Chapter 198: The Winds and Clouds of the World Are Now in This Body

Inside the wine jar, Tu Shengyuan, guest minister of the Tianxia Diyi Lou under Heaven, and Elder Chen Chengbi were hoisted up and placed amid the four Jianghu Sect masters; Chen Chengbi and Tu Shengyuan clamped hands over each other's mouths and strained to suppress their qi entirely.

One was a top-tier guest minister of the Tianxia Diyi Lou under Heaven; the other had once been a powerhouse who stirred the winds and clouds of the previous era—yet they forcibly stifled their life signs.

Outside, the retainers grumbled: "Strange—why is this wine so heavy today?"

"It's making my shoulders ache."

"Stop complaining."

The wine jar sat unremarkable; the four Jianghu Sect masters chatted loudly among themselves, each radiating aura. Tu Shengyuan's Wu Gong was merely ordinary—he feared he'd be crushed if he faced these four, and his lips twitched.

He only wanted to uncover the truth behind this so-called Hunting Qilin Assembly.

Yet he never imagined they'd been spotted hidden inside the wine jar.

Nor did he expect to encounter this old bastard, Chen Chengbi—Tu Shengyuan glanced over; the old man was already rolling up his sleeves, eager to burst out and fight.

Tu Shengyuan gripped the old man tightly: "Calm down!"

"You're one man—they're four!"

Chen Chengbi beamed: "Perfect!"

He emphasized: "We agreed—you won't steal my opponent!"

Tu Shengyuan's head throbbed.

He strained every ounce of strength to pin Chen Chengbi down.

After a moment, Yuwen Hua spoke: "Yet tonight's drinking lacks one person—I shall personally invite him. When this guest arrives, we shall uncork the wine and drink together."

At this moment, Li Guanyi and Yao Guang had reached the cell above the Nangong Miss.

Li Guanyi sliced an opening in the roof with Murong Qiushui Sword.

The Nangong Miss wore white robes and a veil, revealing only her exquisite eyes; her black hair fell to her waist, calm and composed—she ignored the food Yuwen Hua sent, yet at the sound, she lifted her gaze slightly.

Crack—a young man in blue Daoist robes landed softly.

Just as the Nangong Miss wondered if this was Yuwen Hua's trick.

Another "young man" in a hooded robe leapt down gently; the Daoist youth raised one hand and caught him—Li Guanyi saw the woman; though only her eyes showed, he distinctly felt her radiant beauty.

The Nangong Miss lifted her gaze slightly: "Who are you two…?"

Li Guanyi bowed slightly, smiling: "Just guests."

"Miss, may I ask—do you know of a man imprisoned three days ago?"

This encounter, this question—made the Nangong Miss smile.

Her smile was like spring wind brushing blossoms, carrying floral fragrance; after a moment, she replied softly: "Indeed, there was one—on that day, Yuwen Hua brought that old man here to boast, claiming he was the Chancellor's confidant—likely to show off his power."

"I recall he was held in the dungeon, roughly toward the southeast corner."

Li Guanyi beamed, bowed slightly: "Thank you, Miss."

Then he drew his sword.

Murong Qiushui Sword struck twice.

The chains binding her ankles snapped—without a sound. The young Daoist bowed slightly, then said: "Miss, please exit from outside. I sense you have martial skill—avoid the northwest where they gather; you should escape easily."

The most beautiful woman under heaven was startled—curious that someone felt nothing for her looks. After thinking, she removed her veil—her face was undeniably breathtaking; even Li Guanyi felt a momentary daze.

The Nangong Miss smiled, graceful and enchanting:

"I am Nangong Wumeng. May I ask, young hero, who are you…?"

Li Guanyi lowered his gaze, bowed, and replied: "This humble Daoist is Li Yaoshi."

He bowed slightly, without hesitation.

Nor did he approach her as ordinary Jianghu folk would upon seeing Nangong Wumeng's true face; she merely blinked her exquisite eyes and smiled: "Thank you, young hero—but my Wu Gong is ordinary, and this place is heavily guarded—I fear I'll be trapped."

"Could you… perhaps escort me out…?"

