Chapter 213: Horse Tramples the Jianghu!

Li Guanyi's name appearing on the Divine General List did not stir any particularly violent waves across the realm; the Divine General List recognized only battlefield achievements, and to even enter required at least a Foundation Establishment foundation—Li Guanyi was the youngest and the weakest in raw cultivation among them.

Yet these eighty-odd generals were still merely 【Generals】, not 【Commanders】.

They were merely a lone force that vanished into the mountains, and after 【Beicheng】 sent out additional scout troops, they discovered the Fire Qilin Army had disappeared into the vast, sprawling mountain range along the two nations' border, their whereabouts unknown.

Shen Xintu finally exhaled slightly: "This mountain range is vast, stretching ten thousand li, cutting straight through north and south, dividing east and west like a dragon's spine—filled with ferocious bandits. A thousand men charging in are like a slab of meat dropped into a wolf's den."

"They certainly won't survive. We can rest a little easier now."

So he boldly reported a great victory, a decisive triumph.

The Fire Qilin Army was forced by Beicheng to retreat into the mountains, their fate unknown.

And Li Guanyi's force remained utterly silent for over ten days, gradually fading into the background of the realm's turmoil, especially as the Seven Kings of the Turkic tribes arrived in Ying's territory and the Ying Emperor personally welcomed them, bestowing great honor.

The crippled old Yu Langwang, the regent of the Western Regions, nearly devoured the newly founded Tangxi people in a storm of desert winds, leading the very troops that had escorted him away from Chen, he plunged straight into the Tangxi nation, fierce and unstoppable.

Those warriors who had seemed cowardly under Chen Dingye now unleashed terrifying killing power—the Southern Dynasty's famed formation tactics, crossbow volleys, and exquisitely crafted armor all fully manifested under this valiant monarch.

The Regent's aura roared like a tiger; the aged Yu Langwang had, over these past dozen years, painstakingly regained his Wu Gong—he held a double-bladed spear in his left hand and a hooked halberd in his right, charging at the front, personally slaying over three hundred heavily armored soldiers.

Then he skewered the corpses of Tangxi noble families and galloped back and forth across the battlefield.

The Regent won a great victory, then liberated the many Central Plains people oppressed by the Tangxi kingdom in the Western Regions.

He issued the "Kill the Barbarians" edict, targeting primarily the Tangxi people—all other barbarian tribes were excluded.

Anyone—even the Tiele or the Tuyuhun—could bring the heads of Tangxi people to claim rewards, and thus the Tangxi kingdom found itself surrounded as if every shadow had become the old, ferocious Yu Langwang's soldiers.

It utterly intensified border conflicts.

The Tangxi kingdom retreated repeatedly.

Compared to this strategic-level upheaval, the localized battle in Chen's Beicheng—totaling no more than ten thousand troops, with no territorial gains—did not create a ripple; had it not been for the staggering achievement of 【total annihilation】, others would have ignored it entirely.

Only the Regent, after three washings of the thick blood clinging to his body, stared at the battle report.

He said to his son: "Remember this man."

The Yu Langwang tapped his fingers on the table: "He will become your enemy—and mine."

Chen Wenmian watched Li Guanyi's battle record, his eyes flickering with a faint flame; this former Crown Prince, who had now joined Xiao Wu Liang in the charge, could lead three hundred cavalry to execute flanking and cutting maneuvers—but his achievements could never compare to Li Guanyi's.

The Regent murmured: "Li Wanli's son…"

He sighed.

In the eyes of their generation, Li Guanyi had not disgraced Li Wanli's name—but in Chen Wenmian's eyes, he was merely Li Guanyi.

The Yu Langwang pressed his paw: the Seven Kings returned to Ying, Yue Pengwu marched north, Chen Dingye withdrew.

Across the realm, all nations and warlords underwent change.

The grand ambitions and wild desires of these warlords clashed like swords, ringing out sharp and clear, never ceasing for a moment—yet in the place where all eyes had begun to drift away, within those mountains.

Snap!

Li Guanyi slapped a mosquito dead.

His men had marched another ten days; due to differing individual qualities, their pace was slow, but fortunately no one attacked them. Lao Peng had briefly left the group—this elder had finally sighed, confirming his young master's uniqueness, and chose to take Li Guanyi's seal and depart.

