It is uncertain whether it is the peculiarity of the Eastern Land Star Observation School.
When Li Guanyi arrived beside Yao Guang, the agitation of the qi within him, caused by the celestial phenomena, quickly calmed down. Yao Guang's gaze fell upon the roasted steamed bun, which, as expected, was dry and hard. Dipped in honey, its texture seemed rather complex.
Yao Guang shifted her gaze away from the roasted bun and sat quietly.
She used her wide cloak to conceal the jar of honey and the milk behind her.
With her hands resting on her knees, her voice was tranquil, without a ripple:
"Your realm breakthrough occurred earlier than anticipated."
Li Guanyi pretended not to notice her small movements.
He sat cross-legged in front of the bonfire.
He shared his speculations and the few letters he had written with Yao Guang. She looked at him thoughtfully and said, "You truly possess the demeanor and accomplishments of the White Tiger Sect."
"The slaughter in the mortal realm has influenced the celestial phenomena, which are linked to your law."
"The White Tiger is immersed in a dream of slaughter, affecting the changes in your aura."
"It does not matter. Please close your eyes. I will stay by your side until your aura calms down." Yao Guang rose and sat beside Li Guanyi, her hands clasped together, her qi long and flowing, as strands of starlight began to rise around her.
Li Guanyi closed his eyes and sat cross-legged.
Controlling the White Tiger Dharma Manifestation, the Red Dragon and the Black Tortoise dispersed, allowing the White Tiger to roar freely, its voice shaking the surroundings. The beasts in the night suddenly fell silent, and the starlight around Yao Guang fell upon the White Tiger Dharma Manifestation, soothing its restless aura.
Li Guanyi breathed quietly.
The agitation and malevolent aura of the White Tiger Dharma Manifestation calmed due to the starlight.
In his heart, the sound of a zither rose, and with the support of this melody, he gained the upper hand.
He could freely control the flow of inner qi, circulating it through the method of the Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique, gradually permeating his body, strengthening his bones, muscles, and blood vessels. Each completed circulation brought a slight enhancement to his physical strength.
The changes in the Western Regions caused the celestial phenomena to shift, while the brilliance of the stars was endless and continuous.
With the help of the Eastern Land Star Observation School, his inner qi was purified and transported by Li Guanyi, continuously refining his body. The Body Forging stage after entering the realm was the first major hurdle for martial artists at this level. Ordinary martial artists would only use stone locks and heavy objects to temper their bodies, combined with medicinal herbs for refinement.
The scions of noble families would use secret techniques along with unique spiritual herbs.
Only those who obtained the highest opportunities could utilize the spiritual materials of heaven and earth.
Even such opportunities would only be used at the critical moment of breakthrough, never continuously as Li Guanyi did, where even the most basic body tempering was assisted by the starlight from above.
Such a method, even the scions of great families would sigh in envy at its extravagance.
Under the refinement of the starlight, Li Guanyi's body tempering progress rapidly increased.
The inner qi circulated around him, continuously refining his meridians in a special manner, until his body could withstand the current realm's inner qi explosion, at which point it finally calmed down. This represented the completion of the Body Forging stage, while the starlight continued to flow, beginning to propel the progress of the Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique.
The White Tiger roared, standing tall, facing the stars above, inhaling and exhaling.
Starlight transformed into silver light and fell into its throat.
The fur on the White Tiger flared out, each strand shining as if made of starlight.
The Red Dragon, Black Tortoise, and the Bronze Cauldron were unceremonious.
They assisted the White Tiger in devouring the starlight from the heavens.
The secret technique of the Xue family, known for its unparalleled explosive power, the Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique, began to advance at an exaggerated speed. The vast starlight enveloped Li Guanyi, the youth inhaling and exhaling, his consciousness growing increasingly tranquil, as if merging with the Seven Stars of the White Tiger.
It felt as if he had transformed into a fetus; although he was tempering his body, his breathing became softer.
Externally strong, internally gentle, his physique like a diamond, his breath like that of an infant.
The path of yin and yang.
Gradually, even his consciousness sank into a dream.
It was as if he had become the Seven Stars of the White Tiger.
Following the heavenly mandate, walking the path of conquest and slaughter to pacify the chaotic world.
Li Guanyi continuously strengthened his absorption of the starlight, his consciousness transforming into a swimming fish, following the river of descending starlight, constantly swimming upstream towards its source. Until this absorption reached a certain level, Li Guanyi suddenly felt a tug.
