Chapter 1361

Charge, charge, charge again.

Cheer, cheer, cheer again.

Wind-driven, lightning-fast, roaming freely with disdainful gaze, speed and passion, blood-debt swelling!

"Viewers, you can see the inaugural Jianghuai Rally is fiercely intense, a veritable dragon-tiger struggle. This race saw three hundred thirty-seven wooden shuttles depart from Shangrao; less than five hundred li out, after passing the first checkpoint, the Sea Tooth King's Water Splash Leap, a significant competitive gap has already emerged."

Naturally leading the pack is our uniquely discerning Sage Emperor; the Sage Emperor's chosen Jiang Tun broke through on the spot, carrying the momentum of ruling all under heaven, far ahead, unmatched. One can only say the Sage Emperor lives up to the title; with the Sage Emperor leading us to roam the world, it is Great Shun's fortune, the people's blessing.

Behind the Sage Emperor is the Chong King from Lingnan Province; the Sea Wolf is uniquely gifted, excelling in speed, and unlike the Jiang Tun, it doesn't need to surface for air. Any friends from Lingnan Province here? Let's cheer for the Chong King together! Chong King, charge! Charge!

Wait, the Su King behind the Chong King is biting very tight; oh, a Dragon Sturgeon blocks the way ahead; wow, a beautiful drift through the bay current; the racers behind can't even see the water spray from the wooden shuttles; the Su King overtook the Chong King!

The Dragon Elephant King and the two Clan Kings are proceeding steadily; let's look at the Huai King; alas, what a pity, the Huai King is simply too young, full of youthful vigor, charged fiercely at the start, but wilted fast afterward; now he's dead last in the Dying Dragon echelon.

Friends, this is a typical negative example; the Jianghuai Rally spans twelve thousand li total; using checkpoints to wear down opponents and reasonably allocating stamina is also a crucial link; kids, absolutely do not imitate this.

At the rear of the Dying Dragon group is our Zhen Xiang Heavenly Group; several Grandmasters are a hundred years old, truly old steeds tethered yet aiming a thousand li—"

"Sage Emperor! Sage Emperor! Sage Emperor!"

Xu Zishuai, with voice and emotion, criticized Liang Qu, rendering and commentating in all manners, triggering wave after wave of cheers from the surrounding spectators.

Outside the racecourse, the Creation Treasure Ship followed closely alongside; ticket-holding tourists were excited, faces flushed red.

Dragon People, Jiao People, some riding water beasts on the flanks, some lurking underwater, emerging to probe as the wooden shuttles arrived and passed, or riding kites flying in the sky; each held a Mirage Shell in their arms.

They recorded footage from multiple angles, broadcasting the picture through Long Lingxiao threads.

The splashing waves seemed to extinguish the summer's sweltering heat, leaving only pure excitement.

This is summer.

This is true fervor.

This is the true joy of life.

If one doesn't come to Pingyang in life, traveling the world is in vain!

"Everyone's performance is truly superb; the former Dark-Clad Commandant crossing the Jianghuai, today's Pingyang Prefect, still so carefree; in youth, must have been a dashing rake, riding alone at the fore. The Sky Feather Guards are also extraordinary, coordinating with each other, steady and solid, worthy of the Son of Heaven's personal guard.

Oh, now the picture cuts to our main force; two hundred li ahead is the second checkpoint, the Frog Horde Assault.

This checkpoint is more perilous than the Sea Tooth King's Water Splash Leap; giant frogs will leap from the water bottom; a slight carelessness and the wooden shuttle will be toppled; what performance will our racers show? Roar, they're out! It's the Frog Clan's Two Generals Heng and Ha; will their appearance add variables to our race—"

Water weeds swayed.

Big Fatty stretched his frog legs, pawed at the silt, crouching on the water bottom.

Waiting for the first wooden shuttle to pass, aiming at the Sage Emperor, he jumped with force.

Boom!

Water waves surged.

However, active means couldn't be used, but passive means lost none of their brilliance.

Fully immersed in the race atmosphere, the Sage Emperor had long sensed it; a clever sprint not only avoided being knocked away by Big Fatty, but also borrowed the latter half of the rising water bulge to complete a beautiful dive, then stepped on the ship's stern, making the wooden shuttle tilt up and accelerate forward.

