Chapter 1454

"So many demon kings."

Yixing celebrates the River God Festival with great enthusiasm, and the Jianghuai courtyard is just as joyful—octopuses, merfolk, and dragonfolk shuttle back and forth, all kinds of treasures dazzling the fish.

The spiky-headed and spiky-knight wander through the courtyard Dragon Palace, swinging their tails, dazzled, mouths agape, watching fish come and go, shadows shifting, as if they themselves had become a great demon, enjoying the awed gazes of all water creatures.

"Look, that's the Sea Mane King, sworn brother of the Ape Lord!"

"Wait, the Whale King—my goodness, the big brother among big brothers!"

"Who are those over there? I've never seen them before."

"They're the demon kings of the Yellow Shahe!" said the Spike Dolphin clan chief, Spike Thorn, solemnly.

The Yellow Shahe demon king has also arrived.

Spike Head and Spike Knight are greatly shaken.

When the flood dragon was in the world—no, when it occupied the Dragon Palace—had it ever seen such a prosperous scene in the Jianghuai demon court? And had it ever been qualified to participate?

The two fish gazed at each other, moved to tears: "Our Spike Dolphin clan has endured so many storms and trials, and to have come this far, to be invited to the auction, is truly an honor!"

Clan chief Spike Thorn took a deep breath: "Come on! Let's go pay our respects."

"Hahaha, pleasure to meet you—I've long heard of the fame of the Eastern Sea Overlord." The fish king clutched his belly laughing, "Before this, I've been cultivating bitterly in the Yellow Shahe, never met the heroes of the world—what a rare opportunity, three lifetimes' fortune."

"Where, where—within the four seas, all are brothers." The Whale King gave a modest smile: "I don't know if Your Majesty, in coming to Jianghuai this time, has taken a liking to any treasure? If you could let us know in advance, we could yield to each other and still preserve harmony."

"Ah, what could I possibly take? My talents are dull—I fear my cultivation will end in this life. I've come merely to broaden my horizons, to seek a moment of enlightenment for the younger generation."

"Oh, the younger generation?" The Whale King, hearing the implication, glanced backward: "So you mean the Yellow Sand Fish clan has a heavenly prodigy?"

"Hahaha, I dare not call them a heavenly prodigy—just luck, really. But not long ago, my clan actually found a lost clan fish, returned to the ancestral line—what a genius! Young, yet already a celestial demon! The demon king hopes for it, and today at least I must seek a moment of enlightenment for it!" Speaking of that genius clan fish, the fish king looked quite pleased.

The Whale King startled: "Really? How coincidental—just last year, our tiger whale clan also found a lost clan fish, also a celestial demon!"

"Hiss! In this situation, how could they be so similar?"

"Exactly so similar—I don't know where the genius you spoke of is."

"Ah, disappointing the Whale King—my younger generation didn't come today, so I can't receive your guidance. Speaking of which, where is the genius you mentioned?"

The Whale King sighed: "Truly, coincidence upon coincidence—my clan's genius also didn't come this time."

"Oh dear." The king slapped his thigh: "Heaven won't cooperate—two geniuses, and not one came. If there's a next chance, I'll make sure they exchange words properly."

"Oh my, oh my." Wang slapped his thigh. "Heaven does not make it beautiful — two geniuses, yet one failed to come. If there is a next chance, I'll definitely have them properly exchange pointers!"

Sidling up, preparing to greet, Spike Thorn accidentally overheard the whole exchange, his face showing envy.

Truly, talking and laughing with demon kings, coming and going without strange spirits.

Celestial demons, celestial demons lost to the outside—how many are there?

If only our own clan also had a lost celestial demon, how wonderful—it would surely greatly raise our status.

Before Spike Thorn could think further, the Whale King glanced sideways: "Whose junior are you?"

Spike Thorn startled, clasping fins in salute: "I am a small fish of the Northern Waters clan, insignificant, come to pay respects to Lord Whale King and Lord King—"

Ciji stiffened, cupping his fins in salute: "This little fish is of a minor clan of the North Sea, unworthy of mention, come to pay respects to the Whale King, Your Excellency, and Master Wang— 'Clang clang dang————'"

Gongs and drums rang out, ripples spreading.

Water beasts lifted their heads.

Lady Hai Yun shouted: "Dear guests, there's now a temporary little game—Yixing's tug-of-war is in full swing, needing water beasts to exert strength, to harass the competing teams. Light injury is allowed, but not crippling, and certainly not fatal—aiming to hinder the competitors' progress. Welcome all to sign up enthusiastically—participants will earn certain membership points! Spots limited, first come, first served."

