Beside the Second Young Master of the Duke's Mansion, Changsun Wuchou's younger sister was also dressed in hunting attire. Unlike the spirited demeanor of a young girl, Changsun Wugou appeared somewhat worried at this moment, softly saying, "But, having avoided the Duke's entourage and coming here alone, is it truly safe?"
Li Zhaowen casually waved the horsewhip in his hand and replied, "What does it matter?"
"With one Second Young Master already in the carriage, that is enough. Moreover, my father likely does not wish to see me at this moment." When mentioning this, the young girl felt a bit displeased, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowing. She had brought many treasures and geomantic maps from the Tuyuhun royal tent to present to her father.
At this moment, she simply hoped that the Duke's Mansion could stand more firmly, considering her father and brothers. Clearly happy, she thought her father and brothers would also approve, yet they criticized her harshly. Her father seemed extremely displeased, and she even caught a glimpse of panic on his face, followed by a stern reprimand directed at her.
Even her elder brother openly and covertly said she was too reckless, causing trouble for the Duke's Mansion.
After several discussions ended unhappily, she simply chose to come out on her own.
Now, holding the horsewhip and pointing towards the woods ahead, it seemed as if she were waving away the clouds: "In this world, with so many factions vying for power, even a hegemonic nation like Tuyuhun can fall in an instant. When Tuyuhun was at its peak, the thirty-six tribes submitted, and both Ying Kingdom and Chen Kingdom had to interact with them on equal terms. Now, with the nation destroyed and the Qiang people rising, they become the laughingstock of the world."
"If Tuyuhun is like this, our family is merely the Duke's Mansion of Ying Kingdom."
"To guard the borders, amidst the chaos of the world, if we do not advance, we retreat. We only seek to preserve our family estate, yet in the end, we may not even be able to hold onto this estate. Why is my father so cautious?"
Changsun Wugou said, "The Duke controls the rise and fall of the family, so he must act with caution."
"Do not speak such words to outsiders."
The girl with the dragon and phoenix demeanor smiled and said, "Rest assured, I will only speak of this with you."
"This time, you and I came out alone to avoid your elder brother. I want to see for myself and make friends with Li Guanyi, so he knows who I am, and I know who he is, so that we are not influenced by worldly status, and can appreciate true heroism."
"Let’s go!"
……………………
Li Guanyi's gaze was slightly lowered. Changsun Wuchou had already returned a few days ago to receive the Duke's entourage in Jiangzhou City. Li Guanyi had a good impression of that Second Young Master.
Whoever gives such a grand gift of the royal seal.
Li Guanyi would certainly have a favorable impression.
If even better gifts were to follow.
Then Li Guanyi felt his fondness would soar.
He just did not know what he looked like—whether he was handsome or a tall, strong warrior.
Li Guanyi looked down and saw a letter written by the young lady, stating that she had wandered around Jiangzhou City many times and had found some interesting places. When he arrived in Jiangzhou City, she could take him to explore.
She mentioned that her aunt had heard of Li Guanyi's poetic talent and hoped to receive a poem from him. In the end, Li Guanyi saw Xue Shuangtao's note saying, "I heard your birthday is approaching. I cannot go out from the palace, originally intending to congratulate you, but I do not know when this letter will reach you."
"I picked a spring flower as a gift for you."
Only then did Li Guanyi understand the significance of the flower in the letter.
He looked at the petals, which were well-preserved, clearly having taken effort, and smiled slightly, saying, "Sending such an artistic gift, Miss, you might as well give me some silver; it would be more practical." Although he said this, he still carefully preserved the flower.
He took out the silver from the rhinoceros horn pouch and tossed it onto the table.
He replaced it with the flower to carry with him.
After all, it was a gift.
But, his birthday...
He had experienced so much during this time that Li Guanyi was almost forgetting. These days marked his birthday; he was already fourteen years old, having spent fourteen years in this world and eleven years in flight.
His father had died, and his mother had perished, burned in Jiangzhou, and it had already been eleven years.
Li Guanyi recalled the matters mentioned in the young lady's letter; naturally, he had to fulfill her request. Moreover, General Xue had treated him well. A poem was nothing. Although Li Guanyi was merely a martial man and not skilled in poetry, he had plenty in his mind.
Thanks to his memorization assignments.
Li Guanyi thought for a moment, picked up his brush, and wrote a poem, indicating that he had only heard of it during his travels.
He wrote the original author's name as if it were a story for the young lady.
Finally, he wrote his blessings, stating that he would soon arrive in Jiangzhou City and would seek her out. Of course, it was highly likely that the young lady would have to come find him, as he could not enter the palace. He folded the letter neatly and handed it to General Xue, asking him to send it back.
There were still three days left.
In three days, he would head to Jiangzhou City, a city over three hundred miles from Guan Yi City.
Adding the difficult and winding journey, it would take even more time.
Riding a horse would take at least a day or two.
At that time, there would be no way to travel back and forth quickly. Li Guanyi had to defeat General Xue before then.
He needed to obtain General Xue's secret realm.
Afterward, he would go to Jiangzhou Capital to seek Zhu Wenyuan for the Huangji Jingshi Book and to find the Simi to inquire about the method of cultivating his aunt's law form.
