Yao Guang looked at the outfit, which had been well hidden.
However, as the sky grew darker, the surrounding rocks dripped with water, slowly soaking the outfit. At that moment, Yao Guang loosened a pocket on her back, and the items she had been carrying fell to the ground, revealing the firewood she had gathered.
Yao Guang set up a campfire here, then thought for a moment, picked up the outfit, and propped it up by the fire to dry. Sitting beside the campfire, she took out a steamed bun, poked one end with a stick, and pressed the other end into the ground, using a stone to hold it down while it roasted.
She took out a complex astrological book that few had seen and quietly flipped through its pages.
The celestial phenomena today were splendid; in spring, the Wandering Star of the Big Dipper would point towards the east.
It was in stark contrast to the White Tiger Seven Constellations in the western sky, as if they were gazing at each other across the River of Heaven. Yao Guang glanced at the water pool, contemplating the legends from five hundred years ago, quietly waiting there.
The celestial phenomena had already foretold our encounter.
After that, all that was needed was to wait patiently.
………………
Li Guanyi emerged from the water and surveyed the cave, its colors resplendent, completely unimaginable that this water stream would lead to such a place. Was this the secret realm left behind by the General Xue and Yao Guang, capable of nurturing a foundation comparable to the pinnacle of Buddhism and Daoism?
Li Guanyi, dressed in modest clothing, looked around and noticed the rock wall not far away. After some thought, he summoned the Red Dragon Dharma into the bronze cauldron, and the White Tiger Dharma barely emerged, curiously surveying the surroundings. When the White Tiger Dharma appeared, it seemed that something in the cave had been activated.
A glimmer of light ignited beneath Li Guanyi's feet.
Then it suddenly expanded in all directions, golden ripples sweeping through the cave, and soon something changed. Li Guanyi suddenly heard a crisp sound, and a section of the rock wall slowly descended, revealing a stone rack adorned with various weapons, which had remained uncorrupted and intact after five hundred years, their cold light piercing.
Li Guanyi was pondering the meaning of the General Xue when a gust of wind suddenly blew from behind him.
Li Guanyi's pupils contracted, instinctively stepping forward, his body lunging to the ground, rolling. An object brushed past his back and struck the ground heavily. A sharp pain tore through his back, but when he reached back to touch it, there was no blood. Dust was kicked up, and a figure burst through the haze, cold light slashing down towards Li Guanyi.
"Damn!"
Li Guanyi cursed, disregarding everything else, and sprinted backward. He grabbed a knife from the rack, drawing it in a swift motion, his internal qi circulating. With a misstep, the internal qi from the "Breaking Formation Melody" surged violently, twisting his body with the knife, tearing through the air with a streak of cold light.
Breaking Army Eight Blades—Cloud Sweeping!
Using offense to counter defense, he successfully blocked the attacker.
A massive sound echoed violently in the enclosed cave.
His wrist throbbed with pain.
As the dust settled, Li Guanyi saw the attacker.
The figure was tall and imposing, with a handsome face, holding an exaggeratedly curved golden-hilted saber, adorned with gold, sporting curled whiskers, a high nose, and deep-set eyes. He wore a specially crafted hat, not resembling the appearance of the Eastern Central Plains people, his body slightly bent like a hungry wolf ready to pounce.
Most importantly, his body was semi-transparent.
Like a phantom.
Just as Li Guanyi was about to counterattack, the man's movements suddenly froze. A slender hand pressed against his face, pushing him aside, and the fierce man transformed into ashes and dust, vanishing from sight. Then, a pair of battle boots stepped in, and a clear voice rang out.
"This is the third prince of the Tie Le people, skilled with the golden saber. Although I don't know if this ethnicity still exists in your era, he is a decent opponent for me. I persuaded Yao Guang to leave his image here for the latercomers."
"Consider it a greeting."
Li Guanyi saw another semi-transparent figure stepping forward.
Dressed in armor, with both civil and military sleeves, his hair neatly tied up, wearing a smile, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, he exuded a lazy yet composed aura, his lips curling upwards as he said, "This is the gift I left for you, my junior. I wonder if you will be happy."
Happy.
Happy enough to almost be scared to death.
Li Guanyi gasped for breath, his gaze sweeping over the solidified ashes of the Tie Le third prince. He was unsure of the purpose behind the General Xue leaving this remnant image. Seeing an outfit on the table, he picked it up and put it on. The remnant of General Xue smiled slightly and said:
"You found your way here without seeking opportunities from divine weapons; that is quite impressive."
"So, I left you something."
"It is my most precious possession."
"More important than the Breaking Cloud Shocking Bow and the War Spear."
"If you want it, come and take it."
He slowly stepped forward.
Li Guanyi pondered for a moment, picked up the bow from the rack, took a pot of arrows, and followed behind the shadow. In the cave, luminous butterflies fluttered up and down, and the remnant of the general fulfilled his duty of introducing the secret realm, moving forward leisurely.
The walls were painted with five colors, depicting a long scroll of images.
After five hundred years, the figures on the scroll had slowly faded, but their spirit remained. Among the images were a compassionate monk, a Daoist drinking wine with a sword in hand, a cold-eyed domineering man, and a charming woman, along with an elderly man who had aged significantly.
The corridors on both sides resembled painted scrolls, with glowing butterflies flitting about, leaving behind golden dust.
The general walked among them, as if traversing through history.
Li Guanyi looked at the scrolls on both sides, counting the figures depicted.
One, two, three.
Ten, fifty.
And many more...
