Chapter 474

This time, the clash of weapons crushed down hard, and Li Guanyi felt his palms go numb.

He looked at the overlord before him, whose eyes faintly glowed red, and truly sensed the difference.

His strength, his condition—everything was different.

It could be called a heaven-and-earth-overturning transformation.

Humans are not machines; even the most precise machines develop slight deviations over time and changing environments, and in martial combat, one's current state of mind, reason for fighting, courage, and condition all affect performance.

For instance, Mr. Master Wen He's potent combination of castor beans and ultra-mixed Ma Fei San could shatter the dignity of a Sixth Heaven Wu Wang.

Military commanders have the resolve to sink their own boats, the grim determination of mourners who must win, and the bitter lesson of arrogance leading to defeat—these generals often determine the outcome of an entire battlefield through their own state; the overlord now was in his most desperate state.

He had witnessed with his own eyes the death of his generation's Yao Guang.

And all the Jiangdong youths who, as youths, had chased the same dream and followed him away from home, had died in battle.

A true man stands between heaven and earth, gazing all around—every direction is enemy; he stands alone in mountains and rivers.

Hollow, desperate, yet mad, tyrannical.

Most desperate. Most powerful.

Like a star streaking across the sky, just before it perishes upon this earth, its most brilliant explosion.

No longer controlling his power output as before, no longer showing subtle qi transformations beneath grand, sweeping moves—now, the overlord's techniques were pure, unrestrained fury, pure tyrannical disdain, neither seeking life nor death, asking only to kill more enemies before he himself fell; this was the overlord's most helpless moment, yet also his strongest.

Almost instantly, Li Guanyi was suppressed.

He did not collapse outright.

But he was forced step by step backward by this overwhelming aura.

"Yao Guang! My Yao Guang!!"

"Give back my life!!!"

Li Guanyi's grip on the Jiu Li Divine Weapon Jin Tie trembled, his palms stinging with numbness—but anger flared. As the overlord unleashed another reckless strike, Li Guanyi gripped the weapon with both hands and pushed upward, firmly holding against the overlord's brutal will; a surge of aura exploded from their clash, radiating outward in a crushing wave.

This violent aura shattered every puppet clad in ancient armor, wielding weapons, in its wake.

The overlord's expression flickered in surprise.

Li Guanyi lifted his head; a faint crimson hue swirled in his eyes.

Amidst the void, a faint roar—like that of the ancient beast Qiong Qi—seemed to echo; building upon his own martial legend aura, Li Guanyi once again tapped into Yu Langwang's aura and power, his own aura surging violently.

Frenzied killing intent. Unyielding tyrant.

The final legacy entrusted by Chen Fubì, one of the greatest of this age, the Divine Wu Wang, who had entered the fray himself.

Martial Legend Aura · Unification of the Nine Provinces.

Martial Legend Aura · Fight to the Death, Never Retreat.

Two distinct auras were forcibly merged by Li Guanyi.

The Martial Legend aura steadily rose; Li Guanyi gripped his weapon tightly, and under the enhancement of the Martial Legend state, the Everlasting Immortal Body of the Green Robe Longlife Guest fully revealed its nature—no longer deflecting force, but forcibly pushing upward against the overlord's strikes, cracks began to form on Li Guanyi's palms and arms from the clashing energies.

These wounds immediately healed at lightning speed, thanks to the true activation of the Everlasting Immortal Body's nature.

Li Guanyi slowly raised his weapon, lifting the overlord's strike with it.

The overlord's eyes widened slightly, as if astonished.

The next moment, accompanied by a dragon's roar.

The void rippled; within the ripples, flames ignited, collapsing inward and compressing into swirling, shifting gold-red scales—the true, tangible ancient Crimson Dragon manifestation coalesced, then flowed and settled upon Li Guanyi, further elevating his aura.

The manifestation settled upon Li Guanyi's right leg.

Like a crimson dragon coiled around it.

Li Guanyi lifted his right leg and delivered a brutal front kick, slamming it hard into the overlord's abdomen.

Earlier, I was gentle and courteous, bowing as a junior to a senior—that was propriety; but if you do not understand reciprocity in courtesy, then I have other ways to treat guests.

You've been given face.

So what if he's an overlord?

Get out of my way!

The dragon's roar erupted!

The overlord grunted; his armor plates clanged with a chilling, martial resonance, his blood-stained, blackened battle robe flaring violently.

A tremendous force exploded outward!

Qi pierced through!

