Jiang Taiyuan's voice was loud, and the attention of more than half of the people on the field was attracted.

All those eyes that moved over fell on the person named Tian Wenjing.

In just an instant, Tian Wenjing's slightly dark skin turned liver-colored.

The people present were either nobles from various countries or well-known scholars.

They were all refined individuals.

Tian Wenjing was insulted in front of everyone, even if he had a good temperament, he couldn't stand it!

Moreover, he had a foul mouth and a narrow mind.

As soon as he saw that the person was Jiang Taiyuan, he immediately cursed out loud, "Jiang Taiyuan! No one in your Jiang family dares to talk to me, where do you get the guts..."

Jiang Taiyuan sneered, "Hmph! I've already left the family, and you dare to use your family background to suppress me? Are you crazy? I am now the Le Fu Ling, on the same level as the Lords. Even your wild father, Tian Weihou, would have to respectfully call me Lord Ling."

"You..."

Tian Wenjing looked at the official robe on Jiang Taiyuan's body and didn't know what to say for a moment.

The Lords of the various countries didn't take the officials of the Zhou royal court seriously.

But unfortunately, the Zhou royal court held the Zhou rituals, and no one could openly defy them.

Jiang Taiyuan's official robe really left him at a loss for words.

Tian Wenjing pointed at Jiang Taiyuan, his lips trembling with anger, "You, a person who speaks such filthy words, being an official in the Zhou royal court, is a disgrace to our Qi country!"

"Take him away!"

Jiang Taiyuan sneered, "You don't even know how to use an inverted sentence, yet you dare to provoke us Qi country people? If it weren't for Tian Weihou getting drunk and accidentally sleeping with your mother, would you be living in Qi country now?"

Tian Wenjing: "..."

Jiang Taiyuan turned and smiled, "Ying, my friend, I've won the argument, let's go!"

After speaking, he left humming a tune with his hands behind his back.

Wuji's mouth twitched, and he lowered his voice to ask, "Jiang, do you have a grudge against him?"

"Not really, I don't bother with the petty matters between the Jiang and Tian families."

Jiang Taiyuan smiled, "When I left Jixia Academy all those years ago, this Tian Wenjing had just returned to Qi country. He was just a little kid, relying on his identity to look down on this person and that person. When we were together, we would always call him 'Tian Wenjing, my sweet mother'. It became a habit, and it just slipped out when I saw him."

"Awesome!"

Wuji marveled, to be honest, he couldn't quite understand Jiang Taiyuan.

After all, this person had too many identity buffs.

He was a member of the Qi royal family, a disciple of Yang Zhu, and even the Le Fu Ling of the Zhou royal court.

The first and third identities could still be somewhat related.

But the second identity was a bit out of place.

Even if the third identity was taken out alone, it didn't match his image and temperament.

Not to mention the official robe, a Le Fu Ling's ability to appreciate music could only be summarized as "good" or "not good". And he spoke without restraint in public, which was quite peculiar.

"Ying, I have to preside over the welcoming ceremony later, you can just sit in the welcoming seat, I won't bother with you guys, haha!"

"You do your thing, we'll find a place to watch the ceremony."

"Sounds good!"

Jiang Taiyuan didn't have the intention to show off his status, he chatted with Wuji for a while and then went to attend to his own business.

Wuji glanced at the scene, there was only an hour left until the arrival of the Four Great Masters.

"Brother Ying!"

Zhao Ning suddenly spoke, "Do you feel that Jiang Taiyuan is strange?"

Wuji smiled, "Jiang is a broad-minded person, and he is a disciple of Yang Zhu, who emphasizes going with the flow. It's not a problem for him to act a bit peculiar."

Zhao Ning shook his head, "If it's just that, it's not a big deal! But he is in the Zhou royal court, so he should be a person of the Zhou royal court. But this time, he has been spreading the nightmare of the Zhou Emperor everywhere, which obviously goes against the interests of the Zhou royal court, but the Zhou royal court didn't pay any attention to him."

"That is indeed a problem."

Wuji pursed his lips, to be honest, when Jiang Taiyuan first found him, he thought that the Yang Zhu faction considered him a talented individual and sent someone to test him, after all, his identity as a transmigrator...

But now that he took a closer look.

Damn it, Jiang Taiyuan also messed up in front of "Zhao Ling".

Explaining it as "Zhao Ling" being his friend was too far-fetched.

