Li Guanyi looked at the gilded waist token, with the three characters of Jinwu Wei printed on it.
The waist token had some weight to it, feeling heavy in his hand.
This was the object that the descendants of the martial merit families longed for, something that only the offspring of noble families and officials of the fifth rank or above could qualify for, and even then, they had to go through selection. The Emperor's Imperial Guards donned resplendent heavy armor, wielding crossbows and blades, exuding an imposing presence.
These were the most attractive aspects for those ordinary noble descendants.
But for Li Guanyi, it represented only one thing.
The only two people who could enter the imperial palace and become guards in the Qilin Pavilion.
Li Guanyi had already prepared to compete with those martial merit descendants, but he did not expect that after enjoying the scenery outside with Qibi Li, he would return to find this waist token, and he seemed to have lost his usual sharpness.
The girl beside him gently kicked his calf and whispered:
"Aren't you going to thank your aunt?"
Li Guanyi came to his senses and said, "I have thanked my aunt."
Xue Guifei smiled gently and said, "As long as Guanyi likes it."
"As for those martial merit descendants, let me say something unflattering: there's no need to stoop to their level. They set traps, and we need not jump into them; just treat them like a pack of mad dogs. There will be a time to deal with them later."
"Let them try their favorite 'using power to oppress others.'"
Li Guanyi was about to speak.
Xue Guifei stopped him and said softly, "I know you study literature and martial arts, and you have received praise from Wang Tongfuzi. You have the demeanor of a gentleman, treating good people with humility; but for these people, you must let them know that compared to their family backgrounds, you are far superior."
"When this child is born, he will be the prince of the Chen Kingdom."
"And he will also call you brother."
"Royal relatives."
This statement was conclusive but also served as a warning.
Li Guanyi smiled slightly and said, "The nephew understands." Xue Guifei smiled, feeling that this child was very clever, needing no further words from her. She then had the maidservants bring out the post-meal tea and snacks, which were naturally exquisite and delicious, with a light fragrance of tea.
Although it was already late, night had fallen, and Xue Daoyong still took Li Guanyi and the others away.
In this chaotic world, the palace was heavily guarded.
Being able to enter today was already a grace bestowed by the Emperor. Nevertheless, when the time came, they had to leave quickly; otherwise, it would be a grave offense. In the carriage on the way back, Old Xue smiled and said, "Thinking about those martial merit descendants, they have been itching to have a match with you these past few days."
"This time, it might feel like hitting a fist into cotton, quite frustrating."
"I fear they won't be able to sleep all night. However, Guanyi, you must be careful; among them, there are indeed some capable individuals. Regardless, these noble descendants will occupy the remaining positions in Jinwu Wei, and the rest will likely swarm into the Imperial Guards."
"When the time comes in three days for dispatching to Jinwu Wei."
"Your new colleagues will probably give you a warm welcome."
The old man casually pointed out a subsequent issue.
At this point, it was considered an internal matter of Jinwu Wei, and the Xue family could no longer intervene.
Li Guanyi held the Jinwu Wei waist token and said, "It's fine; they are not my opponents."
"If they want to fight, I will accompany them."
The old man burst into hearty laughter.
Upon returning to the Xue family's residence in the capital, Li Guanyi went to his own courtyard and found that the fake mountain he had previously cut down with a single strike had already been restored to its original state. It must have been Old Xue's orders; the old man's thoughts were meticulous, likely to conceal Li Guanyi's cultivation level.
Inside the palace, the snacks were too sweet. Li Guanyi casually tossed a few salt-baked peanuts, specially made by Zhao Dabing, into his mouth, chewing to restore the taste, and then sat cross-legged, focusing his mind on the bronze cauldron.
The aura of the Qilin's imprint became clearer.
This was not a Dharma form.
At least, not yet.
This was a power, a power that came from the divine beast Qilin.
It was a force that could cause its aura to plummet by half in an instant. Li Guanyi raised his palm, sensing this violent aura. The martial artist's understanding of himself made him realize that even with his current physique, using this power would likely result in injury.
It could only be used once.
However, the intensity of this power was not inferior to the ultimate techniques of Yue Qianfeng or Xue Daoyong.
This was a gift from the Qilin.
A life-saving talisman.
Even in this chaotic world, a single ultimate technique from the top fifty of the Divine General Rankings in Jiangzhou City could unleash terrifying might, allowing Li Guanyi to survive a dire situation. Even if Yuwen Lie were to launch a sneak attack without regard for his reputation, this move, Qilin's Fury, would be enough to injure him without him realizing it.
What a heavy gift...
Li Guanyi thought quietly.
The weight of the gift lay not only in the strength of the power but also in the cost borne by the giver.
The Qilin had given him all its hope for survival.
Imprisoned for ten years, under the forced seal of the Four Symbols Sealing Spirit Formation, it had still accumulated such a power. This showed that the Qilin had a will sustaining it, but this will had supported it for a full ten years. Yet upon seeing Li Guanyi, it had given everything away!
