Chapter 312: Entering the Jianghu, Years Press On (This Volume Ends)

The vast, ancient Taigu Chilong, amid the mist-shrouded mountains of Jiangnan, lowered its gaze upon the people atop the peak; their faces turned as pale as paper, stunned and overwhelmed by the sight of such a colossal being.

Mo Jia's Master Pan Wanshou remained frozen for a long while.

Lei Laomeng beside him drew a deep breath and said, "I truly wish to go there."

Pan Wanshou asked, "Where?"

Lei Laomeng thought carefully, then replied, "Head south three thousand seven hundred li from here, into Chen's territory, then follow the river downstream, pass three river crossings, then turn north seven hundred li—there are many mountains, and within them lies a manor called Divine Beast Manor."

"Inside the third courtyard is an Ancestral Hall."

"I go in, then say one thing to the statue at the very center of the Ancestral Hall."

"You come down, I sit up there."

Lei Laomeng drew another deep breath and murmured, "To ride the Taigu Chilong—my ancestral master never had such an experience."

"They'd be so envious they'd crawl out of the ground."

Pan Wanshou shook his head helplessly.

Others felt differently; Gongsun Huai zhi stared at the immense ancient Taigu Chilong and murmured, "Brilliant, brilliant, truly brilliant—if such a colossal divine being bore a supermassive mechanism, it would be nothing short of siege…"

"No, a super-mechanism for army-level warfare."

"Incredible, incredible."

Shi Dalin, leader of the Seven Old Ghosts beneath the Fire Qilin, stared fixedly at the Taigu Chilong's mouth.

"Divine Dragon, give me a drop of your saliva!"

"Dragon saliva is the finest of spiritual medicines!!!"

"I—I—I—I kneel before you!"

Once merely a village physician passed down through generations, he had been driven into banditry by corrupt officials and tyrants—yet never imagined such a fate could await him; Shi Dalin began pondering how much benefit the Dragon's saliva might bring if sprayed upon medicinal herbs.

Pan Wanshou's lips twitched: "Is this… how strange the people of Tiance Prefecture are?"

Nong Jia's Xu Tiange sighed: "Yes, I feel the same."

Mo Jia's Pan Wanshou looked at Xu Tiange, thinking at least one person nearby was still sane, and asked, "Master Xu Tiange, why are you going to the Western Regions?"

Xu Tiange replied, "Why are you going, Old Pan?"

Pan Wanshou answered honestly: "My lord said we may need to build cities in the Western Regions—dry land, scarce water, fierce sandstorms; the methods of fortification must differ greatly from those in the Central Plains."

"He wants me to study Western Regions' city-building techniques first."

Xu Tiange couldn't help but say, "Of course, Mo Jia."

"All you ever think about is building walls, building walls!"

"Me? I'm different."

Xu Tiange proudly patted the many bundles on his person, straightened his chest, and declared with pride:

"I'm going to farm!"

Pan Wanshou: "…………"

Master Pan sighed, as if expecting nothing less; Xu Tiange beamed: "For decades in the Zhongzhou Academy, we developed new strains—like this one, 【Barley】, with deep roots, grows anywhere."

"This one, its roots bind the sand."

"And this one, stores rainwater…"

Xu Tiange, full of enthusiasm, shook Pan Wanshou vigorously, babbling endlessly about his seeds, while Pan Wanshou stared blankly, pondering how to build cities in the Western Regions.

Mo Jia, Nong Jia.

Building walls, farming!

Farming and war, farming and war!

Over there, Gongsun Huai zhi feverishly contemplated the forging of army-level super-mechanisms; Shi Dalin nearly knelt to offer sacrifices—medicines to stimulate saliva production, hoping the Divine Dragon would sneeze.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong: "…………"

It looked at Li Guanyi and said, "Your Tiance Prefecture, your Fire Qilin Army… you do have no shortage of talent."

Li Guanyi smiled helplessly.

Only Fan Qing sat calmly there.

Back straight.

One of the Fire Qilin Army's original generals, he had now reached the Fourth Heaven Realm; before the Jiangnan pacification, he had reached the Third Heaven Realm, and over the past year, Fan Qing voluntarily served as a test subject for the Seven Old Ghosts beneath the Fire Qilin.

His Wu Gong surged dramatically, reaching late Third Heaven Realm.