Streams of aura burst from the overlord's back, swirling and transforming into a single, complete crimson dragon that pierced straight through him, surging deeper into the Mystical Realm, where it coiled and howled, emitting continuous dragon roars.

The overlord's frenzied state was shattered; he was violently thrown back, retreating several zhang before steadying his stance, his gaze cold and fixed on Li Guanyi. Li Guanyi exhaled, raised his left hand, gently cupping his chest, his expression softening. This journey of his had been full of risks; the opponents he faced, the battles he endured, were unlike any before—so he had not brought Yao Guang.

Before he left, Yao Guang quietly adjusted his clothing.

Just as always, her hands covered his, reciting the star-watching sect's prayers.

But when she finished, the silver-haired girl pressed her cool palm against his hand and whispered: "Your hands have grown larger."

"When we first met, yours were about the same size as mine."

"Back then, my hands could just fully enclose yours."

"Now, I can't anymore."

The silver-haired girl spoke as calmly as ever; she did not know how to speak sweet words, only quiet, plain recollections of the past—and even so, she still cupped his hand in hers, praying for the success of all he would do; that prayer had been meant to leave behind a protective art upon him.

Li Guanyi brushed his fingers over the soft, clear starlight, thinking of the silver-haired girl who had quietly watched him, and his expression softened.

He noticed Ji Zichang over there seemed to be saying something.

Ji Zichang bore the bearing of his ancestor, holding two shields—unknown where they'd been flung—and his armor covered his face as he strained to speak toward Li Guanyi, lips moving silently: "Don't provoke him…"

The overlord can't take any more provocation!

Ji Zichang saw Li Guanyi nod.

He let out a breath.

Stable!

The Contemporary Red Emperor felt he and his friend had reached an unspoken understanding.

Good, good—Li Guanyi was still a smart man; just showing a little humility here and retreating with the flow would do.

According to historical records, this stage of the Overlord was the most dangerous, the most aggressive.

He saw the Qin Wang nod.

Then, the Qin Wang raised his weapon, pointing it at the Overlord, and said: "Yaoguang is mine!"

Emperor Ji Zichang: "…"

Fuck.

The Overlord's aura surged; the Qin Wang flicked his wrist, planting his weapon into the ground, its blade gleaming coldly, sleeves swirling as he spoke slowly:

"If words can't make sense, then let's communicate with Wu Gong. Overlord, I have no interest in playing with you here, nor in being your emotional outlet."

"I treated you with propriety; if you don't understand, then let's try another way."

"If you want to fight, then come."

The Qin Wang's brows lifted slightly and said: "I still have the blessings and protection Yaoguang left for me. What do you have?"

"Past defeats."

"Or regret for not acting sooner?!"

"Or endless remorse for your own arrogance and contempt?"

"I'm very interested in hearing it."

Emperor Ji Zichang: "………"

The Red Emperor's expression slowly froze.

At nearly forty, Emperor Ji Zichang's face wore a dazed, bewildered look, as if watching a volcano about to erupt before his eyes.

After a long while, his mind finally caught up with his ears, processing what he had heard.

Holy shit?!

Who raised you, Qin Wang?

How did your mouth suddenly become so sharp and biting?

Li Guanyi had been raised since childhood by Murong Qiushui, the most cunning of the Murong Clan, later befriended the most "graceful" of the Wu Dao legends—the Whale Fisher—and became an ageless friend of Master Siming of the Yin-Yang School. Unsurprisingly, this single sentence instantly pierced the Overlord's lingering will. With a roar, the weapon's power surged, slashing downward with terrible force.

Li Guanyi evaded with his body technique.

His weapon swung, movements becoming agile and chilling.

Qin Wang and the Overlord clashed fiercely.

The battle grew ever more turbulent.

The weapon slashed through the air, emitting a low, grim howl; the shockwaves spread, nearly expanding into the entire Mystical Realm.

Even though Emperor Ji Zichang had retreated to the farthest edge, he could still faintly feel the chilling gusts brushing past his face, the illusion of martial killing intent tearing at his cheeks.

Damn powerful!

Emperor Ji Zichang suddenly understood what his ancestor had felt when he personally experienced the Overlord chasing him from behind.

The two clashed, their weapons finally colliding.

The Overlord's gaze had, at some point, regained its calm.

His cold, haughty stare no longer looked down—but met Li Guanyi's eyes levelly.

He was furious.

But no longer saw his opponent as a junior.

The Overlord's logic was simple: if you have ability, you earn respect; if you're a useless fool, get out of the way.

Blind retreat would never earn the Overlord's recognition.