She bowed gently.

Li Guanyi said: "What's hard about that?"

Nangong Wumeng wore a gentle smile.

The young man slashed sideways, carving an opening, then casually dispatched the guards at the door: "Miss Nangong, walk out this way—mind your footsteps, you won't be noticed."

"If that still fails, there's dirt here—smear it on your face to disguise yourself; you'll escape."

Li Guanyi bowed slightly, then moved without delay toward the direction where the Xue family's lord was imprisoned; Yao Guang followed silently—but after walking a while, she suddenly stopped, then turned back.

The most exquisite beauty in the Jianghu was curious about the boy who had descended from the sky.

She saw the hooded "young man" approaching.

Nangong Wumeng was about to speak when the youth pulled out a steamed bun, placed it gently on the table, lifted his hood, and revealed a face too exquisite to be of this world—yet utterly expressionless.

After a moment, the silver-haired girl turned to the mirror, raised her hand.

Two fingers pressed against her lips and pushed upward.

Nangong Wumeng was puzzled.

The silver-haired girl seemed to have adjusted her face.

She lifted her head, gazing at Nangong Wumeng.

On that face too exquisite for this world, a brilliant, warm smile bloomed—her eyes sparkled like stars; such beauty stunned even this Jianghu's foremost beauty—such grace and smile could move every young man in the Jianghu.

Then she heard footsteps.

The boy who had run out rushed back.

Li Guanyi reached out, snatched Yao Guang under his arm, and strode out; the silver-haired girl swayed, her face expressionless again, only watching Nangong Wumeng.

Nangong Wumeng understood the silver-haired girl's reaction.

Was it because she herself had revealed her face, so the silver-haired girl had responded in kind?

For women, beauty is, after all, a weapon.

Yet Nangong Wu Meng couldn't help but smile softly at the memory of that cold, distant girl crouching there, adjusting her expression with her hand: "She's like a frosty, mischievous lynx kitten."

"No wonder she didn't react to me."

"Seeing such a beauty every day, one ought to be numb to it."

She smiled at the guards outside, snapped her fingers, and her internal Qi transformed into Yin and Yang energies, swirling and shifting—outside, the two warriors Li Guanyi had knocked unconscious instantly dissolved into pools of blood, dead beyond any hope of revival.

Nangong Wu Meng propped her chin on her hand and said: "It took me so long to slip in."

"Yuwen Hua thinks I'm being coerced. Little one, if you do this, your sister's position becomes very difficult, hmm?"

"Could that silver-haired brat have seen through my methods?"

"No way?"

Nangong Wu Meng frowned slightly.

Li Guanyi, carrying Yao Guang, sped through the corridors, gritting his teeth:

"Why did you suddenly run off?"

Yao Guang blinked, her voice cool and serene, devoid of emotional fluctuation, calm as still water:

"I went to check whether that Miss might be Yuwen Hua's hidden agent."

Li Guanyi believed her, yet hesitated: "Really?"

Yao Guang said: "No."

"But the number one beauty of the Jianghu—and you didn't even try to rescue her? Isn't she beautiful?"

Li Guanyi replied: "Of course she's beautiful."

The young hero laughed: "Yet in my eyes, no matter how stunning a beauty may be, she's still no match for Xue Zhaoji!"

"He's trapped in danger because of my scheme—how could I possibly have the heart to gaze at beauties?"

The silver-haired girl nodded: "That's exactly the kind of thing you'd say."

The youth laughed bitterly, then leapt into the air and plunged into the dungeon. Inside, over a dozen guards stood watch. Li Guanyi, using Yao Guang's power, easily slipped past them—but as he entered the dungeon, his expression darkened instantly.

Deep within the dungeon were many pits.

Inside them lay piles of corpses.

Gleaming white bones, many belonging to children who had never reached adulthood. Traces of dissipated Qi clung to the bodies. Li Guanyi's face grew grim: "Signs of cultivation… Yin-Yang Wheel Transformation Sect. The city lord is connected to the Yin-Yang Wheel Transformation Sect."

In Li Guanyi's mind, the intelligence grew clearer.