And because he had once been from Motian Sect,

after Motian Sect's leader Ximen Hengrong arrived in Jiangnan, Fan Qing treated him as a master; Ximen Hengrong sighed for a long while and bestowed upon Fan Qing the Motian Sect's secret martial art, the Motian Martial Scripture, aided him in purifying his meridians, shattered his barriers, and brought him to the Fourth Heaven Realm.

Yet he plainly stated: Fan Qing, at over thirty, had endured years in prison.

Without further fortune, the Fifth Heaven Realm would be the absolute limit of his foundation.

Fan Qing's heart was resolute, one of the Fire Qilin Army's most skilled generals in training troops.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong gazed upon them, and when it spoke, its voice was slow and calm: "Enough, enough—you have this fortune. Come up."

As it spoke, a gust of wind swirled and lifted them all upward.

To prevent Gongsun Huai zhi, Lei Laomeng, Xu Tiange, and others from seeing the Taigu Chilong and immediately turning back to fetch more mechanisms, strange beasts, or luggage for the Western Regions, the Ancient Taigu Chilong chuckled helplessly: "You take me for a packhorse to carry your baggage."

"How bold."

"Hold tight."

Li Guanyi and Yao Guang sat upon the dragon's head; the youth gazed into the distance, his heart stirring faintly—when suddenly, a gentle lute melody rose; Li Guanyi paused, lowering his eyes toward the source of the music.

"Auntie…"

"Boy, get ready."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's voice rang out.

Amidst the dragon's roar, clouds and auroras shifted and transformed; in an instant, their altitude surged, and the sudden surge of gravity made everyone pause—then came the gale, hurling clouds and auroras against their faces, forcing them to strain every ounce of strength to cling tightly to the dragon scales nearby.

Afraid of being flung off by the raging wind.

Boom!!!!

Yet only after a dozen breaths had passed did the endless clouds and auroras part.

The view before them suddenly widened: clouds rolled and drifted, boundless auroras spread far below, catching the sunlight in golden ripples like gentle waves; for a moment, they were spellbound, staring at the swirling auroras, speechless.

How magnificent.

In the Murong household, the qin music ceased; Murong Qiushui pressed her palm against the strings, gazing at the mountain where wind and clouds churned—as if a dragon's shadow, accompanied by Lei Ting, surged skyward. She remained transfixed for a long while as the lingering resonance of the music slowly faded.

Elder Murong said: "If my child must leave, there is nothing to be done."

Elder Murong had only one sword's strength left, and since the Whale Fisher would also go there, this time he did not accompany Li Guanyi to the Western Regions, but stayed in Jiangnan.

There was another reason.

If Sword Mad Elder Murong left Jiangnan, everyone would immediately think of Li Guanyi's movements, realize he was no longer in Jiangnan—and that would work against Li Guanyi's journey.

This second reason was what Li Guanyi used to persuade Elder Murong.

He hoped the old man could remain in Jiangnan, enjoying his twilight years in peace.

Murong Qiushui's slender fingers pressed against the qin strings; the music rang clear as pearls falling upon a jade plate. She murmured: "Guanyi grew up beside me. When he was young, he had no such Wu Gong, no such skills—he was often by my side."

"Back then, I cared for him, fumbling through countless mishaps."

"I wasn't much older myself, constantly frazzled by him."

"Sometimes when he caught a chill and burned with fever, he needed someone holding his hand, sitting beside him, before he could sleep; if he woke and found no one there, he'd burst into loud, chaotic crying."

"It gave me a headache."

"I always thought: once he grows up, things will be better."

"Now he's grown—strong Wu Gong, surrounded by more and more people—and the time he spends beside me grows ever shorter."

"It makes me nostalgic for when he was still so small."

Murong Qiushui gazed at the sky, lost in thought for a long while, then said: "Truly, he grew up in an instant. Only when looking back can one feel this—these past ten years were but a dream."

Elder Murong asked: "Can't bear to let him go?"

Murong Qiushui laughed aloud, her eyes twinkling: "Grandfather, we're children of the Jianghu—partings are just part of life. I merely felt it in the moment. Don't speak of reluctance."

Elder Murong looked at her, his expression gentle and kind.

On the face of the aunt who had been so cunning and composed before Li Guanyi, that smile slowly collapsed. The woman who had shown no weakness as she watched Li Guanyi depart lowered her head, her Bai Xi palm pressing against the qin strings.

She whispered: "I don't want him to go."

"But I can't stop him."

"How utterly tangled."

The qin music fell into chaos and ceased.

She choked out: "Truly… I can't bear to let him go."