Noisy clamor.

Inside the Dragon Palace, many water beasts felt moved, eagerly signing up.

Lady Hai Yun registered them one by one, guiding them into the waterways to quickly take position on the corresponding routes.

Yixing County, the fat fish sat on a stool eating roasted corn, scratched his butt, felt today's butt was itchy, instantly grew alert, nervously looked around, found the fist, "can't move" not found, then relaxed.

Xu Shuai continued passionately introducing, each great player choosing their mount.

The Tusi and the Sweat King observed one by one, patiently selecting.

"Why do I have to join too?" Li Xianghan said helplessly.

Two days and two nights—just hearing it sounds exhausting.

Awei's mouthparts opened and closed, a segment of limb jabbed into a woman's shoulder, oozing crimson blood spots.

Li Xianghan cried out in pain, clutched her shoulder, eyes brimming with tears: "I know, I know—it's just saving the nation by winding ways, a trifle—I'll go find Xie Hongyu, that kid's long wanted to stay, I'll make sure the king is properly taken care of!"

Awei spread his wings, nodded satisfied.

"But, you can't rank lower than those two guys." Li Xianghan quietly pointed her fingers at Qi Qianlan and Yu Aoshan.

Awei patted his chest.

On the other side, "Su Hebaolu" was also choosing a suitable mount.

Liang Qu glanced at his "left and right arms," nodded satisfied.

Wanting the Tusi and the Great Khan to continue participating in the River God Festival, merely letting them stay comfortably isn't enough—they are rulers of a nation, and even if they like it, they understand restraint, won't linger just because they feel like it.

Therefore, we must attack from both inside and outside!

Outside, he and the Holy Emperor cooperate, warmly retaining them. Inside, Li Xianghan and Su Hebaolu exert effort, creating voices and steps—only then do we have a chance to successfully retain them.

What do the Tusi and the Sweat King have to fight him with?

Holding Long Eying's hand, Liang Qu swayed over to Guan Jianjian and Zong Lixian.

"Master!" Guan Jianjian exclaimed happily, "Last year, even the Holy Emperor alone had extra rewards—this year, three monarchs, rewards won't take off, huh."

Liang Qu patted Guan Jianjian's shoulder: "Exactly! This year's first-place reward is ten Xuanhuang!"

"Hiss." Guan Jianjian's eyes firm, face excited: "For the second tournament, I've trained half a month, made six round trips, each faster than the last—last year the Jiang Tun breakthrough was a fluke, this year the championship is definitely mine!"

Liang Qu opened his mouth, smiling broadly as he patted the shoulder.

You silly kid—some matches are already decided in the meeting room.

It serves you right for eating and sponging off my meals so much—I won't tell you, go practice, digest well.

"Good, very spirited. Speaking of which, why haven't you and Lian Chan gotten married yet? Not knowing each other doesn't count, you're young—how long have you two known each other?"

Zong Lian Chan stood silently to the side, gazing at Liang Qu and Long Eying, her envy impossible to suppress. Upon hearing this, she instantly turned her gaze to Guan Congjian, blinking her eyes.

"Hah." Guan Congjian rubbed his nose, chuckling, "Soon, soon. Once I enter Zhen Xiang, we'll get married."

Liang Qu's eyes flashed, without further words: "Ambition! Enjoy the festival properly, then come home for a meal."

"Alright!"

The two walked out ten or so zhang.

Long Eying turned her head suspiciously: "Your disciple has changed his heart?"

Just now, in the《Ear Recognition Method》, it was clearly stated as falsehood, the taste of lies.

"That shouldn't be—this kid is simple-minded and clueless. I don't know why he hasn't married, but changing heart? That shouldn't happen—" Liang Qu stroked his chin, hesitant and uncertain, he too found it strange. Truly speaking, the duration of Guan and Zong's relationship surpasses his and Eying's.

Back then, when he met Eying, he was leading Heposuo to gather heavenly water morning dew and vital energy.

Thus, Heposuo was established in Pingyang County before he met Eying, and precisely at the time of Heposuo's founding, the flood dragon crossed the river, bringing three innate martial bones—Guan Congjian and Zong Lian Chan were two of them, and they were a couple.

Over ten years have passed—what are you dragging this out for?

Seeing off the Huai Wang and Huai Wang Fei departing, Zong Lian Chan silently sighed, turned to look at Guan Congjian with eyes full of resentment.

