The starlight surged, and the jade liquid transformed into qi.
The body of the White Tiger Dharma Form began to expand once again, even before Li Guanyi had broken through. Accompanied by the brilliant light that spread like water, its fur grew, claws sharpened, and starlight flowed around it, continuously roaring and howling.
Li Guanyi sat cross-legged, the air around him rippling. In the void, the sound of continuous tiger roars could be heard.
Li Guanyi could directly feel the power of the Dharma Form beginning to rise.
Unlike the previous transformation, such as when he encountered Changsun Wuchou, where the Fox Dharma Form had its vitality partially siphoned away by the White Tiger and the Scarlet Dragon, which was then merely swallowed and digested, this time was different.
This time, it was as if a river was flooding back, a force of the same origin rushing forth, not only immense but also extraordinarily pure.
There was no need to digest it; it could be used directly.
The transformation began immediately.
"The best way to elevate the Dharma Form is through a higher-level Dharma Form of the same type?"
Li Guanyi realized this.
He quickly dismissed the thought, for neither Yue Qianfeng nor Xue Daoyong had provided such a significant stimulus to elevate his Dharma Form.
Thus, there could only be one answer.
"The destiny of the White Tiger Sect..."
Li Guanyi grunted softly.
As the White Tiger Dharma Form began to ascend and change, the jade liquid within Li Guanyi's body also began to stir violently.
The jade liquid in the bronze cauldron circulated rapidly within Li Guanyi's body, causing the boy's bones and skin to take on a hint of golden jade color. The aura that belonged to the fifth divine general of the world, even if just a trace, could not be dissipated by someone of his current realm.
Under normal circumstances, this overwhelming aura would shatter his foundation.
He would spit blood and fall, ending up in a state of madness.
However, this physical foundation also came from a once-unstoppable overlord.
From a hero who had wielded a blade to pacify the Western Regions.
Golden skin and jade bones, dragon tendons and tiger marrow.
Li Guanyi withstood the impact of the qi transformed from the jade liquid.
Thus, the sound of tiger roars echoed in his ears.
This was the power of the contemporary peak White Tiger, Yu Wenlie. In three hundred years of chaos, his power was also extremely formidable, and beside Li Guanyi, the White Tiger Dharma Form roared with its head held high, its body radiating a rich flow of light, slowly expanding.
Li Guanyi seemed to see again the White Tiger Dharma Form with blood-red eyes from the Tuyuhun tribe.
The jade liquid within him transformed into qi, rolling like a torrent.
Li Guanyi exhaled, saying, "Yu Wenlie...!"
He gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain of the qi surging within him like thunder, and suddenly stood up. In the courtyard, he took a stance, launching punches and kicks, executing the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Technique. The qi flowed rapidly through his bones, continuously enhancing the strength of his body.
The White Tiger Dharma Form leaped beside him, pressing down with its claws.
Li Guanyi practiced the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Technique for a full hour. With one final punch, the qi condensed, transforming into the imposing aura of a fierce tiger, roaring incessantly. The jade liquid within Li Guanyi gradually dissipated, and he breathed slightly heavier.
The Tiger Roar Bone Forging Technique, surprisingly, pushed forward a bit even though he had already reached the initial overlord realm.
The golden jade color on his skin gradually transformed into pure white jade light.
Even though that overlord had established unparalleled merit, at the time he achieved such merit, his realm was already extremely high. He could not, like Li Guanyi, obtain a trace of the aura of the world's top divine general at the first level.
Some things can only be achieved at the beginning of cultivation.
In this state, it was as if the fifth divine general of the world, Yu Wenlie, had made a move.
He was willing to exhaust his Dharma Form's foundation and essence.
To forge and temper Li Guanyi's body.
Li Guanyi clenched his fist and suddenly struck out. The edge of his fist erupted with a sharp sound of breaking air. He spun around, his right leg sweeping out, and a stone tablet in the courtyard exploded as if struck by an iron hammer. Li Guanyi quietly sensed his own power, the tiger roars ringing in his ears.
