Chapter 431: The Sword of the Master Jiankuang, White Tiger Grand Master

Li Guanyi used the Break-Cloud Thunder-Sky Bow to send a message to Chen Wenmian, and he slightly relaxed—he knew the Wolf Guard was not far, and with Chen Wenmian's command, the Wolf Guard trained personally by Yu Langwang on the Western Front would arrive soon.

But he could not do nothing.

Li Guanyi sheathed his weapons and headed into the city.

Duan Qingyu was already armored; seeing Li Guanyi arrive, he sighed: "Brother Yaoshi, you've come. Alas, the day I invited you for wine, we never finished drinking—I thought we'd have another chance, but never imagined you'd help us so greatly, yet we failed to properly honor you."

Li Guanyi said: "This matter was also tied to me."

Duan Qingyu said nothing, looking at him, then said:

"If I'm not mistaken, Brother Yaoshi, you're also from the Tiance Prefecture."

Li Guanyi nodded.

Duan Qingyu said: "I knew it. I heard many students from the Tiance Prefecture were here, but when I heard the news, I didn't care—I thought Li Wanli had never even attended a scholarly palace, and those trained there couldn't possibly be that capable."

"Today, seeing you, I realize I was the frog at the bottom of the well."

"Had you not been here, Xiong Tianrui's rebellion would not have been resolved so swiftly. All of us old brothers owe you a great debt."

"Allow me to bow to you!"

He stepped forward with clasped hands and bowed deeply, clad in armor.

Behind him, Tai Bo Yong and other veteran commanders also bowed.

Li Guanyi hurried to support them: "Why such formality? Please rise at once." Duan Qingyu sighed deeply: "Had you not brought Mingzhu and Xiangrui back, we would surely have fought them here."

"These men carry great reputation and popular support. Any civil strife between us, whether we win or lose, would be a massive blow to the people of the Southwest—their hearts would shatter."

"But you first brought Mingzhu, then had Xiangrui seize them."

"To the people of the Southwest, if even Xiangrui could not bear to watch and took action against them, they will never believe Xiong Tianrui or Meng Zehao were right. You've prevented heartbreak, stabilized our Southwest—how can this not be a great favor?"

"We should have held a continuous banquet here to celebrate your triumph."

"But those outside have brought troops to besiege the city—our people have no heart for celebration now. Once we break this siege, we will surely repay you, Brother Yaoshi."

Duan Qingyu's brow was heavy with exhaustion.

It was no surprise.

The Southwest Kingdom spanned thousands of li, with over a hundred thousand elite troops on constant readiness.

The enemy secretly mobilized forces, assembling tens of thousands of elite soldiers—nearly one-third to half of the Southwest's total military has turned rebellious. This is not like war between nations—it is a massive internal upheaval.

One misstep, and the Southwest Kingdom could split apart entirely.

Thanks to Li Guanyi's actions, he could overhear the discussions on the situation.

They talked for two full hours.

Every angle was considered.

Tai Bo Yong, clad in armor, his expression grim, finally said: "Right now, they aim to cut us off, then bring up reinforcements. Once their main army arrives, we will be crushed."

"But if we can break through the encirclement, send word out, and summon our own troops, we may still reverse the tide."

"Now, we must charge through!"

All Southwest commanders nodded. Duan Qingyu remained silent. Li Guanyi said: "But even if we break out and bring back the army, we'll still end up with over a hundred thousand elite troops and reserves of the Southwest splitting into two factions, slaughtering each other."

"The entire Southwest will descend into civil chaos."

Tai Bo Yong fell silent, sighed: "These bastards meant to go all-in from the start. We reacted too late—we can only take the blows. Honestly, only the King could break through this."

Duan Qingyu said firmly: "I will not abandon you."

Tai Bo Yong sighed.

These veteran city lords realized the Southwest Kingdom was about to be torn in half by the whirlpool of global power—and even civil war might be the best outcome.

Li Guanyi said: "I have a strategy. It may succeed and save the Southwest."

Duan Qingyu froze, staring at Li Guanyi, then suddenly rose:

"Brother Yaoshi has a plan?"

Li Guanyi said: "Only a trial."

Tai Bo Yong erupted in joy, grabbing Li Guanyi's arm: "If you can prevent the Southwest from splitting or descending into civil war, you are our greatest benefactor—we will erect eternal life steles for you, generation after generation."

"How do we do it?"

Li Guanyi turned to look at the Shitie Beast feasting in the courtyard, and said:

"Xiangrui."

