Yao Guang looked at the boy sitting on the rock wall over there.
Li Guanyi leaped down from above. Before forging his body, he would never have jumped down from such a height. Even a martial artist with internal strength would risk injuring their muscles and bones from such a jump. However, after forging his body, with qi circulating, his physique had surpassed that of an ordinary person, and he felt no harm descending from this height.
Li Guanyi saw the steamed buns that Yao Guang was roasting.
He reached out to take one and then sat cross-legged in front of the campfire, holding a bag filled with various snacks, the same types he had seen Yao Guang eat the most before. Yao Guang blinked and calmly said, "I..."
Li Guanyi said, "The Star Observation Sect values simplicity in food and clothing, right?"
"Then consider it as me forcing you to eat."
Yao Guang held the snacks, quietly kneeling in front of the campfire, taking small bites. After finishing one, she looked at Li Guanyi and said softly, "Did you come to find me for something?"
Li Guanyi replied, "No."
"Although I have made a breakthrough and planned to seek General Xue to test my skills, I intended to come back in a few days."
"I just suddenly thought of coming here today."
"Perhaps it’s because the scenery is beautiful today, and I thought of you, so I came to find you."
Yao Guang looked at him.
Then she thought for a moment.
She felt that her incantation might have had an effect.
However, the Star Observation lineage could only glimpse a corner of destiny, and how such a destiny would be fulfilled was hard to determine. Yao Guang carefully wrapped the snacks and placed them in a black jar to prevent them from being infested by insects.
She stood up, brushed off the dust from her knees, and said softly, "You want to go to the secret realm."
"Please follow me."
Li Guanyi stepped forward and said, "You don’t have to call me 'you' every time."
"That’s too distant."
Yao Guang shook her head and said quietly:
"The Star Observation Sect of the Eastern Land has recorded some principles, among which are 'Do not disturb the mortal world,' 'Do not bring calamity to the common people,' and 'Do not profit from the incantations of the stars.' This is the title for the White Tiger Sect."
"This rule was established eight hundred years ago by that generation of the White Tiger Sect."
"And confirmed again five hundred years ago."
"Although I do not understand the reasoning behind it, since wise predecessors left it behind, there must be a reason."
Li Guanyi was puzzled: "Why?"
The silver-haired girl said, "I do not know."
"My teacher said that the Star Observation lineage must have a heart as calm as the water in a stream, so that it can reflect the starlight above. Eight hundred years ago, during the most important star observation, the heart of that generation's Yao Guang was disturbed, scattering the starlight."
"Star Observers cannot glimpse their own fate; if their hearts are chaotic, they will see wrongly."
"And the cost of Yao Guang seeing wrongly is always heavy."
Li Guanyi laughed heartily, shaking his head in disbelief: "It's just a name and title; how can it have such great power?"
Yao Guang turned to look at him and thought for a moment.
The silver-haired girl stepped forward half a step and grasped Li Guanyi's hand. Her voice softened, her gaze like the spring breeze, and she gently said:
"Brother Guanyi?"
Li Guanyi's body froze for a moment.
Then Yao Guang stepped back half a step, withdrawing her hand.
Her eyes remained tranquil like the stars, her exquisite face devoid of expression, she nodded slightly, recording it down, her voice calm and undisturbed: "Indeed, just as the words left by Yao Guang five hundred years ago."
"This form of address will be useful to the White Tiger Sect."
"Your heart was momentarily disturbed; language has power. In ancient times, people believed that a soul departing the body could be called back by its name, and all incantations must be chanted. The titles between individuals are the initial connection."
"I will adhere to the ancient agreement to prevent past tragedies from repeating."
Yao Guang opened the path forward with starlight.
Li Guanyi exhaled, feeling a bit of sweat on his forehead. He mumbled:
"Truly, she is always so quiet. This form of address startled me."
Li Guanyi stepped into the water, and Yao Guang opened the path with starlight. They entered the secret realm once more, just as before. Yao Guang went to seek the star observation techniques of the predecessors from five hundred years ago, while Li Guanyi raised his war spear to face General Xue.
General Xue provoked him.
Li Guanyi's only response was a single action.
He raised his middle finger.
General Xue smirked, lifting his war spear and smashing it down fiercely at Li Guanyi. Li Guanyi responded with a normal technique, but General Xue's experience was far too rich compared to his. Li Guanyi's war spear, created by this general, could not break through his techniques.
In the end, Li Guanyi gasped for breath and said, "What does it matter if I win against you?! That place, the treasure trove of the overlord from eight hundred years ago, I don’t care about it!"
General Xue raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't it beneficial for you to spar with me?"
Li Guanyi had no way to refute that.
To be able to spar with the world's number one general.
This was a temptation that no martial artist could refuse.
Li Guanyi said, "Is there nothing more specific?"
General Xue laughed heartily and said, "There is! If you can land a hit on me, then you can dismantle this secret realm."
Li Guanyi said, "Dismantle it?"