Wuji tested, "So there are internal struggles within the Zhou royal court? Or perhaps, he was instructed by the Zhou Emperor to stir up trouble?"

"Probably!"

Zhao Ning nodded, "After the Literary Meeting, the Crown Prince felt that this person's behavior was different from that of an ordinary Le Fu Ling, so he sent someone to investigate him. It was discovered that although this person only had the identity of a royal family member on the surface, his biological father is likely to be the Qi Ling King."

"The Qi Ling King?"

Wuji's heart skipped a beat, "The one who was killed by Tian Weihou?"

The current Jiang family was completely a puppet regime, and the members of the royal family had almost all moved out of the capital to save themselves.

The remaining small part was used to decorate the facade with the royal court, and each one was a puppet.

The Qi Ling King was the head puppet, but this person had quite a charismatic personality and had a good relationship with the scholars of Jixia Academy. Many students also called him "Teacher".

Later, Tian Weihou thought that he wanted to use the power of Jixia Academy to help the Jiang royal family regain power.So he killed King Qi Ling and ordered the students of Jixia Academy that after they graduate, they are not allowed to leave the Kingdom of Qi and can only serve in official positions in Qi.

This is also the real reason for the decline of Jixia Academy.

Jiang Taiyuan behaved very generously, clearly stating that he has already become a monk and has no relationship with the Jiang family.

But if he is given the identity of the son of King Qi Ling, things seem to become intriguing.

"Hmm!"

Zhao Ning nodded, "After this person left Jixia Academy, he disappeared for many years. His identity as the first disciple of the Yang Zhu lineage should not be fake. He then traveled to various lords' states, but only held insignificant bureaucratic positions. It was only later that he became the director of the Music Bureau. No one knows what he has been doing all these years.

The Yang Zhu lineage can indeed be considered part of the orthodox Daoist tradition, but compared to the Laozi lineage, they have some peculiar ways of doing things.

For our sect to be born from the Yang Zhu lineage is not just a mere saying.

In the future, when you have dealings with him, you must not take it lightly."

"Don't worry!"

Ying Wuji smiled, "Even when I'm with you, I have to be cautious, afraid that one day you might steal my manuscript."

Zhao Ning: "..."

She choked for a moment, then laughed.

To be fair, both she and Ying Wuji are people with their own schemes, but when they are together, they don't hide anything.

She had previously wanted to use Ying Wuji to involve the Kingdom of Qian, which she made clear.

Ying Wuji wanted to control the jade soap business, and he even made them wait until the envoys from Qian arrived, and even made the king swear an oath when they first met.

Their relationship was open and honest, but it didn't mean that Ying Wuji was naive. How could he possibly fall in love with Jiang Taiyuan, whom he had only met a few times?

During their conversation, two figures approached.

Ying Wuji turned around and saw another familiar face.

Xiang Ding!

They had met when Shang Mo Bookstore opened. Xiang Ding even paid a thousand taels of silver to become his fated person.

But when they were about to leave, Xiang Ding mocked him. If it weren't for the face of a thousand taels of silver, he would have cursed him long ago.

"Lord Wuji... No! It should be Lord Husband. Long time no see!"

Xiang Ding spoke as if they were very familiar, but his tall and sturdy figure leaned back slightly, appearing somewhat proud and aloof.

He looked at the woman beside him and introduced, "Lady, this is Ying Wuji."

Mi Xingli smiled lightly, "Brother Ying! I have long heard of your name. I, Mi Xingli, on behalf of the King of Chu, am participating in this Hundred Schools Gathering."

"So you are the lady from the Kingdom of Chu. I have long heard of you!" Ying Wuji nodded slightly. He had indeed heard of Mi Xingli's name. She was the most beloved daughter of the King of Chu and also the outstanding figure of the younger generation of the Legalist school in Chu. It was said that her teacher was someone left behind by Wu Qi. The Chu nobles were somewhat hostile towards Mi Xingli because of Wu Qi, but Chu had no way to deal with them either.

The King of Chu did this with the intention of governing with excellence.

After all, the precedent of the Kingdom of Qian was there. Who wouldn't want to reform and strengthen?

For Mi Xingli to dare to study the Legalist arts under the circumstances, she could be considered a strong woman.

He took a look at Mi Xingli and indeed felt a sense of a female CEO. She was beautiful and cold, wearing a loose legalist robe, giving off an office lady vibe.

Most importantly... she was tall!

For a moment, Ying Wuji didn't even know if her name was Mi Xingli or Chongtian Xingli.