Li Guanyi, with his Immortal Longevity Body and two Wu Dao Legend auras activated simultaneously, refused to yield an inch. Behind them, two White Tiger manifestations—starkly different in style and essence—roared continuously, each roar deep, grim, and deadly.

The Overlord said: "Not bad…"

He barely restrained the bone-deep, heart-rending agony within him, coldly fixing his gaze on the Bai Hu Da Zong, then withdrew his weapon and said: "Your Wu Gong and foundations are inferior to mine, yet you wield such destructive power and skill—has later-generation Wu Gong found a new path?"

Li Guanyi replied: "Eight hundred years have passed. Of course it has."

But he did not say that the Overlord had never reached the Wu Dao Legend realm in foundation.

Yet even a single fragment of his soul possessed such terrifying destructive power—clearly, his true form in his prime must have rivaled a Wu Dao Legend in combat prowess and army-commanding might. And if measured against the Ancient Taigu Chilong as standard—

The Overlord was a monster whose realm and combat power bore no relation.

Peak of the Ninth Heaven.

Yet capable of swiftly killing a Peak of the Ninth Heaven.

Ordinary cultivators, divine generals, Grand Masters who reached the Peak of the Ninth Heaven did so through relentless effort, countless strokes of fortune, unbreakable martial will, and perfect fusion with their bodies.

The Overlord was then judged to be at the Peak of the Ninth Heaven.

Because there was no path ahead.

The highest realm was only the Ninth Heaven.

Back then, Wu Dao practitioners had not yet discovered the path beyond the Ninth Heaven to Wu Dao Legend, so the Overlord's vast qi and terrifying will were compressed, compressed again, until they condensed into one.

Li Guanyi understood now.

The Overlord's Ninth Heaven.

Was it the same as the Second Heaven of the ancient Fire Qilin's general?

Was it? Of course it was.

But who believes that is a fool.

The Overlord stared at Li Guanyi, sensing the shift in his qi—Li Guanyi now radiated an aura of iron and blood, a black-red energy swirling, the unique martial trait of the Overlord: murderous aura, heroic spirit, and military tactics fused into an extraordinarily special, immensely destructive force.

Li Guanyi had once studied the Overlord's battle-spear martial art.

He had reached the peak of the Nine Heavens tier in martial cultivation and was a Bai Hu Da Zong, having mastered the Overlord's internal qi martial art.

And Li Guanyi stared fixedly at the Overlord before him.

That black-red energy swirled, faintly bearing the sense of transformation.

The Martial Legend!

The path ahead had opened; the Overlord's accumulated depth allowed him to instantly step across that threshold.

The Overlord's might was peerless in a thousand generations.

The Overlord raised his palm, sensing the internal qi transformed into the path of the Martial Legend—perceiving its mystery, its changes; the nascent Martial Legend force began to coil around his palm, then—

The Overlord clenched his fist.

The Martial Legend qi exploded outward!

The Overlord shattered the transformed state of the Martial Legend.

He returned to his original state.

The Overlord's lingering divine fragment remained expressionless, his voice low: "A path that fuses the soul, will, and fortune into one."

"Not bad."

"Too bad—it's not my path."

He was proud, disdainful; he raised his weapon, pointing at Li Guanyi: "Your Wu Gong is good; your age is good. Since you've come here, the outside world must be in chaos, trembling under storm and wind. If you seek my preserved arms and armor, then let me see your skill."

He glanced sidelong at Emperor Ji Zichang and sneered: "You over there, don't cower like that."

"If I want to kill you, no matter how you hide, I'll kill you."

"Don't act like this—your ancestors wouldn't be so shameful."

Emperor Ji Zichang replied bluntly: "My ancestors would agree with you—then run faster than anyone else!"

He didn't even know he'd spoken so frankly—he startled himself—but the Overlord fell silent, then burst into loud laughter: "Hahahaha! Indeed! Rare to hear something so amusing!"

"I won't kill you."

"You, stay there and watch well!"

The Bai Hu Da Zong Overlord gripped his weapon, raised it toward the sky, and a blazing aura erupted violently; the entire Mystical Realm shimmered with a hazy starlight. Li Guanyi froze, sensing a familiar feeling—then realized its source.

The Xue Shen Jiang Mystical Realm!

But this time, its scale was greater, its effect stronger.

The Overlord closed his eyes, as if seeing again that gentle, quiet woman—this was one of the strongest techniques of the Three Sects' Star Gazing Lineage; with intense starlight converging, the Mystical Realm unfolded once more.