Why had civilians near Beicheng fallen victim to Yin-Yang Wheel Transformation Sect alchemists?

Why was the old man who used children's blood to brew Blood Pills the magistrate of a nearby town?

Why did a branch of the Yin-Yang Wheel Transformation Sect exist here at all?

The relationship between Lady Lady Huarui and the city lord.

And who originally supplied the pills to Lady Lady Huarui.

How had Lady Lady Huarui managed to establish and firmly anchor the Flowing Wind and Snow Pavilion in this region of Beicheng?

Lady Lady Huarui's backer is the city lord.

Li Guanyi exhaled, continued searching, and finally found Xue Zhaoji deep within the dungeon of Beicheng's city lord's mansion. The once-sharp, capable elder now looked utterly broken—chains as thick as a man's wrist bound his wrists and ankles.

The other ends of the chains were embedded into a massive Dragon-Imprisoning Pillar.

Xue Zhaoji bore numerous marks of torture. Two sharp-eyed warriors guarded the entrance. Li Guanyi exhaled, set Yao Guang down, blurred forward, and appeared before them. Both men's expressions changed instantly—one drew his blade, the other gripped a signaling device.

But in two swift strikes, both warriors were knocked unconscious by Li Guanyi.

The noise was minimal. Li Guanyi dragged the two warriors away and used the chains to unlock the dungeon. Xue Zhaoji said: "Young Master Yuwen, you've come again? Hahaha—no matter what you say, I won't tell you anything."

"I truly have nothing to give you."

But then Xue Zhaoji heard a familiar, calm voice:

"Master Xue, it's me."

Xue Zhaoji froze, then snapped his head up, staring at Li Guanyi in disbelief:

"Lord Changfeng! How… how did you get here?!"

After three full days of torment, the young lord himself had come.

Xue Zhaoji nearly thought he was dreaming.

The youth's face broke into a look of utter certainty:

"I came to save you!"

Xue Zhaoji's expression softened, then he lowered his voice urgently: "Lord, how could you risk yourself for me?!"

"This place is unsafe—please leave quickly!"

"You came because of my scheme. I naturally bear the duty to bring you back."

The youth replied softly:

"If you do not abandon me, I will not abandon you!"

Xue Zhaoji opened his mouth, glanced outside—the dungeon was heavily guarded, and within the mansion lurked four Siwei Sect masters. The young lord's presence here was an immense risk. Everyone spoke of shared fate—but how many truly acted on it?

He had nearly accepted death—yet this boy came with such righteous resolve.

At this moment, a warm current surged in Xue Zhaoji's chest, faintly trembling with emotion.

Li Guanyi spoke as he tried keys to unlock Xue Zhaoji's chains.

But one by one, none opened them.

Xue Zhaoji exhaled, gritted his teeth, and blurted out:

"Don't bother. Yuwen Hua keeps the key on his person. Look at the wound on my left arm—I noticed something wrong when I was brought here, so I cut myself and hid the seal inside."

"The Beicheng city lord has been corrupted by the Yuwen Clan. There are too many warriors here—take the seal and flee quickly."

This had been his final secret, his last safeguard—but for some reason, seeing this boy come personally to rescue him, he'd impulsively revealed it.

Li Guanyi did not answer; after failing to unlock the lock with the key.

The boy tossed the key aside.

His right hand rested on his waist, gripping the Murong Qiushui sword.

He exhaled.

In an instant, he drew the sword in a sudden flash—a blade of pure, clear Murong Qiushui light—cutting the chain clean in a single stroke; the thick, wrist-sized black iron chain was no different than tofu before the Murong Qiushui sword, severed at once.

Li Guanyi supported Xue Zhaoji as she collapsed, drained of strength.

Xue Zhaoji was about to speak, but suddenly felt a powerful aura emanating from Li Guanyi's palm—gentle, vast, and endlessly renewing; her injuries were controlled at an unbelievable speed, the weakness from her depleted primordial qi already receding.

Xue Zhaoji's expression froze slightly.

This… is…

The young Daoist's hair stirred slightly; his demeanor was calm, his right hand gripping the sword, his left hand alive with swirling, continuous vitality.