Guan Congjian's heart tightened, he scratched his ears and cheeks, finally unable to bear the guilt under her gaze: "Ah, Lian Chan, actually I also have my difficulties, compelled by circumstances. Well, I'll tell you a person today—you must absolutely not tell anyone."

Zong Lian Chan's eyes lit up: "You say."

"Actually, it's my master who told me to do this." Guan Chongjian spoke honestly.

Zong Lian Chan widened her eyes: Guan Chongjian's master—Helian Nianci?

She became flustered, overwhelmed, despairing.

Could it be that Guan Chongjian's master has never taken a liking to me?

"My master said, our feelings are as firm as metal, we don't care about a mere marriage certificate or a wedding ceremony. So sooner or later it's the same—then, the later we marry, the better. The later we marry, the higher my master's cultivation will become!"

"???" Zong Lian Chan was utterly bewildered: "What does our marriage or not have to do with the Huai Wang?"

"Dense, aren't you?" Guan Chongjian fumed, "Same age, I call him master every day—don't I care about face? When the time comes, I'll shamelessly go ask for gifts—won't he give? I've hunted wolves, he's hunted tigers; I've hunted tigers, he's hunted flood dragons.

Master said, even scraping from a master's fingernails is enough to eat. Zhen Xiang brings great medicine, flood dragon brings longevity energy—drag it out two more years, who knows, maybe my master will become an immortal. Then going to ask for a wedding gift—won't we profit to death? It's like lending money: the longer the time, the higher the interest!

Let's give him a good beating!"

Zong Lian Chan's pupils trembled, she stared in shock at Guan Chongjian, who had his head tilted forty-five degrees upward, face full of pride.

"Roar!"

Cheers shook the heavens, Zong Lian Chan turned her head. On the Yingchun Lou big screen, the Holy Emperor waved at the camera.

Xu Zishuai passionately exclaimed: "The great Majesty has already descended upon his loyal steed—still a Jiang Tun, Jiang Tun, the mascot of Heposuo, the symbol of Dashun. Will this year continue to create miracles?

Wait, the Tusi and Han King toured around and didn't choose the water beasts offered by Yixing County! They chose their own brought water beasts! Yes, the Tusi and Han King arrived by boat, each with their own water beasts accompanying the boat.

As long as the realm meets requirements, the Jianghuai Tug-of-War does not restrict athletes from bringing their own water beasts. The Han King chose the Jiang Gai from Beiting, the Tusi chose a giant Diao fish!"

Liang Qu frowned.

These two old brats—are they deliberately giving him a difficult problem?

Fortunately, they're two great spirit monsters.

His eyes rolled.

He released Eying's hand.

"I'll go take a trip."

"Mm."

Shortly after, Li Shoufuk walked quickly over, pointing at the water beasts in the river: "Your Majesties, these two water beasts need to be personally inspected by the organizing committee without error before they can compete."

The Tusi and Han King nodded.

The two water beasts were immediately taken to the small black room. Liang Qu followed closely, entering through the dark passage.

Soon after.

The Tusi and Han King glanced at their returning water beasts, secretly inspected them, and found nothing wrong.

Since they must compete, they naturally must take it seriously, lest they lose face.

Water rose and fell, water beasts stayed in the pens, bound with uniform ropes. The ropes pulled the small boats, all athletes stood ready, holding their breath and focusing. Beyond the dock three zhang away, tourists were blocked by the ropes.

Dragon people carried shell trumpets, moving the camera.

Otter otter scratched at his satchel, pulled out firecrackers, placed them at the dock center, then took out the ignition cord, gave it a hard yank, lit the flame.

Hiss—

The ground exploded into a small black circle.

Whoosh~

Clap!

Boom!

Great waves surged wildly, fireworks exploded in the sky, the pens opened, all water beasts exerted full force and surged out. Those on the dock who were close got soaked like drowned rats.

Mountains shouted, seas roared in cheering.

Especially Nanjiang and Beiting were enthusiastic—on the battlefield they might not win, but winning a head in the tug-of-war is also excellent.

Xie Hongyu grabbed the rope, looked back at the cheers gradually weakening, suddenly felt this might perhaps be some kind of meaning of great unity under heaven?

Regardless of accent, regardless of status, everyone plays together, enjoys together————

"Come on, come on, come on! The thrilling and exciting second Jianghuai Tug-of-War officially begins! The first wave is still a straight-line sprint, everyone hasn't pulled too far ahead, but straight-line speed isn't real speed—cornering speed is true speed!