Mi Xingli smiled faintly, "Yesterday, when you solved that mathematical problem, countless so-called talents were left in the dust. I have been pondering over it all night, but still can't understand its mysteries. I wonder if Brother Ying can enlighten us fools."

Ying Wuji: "..."

Your big, bright eyes are full of spirit, but there is no thirst for knowledge.

These are the eyes that have pondered and still couldn't figure it out after a night of contemplation.

He raised an eyebrow, "Lady is joking. I only said that to avoid dealing with those people. If the lady is interested in that mathematical problem, there is no reason for me not to explain it. However, this problem cannot be heard by those mediocre people, otherwise they will come to bother me. Let's find a quiet place to talk!"

With that, he made a gesture of invitation, and the group found a secluded place.

Ying Wuji asked, "Speak! Lady came to find me, is there something to discuss?"

Mi Xingli looked at him, her gaze filled with a hint of admiration, and nodded with a smile, "I dare not discuss. I just want to confirm one thing with Brother Ying."

"Oh?"

"Yesterday, a mysterious person broke into the Chu Embassy, but instead of stealing or robbing, he told us a story."

As she spoke, she took out a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Ying Wuji.

Ying Wuji opened it and saw that the information and handwriting on it seemed familiar: Emperor Zhou had a nightmare, dreaming that he was stabbed by someone with a sword... In short, be careful.

If this wasn't written by Jiang Taiyuan, I'll eat shit upside down!

Mi Xingli's face became somewhat solemn, "Brother Ying, what do you think?"

This news indeed made her feel pressured.

Usually, the main lecturer for the Hundred Schools Gathering is decided through internal discussions within each school. Even if the philosophers have different ideas, once the main lecturer is determined, it is not easily changed.

But this time, the lecturer for the Military school said he wanted to change, almost without any warning, and it was Nangong Ling, who usually pays no attention to the Hundred Schools Gathering.

This is somewhat strange.Moreover, the content of the discussion has changed from previous sand table exercises to the Tomb of Bandit Thieves, which also contains the inheritance of the Saint of War.

Not only that, but Nangong Ling also added three rewards to the original military air fortune.

Who can resist this?

Mi Xingli originally did not intend to participate in the competition for the military air fortune, but with such generous rewards in front of her, no one can refuse.

Especially for "geniuses"!

The Triple Eleven Layers is the pinnacle that cultivators can reach through resources, talent, and effort.

But only by breaking through the Twelfth Layer can one reach a new realm. Only by barely reaching the level of "genius" can one be called a "heavenly pride", but the so-called "heavenly pride" is not the end.

If a heavenly pride cannot grow, it will gradually fade away. A heavenly pride without ambition is destined not to grow.

When she reached the Triple Eleven Layers, she did not choose to break through the Rebirth Realm, but continued to attack the Twelfth Layer, which meant that she had the determination to become stronger. How could she give up this opportunity?

It can be said that anyone who reaches the Triple Eleven Layers but does not choose to break through the Rebirth Realm has no reason not to enter the Tomb of Bandit Thieves.

But now...

Suddenly, there was a rumor about the bloodline of Zhuanxu, which made her uncertain.

The Tomb of Bandit Thieves is the ancestral treasure of the Nangong family, and Nangong Ling is a strong cultivator in the Enlightenment Realm. If he has evil intentions...

Although

She stared closely at Ying Wuji's expression.

She saw Ying Wuji's shock, and his face turned pale: "How is this possible!"

Mi Xingli's expression became serious: "Brother Ying, don't you know?"

"I didn't know about this!"

Ying Wuji clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, anxiously pacing back and forth: "It seems that the Tomb of Bandit Thieves is completely a conspiracy! Can we still enter? Miss, who gave you this note and why was it only given to you?"

Zhao Ning: "..."

Surprised!

My brother Ying is really good at acting?

Seeing his appearance, Mi Xingli couldn't help but feel a little flustered: "Brother Ying, did you really not receive this news?"

"No!"

Ying Wuji's eyes were sincere, then he looked at Zhao Ning: "Brother Zhao, you are also a rare talent of the Zhao clan. Did you receive the message?"

Zhao Ning readily agreed: "No..."

After thinking for a moment, Ying Wuji said: "Miss, could it be that Emperor Zhou has already identified several people, and Miss happens to be one of them? The person behind the scenes reminded Miss on purpose?"

"Brother Ying, you're joking!"