………………

The Ancient Taigu Chilong lifted its head and surged skyward; streams of wind swirled around it, departing the Jiangnan region at an astonishing speed. Everyone was awestruck, lost in wonder; Li Guanyi gazed downward, the qin music falling into the wind, vanishing quickly.

Li Guanyi stared downward for a long while, then shifted his gaze toward the distant heavens.

Lei Laomeng murmured: "I'll write a book, telling future disciples of this fortune—I'd die content."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong deliberately plunged into the wind; gales poured into their sleeves as if trying to fling them off, terrifying them so badly they dared not speak further, only gripping the scales tightly, afraid of falling and becoming a pile of pulp, their bodies stiff with fear.

Li Guanyi and Yao Guang sat atop the dragon's head—this was a special permission from the Ancient Taigu Chilong.

The dragon's whiskers stirred slightly; Li Guanyi sat cross-legged, the silver-haired girl facing the wind, her temple and forehead hairs blown backward, striking his cheeks, revealing her flawless forehead and an exquisite face unlike any mortal's.

Yao Guang opened her mouth; the wind rushed in, puffing out her cheeks slightly as she blew air out with a low sound:

"Aaahhh… aaahhh…"

The sound was faint, scattered instantly by the wind.

Only Li Guanyi heard it.

Li Guanyi couldn't help but chuckle softly, ensuring Yao Guang wouldn't fall; this ride atop the Taigu Chilong was theirs alone, with two extra members—Master Siming and the Whale Fisher—who chose to go their own way.

The Whale Fisher and the Ancient Taigu Chilong had a poor relationship; the Ancient Taigu Chilong allowed Li Guanyi to ride because of their alliance, and permitted Lei Laomeng and others to ride because, in its eight-thousand-year-old eyes, Lei Laomeng, Nangong Wu Meng, and the rest were fleeting specks amid clouds and auroras.

The Whale Fisher was different—equal in level. The Ancient Taigu Chilong was stronger, yet barely matched him.

The Whale Fisher still had a long lifespan.

And he had no alliance with the Ancient Taigu Chilong.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's nature and dignity could never permit a peer to tread upon its body; after the Whale Fisher realized this, he tried to sway Yao Guang, hoping the silver-haired girl would leave with him.

After Yao Guang refused, the Whale Fisher came repeatedly, secretly "threatening" Li Guanyi—until Yao Guang discovered it, perhaps because of the fragment of the array Li Guanyi had shattered, restoring part of her emotions.

Yao Guang showed a faint ripple of anger.

Facing the Whale Fisher, who, after drinking, had a heart like iron and a face like a fortress, unbreakable.

The silver-haired girl showed no expression, only parted her lips and spoke two words:

"Big brother."

From "Father," she had downgraded him to "Big brother."

The Whale Fisher's face turned ashen; his Dao heart shattered, and he fled in panic.

He never saw the slight puffing of her cheeks.

Master Siming, helpless, only told Li Guanyi: "Go ahead. With your two abilities, you'll easily find them—then go to the Mo Sect together."

Master Siming smiled: "In the Mo Sect, grudges from ten, even dozens, or three hundred years ago—those debts must be settled."

"The Fisherman excels in arrays; he'll likely prepare something extraordinary."

"Just relax."

Li Guanyi recalled the old Master Siming's words, gazing at the distant sky—calm, yet clouds churned like surging waves; as far as the eye could see, there was no obstruction, the view utterly open, stirring his heart into wild tumult.

Li Guanyi clenched his fist.

The Western Regions.

The World!

………………

The Western Regions · Mo Sect.

"Is this where Hu Yan Jixuan died?" A clear, melodious voice spoke slowly.

Holy Maiden Long Han'er lowered her head like the others, daring not to look.

She merely replied respectfully: "Yes."

"Grand Master Hu Yan Jixuan seemed to have clashed with Qin Wu Hou of the Jiangnan region, and was devoured by reversed destiny."

The figure murmured to himself: "Hu Yan Jixuan was from the Western Regions, arrogant and boastful, yet he possessed true ability. Centuries ago, during the witchcraft chaos in the Central Plains imperial court, the Fate-Reading and Witchcraft lineages scattered far and wide—he inherited the Fate-Reading lineage."

"He lived over a hundred years, and once battled the old devil of the Yin-Yang School."

"Each gained slight advantage."

"Now he has even broken through to the Ninth Heaven, his Wu Gong extraordinary—even I must respect him three parts. How could he be killed so easily?"