He began preparing to tour the various states, reviving Li Guanyi's reputation, primarily to solidify the title of 【Qin Wu County Lord】, to deter both nations from sending assassins; as for Generals Ling Pingyang, the strongest cavalry commander of the younger generation, he remained behind.

He dismounted with five hundred heavy cavalry and marched on foot alongside these new recruits.

Their pace was not fast; though arduous, they suffered no losses from enemy ambushes or terrain—yet even so, this journey demanded unparalleled willpower.

Li Guanyi tossed the dead mosquito aside and continued writing his letter.

"Shuangtao, we're all well. The food tastes a bit gamey, but Lei Laomeng's cooking is slowly improving—he's a talent; the old Laozu's teachings from Divine Beast Villa have taken on a new flavor under him."

"This guy has been capturing bears and other wild beasts to carry crossbows, and climbing cliffs to catch birds."

"Nangong Wumeng's body movement is excellent—she's caught several eagles."

"Now Lei Laomeng just stares blankly at the mountain eagles—he hasn't slept in eight straight days, because he now commands a hundred men who've put him on a pedestal, so he must win this battle against the old eagle."

"I asked him for one of the eagle's feathers and tucked it into this letter."

"It's from an old mountain eagle—feathers hard and straight. You can give it to Changqing as my gift—I hope he likes it."

"Also, I drew you a picture—of a waterfall we saw before, the scenery was beautiful. Also, the fish here don't seem to know how to avoid people—we've eaten fish for days, even the bears are sick of them."

"Still, the scenery is especially beautiful."

"Also, please send my regards to Xue Lao, and tell him I'm safe."

Li Guanyi wrote a letter to the Young Lady, detailing their current situation, assuring her not to worry, reporting his safety, brushing past past dangers and hardships with casual ease—and after thinking, he placed a drawing he had made inside the letter.

He folded it and set it aside.

He picked up his brush and wrote to Li Li Zhaowen.

This time, it was serious.

"Er Lang, I hope this letter finds you well. I am safe, and Changsun is too. We were lucky—we won. Your thirty cavalry were invaluable, but I can't return them yet. Enclosed is a captured short sword, its hilt set with gems, sheathed in rhinoceros leather."

"Sent with this letter, I offer you a humble cup of wine from afar."

"When we meet again, we shall not part until drunk."

He folded it and placed the short sword taken from Yu Wenti'an beside it.

He wrote another letter, his pen now lighter.

"Mr. Pojun, I hope this letter finds you well."

"As I wander through this chaotic age, I've faced many trials, and by fortune, gained some rewards—but in hardship, I think of you constantly. Had you been beside me, all these troubles would have melted away. I can only sigh in regret."

"I hope you are well. Enclosed are the nuts we gathered and dried—roasted by my own hands. I hope you won't disdain them."

He filled a pouch completely with pine nuts.

He thought again, and wrote a more formal letter to Xue Lao.

Of course, all were good news only—mainly to let these people know he was still alive.

He gave the letter and pouch to Pojun, and the letter and short sword to Li Li Zhaowen, to Changsun Changsun Wuchou—who carried Li Li Zhaowen's Golden-winged Great Peng bird, capable of swift transmission and heavy loads.

As for what to give the Young Lady and Xue Lao, the teenager silently looked to the side.

Nangong Wumeng, clad in light armor, watched Li Guanyi and warned sharply, "What?"

Li Guanyi smiled and said, "I trouble you to leap forth and deliver it to the Xue family's influence or the Changfeng Tower in the nearest city."

Nangong Wumeng gasped, her beautiful eyes widening.

"You! Even to the nearest town, you must cross mountains and valleys for hundreds of miles! You—you—you!"

She wasn't speaking of normal travel—she meant leaping straight over one mountain range after another, racing toward the town. Her silver teeth clenched as she said:

"What do you take me for?!"

Li Guanyi's face was earnest, his praise flowing effortlessly: "After all, only Nangong Miss possesses heavenly beauty and peerless lightness of foot; a mere hundred li of mountain trails should be effortless for the incomparably beautiful Nangong Wumeng, surely no problem at all?"

"You were already at the peak of the Third Heaven at eighteen, the Sacred Daughter of the Grand Sect, with unmatched lightness of foot."

Nangong Wumeng stammered, "You, this, this..."

"Sacred Daughter of the Grand Sect, prodigious young lady!"

"I, I..."

"The most beautiful woman under heaven, and also the peerless genius of lightness of foot!"