Mi Xingli forced a smile: "My ambition in this life is just to be a minister assisting the king. I don't have such high aspirations for my cultivation. I never planned to compete for the military air fortune. Besides, my swordsmanship is terrible. How could I make an attempt on Emperor Zhou's life?"

Ying Wuji curiously asked: "Really?"

"Of course!"

Mi Xingli nodded, truly sincere.

Ying Wuji's expression became serious again, and his gaze turned to Xiang Ding: "Brother Xiang is also a descendant of Zhuanxu. Did you receive... Ah, right! Brother Xiang and Miss are together, so if Miss knows, Brother Xiang will naturally know. Miss, there is something I don't know if I should say or not."

Mi Xingli made a gesture of please: "You can say it!"

Ying Wuji's face showed concern, and he sighed deeply: "A few days ago, I didn't know if you two participated in the literary gathering! There was a Han Juan from the Han family who was extremely skilled in divination. He could even see the fortune of the country, so it's not surprising that he can see people's fortunes.

If Han Juan can do it, who can guarantee that others can't? The royal family and the person who reminded Miss may have similar means.

Miss and Brother Xiang are both outstanding individuals. It is very likely that they have already been targeted. So, before entering the Tomb of Bandit Thieves, we must be extremely cautious!"

Mi Xingli's expression became more and more serious: "Thank you for reminding me, Brother Ying! We are going to the Kingdom of Li, where we have little foundation. We will need your and Brother Zhao's support for many things!"

"No problem!"

Ying Wuji nodded: "I have a good affinity with Miss, so we are friends now. Although I used to be a hostage, I now have my father-in-law's support. If you encounter any problems, come find me anytime!"

"Thank you!"

Mi Xingli bowed: "We still have some matters to attend to, so we will take our leave!"

"Okay!"

Ying Wuji nodded: "Be careful! When Nangong Ling arrives, try not to make eye contact with him. Enlightened Realm cultivators are not to be trifled with."

The few of them had a brief encounter and then separated.

When Mi and Xiang walked away.

Zhao Ning couldn't help but laugh: "Brother Ying, you are really bad!"

Ying Wuji looked innocent: "I was just reminding her to be safe. How am I bad?"

Zhao Ning shook his head and laughed: "If Jiang Taiyuan was really sent by Emperor Zhou to stir up trouble, the reactions of the various families would also be a measure. Emperor Zhou has many hidden hands in the various feudal states, and he is afraid of being exposed if he has done something wrong.

But he doesn't know which ghost will come knocking on his door in the end, so he relies on this test to gauge the attitudes of the various families. If he has a clear conscience, he will naturally enter the tomb calmly.

By making Mi Xingli feel that she is the only one being targeted, there may be abnormal behavior, or she may simply not enter the Tomb of Bandit Thieves. Isn't this directly exposing her as a target? You are not being bad, then what are you?"

"Nonsense! How could I have such malicious thoughts?"

Ying Wuji waved his hand repeatedly, looking like he was wronged.

Zhao Ning smiled and stopped talking.

Because the Tomb of Bandit Thieves was indeed a headache.Enter the tomb, Nangong Ling certainly does not dare to kill a group of geniuses, but the tomb is his family heirloom, and his actions are normal.

Not entering the tomb, although it will not directly put oneself in danger, it will definitely become the focus of Nangong Ling's attention. When a strong person in the realm of enlightenment decides to make a move against a junior, I'm afraid no one will have a good time.

This novel is available on "p𝑎wread.com".

Even if the two are a prince and a nobleman, they cannot take it lightly.

It seems like a good choice to let the two people from the Chu Kingdom attract the attention.

...

On the other side.

Xiang Ding held his arms and hummed lightly: "Miss, I think the person behind the scenes is just fear-mongering. Although Nangong Ling's actions are mysterious and outsiders don't know his temperament, he is still a strong person in the realm of enlightenment. How could he lower his face and make a move against a junior?

I think it's mostly the person behind the scenes who wants to monopolize the four paths of military energy and deliberately scare people away!"

Mi Xingli asked in return: "Then explain, why did the person who emphasized the military suddenly change, and why did Nangong Ling take three paths of military energy?"

Xiang Ding hesitated: "This..."

Mi Xingli sighed lightly: "Ying Wuji is right. A few days ago, Han Juan's map of the country's energy already foreshadowed a great conflict. It's impossible for only him to see it clearly in this world. We may have really been targeted. We must be extremely careful."

