Chapter 165: The Great Sacrifice Opens, Chi Xiao

Chi Xiao Sword?

Ye Buyi and Zhou Liuying are genuine, upright sons of respectable families; their fathers and brothers earned their merits blade by blade on the battlefield, and they themselves grew up listening to the legends of the Red Emperor, harboring a natural affection for the Red Emperor's Chi Xiao Sword.

If it were Li Guanyi, it would be like being snatched into forced labor in a past life.

No overtime pay, and it's exhausting.

But the job is close-guarding the Imperial Seal.

Then this job is worth fighting to the death for.

The envy in the eyes of the other Jinwu Guard youths was nearly tangible, their eyes reddened with envy; Ye Buyi merely bowed and replied "Yes," while Zhou Liuying strutted past his comrades like a proud rooster, chest puffed out.

Li Guanyi also bowed and replied "Yes."

But he wanted to guard some other place instead.

Yet seeing this atmosphere, he knew he could never convince anyone—and might even draw suspicion; from Chen Huang, Dantai Xianming, Pojun, Xue Lao, Zu Lao, and Wang Tong, Li Guanyi had already realized that strategists in this turbulent age were monsters.

Even a hint of suspicion could expose him.

Besides, he had no intention of taking the sword.

The Fire Qilin was different—it would rage and run out on its own.

According to Pojun's two strategies, if the Great Sacrifice passed without incident, after relocating the Fire Qilin, Li Guanyi would return to the palace; but if something happened, he would use the upheaval to fake his death, and after faking his death, there would be layers of stratagems—Pojun would handle the aftermath.

It would not affect anyone else, let alone the Xue family.

Because the blame would be perfectly shifted onto the head of the source of the "great upheaval"; Dantai Xianming would be stripped of his chancellorship, and Chen Huang would surely devour this layered stratagem whole; Li Guanyi might even earn a glorious reputation, and simultaneously earn some golden face for Xue Lao.

But the sword is different—the guardian of the sword is guilty of dereliction if the sword vanishes.

No excuse.

In this era, if the Chi Xiao Sword disappears, execution is certain!

Family extermination!

Never mind other things—even if Li Guanyi could flee, these two brothers would be beheaded on the spot; their father's noble title would be lost. Li Guanyi would never do such a thing. Moreover, Li Guanyi himself possesses Chi Dragon Qi and has comprehended its divine essence.

Under these circumstances, if the Chi Xiao Sword vanishes while under his guard.

With the minds of those strategists, no matter how Li Guanyi acted as if unrelated to the Chi Xiao Sword.

They would immediately label him the true master of the Chi Xiao Sword.

Reason?

No, no, no—in this situation, no crime or reason is needed.

Then it wouldn't just be Chen's pursuit.

If the Fire Qilin fled, even if it was ultimately exposed that Li Guanyi was behind it, it would merely mean Chen's furious pursuit; but if one held the Chi Xiao Sword, it would be like Yuan Shu carrying the Imperial Seal—no troops, no generals, yet every warlord under heaven would want to kick him.

Making an enemy of a nation, versus being hunted by all under heaven.

Li Guanyi's mind was crystal clear; he smirked, thought for a moment, then requested temporary leave. In the brief gap between armor changes and guard shifts, he rode a swift horse straight to the Xue family estate—but Xue Lao had left for the palace early that morning; his status and position were different.

Though the old man no longer held political office, the imperial family of Zhongzhou still recognized him as the current Marquis of Xue; Prince Ji Yanzhong was a benevolent elder, while Xue Daoyong was a legendary warrior who had lived over two full cycles of sixty years—older than Ji Yanzhong.

When Xue Daoyong roamed the martial world, famed for the Xue family's divine archery and unmatched battle spear, Ji Yanzhong was merely a child of three or five years old.

While Ji Yanzhong sat in the imperial palace of Zhongzhou, clutching a sword and gazing at the narrow sky above the courtyard, Xue Daoyong listened to camel bells, felt the desert winds, stared at the sacred mountain bearing his ancestors' colossal arrow marks, and laughed and drank with the chieftains of the Western Regions alone.

