Looking through all the reign titles throughout the Great Qi's history, "Yuanfeng" was certainly among the contenders for the longest-lasting reign title.
Using a reign title for over fifty-four years, in the long history of the Great Qi, there had only been two instances.
As a vassal state, the Yang Kingdom naturally followed the Qi calendar.
Jiang Wang snapped out of his meditation, suppressing the faintly appearing Heaven and Earth Gate.
If he wanted to break through the Heaven and Earth Gate, he could begin attempting it now.
Within the Palace of Reaching the Heavens, the nine great Star River Vortexes turned silently, the Star-Entwining Spirit Snake agile and flexible, weaving back and forth among several Star River Vortexes—the Dark Candle was no longer enough for it to coil around.
In that great battle on the eve of Maple Forest City's destruction, it had devoured far too many Star River Vortexes, long exceeding its carrying capacity at that time.
It was Jiang Wang's limit, and also the Star-Entwining Spirit Snake's limit.
But after such a long period of cultivation, Jiang Wang's limit had far surpassed what it once was.
The Star-Entwining Spirit Snake's carrying capacity had also risen accordingly.
However, cultivation was never a linear progression; there was always a bottleneck period, requiring an opportunity to break through.
He needed a real battle.
A battle where he could give it his all.
A life-or-death struggle.
But he wasn't in a hurry.
The situation in Jiacheng was still unclear, and he didn't want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
The Yang Kingdom's army was forming ranks outside the city, seemingly preparing to lay siege.
Jiang Wang stood atop the city walls, gazing at the densely packed army outside, his heart relatively calm.
He had seen grander spectacles.
When Maple Forest City was destroyed, the black tide surged in, blotting out the sky and sun.
That was true despair.
The current Yang Kingdom army was merely a motley crew.
They didn't even have a decent formation.
Jiang Wang withdrew his gaze, looking back inside the city.
The streets were empty, every household's doors and windows tightly shut.
Only the occasional cry of an infant proved that living people still existed here.
Jiang Wang sighed.
This was war.
No matter who won or lost, it was always the common people who suffered.
He descended from the city walls, returning to his residence.
It was an ordinary civilian dwelling, arranged for him by Yang Kingdom officials.
Jiang Wang wasn't picky.
For him, having a roof over his head and a bed to sleep on was enough.
He sat cross-legged, continuing his cultivation.
The Heaven and Earth Gate faintly appeared, seemingly ready to open at any moment, yet also as if it might never open.
Jiang Wang wasn't in a hurry.
He knew that breaking through required an opportunity.
And that opportunity would soon arrive.
Because the Yang Kingdom's army had already begun their assault on the city.