Chapter 2719: What Do You Labor For?

"How is this possible!"

This speculation was too extreme, causing Ji Jinglu some unease. "The Yellow River Meeting is such an important occasion, where strong individuals gather and the world watches. Who would come seeking trouble? That would be suicide. I only heard that Yan Chunhui is foolish, but he's still very clever when encountering danger. He's happy to escape and change his route. I've never heard of him pursuing death in such a grand manner."

Lou Junlan was very calm.

"If I believe that Chen Suan's actions had meaning, that he encountered danger for a reason, and that it must be related to the human demon ———— then based on all of that, I make this guess."

She continued, "This session of the Yellow River Meeting is very different from previous ones. Many things strike me deeply, but one of the most important, perhaps overlooked by people, is that the Long River Dragon Lord is no longer present."

Everyone's attention was focused on the various changes at this Yellow River Meeting, on the living space of the water race, on the people of small countries, the world's sects, and the emergence of various rogue cultivators...

Ao Shuyi's death was indeed something intentionally downplayed by various parties.

The seat of the Long River Dragon Lord remained empty, although the Li Emperor and Wei Emperor filled the positions below it, preventing it from being entirely vacant. Still, it meant that a transcend level position on Guan He Tai was lost.

Even though the emperors of the Six Hegemonic Countries had their dharma aspects descend and could instantly bring forth the power of their countries, they did indeed possess transcend level power and fundamentally feared no eternals. Once they joined forces to activate the Nine Dragons Hold Sun Eternal Town Mountains and Rivers Seal, gathering the power of their entire country's system and pushing the tide of the era, they could even kill a transcend.

But they were not true transcends.

As emperors of hegemonic countries, there was only one path to transcending. Until the Six Directions were unified, they would forever be unable to truly reach the transcend realm.

With merely a dharma aspect present, could one truly know everything?

Just as Lou Junlan said, if there was a near-saint at the absolute peak, even transcend level means, there was still a possibility of not revealing flaws.

After Ji Jinglu recovered, he still hesitated.

"But the problem is... what was Yan Chunhui's purpose in going to Guan He Tai?"

"If we can know his specific purpose for this trip, we can know who he is," Lou Junlan stood still, thinking rapidly.

"But I think Zhen He Zhen Jun has already given us the answer."

"Zhen He Zhen Jun said 'the road is in between.' Yan Chunhui cultivated the human demon for the sake of transcending. Changing his route and seeking another path was naturally also for transcending."

The divine power within her body surged like vast ocean waves.

Lou Junlan's voice became increasingly rational.

"The nine great human demons originated from No Return Valley and have a long history. Except for the Forget Self Human Demon and the Reveal Face Human Demon, the other human demons often change. Yan Chunhui never cared about that."

"But no matter how the person changes, the similar divine power effect always exists. For example, the Swallow Heart Human Demon Xiong Wen, and the Hate Heart Human Demon Fang Heling... two completely different people, both the ninth human demon, both with divine power related to the heart."

"Forget Self, Fortune Telling, Ten Thousand Evils, Flesh Cutting, Reveal Face, Beheading, Blood Drinking, Soul Eating, Heart Swallowing..."

"Wang Ye, don't you feel like this is a process of a person's rebirth?"

"First forget yourself, then grasp fate again, commit ten thousand evils to receive evil retribution, cause and effect seeking themselves, then cut flesh, reveal face, behead, drink blood, eat soul, swallow heart to change your head and be reborn!"

"Chen Suan asked 'why are there nine human demons' ———— because nine is the extreme number, nine is complete. On Yan Chunhui's path to transcending, not one of these nine human demons can be missing!"

Lou Junlan raised her head, her eyes bright.

"Is it possible that, unlike cultivating human demons before, Yan Chunhui, after leaving Yun Country, re-cultivated a truly perfect prodigy, gathering all the characteristics of the human demons in one body, and using this as his flat boat for a change of route?"

She continued to think.

"As for why he went to Guan He Tai, one only needs to look at how Jiang Wang soared into the sky and how Li Yi gained worldwide recognition. This is the most crucial step on the path of growth. A truly absolute world talent, when they can step onto this and fly high."