With one man's courage, one divine bow, and one thin horse, he reopened the trade route between the Central Plains and the Western Regions; then he slaughtered bandits, even once carrying two carts full of arrows, wandering the desert with nothing but his bow.

In three months, he alone eradicated all bandits across eight hundred li of shifting sands.

I'm here to make money, and you rob my trade route?

Then I'll turn you into my money.

Thus, furs, horses, and all manner of fruits from the Western Regions reached the Central Plains.

Prince Ji Yanzhong longed to chat with this Marquis of Xue—the only one in five hundred years inferior only to the founding Divine General—causing the old man to spend little time at the Xue estate these past days.

Li Guanyi fell silent, then brought some gifts; after thinking, he carried pastries to the Daoist temple.

Zu Lao was lighting lamps.

Inside the great hall, the statue of the Daoist Ancestor had its eyes covered.

One by one, bronze lamps ignited, making the place brighter than the sun-drenched world outside; the old man's spirit blazed like fire. He turned to look at Li Guanyi, listened to the boy's concerns, then smiled gently and said: "The Chi Xiao Sword? Don't worry."

"Your spirit can suppress it. Just reveal your own heart realm."

"Believe in yourself. Throughout history, the great ones have always been confident, even arrogant."

"By the way, I've prepared a gift for you."

"A gift? What gift?"

"Thank you, Zu Lao!"

The boy sat cross-legged, unceremoniously nodded his acceptance of the gift, then extended his hand, staring wide-eyed at the old man—causing Zu Lao to burst into laughter: "No, no!"

"This thing can't be given to you now."

"If the gift isn't given now, when will it be given?"

Li Guanyi lazily grumbled as he handed the old man buns and other snacks bought on the road; Zu Lao ate only half a bowl of porridge before setting it down, smiling warmly: "I am a Daoist Priest. Daoist Priests can divine and calculate. It will be when you need it."

"I can still help you once."

He reached out and pressed his finger to the boy's third eye.

"As for the Great Sacrifice—such a grand event, in such a chaotic age, something happening is normal; peace would be worrying. If you still harbor doubts, why not draw a fortune?"

The old man casually picked up the fortune stick cylinder beside him and shook it.

Li Guanyi drew one stick, didn't look at it, and handed it to the old man.

The elder smiled gently: "It's great fortune."

The boy pressed his hands on his knees and grinned: "If Zu Lao says great fortune, then I am blessed with great fortune!" Outside, the night watchman's drum echoed. Li Guanyi exhaled, stood, and adjusted his crimson robe: "Then, Zu Lao…"

"I'm off."

"Good."

Zu Wenyuan rose and gently saw Li Guanyi out; Li Guanyi spotted the Daoist Priest named Zhuiyue, who had opened the back door for him multiple times, and also saw the blind old man who had once read the fate charts for him and Li Zhao Wen. Finally, he mounted his horse, the steed reared up, and galloped down the street.

Zu Wenyuan withdrew his gaze; the old man stared at the divination slip.

【Great Misfortune】.

The old man smiled faintly, snapped the slip in two, and tossed it into the trash basket.

He took out another slip and placed it on the table.

【Great Fortune】.

Li Guanyi returned to the location of the Gold Guard, donned again the splendid and imposing battle armor—luxurious yet, to some extent, balanced in practicality and grandeur—then draped over it a crimson battle robe, strapped a sword to one side, and gripped Han Shuang Ji in his hand.

They arrived at the guarded site: a palace of the strictest security.

The outermost layer was the Imperial Guard, five hundred strong, armed with spears, crossbows, and arrows.

They completely encircled the area.

Only inside were a few Gold Guards.

Li Guanyi tugged at his battle robe and jade belt, feeling that the true purpose of placing the Gold Guards here was never to protect Chixiao Sword at all—these few Gold Guards were merely ornaments stationed here.

Zhou Liuying crouched before the luxurious window, desperate to shove his head inside.

Chixiao Sword was placed right inside.

"Truly wonderful! Hehe, my old man, when alive, roamed the land; though his sickle-and-spear regiment wasn't the strongest in the world, under his command, it could still break cavalry with infantry, driving those Iron Futu away from the south."

