Chapter 11: Heaven Beyond Heaven, Tower Beyond Tower

Welcome to the chaotic world!

Li Guanyi stared at the dead night courier, still breathing heavily by instinct—his body's reflex—when General Yue Qianfeng patted his back and warned: "Sit and meditate. I've used my Crimson Dragon True Force to open your acupoints and meridians, leaving behind a trace of Qi."

"But this is still external aid, not your own."

"If you don't pay attention, you'll forget it all in a few days."

"Gently gather your mind and sustain this internal circulation—that's true mastery."

Li Guanyi nodded, walked into the Mountain God's shrine, sat cross-legged with the five points toward heaven, closed his eyes, calmed his spirit, and breathed slowly, coaxing the warm current within to gather and flow; though drenched in night rain, he looked radiant, the warm Qi circulating through his meridians, pleasantly heated.

General Yue Qianfeng then rummaged through the courier's belongings, and upon seeing one item, his expression darkened slightly.

Li Guanyi closed his eyes, focused his Qi, and strengthened his bodily awareness until the circulation became instinctive.

In this state, his perception of his body gradually intensified.

Slowly, Li Guanyi sensed that when his internal Qi passed his heart, it would suddenly slow, the warm Qi faintly tinged with coldness, taking several breaths to recover—he understood: this must be the deadly poison within him.

Being able to detect the location of the poison within was already a qualitative breakthrough; Li Guanyi felt relief, yet faintly sensed the jade liquid in the bronze cauldron remained incomplete.

General Yue Qianfeng stood right before him, yet the jade liquid in the cauldron stagnated at ninety-five percent, utterly motionless.

Li Guanyi murmured to himself.

Does fulfilling the jade liquid's requirement mean more than merely being near General Yue Qianfeng and the crimson dragon?

When Li Guanyi had breathed several times and confirmed he had mastered the internal circulation,

General Yue Qianfeng took a sip from his wine flask and said casually: "You've got good insight—you learned the 'Breaking Formation Melody' in just one incense stick's time. This is a new technique from our military, known to few; it was created only twenty years ago and circulates only among our ranks."

"General Zhou Lao, the old master of Marshal Yue, created it twenty-two years ago after smashing the Turkic Iron Futu."

"The old general spent his life in warfare; when he passed through Jiangnan to pay respects to the late emperor, he heard a girl of eight or nine playing the qin—her music rang with the sound of shattering metal and stone—and from that, he conceived this art, naming it 'Melody.'"

"Those martial men you've seen—bodyguards and such—they first pound their flesh before drawing in Qi. But the 'Breaking Formation Melody' draws Qi directly into the body, then uses internal strength to pound the flesh."

"Its intent is a step higher."

"Of course, the final path still converges."

Li Guanyi pressed: "Body and Qi?"

General Yue Qianfeng replied: "Yes. Strength lets you endure blows; stable Qi lets you strike hard."

"Whether you start from outside or inside, the goal is to bring body and Qi to a threshold, then fuse them into True Qi—that's entering the realm."

"An entering-realm martial artist surpasses ordinary people in speed, strength, and physique."

"Of course, different sects favor different paths—a speed-focused entering-realm martial artist may not be physically stronger than a lower-level one who specializes in body hardening."

Li Guanyi set aside the bronze cauldron for now, focused his mind, and listened to General Yue Qianfeng's explanation.

General Yue Qianfeng suddenly asked: "But do you think an entering-realm martial artist can always defeat one still pounding the body or cultivating Qi?"

Li Guanyi thought, then said: "No."

"If he's unarmed and wearing ordinary clothes, and I hold a weapon that can pierce his vital points, I have a chance to kill him."

This was a conclusion many clever children could reach; General Yue Qianfeng smiled and asked:

"Oh? With just that short sword of yours?"

Li Guanyi thought again and answered: "Two weapons."

"Where's the other?"

The thirteen-year-old boy pointed to his frayed clothing and replied:

"An entering-realm martial artist's contempt for a child like me."

General Yue Qianfeng's smile faded slightly, surprised—he hadn't expected such words from a boy dressed worse than a commoner; a flicker of approval appeared in his eyes as he nodded:

"True. A tiger's strength isn't less than an entering-realm martial artist's, yet a few hunters working together can kill it. Even with pure strength, speed, and physique, carelessness can lead to downfall. With your short sword, if your opponent underestimates you, a surprise strike can kill even a newly entered-realm martial artist."

"Divine weapons, armor, willpower, and mindset all influence the final outcome of life and death."

General Yue Qianfeng checked Li Guanyi's Qi circulation again and, seeing he had mastered it, sighed in admiration: "Truly excellent insight."

Too bad—he'd been poisoned since childhood, his root constitution corroded and weakened by toxins.

General Yue Qianfeng's eyes held regret; from the details of the meridians, Li Guanyi had only circulated Qi three times in one incense stick—three full circuits—and yet he'd memorized the entire technique's path. His insight was extraordinary, but his circulation was painfully slow.

Slow Qi movement meant slow cultivation progress, slow recovery in battle, weak power, and inferior combat ability. After thinking it over, it was clear: the childhood poisoning had ruined his root quality.

Too bad. Too bad.

Such decisiveness. Such insight. And yet this. Fate plays cruel tricks.