"Roar!" Xu Zishuai shrieked, "Beautiful, too beautiful, artistic driving, godlike operation—"

"Tut tut tut!" The Old Toad loosened the reins, stomped the wooden shuttle to jump, in mid-air left kick right kick, then a sideways aerial split, kicking away both sides, smashing several giant frogs that had leaped out back into the great marsh, flipping two and a half turns in the air, landing back on the wooden shuttle like a small rubber ball, cursing while charging, "Audacious! Audacious! Alas, little frogs, don't you recognize this Elder anymore? Keep ramming, keep ramming! Expel you from the frog clan! Expel you from the frog clan!"

Giant frogs along the way covered their heads, scattering to avoid; looking back, they were furious.

Splash.

A Jiao Person holding a Lip Shell poked out from the wooden shuttle's side.

"Don't film, don't film! We men care about face."

Wen Wen Shi Yun, who had early on fallen to the back of the pack, was greatly startled and lost color, raising her hands to block.

One checkpoint after another, one wave after another.

Sun sinking to dusk, the whole river shimmering; the racers crossed the Sea Tooth King's Water Splash Leap, the Frog Horde's leaps, thinking they could finally breathe a sigh of relief, rest a little.

On the open water surface, "islets" suddenly floated up one after another.

The islets were green and plush, as if covered by a lawn, extremely vivid.

Obstacles ahead; water beasts dove sharply to dodge; those unable to dodge in time had their wooden shuttles rush up as if on a slope, fly into mid-air, then flip over and fall into the water, people capsized and boats overturned; racers hurriedly slowed, turning in the narrow channels left between the islets, graceful, pressing out layer upon layer of waves.

Having barely crossed the obstacle-like islets, they discovered they had unknowingly entered a dead end, unable to find a way out.

After arduously escaping the moving maze, not traveling freely a few hundred li, water flowers splashed in, and tentacles broke the water surface one after another, like long whips, lashing toward the wooden shuttles.

"Ow, don't hit the face, don't hit the face, Sister Lady Hai Yun, it's me."

Wen Wen Shi Yun waved her arms, flailing in the water.

"The Sea Tooth King's Water Splash Leap, the Frog Horde's Assault, the Turtle Island's Moving Maze, the Eight-Clawed Sweet Tentacles; a full four checkpoints, one after another, interlocking; the racers have only traveled five thousand li, not yet reaching the Central Court.

What dangers lie ahead? You must know the Central Court is where the Dragon Palace resides; could it be, roar, a waterspout? My heavens, careful not to get sucked into the sky—"

From the scorching noon to night, from night to dawn.

The Long Lingxiao emitted intense fluorescence.

Pingyang was clear skies; on the screen the racers were each bathed in torrential rain, dark clouds overhead, couldn't see five fingers before their eyes; only when lightning struck could they discern the compass direction, but when they widened their eyes, they could only see the needle spinning wildly.

The originally merely sequential racecourse quickly derived all sorts of bizarre directions; there were even racers who looped a big bend and ran back toward the starting point.

Liang Qu wiped rain from his face, driving the Jiang Tun, distractedly communicating the link.

"Right right right, about there, build it like that, be fast—"

Yunyang County.

Fists absorbing rock rigidity, Fat Fish spitting black mist, pinching rock turned into modeling clay, Da He Li carrying a great hammer, engraving proportions on the stone.

The Third Prince spitting white mist, simulating the Heavenly Deity's instructed form.

On flat ground.

A brand new holy statue rose slowly!

Time flicked by in a flash.

The scorching sun baked the blue-stone street to a pale gray, fire lines sweeping across the tiles, wild cats leaping down from the fire-resistant walls, landing on the tiles, scorched enough to retract their probing forepaws, flicking them a few times before vanishing in a few leaps.

Yingchun Tower, Dragon Dragon Lingxiao, the images flickered in succession, one focus after another, finally freezing on the man at the forefront.

All eyes were upon him.

Xu Zishuai no longer explained, the conch no longer clamored.