Xiang Ding's expression also became serious: "Then should we still enter this chaotic tomb?"

Mi Xingli struggled with her expression, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and said: "Yes! We must enter! Emperor Zhou doesn't even know who will assassinate him in the future. The person who informed us this time may not necessarily be hostile to Emperor Zhou. If we don't enter, we may actually put ourselves in a more dangerous situation. Besides, I also want those four paths of military energy!"

"Don't worry, Miss!"

Xiang Ding patted his chest: "As long as I'm here, I will definitely protect Miss's safety."

Mi Xingli smiled slightly: "I have been focused on reform, so the aristocrats in the country have a strong hostility towards me. When I came to the Li Kingdom, I didn't even want to send powerful experts to protect me. I only have one protective treasure bestowed by my father, the king. If you come with me, will you regret it?"

Xiang Ding grinned: "I, Xiang Ding, never know what regret is! My father said that the Kingdom of Qian has precious treasures in front, and anyone with a bit of vision knows that reform is the way to make a country strong. But those conservative aristocrats, they only care about their own small interests.

And that Wuji, he knew that Nangong Ling had ill intentions and was scared out of his wits on the spot!

Compared to them, Miss is the true hero!

The two of us will fight like heroes, even if we die, we won't regret it!"

Mi Xingli: "..."

Thank you!

Xiang Ding thought she was still worried and comforted her: "Don't worry, Miss! After we come out of this chaotic tomb, we will immediately return to the Chu Kingdom. Even if Nangong Ling really wants to harm us, we won't give him a chance!"

"No!"

Mi Xingli smiled and shook her head: "I still want to stay in the Li Kingdom for a while."

"Ah?"

Xiang Ding was a little puzzled: "Why?"

Mi Xingli glanced in the direction of the palace: "Actually, I didn't plan to stay either, but it seems that the King of Li is really determined to reform. You also know that the troubles in the Chu Kingdom are because the reform was only halfway done and King Diao and Prime Minister Wu passed away one after another.

The national strength has only improved for a few years and has been dragged down by those aristocrats again. In recent years, my father has been seeking a breakthrough method.

Considering the situation in the Li Kingdom, it is definitely the most difficult country in the world to reform. The fact that the King of Li dares to take action shows that he already has some confidence.

I want to stay here to see how they will reform. Regardless of success or failure, it will be an experience that we can learn from in the future.

If I can add a little chance of success to the reform of the Chu Kingdom, what does a little danger matter?"

Xiang Ding was a little worried: "But this is a foreign country, and there is also Nangong Ling..."

Mi Xingli smiled and waved her hand: "It's okay! Both Ying Wuji and Zhao Tian are descendants of Zhuan Xu, and the King of Li is also a strong person in the realm of enlightenment. He won't let Nangong Ling do anything outrageous!"

Xiang Ding rubbed his head: "The King of Li has reasons to protect Ying Wuji and the young people of the Zhao family, but there is no reason to protect Miss. Moreover, the Chu and Li Kingdoms have fought for hundreds of years..."

Mi Xingli seemed relatively indifferent: "It's true that the Chu and Li Kingdoms have been fighting for hundreds of years, but the Li Kingdom is different now. The land of Zhao and our Chu are not adjacent, and if the King of Li wants to reform, it will definitely intensify the contradictions with the Wei and Han Kingdoms. Our Chu can become his support, he will protect me. Don't worry!"

"Miss... you really have thought it through!"

Xiang Ding sighed lightly and stopped persuading her.

At this moment, a strong wind blew, and there were exclamations from the viewing platform.

"Such a strong wind!"

Before the words fell, a powerful pressure rose in the city, making everyone feel immense pressure.

This pressure was not directed at them, but it still made them feel the urge to worship.

The strong wind blew, and sand and stones flew.

Countless rocks of all sizes were lifted into the sky, but on the viewing platform, they could only feel a gentle breeze.

Everyone looked up and saw that the flying rocks in the sky had formed a wide road, extending from the welcoming platform all the way to the direction of the Siqi Palace.

"This is..."

Such a shocking scene left many people dumbfounded.

Only the people from the Li Kingdom were slightly calmer, but excitement couldn't be hidden in their eyes.Ying Wuji was a little surprised: "What's going on here?"

Zhao Ning raised his head and smiled slightly: "Because of the heavens and the earth!"

Because of the heavens and the earth!

