Chapter 720 Grand Thousand Realm

Wang Ang was much more composed. He stood up after the others voiced their opposition. “Family, our second brother has indeed changed a great deal. Perhaps he hid it so well in the past that we never noticed. But one thing remains: as a member of the Wang Family, he acts with too little regard for the family’s interests. We are a single entity. If he had communicated with the family about this, it could have been a win-win situation. But now, the Wine God Clan will certainly see this as a provocation from our Wang Family. We must handle this with caution.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. It had to be said that Wang Ang was quite shrewd. His words killed several birds with one stone; while acknowledging Wang Meng’s strength, he also implied that such a person would only cause trouble.

Wang Zongzheng, however, did not immediately state his position. “How has your cultivation progressed recently?”

“My third brother and I have both advanced to the Third Layer. We fear no opponent!” Wang Ang said. Wang Hantian, meanwhile, wore a look of pure arrogance. Having been humiliated by Wang Meng, he was simmering with pent-up energy, pouring all of it into his cultivation instead of slacking off like Wang Meng.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the World’s Number One Dao Field. This is your chance to prove yourselves. To think that among the Eight Saints, there isn’t a single disciple from our Wang Family! Even in death, I would be unable to face our ancestors!”

Wang Zongzheng’s voice was stern and his expression severe.

Neither Wang Ang nor Wang Hantian had expected this sudden turn. ‘How had the topic suddenly shifted to them?’

Zhuo Meng’s expression, however, remained unchanged.

Wang Zongzheng didn’t look at the two brothers, turning instead to Zhuo Meng. “Zhuo Meng, what about you? Are you confident you can take the top spot in Artifact Refining?”

“Patriarch, when it comes to Artifact Refining, I fear no one.”

“Excellent. That’s what I wanted to hear. But this time, your opponents won’t just be from Great Zhou, but from the entire Cultivation Realm. You must be prepared. Ask for anything you need for your cultivation. You must perform at your absolute best!”

“Yes, Patriarch!” Zhuo Meng replied calmly, but a fire burned in his eyes.

‘The World’s Number One Dao Field… Zhuo Meng’s ambitions were set on the world. A title like one of the Eight Saints meant nothing to him. Competing with the world’s masters—that was true cultivation.’

“Patriarch, about Wang Meng—” Wang Hantian tried to say more, but was silenced by a sharp glare from Wang Zongzheng.

“You just focus on your own tasks!”

With that, Wang Zongzheng left, leaving a group of people staring at each other, wondering what the Patriarch was up to. The usually quiet Wang Shifeng also sensed that something was afoot.

Even for Wang Zongzheng, the events on the day Drunkard Wine opened were a shock.

After all, even he couldn’t get an audience with the Fire Emperor. The Fire Emperor’s high regard for Wang Meng alone was enough to prove that the entire Wang Family had misjudged him. From his position, Wang Zongzheng had to see the bigger picture and couldn’t be bothered with the squabbles of those beneath him.

No matter how rebellious Wang Meng was, one thing couldn’t be changed: he was a member of the Wang Family.

And Wang Zongzheng knew something others didn’t. In this world, there were few secrets among the truly top-tier powers.

Han Chuxue was actually one of the investors in the wine shop.

Wang Zongzheng could only sigh in amazement. It was the kind of thing you couldn’t believe even in a dream, yet it had happened.

Personal likes and dislikes were meaningless. For the patriarch of a family, the only thing to consider was the family’s future.

And Wang Meng had already demonstrated his strength.

At that moment, inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Xuanyuan was hosting a banquet for a guest—and there was only one.

Yanl Luoqi, one of the Eight Saints.

This level of reception was somewhat excessive, yet Yanl Luoqi acted as if it were all perfectly normal.

“I will of course report this to my master and my imperial father. I, too, am very much looking forward to such a grand occasion.”

Yanl Luoqi’s smile was always as serene as a calm sky, making it impossible to read his true thoughts.

“If we can pull this off, it will be an unprecedented grand event for the entire Heaven-Reaching Continent.”

Ji Xuanyuan said. The Emperor exuded none of the typical domineering aura of a monarch; at this moment, he was exceptionally amiable, as if just making casual conversation.

“Your Majesty can rest assured. I myself am very interested in this matter and am willing to provide funding. Of course, in the end, we will still need the approval of the Three Immortals.”

Yanl Luoqi said. Without the participation of the Three Immortals, the entire affair would be a pointless endeavor.

Ji Xuanyuan nodded. “That goes without saying.”

When it came down to it, everything still depended on the influence of the Three Immortals. They were the three great mountains looming over the entire continent, the entire plane of existence.

After finishing their official business, they moved on to other topics.

“There’s a rumor that the Wine God wants to have a Drinking Contest with the Drunkard. Has Your Majesty heard?”

Ji Xuanyuan had been so busy with the Dao Field recently that he truly hadn’t paid attention. He was taken aback by the news. “Oh? Something like that is happening?”

“If Your Majesty has the time, you should go and see it. It should be quite interesting.”

“The Drunkard… interesting. Who is behind this? To actually pique the Wine God’s interest.”

“Heh, it’s Wang Meng’s doing. The story goes that the Fire Emperor shared a jar of that Drunkard Wine with the Wine God, which then gave the Wine God the idea for a Drinking Contest. The message got a bit twisted as it was passed down by his subordinates, but the general meaning is the same.”

Upon hearing Wang Meng’s name, Ji Xuanyuan was stunned again. ‘That kid really knows how to stir things up.’

‘The engagement was purely for the sake of imperial power. It didn’t matter whether Wang Meng had any strength or not; he could have been a complete waste, as long as he didn’t cause any trouble.’