"Xiangrui represents the hearts and popular will of the entire Southwest—even the soldiers stirred up by Chen Dingye are still men, raised since childhood on legends and myths of Xiangrui."

"The highest form of warfare is to defeat the enemy's strategy—strategy targets the hearts of men."

"During this time, Mu Taihong has stirred up great noise. With Xiangrui in our hands, we hold moral authority. Then, swiftly strike down their commanders, and we can rapidly rally the remnants, avoiding full-scale chaos."

All fell silent, then smiled bitterly: "There must be Grand Masters among their ranks, bolstered by the martial momentum of tens of thousands. Even the King would have little chance of piercing through this army and beheading their commander within eight ten-thousand-strong forces."

Duan Qingyu said gravely: "Though difficult, this is the only way."

"As Brother Yaoshi says, this low-probability strategy may be the only way to avoid division and civil war. Let me carry out this step…"

Li Guanyi said: "Wrong."

Duan Qingyu froze, looking at Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi flicked his sleeve, stood up: "Since I proposed the strategy, I must execute it. No matter what, today I will relieve the Southwest King of this crisis—as the covenant gift between the Southwest and the Tiance Prefecture."

Duan Qingyu looked at the calm scholar before him, and for a moment, he seemed to see an old friend. He steadied himself and said: "... Eighty thousand flying troops. Placed anywhere in the world, on the Central Plains battlefield, they may not match the elite armies of Chen or Ying."

"But here, in these mountainous, rugged lands, under the Southwest's climate…"

"They can still match the strength of a frontline army."

Li Guanyi smiled:

"Then let me be the first to try. I ask you all to cover my rear."

"Li Yaoshi's back is in your hands."

He lightly bowed, rose, and walked out; Duan Qingyu saw him off, while all the southwestern lords exchanged uneasy glances. Tai Bo Yong sighed deeply: "Though we have not yet seen Qin Wu Hou, even this Tiance Prefecture, Li Yaoshi, already possesses the spirit of a mighty hero."

"I wonder what Qin Wu Hou is truly like."

Li Guanyi stepped out of the courtyard, exhaled a long breath, and gazed at the distant battlefield's grim aura. His sleeves fell, his palm clenched slightly—the affairs of the southwest had reached their final step; the struggle for the fate of the world must be joined…

Aid the south.

Great-grandfather.

Aunt, and all of you…

Wait a moment—Li Guanyi is coming.

His expression was calm; though stationed in the southwest, his gaze rested upon the entire realm. He was racing against Chen and Ying—not merely fighting the southwestern rebel armies, but playing a game of strategy with Chen Dingye and Jiang Wanxiang.

The stakes? The whole world.

Li Guanyi's hands were tucked inside his sleeves.

The hidden agents had not yet been activated.

Otherwise, he would not have remained here in peace—he would have ridden the Fire Qilin straight to the south. Now, anxiety, dread, and tension surfaced in subtle, frequent waves.

Yet Li Guanyi's expression remained calm, utterly composed.

He looked like a lake, not a ripple.

Standing beside the auspicious Shitie Beast, watching it gnash its teeth as it pried open bamboo stalks, his gaze settled on the three-zhang-tall sculpture-like presence beside him. On his right hand, the grim aura subtly shifted again.

Li Guanyi stared at this massive, sculpture-like entity and murmured:

"... Jiuli Divine Weapon, Iron and Metal."

"The pinnacle of 【Rong】."

"If I could ride the Shitie Beast and wield this weapon, I might at least intimidate the army outside, then join forces with Chen Wenmian's Azure Wolf Guard to suppress them."

"Then this southwestern crisis could be resolved."

"Third Cauldron cast—now three of the Nine Cauldrons are secured. The cauldrons of the south, the west, and the southwest can now harmonize their qi. I can then go aid Great-grandfather, Yuwen Lie, Jiang Su…"

"I will shatter your intact eye—eventually!"

Slowly, he extended his hand. The Jiuli grim aura on his palm seemed to taunt him, conveying an emotion: dare you test yourself against the full might of the Jiuli Divine Weapon, Iron and Metal? Li Guanyi raised an eyebrow, then slowly pressed his palm against the colossal sculpture.

"Fine. Let's test it."

Duan Qingyu and the others were still discussing tactical details when suddenly, a horrific cry echoed from outside—the auspicious Shitie Beast:

"Aaaahhh! The Jiuli clan is still chasing me!!!"

Then came a piercing, brilliant shriek of steel.