Ying Wuji quickly understood. It turned out to be the ancestral technique of the Li Kingdom, passed down from generation to generation. Every Li King must learn it.

Because of the heavens and the earth, the full name is "Because of the timing of the heavens, and the power of the earth." Mastering this technique allows one to harness the power of the heavens and the earth, enabling them to do things that millions of people cannot do.

When cultivated to the extreme, one can change the course of rivers, move mountains, and fill seas. It is not something that cannot be achieved.

Li Kingdom has fertile land for thousands of miles, and it is closely related to this technique.

Even if it is not a technique that can be directly used for killing, it can still play a significant role on the battlefield.

It can be said that although the Li Kingdom's power is divided, the Zhao family can still firmly hold the throne, and a considerable part of the reason comes from this technique.

It must be said.

"It's really damn cool!"

Ying Wuji sincerely exclaimed. Aside from the practicality of this technique, just the grandeur of controlling the heavens and the earth is the dream of all show-offs, after all...

Strength is temporary.

Coolness is a lifetime.

No!

Even if you die, everyone will remember the cool scenes you created.

The strong wind did not stop, but the viewing platform had already regained some calmness.

In the distance, the sound of horses neighing came, followed by the sound of carriage wheels.

A five-horse carriage slowly approached on the stone-paved road.

Finally, it elegantly stopped next to the welcoming platform.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The eunuch's voice resounded.

Everyone present bowed in unison.

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

"Welcome, King Li!"

After much anticipation, Zhao Ji finally got off the carriage.

Jiang Taiyuan greeted him with a big laugh: "King Li, you've arrived early!"

"Lord Prefect, I have kept you waiting!"

Zhao Ji smiled slightly, waved his hand, and the stone-paved road instantly changed its course. After the carriage smoothly descended to the ground, the stones slowly fell to the southeast, orderly stacking up into an observatory.

Although it was built with broken stones, the observatory looked exceptionally sturdy.

The whole process went smoothly, and it was even difficult to hear the sound of the stones colliding.

Zhao Ji's accomplishment in the technique of "Because of the heavens and the earth" could be seen.

The young descendants of the Wei and Han families present all showed a solemn and worried expression.

During this closed-door cultivation, although King Li did not reach the realm of a saint, his cultivation seemed to have improved.

Zhao Ji smiled slightly and made a gesture of invitation: "Lord Prefect, please!"

"King Li, please!"

"Please together!"

Zhao Ji and Jiang Taiyuan laughed heartily and walked hand in hand to the main seat of the welcoming platform.

Although Jiang Taiyuan was far inferior to Zhao Ji in terms of cultivation and actual status, he was still the highest official of the Zhou Music Bureau. According to the Zhou ritual, he could sit on an equal footing with the lords and kings.

He was not nervous at all and treated Zhao Ji like an old friend who had been separated for many years.

Of course, Emperor Zhou could also send an official with real power.

But this was a grand event of the Hundred Schools of Thought, and there should be no political factors involved. Sending a Music Bureau official was just right.

Zhao Ji looked at the sky and saw that it was already close to noon.

He smiled and said loudly, "Gentlemen, since you have arrived, please show yourselves!"

As soon as his voice fell, rays of light appeared in the east.

In front of this light, even the midday sun seemed dim.

An old man in a white Confucian robe stepped on the light and came.

He was dressed plainly, without any luxurious decorations.

But every move and gesture showed his nobility.

He arrived on the observatory by stepping on the light.

He bowed to everyone present and then walked towards the viewing platform.

"Meng Master, it's been a while!"

According to the Zhou ritual, Zhao Ji politely bowed.

Meng Master smiled faintly: "After several years of separation, Your Majesty King Li still maintains his dignity, while I have become an old man. It's really lamentable!"

"Meng Master is too modest!"

Jiang Taiyuan laughed heartily: "Meng Master is getting more and more youthful as he ages, and he is becoming more and more like a deity. It's too self-deprecating to say that he is an old man."

Meng Master choked for a moment and glanced at the official robe on Jiang Taiyuan's body. He was sure that he was the Music Bureau official, which surprised him a bit: "Lord Prefect, you are so young and yet highly regarded by Emperor Zhou. Your behavior is unconventional, and you are truly an extraordinary person!"

Jiang Taiyuan happily said, "Whether I'm extraordinary or not, Meng Master might have forgotten, but you taught me at the Jixia Academy!"

"You..."

Meng Master obviously didn't recognize Jiang Taiyuan.

