Chapter 1455

"Mandate of Heaven!"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

"Mandate of Heaven!"

Wave after wave of cheers, wave after wave of shouts, surged incessantly like a tide, crashing onto the shore one after another.

The people of the Southern Frontier and the Northern Court were stricken with grief, nearly drowned by these cheering voices, swept into the Jianghuai, sinking to the bottom, unable to catch their breath.

Clearly it was just a game, a sacrificial celebration in a Great Shun locality. But within the Yixing area, after all manner of buildup, all manner of rendering, everyone's emotions had long since reached their peak, the psychological suggestion deeply rooted. Coupled with the ups and downs in the competition, the twists and turns, the sense of immersion and the sense of frustration both reached their zenith. Immediately following was intense unwillingness!

Why!

Clearly they were only a hair's breadth away!

Heaven is unfair!

Humans, at all times, seek group identity; the greatest need is the group's need. Everyone cares, even those newly arrived find it equally impossible to forget.

Everyone had only a single thought left.

This is Great Shun's home ground; the Sage Emperor is competing for the second time, while the Tusi and the Khan King are here for the first time, so there is much unfamiliarity. With such a trivial margin, do it again, and the result would absolutely be different!

The Great Shun people, on the other hand, were incomparably proud, feeling only that an accident occurred behind the Sage Emperor which allowed the others to catch up; otherwise, only despair would have been left for the opponents.

Atop the Yingchun Tower, the Sage Emperor wore a genial expression, waving at the camera, triggering another explosion of cheers.

The Tusi and the Khan King's expressions did not change; no dejection could be seen, no unwillingness could be seen. When the Dragon Men carried the Mirage Shells over to aim at them, they merely showed smiles, conveying congratulations to the Sage Emperor.

The Sage Emperor laughed heartily, then stepped forward two steps, grasped the Tusi and the Khan King's hands, and, beyond their expectations, raised the three of them standing side by side high, all three raising their hands together.

The Dragon Men keenly captured the camera footage; the Mirage Shells opened and closed, broadcasting the dream-projection onto the Yingchun Tower without missing a single bit, and the Jiao Ren mimicked the voices, relaying the Sage Emperor's words verbatim.

"To be discourteous and delight in oppressing others — one cannot last long; neither is it the way to treat guests. Last year We participated once; today's champion is merely due to familiarity. In such a situation, the Tusi and the Khan King can still drive abreast, not falling behind.

I am not the champion; I dare not accept this championship. There was never any accident, only insufficient consideration; a mistake is a mistake. The Tusi and the Khan King are the true champions! Great Shun, Southern Frontier, Northern Court — tied for first! All rewarded according to the first-place prize. Next person — second place! Rewards decreasing in order, only increased, never reduced!"

"Boom!"

An even greater cheer erupted.

The Tusi and the Khan King's faces showed shock.

"Too right, His Majesty speaks too right! These words are profound!" Xu Zishuai spoke with surging passion, picking up the thread, "The three parties allied, world peace, universal harmony, all one family — what a wondrous era!

The Tusi and the Khan King came from afar; our Great Shun has always been hospitable — how could we not know propriety? What does a three-inch difference matter? It is the Tusi and the Khan King unaccustomed to the climate. Tied for first — fair and just.

Today, everyone is a champion! Belongs to you, belongs to me, belongs to everyone. Let us cheer for the Tusi, cheer for the Khan King, oh~ — sound from low to high, finally leading everyone to cheer as one voice.

The Tusi and the Khan King's faces showed emotion.

A single race, yet they and the real-time broadcast of Yixing County were separated by the vast Jianghuai Marsh, ten thousand li and more. Yet at the finish line there were likewise Cloth Shadows, likewise tourists and boats waiting. Great Shun, Northern Court, Southern Frontier — though languages differed, they let out the same cheers.

The crowd surged.

Turning to look all around.

How long since they had been cherished like this?

Not to mention the Khan King; the Northern Court's several major tribes all had their interests to balance. Previously sending away the Little Fruit to exchange for Shuofang City, now becoming the Long Wang, he is even more reviled, with much dissatisfaction.