Though it was just a trace.
Even if it could only be said to have such a tendency.
This was indeed the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Technique surpassing the initial overlord realm.
In the vast annals of history, those who practiced this technique.
He was the first.
The White Tiger Dharma Form quieted down, then transformed into starlight. Li Guanyi seemed to sense something; he slightly raised his head, looking at the White Tiger Seven Stars in the sky, feeling the starlight falling upon him, silent and vast, as he stood alone between heaven and earth.
Suddenly, he had a feeling.
It was almost instinctual.
The starlight of the White Tiger Seven Stars favored him even more.
If the starlight of the White Tiger Seven Stars was independent, that would be fine. But if there was a limit to the total amount of starlight, then as he received more favor, it meant that a portion of the starlight from the White Tiger Seven Stars had departed from Yu Wenlie.
Li Guanyi felt that Yu Wenlie must be very angry at this moment.
And regarding this speculation and result, Li Guanyi felt very pleased.
The young man raised his eyebrows and gave the palace a middle finger.
"You unreasonable old thing!"
He exhaled, his primordial spirit moving. Accompanied by a low roar, a tiger paw stepped out and landed on the ground. The fur on the chin of the White Tiger shook, and the fierce tiger on Li Guanyi's shoulder had already grown from over a meter to a height of ten feet, majestic and solemn.
Standing quietly under the starlight, it carried a sense of solemnity.
If the previous White Tiger Dharma Form was at the level of a real beast.
At this moment, the White Tiger Dharma Form had already taken on the demeanor of a divine beast.
Previously, the White Tiger Dharma Form would only undergo corresponding transformations when Li Guanyi broke through realms. When the Scarlet Dragon Dharma Form also transformed and elevated to the entry level, there had been conflicts between the White Tiger Dharma Form and the Scarlet Dragon Dharma Form.
Now, the aura and level of the White Tiger Dharma Form had reached a higher state.
Li Guanyi estimated that this transformation was originally a level he could only reach by breaking through to the second level, yet it had been achieved early due to his confrontation with the divine general Yu Wenlie.
Indeed, the great tides of the world.
Opportunities and crises coexisted.
Li Guanyi extended his hand, gently touching the massive White Tiger Dharma Form, sensing the power within.
Suddenly, he paused slightly, stepping back half a step, gripping the hilt of his sword.
He drew his sword.
As the blade was unsheathed, the White Tiger Dharma Form transformed into brilliant golden light, enveloping it.
Then, he spun and slashed out.
On the dark three-hundred-refined heavy blade, a layer of qi light appeared. As Li Guanyi swung the sword, this blade's qi light actually detached from the heavy blade, soaring like a bird, flying over a distance of ten feet, sweeping past the ornamental mountain in the courtyard before slowly dissipating.
The young man neatly sheathed the sword, and when the blade returned to its sheath, it emitted a clear ringing sound.
The top of the ornamental mountain slid to one side, and rocks tumbled down with a rumble.
Dust filled the air.
The blade light and sword qi could pierce through and kill enemies from over a yard away, which was a distance of three to four meters. With such a technique, he could kill enemies from afar, surpassing the realm of ordinary people.
This was a power only a warrior of the second realm could possess. However, Li Guanyi himself had not yet reached the state of Hunyuan; he could achieve this only because his golden skin and jade bones could bear enough power from the Dharma Form, and because the White Tiger Dharma Form had stepped into a higher level.
He extended both hands, rubbing the massive White Tiger, smiling.
"I didn't expect you to break through even earlier than I did."
The White Tiger Dharma Form let out a low roar, gently lowering its head to nuzzle the young man.
Li Guanyi noticed that the Scarlet Dragon had also appeared, but it was much smaller than the White Tiger. The Azure Luan flapped its wings, gliding above the tranquil White Tiger under the starlight. Li Guanyi smiled and raised the sword with its sheath.
His palm lightly brushed over the heavy blade. As the White Tiger's guardian, he could sense that this heavy blade had been impacted by internal qi when it was swung. On the surface, it appeared unchanged, but internally it had already sustained damage.