Jiang Taiyuan felt a little embarrassed and lowered his voice: "Meng Master, I am Jiang Taiyuan..."

"Jiang..."

Meng Master knew this was a surname, but he really couldn't remember the name Jiang Taiyuan.

Jiang Taiyuan whispered, "I'm the one who almost burned down the academy when I got drunk."

Meng Master still looked puzzled but then consoled him, "It's okay, Master doesn't hold grudges!"

Jiang Taiyuan: "..."

"Pfft..."

On the viewing platform, Zhao Ning couldn't help but laugh.

Wuji smacked his lips: "This Meng Master is also an extraordinary person!"

In the land of Qi and Lu, the birthplace of Confucius and Mencius, this Meng Fool was the great-grandson of Meng Saint. After the falling out between the Jixia Academy and the Tian family, the disciples of the saints left, and Meng Fool became the current head of the Jixia Academy.

Although his status was not comparable to that of a saint, he was undoubtedly a powerful cultivator in the Awakening God Realm.

The way he appeared today indeed had a suspicion of showing off, but his demeanor seemed quite elegant and easygoing.

Wuji couldn't help but feel a little emotional. This was what a Great Scholar should be like.In the web novels I read in my previous life, those great scholars were all narrow-minded and jealous, suppressing and plagiarizing the protagonists who became saints. It's really hard to put into words.

On the welcoming platform, the three of them chatted for a while before inviting Master Meng to take his seat.

Just as Master Meng took his seat, a bird's cry came from the western sky.

Although it was a bird's cry, there was a faint sound of machinery.

Everyone followed the sound and saw a giant peng bird with a wingspan of nearly ten zhang diving down from the sky, heading straight for the observatory.

Just a few zhang away from the observatory, the peng bird suddenly flapped its wings, creating a gust of wind. Its body came to a sudden stop and landed steadily on the observatory.

Everyone could see that the peng bird was covered in a metallic sheen, making it look lifelike.

It was actually a mechanical creation made by the Mohist!

The president of the Mohist branch in the Kingdom of Li, Wu Wen, had arrived.

At the same time, a golden book several zhang wide flew through the air from the northeast, with three large characters written on it: "Dayan Law".

The leader of the Legalist school in the Kingdom of Yan, Yue Li, had arrived.

The Kingdom of Yan was located in the northeast, bordering the Kingdoms of Li and Qi. Although it had lost its qualification to dominate the world, its reform was still going smoothly, and its national strength was not to be underestimated.

Three out of the four major schools of Confucianism, Mohism, Legalism, and Military, had already arrived.

After exchanging a few words, they all took their seats.

However, Nangong Ling, the military representative, had not yet arrived.

Although the heat of summer had passed, the midday autumn sun was far from cool. Under the scorching sun, it was inevitable that people would feel restless.

Even Zhao Ji couldn't help but frown.

"Damn it!"

Ying Wuji curled his lips. "A military saint like him actually has such a big attitude."

Although the scholars had come from different directions, they must have arrived early.

This Nangong Ling was really putting on airs.

"Everyone! I apologize for being late!"

A voice came from the south, sounding like the trembling of a sword.

Although the voice was not loud, it felt like a sword piercing into people's minds.

Some of those with low cultivation almost fainted and had to be supported by the people around them. They felt dizzy and sweat the size of beans appeared on their foreheads.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

The expressions of everyone changed because it sounded like the sound of marching.

Judging from the sound, there were at least tens of thousands of infantry.

Such orderly and uniform steps must be an elite force.

Near the city of Jiangcheng in the Kingdom of Li, tens of thousands of elite soldiers appeared out of thin air. Were they going to war?

With the grand gathering of the Hundred Schools of Thought approaching, who was so arrogant?

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The guards of the Kingdom of Li responsible for vigilance drew their weapons one after another, ready to fight to the death.

Zhao Ji, on the other hand, just frowned and waved his hand lightly. The guards put away their swords and spears, but their faces remained solemn.

Under the gaze of everyone, an infantry formation marched forward in an orderly manner.

They couldn't see the faces of the infantry, but they could feel the surging killing intent.

At the forefront of the formation, an old man in armor sat on a war chariot.

"Thud!"

Without any warning, the march suddenly came to a halt.

Then the siege weapons were quickly set up, and a giant crossbow three zhang long was drawn to its full moon with a grating sound.

On it were arrows over five zhang long and as thick as a waist.

"Buzz!"

"Whoosh!"