The Tusi even more so — going down and coming back up, truly weathering many twists. Forever unable to satisfy everyone, so everyone is dissatisfied; piece after piece of bridal gowns all given to Great Shun.

Right now everyone's ardent adoration actually contains not a shred of moisture; it comes from the heart.

So sincere.

So moving.

At the Yingchun Tower, the 360-degree Great Cloth Shadow ceaselessly broadcast and replayed the scene of the three kings raising their hands together, the scene of them crossing the line together.

The Hedgehog went to find the Grand Steward, summoned the accompanying court painters, spread out paper, and with dragon-flying phoenix-dancing brushstrokes, rubbed this historic moment onto the painting paper, to await eternal fame!

Later send it to the Tusi and the Khan King; must make them feel at home, so happy they forget the Northern Court / Southern Frontier.

The three kings simultaneously ascended to first place.

A hundred li behind, Suhebaru likewise rode alone, dust-free; as a Wu Sheng, he could perfectly avoid all obstacles, his smoothness on a completely different level from everyone else.

However, behind the Wu Sheng echelon, there was still a weirdo.

"Kill kill kill!!! Charge!"

Li Xianghan gripped the reins tight, her gaze sharp, killing intent soaring to the heavens.

Swaying left and right, a single Jiang Tun tail-swing, directly ramming Yun Qianlan's wooden boat, sinking it. Amidst a chorus of curses, she laughed loudly and left.

"Ah!!!"

Yun Qianlan surfaced, hair disheveled like a water ghost, impotently furious, frantically slapping the waves to vent.

"What's this guy's deal."

Su Guishan watched with his own eyes as the little girl surpassed him, riding alone, dust-free.

A Saintess from the Southern Frontier — on what grounds is she faster than a Governor?

A dignified Xuan-clad Commandant; in his youth he rode the Wu Cang Shou across the Jianghuai Marsh who knows how many times. He can't outrun a Wu Sheng, but he can't outrun a Grandmaster either?

"Wuhu!"

Li Xianghan tossed her long hair, flying wildly, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Beside her, a Dragon Man held up a Mirage Shell, filming alongside. Li Xianghan faced the shell and winked her right eye, clearly reflected on the Yingchun Tower.

"Ah, my heart, I think I'm in love."

"Such a cool big sister! I can't take it."

Little boys cried out in surprise one after another.

Li Xianghan's appearance was absolutely not bad; merely not comparable to transcendent figures like Long Eying and the Empress. Looking across the world, combined with her Saintess status bonus, she is absolutely a beauty without any moisture. Meticulously dressed up, she likewise possesses nine-tenths of Long Eying's power.

"Whose subordinate general is this? Clearly just an ordinary Lower Realm Entering Zhen Xiang, yet able to take the lead within Entering Zhen Xiang?"

"I know, it's the Southern Frontier Saintess! From Qinggu Valley! Entered Zhen Xiang at thirty-something, seems even younger than Bai Guangyi."

North has Liang Qu, South has Xianghan!

Li Yilin listened to the discussion, feeling a quiet satisfaction, thinking that the trip to Yixing was unexpectedly good.

After the development by the Huai King, this place indeed has many unprecedented pleasures; next time I come, I don't know when it will be, even if we ally for several years, it's impossible to come every year.

Before yesterday's competition, Xiang Han begged her to continue participating in the River God Festival; Li Yilin felt embarrassed. They followed the tribal chief here, so naturally they cannot leave the main group alone. Now it seems many people are reluctant to leave, all have thoughts; if we communicate privately and jointly propose to the tribal chief, it's not without opportunity.

Everything proceeds smoothly according to the script.

Two-pronged attack, inside and out!

Dragon Palace, accompanying the development of the River Merchant Guild, finally has demon kings gradually changing to red cards, arriving before the old toad.

The old toad wears gold and silver, jeweled and radiant, wearing a cloak, holding a scepter with webbed hands, touching the head of the water beast.

"Ma ha ma ha, hu la la, turn into a pig————bah, this National Preceptor will uncover your potential; from now on, everything you don't know you will understand, everything you don't comprehend will be readily solved! Have an epiphany!"

"Boom!"

The startling beast's aura surged violently, the enlightened water beast suddenly rose into flight.

All demon kings stared dumbfounded.