General Yue Qianfeng set aside his regret and instructed: "The 'Breaking Army Sword Technique' I just passed on is common in the Central Plains army, but what I taught you is our improved version. Though less refined than the top sword arts of major sects, it's strict, concise, and efficient—no less effective."

"The names and internal energies differ greatly, but on the surface, it looks like just two basic moves any soldier knows—you can use it without fear."

"The 'Breaking Formation Melody' will take one to three months to break the first layer; each subsequent layer takes longer, totaling twelve layers. A genius may complete it in three years; someone with decent root quality may achieve it in eight. When fully cultivated, you may attempt entering the realm."

"After entering the realm, the next techniques require spiritual intent—you can't just learn them by verbal instruction."

"But even a pure entering-realm martial artist can join the elite battalions of the army."

"In regular troops, you can serve as a squad leader or higher; most wandering heroes operate at this level. You can also become a casual retainer for a noble family—enough to protect yourself and live comfortably."

General Yue Qianfeng studied Li Guanyi's root quality in his mind—even with the 'Breaking Formation Melody,' it would take him over fifteen years to complete it; by then, at twenty-seven or twenty-eight, an entering-realm martial artist would be considered a local prodigy, living well enough.

Li Guanyi heard these words and keenly sensed the hidden comfort in General Yue Qianfeng's tone—he guessed his root quality was ordinary, but he didn't care now; he was focused on the jade liquid's trace within the bronze cauldron.

Not enough. Need more time near General Yue Qianfeng—or greater intensity?

Li Guanyi didn't hesitate—he immediately bowed, hands clasped, and said: "Disciple pays homage to Master!"

General Yue Qianfeng reached out and stopped him, laughing heartily: "Boy, you're clever—but no."

"Today we've met by chance, and I find you worthy—I can teach you Wu Gong, no problem. But taking you as a disciple? No. My lineage demands overwhelming power and extreme root quality."

He openly stated why he could not accept him.

He found the boy sharp and fierce, interesting—even if his root quality was poor and unsuitable as a chief disciple—he still pulled out a small bronze seal and tossed it casually to Li Guanyi.

"But your answer was excellent. Take this."

"This is my token; infuse it with the inner strength of the Break-the-Array Melody, and I will faintly sense your location."

"If one day you master the Break-the-Array Melody, or encounter something dire, come find me with this token—it will settle the karmic bond between us. Hahaha. If you can't find me, consider it a keepsake."

Li Guanyi sensed the parting tone in General Yue Qianfeng's voice.

He knew that after today, unless he used this bronze seal token, he would never see General Yue Qianfeng again—and his bronze cauldron's activation might remain forever out of reach.

Li Guanyi looked at General Yue Qianfeng, and behind him, the crimson divine dragon.

Sensing the jade fluid in his chest's bronze cauldron had reached ninety-five percent, he suddenly had an idea, and asked deliberately: "Then, may I ask one last thing? What lies beyond the Entry Realm?"

General Yue Qianfeng fell silent. "You child, entering the Realm is like climbing a tower—step by step upward."

"Why be so ambitious?"

He paused, studying the young boy's innocent, curious gaze, knowing this boy would likely never rise beyond the first level of Entry, perhaps barely reaching the second. His own nature was bold and unbridled, and he treated those he favored exceptionally well. Seeing something likable in this youth, he softened and smiled: "Alright. If you're asking about the realm beyond the heavens, the floor above the tower..."

"I'll let you glimpse it one last time."

General Yue Qianfeng clenched his fist.

Night fell, rain poured down—but in an instant, it froze. Countless raindrops hung suspended in the air, each a bead of water, like a vast mist. Li Guanyi felt his heart freeze, a crushing sensation of weightlessness and suffocation.

The next moment, countless droplets shot upward, reversing their fall.

General Yue Qianfeng moved.

He turned, twisted his waist.

He clenched his fist.

BOOM!!! As countless raindrops instantly vaporized into mist like clouds, blazing fire erupted from between General Yue Qianfeng's fingers, roaring flames swallowing the entire mist, then forming before Li Guanyi's eyes a shrieking crimson divine dragon, which lunged forward with a punch.

The entire mountain shrine, the hillside it stood upon, and all the corpses of the pursuers.

In an instant, turned to dust!

They scattered in a swirling storm. Li Guanyi slowly raised his hand, lifted his head—and saw the sky clear, the moon now visible. The night rain had been shattered by a single punch. Only the crimson dragon remained, visible to the naked eye, coiling around General Yue Qianfeng, making him appear godlike, demonic.

General Yue Qianfeng slowly extended his hand; the crimson dragon circled above it, gliding toward Li Guanyi like a dragon about to devour.

In the end, it merely tapped once atop Li Guanyi's head, snapping the boy back to awareness.

Is this the power even a wounded elder possesses?

Li Guanyi stared at the crimson dragon's fire that had scattered the night rain, firelight reflected in his eyes. Unconsciously, he clenched his fist—so tightly he felt his heart pounding violently.

As General Yue Qianfeng's palm pressed against Li Guanyi's head, the jade fluid within Li Guanyi's bronze cauldron began rising again.

And as the crimson dragon, visible to all, vanished...

The jade fluid in his heart's bronze cauldron reached perfect fullness.

(End of Chapter)