Chapter 2747: Moonlight Shines in the Ditch

Thick, viscous thunder magma rolled high in the dome, like a ladle of black clouds obscuring half the world.

Jiang Wang’s gaze also darkened because of it. He asked:

"Why would Your Majesty know about the Divine Hero?"

The closer this grand assembly drew to its final chapter, the more the person responsible for it all was roasted, the more they endured the fire.

Wei Guo, Su Xiu Xing, Xiong Wen, Chen Suan, Bian Qiong…

At Guan He Terrace, the fire was raging and oil was frying, with sparks falling from time to time across the entire world. Cracking and exploding sounds.

Invisible pressure was tormenting people.

Wei Xuan Che, who had been fully focused on the stage and seemed very concerned about the competition, noticed Hong Jun Yan pause for a moment.

He thought that smart people probably wouldn't need to ask this question. But then he immediately thought again, Jiang Wang still asked, indicating that this "smart person" viewed it as a meaningless question... probably very important to him.

"Hahaha, you won't think that I have some collusion with the Divine Hero, will you?"

Hong Jun Yan restrained some of his majesty and added a few points of seriousness:

"What I mean is, I am willing to throw the full weight of my country behind assisting you, helping you drag him out. After all, I have been active since the rise of Dao Li Xin Qi, virtually growing older by several years than you, little brother. I have seen more of this world and have a little secret knowledge."

On the stage, the battle was reaching an intense point. That sword, named "Jun Sui Wen," was drawing down heavenly thunder punishment, controlling the high platform horizontally.

The Legalist thunder punishment inherited from Gui Tian Gong was somewhat different from the Daoist thunder methods of Peng Lai Island. It emphasized the punishment of destroyers by heavenly rules and earthly principles, promoting natural thunder. Peng Lai Island, on the other hand, emphasized "my heart is the heart of heaven," focusing on self-control over thunder.

Thunder penetrated the water, spreading wildly along the converging waterfalls from the eight directions. Zuo Guang Shu, however, was harnessing the essence of the Hong Hu, using the starry river as a light veil to cut off the thunder light and rise high. For a time, he was ethereal in crown and belt, like a god or an immortal. "Looking at past actions, the Divine Hero at first still acted with righteousness, proclaiming his ideals. Slowly, then, changes occurred. Now, among all known countrymen, he is the most unscrupulous. Since the last time he released Zhi Di Zang, this has been especially true... If this continues, this person will surely become a calamity for the world."

Jiang Wang's tone was sincere:

"Your Majesty's heart embraces the common people and also cherishes this little brother, willing to help. That is naturally for the best."

Hong Jun Yan just looked at him:

"But this matter is not easy."

Jiang Wang chuckled:

"Big Brother Hong often says we are friends across ages, our hearts and guts facing each other. I think the bond between us doesn't need to be turned into a transaction."

"How can it be called a transaction?" Hong Jun Yan’s face shed its frost, laughing more naturally than Zhen He Zhen Jun:

"You and I call each other brothers, accompanying each other in the human world. You help Big Brother, Big Brother helps you, it’s just courtesy and reciprocation!"

Jiang Wang cupped his hands:

"Your Majesty’s heart spans ten thousand generations, his intentions encompass heaven and earth. I only fear my return gift will be too light, unable to match your affection!"

"First listen and see, what is it I want you to do?" Hong Jun Yan asked.

"Big Brother Hong!" Jiang Wang earnestly called out, his tone serious: "Little brother has rarely actively stood on a stage to say something. My origin is not high, I am petty, and I always only want to do things within my capability..."

"This time, the Yellow River Assembly, relying on the support of the world, has developed into its current appearance, already exceeding my capability. In fact, I already feel extremely difficult! It's only because the world expects it that I reluctantly maintain it..."

He looked at Hong Jun Yan so sincerely, his posture could not be called anything but humble:

"Your little old brother is not a smart enough person. For a time, I can only do one thing. If you truly want to help little brother, wait until this session of the Yellow River Assembly ends, then I will come and talk with you about the Divine Hero matter."

Hong Jun Yan quietly looked at him for an eye, then turned back and continued watching the competition on the stage.