"Truly remarkable."

"Qin Wu Hou of Jiangnan."

The voice seemed to laugh, speaking slowly: "My good son-in-law."

"He truly has ability."

Long Han'er bowed her head: "Teach-Head…"

In this boundless hidden place, one of Mo Sect's core regions, all knelt—standing before them was a woman clad in a luxurious robe, her face veiled; yet from her clear, smiling eyes alone, one could tell she was a peerless beauty.

Mo Sect's Sect Master said: "Dispose of Hu Yan Jixuan's remains—but this place holds centuries of accumulated faith-energy from our followers; it is likely unsafe. We must find a way to move it."

Yet another voice countered: "No!"

The speaker was an old man with broad shoulders, a shaved head, and Western-style tattoos: "This array has stood for centuries; the folk energy accumulated here is immense. Once moved, it will surely dissipate."

"By the time we relocate it, we'll lose at least three-tenths."

Mo Sect's Sect Master said: "Losing three-tenths is better than losing it all."

The old man said: "It's only the local Grand Elder who died. Besides, Qin Wu Hou may have ability—but can he rival the Whale Fisher of the Southern Seas?"

"Teach-Head, even your lover never found this place."

"How could a mere child possibly discover it?"

The old man's gaze fixed coldly on the peerless beauty.

The Teach-Head smiled: "There is some truth to that."

"But to speak such words to a weak woman like me—hardly heroic."

"If you truly have spirit, say it to the Fisherman himself—point at his nose and call him my lover. That would be true grandeur."

The bald old man fell silent.

The Teach-Head lightly pressed her advantage, saying:

"Others—any thoughts?"

Elder Wu Xuefei spoke: "Qin Wu Hou—the lord among all feudal lords, foremost of Jiangnan, an uncrowned monarch. When such a man is angered, all corners of the world know. His actions are like a tiger entering the forest, a dragon soaring through heaven—change must follow."

"He traveled from Jiangnan here, winding between the states of Ying and Chen—taking at least three to five months. By then, we will surely receive word; we can decide then, based on the situation."

"He won't arrive instantly and head straight for us."

This proposal was a compromise—and all agreed.

Mo Sect's Teach-Head said coolly: "As you say."

Elder Wu Xuefei smiled again: "This place is one of our Sacred Sect's three sacred sites—holding treasures of gold and silver, Mystical Realms of Wu Gong, and abundant fortune-energy. Hundreds of experts already hide here; the surrounding towns and villages are all our followers."

"Within a hundred li, every place with human habitation knows the name of our Sacred Sect—they are our eyes. Some are martial artists, some beggars, some serfs, some even ordinary peasants."

"Yet all cherish us."

"Even if they starve, they give us their gold and silver."

"They are all our eyes, our ears."

"Even a Wu Dao legend cannot kill them all."

"Someone will always escape."

"Still, it seems the Second Young Master of the Ying State Duke's Mansion, Li Zhao Wen, has reappeared…"

………………

The Jin Chida roc flapped its wings in midair, then folded them beneath the afternoon sun and landed in a lavish palace hall, descending like a shooting arrow—its palm, clad in deer-skin guards, extended outward.

The Jin Chida roc folded its wings and perched upon that arm.

It nuzzled the man's palm with great affection.

Someone pushed open the door and entered, voice gentle: "Young Master…"

The man laughed: "I've told you—when no one's around, call me Er Lang. Wu Gou, you're still so bound by etiquette."

Changsun Wugou replied: "I dare not."

This sister of Changsun Wuchou, two years passed, had grown even more gentle and exquisite, her figure graceful and elegant—a rare beauty. Countless men envied her. Had she not been protected early on by the Duke's Mansion's second son—who loved riding horses and hawking—she would long ago have been claimed by some other young master as his concubine.

Changsun Wugou raised her eyes toward him; though not the first time she'd seen him, her gaze still shimmered with awe.

This was the inner courtyard of the Duke's Mansion—no outsiders present. The "Second Young Master" dressed this way only within his own garden: loose robes, hair still damp from his bath, falling to his waist, skin pale, eyebrows slanting sharply upward.

His brow radiated nobility, his bearing the grace of dragon and phoenix; a vertical golden-red mark glowed at his forehead—unparalleled in dignity.

His figure tall and full, he smiled with lowered eyes, the roc on his arm spreading its wings.

Heroic spirit and delicate charm—none in the world could match this peerless beauty.