Up next, immediately coming is the first gate: Frog's Song. How many athletes will remain then? Let's wait and see!"

The spindle-shaped wooden boat cut through the big waves.

"Damn, is it this exciting?"

Li Xianghan's long hair whipped in the wind, the river wind hitting her face, a mouthful of hair, she kept spitting "pah pah pah," she hurriedly tied it into a ponytail, looked around, and found the other two Holy Maidens.

The other two Holy Maidens looked at Li Xianghan at the same time.

Gazes collided, sparks flew in all directions.

The Holy Emperor was relaxed and at ease, faintly leading by half a body length; the Tusi and the Khan King were calm and composed — it was their first time participating, so of course they couldn't go all out right from the start.

On Yingchun Tower, the tug-of-war race and the sleepwalking race alternated on screen, dazzling the eyes, cheers shaking the heavens.

At Pingyang Temple, Madam Xu smiled and wiped away sweat, brushed aside her hair, raised her hand and threw a blessing pouch onto the tree; following the custom of previous years, she prayed for blessings for the disciples. Yang Dongxiong stood to the side, overlooking Pingyang, overlooking Yixing, watching thousands set off together, heads packed together, filled with myriad emotions.

The Holy Emperor, the Tusi, the Khan King.

Left home young to join the army, returned old to teach disciples — when had he ever imagined today's grand spectacle?

Dong! Dong! Dong!

A frog leaped out, opened its huge mouth, water cannonballs smashed onto the river surface one after another, splashing huge waves; the various contestants used every trick to dodge — the slightest carelessness meant capsizing.

If lucky, the boat didn't sink; dizzy and disoriented for half a day, they could still continue the race; if unlucky, they withdrew from the competition entirely.

The octopus's tentacles, the dragon sturgeon's tail swipe, the turtle-back floating island maze, the orca's wave charge, the occasional leaping water beasts —

Fierce wind and sudden rain, hail and heavy snow, counter-current water columns and waterfalls.

Truly a great voyage.

The difficulty was denser and more perilous than last year.

Li Xianghan was soaked through like a drowned chicken, but the moment she thought of the other two not having withdrawn yet, her eyes burned with blazing fire.

A day and a night passed; the second day dawned.

The commoners looked up, watching the screen on Yingchun Tower.

The first echelon — only the Holy Emperor, the Tusi, and the Great Khan remained!

Past the halfway point, the Tusi and the Great Khan grew tense, couldn't help calculating stamina and remaining distance, reallocated — and finally found the chance of winning wasn't high at all.

Could it really end here? Why was the Holy Emperor's Jiang Tun so fast?

Just as the two monarchs were at a loss.

Hong! Hong!

Under countless shocked gazes, a different kind of momentum surged from the Tusi's and Khan King's mounts; the two water beasts roared at the sky, filled with unwillingness, actually pushing past their overdrawn stamina to catch up head-on to the Holy Emperor!

"Heavens, heavens!" Xu Zishuai shouted himself hoarse, "What are we seeing! What are we seeing! The Tusi's and Khan King's mounts have undergone an astonishing metamorphosis — they broke through!

Could this be the unique bond between the Southern Border Tusi, the Northern Court Great Khan, and the water beasts they personally raised?

"Roar!"

"Charge charge charge!"

"Victory belongs to the Southern Border / Northern Court!"

Boundless shock, boundless cheers.

The embassy at the wharf waved flags and shouted frantically.

The Tusi and Khan King were certainly tense, certainly under pressure, but their heartbeats hadn't changed much from start to finish — but now —

How long since it beat this fast?

Their own water beasts actually had the potential to break through mid-battle?!

"Faster, even faster!"

The Khan King made an arcing turn, avoiding the charging water beast, staring dead at the Jiang Tun ahead to the left, licking his lips.

The Tusi watched the distance shrink bit by bit, from falling behind to a body-length gap, from gap to level, from level to slightly pulling ahead.

Peng peng, peng peng!

Breathing grew heavier, heartbeat fierce.

Extinguished ambition reignited into a great fire.

Tourists following the big ship, Yixing County's commoners clutched their chests, gripped their hearts.

The view was from high above; everyone watched with wide eyes as the other two sides caught up, like a slowly falling guillotine blade, torturous.

Right at this moment, right now.

Hong!

A third surging momentum burst forth from the Jiang Tun!

Color drained rapidly from the Tusi's and Khan King's faces.

The briefly lagging Holy Emperor took the lead again!!!

"Ah!!!"

Intense sound waves exploded over Yixing County; the little river otter covered its head, the competition-forged Da He Li dropped its tools.