Everyone's faces paled. They rushed out—and saw Li Yaoshi standing before the Jiuli Divine Weapon, Iron and Metal, his right hand pressed against the ancient relic. The weapon, which for millennia had been nothing but a lifeless lump of iron, now rippled with waves of energy.

A chilling aura slowly rose.

It seemed as if a battle raged within.

"!!!"

Duan Qingyu's breath hitched, then he realized Li Guanyi's spirit was clashing with the Jiuli Divine Weapon. Without hesitation, he drew his weapon and roared: "All of you—strike the Jiuli Divine Weapon! Pull Yaoshi brother out!"

Between two sides: a friend he'd known less than a month, and a sacred ancestral relic.

Duan Qingyu made his choice without hesitation.

He was still the bold general who had turned enemies—Li Wanli and Chen Fubi—into allies.

Tai Bo Yong asked: "What of the Divine Weapon, Iron and Metal?"

Duan Qingyu answered without hesitation: "If we must, we'll abandon it. We cannot let someone who has helped the southwest perish here!"

Tai Bo Yong and the others drew their weapons instantly, ready to assist.

But before they could move, Li Guanyi turned his head toward them—a surge of aura erupted, subtly suppressing them all. He looked at them and said: "Don't worry."

His temple hairs stirred slightly; his voice carried the ring of metal.

"This thing wants to subdue me—I want to subdue it."

"Tell me—what is its price? If I subdue it, may I take it away?!"

The one who subdues the Jiuli Divine Weapon, Iron and Metal?!

Tai Bo Yong and the others held their breath.

Outside, rebellion raged; enemy armies stood at the gates. Now, after millennia of silence, the Jiuli Divine Weapon had awakened. They did not know whether to rejoice or despair.

Duan Qingyu burst into loud laughter: "You want this thing?"

"Fine. Then give me three jars of fine wine. You and I—get utterly drunk in one day."

"That's the payment!"

Li Guanyi was startled, then roared with laughter: "Good! After this, I will drink with the King of the Southwest until we're both unconscious!" He spoke the last four words slowly, deliberately, as if gripping a handle within the iron sculpture. Intense Fire Qilin flames and ancient Crimson Dragon fire erupted together.

Flames shot skyward; the aura of weapons and grim energy surged.

Gold and fire's essence glowed in Li Guanyi's eyes.

He gripped the Jiuli Divine Weapon, Iron and Metal with all five fingers—pain like blades piercing through flesh, searing deep into his blood and marrow, as if tearing his body apart. Faintly, he saw a towering man standing there, calmly gazing down at him.

Gazing down?

Li Guanyi had no Nine Cauldrons to rely on—only this weapon in his grip. His stubbornness and defiance, stoked by the agony, flared up.

"Let's see!"

"Whether you're truly so hard to control."

"Whether you're truly—so tyrannical!"

The steel's shriek grew fiercer.

…………………

In the south, Yuwen Lie's army advanced steadily. His Wu Gong was tyrannical, yet his tactics were cold, precise, efficient. The south was already crumbling, forced to retreat—but unlike his past raids on neighboring regions.

This time, Yuwen Lie showed almost no hesitation.

He did not seize any city, nor did he pursue fleeing soldiers.

Yuwen Lie knew his objective clearly.

The goal of this great battle was to force the Master Jiankuang to pass away; defeating him, even without capturing the city, would be a strategic victory—but if he failed to provoke the Master Jiankuang into action, then capturing three cities would be meaningless.

The Master Jiankuang alone was worth more than fifteen cities.

Yuwen Lie's army moved like a long sword, its blade straight and razor-sharp, bearing straight toward the current capital of Jiangnan, the former Eighteenth Province of Jiangnan. The renowned generals of the Fire Qilin Army were absent; even with strategists like Feng Xiao's cunning, they repeatedly fell before the Fourth Divine General of the Realm.

In contrast, He Ruo Qinhu had been blocked.

This former Fourth Divine General now saw his ranking decline steadily, as if his spirit, once as fierce as a tiger, had grown dull—he had barely entered Jiangnan when he met fierce resistance.

The enemy's strategist was a drunkard named Feng Xiao.

There was a Murong family general named Murong Yuan.

They had used their army's momentum, Mo Family mechanical devices, and held He Ruo Qinhu's side in place with iron resolve. He Ruo Qinhu studied the terrain map and quickly realized the truth: his own force, as well as the third auxiliary army led by another general, had both been blocked by the Fire Qilin Army.