Like a phoenix from heaven, descended to the mortal realm.

Yet such a peerless beauty—who could ever hope to see her true face?

Changsun Wugou thought as Li Zhaowen unsealed the letter, her eyes scanning it, then smiling faintly: "Li Guanyi is coming."

Changsun Wugou recalled the teenage Gold Guard from Jiangzhou two years ago.

Now the famed Heavenly Strategy Supreme General.

Changsun Wugou knew Li Zhaowen had sent Li Guanyi a letter, yet she was astonished—and delighted—that such a man could arrive so easily.

She thought: the Second Young Lady was already tormented not only by the Regent Prince and the Tangut Kingdom, but also by the Duke's harshness and the Young Master's criticism—if Li Guanyi came, it would relieve her immediate crisis. She said:

"Has he agreed to come?"

Li Zhaowen let the Jin Chida soar into the sky, smiling: "Why wouldn't he come? The Western Regions are one of the two most critical places in the world—this is the most crucial location for Brother Li right now."

"Once he takes hold of it, the trapped dragon ascends to heaven."

"But I seem to have made a promise to him back then…"

Li Zhaowen seemed to recall something.

Changsun Wugou had already come over, tying up Li Zhaowen's hair, and upon hearing this, she asked curiously: "What promise?"

Li Zhaowen, flipping through military texts, paused slightly, then smiled:

"Perhaps… if he comes."

"I'll let him see my true face."

Changsun Wugou, combing Li Zhaowen's hair, froze—her comb trembled. Even her gentle nature felt her cheeks flush hot at these words; she couldn't help but admire: the Second Young Lady truly is the Second Young Lady.

To speak such words with such ease.

Changsun Wugou thought as she combed, then accidentally glimpsed the bright mirror—the reflection showed Li Zhaowen's face, dragon-and-phoenix grace, peerless beauty, yet a faint blush tinged her cheek.

Just that one blush was enough to stir the heart.

Changsun Wugou's motion slowed slightly.

Li Zhaowen gazed at the vast sky beyond.

The world churned and shifted unpredictably: the Chen and Ying states clashed, the Jiangnan region flourished, the Regent Prince and Tangut Kingdom vied for the Western Regions, Yu Wen Lie galloped across battlefields, scholars emerged from their academies, and talented youths entered this world!

Vast desert, camel bells ringing in waves.

A white-haired guide swung his whip; on the camel lay a young man with purple eyes, clutching a wine flask. Po Jun once again set out with this original guide across the desert, the heavens and earth boundless—the young strategist laughed:

"Ha! After the Lord, he'll come to the Western Regions."

"I'll wait here first—find Khan Qibili and the Golden Crescent Cavalry, then build everything up, and wait right here for the Lord's arrival."

"When the Lord arrives, he'll be moved beyond words!"

"He'll grasp my hand and say I'm the greatest strategist and sage!"

"Hahaha!"

The young strategist, drunk on Western grape wine, was delighted; the white-haired guide rolled his eyes inwardly, muttering: Just don't let anything happen like two years ago.

Po Jun took a sip of wine, set the flask at his waist, then drew the Western-style Hu Qin and sang aloud, handsome beyond compare, free and unrestrained: "The moon rises over the Western Sea, the wind drives the border winds to might!"

"Ten thousand li across passes and mountains—vast, not one form alone!"

His voice, free and boundless, harmonized with the desert, the sky, the camel bells—so unrestrained that even the old guide had to admit: this was a rare genius of the world. At that moment, the handsome youth said: "Hahaha, just like this."

"Yao Guang, Yao Guang—how will you defeat me?"

"How will you defeat me?"

The old guide: "…………"

He could do nothing about it.

This was exactly how Po Jun, the great genius, should be.

The Crimson Dragon roared across the heavens; Yao Guang pondered.

The silver-haired girl curled up, leaning against Li Guanyi's chest.

To accommodate the weak like Lei Leng and Shi Dalin, the Crimson Dragon slowed its pace, yet still reached the Western Regions before nightfall. Li Guanyi gazed upon the boundless sea of clouds—his heart opened wide.

The Western Regions!

The World!

Having left Jiangnan and entered the Western Regions, Li Guanyi now grasped one of the world's myriad transformations!

The youth clenched his fist.

Stepping into the Western Regions.

Yet as he surged into the Western Regions, the Nine Cauldrons within his body suddenly changed.

They rang and howled without end.

(End of this volume)

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