Chapter 161: Granting Titles and Noble Ranks, the Black Tortoise

This eunuch also held high status, having been boosted to the Third Heaven through pills.

Though he was merely a pill-dependent shell, not much of a fighter, his basic physical condition was undeniable; he could not reach the Fourth Heaven through pills because, at the Fourth Heaven, a martial artist must condense his spirit and will into a Nascent Soul.

These eunuchs lacked such fierce and courageous spirit, making it impossible for them to cross this threshold.

Yet his five viscera had been forged, his breath long, his voice booming—when he spoke these words, the earlier cheers froze; all turned to look at the young martial artist, his battle robe fluttering slightly, stepping forward with his halberd held diagonally.

Li Guanyi planted his halberd into the residual pit on the arena.

Then he bowed slightly with clasped hands—the salute of a military general.

In this world where heroes rise together, gentlemen are bold and valiant, martial men are magnanimous; sons of men hold gold beneath their knees and swords in their hands, their chests brimming with righteous spirit and knives in their grips—they do not revere the servile act of kneeling.

The eunuch unrolled the imperial decree, glanced at the granted fief, his eyelid twitching—he realized the Emperor had not bestowed a barren land, but instead a fine territory; he then spoke slowly: "The Emperor's edict reads—"

"I, personally, govern the realm and nurture all its people."

"Having observed that Li, son of the Xue family, remains unwaveringly loyal, with outstanding merit and valor, having won the Grand Decade Duel, I now bestow upon you the title of Marquis of Kai Guo County, with an income of three hundred households, hereditary and unalterable."

"I grant you one crimson robe."

"One jade belt."

"Your fief lies in the lands east of the river, bordering the Western Regions—Qin territory."

"Li Guanyi, your honorific title—"

The eunuch drew a deep breath, sank his Qi to his dantian, and spoke solemnly, his voice steady:

"Qin!"

"You are hereby made Marquis of Kai Guo Qinwu County, wearing crimson robes and jade belt."

"Rank: Junior Fifth Rank!"

His hand paused slightly on the decree; all noticed the hereditary Marquis title of Kai Guo County, yet overlooked that this title carried a Fifth-Rank status—even if only Junior Fifth Rank, when paired with the boy's youth, it was terrifying.

Servants bearing jade trays entered in sequence, lining up before Li Guanyi; maids removed the outer layers of his battle robe, while Gold Guard soldiers advanced with armor; moments later, the boy stood clad in golden-scaled armor, draped in crimson battle robe, girded with white jade belt, sword at his side.

Ye Bu Yi, Zhou Liu's camp, and others laughed and cheered wildly.

The Emperor of Chen watched the radiant, spirited youth, his eyes filled with complex emotion; finally, he sighed, unable to suppress thoughts of his own son—if his scheme had not gone awry, if Situ Deqing had not slain his son.

The young man standing on the arena now, clad in armor, crimson robe, radiating vigor.

He should have been his child.

Such sorrow from mere sight—nothing more.

Ji Yanzhong suddenly spoke, his voice deep and resonant: "Young man, step forward." Li Guanyi's eyes flickered with subtle surprise; Yuwen Hua had regained consciousness—he used his ultimate technique to stir the Qi, forming the Bai Hu image, his face ashen; seeing Li Guanyi's rising aura, he sighed.

Yuwen Hua shook off the hands of those around him and said:

"Today, I contend with the future generals of the world."

"On the battlefield one day, who knows if we shall live or die?"

Li Guanyi stepped forward; Ji Yanzhong descended and looked at him: "I heard that when Yue Qianfeng came to court, you resisted and drew others' attention—you were struck by a Crimson Dragon Qi. Had it not been for the Seven Kings of the Turkic, you would have been killed."

"Child, extend your hand."

Ji Yanzhong spoke; Li Guanyi suppressed his internal Qi's fluctuations and extended his hand. The elder placed his fingers on his pulse: "... Indeed, the Qi of Crimson Dragon—violent, erratic..."

Ji Yanzhong's gaze turned to the Chi Xiao Sword.

The Chi Xiao Sword showed no change, as always.

This state was noticed by others; Ji Yanzhong, the broad-shouldered elder, wished to test his suspicion—if Li Guanyi truly could make the Chi Xiao Sword change, under this open light, he could directly take the boy away, safely.

If the sword did not change, it would reassure the nobles and spare the boy from death.

Precisely because of this nature, Si Wei had entrusted Ji Yanzhong with taking the sword out of Zhongzhou.

