session of the Yellow River Assembly sincerely invites great sects from the world to participate. My preliminary list here has not been fully reported yet… I don't know if Yujing Mountain has any excellent disciples ascending the stage?"

Yu Xi seemed to smile but not smile, "My three branches of the Daoist Gate only know how to cultivate and nurture nature. When they emerge from the deep mountains, they still rely on the Daoist country as their facade. As for who will represent the Daoist country on stage, I think it still depends on the abilities of the young people."

He then asked, "I heard that True Monarch Jiang's younger sister was actually beaten into the losers' bracket in the opening match. She ran into an absolute genius who had been hidden in the Song country for over ten years… This sign of luck is a bit too bad. Could someone be playing tricks?"

As Chen Yanxun gained worldwide fame, his past experiences were gradually revealed to the public. After all, he originated from the Song country and was the son of a prominent family. Unlike Jiang Wang that year, who originated from a small country and a small town, where his hometown had become a ghost domain, his background was extremely clean with no information to dig up.

The Chen family had a huge network, and there were leaks everywhere.

Regarding "Chen Yanxun's illegitimate child," a more detailed saying has now been dug up—

It is said that Chen Yanxun was born with a Daoist pulse and possessed world-covering talent. The Chen clan feared harming this proud son of heaven, so they hid his name, obscured his brilliance, and secretly raised him outside. Only when the Yellow River Assembly was approaching was he summoned back to Shangqiu City.

Chen Yanxun's cultivation of the Pure Yang merit was also dug out. Another secret was added—why Chen Yanxun's talent was so outstanding was precisely because Chen Yanxun released the Pure Yang seed under the most prosperous circumstances and with the most sufficient preparations.

Although Jiang Wang didn’t pay attention to these news, they gradually reached his ears.

The emergence of geniuses is a fortunate matter for the human race.

The Song country’s caution in the matter of Chen Yanxun also stems from its national power not being strong enough. Although Shangqiu is prosperous, when placed in the world, its position is difficult to say. It has to bow low.

"This time, the drawing of lots for the Yellow River Assembly, starting from the preliminaries, is all done within the Taixu Illusion, under the supervision of the Taixu Dao Master."

Jiang Wang didn’t quite understand Yu Xi’s thoughts, but he defended his order and emphasized his rules, "Even the transcendent demon race, who is best at heavenly will, cannot interfere."

Yu Xi seemed to be deep in thought, "So, even players from overlord countries cannot pre-determine the top eight."

"Even a strong player like Zhongshan Wei Sun lost to Yan Shaofei, who is not from an overlord country. Jiang Limeng of Sheng country also lost to Lin Zhengren, whose name is unknown… Guan He Tai was originally just a place to witness miracles; it should allow the proud sons of heaven to bloom freely."

"This is the consistent spirit of the Yellow River Assembly."

Jiang Wang said quite seriously, "I believe that with the strength of the proud sons of heaven from the various overlord countries, they will still reach the positions they should reach."

In previous sessions, it was an unwritten rule that the proud sons of heaven from overlord countries would be given special arrangements.

It’s not that they necessarily needed this means. It’s just that as the top power holders in the present world, they naturally have places to manifest their power. Slightly adjusting the arrangement of matches does no harm. It avoids early clashes, weakening the prestige of the overlord countries, and at the same time, precisely suppressing some existences under the overlord countries who want to show their heads in the competition.

In this session of the Yellow River Assembly, these things were also canceled.

Everyone had to rely on their real strength and luck to advance.

Even the drawing of lots within the Taixu Illusion would proceed after clarifying all aspects of luck, divine powers, and secret methods.

Yu Xi looked at him deeply, "Do you know what I appreciate about you the most?"

Jiang Wang thought, this is the first time I've heard you appreciate me.

Of course, he said, "Please enlighten me, Headmaster, so that I may forge ahead."

"It was when you were on Guan He Tai originally, before the Great Qin Emperor, you did not hide your affection for the descendants of Emperor Huai, you did not hide your position." Yu Xi looked somewhat nostalgic, "You hugged him on the stage and truly showed me your power."

"You saw me make a fool of myself," Jiang Wang couldn't quite figure out what he wanted to say and just said, "This junior is indeed a bit childish and impulsive at times…"

Yu Xi interrupted him, "This world does not lack geniuses, nor does it lack affectionate people, nor even so-called ideals."

"What it lacks are people with good memories."

"Remembering old friends, old stories, old hearts."

This new Great Headmaster of Yujing Mountain’s gaze was burning, "I see you below the stage today, and you are not exactly the same as the you who was on the stage originally, but you are completely the same you. I am very gratified."

If it were nineteen-year-old Jiang Wang here, perhaps he would only have the ambition of a "scholar who sacrifices himself for a worthy cause."

Now, Jiang Wang here only thought, this famous teaching of Yujing, this world's great sect… what act are they performing today?

"It's not that I have a good memory. It's that some people and things are good enough to make me remember them."

Jiang Wang responded to this sentence very seriously, "This world is indeed so vibrant, I only feel that all beings are lovely."

He said, "I am not a sage or wise man, I have no unconditional love."

"Good!" Yu Xi seemed not to have heard the latter sentence and praised loudly, "Good a 'all beings lovely'!"

Then he reached into his bosom, "I actually came this time to bring you a gift."

The so-called "no merit, no reward." Jiang Wang subconsciously wanted to open his mouth to refuse, but he unexpectedly fell silent.

Because Yu Xi took out a roll of white paper and a jade book from his bosom.

This book was pure and flawless, one look and it cleansed the heart! It seemed to have the resounding sound of a great bell and drum in his ears.

It had an extremely glorious name—

《Upper Ancient Exterminate Demon Alliance Contract》!

Thanks to book friend "Heavy Xuan Ling" for becoming the alliance lord of this book! This is the 874th alliance for Red Heart Patrolling Heaven!