What is integrity?
Some would rather die than yield.
What is reputation?
Some would give their all.
In this world, there are always some who persist in things that seem utterly baffling to others.
Others don't understand, can't comprehend.
Yet it is precisely these baffling steadfastnesses that prove why we are human, why we stand between heaven and earth!
Heaven and earth condemn me, all living beings detest me.
What should I do?
Words are useless, arguments are useless.
There is a kind of man who will not suffer insult!
Lian Que, the forger of the famed weapon 'Longing'.
With this masterpiece, he had leaped to become the most dazzling genius of the Lian clan, the most attention-grabbing weapon smith.
He had only recently opened the Heaven-and-Earth Gate, was but twenty years old, and had a bright future ahead.
Today in Nanyao City, distinguished guests filled the seats, honored visitors crowded like clouds—all there for his work.
His brilliance had only just begun.
And yet he decisively struck his own palm to end his life, destroying all of this with his own hands. Just to prove his integrity and reputation!
His character was this fierce.
Within Lian Que, his body raged like a furnace, his palm a deep, glowing red.
He had clearly used his full strength, holding nothing back, bent only on death.
"You cannot do this, Que'er!" Clan Head Lian Zhuping cried out in shock and anger.
Elder Lian Luyue was also stunned silent.
In recent years, the Lian clan's prestige had been declining, urgently needing external support.
In the eyes of the Lian clan's higher-ups, the Fourteenth Prince Jiang Wuyong was an excellent partner.
First, his imperial status could help the Lian clan resolve many troubles. Second, Jiang Wuyong himself was not overly powerful, allowing the Lian clan to cooperate as equals,不至于 completely becoming a vassal.
As long as they forced Lian Que to nod in agreement, this matter would have little impact on the Lian clan.
After all, as Lian Zhuping had said, Lian Que had promised to forge a sword for Jiang Wang, but he had never specified what kind of sword.
What happened within the sword forge, how the sword was forged—how could outsiders possibly know?
It would only be Lian Que breaking his word alone, of no great consequence.
They had thought, for the sake of the family, sacrificing a bit of personal credibility was of little importance.
They had thought, for the sake of the family's reputation, even if Lian Que's temperament was fierce, he should know what the right choice was.
They had thought, Lian Que would at most throw a temporary tantrum. In the end, he would still understand what the good choice was.
They truly had not expected things to turn out this way.
They truly could not imagine that Lian Que possessed such resolve.
To drive the clan's genius weapon smith to his own death—such an infamous reputation was something they could not bear.
And after they died, they would be unable to face their ancestors.
This palm strike happened so suddenly, almost no one had anticipated it, and thus no one could react in time.
Except... Jiang Wang.
When Lian Que was speaking, he had already sensed something was wrong.
He first thought Lian Que was about to suddenly attack, to fall out with his family, and silently prepared to assist.
He had not expected it would be used at this moment.
Lian Que's palm pressed toward the crown of his own head, the red-hot palm blazing with fierce heat, but it suddenly halted for a breath.
Wood energy surged within him, pushing outward from inside, freezing him in place.
Jiang Wang's second instantaneous Dao art inscribed in the Heaven-Reaching Palace—Binding the Tiger!
In that single breath of time, Jiang Wang had already rushed before Lian Que, seizing his wrist. "Brother Lian Que, you need not do this! I believe you!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Que'er, think twice! Everything can be discussed!" Lian Zhuping also hurriedly said.
*Sizzle sizzle*
Lian Que's palm temperature was too high. Jiang Wang grabbed it in haste, without sufficient protection, and several blood blisters had already formed on his hand. But aside from raising an eyebrow, he did not loosen his grip in the slightest.
Lian Que had already resolved to die, and being suddenly stopped, he had not yet come to his senses.
Hearing the voice, he was startled, and hastily dispersed his strength.
Looking at the blisters on Jiang Wang's hand, Lian Que felt even more apologetic. "Brother Jiang, I..."
Jiang Wang cut him off. "This has nothing to do with you. I am not a muddled man."
He turned to face Jiang Wuyong. "Fourteenth Prince, I believe anyone with eyes can see who this sword truly belongs to. Lian Que's credibility is beyond question. As a member of the imperial family, will you continue your ways of crafty seizure and forceful taking?"
