Chapter 2695: Unrestrained

Li is the strongest of the six surrounding countries...

I, along with the emperors of the overlord countries, sit on equal footing...

How is Li Country not an overlord country?!

The Snowfield Emperor’s abacus beads, split and bounced off people's bodies.

Bystanders could treat it as amusement, but Zhen River True Monarch, as the referee of this session’s Yellow River Assembly... he couldn't "dodge".

Every abacus bead struck his Dao body.

He had to carefully and cautiously receive them well, and treat them as genuine.

"With Your Majesty’s prestige, you were involved in the initial era’s opening, establishing a prosperous country’s system, and have opened two great countries... within these six directions, you should rightfully have a seat!"

Having said the pleasantries, Jiang Wang then wanted to say "but".

"However, the Long River Dragon Monarch's observation seat was specifically for the water race. It inherited the will of the Middle Ancient Human Emperor, namely to continue the virtue of the sun and moon coexisting, to create a world where water and land share the same light, for the peace of myriad generations."

"Now the Dragon Palace has no master, the water race has no monarch. This seat remains empty, waiting for a future worthy one. This is a sincere wish for eternal harmony between the two races, unwavering through myriad worlds."

"If Your Majesty were to occupy this seat, then the world's water race would not know what to expect. With your virtue, how could you feel at peace? You absolutely should not do this!"

Jiang Wang bowed deeply, holding the ritual with great respect.

Although in private, the two of them were already calling each other "big brother" and "old brother", and occasionally when things got heated, he would retort with a few sentences like "old man". But on this kind of public occasion, he still gave him full face.

Hong Jun Yan also returned the courtesy, first saying:

"In my life, I have seen heroes, none like Jiang Zhen River!"

Then he continued:

"This heart that worries for the world is also my heart."

"Water and land sharing the same light is what I wished for. The world’s great harmony is what I sought."

"That year, the divine land was ablaze with beacon fires, king's flags everywhere. No side was peaceful, no surname could sleep in peace... I could not bear the suffering of living beings, so I stopped the blades and soldiers, and sealed myself in the frozen earth, hoping for spring's warmth, blooming flowers, and a world free from harm."

"Worthy brother came from the east and knocked on the door, and frost melted, revealing autumn's visage. I rose and looked—thousands of years have passed, but the human world has not changed!"

"The world is chaotic, the common people are bitter, each family struggles, common beings pursue. Now time is like a story, today is tomorrow. Our generation is born between heaven and earth, and finally knows we cannot shirk responsibility."

He strode onto the world stage, speaking heroically to the world:

"I have to raise the blade again, exerting this old body, raising the flag for the common people of Li. This is why Li Country exists!"

Er Zhu He listened with surging hot blood, clenching his fists fiercely.

This was the monarch he was loyal to, the empire he loved, the cause he strived for—for the common people of the world, to make the human world change its face!

If a competition were to start immediately, he really wanted to fight a round or two!

Bao Xuan Jing, a mere child! Chen Yan Xun, a rotten Confucian child! Even with world-beating talent, how could they compare to his surging hot blood and shining ideals? He must win first place for the Great Li Dynasty, recreating the legend of Dang Mo Tian Jun!

Dang Mo Tian Jun on the stage... blinked his eyes, not waiting for Hong big brother to finish his boasting.

Others might not know the truth, but that sentence "sealed myself in the frozen earth"... wasn't that year he was defeated by Jing Tai Zu Tang Yu and faked his death?

Calculating, this was actually the first time Hong Jun Yan had given a "speech" widely facing the world.

His last world-shaking performance was participating in the encirclement and killing of Zong De Zhen, which established his image as a ruler who controlled the country with one hand, not inferior to contemporary overlord emperors.

This time, however, he was expounding on his ideals and reshaping his image.

And that time, after all, the level was too high, only those in high positions could know. It wasn't as widely spread as this time, suitable for both old and young.

Having finished talking about Li Country, he then got to the main point:

"In former years, the Dragon Monarch sat high on the world stage, and I was also beside him, raising the flag in Snowfield, enjoying the same banquet of heaven's proud ones. Mentioning the old covenant of the Human Emperor, considering the barrier between the two races, comparing ancient times to the present, there are sorrows... I too am sad!"

"Past events are unbearable, let's have a cup of wine. Old feelings embrace regret, sighing in my heart."

"Now the Dragon Monarch has died because of his crimes, leaving behind merits for the water race. Thus, there is this assembly, for the water race to ascend the stage."

