"Wow, it's so beautiful! It seems like a fairy tale world!"

Upon entering the Crystal Palace, the two ladies of the Yans Family were captivated by this splendid palace, just like Old Liu had been when he entered the Grand View Garden. They looked left and right, their faces full of astonishment, continuously expressing their admiration.

The two ladies of the Yans Family were stunned, not to mention True Person of Taiyi.

True Person of Taiyi was also secretly astonished, thinking to himself that on Earth, he had only read about the Crystal Palace in "Journey to the West," yet that was a story in a novel. Now, he was seeing a real Crystal Palace, which excited him immensely!

"Come, the three of you, come to my great hall," Wang Xiaoqiang led the three into his own grand hall.

Wang Xiaoqiang's grand hall was like the place where the Son of Heaven met his ministers in the empire, immensely grandiose, stately, luxurious, and extravagant, eliciting endless praise from the three guests.

True Person of Taiyi silently gave Wang Xiaoqiang a thumbs up, "Little Qiang, I really admire you. To achieve such success in just two years, sigh, yet I am still reduced to managing the Yans Family..."

A steward, to put it nicely, is a manager; to put it bluntly, just a servant, a mere servant with no social status at all.

Wang Xiaoqiang patted True Person of Taiyi on the shoulder, consoling him, "If you don't want to remain in the Yans Family, follow me from now on..."

"Really, Little Qiang?" True Person of Taiyi asked excitedly, clearly eager to follow Wang Xiaoqiang.

"Of course, there are only two of us fellow villagers here in the Immortal Realm. How could I not look after you?"

"Then, that's really great!" True Person of Taiyi, overcome with excitement, almost cried tears of joy again.

"Alright, stop being so sentimental," Wang Xiaoqiang, seeing True Person of Taiyi about to cry again, patted his shoulder.

Thereupon, Wang Xiaoqiang had a banquet prepared to entertain the three guests.

Before long, tables of delicious seafood were brought in, jugs of fine wine were served, and plates of fruits were laid out...

Wang Xiaoqiang invited the three to sit down, saying, "Come, try the delicacies of the Immortal River."

"Little Qiang, you, you're not eating these every day, are you?" True Person of Taiyi widened his eyes, gazing at the exquisite dishes and smelling the fragrant wine, he couldn't help but ask.

"Haha, yes, this is just my everyday meal," Wang Xiaoqiang smiled lightly. "By the way, shall we have some song and dance to liven things up?"

Seeing that none of the three refused, Wang Xiaoqiang clapped his hands, and immediately, beautiful women of the Merman Tribe, dressed in colorful feathered garments and rainbow-colored robes, entered gracefully, moving as if on lotus steps, singing and dancing, enhancing the enjoyment for the four.

"Tsk tsk, Little Qiang, you, you're really living like an Emperor!" True Person of Taiyi praised admiringly.

The two ladies of the Yans Family also admired him sincerely.

No matter what methods Wang Xiaoqiang used, the fact was that he had indeed become the Lord of the Immortal River, enjoying a king-like life—this was real skill!

"By the way, this Armor Snatching Tournament you mentioned, what exactly is it?" After three rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, Wang Xiaoqiang dismissed the performers and voiced his curiosity.

Ruxue took a drink and began, "The Armor Snatching Tournament is a grand event held by the Yellow Dragon Empire, occurring once every ten years. Each year, it attracts millions of cultivators because not only can cultivators showcase their skills there, but achieving a good result at the tournament also brings many benefits. For instance, those who make it into the top thirty get the best cultivation resources, Spirit Marrow. Those who rank in the top ten are conferred as marquises by the king, that is, the Immortal Emperor, and are granted territorial domains. The top three receive body armor: third place gets Spirit Copper Armor, second place gets Spirit Silver Armor, and first place gets Spirit Golden Armor..."

"So, this armor is even more valuable than being conferred a marquis and getting a territory!" Wang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but ask.

"Of course, otherwise why would it be called the Armor Snatching Tournament? The value of this armor goes without saying. Take the Spirit Copper Armor, for example; it is crafted by a great power of at least the Eighth Body of the Immortal Venerable using Immortal Law to infuse Spiritual Energy into copper made of Vajra, then using copper containing Spiritual Energy to make the armor. It is said that Spirit Copper Armor can defend against attacks from powers three levels higher. For instance, you, Wang Xiaoqiang, are currently a True Immortal Realm Fourth Stage cultivator. If you wear Spirit Copper Armor, you wouldn't fear attacks from a True Immortal Realm Seventh Stage expert. Even if you stood there and let him attack, he wouldn't be able to kill you..."

"Wow, such an incredible armor!" Wang Xiaoqiang exclaimed in amazement.