"Yet even such an old man never got this close to Chixiao Sword."

"I'm surely the luckiest in my lineage!"

Zhou Liuying turned around, sat on the steps, the youth removed his helmet, his forehead damp with sweat, laughing loudly; Ye Bu Yi kicked him and said, "Get up. Don't disgrace yourself here."

"Fine, fine, why are you always so nagging?"

Zhou Liuying grumbled as he rose, putting his helmet back on.

From here, everything seemed peaceful, tranquil, serene; as Li Guanyi neared the great hall, his eyes narrowed slightly—he sensed Chixiao Sword's delight, its vibrant, fiery energy, as if it longed to leap from its place and fly straight into his hands.

'I cannot take you away.'

Li Guanyi spoke quietly within his mind.

Chixiao Sword's vitality stilled, then a flicker of angry light surged forth.

The sword was about to ring out.

It seemed displeased, as if muttering curses.

Instantly, Chixiao Sword sensed a chill—the armored youth gripped the battle halberd, staring fixedly here; his voice echoed within Chixiao Sword's perception, each word deliberate, heavy with Solemnity.

"But if you ring out and bring calamities, or if you leave with me and cause my brothers, friends, or close elders to suffer misfortune, Li Guanyi swears—"

"In this life and the next, I will shatter you!"

"Forge you into molten metal, tear you apart in the Jiangnan Divine Armory, seal you in a box, and cast you into the depths of Shenshan and the deep sea, so you may never emerge for all eternity!"

Chixiao Sword is the Son of Heaven's sword.

Yet it is because Chi Di was the Son of Heaven that it became Chixiao Sword.

Not because Chi Di seized Chixiao Sword to pacify the realm.

Chi Di could whip the world; legend says his ascension transformed a serpent-slaying blade into Chixiao, the divine weapon. Why can't later heroes do the same?

It is not by wielding this divine weapon that one becomes a Great Emperor—it is by achieving great deeds that such a divine weapon is forged.

Chi Di could. So can I.

Chixiao Sword's blade intent regarded the youth outside; the divine weapon, sentient, sensed an aura it had once felt only on the enemies of its master—hidden beneath the surface, a ruthless determination to burn everything down together.

Slowly, Chixiao Sword grew still.

Yet it seemed almost aggrieved.

Li Guanyi exhaled, then comforted it inwardly: the timing was not yet right, his wings not yet strong; if he took this sword now, he would die on the spot. But when his forces were strong and his troops well-equipped, he would surely go to Zhongzhou and take this sword away.

Thus, Chixiao Sword seemed to awaken from its despondency; a faint chime echoed in Li Guanyi's mind, conveying a barely comprehensible emotional tone—

【Sign a written pledge】!

【Swear an oath】!

Li Guanyi grinned.

He silently swore again the words he had just spoken.

In the next instant, he felt the lingering sword shadow within his body suddenly ring out, then rapidly collapsed inward, condensed, becoming a tiny sword that slowly rotated within his dantian.

The sword shadow was clear and calm, small, yet every part—the hilt, blade, and spine—was fully present.

With a faint crimson glow.

Clearly, it was a miniature version of Chixiao Sword.

This sword and the true Chixiao Sword seemed to share a resonance, not a divine weapon itself, yet akin to a divine weapon's spirit fragment—perhaps having preemptively forged a contract, securing its place before other divine weapons could.

Li Guanyi stared at Chixiao Sword, confirmed it would not suddenly erupt, and finally relaxed.

For Chixiao Sword had fallen into a deep, silent slumber.

Li Guanyi pressed his chest, sensing the sword shadow within, and felt a faint, wry smile—he realized this move was indeed cunning and shrewd.

Without a word, he used it as the pact.

Then, immediately after the pact, cleanly and decisively, it severed a fragment of its divine spirit and gave it to Li Guanyi as the guarantee.

Swift, decisive, no trials, no tests.

You agree, and I give it to you.

Once given, I go to sleep. Do whatever you want.

I don't care how you act.

Cunning.

Yet supremely heroic.

The bearing of the Red Emperor—eight hundred years ago, it drew countless heroes to his side. What manner of grandeur did this peerless hero possess? One could glimpse a hint: he could discuss shrewdness with country vendors, and speak of seizing the empire with the great heroes of his age.

