Chapter 50: Foremost Under Heaven!

Li Guanyi sat cross-legged there, hearing General Xue's praise, yet not a ripple stirred in his eyes; the time spent with this fellow wasn't all that long—counting generously, just one month.

To put it this way might sound a bit short, but if one were to say that being kept at the side of the foremost top-tier famous general of the world, being thoroughly trampled in every aspect—military strategy, tactics, warfare, even scheming—for a month, then it would be entirely different.

The stimulation was simply too much.

Li Guanyi felt himself go numb.

From the old man, he learned that Yicheng was about to undergo a great change, yet his heart held no fear.

From General Xue, he understood that he had Reached Entry the checkpoint, yet his heart held no wild joy.

He was simply a puddle of dead water, not a single ripple rising.

Li Guanyi sighed.

That old bastard has ruined me!

The young man raised his brow slightly and said: "So? What else is needed?"

General Xue's mouth curved upward bit by bit as he answered: "What is needed is just a little opportunity, a little tempering, and then you can break through the realm; as for the process of fighting and killing, that won't be necessary. The remaining ones—such as that Daoist priest, that living Buddha—were actually not adept at warfare before reaching entry."

"With your methods, encountering Daoist Sons or Buddha Sons before Reached Entry—"

"Within thirty steps, you could cut them down within seven moves."

General Xue spoke these terrifying words in a flat tone.

Li Guanyi thought for a moment and asked: "Why does it take seven moves?"

General Xue smiled slightly and said: "Because Daoist Priests are very good at running before Reached Entry, and Monks are very good at taking a beating."

"Hard to kill."

"If you held a long spear, wore armor, and carried a crossbow, even if a dozen or so Monks before Reached Entry came, they wouldn't last you the time of a single incense stick to kill. However, the troublesome thing about these two lineages is that after Reached Entry, each has its own mysteries, walking a path different from that of martial artists who purely enhance physique and strength."

"After Reached Entry, if you widen the distance, martial artists are actually at a disadvantage; your archery must not be neglected. Also, there is one more gift for you—this one is truly a fine thing…"

"The Daoists have the Dao-heart, the Buddhists have Buddha-nature, the Confucians know the Mandate of Heaven."

"Our School of the Military has it too."

"Do you want it?"

General Xue's smile was brilliant.

Li Guanyi looked at General Xue and said cautiously: "Even if I don't want it, you'll force it on me, won't you?"

General Xue's mouth curved slightly, the smile on his face growing warmer and gentler, and he said: "Yes."

Boom!!! A blur shot past before his eyes, and immediately after, an incomparably enormous force smashed down.

Li Guanyi instinctively raised the weapon in his hand.

His Hukou was violently shaken!

The blade of the heavy saber shattered; the broken edge swept past Li Guanyi's cheek like collapsing frost and snow. The youth's pupils contracted violently, his heart gave a fierce leap, and Yan Xuanji—driven by combat instinct—curled his body backward, extending to deflect the force, evading the ground that shattered in that instant.

As he retreated, he reached out and seized the long spear planted upside-down in the ground; the spear shaft had resilience, and he pulled it into an astonishing arc, also deflecting the force from Li Guanyi's body. He landed on the ground, smoothly drew out the long spear, and shifted into the Crouching Tiger form of the ancient spear art—but the next moment, the sound of tearing void exploded.

Li Guanyi's long spear was instantly shattered by an arrow.

The next instant, his throat ached sharply.

Death-like fear clenched Li Guanyi's heart.

He half-knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, yet still staring fixedly at the dust ahead,

It was the sound of a tiger's roar, yet also like the hum of a weapon—

A battle-halberd pierced through the dust, entirely ink-black, its thrust as grim as a spear.

Then the battle-halberd turned slightly and swept to one side, scattering all the dust. General Xue stood there, one hand gripping a bow, his right hand holding a battle-halberd with a fierce tiger devouring its mouth; when the halberd swept through the air, the Bai Hu's devouring mouth emitted a sound like a tiger's roar, as if it had come alive.

The halberd's blade rested against the ground as General Xue said calmly: "What the School of the Military needs is the heart to Wu Badao—the resolve to dare fight against any and all strong enemies."

"Under Heaven, there is no enemy we cannot fight!"

"Under Heaven, there is nothing we cannot accomplish!"

"Before you Reached Entry, I will personally forge for you this heart that dares to Wu Badao against all the kings under Heaven!"

Li Guanyi panted, steadied his footing, and great waves surged in his heart.

Toward this world's foremost divine general, the young man's response was to extend his hand and raise a middle finger.

General Xue's mouth curved upward: "It seems you already had such a heart."

"Then, your opponent is…"

His battle-halberd rested against the ground as he walked forward slowly; the halberd scraped against the ground, leaving a trail of shattered marks. The dust behind did not scatter but rose strangely, gathering behind this divine general into the shape of a Bai Hu; the Bai Hu's expression was ferocious, its fangs bared.