It was as if it had resolved some inner conflict.
It seemed that the will that had kept it struggling for ten years had finally found satisfaction.
It had given up its hope of living to ensure Li Guanyi's safe departure.
Li Guanyi clenched his fist, remaining silent for a long time.
Perhaps those who had weathered many storms would choose to silently accept the Qilin's goodwill, then lie low and leave, living well and using this power to make a name for themselves. But if he did the same, he would no longer be a young man.
He relaxed his hand.
Resolutely deciding to meet the Qilin.
Li Guanyi contemplated deeply, picking up his brush to record the variations of the Four Symbols Sealing Spirit Formation he had noted down.
He planned to visit Master Zhu at the Daoist temple tomorrow for guidance.
His time studying the Huangji Jing Shi Shu had ultimately been too short. Even with someone like Zhu Wenyuan, the foremost expert in calculating the world, teaching him, he could not fully comprehend it. To be able to glimpse a hint of the Qilin Palace's location within the imperial palace and then come into contact with the Qilin was already an extraordinary performance, a testament to his exceptional talent.
He wrote down many variations in one breath, interspersing them with his own understanding.
While recording these variations, Li Guanyi's comprehension of this formation deepened. By the time he finished writing, the starlight in the sky had gradually dimmed. The young man tossed aside his brush, looking at the table full of formation diagrams, and leaned forward on the table.
Qilin, power.
And the matter of his parents—was there really foreign influence involved?
Li Guanyi pondered these matters for a long time before finally falling asleep. The next morning, after washing up, he had no interest in watching the martial merit descendants' Jinwu Wei selection. Instead, he rode a swift horse, buying steamed buns along the way while eating and hurrying to the Daoist temple to seek Zhu Wenyuan.
Master Zhu was reviewing documents.
Li Guanyi approached to pay his respects and recounted the various variations he had encountered the previous day.
Then he quietly sat there, gazing at the ripples in the tea cup, feeling a bit anxious that Master Zhu might notice something. Just as he was about to speak, Zhu Wenyuan looked through the scrolls, a hint of surprise appearing on his face, and then he smiled and said:
"Not bad, not bad. I didn't expect that Guanyi would have such insights into this formation."
Li Guanyi said, "You are the foremost expert in calculating the world; can you not deduce it?"
The old man smiled and said, "Divine powers cannot surpass will. What I can calculate is merely good or bad, who it benefits and who it harms. I do not have such great abilities, but the many variations you provided me, Guanyi..."
"Smart and perceptive, almost as if you have truly seen the Qilin formation."
"When I first encountered this formation, I had only thought a little more than you."
Zhu Wenyuan smiled gently.
This foremost expert in calculating the world, a Daoist priest, had a gaze that was gentle and clear. Despite being old and white-haired, his eyes still held the tranquility of a child. The Daoist priest's status was only beneath those of the two innate Daoists, yet he did not practice martial arts and even lacked the ability to fight.
He possessed the power to see through all things, yet at this moment, he simply smiled warmly.
"In the world of techniques, everything is possible."
"With great talent, Guanyi can deduce the entire formation."
"It is only natural that you can see these things."
"However..."
The old man then raised his finger, pointing at a spot on the formation diagram drawn by Li Guanyi, smiling gently and saying:
"Look here, and here; you still deduced it incorrectly. It is not twenty-six variations, but twenty-eight. If you mess around here, it will attract other variations. However, within the formation, the changes of life and death, such variations also have other solutions."
"If the formation only shows twenty-six variations, it means that there are seven nodes in the formation that have issues. If this problem is not due to the formation master lacking ability, then it is because the formation master has ulterior motives."
"This is impossible in reality."
"Right? How could there be seven nodes deliberately hidden?"
"That defies reason."
"I will explain the solution to you."
"Of course, this goes beyond the content of the Huangji Jing Shi Shu."
The old man smiled and asked:
"I wonder if Guanyi is willing to spend some time listening to this old man ramble?"
Li Guanyi recalled how the old man had sent him to Zhuque Gate with scrolls, leading to his encounter with Yuwen Lie, the rise of the White Tiger, and the Emperor allowing him to attend the family banquet in the palace. He had a vague suspicion.
So he straightened his attire, composed himself, and bowed forward, saying:
"Please accept me as your disciple."
Zhu Wenyuan's expression froze for a moment.
The old man smiled wryly, extending his hand to help the young man, who had reacted quickly after realizing the benefits, up. He gently patted the boy's head and said with a mix of laughter and tears, "You, how are you so slippery?"
"You see, even this old man couldn't calculate that!"
"Clearly, calculating isn't something that can do everything."
"Behave and learn your Qi Observation Technique; do you really want to become a Daoist like this?"
That day, the old man taught Li Guanyi about formations.
However, these variations did not exhaust the changes of the Four Symbols Sealing Spirit Formation, and this was merely the formation created by Si Wei when he was in his thirties. This man, who claimed to establish a grand formation to cover the entire Nine Provinces, was indeed an extraordinary talent.