"I desire to inherit Lie Mountain's will, to continue the Dragon Monarch's legacy, to make human hearts far and return near, water and land sparse and return intimate. Now the water race has suffered injustice and finds it difficult to speak out, there is no road ahead, intending to be unfair... I shall shelter them! Just as I shelter distant people, and now people... exhausting the common people of Li!"

The snow-colored dragon robe truly possessed a different kind of prestige.

Hong Jun Yan raised a hand and pointed, his snow sleeve like a flag, smiling as he asked:

"Thus, the Dragon Monarch's old seat————should I sit or not?"

This was the first great country emperor, until now, to so publicly state his attitude towards the water race! And he was a monarch who had had a huge influence from the opening of the new era until today.

This was undoubtedly a huge boost to the consensus on the water race promoted by Tai Xu Pavilion!

He laughed heartily and then looked at Jiang Wang.

This was also vaguely the condition he was offering—

I will support you like this, how will you support me?

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment.

His silence was not in weighing pros and cons, but in delivering this gentle refusal to Hong big brother.

To promote the consensus of "human race and water race are originally one family," to give the water race a space to survive, and to promote the fusion of the two races... some exchanges could be made.

For example, for the main competition venue already decided upon for the Yellow River Assembly, Jiang Wang smiled apologetically, using both soft and hard tactics, mediating on multiple sides, and then it could be finalized.

But this matter could not be treated as a condition itself!

Because if it was a condition, then today they could trade this, and tomorrow they could trade that.

Hong Jun Yan, in such an occasion, taking out his attitude towards the water race as a bargaining chip, then he would not be a person who truly cared about the feelings of the water race.

He was a qualified, even excellent emperor, but the water race would not be seen as his cherished subjects.

Suppose the water race from now on all returned to Li Country. Then what would be the attitude of the other great countries towards the water race? Would they still be so tolerant of a part of Li Country?

All of Jiang Wang's efforts until now were in the hope that the water race could live equally under the sunlight. If, for this share of rights, the water race were all put on the chariot of Li Country, that would truly be aiming south and hitting north.

Fighting for a single view of compassion from Hong Jun Yan after he ascended to the six directions? That might be possible, but it was definitely not the right path.

If Jiang Wang were to nod today, it would be using his immense influence within the water race to push Hong Jun Yan into the position of water monarch. It would also be using the trust of several overlord country emperors in him as a bargaining chip—everyone tacitly allowed you, Jiang Wang, to host this session of the Yellow River Assembly, even tacitly allowed many reforms of this conference, because they believed you indeed had a public heart, and indeed wanted to do something for the world, not to see you giving favors here.

But mere silence was obviously not enough to shake Hong Jun Yan's determination.

He stretched out a finger and pointed at the position where the Long River Dragon Monarch sat in Dao Calendar Year 3919. No chair appeared there for a long time. He just kept pointing.

Jiang Wang was somewhat helpless. As the referee, any conflict that occurred on View River Platform with anyone would be detrimental to this session of the assembly. Except where competition fairness was involved, he did not need to exist in any form.

But sometimes, facing an old rascal like Hong big brother, you had to show some attitude.

Relying on muddling through was foolish.

Hong big brother had seen more mud in his life than you had.

As long as you were a little bit not tough, you would be pinched to death.

"Whether Emperor Li should sit in this position or not, Jiang someone’s words do not count." When it was time to face it, Jiang Wang never lacked responsibility. He took a step forward, blocking Hong Jun Yan's line of sight: "Your Majesty’s heroic ambition, Jiang someone respects and sighs for! But the Yellow River Assembly is just an assembly of the present world's heaven's proud ones, and Jiang Wang is just an ordinary person! I still hope it returns to the competition itself, I hope it is purer."

That year, nineteen-year-old Jiang Wang asked Chong Xuan Sheng what the Yellow River Assembly was.

Chong Xuan Sheng replied————

"A few old big brothers sit down and chat, divide up territory."

In the past, it was so.

Successive generations, it was so.

Perhaps now, it is also so.

But today, it is not only so.

Besides those meanings of the past, it also carries some ambition to change the world, carrying some... ideals.

Not counting youthful ideals.

Approximately it is some still hot-blooded young people picking up fragments of the Lie Mountain Oath, which even the Dragon Monarch who was sworn in recognized as a lie.

But Tai Xu Pavilion wanted to push it as the truth.