"Indeed, that's why it attracted millions of Cultivators to participate. The Spirit Copper Armor is already so formidable, not to mention the Spirit Silver Armor. The Spirit Silver Armor is crafted by an Immortal Sage, who infuses Spiritual Power into Vajra Silver using Immortal Law, and then creates the armor with the Vajra Silver rich in Spiritual Energy. Wearing the Spirit Silver Armor, one can defend against attackers six levels higher than oneself. Take you, Wang Xiaoqiang, for example, if you were to wear the Spirit Silver Armor, you wouldn't fear attacks from a Onefold Body of the Immortal Venerable..."

"I understand!" Wang Xiaoqiang said, "Then the Spirit Golden Armor must be for someone at the Immortal King Realm, using Immortal Law to infuse Spiritual Energy into Vajra Gold, and then creating a piece of armor from the Vajra Gold rich in Spiritual Energy..."

"Exactly, you're very smart." Yans Ruxue said. "The Spirit Golden Armor can defend against attacks from beings a whole major realm more powerful..."

"Uh, so you mean, if I wear the Spirit Golden Armor, I could even defend against attacks from a Fourfold Body of the Immortal Venerable!?" Wang Xiaoqiang asked excitedly.

"Yes, that's right!"

"Hehe, after hearing this, I'm also tempted to participate. By the way, can I join?" Wang Xiaoqiang asked.

"Of course, any legitimate Cultivator can participate!" Yans Ruxue said.

"Good, then I'll join you in participating in the Armor Snatching Tournament." Wang Xiaoqiang declared decisively.

"Little Qiang, though the Armor Snatching Tournament seems like a formal event on the surface, it actually has a lot of undercurrents..." Yans Ruxue warned.

"What? Does the Armor Snatching Tournament have some unwritten rules or something?"

"There are no unwritten rules, but with millions of Cultivators sharpening their heads to squeeze in, in the end, only a scarce thirty people gain benefits. It's like thousands trying to cross a single log bridge, casualties are inevitable."

Yans Ruyu interjected, "It's said that the Armor Snatching Tournament is a survival of the fittest kind of jungle warfare. At the tournament, some Cultivators go to great lengths to eliminate competitors, including brutally murdering them, but officials turn a blind eye..."

"That sounds quite thrilling. Hehe, I like such games," Wang Xiaoqiang said, stroking his chin with interest.

"Little Qiang, do you really want to participate in the Armor Snatching Tournament?" True Person of Taiyi asked incredulously. "You are now the Lord of the Immortal River, holding such an honorable position and leading such an exceptional life, why bother? The Armor Snatching Tournament is filled with bloodshed and danger, aren't you afraid?"

"If those two women aren't afraid, why should I, a big man, be scared?" Wang Xiaoqiang said nonchalantly. "Besides, I am now the Ancestor of the Immortal River, but I can't just be complacent. Born in adversity, perish in ease. If I don't strive forward, someday someone will come to replace me, or even flatten the Immortal River..."

When Wang Xiaoqiang said this, he thought of the North Sea Demon King and the Ghost King, the two powers he had currently offended. Both these demon and ghost forces were at the Immortal Venerable Level, and both had reached beyond a Fivefold Body.

At present, Wang Xiaoqiang was no match for them. To defeat them, he needed to rapidly enhance his power or gain great benefits. Thus, the Armor Snatching Tournament was an excellent opportunity for him to grow quickly and, if he won, to obtain such powerful armor to increase his defenses.

So, he decided to participate in the Armor Snatching Tournament.

"Hmm, Little Qiang, you're absolutely right. The Immortal Realm follows the law of the jungle; it's survival of the fittest. To live long and enjoy life, one must continually strive and enhance oneself. Little Qiang, I support your decision to participate in the Armor Snatching Tournament," Yans Ruxue said earnestly.

"I also agree, that way we'll have an extra companion on the road," Yans Ruyu said happily.

"Ah, actually, I want you to go too!" Taiyi said weakly to Wang Xiaoqiang. "This way we two fellows can hang out together again."

"Okay, just wait for me for a moment. I'll get ready, and then we can set off together." Wang Xiaoqiang said, then stepped out of the grand hall, summoned the Immortal River Mystic Serpent, and instructed it to take good care of the Immortal River. If a formidable enemy attacked, it should retreat into the Immortal River Maze to take refuge.

The Immortal River Mystic Serpent nodded obediently, its attitude very sincere and respectful.

Wang Xiaoqiang gathered the four women Huan Qingyi, Xi Yuerong, Xia Xueyan, and Yus Ziman together, and after giving them instructions, he handed over the map of the Immortal River Maze to Huan Qingyi.

Seeing that Wang Xiaoqiang was determined to participate in the Armor Snatching Tournament, the four women, although worried, all agreed and didn't dare to obstruct.

After delegating everything, Wang Xiaoqiang set off with True Person of Taiyi and the two Yans sisters toward the tournament. (End of episode. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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