Ji Jinglu smiled bitterly.

"The conditions for ascending Guan He Tai are all one in ten thousand geniuses, each with their own uniqueness. Seeing the dazzling array of stars, I never felt there was a problem with anyone. But now that I've started to suspect, I feel like everyone has a questionable point..."

Lou Junlan of course understood what Dai Shan Wang was implying but didn't say.

Not to mention, Jing Country put in effort in more than one place to prepare for this Yellow River Meeting. Among the two prodigies qualified to contend for the top, both came from ancient celestial master families who had been hidden from the world for many years.

The Four Surnames of Celestial Masters had not been in decline for a long time, but it had also been a very long time since prodigies of this level had emerged. After all, a single family, a single surname, how could it compare to a Dao Country selecting world talents? For such outstanding figures to appear in this generation, and two at once, it was considered the first generation of celestial masters' virtue shading future generations now taking the stage. Heavenly Capital City must have had arrangements.

If her father were still alive, she could of course know the cause and effect, but now, she did not have the qualification to hear.

Lou Junlan was not discouraged. She was doing what she needed to do now.

Perhaps the Tian Lou Clan did not start as a famous family.

"Our purpose is to investigate Chen Suan's death."

"If Yan Chunhui is indeed on the stage, the name Xiong Wen's reminder certainly has its purpose ———— Yan Chunhui definitely knows who killed Chen Suan."

Lou Junlan said calmly, "But just as Wang Ye said, these prodigies on stage all have their own secrets. If we truly want to investigate, it seems like everyone has a questionable point. Even because we ourselves have ideas and arrangements... so we cannot just openly pursue on the stage with great fanfare before the facts are determined."

Ji Jinglu thought to himself, Lou Junlan was indeed a person true to her name. With just a fleeting sentence, Lou Junlan already understood the boundaries.

She and her sister were different.

Her sister seemed like cold frost in eternal night. Her father was eternally hated and had fallen.

While she bloomed alone.

"I don't think Zhen He Zhen Jun will allow the competition to proceed halfway and for us to arrest and interrogate the participants one by one. The forces behind these participants will also not agree. The current world ultimately has various parties checking and balancing each other, and the central empire cannot cover the sky with one hand," Ji Jinglu shook his head.

"Moreover, we are only guessing now, and cannot confirm the existence of Yan Chunhui. Or even if he truly exists on stage, it's not certain he hasn't been eliminated yet... The entire process of the Yellow River Meeting, only the top three days of the name race remain."

"So we still have to start from Xiong Bao'er's other questionable point ———— speaking of which, why did he challenge Bao Xuanjing?"

Lou Junlan answered her own question.

"I can think of several reasons. First, to provoke conflict between us and Qi Country, to muddy the waters. This includes the Wei Country matter, includes dragging Yin Guan in, includes the clues left by the Qi Country people here looking all this way; Second, Bao Xuanjing is simply the absolute human demon cultivated by Yan Chunhui, which is why he possesses such terrifying talent. But this possibility should not be high. Whether as a warning or a reminder, pointing him out directly would be going too far."

Ji Jinglu finally sorted everything out, integrating all the converging information from various sides.

"We have to hurry. I have a premonition that true change is about to happen soon."

He raised his hand and pressed it on the tree trunk, feeling the life of the tree. "I have a premonition that this series of changes is just to confuse our attention. The miserable state we saw after breaking through the illusion array is another kind of eye-deceiving method."

"Pei Hongjiu's side already has new progress. I think... Xiong Bao'er might not know what he's doing."

Lou Junlan was already in some pain from overusing her divine power, but she didn't show it, still focusing on thinking about the case itself.

"His challenge to Bao Xuanjing was very likely due to a national level hint from Ji Country ———— the Ji Country monarch of course doesn't know, he dared to go to Heavenly Capital City to explain himself, feeling open-hearted. But any of the Ji Country people accompanying him to Guan He Tai could have spoken, representing the central great hall giving a promise. It's just that they all died very cleanly, leaving us no evidence to seek."