Twenty-two-year-old Chong Xuan Sheng said that the beginning of the Yellow River Assembly was for those big figures to simplify complex things. Perhaps this answer still hasn't changed today.

Today, Hong Jun Yan also wants to simplify the complex issue of hegemony here, summarizing it into a once-simple "sitting down".

But this is both too simple and not simple enough.

"View River Platform is after all a platform for viewing the scenery, not a state altar. Can Your Majesty slightly stop your heroic ambition and calm down to appreciate a competition?" Jiang Wang's expression was mild, his attitude gentle:

"Er He is certainly greatly encouraged. Jiang Wang also... feels slightly at peace in his heart."

These words were even a bit pleading.

Among the people of Li Country in the field, probably only Er Zhu He didn't understand. He raised his head high, very honored that his name was called, and thus appeared intimate.

Fourteen-year-old Er Zhu He was pure and innocent, only among a group of overly mature youths, he was overly immature.

"What heroic ambition?" Hong Jun Yan laughed heartily:

"Just casually finding a place to sit, you Zhen River True Monarch are thinking too much!"

"Alright!" He waved his hand:

"I won't delay you hosting the competition. I will go and sit myself!"

He had no intention of getting into a conflict with Jiang Wang at this moment. A choice with a hundred harms and no benefit, he would not touch.

As for Jiang Wang's support... if he couldn't be coaxed, he wouldn't be forced.

Focusing solely on the referee here, one couldn't avoid the suspicion of bullying the weak and fearing the strong. He certainly didn't mind pinching soft persimmons, but the path of Li Country's ascent to the top must have a process of hard meeting hard.

Putting this process on View River Platform was already the smallest cost among all known costs.

From the year Dao Calendar opened until today... he had made enough preparations.

He wasn't in a hurry to squeeze next to the six directional pillars today, but he had to go and sit in that position that Ao Shu Yi once sat in.

And see today's six overlord country emperors... which one would come to block him.

The monarch of Li Country walked forward with his hands behind his back, like a dragon and a tiger, staring at the various emperors:

"I came from the northwest frontier, all the way through frost and snow, very difficult, I need to rest—I think several honored people of the world are broad-minded, respecting the old and honoring the elders, should not have any objections?"

He had also made enough preparations for those who had objections.

No matter which country's strongest person made a move, even no matter which emperor came down... they could give it a try. Above transcendence, there was nothing that couldn't be fought.

He walked and said:

"On the world stage, one should compete for the world!"

"The so-called heaven's proud ones are all not yet grown..." His snow robe lightly rolled, shaking his head with a laugh:

"Just children playing!"

The emperor from Snowfield, at this moment, displayed his matchless dominance. He was the hero who that year, with Tang Yu, fought hard, blade to blade, gun to gun, until the heavens collapsed and the earth split.

Who among the world's heroes would dare to try their hand?

"Emperor Li’s words are deeply in my heart!"

The Central Emperor slowly opened his mouth, making Hong Jun Yan vigilant and look up.

If he were to choose an opponent among the six overlord country emperors, the ones he most wanted to meet were of course Emperor Mu and Emperor Chu. Life in the world, nothing more than relying on the strong to bully the weak. If he didn't bully the small with the big, rely on the old to sell old, wouldn't he have lived for so long in vain?

But thinking about it, he also knew that these two would not give him the opportunity to rub against them. When a new monarch ascends the throne, a move can tilt the country. Too intense, it's not beautiful. It doesn't conform to his idea of simplifying complex problems.

The ones he least wanted to meet were Emperor Jing and Emperor Qi... the power of these two had already been clearly displayed. Even setting aside national power, they were not inferior to him.

Of course, if he truly wanted to go against them, he also had to stand firm. Coming to the stage today with the honor of the country, facing the entire present world, he was already in a position with no retreat.

Emperor Jing, with only a corner of his dragon robe here, his voice seemed even more distant:

"Now there is someone who shelters the water race of the world, how can he not be the water monarch?"

Hong Jun Yan smiled:

"Emperor Jing's words are reasonable."

The emperor of the Great Jing Empire smiled lightly:

"Since he shelters the water race of the world, he can be the water monarch... then True Monarch Jiang should sit in this position."

"Inheriting Lie Mountain's will, continuing the Dragon Monarch's legacy, truly great ambitions! Isn't this what Zhen River True Monarch is doing?"

He retorted:

"Zhen Long River, sheltering the water race, isn't this what Zhen River True Monarch has already done?"