This had left Yuwen Lie's force isolated and deep in enemy territory.

He Ruo Qinhu himself had once paid a terrible price for overconfidence and reckless advance.

He immediately wrote a letter, sending it by falcon to Yuwen Lie, warning him that as the central commander of the three armies, he had advanced too far ahead. Though Jiangnan's terrain was not as complex as the southwest, a lone force penetrating deep was vulnerable to being targeted.

This was a strategy to lure the enemy deeper.

General Yuwen, be cautious!

Yuwen Lie read He Ruo Qinhu's message, folded the letter neatly, and burned it to ash in the fire. His narrow eyes, like twin blades, rested on his sword as he murmured, "Luring me deeper? Do you think I don't know?"

"But what could possibly lure me?"

"I too wish to see what Jiangnan has prepared for me."

"Let them come!"

"To fight the Master Jiankuang, Murong Longtu, one must feel no fear—not even a whisper of it. Any fear taints the purity."

"In such a battle, one can only advance, never retreat."

"To see the great Master Jiankuang die not in a duel of swords—would that not be a tragedy? He deserves to be sent off in his most powerful form."

Yuwen Lie ignored He Ruo Qinhu's warning. His army still cleaved through every obstacle like a blade, crushing every Fire Qilin formation it met. The battle array never ceased, cold and deadly, as unyielding as its commander.

"You brat! You fool! You have no hero's heart—you're nothing but a petty, prideful fool!"

He Ruo Qinhu cursed loudly, his weapon trembling with rage.

Yuwen Lie said, "I am a warrior."

"What we seek is a righteous victory."

"Deceit and treachery—let your lord and the Grand Tutor handle those."

He Ruo Qinhu was nearly driven to vomit blood. Had he been twenty years younger, he might have ignored this arrogant, coldly proud divine general even if it meant enduring three hundred strokes of the rod.

But now he had no choice but to join forces with another general, converging near Yuwen Lie's army to prevent the Fire Qilin Army from cutting off his supply lines from behind—repeating the fate of Jiang Su.

Yuwen Lie's army drew near the Eighteenth Province of Jiangnan.

The more focused and pure his heart became, the more still and deadly Yuwen Lie's spirit grew. In his eyes, only one man remained: the Master Jiankuang, Murong Longtu—the pure, arrogant, and domineering general who had reached the pinnacle of his own heart realm.

Leading his army, he won every battle.

The entire realm watched.

All knew that the aged Master Jiankuang, two years ago in the Imperial Academy battle, had cast away his sword and left the martial world. Rumors later claimed he had only one breath left, one final sword strike remaining.

That sword strike would surely be earth-shattering.

Its might would be overwhelming.

But when that sword fell, the Master Jiankuang would die.

It would be the final song of the sword path.

All swordsmen across the realm longed to witness the old master's final stroke, the one that might carve new ground on the sword path—entranced by it, yet hoping the aged warrior who had fought his whole life might finally rest. Their emotions were tangled beyond measure.

Yet no matter how these swordsmen felt, the course of events would not be decided by them.

Given the current situation, this legend of the sword path would inevitably face head-on Yuwen Lie—whose blade was unmatched, whose heart realm had reached its purest, highest peak—and if he struck with one sword to block the tide of the realm, to stand against a hundred thousand troops,

then this would be his final act.

In that case, the swordsman's life could truly be called magnificent, worthy of his blade.

Worthy of the title Master Jiankuang.

Yuwen Lie led his army forward.

Only one battle remained.

Break through the battlefield ahead, and he would tread upon the very heart of Jiangnan.

Yet just as his army's momentum should have reached its peak, crushing all resistance in one sweeping strike, it met its greatest obstacle—

After days of fierce battle, Yuwen Lie's army had failed to break through the Fire Qilin Army's blockade. The hundred-thousand-strong Fire Qilin forces formed layer upon layer of defenses, using an unimaginable tactic to nullify Yuwen Lie's momentum.

Yuwen Lie's blade-like edge had failed to strike.

Riding his divine steed, Yuwen Lie gazed at the distant Fire Qilin lines. His narrow eyes swept left and right; he pressed his lips together…

Commanding: one hundred thousand.

Where had the Fire Qilin Army found such a general?

He drove his Weight in Hand into the ground, lifted a divine artifact bow, nocked an arrow, drew the string. Behind him, space rippled as the Bai Hu manifestation slowly rose, growling low, cold and deadly.