Seeing the Chi Xiao Sword unchanged, Ji Yanzhong felt a pang of regret—but also relief, for the boy was spared the danger of one day drowning in wine, a great martial artist drowned by accident.

Thus, the elder smiled faintly, thought a moment, and sighed: "Chen's Wang Yang Qi can envelop foreign true Qi, but it merely envelops—it cannot assimilate."

"Over time, or in the fiercest combat, the Crimson Dragon Qi will still turn against you."

"Long ago, I taught Yue Qianfeng his martial foundation; he betrayed me. You, however, were injured because of him."

"The karmic debt lies with me."

Ji Yanzhong looked at the Emperor of Chen, his face apologetic: "I caused Chen to lose a great general and created a traitor—this is my fault; Yue Qianfeng betrayed you. Today, old man returns to you a future great general."

Li Guanyi froze.

The Emperor of Chen said: "Marquis of Qinwu County, do not forget to thank him."

Li Guanyi bowed with clasped hands; Ji Yanzhong stroked his beard and nodded:

"Today, seeing such a heroic youth among our Central Plains, I am pleased—I shall impart to you the Crimson Dragon Qi. You may dispel this Qi; I see you already can channel its essence with your internal Qi."

"Train diligently. After reaching the Fifth Heaven, you may begin to condense your spirit into a Crimson Dragon Form. You have already grasped its essence at your current stage—so it is not impossible you one day truly manifest the Crimson Dragon Form."

All present felt envy.

The Crimson Dragon Qi originated from the Son of Heaven's martial art, Crimson Dragon Subdues the Nine Provinces—a Form-level divine art, similar in type to the first three moves of the Yuwen Clan's Bai Hu Seven Kill. Practitioners can circulate internal Qi to mimic the essence of supreme techniques, unleashing Form-like combat methods.

Though it cannot rival the Forms of Yuwen Lie's Bai Hu or Yue Qianfeng's Crimson Dragon.

Only when using secret techniques or martial arts can one manifest the essence.

Yet it remains a top-tier supreme art.

In rank, it is more precious than supreme techniques like Rolling Waves or Crushing Mountains.

And once one masters the Form essence carried within the martial art, once one's realm is sufficient, one can condense one's spirit and will into a Crimson Dragon Form—then one becomes a top-tier master, able to go anywhere under heaven.

The elder gently pressed his finger against Li Guanyi's forehead, and the characters of the Crimson Dragon Qi appeared in Li Guanyi's mind; this version of Crimson Dragon Qi was shorter and purer than the one Yue had taught him.

Yue Qianfeng had forged his own path on the original Crimson Dragon Qi foundation—unbeatable in foot combat, his cultivation deep and formidable—but this had tainted his Crimson Dragon Qi, diluting its purity. Now Li Guanyi had received the purest Crimson Dragon Qi.

Li Guanyi's heart stirred slightly; he bowed and said:

"Thank you, Elder Uncle, but I fear I cannot manifest the Crimson Dragon Form."

Ji Yanzhong paused slightly, then comforted: "With your talent, who knows what the future holds?"

The Emperor chuckled lightly: "Old Imperial Uncle, Qin Wu, the County Nan, is a descendant of General Xue Shen. General Xue Shen, known as the White Tiger General, struck terror across the land five hundred years ago, unmatched under heaven. He is of the Xue family, trained in their battle halberd and archery—he will surely walk the path of the White Tiger Phantasm."

Prince Ji Yanzhong sighed.

If one could cultivate the Crimson Dragon Phantasm, there might still be a sliver of chance to awaken the Chi Xiao Sword.

The White Tiger Phantasm has no possibility whatsoever.

The old man felt regret, yet still earnestly advised:

"The Phantasm is forged from spirit and will—its path is singular. Walking the White Tiger path, steeped in slaughter, is the way of the General—it cannot be mixed with the Crimson Dragon Qi."

"Yet, the Crimson Dragon Qi cultivation can aid you—it holds its own merits."

"You must train diligently."

Li Guanyi said: "Yes."

He turned back down, and Zhou Liu's camp erupted in joy, surging forward. The young officers of the Golden Guard lifted Li Guanyi onto their shoulders, laughing and cheering, then carried him in a circuit around the training ground, their brows alight with pride and vigor.

Zhou Liu ran over to the civil officials, ignoring his arm still wrapped like a rice dumpling.

He pressed his face close and patted it gently: "Well then? My crimson robe is back—what do you say?"

"Where's your crimson robe?"