A few specks of dust floated on the water's surface, waterfowl drew in their wings, landing on the eaves.

The clamor that had lasted for several days vanished completely at this moment.

Silence.

Utter silence.

The common folk held their breath, tourists widened their eyes.

Spies from Nanjiang and Beiting, who had intended to write reports, unknowingly stood here watching for two days and two nights, tireless.

Wonderful, too wonderful, mouth tooth.

Merfolk surfaced one after another, using conch shells to record.

Dragon folk stepped on kites, gazing down from the high sky upon the great marsh.

The waves were azure blue, rising and falling gently.

Jiang Tun was utterly exhausted, pulling the wooden shuttle with difficulty, racing across the river surface, leaving a clean white wake, its trajectory clear as it surged toward the east-flowing Huaijiang.

Because of the overhead view, everything seemed so minuscule, the straight white wake like uneven brush bristles, the advance rather "slow," nearing the final half-li.

The perspective shifted to the merfolk in the water, the merfolk clinging to the wooden shuttle's bottom, vigorously flicking their fish tails, synchronizing with the shuttle's advance, as if becoming a first-person view.

Everything was again so wind-chasing and lightning-fast, so dazzling to the eyes.

Glittering ripples connected into a hazy expanse, the ribbons on Huaijiang hunting in the wind, within arm's reach.

Finally.

In the stillness, the wooden shuttle suddenly broke through the checkpoint.

The ribbons snapped, carrying inertia, the wooden shuttle continued forward————

Ripples spread in the water tank, submerging the dust, birds flapped their wings and soared high.

Seven-colored fireworks rose continuously from both sides, gathering into a road in the sky.

The Holy Emperor gazed up at the sky, his chest rising and falling deeply, his pupils reflecting brilliance.

Boom!

Like a porcelain bottle shattering, the clamor long bottled up burst out completely from within.

Xu Zishuai shouted hoarsely: "Victory, victory! The champion of the first Jianghuai Rally is Your Majesty, is Your Majesty! It is the Holy Emperor Your Majesty who first crossed the finish line, arriving upon Huaijiang!

Let us cheer together, the Emperor of Dashun, the King of the Jianghuai Rally!"

"Roar!!!"

Mountain cries, sea howls.

"Wow! The frog tribe has no future, the frog tribe has no future!"

The old toad rolled all over the ground, puffed out its belly, bawling and screaming.

The yellow-skinned big frog, heart pounding, extended its webbed feet, cautiously wanting to go into the great marsh, its frog toes just touching the ground when the old toad suddenly opened its eyes, leapt up, and landed on the big frog's head, the large head drummed like a drum.

"The frog tribe's future is ruined in your little webbed feet, you must bear full responsibility, bear full responsibility!"

The dragon folk let out a long breath, holding the lip shell, took a few final shots, then jumped into the great marsh, the dragon folk on the boat pulled the rope, slowly retracting it.

"Truly interesting."

Nine heavens, higher than the kite's position by who knows how much, several people unconsciously inhaled together.

"Whale King, why not add this to the Great Hunt? I find it more interesting than fighting and killing."

"Not bad, unfortunately it doesn't match the tone of the Great Hunt."

"That's a pity."

Pingyang Traveling Palace.

The Holy Emperor set down the trophy, gazing upon Jianghuai, full of reminiscence.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow noon, the river god festival in Yunyang County will begin; if you hurry, setting out tonight will still make it in time, I wonder Your Majesty————" Liang Qu wanted to ask, whether to squeeze in a look at the Cloud Immortal Island amidst the busyness.

Clearly the Holy Emperor arrived on June first, yet again there is a sacrifice, again the rally, looking again at Jianghuai, today is the eighth, nearly forgetting the proper business.

"Not urgent." The Holy Emperor interrupted, "The matter of immortal pills is not urgent, the seeking need not return to the imperial capital, await the conclusion of the Jianghuai journey,

then exploring will not be too late."

Liang Qu frowned slightly, feeling he had missed the point, how dare he urge the refinement of immortal pills? Turning it over in his mind, he suddenly recalled the grand gathering in Huangzhou, realizing the situation might be problematic, and dared not ask further.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"By the way." The Holy Emperor turned, "Is the person in charge of commentary on your Yingchun Tower your martial brother?"