“Great Zhou is full of budding talents. We have Han Chuxue, a true prodigy, and now, unexpectedly, an unconventional genius like Wang Meng has appeared. If he were willing to participate in this Dao Field, it would surely be even more interesting.”

“Oh? You know a lot about him?”

Yanl Luoqi smiled. “I wouldn’t say I know a lot. I just have a penchant for rumors. From what I’ve heard, the man is at least an Artifact Refining Master, a Spirit-Controlling Master, and an Alchemy Grandmaster. The most formidable figure of the younger generation.”

If anyone but Yanl Luoqi had said it, Ji Xuanyuan would have burst out laughing. He had a vivid impression of the boy. An Artifact Refining Master? A Spirit-Controlling Master? An Alchemy Grandmaster?

“Is that even possible? I don’t believe I’ve heard anyone mention it.” Ji Xuanyuan was clearly not one to blindly trust anyone, especially about something like this.

Yanl Luoqi gave a slight smile. “Anything is possible. But as for whether it’s true, I’d also like to find out. How about this: make his participation a condition. In return, I’ll also persuade the Water Emperor.”

A sharp glint flashed in Ji Xuanyuan’s eyes. “Why not?”

Yanl Luoqi stood up and raised his cup. “Then allow me to wish in advance that Your Majesty’s World’s Number One Dao Field will go down in history!”

The Drinking Contest was a subtle art, and Master Wang would have to show some real skill. Crucially, he had tasted the Wine God’s own brew—the kind others revered was, in reality, quite simple.

To compete with true skill was another matter entirely.

It had been a long time since Master Wang had felt like he’d found a worthy opponent.

That was why Zuojing and Youjing had noticed their master was in a very good mood recently, and had even requested many strange and exotic materials.

The two sisters, of course, cooperated with all their might, but they couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Then, two days later, the list of judges for the Drinking Contest was released, sending a shockwave through all of Haojing.

The Fire Emperor, the Water Emperor, Ji Xuanyuan, Han Chuxue, and Yanl Luoqi.

The lineup was simply unprecedented. It included the older generation, the younger generation, and the Emperor of Great Zhou himself.

Even the people from the Wine God Clan were stunned. To be precise, they hadn’t even figured out how things had escalated to this point.

The Wine God’s original intention was simply a friendly exchange on the path of wine. Anyone who could brew such a vintage was a kindred spirit. But his subordinates misunderstood, acted rashly, and it ended up escalating into this.

But at their level, they had long since transcended worldly fame and fortune. What they needed more was a rival.

The Wine God truly wanted to compete with the person who could brew Drunkard Wine.

He eagerly awaited meeting that Brewer.

As for Yanl Luoqi, he was very curious to know who, exactly, had transformed the useless Wang Rencai into the Wang Meng of today.

He’d been in the Grand Thousand World for some time now. New rules, countless experts… they were becoming more familiar with the laws and conventions of this world.

Small Thousand God, Middle Thousand Gods, Great Thousand Gods… all roads led to the Celestial Dao, but of course, there were certainly differences between them.

Mingren had been hunted for two months by a group of cultivators from the Grand Thousand Realm, and he was now cornered.

In his battle with Wang Meng, Mingren had the chance to become a god in a single step. But as he was about to take that step, he sensed more choices. The Celestial Dao was not the only path. Yet, it was obvious that in such a situation, anyone would choose the Celestial Dao—it was the bright and open road.

But Mingren was not just anyone. He deliberately chose another path. Mingren didn’t know what this path hidden beneath the Celestial Dao was, but since it existed, he thought it might be more interesting.

And so, he arrived in the Grand Thousand Realm.

When Mingren ascended, he was already carrying the Heavenly Dao Laws on his person. No cultivator had ever chosen to postpone their ascension to carve out a different path. When he arrived in the Grand Thousand Realm, he contained the Heavenly Dao Power within him, instantly becoming a target for other cultivators to hunt.

By killing him, they could obtain his precious ascension experience.

Mingren’s days in the Grand Thousand Realm were quiet only for a short while at the very beginning. Ever since he was discovered, he hadn’t known a moment of peace.

That smile, once as pleasant as a spring breeze, was still there, but now the web of scars on his face made it all the more poignant.

The first wave of several dozen cultivators had already surrounded him. They were all wary, clearly having suffered considerable losses at Mingren’s hands before.

This man was an absolute anomaly. He hadn’t been in the Grand Thousand Realm for many years, yet his progress was terrifyingly fast. He had already taken out several hundred of the cultivators hunting him. For a cultivator from a lower plane, this was simply unbelievable.

The most frightening part was that his pursuers were growing stronger and stronger, yet they still couldn’t do anything to him.

But this time, his location had been leaked, and he had finally fallen into a trap. Of course, after so many deaths, the other cultivators were enraged. This time, they had joined forces to finish him off for good.

Mingren seemed not to see the people behind him, his gaze fixed on the distance. ‘Faced with the Celestial Dao, everyone has a choice. I made mine. I wonder what Wang Meng’s will be?’

‘There’s been no news of him yet. He probably needs more time.’

The Grand Thousand Realm was purer. All cultivators here possessed a Fate Grid, and some powerful beings could already sense the Celestial Dao. Therefore, everything here was for the sake of ascension; all other matters were meaningless.

Saint, Demon, and Evil… in this world, such distinctions were more blatant, and human desires were laid bare. Rather than calling it the highest plane of the human world, it was more like a place where humanity had returned to its primal source.

“What a wonderful world this is.” Mingren breathed in the faintly blood-tinged air, the corners of his mouth curving into a captivating arc.

He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Without a doubt, he was extremely satisfied with his choice.

There will be another chapter this afternoon!)