……………………
Under the water stream of Guan Yi City, within the secret realm of the Xue family.
General Xue held his weapon, looking at Li Guanyi before him, and smiled slightly, saying, "You really are persistent. You've come to seek me again so soon. It seems you've encountered some matters recently and are eager to leave Guan Yi City, so you plan to defeat me?"
Li Guanyi replied, "Who wins and who loses is still uncertain!"
General Xue shook his head, "No, you will win."
Li Guanyi was taken aback.
General Xue's lips curled slightly, saying, "Such confidence, I truly admire. In terms of thickness of skin and blind confidence, you surpass me by far."
Li Guanyi grinned.
He knew that this man would not utter a single good word.
With a flick of his wrist, he thrust his battle spear forward.
General Xue stood there, casually blocking the spear with one hand, pressing down with a reverse motion, raising an eyebrow, and said, "Not bad, more proficient than before. This time, shall we add a condition? If you can make me take the initiative to attack."
"Even if you win."
"Do not regret it."
Li Guanyi suddenly stepped forward, the weapon in his hand letting out a fierce whistle.
A power exceeding several times before erupted violently.
A martial man, even the power erupted by an ordinary person, was not their limit; it was just that the body could not withstand the theoretical limits of muscle strength, which would injure oneself. However, with Golden Skin and Jade Bone, it directly raised the body's tolerance limit, allowing a martial artist to reach the theoretical limit of reckless eruption.
General Xue's pupils constricted.
Under the suppression of realms, with his strength in the Entry Realm, he could not suppress it with one hand!
Li Guanyi grinned.
If skill could not match this general who fought across the world, he would have to change his approach.
This was the beauty of numbers!
Old fellow!
General Xue took half a step back.
Using his elbow to clamp the spear's handle, he finally stopped the terrifying power's eruption.
The relaxed expression on General Xue's face vanished. He saw the youth suddenly leap up, his body seemingly glowing with golden jade, muscles bulging in his arms, gripping the battle spear, pausing for a moment before striking down fiercely.
This eruption of power was overwhelmingly strong.
Even the spear's handle bent into an arc.
General Xue horizontally blocked his spear.
He could have used skill to counter this move, but even if he did, he would have to take it head-on. This move sacrificed much technique, purely pursuing maximum eruption. The level of this eruption made General Xue grunt involuntarily when he was in the Entry Realm.
He raised his gaze to look at the qi energy surrounding Li Guanyi's body.
He recalled the opponents he had faced before and recognized this physique.
"Golden Skin and Jade Bone, Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone?"
"What a... monster."
General Xue moved his body, redirecting Li Guanyi's spear to another direction. His technique combined agility and power, this move was as graceful as a mountain breeze, purely using technique to dissipate the inertia of his own move, transforming it into a thrusting power aimed forward.
Li Guanyi landed, exerting force throughout his body, suddenly twisting.
Completely relying on his current physique, he forcefully turned the inertia of the move.
The battle spear swept out.
When General Xue's spear thrust out, the sound of breaking air was subtle like the evening breeze.
Li Guanyi's sweeping motion, however, was fierce and intense, like a tiger's roar.
The two spears thrust out, violently crossing each other, erupting with a series of whistling sounds. General Xue's moves became increasingly intricate; even in defense, it was evident he was gradually using his true skills, while Li Guanyi compensated for the gap in technique with the power of Golden Skin and Jade Bone.
At this moment, he realized.
If it were not for this physique, General Xue's techniques could have made him fight for a year without winning. Each time, General Xue left him room to maneuver, making Li Guanyi feel that he was just a little short, just a bit more effort would allow him to catch up.
But the reality was.
Even though Li Guanyi's skills had undergone earth-shattering changes compared to the beginning.
Coupled with the enhancement of his physique.
At this moment, he was still barely even with General Xue.
The gap in technique between the two was like heaven and earth.
The relaxed smile on General Xue's face had long since disappeared without him noticing.
His eyes shone with a sharp light, giving Li Guanyi a sense of terrifying pressure.
Is this the world's number one in the Entry Realm? Even without the physique of Golden Skin and Jade Bone, relying purely on technique, one could possess such strength. Li Guanyi exhaled, the aura of the Qingluan Bird Law Form circulating, soothing his fatigue and injuries.
It was time.
Li Guanyi's law changed.
The Huangji Jingshi Book operated.
The energy within his body naturally flowed into the White Tiger Law Form.
The energy on the spear surged violently, transforming into the posture of a roaring tiger. When the energy reached its peak, Li Guanyi felt that if he could advance further, this roll would be enough to allow the tiger to leap out from the spear's edge.
But this time, it was enough.
The energy spread out, White Tiger Rolling Waves!
The force transformed into a roaring wave, surging with spiral energy.
General Xue's battle spear transformed into a two-handed grip, forcefully blocking this move.
He took half a step back.
The Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique activated, divine power surged again.
With an added force erupting, Li Guanyi stepped forward, closing the distance.
The spear, like a long gun, did not gather thrusting spiral energy but was pushed forward flatly.