Li Guanyi felt as if he had been solving advanced math problems for several hours.
His head felt a bit swollen, and he rubbed his brow with his hand.
Master Zhu seemed to sense his state and stopped his explanation, gently saying, "You should go. If you continue, you might not remember anything. The path of literature and martial arts requires balance; this technique is no different."
Li Guanyi had no choice but to rise and leave. The old man looked at the formation diagrams, nodding in approval.
He stood up and walked out of the room, watching the young man leave. As Li Guanyi walked further away, he turned back and waved his hand before riding off. The old man smiled and waved goodbye. A young Daoist, curious, asked, "Master, does this young layman come every day to seek you as his teacher?"
"Why don't you accept him?"
"Is he not suitable for our Daoist sect?"
The old Daoist smiled and shook his head, recalling the young man who had galloped out when he entered Guan Yi City, and the things he had deduced afterward. The old man gazed at the sky.
Looking at the Daoist sect, the mortal realm, the mundane world, and the chaos of the world.
Watching that young man ride away, sword at his side, stepping out of the Daoist sect and into the world, the sound of hooves on the bluestone echoed crisply, tick-tock, amidst the bustling world.
Zhu Wenyuan's gaze was gentle.
He did not calculate; he merely waved his sleeve and softly said:
"Cannot speak, cannot say."
"If said, it will not work."
The young Daoist's curiosity turned into regret and disappointment. The old man laughed heartily and turned to walk back into the room.
In this chaotic world, there were countless heroes.
Not just me.
Li Guanyi slowly rode back, seriously contemplating the variations of the formation along the way. Upon returning, he found a carriage waiting at the door. Curious, he saw the steward waiting for him, who led him inside. There, Li Guanyi saw a robust warrior sitting outside.
With a unique aura, they were Turkic people, always accompanied by cattle and sheep, carrying a hint of their scent. The heavy blades at their waists were weapons suited for slashing. Those valiant Turkic warriors looked at Li Guanyi, the young man wielding a heavy blade, exuding an impressive demeanor.
Yet these valiant Turkic warriors bowed their heads, their palms striking their chests in respect.
"We have seen you confront Yuwen Lie of the Ying Kingdom, a young hero with courage."
"The Breaking Army has come to pay a visit, please!"
They spoke in an unorthodox version of Central Plains dialect. As Li Guanyi entered, he saw the imposing Seventh Prince, his gaze immediately falling upon a young man in a blue robe, handsome and about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. That young man also noticed Li Guanyi.
He stood up, smiling as he approached: "Brother Li, we met during our travels a few years ago. How have you been?"
Li Guanyi was taken aback. This handsome young man had already come up to him, grasping Li Guanyi's hands tightly, shaking them vigorously with a warm smile, and in a voice only the two could hear, he whispered:
"Your disguised identity needs more solid support."
"Otherwise, it might be exposed, right? Fugitive."
Li Guanyi's pupils constricted.
The young man's words and demeanor struck like a venomous snake, hitting the mark instantly. The young man raised his brow and replied in a tone only they could hear, "What are you talking about? I don't know."
The Breaking Army smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad."
"Steadfast character."
The Seventh Prince asked curiously, "So you two are acquainted?"
The Breaking Army laughed heartily: "Yes, we met during his youthful travels. Did you forget? I mentioned a friend from the Central Plains, talented in both literature and martial arts—it's him! At that time, we even roasted meat together. His culinary skills are excellent. I asked him why someone from such a good background was out here."
"He told me that a great man aims for the world beyond!"
"I didn't expect to see an old friend again, which is why I was so excited to ask who he was. Did you forget?"
The Seventh Prince suddenly realized: "No wonder you were so eager to run forward back then."
"Now it makes sense."
"Hahaha, Your Highness, you should chat with Old Xue. I haven't seen him in a long time; we need to catch up." The Seventh Prince, seeing that the boy was only fourteen and not the formidable Central Plains hero he feared, felt at ease and said, "You may go, sir."
The Breaking Army smiled and gestured forward. Li Guanyi raised his brow, looking at Old Xue.
The old man nodded, so Li Guanyi knew he was safe and stepped out with the Breaking Army.
He had come with a purpose of testing, and after chatting with Li Guanyi for a moment, he realized the boy was wary.
The Breaking Army didn't mind, merely smiling and saying, "It's customary to bring gifts when meeting for the first time."
"Come, please!"
He led Li Guanyi to the carriage parked in the Xue family's courtyard and gestured for the young man to look at what was being pulled by the carriage. Li Guanyi casually lifted the cowhide cover, and his pupils suddenly constricted—
Inside lay a battle spear!
The dark-colored spear shimmered with a faint golden light, as if a fierce tiger was roaring in the void.
Divine Weapon—Fierce Tiger Roaring Sky Spear!
The young man smiled and softly said:
"I am the Breaking Army."
(End of Chapter)