He sensed that the starlight that had naturally fallen upon him was suddenly drawn away, heading in another direction, a direction that was not his own.
Li Guanyi instinctively 'looked' over.
The sound of swords and blades suddenly erupted!
The murderous aura of weapons surged into the sky.
The youth, immersed in starlight, suddenly felt a sharpness and chill rising, startling him awake from that mysterious state. Before he could fully detach from this state, he saw a scene.
He 'saw' the vast night, heard the sound of galloping warhorses, and 'saw' thousands of iron cavalry surrounding a figure. That figure appeared to be only in his thirties or so, with sharp brows and eyes, dressed in black armor, draped in a black cloak adorned with the White Tiger.
As the warhorses galloped, the cloak billowed, swaying slightly in the wind.
Like a White Tiger charging through the night.
In the darkness, heavy cavalry moved in unison, that person holding a heavy spear.
The rushing iron cavalry flowed like mercury, their breaths synchronized, with only the sound of hooves striking the ground, like rolling thunder sweeping across the sky, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure in the silence.
This man seemed to sense something as well.
He raised his head, his knife-like brows and starry eyes blazing with intensity.
In the sky, the Seven Stars of the White Tiger shone brightly.
It was as if a tiger's roar echoed in the air.
Li Guanyi let out a muffled grunt, as if pierced by a sharp sword, feeling a sharp pain.
Then he seemed to fall from the starlight, returning to his body.
He opened his eyes, the Bronze Cauldron humming, the aura circulating in Li Guanyi's gaze. He raised his head, looking at the starlight, as if seeing the brilliance of the stars falling to the mortal realm. The light of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger, having removed itself from him, also fell in another direction.
And this feeling was that person, also in the Western Regions?
Another existence capable of attracting the starlight of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger was truly causing trouble in the Western Regions, which was why the reaction of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger was so intense?
Li Guanyi suddenly gained clarity—
The world is vast, and heroes are everywhere.
The one attracting the light of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger is not just him.
The Yin-Yang family's Si Ming had not told Li Guanyi that his fate was not that of the White Tiger Sect, but rather that of a dark vortex devouring the starlight of the White Tiger Sect. Yet even so, he immediately understood the current situation.
After a moment of astonishment, what emerged in Li Guanyi's mind was an instinctive sense of rejection, a strong possessiveness that had nothing to do with good or evil, but stemmed from instinct.
Like a fierce tiger claiming its territory.
"The White Tiger Sect, is it not just one?"
Li Guanyi looked at the stars above.
An inexplicable premonition arose in his heart.
In the future, he would likely encounter this man.
Bathed in the light of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger, as if following the same path, possessing similar natures. If this world truly has a heavenly mandate, then they are the same kind of hero.
The world will not allow two White Tigers stirring up the storm.
As long as they rise, crossing battlefield after battlefield, they will surely meet!
And once they meet, it would likely be difficult to maintain a good relationship.
After all, just moments ago, when that man raised his head to look over, Li Guanyi distinctly felt a terrifying killing intent, as if he were being eyed like a thief.
What thief?!
The anger in that gaze was as if that man were the true White Tiger Sect.
Staring at a rival who had taken away the starlight of the White Tiger Sect.
Li Guanyi raised his hand to cover his forehead, contemplating seriously.
The strength of the opponent seemed very formidable, and he definitely could not match it now.
Yao Guang opened her eyes, her voice tranquil:
"What is wrong with you?"
Li Guanyi thought for a moment and asked, "Is the fate of the White Tiger Sect not just one?"
Yao Guang seemed not to have considered this question.
She pondered for a moment, then shook her head, her voice calm, saying:
"I do not know."
Li Guanyi smiled: "You do not know either?"
Yao Guang replied, "Mm."
"But the world is so vast, and the celestial phenomena are profound. There may be two people who share the same starlight, looking up at the same moonlight. Therefore, I think that even in the most impossible situations, such occurrences may happen in the passage of time?"
"Did you see anything just now?"
Li Guanyi recounted what he had seen, sighing, "His demeanor is quite imposing, and it seems he commands thousands of heavy cavalry, his strength surpassing mine. Do you think he might be the true White Tiger Sect?"
Li Guanyi smiled and asked, "What if you have mistaken the person?"
Yao Guang looked at the young man before her.
