Chapter 2775: At the Absolute Peak

The significance of Emperor Qi's words was unlike anyone else's.

As the only hegemonic emperor of the post-Six Powers era, who single-handedly held up his nation, he ended a millennium of chaos since Yang, defeated powerful Xia, dominated the Eastern Kingdom, and brought order to the near seas.

Only he could truly make the final decision on how this world would treat Jiang Wang's path!

The Grand Duke and Grand Tutor of Chu, coupled with Chu's foremost prodigy, could indeed represent Chu. However, the Chu Emperor was ultimately a new ruler, and the successive emergence of powerful ministers supporting Jiang Wang might lead people to question his control over the nation's affairs.

While Helian Yunyun's theories on national and personal character certainly evinced the aura of a wise emperor, she had yet to truly prove herself and was inevitably taken lightly by others.

But Jiang Shu was different.

Hong Junyan dared to immediately question whether Helian Yunyun was treating state affairs like a child's game.

Even if Jiang Shu had merely opened his mouth to say, "That's a matter for your Taixu Pavilion..."

How could Hong Junyan then question him?!

The vast Eastern Kingdom was unified by one individual. In terms of merit and virtue, although Hong Junyan belonged to an earlier generation, he was effectively a successor.

Jiang Shu, the Emperor, wielded the full might of his nation; he was a figure even Ji Fengzhou would contend with, striking when he willed.

Chongxuan Sheng rubbed his belly as if it were precious... understanding that Xu Yuanzhi's story would not befall Jiang Wang.

Yet, the winds and clouds had not settled; the fierce currents of the Yellow River still roared beneath the Nine Strongholds.

Behind the white-robed figure, a corner of a Legalist's crown rose like a mountain.

Wu Bingyi, the Grandmaster of Legalism, stood at the very back, his face still unyielding: "Overwhelming the few with many is not righteousness. Punishing crimes according to law is what justice follows."

He adjusted his wide sleeve: "Since there's no limit on numbers, this old man... also knows a thing or two about fighting."

"What 'overwhelming the few with many'?" The proprietor of Baiyujing shouted from below the stage, "Li has plenty of people! Our master is the one standing alone! The vast Snowfield, ancient people return as modern, and modern people can become ancient again. If you're not afraid of him freezing for another thousand years to hunt down descendants, then get up there!"

Zhu Weiwo glanced at him indifferently: "Aren't you going up?"

"I'm not going!" Bai Yuxia waved his hand: "My paltry skills won't help much. And my father-in-law isn't some Dao Master."

Even Yu Chan merely rested her hand on her sword hilt.

These people, and those from Lingxiao Pavilion, indeed had no need to go up and take a stand. Their actions during the life-or-death confrontation would suffice.

Lin Xian, the Grand General of Rong, with a woodcutter's knife hanging from his waist, silently came and sat down.

This time, he had personally brought a young man to the River-Observing Platform, but unfortunately, he didn't make it into the main competition.

Bai Yuxia glanced at him: "There's no woodshed for you in the building anymore."

Lin Xian simply took off his woodcutter's knife and slowly wrapped its handle with a cloth strap: "Rong is too small to withstand storms. But if our master is gone, even the largest ship won't feel stable under my feet."

He raised his eyes and saw a figure in black, stepping ponderously, slowly ascending the stage.

"Our dynasty's Grand Ancestor achieved Dao on the Snowfield, completing the world. Qin and Li have the Asura Alliance, leading to the Abyssal Wall of Yu! Therefore, I humbly represent myself."

Qin Zhizhen hadn't quite decided what to say yet.

Some more impressive lines, like "I am the mountain," had already been taken.

But for someone as steady and cautious as he... it was always right to first distance himself from state affairs. And with the entire Taixu Pavilion acting together, there could certainly be no mistake.

Hence, this step, and this remark.

He carried the ink-black blade named 'Hengshu' (Horizontal-Vertical).

The name of this blade implied 'death no matter what,' suggesting a reckless charge heedless of life or death, but he was actually the least reckless of all.

Ascending the stage so slowly... how could that not be considered steady?

"Everyone else is up here; if I don't come, I'll seem unsociable."

"And also—"

He spoke as he thought: "How did you freeze the space I cut open? Although it doesn't affect the match... how disrespectful is that to me?"

On the River-Observing Platform, the sky-wind flowed freely. Gazes from various directions crisscrossed in complexity.

Li Yi looked down at himself, seemingly pondering what "everyone else is up here" meant.

The next moment, he raised his still questioning eyes.