"Killing Xiong Bao'er was to hide the second questionable point, killing these people was to hide the first questionable point," Ji Jinglu shook his head, feeling quite absurd.

"So, it seems that Jing Country, on Guan He Tai, drove Ji Country's prodigy to provoke Qi Country — this is actually true?"

Lou Junlan replied, "I'm afraid it's true. At least Xiong Bao'er very likely thought so. When the shackles were put on him, he probably felt the destination was Heavenly Capital City."

Ji Jinglu offered no comment on this.

"Let's go," He retracted his hand and turned to leave.

"We have a lot of things to do next."

Zhongshan Weiye knew from birth that emotions were the most expensive consumption. There was no eternal love in the world, each person's love was only fleeting. A person like him, bearing the fate of Eagle Yang Fu, wouldn't even have a fleeting moment.

He was destined to marry a woman who could help his career, marry to bear children, and strengthen the Zhongshan family. That kind of woman would necessarily come from a famous family and have a very high perspective. Like Princess Fold Moon, whom even Gong Xiyan could dismiss casually.

So he always paid great attention to his reputation ———— a good appearance, a good reputation, a good price.

It was at the Ning Wang Tang Rong banquet that he met Bian Qiong.

This woman, who started her official career as a great shepherd ritual official, made her first appearance at a Jing Country noble banquet with a stunning swan dance performance. She didn't act coy or charming, just generous and bright. Discussing state affairs, she got straight to the point. Bearing the country's ceremony, she was courteous and disciplined.

She stood out among the crowd of famous ladies and noble women, leaving a deep impression on people.

Even Ning Wang couldn't turn away.

Such a woman, refusing Ning Wang's advances, yet giving him a glance that was different from the crowd. Probably no one could remain unmoved.

He knew his appearance was not bad, and his talent was first-class, but the most attractive thing was his identity as the young master of Eagle Yang Fu.

During their first meal together, Bian Qiong's graceful movements on the grassland were already known to him.

He understood this was a woman who could leisurely maneuver among Bo Er Zhi Jin, Wan Yan Du, and Yu Wen Duo, traverse the three great grassland famous families, eat rosy clouds and drink dew without being picked by anyone.

He didn't hope to be the one different from the crowd.

At the same time, he didn't mind playing along. Bian Qiong kept him guessing, and he just went with the flow, pretending to be pure.

Until Chen Suan told him that Bian Qiong was Tian Xiang of Three Points Fragrance Building. This game between man and woman then took on a different meaning.

Every time there was an unintentional leak of intelligence, every time there was malice hidden within the wind, flowers, snow, and moon, it was him constantly releasing bait. These successive offerings would finally be reclaimed with interest.

He just never thought that when he reeled in the line, he would be left alone.

In the slanting wind and fine rain, three or two fishing friends hung their rods, then suddenly the wind startled their dreams, leaving only a solitary shadow.

Everyone had dispersed.

Zhongshan Weiye sat alone in Wei Du.

On the third floor of the "Thousand Family Lamp" wine building, he overlooked the street where pedestrians bustled like a shuttle.

Bian Qiong was currently on an envoy mission to Sheng Country.

On one hand, she was an envoy, handling diplomacy for a great country, which required extreme caution and was full of intricacies; on the other hand, she was still busy hosting the Yellow River competition. In this world-watching grand event, she couldn't say a single wrong word.

She still had the secret mission of Three Points Fragrance Building... she still had to find time to flirt with him!

Zhongshan Weiye couldn't help but sigh. This was truly a very hardworking woman. She was also considered a commoner's counterattack on the grassland, a model of changing fate through effort. This year was undoubtedly a year of comprehensive rise in her career.

If her secret identity as Tian Xiang were removed, she would absolutely be a figure worth recruiting. Her skills, talent, and cultivation talent were all sufficient. The opportunity given to her by Mu Country's Min He Temple was a matter of course.

Zhongshan Weiye arranged the wine well. He was waiting for his guest. He of course wouldn't just rush to kill without considering the consequences. One time was enough depth.

He wanted to avenge Chen Suan, and killing one Bian Qiong was obviously not enough.