The bowstring hummed, and the arrows shot up into the sky, heading straight for the welcoming platform.

The old man on the war chariot leaped into the air and landed directly on the arrows.

It was as if he was riding the arrows, flying straight towards Zhao Ji.

"Protect..."

The eunuch on the welcoming platform was horrified, ready to shout for protection, but couldn't make a sound.

Zhao Ji laughed heartily, "Nangong Ling, your style is as impressive as ever. I have come to welcome you!"

With a wave of his hand, a strong wind blew out from the city.

Although the arrows were powerful, they no longer had the momentum of breaking through bamboo.

The two forces canceled each other out, and the arrows stopped just in front of the welcoming platform.

Zhao Ji laughed, "Nangong Ling, please!"

Nangong Ling remained calm, "Zhao Ji, you have such profound cultivation at such a young age. You are truly the most outstanding among the previous kings of Li. I didn't control my strength well this time. If it were the previous kings, they might not have been able to stop it!"

"Damn it!"

"This old man is so pretentious!"

Ying Wuji cursed. Although he was praising Zhao Ji, his words were full of arrogance.

The previous kings couldn't stop you, why are you so good at pretending?

Zhao Ji was not angry, "It was indeed dangerous! Fortunately, it was you, Nangong Ling, who came. If it were the seniors of the Nangong family, our Kingdom of Li would probably become a laughingstock today!"

Nangong Ling's face darkened. Was he implying that our Nangong family is inferior to the previous generations?

He didn't say anything because arguing back and forth would make him lose his dignity.

He turned and glanced at the infantry formation, clenched his right hand, and softly uttered a word.

"Retreat!"

With a command, the infantry formation dispersed silently, and the thousands of soldiers turned into yellow beans and flew into the pouch at his waist.

The place where the formation had been was empty, as if it had never existed."Beans into soldiers!"

This was the famed skill of the War Saint Nangong Ling, where one man could become an entire army. In the past, it was this move that repelled the allied forces of the Lords, securing the position of the Zhou Emperor for King Zhou.

This was also the most powerful of the three divine abilities of the Nangong family.

Rumor had it that this divine ability was jointly comprehended by Nangong Ling and a close friend from the Taoist school, hence it was included in the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques, becoming one of the few divine abilities in it.

This display of power was indeed a bit too domineering.

If Zhao Ji hadn't blocked his arrow, it might have really hurt the face of the Kingdom Li.

However, Zhao Ji remained calm, loudly saying, "The four masters have arrived. I have prepared a feast in the Siqi Palace, with fine wine and food for the four masters and the scholars of the Hundred Schools. Please, this way!"

"The feast is ready, the feast is ready!"

Ying Wuji rubbed his hands excitedly. Today's grand gathering of a king and four masters was indeed quite a spectacle.

But the upcoming feast was the main event.

After all, in the era of the Hundred Schools' contention, no school wanted to be outdone.

This feast would surely showcase many treasures, a great opportunity to feast one's eyes.

And... after the feast, Zhao Ji would discuss the matters of the Great Li Academy with some influential figures.

That was the real highlight he was interested in.

He grabbed Zhao Ning's wrist, ready to jump off the viewing platform.

But at that moment, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart, as if he was being watched by a tiger, his whole body's hair standing on end.

Zhao Ning felt the same.

They couldn't help but look up, seeing Nangong Ling's back to them, but the light reflected from his armor was like cold, murderous eyes, making people shudder.

Not only them, but all the young talents in the field, including those from the Ying, Zhao, Mi, and Xiang families, and those who inherited from Zhuan Xu, were all suffocated, looking up to find the source of the pressure.

Only Mi Xingli and Xiang Ding insisted on not looking up.

The pressure came quickly and left quickly.

It came suddenly and disappeared suddenly, as if it had never appeared.

But the cold sweat on everyone's back told a different story.

"We're in trouble!"

Mi Xingli's face turned slightly pale. Just now, she had instinctively resisted the urge to look up, not wanting Nangong Ling to notice her.

But now she felt...

Not looking up seemed to be the most unusual choice.

"Damn that Nangong Ling!"

Xiang Ding cursed, "A dignified Spirit Awakening Realm, actually so shameless to make a move on the younger generation, really shameless!"

Mi Xingli's voice was calm, but there was a hint of anger, "When soldiers come, generals will block, when water comes, soil will cover. I want to see just how arrogant this Nangong Ling is! Let's go, to the feast!"

(End of Chapter)