The Wei Emperor beside him was watching the competition even more seriously, and at this moment, he still cheered for Zuo Guang Shu's Dao technique:

"Vast Great Chu, indeed talents and lands are spiritual. Now it has Guang Shu, not inferior to Zuo Hong of that year—this school's Dao technique is used too ingeniously!"

"Guess what those few people on the six directions pillar are chatting about right now?" Hong Jun Yan's eyes looked forward as he said leisurely:

"Zhen He Zhen Jun is keeping me ten thousand li away, while I advance and retreat with you. You are intimate with the Qi Emperor, get along well with the Mu Emperor, and chat and laugh freely with the Chu Emperor! Perhaps they have said something to you?" Jiang Wang, without the slightest trace of temper, chuckled gently:

"We three are just chatting idly here, not once opening up to others. The words you just spoke, could they be considered heard by others?"

"I just want to tell you—people in the world are divided into two kinds. One kind is standing on the six directions pillar above, and the other kind is being surrounded inside by the six directions pillar." Hong Jun Yan said lightly:

"There are only six people above. The people surrounded inside are us. We should stand together."

"What Your Majesty wants to do is nothing but stand up. Even make the six above become one." Jiang Wang chuckled:

"Your Majesty, I with you, may not be called 'us'."

Hong Jun Yan did not deny it, only saying:

"This one time is different from that one time, this principle is the same in ancient and modern times. Matters of that time will be discussed then. What I am saying to you now is about 'this time'."

Jiang Wang then said:

"This time, this moment, I only want to enjoy limited freedom and peace of mind within my sword enclosure. How that time, that moment will be, no one can say for sure, but I think—it is so in my heart."

"It seems Zhen He Zhen Jun is a person without much ambition..."

Wei Xuan Che was sitting there, without the slightest trace of smoke and fire. The fierce intent he had shown earlier when raising his spear against Hong Jun Yan was completely absent. He was now like a good old man. When he interjected from the side, he did so very naturally:

"A wall standing a thousand ren, without desire then it is rigid!"

"It is precisely because he wants too much!" Hong Jun Yan said lightly: "Being sealed as a marquis and serving as a prime minister, dividing land and sealing territory, even personal great power, transcending the supreme—these are not considered big ambitions. These are things he can seek, and no one blocks him. But you see today, what is he doing? Will this world allow him to manipulate?"

"Big Brother Hong's words are excessive! I never feel I can manipulate anything." Jiang Wang seriously explained:

"Except for my unavoidable relatives and friends. Some things just happen to be within my capability because I walk on this road, that's all."

"If. I say if—" Hong Jun Yan was still looking at the stage, his voice leisurely:

"If it is determined that the Wei Guo matter was done by Jing Guo, and tomorrow is the Outer Building field champion's name race, how will your Yellow River Assembly competition group ensure that Lu Ye will not receive interference?"

"The massacre of two counties in Wei Guo is only a small warning. Wei Guo still has its prime county, and Wei Guo still has more ordinary people. Lu Ye is only seventeen years old... Does he truly still dare to strike with full force?"

The Emperor of the Snow Plain asked again:

"Among the main race players of the Yellow River Assembly, that Xiong Wen from Ji Guo... he died. Do you know? Who killed him to disrupt the competition order? Will this interfere with Jing Guo's player, or Qi Guo's player? Or make them gain confidence?"

"This world is so chaotic. Will the sectarian disciples and prodigies from small countries who are about to fight on the stage still dare to exhaust their brave force? I see that Wu Yu is already hesitant!"

"Zhen He Zhen Jun, are you managing this? Can you... manage it?"

Hong Jun Yan's questions were not asked quickly, but one after another they pounded down, like a mountain tilting and the sea covering.

Without adding any divine Dao methods, yet the momentum had ten thousand jun, striking the original heart.

Do the rules of the so-called Yellow River Assembly, which you all painstakingly maintain, truly resist the world's strongest forces and bind the world's hardest fists?

If not.

What are you persisting in?

If not.

What fairness are you still talking about!

Jiang Wang did not remain silent for too long.

Thus, he said to Hong Jun Yan:

"The Central Empire has its own responsibility, I believe they will not do so."

"Relying on the support of all sides, this session of the Yellow River Assembly can be held smoothly. All sides treat me with sincerity, so matters affecting the competition should not occur."

"I can only manage matters on the stage, not matters below the stage."