"Ridiculous!" Jiang Wuyong certainly could not just let it go at that. Even if he had not originally intended to escalate things, he was now riding a tiger he could not dismount.
If Chong Xuansheng stepped forward and he simply slunk away, what would others think when word got out?
He could not slap his own face to enhance Chong Xuansheng's prestige!
"All treasures under heaven belong to the virtuous! You, Jiang Wang, what virtue and ability do you have to be worthy of this famed weapon?"
Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow and retorted, "What is virtue?"
Jiang Wuyong took a step forward, his purple robes fluttering. "Might is virtue!"
The ten Heaven-Reaching Realm bearers who had come with him all leaped onto the high platform at once.
And a white-faced middle-aged man who had been silent at his side brushed his sleeve, and his aura instantly soared to the heavens—he was clearly a master of the Inner Prefecture Realm!
And though Jiang Wang's divine abilities were promising, he was still only at the Heaven-Reaching Realm.
Jiang Wuyong knew that after Lian Que had caused such a scene, the Lian clan's higher-ups could no longer openly curry favor with him. Otherwise, their own clan members' spat would be enough to drown them.
Now, all he could do was overwhelm with force.
Using might to dominate others certainly did not sound good, but it was still better than being thoroughly humiliated.
As a prince, as long as there was even the slightest hope for the imperial throne in his heart, he could be domineering, but he could not be weak, he could not lose the face of the imperial family.
And facing Jiang Wuyong's attitude.
Chong Xuansheng stood毫不犹豫 beside Jiang Wang, giving an extremely strong response.
With his movement, a short, stout old man appeared on the platform as if from thin air.
The old man carried no particular aura, only smiling as he looked at the white-faced middle-aged man. "Elder, there's no need for us to interfere in a conflict between the younger generation, is there?"
The Inner Prefecture Realm master behind Jiang Wuyong immediately folded his arms, lowered his eyes, and did not utter a single word.
Chong Xuansheng could compete with Chong Xuanzun for the position of clan head, so naturally he also had powerful supporters.
The short, stout old man who stepped forward now was more than enough to suppress the Grand Eunuch at Jiang Wuyong's side.
And at the same time, people below the stage kept ascending to the high platform, one after another.
Exactly ten in number, and all possessing the cultivation of the Heaven-Reaching Realm!
One had to know that before entering the Heavenly Secret Realm, Chong Xuansheng had been short on manpower, unable even to find a second Heaven-Reaching Realm expert whom he could entrust his life to. But after emerging victorious from the Heavenly Secret Realm, in such a short time, his forces had already taken preliminary shape.
This was not the work of a single day or night, but preparation long made, only waiting for that one risky gamble. And now, with the promise of divine abilities, he had instantly transformed into a dragon!
Chong Xuansheng was today laying his cards on the table to slap Jiang Wuyong's face. It was both to show his unreserved support for Jiang Wang and to use this powerless prince to declare his own current status. To let more people wipe their eyes and choose their side properly.
If he had sent more and stronger people to swarm forward, it would have been less frightening than the feeling he gave now.
It was precisely that no matter what card Jiang Wuyong played, he was always just one step ahead, always slapping his face, that made him unfathomable, his depths impossible to gauge.
To have survived among those terrifying older brothers and sisters, and even extend his reach into the Lian clan—Jiang Wuyong was not an incompetent man.
It was just that he had misjudged Chong Xuansheng's support for Jiang Wang, and further misjudged Chong Xuansheng's strength. And he had also misjudged Lian Que's resolve to defend his credibility.
"I hear you, Jiang Wang, were also a victor in the Heavenly Secret Realm. Our Great Qi proclaims that those who dare enter the Heavenly Secret Realm are all among the strongest below the Dragon-Rising Realm." Jiang Wuyong's expression did not change, as if he were completely oblivious to the palpable tension of swords drawn and bows bent among the crowd.
It seemed he had never had any intention of swarming forward to overwhelm with force either.
But seeing him stand with his hands behind his back, he said arrogantly, "Coincidentally, this prince has not yet opened the Heaven-and-Earth Gate either. Do you dare exchange a few moves with me, to see who is more worthy of the famed weapon?"