A point of sword light, like the Milky Way draped across the night, pierced towards Hong Junyan's face! Wielding the beginning and the end, the sword light appeared first, then the sword, and finally Li Yi, plain in white, manifested on the stage with his sword.

He moved before everyone else, drawing his sword even before Jiang Wang, who was the central figure of the day!

No words were spoken; the sword was the language.

He felt it was time to draw his sword, and his sword was there.

Ice prisms formed in Hong Junyan's eyes, his wide sleeves billowed with frosty wind, and an icy river seemed to flow in his palm, delaying the initial sword strike.

"Hold it!!!"

Chen Yanxun suddenly looked up, and his sword rang out with a clang.

"Emperor Li holds the world in his heart, his will encompassing all the common people. He knows that my path forward is to fight for humanity and the divine heavens, and that my sword will surely sweep away the sea of evil. He is eager for the peace of all nations, and thus overlooked temporary legalities. In seeking the eternal prosperity of humanity, he disregarded heated public opinion."

"For all his past actions, Yan Chunhui is indeed deeply mistaken and gravely sinful."

This was the first time he openly acknowledged himself as Yan Chunhui on stage. At this moment, he could not afford any concealment; facing such a blazing, expansive, and unrestrained Jiang Wang from now on, he had to claim his name, take up his sword, and stand for his entire life!

Only by using Dao to counter Dao could he hope for that slim chance of survival, as thin as a sword's edge.

"Lord Jiang has his reasons for pursuing me; the Punitive Palace is fulfilling its duty in punishing me."

"Emperor Li's protection is for the common good of humanity."

"They are acting according to their own principles, without remorse."

"However, with various parties condemning me, and Emperor Li saving me, it can indeed easily lead to misunderstanding in the world. This is not the action of a wise person, but rather the choice of a monarch who loves his people like his own children, whose all-encompassing love for the world led to this choice. Please, gentlemen, do not be too harsh!"

He stepped forward, facing Li Yi's sword and blocking the icy river with his body.

Hong Junyan had protected him earlier; now he protected Hong Junyan, reciprocating the favor. In this exchange, they owed each other nothing.

"If the world condemns me, it is my fault alone! Let there be no collateral damage!"

His gaze swept past Li Yi, past Dou Zhao, and settled on Jiang Wang, as he slowly said: "Emperor Li's favor today, if Yan can live, I will repay with my life... But there's no need to break this spell here, do not use the Weiyang flower to bury old swords, nor sacrifice the world's nations for a lost soul."

His voice rose: "Please, gentlemen, descend from the stage. Today is the day of Yan's public trial!"

The daylight suddenly became like night; a starlit river appeared in the sky. Crack... crack, crack!

Frosty dragon shadows flew through the clouds, and cracking sounds emerged from the icy river!

The icy river in Hong Junyan's palm actually cracked open, and his Winter Immortal Palace was pushed back.

Yan Chunhui personally unleashed a dazzling sword strike like a starlit river, paving a brilliant long staircase for the Li Emperor... This staircase led directly to his throne, half a step below that of a Dragon Monarch.

Hong Junyan's face was expressionless.

He originally had powerful arguments.

He had indeed thought about launching an all-out assault just like this! Fu Huan had already massed troops at the Li-Jing border!

Combining the strength of the Equal Nation and the peril of the Rakshasa Bright Moon Purge, it might indeed be possible to shatter the existing world order, re-establish the current era's structure, and usher in another age of heroes and rogues!

But he knew it was undoubtedly a dead end.

He eventually sat down.

Leaving Yan Chunhui alone on the stage. A Confucian robe, disheveled hair.

Hong Junyan retreated!

Although he had repeatedly failed to achieve his desires during this Yellow River Summit, no one could lightly dismiss his power and authority.

He was also a renowned hegemon in the early years of the new Dao calendar. Such a figure, wielding the foremost national power below that of a hegemonic state, with peerless heroes and famous generals from ancient and modern times under his command, and an army of millions! With such splendor, he stood to support Yan Chunhui, yet was forced to retreat by Jiang Wang's single declaration, "Then let us contend!"

Historical records would offer him no excuse.

Engraved by Zhong Xuan's knife-pen, there were only two characters, reading—"Retreated!"

Tracing back thousands of years.

The last person to make Hong Junyan retreat was named Tang Yu!

Retreating before Tang Yu's fists back then, he completely lost the qualification to contend for supremacy in the nascent era.

Today, retreating before Jiang Wang's sword, treading on a magnificent staircase, he seemed to have lost nothing... yet felt a profound sense of loss!