The civil and aristocratic youths turned livid with rage.

Zhou Liu burst into loud laughter and walked off, utterly delighted. The Grand Sacrifice and martial contest were still two days away from the true ceremony. Li Guanyi and the young Golden Guard officers went to a tavern to celebrate, then returned to the Xue residence to rest briefly before heading to the Library Tower.

Li Guanyi closed his eyes and focused inward, observing himself. The Crimson Dragon Phantasm slowly glided beside him.

Flames flickered across its scales; the dragon coiled, its head resting on Li Guanyi's lap. The boy reached out and gently stroked the scales—they were faintly hot. After contact with the divine weapon's essence, the Crimson Dragon Phantasm had changed, faintly acquiring a sense of reality.

Its vertical pupils glowed with threads of golden light.

But it had not yet fully transformed.

It remained in an intermediate state, unlike the White Tiger Phantasm's directness.

Li Guanyi sensed a sword-shadow within his dantian—the lingering aura of the Chi Xiao Sword. Within it pulsed mysterious energy, as if he could perceive the voices of the people cheering.

But it was incomplete.

Not merely incomplete—it was practically shattered.

Li Guanyi knew that to obtain the complete sword-shadow, he must touch the Chi Xiao Sword—secretly. This seemed to confirm his own words: that he would go find it.

The boy grinned wryly: "That's sneaky."

"Do divine weapons' natures reflect their masters'?"

"The Mighty Tiger Roars Halberd is tyrannical, tinged with malice."

"The Chi Xiao Sword is magnanimous, yet cunning."

Li Guanyi said he'd find it—and the Chi Xiao Sword immediately shoved a legacy into him… but only half.

What about the rest?

Come find me first.

Li Guanyi couldn't help but laugh and sigh. Suddenly, he sensed an external aura. He opened his eyes, calmed his internal Qi, stepped out slowly, and leaned against a pillar, watching the gate. The trees rustled; from the flowerbed, a white embroidered shoe stepped onto the ground.

Then leaves fluttered as the girl leapt out like a young deer.

Her skirt swayed and billowed, impossibly intricate, rising and falling. Li Guanyi smiled: "Young Lady? What brings you here?"

The girl mumbled: "This is the Xue residence—technically my home!"

"Why can't I come back?"

She lifted her skirt slightly, then gave the boy's calf a light kick, just as before.

She raised her brows, her expression as composed and unreserved as ever—yet tinged with triumph:

"Well?"

Li Guanyi saw the girl's hair like a cloud, adorned with elaborate, noble ornaments; her skirt swayed, silk ribbons fluttered from her arms, her waist slender, jade pendants and rings hanging low, her hands folded before her abdomen, beaming with pride—this was the court attire of county mistresses, commandery mistresses, and princesses.

Though the Young Lady was only of county mistress rank, she had been granted the exceptional status of commandery mistress.

The attire naturally gathered splendor and solemnity.

Li Guanyi smiled, thought for a moment, then bowed:

"I pay my respects to the Commandery Mistress."

The Young Lady blinked, then coughed lightly and extended her hand:

"Hmm. County Nan Qin Wu, you may rise."

Two teenagers, speaking like officials and nobles, exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. The Young Lady flicked her sleeve lightly and grinned: "Watch this." She stepped nimbly, then began to dance.

The innocent, radiant girl, clad in solemn court robes yet dancing with lightness, created an uncanny allure that held the gaze. Her steps were swift, her movements graceful. Finally, she turned slightly, imitating Hu Xuanwu's dance—her hair flew, her skirt fluttered, jade ornaments chimed softly. She halted, breathing lightly, and asked:

"Well? What do you think?"

Li Guanyi lowered his gaze and clapped: "Young Lady, you're amazing!"

The girl sat beside Li Guanyi, proudly declaring:

"I've been thinking—this court attire forces you to take tiny steps. Too restrictive. Such beautiful clothes, if used for sword dancing or a dance, would look stunning. But I never dared mention it to Grandpa or Auntie—they'd scold me."

"After searching everywhere, only with you do I feel at ease."

"Hmph. My dance or three hundred taels of gold—which do you choose?"

Li Guanyi said: "Definitely the Young Lady's dance!"

Xue Shuangtao frowned suspiciously: "What about five hundred?"

"Young Lady!"

The girl said: "One thousand?"

Li Guanyi replied decisively: "Definitely the Young Lady!"

The Young Lady scrutinized Li Guanyi from head to toe, then asked strangely: "What about one gold bean?"

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