Nangong Wumeng slightly lifted her chin and replied, "Naturally!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she felt regret.

Li Guanyi shoved the item into her hands and smiled: "Miss Wumeng, don't worry—when you return, there'll be something delicious waiting for you." Nangong Wumeng shot him a glare, utterly outmaneuvered by this young general.

The boy patted her shoulder, his tone no longer formal, as if speaking to a familiar friend: "Alright, go."

On the young general's heroic face, a brilliant smile shone.

"Nangong sister!"

As Li Guanyi patted her shoulder, Nangong Wumeng shot backward as if propelled by a spring, vanishing behind the trees, her face flushed, teeth gritted: "Don't—you don't do this every single time! I—I—I won't fall for your tricks again!"

She had lost the composed facade she'd worn at their first meeting.

Furious, yet still she carried out Li Guanyi's order.

In truth, her lightness of foot was indeed extraordinary; as a woman of the Third Heaven, she had slipped down the mountain despite being hunted by the Yin Yang Lun Zhuan Sect's forces, changed her appearance and aura repeatedly, and built a reputation—Li Guanyi quickly recognized her talent.

A natural scout and intelligence operative.

Li Guanyi rose and went out, donning heavy armor, then lifted a massive, edgeless sword in one hand and marched to the front. Jian Kuang had already noticed Li Guanyi's shaky martial foundation and did not rush him to Break Through the Realm.

Instead, he began reteaching Li Guanyi the fundamentals of martial arts.

As for Li Guanyi's strength, the old man assessed:

"Overall, he's quite strong for the Fourth Heaven."

The boy held up two fingers, stressing: "Two Heaven! Two Heaven!"

Master Siming nearly laughed.

Two Heaven?

If you were Two Heaven, I'd eat the Black Tortoise myself.

Then he saw Jian Kuang, Elder Murong, nod approvingly: "No wonder he's my son!"

"Two Heaven—and still this strong!"

Master Siming stared, dumbfounded.

The Black Tortoise flipped Master Siming into the air and floated off leisurely.

Li Guanyi always marched at the front, wielding the heavy sword, using sword techniques to drive his body forward—his speed was no slow. His sinews and bones, his dragon-tendon, tiger-bone physique, erupted with wave after wave of formidable power.

Elder Murong did not teach him so-called sword arts, but how to unlock his body's latent potential.

Though Elder Murong doted on this child immensely,

during training, the more he doted, the stricter he became.

When all the soldiers of the Fire Qilin Army saw even their own commander pushing himself so hard, they had no choice but to train with all their might—only to be knocked flat by the Seven Physicians, stuffed with medicine, and dragged away if they neglected their bodies.

Then came a chorus of agonized howls.

Rumor had it the general told them something about muscle soreness being caused by some kind of acid buildup.

If they used some kind of fascia knife to massage it open, it would help greatly.

The seven physicians conferred, pulled out their ancestral bone-setting techniques, modified them slightly, and created a specialized massage method targeting muscle zones for military warriors.

And with enough test subjects, their skill level rose rapidly.

Constantly adjusted, the results gradually improved.

The warriors could now maintain significant physical recovery by the next day.

As a result, the nightly screams of human soldiers were so horrific they drove wild beasts fleeing for miles—while Li Guanyi trained with Jian Kuang, General Yuwen Tianxian finally began teaching Li Guanyi the basics of military formations, instructing him in all kinds of formations.

General Yuwen Tianxian's overall competence was the most comprehensive among all generals.

And once he spoke, the Fire Qilin Army visibly transformed into a disciplined force.

Even Lei Laomeng, the seasoned veteran, noticeably improved his attitude toward General Yuwen Tianxian.

No—rather, precisely because he was a seasoned veteran, his attitude improved at lightning speed.

Most importantly, General Yuwen Tianxian's bowl now held more meat.

On days he ate noodles, General Yuwen Tianxian could now receive a full five cloves of garlic.

Lei Laomeng was extremely humble, even discarding his pride, hoping to quietly learn more from this famed general. He asked for reasons, and Lei Laomeng's lips twitched: "Steady, General—you must be steady. I've got over a hundred men under me."

"If I'm not steady, they'll all die. Just thinking about it keeps me awake all night—could you please teach me?"

General Yuwen Tianxian remained silent, but he tried to understand Li Guanyi's military tactics—and so he taught.

Lei Laomeng had no place to drill troops, so he trained on wild beasts.