Li Guanyi's sleeves fluttered; his nose caught the faint scent of blood, and the unique qi and tactile sensation of weapons and blades soaked in spring water.

The world before him had changed—he stood upon an ancient battlefield.

Li Guanyi looked up, seeing the Overlord before him—now restored to his prime, in his most vigorous twenties, clad in armor, banners standing tall behind him, countless iron cavalry gathered at his back, murderous aura chilling, slowly raising his weapon to point at Li Guanyi: "Boy, come."

Li Guanyi felt that behind him in this Mystical Realm, there now stood a vast army.

This Mystical Realm was no longer a one-on-one duel like Xue Shen Jiang's.

It was battlefield against battlefield.

Reenacting the ancient battlefield of eight hundred years ago, based on the Overlord's memories and experiences—the turbulent, magnificent age of war.

And Li Guanyi faced—without doubt—the greatest military strategist of all time.

The Overlord!

A lone Overlord was already invincible; the Overlord leading ten thousand cavalry and armored soldiers was even stronger, his aura more overwhelming.

Me? Facing a general commanding a massive army?

Is this real?

Fuck, my command ability's already at its limit.

It really is at its limit!

Li Guanyi gritted his teeth, yet felt no retreat—he mounted his steed, gripped his weapon, and led his army. Emperor Ji Zichang watched from afar as the two armies surged forward, hooves thundering like Lei Ting, clashing violently; the martial spirits of the troops were grim and fierce. Li Guanyi's command ability had always hovered around ten thousand, with each ten thousand achieved only under special circumstances.

Sometimes his command included ordinary western nomads.

Sometimes it included the world's top formation master, the Whale Angler, mediating in the center.

Now, alone, Li Guanyi commanded only about seventy thousand of the Overlord's memory-recreated heavy cavalry. The army marched; after two charges, under the enhancement of the military martial aura, the Overlord's power and destructive force rose sharply.

After several clashes, Li Guanyi was no match—his army was repeatedly shattered, in disarray; even Li Guanyi himself was knocked from his steed by the Overlord's battle-spear, lying helpless.

The Overlord sat astride his mount, looking down with calm disdain: "Is that all?"

"So you're all talk."

Li Guanyi coughed violently, a fire of defiance burning in his chest.

Li Guanyi gripped his weapon and said only:

"Again!"

The Overlord's expression showed faint approval: "Good."

The Overlord approved.

The Overlord gave his all.

Failure!

"Again!!"

Emperor Ji Zichang stared in disbelief as the scene in the Mystical Realm replayed again and again—Li Guanyi failing, rising again, never discouraged, never surrendering; this resilience left Ji Zichang awestruck, yet stirred a faint sense of loss.

If only, in my youth, when I dared to resist, I had such unyielding perseverance.

If only I had refused to give up, kept trying.

Would the situation be entirely different now...

Thinking of past regrets, all that resentment and hatred surged forth at once.

While Emperor Ji Zichang sank into gloom, Li Guanyi continually challenged true, supreme warlords who commanded vast armies.

Defeated, he learned again, then in each clash and defeat, observed up close the warlords' combat styles, studied and imitated their methods of leading heavy cavalry charges and the flow of battlefield qi, endlessly trying, trying, and trying again.

Slowly, the speed with which the warlords defeated Li Guanyi began to slow.

From initial, effortless destruction.

To later, slight difficulties and stubborn resistance.

Meanwhile, Li Guanyi's own command ability gradually rose, unconsciously, through his full concentration in combat with the warlords.

Command ability: seventy-five thousand heavy armored cavalry.

Command ability: eighty thousand heavy armored cavalry.

Command ability: eighty-seven thousand heavy armored cavalry, fully mastered.

Under the crushing pressure of the warlords, he forcibly withstood that terrifying oppression and actively adjusted his posture, learning every aspect of the warlords' grand military momentum.

Losing was not feared.

What was feared was surrendering.

One attempt after another, one failure after another, one lesson after another.

Li Guanyi's command ability rose steadily.

Ninety thousand!

Ninety-three thousand!

Ninety-seven thousand!

Finally, amid the violent clashing of weapons.

Li Guanyi's command ability shattered that critical threshold, and through his own strength, broke through the boundary of one hundred thousand.

And thus, he fully entered another realm and level of the great general.

It was no longer merely about personal valor and Wu Gong.

A divine general's command ability, above and below this number, in large-scale warfare, in an age of chaos, in the judgment of millennia, was entirely two different concepts and levels.

Li Guanyi, nineteen years old.

Command ability—

One hundred ten thousand!

Breakthrough!!!

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