The arrow glowed with radiant light. Yuwen Lie released his fingers—the arrow shot forth.

From within the Fire Qilin ranks, another streak of light flew out.

The two arrows collided and exploded.

A shockwave surged, tearing apart the air around them. Though it appeared the arrows met with equal force, Yuwen Lie knew clearly: he had fired first, yet the enemy had fired instantly—and struck his arrow dead center.

And cancel out the power of the two arrows.

This man's archery is peerless!

Yuwen Lie wore battle armor, his ink-black cloak billowing, narrow eyes fixed ahead; atop the Fire Qilin army's formation, deadly aura piled layer upon layer, coalescing into a war-spirit manifestation.

It was not the Fire Qilin—the manifestation bore cold, indifferent golden eyes, sharp claws and fangs, and an aura of dominant majesty; save for the lack of spiritual essence, its appearance was nearly identical to the manifestation behind Yuwen Lie.

Bai Hu.

This final Fire Qilin army's coordination was archaic, an ancient tactical style.

Yet this classical tactic, learned by nearly every general, achieved an unimaginable perfection through flawless coordination, effortlessly neutralizing all of Yuwen Lie's sharp edge with simplicity.

Yuwen Lie's eyes narrowed slightly.

Who, exactly, is this?

From within the Fire Qilin army, a armored figure lowered his bow and sighed: "Yuwen Lie, this young man is truly formidable—I was nowhere near this strong at his age."

"The trials of three hundred years of chaos have indeed forged something extraordinary."

"Impressive! Impressive!"

Beside him, the Black Tortoise nodded; an old man sat cross-legged atop its back, rolling his eyes wildly: "How much of that do you actually believe?"

The mechanism emitted a loud laugh: "Hahahaha, entirely."

Master Siming asked: "Exactly how many percent?"

The mechanism general fell silent, changing the subject with a laugh: "Ah, my mechanical body was cracked by Jiang Su—but this repair job is decent, no wonder—the current Mo Juzi and the sword-casting clan truly have exceptional skills."

It was after defeating Jiang Su and Li Guanyi's awakening that he left Anxi City, forcing Master Siming, the Whale Fisher, and Xue Shenjiang to deliver the message to the King of the Southwest.

Xue Shenjiang gazed at the old swordsman in the battlefield.

The Green Robe Master Jiankuang had arrived here, yet his sword had never been swung.

Xue Shenjiang tugged his battle bow's string and smiled: "Ah, Master Jiankuang… is that right?"

"What a pity."

"To unleash your final sword in this lifetime, to block the tide of heaven's will, to stand against a hundred thousand troops—when your blade draws, your life's breath dissipates. A fitting, unregretful end for a swordsman. Too bad, Master Jiankuang—you have a disobedient great-great-grandson."

"Hmm, for now, let's give him a little face."

Xue Shenjiang smiled and nodded:

"Fire Qilin army's hidden agent."

"Come here to shatter your dream."

"Put down your sword, return home, and enjoy your twilight years in peace—your Jiangnan is already protected."

"Master Siming, tell that boy—the hidden agent has moved."

Xue Shenjiang gripped his battle bow: "To hold back Yuwen Lie and He Ruo Qinhu with only these Fire Qilin troops is too great a challenge—not to mention whether I can withstand it, Zhang Ziyong's arm won't hold."

The entire world's situation lay before his eyes.

Xue Shenjiang's interception here means the advantage leans toward Li Guanyi's side.

Master Siming felt a pang of wistful reflection.

Now, the hidden agent has moved—the tide once again favors Li Guanyi.

Marquis, or King?

Xue Shenjiang smiled: "Tell him to hurry—this opportunity must not be wasted."

Master Siming gathered his thoughts, extended a finger, and wrote four characters on the Black Tortoise's back.

【Hidden agent has moved.】

He pondered—this seems insufficient…

After thinking, Master Siming pulled back the four characters he'd sent, wiped them off the tortoise shell with his filthy sleeve, pondered long and hard, then rewrote four new characters.

【Family in peril—return at once!!!】

Master Siming, thoroughly satisfied.

Golden ripples rose on the Black Tortoise's shell, then slowly faded.

…………

Li Guanyi had gripped the Jiuli Divine Weapon, Jin Tie.

Facing directly into the Jiuli Bingzhu's deadly aura.

As he stood in opposition to the Jiuli Bingzhu, the Jiuli Divine Weapon, Jin Tie, in his hand suddenly began to slowly change—

Flowing, reshaping, revealing its true divine form!

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