The Huangji Jingshi Book switched, White Tiger transformed into Red Dragon.
The roar of the tiger had not yet faded when it transformed into the dragon's roar. The chilling rolling wave energy ignited suddenly, like a tide turning into fire, a single push, Red Dragon Crushing Mountains!
A faint smile appeared on General Xue's face.
"To be able yet to show as unable, to be strong yet to show as weak."
"This is still the first time we chatted casually, as you said."
Li Guanyi's pupils constricted, and General Xue calmly said, "As a general, one cannot be reckless; you made a mistake." At the same time, he merely leaned slightly to the side, transferring the spear from his right hand to his left, slightly raising it, the spear's edge aimed at Li Guanyi's armpit.
This was a place where the Crushing Mountain energy was difficult to cover.
He did not exert force; if Li Guanyi charged in, he would injure himself.
General Xue calmly delivered a follow-up strike, smiling slightly: "Attacking where the enemy must defend, this is also what you said."
The terror of the world's number one general lies in the fact that he does not stagnate but continues to grow.
Li Guanyi stepped forward half a step, gritted his teeth, and suddenly pulled back the energy he had just released.
The internal energy returned!
It was enough to push any Entry Realm martial artist into internal injury, causing them to go berserk.
Golden Skin and Jade Bone firmly held on, while the power of the Qingluan Bird Law Form healed the injuries in his meridians, forcing Li Guanyi to adjust his strength back. However, the Four Symbols had already naturally switched from Red Dragon, and Li Guanyi gripped the middle section of the spear, suddenly turning, smashing down in the manner of the Breaking Army Eight Cuts.
Connecting to the third move.
The Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique had already reached its limit; his peak was three consecutive eruptions.
[Heavenly Wolf Slayer!]
The cry of the Qingluan echoed clearly, reflected in General Xue's eyes.
General Xue's expression also changed.
The power of the Breaking Army Eight Cuts was insufficient to compare with the Rolling Waves, Crushing Mountains.
The Qingluan Bird did not have a matching technique, nor had it formed a Law Form, lacking energy.
But the pure power of the Qingluan Bird was already sufficient. The earlier Red Dragon Crushing Mountain energy had not yet dissipated when the Qingluan Bird flew into it. In an instant, an unexpected change occurred, exceeding Li Guanyi's judgment. The energy that was about to extinguish suddenly erupted violently, far surpassing the previous several times, a blazing firelight surged, and the Qingluan Bird flapped its wings.
Flames wrapped around its wings, with the Red Dragon coiling beside it, dragon and phoenix appearing together.
Dragon roars and phoenix cries, igniting the heavens.
General Xue sighed, "The third Law Form, to be able to combine such techniques alone... this world is truly becoming more and more strange." As the dragon and phoenix charged towards him, General Xue gripped his spear, sighed, and suddenly shook it.
[Rolling Waves]!
The flames on the dragon scales and phoenix tail vanished.
Also in the Entry Realm, the energy had extinguished the dragon and phoenix, leaving only a stretch of azure waves.
The golden flames extinguished, General Xue placed the spear on the ground. The youth before him barely steadied himself, raising the spear in his hand, its edge pointing at General Xue, breathing heavily, his gaze bright, standing tall, and said:
"...You lost."
……………………
In the palace of the Chen Kingdom.
The next day, Xue Shuangtao received Li Guanyi's letter. She breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Li Guanyi's thanks, saying he would come to find her, and then saw the poem, smiling as she quickly ran towards her aunt's residence.
Li Guanyi's recent reputation in the court was not very good. She heard the anger but also worried for him.
The young lady thought, could she gain some favor for that youth in front of her aunt?
And then have her aunt protect him.
She herself did not have such power, but she believed that with the youth's talent, her aunt would surely like his poetry.
As Xue Shuangtao hurried into the palace, she heard bursts of laughter, slowing her steps, recognizing it was the Emperor's laughter. The eunuch smiled and said, "So it is Miss Xue. The Sage and the Empress are inside, inviting you in."
Xue Shuangtao initially wanted to leave, but after thinking of that youth, she bit her lip and entered.
The Emperor was very fond of the second young lady of the Xue family, Xue Shuangtao's aunt, even during the preparations for the grand ceremony, he would secretly meet with her. At this moment, he smiled and welcomed her in, and Xue Shuangtao encouraged herself, saying, "I came to present poetry for my aunt."
The Emperor laughed, "Oh? Hahaha, Shuangtao has such talent, your uncle must hear it."
Xue Shuangtao said, "It is not my work; it is from my family..."
"Guest scholar, Li Guanyi's work."
Upon hearing this name that had been buzzing in his ears recently, the Emperor's expression remained cheerful as he patted the Xue Empress's hand, casually saying, "I have heard of this person, a young hero, but his temperament is too heavy. To think he can write poetry, let us listen."
The casual remark about his heavy temperament was already quite alarming.
Xue Shuangtao took a deep breath, gathering her courage, and softly recited.
Just the first two lines made the Emperor's nonchalance vanish.
"Clouds think of clothing, flowers think of beauty."
"Spring breeze brushes the railing, dew is rich."
(End of Chapter)