He could expand or contract as needed—nothing was beyond him. That was the Red Emperor.

Merely this separation of the sword's spirit made Li Guanyi feel an indescribable sensation; he could only sigh and say, "No wonder…"

No wonder such a dominant hero lost.

Still, this allowed some peace of mind. Li Guanyi and Ye Buyi, along with Zhou Liu, guarded the forbidden palace. Li Guanyi stood on the nodes of the 【Four Symbols Sealing Spirit Array】, slowly loosening the seals and arrays within the Qilin Palace.

Such a method was originally impossible.

But something had happened—the Daoist Priests and sorcerers inside the Qilin Palace had all been withdrawn; virtually no one remained within the forbidden palace, and the guards could only stay outside, unable to enter at all.

One day passed without incident. Li Guanyi slowly pried the array until only one step remained.

Tomorrow, during the grand sacrifice, the great masters of Chen State will gather at the ceremony. The Qilin can escape by seizing the opportunity. Li Guanyi contemplated this, watching as the great sun slowly sank, molten gold spilling across the entire palace complex and Jiangzhou City of Chen State—exquisitely beautiful.

The sun vanished in an instant. Lanterns lit within the palace, still bright. The day's yang energy dispersed; the heat lessened, and wearing armor no longer felt stifling—finally, somewhat comfortable.

Zhou Liu stretched and said, "Comfortable."

"One day without incident, one day without incident, ahahaha."

"I thought today might bring something big. Last night I barely closed my eyes, imagining countless scenes of heroic battle."

Li Guanyi sneered.

He thought Zhou Liu's fantasies were like those of a high school student daydreaming in class—imagining bandits appearing, himself saving the world and showing off, ideally dying heroically before his beloved girl.

Then he suddenly realized—Zhou Liu was only seventeen.

In this age of strife, one had almost grown accustomed to it.

Li Guanyi thought.

Still, Po Jun's speculation wasn't necessarily accurate…

Zhou Liu stretched again, pointing at the sky and laughing: "Come on, Heaven! I'm bored—give me something thrilling!"

Ye Buyi said, "Peace and safety isn't a good thing?"

"What more do you want?"

Zhou Liu laughed loudly: "For example, something from a tale—like an assault on the imperial palace…" His voice cut off as sudden thunderous crashes echoed—walls collapsing, then a roaring rush of energy spreading, extinguishing countless lanterns.

The clashing of weapons surged violently. Zhou Liu's scalp prickled: "It's real?!"

"Damn it, Heaven!"

"I was just talking!"

He rolled sideways, grabbing his halberd. Li Guanyi gripped his weapon, his eye twitching.

Po Jun, Po Jun.

You really shouldn't be this clever.

Smoke and dust spread ahead; lanterns shattered, vision obscured. Five hundred armored imperial guards charged forward. Li Guanyi and the others held their ground. Before they could call for aid, the smoke suddenly cleared.

All five hundred armored soldiers lay sprawled on the ground.

And the intruder? Only one man!

From other directions came roars and clashing blades—clearly, more than one had come. The intruder's shadow moved like lightning; his weapon swept once, and Zhou Liu and Ye Buyi's halberds were shattered outright!

Both boys' Hukou split open.

Only Li Guanyi withstood the blow.

In the next instant, two green shadows pierced through—Zhou Liu and Ye Buyi were flung away.

The intruder showed little killing intent—he merely knocked them unconscious, leaving the five hundred imperial guards alive. His cloak billowed as a crossbow bolt shot toward him; he turned his head slightly, and the bolt pierced his conical hat, revealing a monk's shaved head.

He reversed his hand, striking the back of the soldier's skull with a surge of qi, knocking him unconscious instantly.

He was a monk wielding a green bamboo staff.

Li Guanyi recognized him!

One of Tai Ping Gong's Twenty-Four Generals—the standard-bearer, a fearsome warrior!

Master Zhige—

Yan Xuanji!

Hey, recommend this book to a friend—it's a sapling, but the flavor is spot-on, like Ghost Blows the Lamp.