Hai Fangzhu seized the moment: "In the past two days no desired items have been found; those upgrading membership cards need not rush, there will be a sub-venue on the ninth, when we can go upstream together; this has already been permitted by the Great Shun imperial court, everyone need not worry."

Night fell.

Fireworks bloomed in the starry sky.

Boys and girls finished watching the new film, came out of the Jiangchuan Grand Theater, strolled along the trestle, reluctant to go home for a long time.

Jellyfish glowed with fluorescence, Yingchun Lou's projection still playing the final rush scene.

The daytime tug-of-war left everyone unsatisfied, discussions endless, wishing to come again, each speaking of more suitable water beasts, whose driving skill is better, who lost due to inadequate water beasts.

"Tribal chief, Khan King, what do you two think?" the Holy Emperor inquired.

Liang Qu's eyes burned brightly.

Whether it succeeds or not depends on this wave!

If successful, enjoy riches and spice; if not — no loss.

This wave cannot reach sixty points accumulated; there is still the Long Wang's water control sixty-point guarantee.

The tribal chief and the Khan King looked at each other.

Today they had earlier asked the thoughts of the people under the tribal chief; most were curious, had the intention to stay, wanted to continue looking; having come, they might as well go deeper, see the remaining twelve fiefdoms, compare with Yixing, observe more.

The tribal chief likewise wanted to see, from the Great Shun's method of condensing Xuanhuang Qi, whether he could learn one or two, transplant it to Nanjiang, a replicable method to produce lasting Qi, the more the better.

Thinking of this — 【87】 The tribal chief and the Khan King bowed: "Holy Emperor, your repeated invitations are hard to refuse."

The Tusi and Khan Kings cupped their fists: "The Sage Emperor has invited us many times; such sincere kindness is hard to decline."

Whoosh!

Yingchun Lou's roof, five-colored fireworks burst the night sky, crackling open, like dahlias.

The night wind is cool, jellyfish glide, tourists laugh.

Liang Qu clenched his fists.

Good!

On June 9th, the "River-Middle Stone" stagnating around Jianghuai scattered out a large half, not dispersing but instead surging en masse into the Huai King's second fiefdom.

【Offering to Huai River, utmost correct principle, heaven and earth, land and water, none not reverent, heaven and earth in great harmony, river favor degree +604.1174】

【River dominion degree: 30.9 (river spring favor degree: 628.5132)】.

Jiang wind hunting, banners flying.

Liang Qu stood high on the altar, his heart startled.

Declined that much?

More intense than last year's decline.

Just thinking carefully, it seems reasonable; last year the same group declined from two hundred eighty to two hundred, nearly one third; this time there is no original group.

The second fiefdom is on the banks of the Huai River, adjacent land has no Dahu, the merchant guild's scale is similarly so, cannot compare to the Jianghuai center; most water demon kings did not come directly, demon kings do not have needs like the tribal chief and Khan King.

Can only hope for more at Peng Ze; Liang Qu still thinks of going to find time insects.

"No problem, having it is enough!"

Even if declined more, it's still more than last year's highest!

Like a dragon diving down, Yixing, Yunyang, Longfen, Shishou — one after another fiefdoms surged forward, wave after wave of favor received and stored.

June 12.

【Offering to Huai River, utmost correct principle, heaven and earth, land and water, none not reverent, river favor degree +369.8874】

June 15.

【Offering to Huai River, utmost correct principle, heaven and earth, land and water, none not reverent, river favor degree +214.9752】

June 18.

【Offering to Huai River, utmost correct principle, heaven and earth, land and water, none not reverent, river favor degree +100】

【River dominion degree: 43.9 (river spring favor degree: 13.3758)】.

Mid-June, the weather grew increasingly hot.

Liang Qu gazed at the dominion degree for a long time, then let out a long breath.

He was not disappointed, had long expected it.

This time's trajectory and process are exactly the same as when the Holy Emperor personally came last year.

All start highest, then gradually decline; by the fifth offering, it stalls at one hundred, reaching a certain limit; after that, several more times, by the eighth time, even one hundred is not enough.

Even if the remaining seven times do not decline, all fixed at one hundred, that would be seven points dominion degree, totaling barely fifty.