"Even if some matters are thrown onto the stage and exceed what my sword can bear, I probably can only lower my head." "I can only do as much as possible and cannot make efforts that exceed my capability. I only have this seven-foot body, walking alone here, and cannot endlessly satisfy people's expectations. The further I walk, the more I understand that sentence—human power has its limits."

His hand lightly rested on the back of the chair:

"Does Your Majesty just want to hear this kind of answer? Want to see my cowardice, grievance, and helplessness."

"But what are these anyway?"

"I have already faced them."

"I have long known there is no absolute ideal world. I am also not some absolute ideal figure, and I don't hope to achieve absolutely ideal results."

He patted the back of the chair:

"The first champion has already appeared. Big Brother Hong, let's just chat to here."

The final of the Unlimited Field almost became a solo performance by the little duke of Great Chu.

Wu Yu, who had been leaping before the race, did not contribute the earth-shattering performance that people expected. Instead, with his Cave True Realm cultivation, relying on his wonderful control of Legalist decrees, he dragged the battle out, endured more offensives, and allowed Zuo Guang Shu to display his Dao technique genius to the fullest.

In the words of the competition commentator, Hu Yan Jing Xuan:

"After this battle, more than half of the world's most cutting-edge water-line Dao techniques have been renewed."

"Xuan-rank water-line Dao techniques will be mainstreamed according to Zuo Guang Shu's creation today. How Di-rank water-line Dao techniques develop will depend on Zuo Guang Shu's future creations."

The evaluation could not be said to be low.

Perhaps there were factors related to him being Ba Guo Zhen Jun, maintaining Ba Guo's dignity, and intentionally highlighting the superiority of the national system. But indeed, the gorgeous Dao techniques on the martial platform also conquered many audiences.

As for the final itself, in the eyes of people who truly understood the competition, it could not be called wonderful—it was still not as intense as the battle between Zuo Guang Shu and Sa Shi Han.

Wu Yu's fighting will was very debatable. He was very hardworking, but not desperate enough.

The Chu people embraced their champion and returned, and the cheers in the spectator seats were endless. The two brothers of the Zuo Clan in Great Chu were respectively the champions of two sessions of the Yellow River Assembly. From this, a good story should also be passed down.

The newly promoted Yellow River champion was ascending the heavenly stairs to display the flag for his country.

The main referee, with smiling eyes and a gentle demeanor, was walking towards the stage.

Vaguely, a ray of someone's Dao light fell down, falling under the Shen Xiao Phoenix flag, pointing at Zuo Guang Shu's brow center.

Jiang Wang looked up at the young master, so divine and noble, on the heavenly stairs, a warm smile on his face.

He continued walking, turned around on the stage, and faced everyone:

"Entrusted by everyone's support, this session of the Yellow River Assembly is already coming to an end. The first Yellow River champion has already been decided. The second and third are also not far away. They still have fourteen years to prove themselves again, and I believe the next fourteen years belong to them."

"I am very, very grateful for everyone's contribution to this grand assembly."

He bowed deeply on the stage and then stood up.

People were whispering, not understanding why he suddenly came onto the stage to speak.

"The elders of all sides grasp heaven and earth, yet they delivered such a big matter to a young person like me. This is the spirit of the human race's inheritance. How can we not see the heavenly drum booming and human culture shining brightly?"

"I dare not disappoint expectations, I act anxiously and sit cautiously." "Tai Yu Zhen Jun, who never delays his cultivation for a moment, has silently accompanied everyone at Guan He Terrace for many days. The sword of Dao One guards the prodigies. He is lazy in all matters, yet he is willing to hold a sword in his hand to protect the future of the human race."

"Huang She Li, who makes a fortune every day, actively ran around in all directions to handle the various commercial activities of this Yellow River Assembly. As everyone can see, he handled it incredibly well—he didn't do it for himself. His wealth could already last him until he exhausts his lifespan as a Zhen Jun!"

"There is a resolution of the Tai Xu we have not yet announced—all proceeds from this Yellow River Assembly will be used throughout the entire present world to widely establish Tai Xu Yi Xue."

"It does not involve supernatural colleges, it only teaches everyone to read and write. It does not compete for talents with major forces, it only targets those with poor families who have a heart to read but lack the means. In fact, it mainly recruits orphans from the present world, and can be seen as a relief institute relying on the Tai Xu illusion."

