Jiang Wen accepted the gift from the Heavenly King, a small wooden sword. Though ordinary, it filled him with nostalgia. It was a small gift he had carved for Jiang Wenji in the past, a pastime when he had nothing else to do. He hadn't expected her to keep it as a token to this day.
Thinking of this, Jiang Wen touched the jade pendant in his bosom. It was the item they planned to use. Xue said to give this to the Heavenly King, and then things would go smoothly. But she didn't explain why she didn't deliver it herself.
However, would it really work? Jiang Wen was somewhat doubtful.
At this moment, the Heavenly King on the high platform spoke again: "Since you are the champion of this Martial Arts Assembly, I will naturally reward you. Here are three magical artifacts, you may choose two."
The three magical artifacts were naturally imitations of the Tai Xuan Mirror, the Shennong Cauldron, and the Heart-Questioning Sword. But now these three treasures were of little use to him. Both the Shennong Cauldron and the Heart-Questioning Sword were magical treasures he had once refined.
Rewarding himself with his own magical treasures could also be considered a kind of fate.
However, Jiang Wen knew that now was not the time to show his uniqueness. Since it was the Heavenly King's reward, he would naturally accept it gratefully.
He looked at the magical artifacts floating in the hall and chose two of them.
"Very good," said the Heavenly King. "You are the champion of this Martial Arts Assembly, and I will also bestow an official position upon you. Where would you like to serve?"
"Reporting to the Heavenly King, are there any leisurely official positions?" Jiang Wen asked.
"A leisurely official position? You do have some good ideas." The Heavenly King suddenly chuckled, drawing the attention of everyone around. The ministers were bewildered, looking at each other, not understanding what had just happened. Why did the Heavenly King suddenly laugh?! And who made the Heavenly King laugh?!
This was truly a major event, even more important than the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony. The old ministers couldn't help but sigh inwardly: After so many years, the Heavenly King has finally smiled.
Even the Four Great Kings under the Heavenly King showed expressions of doubt. Xiu Qi raised his cup to conceal his emotions. He hadn't felt this surge of emotion in a long time.
The Heavenly King laughed, which was a momentous event for Tai Cang. Since the death of Shennong, the Heavenly King had rarely smiled. Later, during the expansion of territory, it was even rarer to see the Heavenly King smile. Now, after thousands of years, even the old ministers had forgotten when the Heavenly King had last smiled.
The impression left on the ministers was only of a cold-blooded and ruthless Heavenly King.
Everyone thought that they would never see the Heavenly King in a joyful mood again in this lifetime, but unexpectedly, the Heavenly King actually laughed now.
This joyous event was enough to be recorded in the history books of Tianyuan City.
Standing in the hall, Jiang Wen naturally did not understand the ministers' feelings. Seeing their joyful expressions, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Is something happening? Why has the atmosphere in this Shennong Hall suddenly become so lively?" Jiang Wen frowned and pondered.
"Since you want a leisurely official position, I will grant you the position of Grand Music Master, in charge of the Tianyuan City Music Bureau," said the Heavenly King, and a yellow silk fell in front of Jiang Wen. Golden words lit up on the yellow silk, which was the Heavenly King's decree granting him the official position.
"It seems that the Tai Cang Emperor has declined, and the Mandate of Heaven all belongs to Jiang Wenji…"
Only in this situation could Jiang Wenji's words and the official position granted be recognized by the Mandate of Heaven. This was what he remembered as 'bearing the mandate of heaven'.
"No wonder Jiang Wenji's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. No wonder Pure Yang Zhenren said that Jiang Wenji is in the realm of immortals. If she bears the Mandate of Heaven, coupled with the methods I taught her, she can indeed reach the height of an immortal."
Jiang Wen looked at the yellow silk in front of him and sighed slightly in his heart. He reached out and took it, then bowed to the Heavenly King in thanks.
He was in a somewhat complicated mood at the moment, not knowing whether to be happy or sad. Perhaps for Jiang Wenji, this was her wish. But for Jiang Wen, he didn't want to see Jiang Wenji bear the Mandate of Heaven.
Because those who bear the Mandate of Heaven also bear the fate of Tai Cang.
The Mandate of Heaven is not so easy to inherit.
"Bestow a seat upon the new champion," said the Heavenly King, and a maid brought over a table and chair.
Jiang Wen bowed towards the gauze curtain, then looked at it and said, "Thank you for the Heavenly King's grace, I also have something I want to offer to the Heavenly King. Please allow me to receive the Heavenly Countenance and present this item."
"Absurd! How can you approach the Heavenly King?!"
"Presumptuous!"
The ministers were all displeased and scolded upon hearing Jiang Wen's words. They were also indignant at this kind of person who took an inch and wanted a mile.
However, with just one word from the Heavenly King, the ministers were silent again.
"Permitted," said the Heavenly King.
Hearing these words, Jiang Wen lowered his head and took out the jade pendant. Holding it in both hands, he walked past the gauze curtain towards the Heavenly King.
He stepped up the steps, walked past the Four Great Kings, and came to Jiang Wenji. He presented the jade pendant, and met the Heavenly King's eyes.
She still looked the same, no different from when they first met. Time seemed to have left no traces on her, but instead added a bit of precipitation of the years. Those golden eyes were like the deep sea, frightening everyone who saw them.
The Heavenly King looked at Jiang Wen, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. She stared at him closely, her eyes flickering.
She reached out and took the jade pendant that Jiang Wen handed over, looked at it in her hand, and then raised the corners of her mouth and said softly, "I will accept your kindness. Is there anything else?"
"No."
Jiang Wen shook his head, preparing to retreat, but was stopped by the Heavenly King at this time.
"I have seen your fighting, who did you learn that talisman technique from?"
"…I learned it from an old man." Jiang Wen's heart fluttered, knowing that some of his flaws had been seen. After all, he had used talismans in the Mountain and River Realm. He had only passed this unique method to Xue and Xiu Qi in Tai Cang. According to reason, there should be no third person who knew it.
Even Jiang Wenji herself did not know the talisman technique.
"An old man?" The Heavenly King sat up straight, looking at Jiang Wen with her eyes.
She was like a true dragon, coiling on the dragon throne and overlooking Jiang Wen. This sense of oppression was like a tide surging in, submerging his whole person.
However, this kind of pressure was nothing to Jiang Wen. He had seen a true dragon, which was even more fierce than Jiang Wenji's majesty.
He calmly met the Heavenly King's eyes, and after looking at him for a moment, the other party withdrew her gaze.
"Your talisman technique is very powerful, I want to know what the name of the person who taught you is?"
"I don't know his name either, he only said his name was Nameless." Jiang Wen told the lie frankly, not afraid that the Heavenly King would expose him. After all, he was the only one in this world who knew about this. No matter how great Jiang Wenji's ability was, she could not find any clues.
After saying it with peace of mind, the Heavenly King didn't say anything else. She just put away the jade pendant and then signaled Jiang Wen to go down.
The banquet in the hall continued as before. With the addition of Jiang Wen, the champion, the originally lively hall became even more noisy.
After everything was over, Jiang Wen saw the disappointed Jiang Rong.