Xu Zishuai's temples bulged with veins like twisting snakes; he leaped onto the top-floor rooftop, passionately shouting into the mic: "Second bloom, second bloom, the miracle of breakthrough, staged again! It's His Majesty, it's the Holy Emperor — what is this? It's the Mandate of Heaven, the Mandate of Heaven is in Great Shun, the Mandate of Heaven is in Great Shun!"

Emotions like a tidal surge.

"Mandate of Heaven!"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

Unison cheers resounded through heaven and earth.

Southern Border and Northern Court people staggered back.

The gap grew wider and wider, returning to a "pin" character formation.

However!

For some unknown reason, a Jiang Tun suddenly leaped in front of the three; the originally leading Jiang Tun actually went mad, eyes blood-red, made a turn and went chasing, deviating from the course!

An uproar.

What's going on?!

What did that Jiang Tun do?

There's a conspiracy, there's a conspiracy!

The people of Yixing were filled with righteous indignation, while Nanjiang and Beiting rejoiced wildly.

Xu Zishuai hurriedly soothed: "Everyone, don't panic, the frontline dragon people are already investigating — soon there will be results — what, old love fish? Love rival?"

The onlookers were baffled, but the broadcast seemed to start blurring, drifting away — apparently Xu Zishuai was arguing with someone, his words incoherent.

How could this be?

A crime not of war!

How hateful, how hateful!

Finally, the broadcast became clear again.

Xu Zishuai, full of sorrow and regret: "Everyone, the matter has been investigated clearly. As everyone knows, Jiang Tun is typically monogamous, but the Holy Emperor happened to have an accident — the accident was not the Holy Emperor's choice of Jiang Tun, but rather this Jiang Tun's wife!

This Jiang Tun and its former wife were deeply in love, but suddenly one day, its wife actually fell in love with another Jiang Tun, becoming a traitor to the Jiang Tun clan! Thus the Holy Emperor's mount was wounded by love.

The Jiang Tun that suddenly jumped out just now, although it avoided collision under the Holy Emperor Gao Chao's driving skills, was precisely the former love rival of this Jiang Tun! How could it not be enraged, how could it not go mad?!"

Wow!

What? No way? You're saying this is nonsense — can such a melodramatic thing even happen?

Conspiracy! It must be a conspiracy!

Do you even deserve us? Refund!

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, and in this heart-pounding sudden situation, the Holy Emperor finally regained control of the Jiang Tun, pulling it back on track — but even such a small deviation has erased what was already an unstable advantage, and the three are now neck and neck again!

Only fifty li remain to the finish line.

Sweat appeared on the foreheads of the Han King and the Tusi, who felt this race was extraordinarily "twists and turns", "winding paths", one wave after another.

Three white streams raced forward.

Everyone held their breath, not daring to even gasp.

The dragon people and shark people carried the giant clams, straining to chase.

Side, front, above, below — multiple camera angles, playing simultaneously.

In everyone's trembling pupils —

Three water beasts exerted all their strength, swinging their tails fiercely, pulling the three monarchs, nearly vomiting blood, and crossed the finish line at the same time!

Pa!

The ribbons broke, floating on the water.

Bubbles burst, and three water routes trailed with white foam slowly dissipated across the surface.

Five-colored fireworks bloomed in the sky, heavenly fine rain fell, and a rainbow arched across.

Tiny gunpowder granules crackled as they fell onto the boat.

The sound in the ears vanished, replaced by a buzzing blur.

The Tusi and Han King panted; even the Holy Emperor had slightly trembling hands.

So thrilling.

Like becoming several hundred years younger, returning to that age of easy impulsiveness and easy joy.

Likewise, a serious question arose in everyone's mind.

"Who exactly is first?"

As the question appeared, the big screen at Yingchun Lou instantly displayed multiple angles of the charge footage, slowed down a hundred times.

The ribbons fluttered loudly in the air.

Ten million eyes widened, countless Adam's apples rolled.

Nanjiang, Beiting, and Dashun stared wide-eyed as the three boats struck the ribbons, only three cun apart! But in slow motion, it was so obvious, so glaring.

Xu Zishuai's voice rose from low to high, finally lifting his head and roaring: "The champion of the Second Jianghuai Rally is, the Holy Emperor!!!"

"Let us congratulate Your Majesty on successfully defending the championship! Becoming the Jianghuai Rally — forever king!"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

"Oh~~~~"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

The Tusi and Han King gripped the reins tightly.

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