The Book of Imperial Governance: Ze Tian Guai!

The divine art passed down by the Dao Sect now exerted tremendous effect.

Xue Zhaoji, who had been tortured to the brink of death, had regained her primordial qi.

Li Guanyi said: "Xue Zhuangzhu, come with me. Let us leave together."

Xue Zhaoji gritted her teeth and said: "Yes, Changfeng Lady!"

Just then, Li Guanyi sensed Yao Guang's aura; the girl's voice echoed in his ear: "Someone's coming…" Yet even without Yao Guang's warning, Li Guanyi had already felt the presence approaching.

Yuwen Hua.

"Xue Zhaoji never produced the seal, but it doesn't matter."

"Today I'll take her head and drink with the Jianghude Sect masters. Xue Zhaoji's head alone is enough as a token of allegiance. Uncle Seven has held those martial sect men in check—I must come myself to bring the head."

"That's precisely why I let her live this long."

"Young Master, brilliant!"

Li Guanyi's eyes darkened slightly; as Yuwen Hua strode forward, he saw Li Guanyi supporting Xue Zhaoji. Yuwen Hua could scarcely believe his eyes—then his gaze blazed bright. "Li Guanyi!!!"

The young general of the Ying State roared with laughter: "Hahahaha! You actually came here!"

"You dare come here!"

Xue Zhaoji's expression shifted slightly.

Li Guanyi released his grip on Xue Zhaoji.

The young Daoist raised his sword and stepped forward slowly, lips moving as he whispered: "I will clear your path, Xue Zhuangzhu. When I'm done, leave immediately. Return home and deliver the seal to the garrison."

"Find an old man named Prince Ji Yanzhong."

"Then, when the garrison moves, transmit the prior plan."

"Say this."

The boy paused, as if already seeing the tide of the world's fate, and whispered:

"Li Guanyi, I have not failed my mission."

Xue Zhaoji cried anxiously: "Changfeng Lady—!!"

Li Guanyi had already stepped forward, roaring: "Go!" He surged ahead. Yuwen Hua burst into wild laughter, snatching a heavy spear from a nearby subordinate. The spear trembled, primordial qi surging violently—the roar of Bai Hu pierced the heavens.

Primordial qi churned.

Previously, during the Chen State's grand sacrifice, such techniques required preparation and maximum effort. Now, Yuwen Hua unleashed it in an instant—his Fourth Heaven realm had begun to touch primordial qi, will, and manifestation.

The Yuwen family's signature martial art: 【Bai Hu Seven Kill】!

Yuwen Hua roared with laughter:

"Li Guanyi, since that day, I've wanted to fight you again!"

"Come!"

"Come!!!"

Yuwen Hua charged forward.

Seeing Li Guanyi, the warrior's excitement made him nearly forget to call for his uncle—he struck first.

The heavy spear surged upward in a flash, primordial qi exploding into a vast, wild Bai Hu that lunged at Li Guanyi. Instantly, Li Guanyi felt crushing pressure; his third eye throbbed, his hair whipped wildly.

A Fourth Heaven martial artist and a Third Heaven one are two entirely different things.

Especially for a martialist like Yuwen Hua, with a complete lineage—manifestation-level techniques are no longer hidden trump cards, but primary offensive weapons.

Rolling Waves, Crushing Mountains, Shattering Peaks—these could block it.

But if this strike met him head-on, Li Guanyi would suffer massive backlash.

In combat, Yuwen Hua's sudden strike left Li Guanyi almost no time to think.

It was this period of cultivation that caused Li Guanyi to react almost instinctively.

The young Daoist raised his hands—one above, one below—primordial qi swirling and shifting.

His Third Heaven spirit, his powerful physique, and his weakest primordial qi all surged at once.

Like a vortex!

Like a void!

The manifestation technique of Bai Hu Seven Kill was swallowed whole by the vortex. Li Guanyi grunted, feeling his body crushed under immense pressure—his feet shattered the ground beneath him—but he had indeed withstood the blow.

He stepped half a pace forward, right hand down, left hand up—as if plucking an invisible string!

All his power erupted!

The Book of Imperial Governance: Great Zai Qian Yuan!