The Yin Yang Lun Zhuan Sect's main temple lay in the buffer zone between two nations; such sects, gathering crowds and acting dishonorably, refused to place their headquarters within any great nation's territory—over seven hundred li away.

The Fire Qilin Army marched slowly, even for warriors with internal Qi.

At first, they only covered dozens of li per day.

Later, their speed gradually increased.

Lei Laogui gritted his teeth and said, "Brothers, form up and march! When the battle array is raised, our Qi links together—we won't be so tired!" Eventually, no one knew who spread it from this small squad to all members, but these men, lacking any military foundation, conferred and actually did it.

One morning, Yuwen Hua woke to see the entire Fire Qilin Army advancing in a battle-ready charge formation—and he was startled.

Military battle arrays, with linked Qi and layered formations, consume immense mental energy.

It was a state of extreme focus of essence, Qi, and spirit.

As expected, that day, these men only marched ten li before collapsing from exhaustion.

Soldiers lay sprawled on the ground, dragged by seven Qi Laoguis to the medical tent; watching their commander train alone with his sword, they felt resentment—and Yuwen Hua couldn't help sneering: "You think you're elite troops? Marching in battle-ready formation?"

"Do you even know how hard this is?"

He already knew that, as a prisoner, he wouldn't be beaten.

So he voiced this mocking remark, deeply dissatisfied.

But the next day, these ruthless men held their breath and maintained the battle array formation for twenty li.

Yuwen Hua had planned to watch them fail—but as he watched, his laughter faded. By the seventh day, they advanced thirty li in battle-ready formation; according to General Yuwen's tactics, scouts discovered a forward encampment ahead—a bandit lair.

Ling Pingyang personally led a force of veteran soldiers mixed with thirty heavy cavalry.

They stormed and wiped out the bandit lair outright.

They cleared it clean: those guilty were executed; the innocent or minor accomplices were absorbed into the army.

Advancing and training this way, their initial speed was slow, but this army transformed visibly before their eyes; here, even Master Jiankuang could not miss the soldiers' martial errors—the old man saw them all.

And for Li Guanyi, this Grand Master personally crafted a foundational sword art.

It wasn't suited for combat, but it strengthened all meridians and sinews, refining the body from outside to inside.

Perfectly aligned with the Great Peace Art.

Combined, the soldiers of the Fire Qilin Army called it the Fire Qilin Art.

Daily practice must not exceed half an hour.

The Fire Qilin soldiers watched Li Guanyi practice.

Since their commander did it, they naturally chose his method.

So the next day, Yuwen Hua was woken by the sound of sword hums; he stepped out and saw two thousand one hundred big men, swords in hand, arrayed, advancing in battle-ready posture, Qi unified, forming a battle array—their sword strikes were simple, yet carried an icy, deadly aura.

It slapped him right in the face.

Yuwen Hua opened his mouth, already feeling his scalp prickle.

It wasn't because of this military might.

Such military might—any second-tier unit could achieve it.

But how long had it taken?!

General Yuwen remained silent for a long while.

And so, cutting down bandits along the way, killing men to train the troops along the way, pushing forward all the while—this army rolled forward hundreds of li, eliminating bandits, absorbing some of General Yuwen's original infantry who chose to join, growing from two thousand one to two thousand eight.

On the advice of the most comprehensive general, General Yuwen.

They successfully completed a full troop reorganization.

Two thousand eight hundred frontline soldiers, fifty per squad, totaling fifty-six squads. Within the frontline: four hundred crossbowmen, four hundred archers, one thousand heavy infantry, five hundred cavalry, five hundred special troops.

Due to the treacherous mountain paths, only Ling Pingyang's vanguard unit could maintain cavalry status.

Yuwen Hua fell silent for a long while, looking at his uncle, and said: "Uncle, if you teach them everything, what will we do when they turn against us again?"

General Yuwen simply replied: "The defeated become captives; victory and defeat are the way of the world."

Li Guanyi came to thank him with the monkey wine Lei Laogui gave him, along with roasted meat, grain cakes, and wild scallions from the mountains—they feasted heartily. General Yuwen drank three flasks, appearing slightly drunk, and sighed:

"I am of a noble house; you are a general. One day, we must fight."

"If I were not of the Yuwen clan, perhaps now I'd raise a green wine with you and speak of heroes—and even join your side."

Yuwen Hua's spine chilled; he cried out urgently: "Uncle!"