Li Guanyi sometimes felt that his personality was quite contradictory.
At times he was confident, believing he could accomplish great things, feeling that there were no insurmountable obstacles ahead; yet at other times, he would doubt himself, wondering if his current smooth situation was merely because there were no tigers in the mountain, allowing the monkey to claim kingship.
These two emotions, confidence and self-doubt, swirled within him without distinction. At this moment, seeing the imposing presence of that general, feeling his strength, and being enveloped in the starlight's favor, he naturally sighed.
Yao Guang looked at him, her voice tranquil:
"Do you understand the heavenly mandate?"
"Not everyone favored by the Seven Stars of the White Tiger can pacify the chaotic world."
"It can only choose the one who most aligns with the divine aura of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger, allowing him to walk into the chaotic world, encountering enemies, rivals, and friends, breaking or revealing his brilliance in the crucible of chaos, ultimately reaching his destined endpoint."
"Is there no one else more suited to the path of the White Tiger Sect besides him?"
Li Guanyi pondered, saying:
"Are you implying that it is not those favored by the Seven Stars of the White Tiger who become the White Tiger Sect and pacify the chaotic world; rather, it is those who establish such achievements that are favored by the Seven Stars of the White Tiger, becoming the White Tiger Sect?"
"It is not about being chosen to become the hero who pacifies the chaotic world."
"But because he pacifies the chaotic world, he is favored by the starlight?"
Yao Guang seemed surprised by Li Guanyi's ability to make connections.
She tilted her head, considering.
Her expression remained tranquil as she moved closer to Li Guanyi, kneeling down.
She reached out, removing her hood.
Her silver hair fell to her waist, illuminated by the bonfire's glow. The young girl's voice was calm:
"May I ask you to give me your hand? Please rest assured, it won't take long."
Li Guanyi was already familiar with the girl's habits.
He extended his hand, smiling as he asked, "Is this another secret prayer or blessing?"
"No."
"Just an answer."
The girl clasped Li Guanyi's hand with both of hers, her voice serene: "What you said is not what I meant to express. The heavenly mandate I speak of is not a forced association with legendary qualities based on the final outcome, but rather this meaning—"
She lifted her head, her expression serene and sacred, looking at the young man before her, her voice calm:
"Even if the stars in the sky do not favor just one person, even if there are more than one hero following the fate of the White Tiger, I have encountered you."
"And it is you who found me."
"There can be two drops of rain falling on the same petal; who can say this is merely coincidence?"
The silver hair at her temples fluttered slightly.
She said, "At the moment you and I met, our destinies had already begun."
"Even if there are countless heroes in the world, even if the light of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger does not favor just one person, the one that belongs to me is already before me."
"The heavenly mandate I speak of is like this."
Then she smiled slightly.
Under the moonlight, her face, which seemed too beautiful to belong to a mortal, blossomed with a smile for the first time, saying, "So, are you a little more at ease now?"
Li Guanyi opened his mouth.
"…Yao Guang, you are truly very clever."
The girl released his hand, standing up, withdrawing her jade-like palm from the young man's grasp.
With her hands placed before her, her voice tranquil:
"Has your technique been perfected?"
Li Guanyi clenched his fist; the Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique had reached minor success.
The first hurdle of entering the realm, the Body Forging that ordinary people take three years to achieve, had been accomplished. Nodding, Yao Guang adjusted her hood and pointed to the water stream ahead, saying: "In that case, please follow me to seek the greatest general of the world and the secret realm left by Yao Guang five hundred years ago."
"That is what they left behind, perhaps enough to change the world."
Li Guanyi looked at the water stream.
What General Xue had painstakingly left behind was certainly not just to cultivate an entering martial artist.
The greatest in the world, the things left behind with great effort.
After entering the realm, it required Yao Guang from the Star Observation School to be present to access the true secret realm.
What could it be?
He exhaled, saying, "Alright."
Yao Guang looked at the water, turned to Li Guanyi, thought for a moment, and extended her right hand, saying:
"I can part the water flow with starlight, allowing us to enter the secret realm together."
"Please follow me."
Li Guanyi extended his hand, and Yao Guang grasped his sleeve.
Then they walked into the secret realm's water stream together.
The water parted under the illumination of the starlight.
Heading towards the power left by the greatest in the world five hundred years ago, capable of changing the chaotic world.
Li Guanyi pondered.
What could it be?
(End of Chapter)