General Xue smiled slightly and said, "Yes, dismantle it, and then take it away."
"In your era, the world must be on the brink of chaos, or perhaps it is already in turmoil, just not fully erupted yet. This secret realm was established by Yao Guang, so as long as we permit it, and you find this generation's Yao Guang of the Eastern Land Star Observation Sect."
"She can dismantle this secret realm and then imprint it with the Jade Pivot."
"Any place, as long as the Jade Pivot is reassembled, this secret realm will reappear."
"Isn't the guidance of the world's number one general a benefit?"
Li Guanyi said, "Then this secret realm is the third key to your so-called 'Overlord's Treasure,' right? Even if another has the fate of the White Tiger Sect and takes your weapon, as long as they do not encounter Yao Guang, they should not think of obtaining the treasures of the secret realm."
General Xue smiled slightly and said, "If I say no, would you believe me?"
He stretched his body and said lightly, "Come on."
"As long as you hit me once, I will let you take this secret realm away."
Li Guanyi said, "Even if I am not from the Xue family?"
General Xue said, "Yao Guang would not recognize a villain. Even if you are not from the Xue family, I will entrust you with the opportunity and power to pacify the chaotic world. Would you owe the Xue family anything?"
"In a chaotic world, descendants without virtue possessing such power is not good for the family or the world."
Li Guanyi said, "You really like to gamble."
General Xue smiled and said, "Betting across the ages, the wager is peace for the world; that is not gambling." He raised the war spear in his hand, paused, and then suddenly slashed down. Li Guanyi exhaled a breath of foul air and surged up again, the war spear in his hand clashing continuously with General Xue's weapon.
General Xue's brows raised, holding the spear with one hand to suppress Li Guanyi, a slight smile on his lips, and said:
"This is what is called inheritance!"
Weapons clashed, and the aura surged, the roar of the White Tiger seemed to echo throughout the heavens and earth.
Li Guanyi's grip on the war spear suddenly loosened.
Then, his wrist turned slightly.
General Xue's pupils constricted, the war spear spun slightly, the crescent blade facing upwards, the condensed internal qi erupted, and then, like the eye of a storm, it tore outward, the internal qi exploding into a raging tide, violently surging upwards!
【Rolling Waves】!
In an instant, the spiraling force erupted, reaching Li Guanyi's limit to date!
General Xue's weapon was swept away.
Li Guanyi took a deep breath.
The divine power of the 【Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique】 surged again, forcefully erupting with a power not inferior to the previous move, gripping the war spear, the spear thrust forward like a long gun, the aura connecting, solid as a mountain.
Then this mountain collapsed.
Stones rolled down from above.
【Mountain Crushing】.
Boom!!!!!!
A clash of moves, with 【Rolling Waves】 breaking defenses and disarming; 【Mountain Crushing】 attacking and defeating.
The two ultimate techniques were executed simultaneously.
This was Li Guanyi's strongest stance and technique at this moment.
Yet in that instant, General Xue lightly tapped his weapon downwards, and Li Guanyi's 【Mountain Crushing】 suddenly became more ferocious, as General Xue added strength, but it lost its original accuracy, grazing past General Xue and stabbing in another direction.
General Xue leaped up gracefully, like a crane soaring into the sky.
The tail end of his war spear lightly tapped the boy's back.
Then it gently floated down behind Li Guanyi.
Li Guanyi, with a domineering horizontal strike, smashed directly into a conjured stone pillar, breaking it in half, the pillar crashing down, transforming into starlight. Li Guanyi gasped for breath, stood up, gripping the war spear, stabilizing the weapon with his arms and body, preparing to turn and sweep.
General Xue had already pointed his finger at the back of his head.
Li Guanyi's movements suddenly froze.
General Xue smiled and said, "Before the real fight, I intentionally lost once, feigning defeat, and then used my ultimate technique the second time, showing weakness to the enemy, and then instantly attacking with full force. Such cunning and fierce tactics, how have you become so sly?"
"I wonder who taught you."
Li Guanyi, feeling dejected, released his weapon and said, "Who else but you?"
General Xue laughed heartily.
He made Li Guanyi sit cross-legged there, then picked up a brush and wrote a character on Li Guanyi's forehead, proudly saying, "Today, I added another stroke."
Li Guanyi was not angry.
This second battle today was merely feigned.
When the 【Tiger's Roar Bone Forging Technique】 was refined and he could wield the power of the法相, that would be the true decisive moment. Li Guanyi sensed that the 【Rolling Waves】 and 【Mountain Crushing】 techniques, relying solely on his physical body and weapon, could not fully unleash their power.
If he could blend the power of the White Tiger's watchful spirit into 【Rolling Waves】.
If he could further incorporate the power of the Crimson Dragon Burning Mountain into 【Mountain Crushing】.
How much would the combined power of these two techniques increase?
At that time, seizing the opportunity of General Xue's carelessness would truly allow him to win a move.
Thus, to appear incapable while being strong.