The young heroes in fictional tales always face the world alone. Jiang Wang was once the solitary one.

Now, as he wields his sword, mountains and seas respond to his call.

Now it was Yan Chunhui who stood alone before him.

The sole inheritor of the Sword Dao of Selflessness, the only Flying Sword grandmaster of this era...

Alone, facing nine individuals from Taixu Pavilion, plus Zhao Rucheng, the Grand Shepherd King's husband, plus Wu Bingyi, the Legalist Grandmaster, plus Fan Shijue, the Grand Prime Minister of Chu, and the Duke of Huai, Zuo Xiao, who might arrive at any moment.

At this moment, Yan Chunhui was indeed the solitary figure.

On the world-renowned platform, he seemed to hear the sound of wild singing rising through the clouds.

How similar it was to over three thousand years ago, when the Flying Sword Era was declared broken.

In the 832nd year of the Dao calendar, the Eternal Sword Venerable left his final covenant on Pegasus Plains, passing down the art of flying swords to the Eternal Twilight, like fragmented chapters of past eras.

Yet, it wasn't until the 840th year of the Dao calendar that the Flying Sword Era was truly declared broken.

The reason for those eight years remaining in the domain of flying swords...

...was because there was still the Sword Lord of Selflessness, Taishu Bai, wielding his sword in the world.

In the starlight of that time, there was still sword light; in the moonlight of that time, there were still wine cups. Thus, no one could say that the era of flying swords had truly passed!

Not until Taishu Bai also died, and his sword broke...

Yan Chunhui still remembered that night, when stars fell like rain—his master drank and sang wildly, riding his sword like a small boat, heading alone into the sea of stars.

That time and this time, how alike they were.

It was just that back then, he thought his master was a great hero battling petty villains alone.

But today, he understood that he was the great demon hunted by righteous individuals.

Yet he, too, faced a multitude of heroes alone!

To reach the starry sky I gaze upon, I have stopped at nothing.

If there is only one truth about success in this world, why not this? If there is only one possibility of victory, why not now? The strands of hair on his forehead gently lifted, slender and sharp like a sword.

Yan Chunhui looked at Jiang Wang and said: "I will have no regrets in life or death today. Here on the Yellow River, for this unrestricted arena—Lord Jiang, whether one person fights me or ten thousand, I will bear it myself!"

This youthful appearance, this unyielding heart, sharp and irreversible in intent... ultimately, there was a resemblance to a re-enactment of that glorious era.

Jiang Wang looked at Yan Chunhui, understanding this was an invitation to a Dao-contention.

He could, of course, ignore it, and simply overwhelm Yan Chunhui, killing him without anyone finding fault.

But this was an invitation to a Dao-contention.

After fourteen years, he had once again arrived at the World Platform, bringing all his past with him.

Standing here back then, he only wanted to gain the power for revenge. He was driven by hatred, but he never became its slave, never lost his character, nor abandoned his principles.

Only day after day of effort, and an unyielding persistence.

Today, he stood here, summoning the world to hear his sword's cry, about to voice his ideals!

This was a place of glory.

His path and Yan Chunhui's path extended here; only one could continue forward.

"The Sage said: 'If names are not correct, speech will not be appropriate; if speech is not appropriate, affairs will not be accomplished. If rites and music do not flourish, punishments will not be just, and the people will not know how to act.' Now Yan Chunhui confesses his crimes, the Yellow River's chief arbiter will judge him, and Yan Chunhui challenges for Dao, Jiang Wang will contend!"

He said: "The champion's title will be decided. I ask Mr. Mu to preside on my behalf, so there are no regrets."

In truth, there was no need for many reasons to kill Yan Chunhui!

What the Human Demon had done was known to all. Whether Yan Chunhui deserved to die was clear in everyone's hearts.

Killing him didn't require listing every single crime, just as when Jiang Wang called upon Li Yi and Gongsun Buhai—one a True Monarch of the Dao sect, the other a Legalist Grandmaster—they simply met up and went.

If Yan Chunhui could have been killed then, it's likely there would have been no dissenting voices in the world.

But after all, this was the River-Observing Platform, and whatever happened here would significantly impact the current world—this was why many chose to lay their plans now, and why Yan Chunhui could plead his case, and why enforcers needed to clearly apply the law.

In the end, those who ascended the stage at this moment were all figures of light, or at least understood Jiang Wang. They slowly dispersed from the stage.