If such a technique were used a few more times, the heavy blade would suffer structural damage and break in half.
Only a weapon of the Jianghu could withstand the impact of blade light and sword qi.
However, Old Xue had said he would provide him with a good weapon, so the blade was not important.
It would be best to have a battle halberd.
Li Guanyi thought.
It didn't need to be of too high a level.
A weapon of the sharp grade would suffice.
Having grown accustomed to long weapons, he had already regarded swords and blades as secondary weapons. After all, in terms of power, speed, and killing range, long weapons far surpassed swords and blades. Even if the blade light and sword qi were unleashed, a sweep of his battle halberd would cover a greater distance than swords and blades.
However, most of the sharp weapons circulating in the Jianghu were swords and blades, while long weapons were controlled by the court.
It would probably be somewhat difficult.
Li Guanyi sheathed his sword again, closed his eyes to adjust his breathing, suppressing the joy in his heart. This was merely due to the White Tiger Dharma Form's early breakthrough, which had granted him such abilities. Although it was not a simultaneous breakthrough of the Four Symbols, it was still a significant boon, especially with the selection of the Golden Guard.
"The elite of the world, the Night Rider Cavalry of the Chen Kingdom, the Tiger Barbarian Cavalry of the Ying Kingdom, the Turkic Iron Pagoda, the Golden Curved Blade Light Cavalry of the Western Regions, the Great Halberd Warriors of Yue Qianfeng, and the Longxi Mo Dao Army, all can only be selected at the second level; the Golden Guard is merely a decorative pillow compared to the Night Rider Cavalry."
"Among the martial merit offspring of the Chen Kingdom, those truly capable have all gone to the Night Rider Cavalry."
"Only those with poor martial skills, who cannot endure hardship, and only wish to gild themselves will go to the Golden Guard."
"Having the realm of the second level would indeed add a lot of assurance..."
Li Guanyi thought of the recent transformation of the White Tiger Dharma Form and suddenly wanted to see Master Zhu. Among those he knew, only Master Zhu could see the Dharma Form with the naked eye, and his understanding of the Dharma Form was unmatched by others.
The changes within him, the issue of his aunt's Dharma Form, all needed to be inquired of him.
But Jiangzhou City was simply too vast, and Master Zhu played with the world. Li Guanyi momentarily did not know where to find him. He merely held his sword, gazing at the corner of his wall, his mind drifting with thoughts.
He wondered if placing a cup of wine at that corner would lure the old man out.
Of course.
That wine had to be watered down.
The young man chuckled, the pent-up frustration in his heart easing considerably as he slashed out with that one blade.
He raised his hand and tossed the sword onto the sword rack in the room, leisurely walking forward.
Behind him, the White Tiger followed.
Time to sleep!
This day was indeed a good sleep. Upon waking, he practiced martial arts and boxing, invigorating his body, then went to the Daoist temple to seek out Master Zhu, who was studying the Imperial Ultimate Classics. This volume was extremely dry, and if it weren't for studying the formation diagrams of the Qilin Palace, Li Guanyi might not have been able to digest it.
At this moment, he could only grit his teeth and study.
During the day, he memorized it by rote, and when he returned, he would take out his notes to ponder over.
Two days passed in tranquility, with the only noteworthy event being that he accompanied Old Xue to write documents and submit them to the Ministry of Personnel, intending to participate in the upcoming selection for the Golden Guard. With only ten days left until the grand ceremony, he would be participating in the selection tomorrow.
For some reason, all the martial merit offspring in the capital chose the Golden Guard this time.
The officials of the Ministry of Personnel were astonished, lamenting that it had been many years since the martial merit offspring had been so eager. Li Guanyi thought it was because the emperor wanted to use him as a whetstone. On the way back, he said to Old Xue, "Qi Jun Song's son has died, and they still plan to fight me?"
Xue Daoyong said, "This time, Guanyi, you have wronged our sage emperor."