Why do you need to come!

Why must you sit!

On and off the field, there was silence for a moment. Only Hong Jun Yan's heroic laughter echoed:

"Heroes see things slightly similarly! Zhen River True Monarch is indeed worthy of this position."

He pointed the hand he had used to point at the position where the Long River Dragon Monarch sat in past sessions, turning it into an inviting gesture, with a smile on his face:

"Please take the upper seat."

Jiang Wang... turned his body to avoid it.

These two old heads were contending, how did it always turn around to him, Jiang someone?

He didn't want to be a blade or gun in anyone's hand, he only wanted to hold Chang Xiang Si and guard his three-foot sword enclosure.

"The water race has its own heroes!" He sighed:

"This position is in no way for Jiang Wang."

"Discussing heroic spirit, discussing strength to undertake, among the water race, who can compare with you?" Hong Jun Yan asked with a laugh:

"Since the human race and water race are originally one family, how can a land person not be the water monarch?"

"It's not that a land person cannot be the water monarch, it's that Jiang Wang cannot be the monarch!"

Jiang Wang said:

"Firstly, I do not possess the virtue or talent, secondly, my name and position are not sufficient, thirdly..."

He again bowed to Emperor Qi's side:

"I resigned from Lin Zi that year, and made a covenant with the Eastern Emperor, that this life I would no longer join any force. Thus, I traveled ten thousand li, never standing a flag in one place."

"The old covenant is past!" Hong Jun Yan waved his large hand, laughing: "Now that you are at the absolute peak, there are no taboos!"

He said and turned his head to look at Emperor Qi:

"I think the Eastern Emperor, now, will also no longer restrain you."

Jiang Wang only said:

"Though there are no taboos, there is reverence. Old matters are in my heart, I never forget."

"Good, a heart with reverence!" In the Eastern Emperor's voice, there was a relatively deliberate laugh:

"It was right to tell you to read books in the first place, finally not letting you become a rude fellow, a rude generation!"

As a 'rude fellow' and 'rude generation' Li Country Emperor, he only smiled brightly:

"Since Zhen River True Monarch is unwilling to sit in this position, I also cannot force people."

"The water monarch position is empty waiting for the future, I can understand that. Then it depends on everyone's wishes!"

He said, directly raising his hand and pressing remotely. Beside the position where the seat had never appeared, he pressed out a crystal clear ice sculpture armchair, complete in detail, incomparably noble.

"I will just sit next to the Dragon Monarch's old seat!"

"Consider it commemorating his virtue in governing the waters, to comfort his old heart." He was determined to find an emperor to fight a round today!

Even if it was "rude," even if he ate in an ugly manner, even if he was scolded as ignorant and barbaric, he had to use this Yellow River Assembly to properly rub someone.

No matter which overlord country emperor was rubbed by him, it would be very hard not to lose points.

Either everyone tacitly allowed him to sit up, letting Li Country easily take a half step forward.

Jiang Wang exhaled a long breath, his breath like a white rainbow!

He was very, very, very unwilling to stand on the opposite side of Hong Jun Yan, even though this "Hong big brother" had not considered his feelings.

He acknowledged that Hong big brother had not considered his strength.

But as the host of this session's competition, he had the responsibility to maintain the order of the competition. Order included everyone's seating!

So his hand finally rested on the sword hilt.

But at this time, the leader of Wei Country raised his hand high, indicating he wanted to speak.

Jiang Wang hurriedly looked over:

"Yan brother, what is the matter?"

That proud sword hung at Yan Shao Fei's waist. He stepped out from the viewing seat, through the crowd, towards the emperors, referee, and bowed several times.

Escaping from being 'rude', he only said:

"From ancient times, there have been no extra seats on View River Platform, one person, one seat, to ascend this stage."

"Now Emperor Li is divine and mighty, his prestige压the eight directions, establishing the world's flag, his name spread widely throughout the universe... thus seeing the ice and snow."

He bowed to the ice and snow armchair Hong Jun Yan had pressed out:

"This seat is very honored, the people of Wei hold respect for it."

"However! The Dragon Monarch is no longer here, this place is empty, covered in frost and snow."

"From ancient times, a good banquet has no empty seats!"

"If Emperor Li wants to sit..."

He suddenly turned his body, raised his hand and pointed outside the world stage, just like raising a sword against the Long River!

"Emperor Wei is wrapped around the waist here, and he can arrive with a single thought."

Please go to: onovel.top