Li Guanyi suddenly felt that he could slowly understand these once merely boastful pieces of knowledge and naturally apply them in his battles and confrontations. After today's defeat, Li Guanyi gained a better understanding of his own strength and left the secret realm with Yao Guang.
He looked at the secret realm, finally gazing at General Xue's triumphant smile, unable to suppress his anger.
He picked up a stone and threw it into the stream, splashing water, and said, "One day, I will definitely surpass you!"
Yao Guang remained quiet.
Li Guanyi felt a bit embarrassed and said:
"If I win, will you dismantle this secret realm?"
Yao Guang nodded.
Li Guanyi hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping, then mustered his courage and said seriously, "If this secret realm is meant for me, when you dismantle it..."
The silver-haired girl tilted her head, then understood the hidden meaning in Li Guanyi's words, her voice calm, "I will follow the agreement. No matter where you go, to the ends of the earth or in a chaotic world, I will accompany you."
"To help you recreate the secret realm."
Li Guanyi said, "The previous agreement did not include this."
Yao Guang replied, "This counts as a new agreement."
"It is not an ancient agreement, but a new one established between you and me."
For some reason, Li Guanyi's mood suddenly brightened. He extended his hand, his brows raised, and said:
"Then I will prepare all kinds of delicacies for you: lamb with chive sauce from the Northern Region, various dried fruits and snacks from the Western Region, fish delicacies from further away, and noodles from the Central Plains. The world is vast; I can guarantee you will never tire of eating!"
"Are you planning to go to such distant places?"
Yao Guang looked at Li Guanyi's outstretched finger.
This was something the children of the Central Plains liked, a promise for the future.
Still children, unaware of the ruthlessness of the world, would think that linking fingers would ensure an unbroken promise for life. Li Guanyi had played with those children before, and in his excitement, he did not notice these things. Now, making this gesture with someone who truly understood fate made him feel a bit embarrassed and want to retract it.
"You also have a childish side."
Yao Guang thought for a moment but still extended her finger to hook with the boy's.
Their fingers touched.
"But since it is your invitation, I will not refuse."
...
In the following days, among the children of martial merit, a general's son committed suicide, and several others were severely controlled. Due to the incident with Yue Qianfeng, the court suddenly began to investigate the past actions of these noble youths.
Those matters were trivial in the past, but before the grand ceremony of the Chen Kingdom, everything became much more serious, and with the involvement of Yue Qianfeng, they were thoroughly investigated.
It was heard that the court was furious.
Those noble youths were either conscripted or beaten half to death, their martial arts abolished. Even their fathers suffered greatly because of this, quite tragically. The two surviving martial merit youths returned home, where their fathers hung them up and beat them nearly to death.
Li Guanyi had not yet gone to the capital but had already gained the nickname "Li Sha Xing," the first reaction of the noble youths.
This person was like a fierce tiger, extremely difficult to provoke.
Some were eager to try, planning to tease the tiger's whiskers.
Li Guanyi, however, was baffled and unexpectedly gained several merits.
The merits provided by these noble martial youths were enough for him to write a year’s worth of performance reports.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the capital grew increasingly serious day by day.
Even the atmosphere in Guan Yi City had changed somewhat.
Among the guests at the post station, there were many faces of outsiders. The merchant associations were becoming more prosperous, and in the taverns, the sounds of Western beauties dancing to the music of the Central Plains perfectly harmonized, intoxicating scholars and young heroes alike with the gazes of the Western beauties.
In contrast, defensive measures were becoming increasingly stringent.
Martial artists from the rivers and lakes were growing in number day by day.
The whirlpool of the grand ceremony of the Chen Kingdom had finally begun to radiate its influence to the nearby Guan City.
Li Guanyi spent each day practicing breathing techniques.
He attempted to adjust and control the White Tiger and Crimson Dragon法相, aiming to maintain a balance between the two, preventing their auras from clashing against each other, which inadvertently honed his own aura, as if he were constantly in a standoff with a strong enemy.
His aura became increasingly refined.
And less than a month before the grand ceremony of the Chen Kingdom, someone rode a swift horse to the Xue family.
On the third occasion that the palace sent news to the Xue family, Li Guanyi finally saw the old man who could not hold his liquor but loved to drink at the old tavern he often visited.
Li Guanyi approached, sat beside the old man, and ordered a pot of wine and several dishes.
"Old senior, how are things?"
Si Ming glanced at him sideways and said, "What did you say you called me?"
Li Guanyi thought for a moment and said, "Old man?"
The old man burst into laughter, pointing at Li Guanyi and nodding.
He tilted his head back and took a sip of wine, speaking with great spirit, "I have not failed my mission!"
Li Guanyi, whose tense spirit had been strained due to the approaching grand ceremony, finally felt a bit relieved.
Si Ming had returned.
The 【Tiger's Roar Bone Forging Technique】, the foundation of golden skin and jade bones, dragon tendons and tiger marrow, was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)