Only Mu Fuyue, who had long since moved below the stage but had not ascended it or spoken, quietly watched the night sky after the dazzling starlit river: "Master, I can contend for Dao on your behalf." From the very beginning, she had prepared—not intending to stand on the stage for Jiang Wang. She merely wanted to wait until Jiang Wang, Hong Junyan, and Yan Chunhui truly began to fight to the death, then directly intervene to help kill both of them.

Since it was unrestricted, sneak attacks shouldn't be restricted either.

Her long life had taught her that if someone became an enemy, killing the enemy was the most important thing.

Jiang Wang, however, shook his head: "Mr. Mu, your strength is superior, but this is not a battle of strength, but of Dao. My battle with him is a Dao-contention. Only the sword's edge can decide, no one else can substitute."

Mu Fuyue stood below the stage like an obelisk: "Who cares about principles? Life and death are the essence."

"My pursuit of Dao is in the Divine Continent, my practice of Dao is in Baiyujing; my path is intertwined with Master's."

"Out of the most fundamental self-interest, and perhaps some... emotion."

Having lived for such an immensely long time, the words 'emotion' felt surprisingly shameful to her.

But she stated very clearly: "I don't want you to die."

Those on stage gathered like banners, and dispersed like the parting of the sea.

Jiang Wang had always known what he would face, so he was acutely aware of how hard-won the current situation was, and he cherished it greatly.

He stated: "An ideal is a personal pursuit, not an imposed responsibility; no one should be responsible for your ideals."

"I never presume that because I'm doing the right thing, everyone should support me—besides, I might not even be entirely right."

"Ultimately, we've lived in this world and come this far. Who can't string together a few principles?"

He looked at Yan Chunhui: "Everyone has a reason for coming here."

"Last time on the River-Observing Platform, I said that justice cannot reside solely in people's hearts; it must be declared by word, and heralded by sword."

"I've also been thinking, what exactly is justice?"

"Perhaps it's that even if the one speaking reason loses, the spectators will offer some sympathy."

"Perhaps it's when the person doing the right thing and the person doing the wrong thing have roughly equal strength... people will tend to support the one doing the right thing."

"That's enough."

"That's sufficient. All I need is for you to support the right one, when my fist is roughly as hard as theirs."

His long hair billowed, his robes flapped in the wind: "I have walked the path; now, behold my sword."

Lu Ye clenched his fists below the stage!

He thought he understood what true confidence, invincible confidence, was. It was "unrestricted"! It was "behold my sword"!

"What great fortune! To contend for Dao with the Demon-Slaying Heavenly Monarch by sword." Yan Chunhui's disheveled hair flared, sword intent emanating from his skin. At this moment, he recalled too many past events.

He even recalled his own youth, when he was full of vigor and ambition.

He remembered that magnificent sight when countless flying swords soared across the sky, circling like fish-dragons!

But today's earthly splendor belonged to others' stories.

"My era knows no return, and you are the most dazzling name of this era."

"To contend for this, to seek my Dao, what regrets could I have!"

"Thousands of years as a grandmaster, moving against the tide of eras, scoured by time, forced to hide my sword with dementia, to nourish my spirit with forgetting. It is not that Yan Chunhui lacked the posture of transcendence; it is that the era of flying swords has passed!"

He held his sword-fingers upright before him, his eyes shining like brilliant stars, finally revealing a hint of heroic spirit!

Sword cries filled the sky, like the roar of a sea of stars: "If I cannot achieve Dao, I would rather die—today, I contend with you!"

Jiang Wang spread his wide sleeve: "I ask all under heaven to be the chief arbiters of this match! Victory and defeat shall be determined only by life and death!"

On the martial stage, a battleground unique to the two of them split open.

Jiang Wang stepped forward: "Someone told me that a flawed process cannot yield a correct result."

"Someone told me that we need to use our swords to uphold our principles."

"And someone else told me that only the outcome matters most."

"They were all my teachers. At various stages of my life, they benefited me greatly."

"So I strive to do the right things, to grow strong, and to win results."

"A powerful True Monarch is a champion; a champion who preaches the Dao is a Sage!"

As Longxiangsi sang on the Yellow River, all swords sheathed by those present rattled like caged beasts. The dazzling sword light surged along the long river, layer by layer, like the dragon of this great river, turning its scales towards the heavens.

At this sound, millions of voices responded. In Qi, in Chu, in Mu, in Jing, in Qin, in Jing... Swords sang across the land!

"At the Yellow River Summit of Dao Calendar year 3933, as an arbiter, I must once again contend for the title of champion."

"This time, I shall be champion of the grandmasters!"