Li Guanyi roared.

Yuwen Hua's smile froze—he saw the young man in blue Daoist robes, his sleeves swirling, his palm controlling the essence of Yuwen Hua's Bai Hu. The manifestation of the Yuwen family's Bai Hu Seven Kill circled Li Guanyi… and did not attack.

Li Guanyi clenched his teeth; the bronze tripod howled, and his own Bai Hu manifestation appeared here.

Two tigers marched side by side.

Around them, the void echoed only with the unceasing roar of the Bai Hu.

The youth strode forward and thrust both hands out with sudden force.

The tiger's roar surged skyward; Yuwen Hua instinctively moved his hands, raising the supreme-grade black iron heavy spear before him.

Boom!!!!

The impact was like the earth shaking and mountains collapsing.

Yuwen Hua's chest throbbed with pain.

His vision went black.

This twenty-one-year-old, one of the brightest among the younger generation of the Ying State, was flung backward, slamming into a rock garden—shattering it instantly. Yuwen Hua spat a mouthful of blood, then looked up to see his black iron heavy spear snapped clean in two.

Before his breakthrough, he had fought Li Guanyi to a standstill; now, having broken through, he was instantly slain by this young Daoist, unarmed, with a single strike.

The entrance to the city lord's dungeon was blasted open into a massive hole.

Dust and smoke spread.

Yuwen Hua's two subordinates landed on the ground, their chests grotesquely caved in—dead on impact. Two Third-Tier Martial Experts, directly killed, their internal organs reduced to pulp, oozing from all seven orifices.

Li Guanyi gasped heavily, his hands stinging and trembling, yet as he stared at the terrifying result of his palm strike, he was momentarily stunned—then snapped back to clarity, roaring: "Go!"

Xue Zhaoji's eyes glowed faintly red: "By the Changfeng Lady's order!"

The old man dashed off in another direction; Li Guanyi gasped again, his toe flicking up the weapon dropped by Yuwen Hua's retainer—the heavy spear leapt into his hand, and he gripped it firmly.

He glanced at Yao Guang and gave a slight nod.

Objective achieved—retreat quickly!

The four Zun Sect masters over there—he couldn't waste time; he had to withdraw. Meanwhile, at the banquet grounds, Li Guanyi's earlier move—Two Tigers Marching Side by Side · Great Zai Qian Yuan—had unleashed tremendous power, and its commotion instantly drew the attention of several high-level martial experts.

Yuwen Tianxian surged to his feet, his expression changing abruptly:

"That's Hua's aura—who is he fighting?!"

"The Bai Hu energy—it's Li Guanyi?!"

The Furious Scale Dragon King stared in shock: "That brat actually dared come?!"

He burst into loud, exultant laughter: "Good! Good!"

"What a fine boy!"

"His heart must be fat—such a hot-blooded youth, his heart, chilled with cold water, carved out and served as a wine accompaniment, is crisp and delicious! Come, come! Kill a young hero to make a hangover soup!"

The Furious Sword Immortal opened his eyes: "Li Guanyi—I've heard he carries a fine sword."

"It belongs to me."

The Grand Elder of the Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect chuckled: "I've heard he's a beautiful youth—don't scar his face, I couldn't bear to lose it…"

As many skilled hands prepared to act, a sudden shout rang out:

"Endure! Endure! Endure!"

"I can't take it anymore!!!"

The shout was deafening—in an instant, everyone's expressions changed. The central wine jar shattered violently; a torrent of internal energy erupted, and the wine in midair was ignited by an immensely powerful pure yang true qi, turning instantly into roaring flame.

The old man in long robe and tight-fitting attire lunged out like a ferocious tiger.

His left hand clawed downward, his right fist slammed forward.

He launched a reckless, ferocious assault straight at two high-level experts!

"Hahahaha! Come kill me!"

The Mad King · Chen Chengbi!

Engaged!

And soon, the quietly waiting Prince Ji Yanzhong, who had yet to judge the youth's mettle,

Received his answer.

The Yue Family Army had deployed its troops a hundred li away, ready to charge!

The fate of the world rests upon this very body.