But!

"With forty points on hand, after promotion to the right and re-registration, it becomes one hundred points!"

One hundred points, whether used to promote Ze Ling or to link with the Great Position Fruit, are more than enough.

Liang Qu's heart pounded wildly; he took a deep breath, preparing to strike while the iron was hot.

June 21st.

Sunlight bathed the granite, golden and gleaming, light and shadow interwoven, three-dimensional and clear.

The Tusi and the Khan saw one Imperial Rock after another, each with a completely different form, feeling neither sorrow nor joy.

All along the way, everywhere they went, if not for having obtained the Vital Breath, they would sometimes have been unclear whether the Sacred Emperor was gathering Xuanhuang Qi to strengthen his prestige or for some other purpose.

Li Xianghan was so happy he forgot about the southern frontier, holding a crystal bowl of ice cream, the sun-melted slug-like substance oozing into the recliner, while left and right, mice frantically fanned the air.

Dashun is wonderful—more comfortable than in the southern frontier.

【Sacrificing to Huaijiang, utmost righteous principle, heaven and earth, land and water, none not reverent, river's favor degree +100】

【River Dominion Degree: 44.9 (River Spring Favor Degree: 13.3758)】

The sixth scene, currently in the middle reaches of Huaijiang, the sacrifice concluded, letting the dominion degree increase by one, Liang Qu did not delay, detouring to Peng Ze to seek Marshal Yuan, wishing to have the Time Worm appraise the newly acquired Vital Breath, only to hear shocking news.

"What, the Time Worm didn't return?" Liang Qu exclaimed in surprise.

"I was about to ask you the same thing! You only came now, when we agreed on a one-month loan—damn it, it's been nearly four months. Where's the worm? Such a big worm, and you lost it?" Marshal Yuan spoke first, seizing the initiative.

Liang Qu frowned and emphasized: "How are you speaking? It's not lost—it's missing."

"Missing is the same as lost!" The old turtle flared up in anger and defeat: "There's only one such worm in the world. After one month it reached the southern frontier, after two months it reached the Boundless Sea, after three months it ran to the Nine Heavens Clouds Beyond—what losses have you caused me!"

"Enough already. I won't give you anything—where else could you go?" Liang Qu rolled his eyes. "The Time Worm didn't return—why didn't you tell me earlier?"

During the March capital promotion, after merging into the Profound Long Qi, Liang Qu simply released the Time Worm, letting it return on its own, never expecting it to actually run away.

The old turtle glared: "Can I just move around freely? Do you have even a shred of moral conscience! When borrowing, you know to come to the door; when returning, you don't know to come back to the door?"

"Is this my problem? Clearly it's yours—the Time Worm is a free individual, not a slave. I let it go wherever it wants, merely suggesting it come find you—not selling it to you. It's you who mistreated it, so it refuses to return! You bear full responsibility!"

"You're talking nonsense! Even I don't serve my ancestors that diligently!"

"Hoo hoo hoo!"

The mountain sprite leapt up and down, picked up a stone, and smashed it at the old turtle's head.

Marshal Yuan held a mouthful of turtle blood in his mouth, barely avoiding spitting it out.

Kill kill kill!

The plague-stricken monkey—someday, it will exterminate all monkey heads under heaven!

"Alright, why are you in such a hurry? Back then, without the Time Worm, we still cultivated just fine. Worst case, wait a few hundred years, you gather the four seasonal breaths again, and I'll give you another Time Worm—won't that raise one?"

"A few hundred years! You say it so easily!" Marshal Yuan cursed and grumbled.

Liang Qu rolled his eyes and ignored him.

The old turtle had condensed two portions of temporal essence over a thousand years, though he himself didn't know it—the Vital Breath was fully dispersed in fluffy form, but that's from childhood to adulthood; previously what size, now what size? He felt the third condensation was actually only between one and two hundred years.

Now it's troublesome—the Time Worm isn't under control, nor is it a fetal dragon; truly, it's a dragon that has wandered into the sea.

"Where could it go?"

Liang Qu suddenly thought of Mount Tianshan.

Back then, the guard at the Moon-Viewing Tower seemed to have said the Time Worm was discovered at Mount Tianshan?