This was Sheng Country, and he had to consider the attitude of this so-called "first vassal state."

In previous years, Mu Country and Sheng Country were still locked in a death struggle, a bloody battle at Li Yuan City. Bian Qiong's envoy mission was like an empty courtesy between countries, merely maintaining the etiquette of great powers. During her envoy mission, she still shone brightly at the Yellow River Meeting, which undoubtedly proved this point.

But in Zhongshan Weiye's view, Mu Country and Sheng Country had a great necessity for cooperation, and already had a true foundation for cooperation.

How Jing Country turned Li Yuan City into a meat grinder for both Mu Country and Sheng Country should be clear to those who knew.

No matter how much the Sheng Country court indulged in the narrative of the Eternal Dao Gate, it should have woken up to its narrow position after being cut by a knife in its own body today ———— once even Zhuang Country could threaten it! If not for Zhuang Gaoxian's death, it was truly unclear who the first vassal state would be now.

As the supporter behind Sheng Country, how could Penglai Island not add to the chips in its hand while the central further suppressed the three veins?

Based on Zhongshan Weiye's political sensitivity, he was completely certain that Mu Country would sincerely seek cooperation with Sheng Country, and Sheng Country was also already prepared to meet with smiles.

What he needed to determine now was whether Bian Qiong's envoy mission this time truly brought enough sincerity from Mu Country. If so, he would have to re-evaluate Bian Qiong's position in Mu Country — this would also decide whether he could directly make a move in Sheng Country.

"Young Master Zhongshan! Unexpectedly, I don't know which wind brought you, this distinguished guest?"

Jiang Limeng walked up to the building with a generous stride.

The person Zhongshan Weiye was waiting for didn't come, but someone of greater weight did.

He rose to greet her, smiling politely.

"Today, sitting here as a guest and seeing the prosperity of Wei Du, I feel the vastness of the heaven and earth, and I miss many sceneries! Senior Sister Jiang, it's been a long time!"

This address of "Senior Sister" dated back to the Yellow River Meeting. They were more or less from the same session.

The person he originally wanted to wait for was Qi Ya, the son of the deceased Sheng Country great general Qi Hong. This young man had met him in a secret realm once. Due to his family's decline, he was quite resentful and was casually subdued by him — of course, now that he thought about it, this person had always been in Jiang Limeng's palm.

Zhongshan Weiye didn't mind who sat opposite him. Qi Ya was, at best, a pawn that could be used or discarded. He was just surprised that the young lady who was completely tricked at the Yellow River Meeting by that Zhuang Country person had changed so much now.

Time treated everyone equally.

Jiang Limeng sat down, laughing brightly.

"Qi Ya is not feeling well and couldn't come to entertain you. He entrusted me to certainly do my best. I said where he needed to speak. Between us senior brother and sister, having strived together on Guan He Tai, aren't we even closer?"

Zhongshan Weiye immediately realized that the negotiations between Mu Country and Sheng Country might not be smooth and laughed heartily.

"This word deserves three cups!"

He raised his cup and drank three in a row.

Jiang Limeng accompanied him. Then she said, "It's another session of the meeting of prodigies. The contention on Guan He Tai is just heating up, but Senior Brother Zhongshan still has the leisure mood!"

Zhongshan Weiye waved his hand.

"Perhaps I'm getting old and can't bear to see newcomers, which makes me despise my own past!"

He laughed heartily, deliberately not mentioning the main topic, and chatted idly with Jiang Limeng.

After discussing the customs and traditions of Wei City, Jiang Limeng finally opened her mouth first.

"Noble guest has come north, I wonder what matter Senior Sister can help with?"

Zhongshan Weiye then looked outside the window ———— that was the direction of the outer ceremonial hall, where Bian Qiong was currently staying.

His expression was very gentle.

"I heard that Mu Country's envoy arrived in Wei Du the day before yesterday?"

Jiang Limeng then laughed.

"I said where Senior Brother Zhongshan remembered Senior Sister Jiang! It turns out you came here for beauty!"

"Yes, please keep it a secret for me," Zhongshan Weiye laughed gently and mysteriously.

"I want to give her a surprise!"