It raised its head and roared!

Even though he could already defeat those heroes of five hundred years ago at the same level, Li Guanyi felt a suffocating pressure. He still had the courage to grip his bow; the arrow spun as it shot out, yet was casually split apart by the divine general as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Even the distance of each step he took was exactly the same, without the slightest variation.

Finally, he casually raised his battle-halberd and swept it violently; Li Guanyi felt his body nearly fall apart.

A blur swept past before his eyes.

The war bow came chopping down like a war saber, as if the entire sky were pressing down in that instant. General Xue's figure was incomparably tall, his face and body covered in shadow; behind him, the Bai Hu raised its head in a long howl, and General Xue's features could not be seen clearly.

Only those eyes—cold, looking down in disdain, as if from a mountain peak gazing upon the masses of heroes.

"Foremost Under Heaven!"

……………………

When Li Guanyi left the Mystical Realm, his forehead ached sharply. General Xue had also restricted his own strength to the level below Reached Entry, yet the oppressive force he gave Li Guanyi was truly far too overwhelming—that thick, massive aura was simply monstrous.

Foremost Under Heaven…

They fought for two hours.

In the end, Li Guanyi had only managed, with everything he had, to land one saber strike on General Xue.

After that saber struck home, the fear and pressure from before seemed to be completely torn apart.

A breath in his chest, exhilarating and carefree! The filter of being the world's number one shattered in Li Guanyi's heart.

What remained was like a frenzy of slaughter between fierce tigers.

And then it was over. Li Guanyi experienced firsthand what it meant to have the martial arts experience of being invincible under heaven, and the combat experience of being number one under heaven — even with his realm suppressed, he was still a monster.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Li Guanyi rode a horse leisurely toward Yicheng. The horse belonged to the Xue family; Li Guanyi had never ridden a horse before. This horse had a fierce temperament, but it seemed to sense the dragon and tiger aura on Li Guanyi's body, and was quite timid before him, going wherever he pointed.

Obedient and well-behaved.

His aunt had already been arranged to stay in a separate courtyard in the Great Qian Yuan of the Xue family, so Li Guanyi naturally returned to the Xue household.

He led the horse back to the stable and brushed down its body.

Then he heard a great laugh: "Hahaha, Guanyi, perfect timing coming back." Li Guanyi turned and saw Xue Daoyong, who had been away for several days, striding out in a blue long robe, his hair bound with a jade hairpin — more refined and scholarly than his usual casual air. Beside him was Xue Shuangtao, dressed as she had been the first time they met.

He had grown so accustomed to seeing the girl with bow in hand riding her horse at full gallop that Xue Shuangtao in a skirt, hair bound with a jade hairpin, a floral decoration between her brows, and soft gentle eyes, seemed somewhat unfamiliar. Her eyes were bright and clear, as if she had applied a touch of light makeup, making her even more beautiful than before.

Xue Shuangtao noticed Li Guanyi's gaze, gently lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands, and smiled in greeting.

She rose.

She lightly kicked the youth's shin — it didn't hurt — and said softly: "What are you looking at?"

Li Guanyi laughed and said: "This is the Young Lady I'm more familiar with."

Xue Changqing nodded rapidly: "Right, right, tigress!"

"Ah ya!"

"Grandpa, big sister hit me!"

The youth stood there, smiling as he watched. Xue Daoyong said: "A few days ago, a great Confucian scholar came to Yicheng, and now there's a grand literary gathering. Most of the literati and famous scholars from all over Jiangzhou will be coming. It's the biggest event in Chen Country in the past thirty years. Our Xue family has an invitation, but this boy Changqing couldn't sit still."

"Guanyi, come with this old man."

The elder patted his shoulder and laughed heartily: "Let them know that my Xue family also has a Fire Qilin son."

"This time, it's your chance to make a name for yourself in literature here in Chen Country, and even under heaven."

Changsun Wuchou said with a smile: "Little brother Guanyi is accomplished in both civil and martial arts, naturally he won't be lacking."

"I shall also attend this time."

He had already received the Second Young Lady's reply — the letter had bold, sweeping characters, and contained only one sentence — 'If anything happens in Yicheng, protect him.'

The biggest literary gathering in thirty years?

Li Guanyi suddenly thought of what Master Siming had said about civil and martial qi, and of the so-called timing and terrain.

He pushed all these thoughts down and said: "Alright."

Then he went to change into a scholar's robe, with a leather belt at his waist. After some hesitation, Li Guanyi brought his saber and bow, along with two quivers of fine steel arrows with triangular barbs, hanging them on the hooks on either side of his horse. He vaulted onto the saddle — the youth was dashing and heroic, his gaze radiant, full of high spirits. Changsun Wuchou praised him as well.

The Xue family elder and Changsun Wuchou rode ahead on horseback.