Until finally, General Xue suddenly stopped. The butterflies landed on his shoulder, and the remnant's black hair fluttered slightly. He grasped the sword hilt, turned to look at Li Guanyi, and smiled gently, saying, "Here we are. You must be eager to learn the strongest method of entering the realm."
"The so-called slight differences can lead to vast discrepancies; the gap between the weakest and the strongest may not seem great at first, but ultimately it is as different as heaven and earth."
"I have gained more since I left that legacy ten years ago."
"I want to ask you a question."
"How many times does a person live in their lifetime?"
Li Guanyi replied, "Once."
General Xue shook his head and said:
"Yes, but that is merely the thinking of an ordinary person. From the perspective of heaven and earth, a person is born twice."
"The first time is when the mother nurtures them, and the physical body sees the world, which is known as entering the world."
"The second time is when the true self emerges from the physical body, seeing the world, which is entering the realm."
"Both are earth-shattering transformations. If before the first birth, one can leave a trace of innate qi while still in the womb, the benefits to cultivation after birth will be significant; and for the second 'birth,' if one can also leave something special before entering the realm..."
"After entering the realm, the essence of heaven and earth will wash over them, providing great benefits."
General Xue extended his finger, and two golden-glowing butterflies landed on it. His expression was gentle: "The body's breathing, crying, and other instincts are nurtured in the womb and transform into instincts after birth; if similar abilities can be cultivated before the second birth, the essence of heaven and earth will refine them into instincts akin to breathing. This is the path I have glimpsed."
"The Daoist teachings of walking, sitting, and lying down are all like the innate Dao body in meditation."
"The actions of the Buddha are all reincarnations of the Buddhas."
"The principles are not much different, but unfortunately, I am merely a martial artist, just a lowly soldier in their eyes, lacking such elegance."
He smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned with these titles. He raised his finger slightly, and the butterflies flapped their wings, flying into the air, gathering into a mass that suddenly ignited with brilliant flames. The scrolls on both sides lit up, bright and vivid, and then figures began to emerge from within!
The scrolls on both sides dimmed.
Like the last ashes of a fire.
But at this moment, these ashes ignited with their final flames.
One by one, figures grasped their weapons from history, breaking through the dim years, returning to the present in an instant. Behind General Xue, a multitude of figures appeared, their imposing presence gazing at the young man before them.
Li Guanyi could not help but feel the hair on his body stand on end.
General Xue turned to the side, his right hand gripping the sword hilt, smiling as he looked at Li Guanyi, extending his finger to point at the various figures, saying:
"I will introduce you."
"This is the third-generation Living Buddha of the Western Regions."
A kind old monk's figure clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.
"This one is Daoist Sikong Xuandao, the master of the Thirty-Seven Sects, from the Murong family in Jiangnan, the lord of the Long Spear and Great Flag stronghold in the North, and the Duke of the Chen Kingdom. This is the hero Khan of the Turks, and the Supreme Elder of the Taishan Sword Sect in the Central Plains..."
He pointed out the identities of those individuals.
Naming one after another, he spoke of names that once shook the world.
Even Li Guanyi had vaguely heard such legends.
Five hundred years ago, during a time of great strife.
There were divine weapons that could shoot three hundred miles, and Daoists wielding swords to slay dragons; Living Buddhas bestowing enlightenment, reincarnating, Daoists singing long songs, carefree and unmatched, the ancestor of the Chen Kingdom who established its foundation once killed a fierce tiger with wings behind it; the hero Khan who unified the eighteen tribes of the grasslands, and the ancestors of the Murong family.
Then, that young general from the Central Plains was surrounded by the heroes of the world from five hundred years ago. He slightly spread his arms, smiling as he murmured:
"All the weapons of the world are here."
"I once fought and befriended them."
"We once shared life and death, turned against each other, and fought for this world. In the end, each of them died beneath my war spear. The head of the great Khan of the Turks once hung from my weapon, and my warhorse's hooves once trampled the heavenly palace of the Daoists."
"I once ended the chaotic era."
"However, their names and martial arts should not vanish from history."
"Defeated ones can also be heroes."
"I had Yao Guang leave the memories of my battles with them here. All the martial arts techniques in this world are contained within. Even if there are changes in the hundreds of years to come, they will not stray from their origins. She told me that if someone can wield my bow and arrows, perhaps the world will no longer be peaceful."
"Then, draw strength from my era and redefine the chaotic world."
"This is the last thing I can do for this world."
"Of course, due to the passage of time, even Yao Guang can only leave behind part of their power, but that will be enough."
"The techniques are all uniquely passed down by them. I hope you can at least defeat them all before entering the realm, forging an unmatched spirit of warfare, and then, with the essence of heaven and earth, transform these methods into something akin to instinct. This is the strongest method I can think of for establishing a foundation."
"You can refuse, you can choose the normal way, using the essence to break through the realm."
"But if you have any unwillingness in your heart and wish to gain even greater power, stay here. If what you want to do also requires strength, why not give it a try? After all, even if you fail, there will be no loss."
The once-greatest general of the world gently tapped his fist against his chest, smiling as he murmured: "Victory in a hundred battles, forging weapons with my own hands."
Then he raised his gaze.
Five hundred years ago, the heroes took a step forward, their swords drawn.
The long swords were broad, pointing forward.
As if after five hundred years, one could still glimpse that unparalleled elegance, the White Tiger Dharma roared proudly, and before the sword's edge lay a confrontation that transcended time—
"Latercomers, step forward!"
(End of Chapter)