"Someone said they thirst for gutter water, with the ambition to wash the dirt of the world. I was once moved by it, I think these words are thought-provoking!"

"I simply hope that one day the rivers will be clear and the seas calm, this world will no longer be dirty, and there will be no dirt for them to wash. I simply hope that everyone can drink clean water, and will not need to go to the gutter again!"

"If my heart is directly towards the bright moon, it is because the bright moon also illuminates the ditches!"

"Tai Xu Yi Xue will use the clear studies of the present world as its teaching foundation, inviting masters of major clear studies to jointly compile textbooks. The military god Jiang Meng Xiong of the Soldier family, the master Wu Bing Yi of the Legalists, Mister Chen Pu of the Confucians, Elder Shu Wei Jun of the Mo family, Master Zhao Wu Chan of the Buddhists, the head teacher Yu Zhao Luan of the Dao family—the order does not divide rank, just the sequence in which the masters agreed to participate in this matter—they have all accepted the invitation from Tai Xu Pavilion."

These masters were invited by Jiang Wang, knocking on doors one by one. Although the textbooks for ordinary people seem very inconspicuous, the prosperous foundation of the major clear studies ultimately lies with the tens of thousands of people in the world.

Only Yu Zhao Luan...

Regarding this master of the Dao family, Jiang Wang thought for a long time and didn't know who to find. He then handed this matter over to Li—in fact, he wanted Li Yi to conveniently do this job. The result was that he said "um," turned his head, and invited Yu Zhao Luan.

Jiang Wang continued speaking on the stage:

"Also, for example, the master of Ling Xiao Pavilion, Ye Qing Yu, invested a large amount of preliminary funds for this Yellow River Assembly competition, and widely spread blessings with the name of the God of Wealth, allowing the grand assembly to start smoothly."

"Such instances are too numerous to list. All relatives and friends, virtuous and benevolent people, I cannot list their names one by one on the stage. Here, I collectively thank you. If there are any omissions or negligence, please forgive me, gentlemen. I think you pity me, so do not resent me."

He bowed deeply again.

Then he stood upright, like a green pine standing in the human world:

"Borrowing the fortune of this session's first Yellow River champion, I hereby announce three things—"

"The first thing is that this session of the Yellow River Assembly is my first time hosting it, and also my last time. After this, there will naturally be prodigies, and naturally there will be responsible people... I am not needed."

This point indeed did not surprise anyone. Although past referees had hosted several sessions consecutively, at that time the referees had no power and could not do so many things.

When Jiang Wang displayed his power to change the present world by borrowing the Yellow River Assembly, it was destined that the next session would not be his turn to take the field.

"The second thing is that after today, I will forever withdraw from Tai Xu Pavilion and return the absolute fair power to the Tai Xu Dao master. If Tai Xu Pavilion is fixed at nine people, I recommend Fu Yun Qin to sit in that absolutely neutral position. The world may only have relative fairness, but the Tai Xu illusion, which possesses so many water race walkers, should have one water race person sitting in Tai Xu Pavilion."

Jiang Wang chuckled warmly:

"Of course, I am just recommending. Perhaps due to age or other reasons, the specific person selection awaits the public decision of all sides."

As soon as these words were spoken, the world was in an uproar!

No one expected that Jiang Wang, who had entered Tai Xu Pavilion, soared up with the east wind of the Tai Xu illusion, and was now vaguely the first famous Zhen Jun in the world, would actually, on such an occasion, at the time when he had successfully held the Yellow River Assembly and was most like the sun at its zenith...

Announce his withdrawal from Tai Xu Pavilion!

Leaving aside the surging discussions in the world, even at the Guan He Terrace site, which should have been a gathering of high officials and nobles, vested interests, people were loudly asking why! Was he being oppressed by someone!

Jiang Wang simply placed both hands flat and pressed down the noise of the entire field.

He calmly announced the decision, just as if he had already decided what to eat tonight.

"In view of everyone's eagerness."

He said with a smile:

"The third thing is—the Outer Building field champion's name race will be advanced. It will not wait until tomorrow, the drawing of lots will begin now."

"Lv Ye, Yu Xian Yu, Gong Tian Ya, and Ji San Si please come to the stage."

"I am very honored to be able to witness your most glorious moment."