Li Guanyi was about to catch up when he heard a light tapping sound from the carriage beside him.

Li Guanyi reined in his horse and rode alongside the Young Lady's carriage. The girl lifted the curtain and said:

"At the literary gathering later, remember to stay by my side."

Li Guanyi raised an eyebrow.

Xue Shuangtao said: "Otherwise, those young masters from noble families, the descendants of officials in Jiangzhou, will all come bother me."

Li Guanyi said with a smile: "The Young Lady wants me to be a shield?"

"That'll cost extra, you know."

Xue Shuangtao rested both hands on the small window of the carriage, her chin on her Bai Xi hand, tilting her head slightly. Her jade ornaments tinkled.

The girl's face was beautiful.

In the morning light, she said with a faint smile: "Then, shall we calculate how much your bow, arrows, horse, saber, and pills are worth?"

"My great Mr. Guest Retainer?"

Li Guanyi coughed once, turned his head away, and said with an unwavering gaze: "Leave it to me later."

The girl couldn't help but laugh.

The morning light was faint. The shops on both sides had only just opened not long ago. On the bluestone slabs, the traces of rainwater had not yet dried, still bearing water marks. The carriage moved forward, the crowd surged. The girl was splendidly dressed, her smile faint, the jade ornaments in her hair swaying gently. The youth rode his horse, gaze unwavering. The years were peaceful.

The sound of hooves went clip-clop, clip-clop.

The literary gathering was actually being held at the royal villa in Yicheng. When the Xue family arrived, carriages were already lined up along the main avenue, and gifts were piled on both sides of the main gate like two walls. Each gift was tied with red silk — the silk itself was also a form of money that could be spent.

Li Guanyi said: "So, are famous scholars this rich?"

Changsun Wuchou said: "They're great famous scholars."

When the elder dismounted, many high officials and nobles had already come forward, their faces bearing respectful and polite expressions. The elder smiled boldly, and Changsun Wuchou handled such matters with equal grace — measured and composed.

Li Guanyi was bored and looked up; the Bronze Tripod's pupil technique made him sense something was off.

But without having cultivated the Yin-Yang school's qi-gazing technique, he couldn't see it clearly.

He saw that young nobles had already gathered around the Xue family's Young Lady's carriage.

Right — her family was one of the wealthiest merchants under heaven, her aunt was the imperial consort most favored by the current emperor, her grandfather was still a top-tier expert. In terms of family wealth, tens of millions; in terms of lineage, she was also a descendant of Duke Xue, the number one general under heaven five hundred years ago.

Her appearance was exquisite, and she excelled at playing the qin, archery, and mathematics.

A hot commodity in the eyes of young masters from noble families.

Li Guanyi heard a light thump-thump-thump from the carriage wall.

After a pause, the force seemed to increase somewhat in annoyance, along with the girl's cough.

Li Guanyi urged his horse forward.

Those noble scions were still introducing their family backgrounds, and even though the girl inside the carriage gently tried to send them away, it was no use.

Just as they were about to press further, suddenly they heard a horse's neigh and a gust of fierce wind. A horse with crimson hair all over reared up; when its hooves came down, its body blocked these noble scions aside, frightening them until their faces went pale.

They cursed a few times and glared angrily in this direction.

The youth with a saber at his waist pulled in the reins, his brows aloft, the heroic air he wore could not be hidden by a scholar's robe of dark cloud patterns; a wooden tag hung at his waist, marking him as a ninth-rank Wu Sanguan. The rank itself was not high, but paired with his age, it was somewhat startling.

Li Guanyi sat atop his horse and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, please go back."

Those young lords demanded, "Who are you?!"

Li Guanyi did not answer. Clean and decisive, he swung himself down from the horse.

One hand holding the horse's reins, the other extended outward; then the carriage curtain was drawn aside, and a girl in a skirt reached her hand out. When noble ladies stepped down from a carriage, they were usually supported by a maidservant, but this time Xue Shuangtao lightly rested her fingers on this friend's wrist and stepped down from the carriage.

The surroundings fell into a silent hush.

Xue Lao had already pulled along a scholar who looked just past his early thirties, laughing heartily, and pointed at the spirited youth over there, saying:

"How about my Fire Qilin, eh, Master Wang Tong!"

…………

At the city gate, Master Siming of the Yin-Yang House, who had been waiting here, raised his head; the old man gazed at the sky.

The literary gathering, the grandest Chen Kingdom had seen in thirty years, had gathered a literary qi that already surged heavenward.

The old man murmured, "It's about to begin."

And at this moment, General Yue Qianfeng, who represented martial qi, stood ten li outside the city gate.

The dual qi of civil and martial, like yin and yang, had already surged heavenward, flowing and turning like the yin-yang fish, about to merge—

Li Guanyi's movement paused slightly.

His chest burned fiercely.

The bronze cauldron seemed to sense something and suddenly let out a violent hum.

(End of this chapter)