"You told me a few days ago that you encountered Yu Wenlie at a banquet, where the emperor asked the foreign envoys to talk about the customs and culture of our Chen Kingdom. In the end, it was merely a matter of face-saving."
"To speak of the vast land and abundant resources, and the flourishing culture, maintaining a superficial harmony."
"But Yu Wenlie said that the scenery and landscapes he saw were not as good as yours."
"Hmph, that has brought you fame, but all the nations now know that there is a Li Guanyi in the Chen Kingdom. Hmph, the tall trees attract the wind; this divine general of the military wants to use the whirlpool of the grand ceremony to destroy you."
"The offspring of these military generals cannot endure it; they are all young people. Now, even those who previously had no hostility towards you cannot help but want to test your mettle."
"How insidious and vicious! Such means can be used as a strategy."
"There is no easy opponent among the divine generals of the military."
Old Xue was quite indignant.
He and Li Guanyi returned to Li Guanyi's courtyard, where the old man burst into laughter upon seeing the shattered ornamental mountain. He patted Li Guanyi on the shoulder and said, "You, I used to see you calm and composed, but it seems you still have some spirit. Targeted by Yu Wenlie, you were so angry that you had to smash a mountain to vent?"
"You are far inferior to me in this regard."
The old man was quite pleased with himself.
Then he had someone bring tea and snacks, saying, "Today, let's have some tea, and by the way, I am quite curious as to why Yu Wenlie is targeting you so much?" The old man looked at Li Guanyi and said softly, "If it were the White Tiger Dharma Form, I also have a White Tiger Dharma Form. If it were a young talent, there are many young talents in the world."
"Only those who have achieved national destruction-level merits, at just over thirty years old, can be among the top ten in the world, commanding an army of a hundred thousand, mastering military yin and yang, military formations, military strategies, and military techniques. Not to mention young talents; only those qualified can see him."
"My Xue family knows some insider information, and some already believe that Yu Wenlie, such a young and domineering divine general capable of destroying nations and cities, is like my ancestor, the Overlord of Eight Hundred Years, from the White Tiger Sect. Though fierce, he should also have the capacity to accommodate others. Even if he is a proud and fierce general, he would not kill you on the spot."
"Guanyi, why?"
Li Guanyi looked at Xue Daoyong.
He knew.
Only the old man had a clear understanding of Yu Wenlie's hostility towards him.
The old man could have enough precautions.
After finishing his tea, Li Guanyi made a decision. He stood up, drew his sword, and said:
"I'll demonstrate for you, Old Xue."
The blade sang as it was unsheathed. Li Guanyi drew the sword, and cracks appeared on the dark three-hundred-refined blade. Then, the cracks were filled with golden light, and finally, the young man slashed out, the blade light brilliant, cleaving the last part of the ornamental mountain.
The old man, holding the teacup, froze.
Li Guanyi retracted his hand, the blade shattered, and it fell below.
Xue Daoyong watched the flying blade light, his whole body stiffened, but he had already anticipated this.
The previous rapid breakthrough had prepared Xue Daoyong for Li Guanyi's advancement.
Although it exceeded his expectations at this moment, he could barely stabilize his mind and said, "You, have reached the second realm? Such a speed of breakthrough, while impressive, should not be enough to..."
Li Guanyi sat down, placing the hilt beside him.
The qi around him condensed, transforming into the White Tiger Dharma Form, the powerful aura of the White Tiger radiating outward.
The wind stirred, and in the void, it seemed as if a fierce tiger was roaring.
The young man sat at the tea table, his hair slightly raised, looking at the old man before him.
He spoke softly, but his words shattered the grand vision in Xue Daoyong's eyes.
Li Guanyi said:
"If I say."
"I am the White Tiger Sect?"
"?!"
Xue Daoyong suddenly looked up at him.
His expression froze.
PS:
Today, the editor talked to me, scratching his head. The title of this book, Killing Intent and Malevolence, is too heavy and needs to be changed. After thinking it over, since the plot has reached this point, it has been changed to "Peace Order," asking the world to die and seeking peace and tranquility for the world.
(End of this chapter)