"Yes, my master has nine martial brothers and sisters under him, the commentator ranks fourth, surnamed Xu, named Zishuai." Liang Qu's heart tightened, "Your Majesty inquiring about this, I do not know if during my martial brother's commentary, somewhere there were frivolous remarks that inadvertently offended Your Majesty? If so, I, on behalf of my martial brother Xu, apologize to Your Majesty————"

", not saying anything offensive, festive celebrations, how could frivolity be inappropriate? It is only proper, why be solemn? I simply feel your martial brother quite talented, also somewhat resembling Lan Qing, what is he doing now?"

Liang Qu felt delighted.

Does my martial brother also have springtime?

The tower ship broke waves and chased the tide, departing Pingyang.

Yunyang, the fat fish extended its long whiskers, wiped away a forehead full of sweat, endured the scorching sun, sticking out its tongue, its fins never ceasing as it hurried to the next fief, continuing to sweat like rain.

Since it is the humerus, it must be the humerus!

The tower ship had not yet entered Yunyang.

On the mountaintop above the harbor, a towering full-body statue stood amidst the clouds and mist.

Again drew exclamations.

"Your Majesty, this is the second sacred statue! This subject names it the Sacred Emperor Mountain, the Sacred Emperor Statue; the statue spreads its arms wide, symbolizing Your Majesty's broad embrace. Its gaze lacks the profundity of the one on Pingyang Mountain, yet is even more deeply affectionate, head slightly bowed, overlooking all under heaven, manifesting Your Majesty's universal benevolence!"

"Your Majesty, this is the third sacred statue within the fief! You stand upon a small boat, symbolizing both Your Majesty leading the Great Shun populace to ride the wind and break the waves, and also symbolizing ————"

"This is the fourth, symbolizing ———— the fifth, the sixth ————"

Statue after statue of vastly differing styles and varied forms appeared in succession, transitioning gradually from the universal benevolence of the east, to the solemn dignity of the Central Plains, then to the fierce valor of the west.

Within the Inside Inside Ze Ding, favorability accumulated at an unprecedentedly exaggerated speed!

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, resonance of heaven and earth, river favorability +205.4814】

【River dominion: 8.4 (river favorability: 100 (281.1367))】!

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, resonance of heaven and earth, river favorability +153.1457】

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, resonance of heaven and earth, river favorability +111.9941】

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, river favorability +100】

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, river favorability +100】

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, river favorability +100】

Favorability, favorability, still his mother's favorability!

Dominion, dominion, still his mother's dominion!

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost orthodox legitimacy, river favorability +45.7734】

【Reporting to heaven and earth, spirit of all things! Receiving the utmost favor of Jianghuai! Heavenly gods protect, earthly spirits welcome ————】

【Water Ape Great Sage perfection, consume one hundred favorability, can advance to one point of dominion.】

Upstream of Huaijiang, thirteen fiefs, the last one.

Hammers and chisels scattered all over the ground; Fat Fish, Fist, and Da He Li collapsed behind the mountain's shadow, their whole bodies spreading out like water.

Two suns hung in the sky, July, Bing Fire emerging together, golden light shining upon the earth; the dragon-blood horse raised its front hooves high, rearing halfway up, muscles rippling like flowing water across its body; upon the horse's back, the Sacred Emperor pointed his sword forward, towering and upright.

The myriad people shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Lasting a month, the final wave of river favorability, pocketed!

The final full hundred favorability, completely converted into dominion.

Boundless radiance flickered within the Inside Inside Ze Ding, as if a miniaturized, deep-blue Huaijiang floated and flowed before the eyes, ten thousand myriad living beings shouting at the ears.

【River dominion: 21.4 (river spring favorability: 92.0499)】!

Liang Qu's pupils contracted and dilated, slightly startled by the favorability change of this final sacrifice, witnessing a heroic spirit never before known arise within his chest.

The Inside Inside Ze Ding trembled.

【Can consume one position fruit, ten million water-marsh essences, to advance the Ze State, perfect the Huaizhuo Water Lord's supreme domain, seize out — a Ze State (Small).】

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