General Yuwen held his wine and said: "But I am, after all, a son of the Yuwen family."

His gaze was calm; he raised the gourd, looking at Li Guanyi, and said:

"One day, we will meet again on this battlefield."

Li Guanyi answered: "But for now, we can still speak like this."

General Yuwen said nothing; and after this march, after training, reorganization, and drilling, the army finally arrived before the gates of the Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect.

The great army advanced, blocking the mountain gate—even a blind man in the sect would now notice.

That day, autumn had come; rain drifted from the sky. The Supreme Elder, frowning in distress, suddenly had a disciple sprint up in panic: "Supreme Elder! Something's wrong! Something's wrong!"

The Supreme Elder said: "What is it? Why so frantic?"

"Is it Master Jiankuang?"

The disciple screamed: "No!"

"It's an army—an army is here!"

The Supreme Elder first sighed in relief, then his expression changed sharply: "What army?"

The disciple stammered: "It's—the Fire Qilin, led by the Fire Qilin Army! They've stretched seven hundred li and surrounded our mountain—five or six thousand men!" The Supreme Elder's face turned ashen; he shot upward and saw the valley below bristling with iron armor.

Crimson battle banners rolled, merging with the dark rain clouds behind.

When he realized this was the army the Grand Elder had summoned—the 【Hunting Qilin Assembly】—Master Jiankuang's force—

The Supreme Elder nearly wanted to drag out that brainless fool and kill him again!

Kill him again!

Fuck!

The Qilin Hunt Assembly—you've drawn five thousand armored troops?!

Good, good, good—truly worthy of the Grand Elder!

The Grand Elder's face twisted almost beyond recognition.

The Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect, including all servants and apprentices, numbered barely a thousand—already a major sect—and within this past month, they had recalled every martial disciple, desperately scraping together exactly eight thousand.

But eight thousand martial artists, though numerous, wore no armor and lacked coordinated combat techniques; facing several thousand armored troops surrounding the mountain, they stood no chance. The Grand Elder's heart bled—he knew that army contained Generals Ling Pingyang, and Li Guanyi, who bore the Fire Qilin and possessed the combat power of the Heavy Heaven Realm.

Knowing this situation, assembling an army led by famed generals meant he himself was marked for death.

The Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect was about to be wiped out.

Rain fell softly; inside the Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect, silence reigned. Then, from below, the sound of warhorse hooves striking the blue stone steps rang crisp and clear into their hearts. They gathered, standing before the mountain gate, watching as a black steed ascended the slope.

A young general in armor gripped the reins with one hand.

He wore dark Central Plains general's armor, his black hair tied into a commander's topknot.

The warhorse bore him step by step up the mountain.

The faint chime of his armor rang sharp and deadly.

Light raindrops struck his armor, splashing into tiny glimmers that shimmered like a halo around him; behind him marched troops clad in heavy armor, bearing massive shields and crossbows, their advance like a vast, rolling tide of black mist.

The oppressive aura of a famed battlefield general descending upon the martial world crashed down like a black cloud crushing a city.

The Grand Elder stirred murderous intent, ready to die fighting to kill the young general.

But then he saw the elderly man in blue robes hovering in midair beside the young general.

His face instantly changed color!

Within the Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect's gate stood eight thousand martial artists—including numerous guest masters and martial heroes—all gathered together, a top-tier sect of immense, intricate power. Grand Elder Wei Tianduo had thought: with so many people, even the Master Jiankuang couldn't possibly kill them all!

The young general reined in his horse. Wei Tianduo laughed loudly:

"The Chaos Qilin—your reputation is well deserved!"

"The Master Jiankuang—your presence is truly magnificent!"

"Old man Wei greets you both."

As he spoke, heaven and earth pressed down—roaring, surging, clouds and seas churning; the sky over dozens of li transformed. This was the aura of a Grand Master—the very mark of a top-ten Grand Master of the previous era, who had forged his Nine Heaven Realm foundation through sheer years of endurance!

The man in blue robes looked at Grand Elder Wei and the dense throng of martial artists behind him.

The Master Jiankuang spoke calmly: "Wei Tianduo?"

Wei Tianduo, with two centuries of internal force and the Nine Heaven Realm, boomed:

"That is this old man."

The blue-robed swordsman, whose waist bore a willow branch, nodded.

His right hand rested behind his back, his tone flat:

"You shall kill yourself."

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