Chapter 67: Phoenix Sends Word, Little Deng Climbs the Wall

Within the library pavilion, over three hundred martial arts manuals of the Entry-Realm level all lit up with flowing radiance, as if a divine resonance were answering, clustering around Li Guanyi. Xue Daoyong's lips curled, almost unable to restrain a great laugh, and he patted the old servant beside him, saying: "Hahahaha, I've won!"

The old servant said: "Your guess of ten is also incorrect."

Xue Daoyong laughed out loud: "Closer than yours!"

He stepped forward and called out loudly: "Guanyi, the first technique must seek the most suitable one; do not be greedy for quantity, you must walk step by step."

Li Guanyi assented.

But there were far too many techniques here, each one like a peacock spreading its tail, striving to display its own spiritual resonance and brilliance, hoping to attract the young man's attention. Among them were techniques of the Confucian school, the Mohist school, the Daoist school, the Yin-Yang school, and of the Gejiage Sect.

Opening the title pages, each one was written with numerous variations and all manner of methods, all seeming extremely powerful.

Whatever Xue Daoyong placed here would absolutely not be ordinary techniques circulating in the martial world.

Common goods had no right to enter here.

But precisely because of this, selecting one became an extremely difficult problem. Li Guanyi naturally knew the principle that biting off more than one can chew is unwise, so he simply rummaged through, searching for the few books whose 'zither notes' in his ears were the clearest and most melodious.

"Jade-Arm Divine Bow Art"

"Cang Wolf's Journey"

"Thunder-Fire Forged Golden Body"

Just as he was about to search carefully, a sudden change occurred. Along with the flowing radiance of spiritual resonance, the Black Tortoise Dharma Idol, which had been imprinted on the bronze cauldron and had not moved since, swayed slightly. The ink-colored Black Tortoise lay on Li Guanyi's shoulder, still very small, with golden patterns on its back shell.

Those patterns were like the tortoise shells diviners burn in flames, emitting different trajectories.

Li Guanyi actually understood the guidance of the patterns on the shell.

Fortune lies to the west.

Li Guanyi released the "Jade-Arm Divine Bow Art" in his hand, and following the Black Tortoise's guidance, walked to a place. He saw that within the Xue family's pavilion, the name of their ancestor Xue Shen was enshrined. In front of this enshrined place sat a massive, ancient, and simple incense burner.

Li Guanyi looked at the place, then looked at the Black Tortoise.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

No, it couldn't be...

The Black Tortoise had already leapt down from his shoulder and lay motionless on the incense burner.

Carrying the satisfaction of finally having found something good.

The Black Tortoise did not seem to be a combat-type Dharma Idol; it divined celestial signs, seeking fortune and avoiding calamity.

Li Guanyi thought for a moment, then flipped over the incense burner in front of Xue Shen. He rubbed it, and with a crack, the heavy bronze burner was opened. From inside he took out a small bronze scroll. Li Guanyi saw a line of text on it.

【Improper Conduct Toward Ancestors' Laws】!

It seemed extremely angry.

Turned over, there were two characters.

【Great Virtue】!

Li Guanyi's lips curled. As expected of you.

The Xue Shen in the eyes of his descendants was completely different from the world's number one; he was carefree, dashing, and unrestrained. Li Guanyi took the bronze plate hidden inside the incense burner and read through it. Recorded on it was a technique called "Tiger's Roar Bone-Forging Art," a Wu Gong for auxiliary cultivation after entering the realm.

It could not possess the overwhelming burst power of the Jade-Arm Divine Bow Art.

It was not like the Cang Wolf's Journey, which had extremely powerful movement techniques and endlessly flowing internal Qi.

This technique had only one characteristic.

【A martial artist's root bone is elevated by one tier, hidden injuries are cleansed, and latent toxins are purged】.

【For the final stage, one must seek the aid of the Eastern Lands Star-Gazing School; if this opportunity does not arise, put this object down】.

Does it involve Yaoguang...

Li Guanyi realized this might be one of the gifts the Divine General had prepared for the chaotic times. A cunning rabbit has three burrows — that was the basic quality of a commander. Li Guanyi did not know how many inheritances Xue Shen had left for his descendants.

He looked at the part about purging latent toxins and pressed his chest.

The path the Black Tortoise had guided had never been wrong.

This was the technique most suited to him.

But because it involved Yaoguang, Li Guanyi merely recorded this technique, put the bronze plate back, and then chose the "Jade-Arm Divine Bow Art." This was the Xue family's hereditary Wu Gong, capable of tempering both arms at the Entry-Realm level, surpassing other techniques when forging the body.

When internal Qi circulated, it would leave a lingering afterforce in both arms that did not dissipate.

Every great circulation cycle completed, one could accumulate a burst of an attack exceeding the limit.

Perfectly fitting the Xue family's Wu Gong style, with extremely powerful explosive force, while the speed of Qi recovery was somewhat weak, seeking short bursts of explosive power. And once an enemy closed in, wielding heavy weapons, the might was equally extreme. Xue Daoyong was extremely satisfied with his choice and laughed heartily:

"Not bad. Entering the realm with my Xue family's cultivation base is already sufficient."

"The might is strong enough, with only one weakness — the speed of Qi recovery is insufficient."

"That part, the ancestor placed in the War-Halberd chapter."

"His war-halberd techniques flow on endlessly, not merely suppressing opponents with pure force. When the upper and lower chapters of the technique are combined, it becomes a divine art with explosive power unmatched under heaven, yet capable of rapid Qi recovery. Compared to the Central Plains' Ten Supreme Arts, it would not be much inferior."

He knew his family's Wu Gong was powerful, yet also had obvious weaknesses, so it could be considered an upper-tier cultivation base, but not a supreme one. Precisely because of this, the court could rest easy. He said: "However, although this cultivation base's Qi recovery is slightly slow, the vast majority of opponents cannot withstand the explosive force of my Divine Bow Art."

"Wield the Divine Bow, keep your distance; the enemy won't survive to the stage where you need to recover Qi."

"And if an opponent can take the explosive force of my family's Divine Bow Art unscathed, then even with Qi recovery, it would be beyond saving."

"Guanyi, your fortune is not bad."

"Someday when you travel the world, perhaps you might complete this technique — who can say?"

The old man comforted Li Guanyi, not taking this sentence to heart.

Li Guanyi held this "Divine Bow Art." The Xue family's Xue Changqing and the Young Lady Xue Shuangtao had both practiced the pre-Entry-Realm portion of this technique. Xue Daoyong personally taught Li Guanyi this internal cultivation. Li Guanyi was only limited by his root bone being affected by toxins; his own comprehension ability had not been diminished, and he had the inheritance of a top martial artist.

In a matter of days, the Divine Bow Art had been learned.

The internal Qi of the "Formation-Breaking Song" throughout his body, vast and mighty, was entirely transformed into the "Divine Bow Art." The "Tiger's Roar Bone-Forging Art" was also being slowly cultivated. Li Guanyi could feel the speed at which his internal Qi circulated gradually increasing. Previously, one incense stick's time could circulate three great cycles; slowly, one incense stick's time could circulate four great cycles.

Recently, he could not find Master Siming.

That gentleman Wang Tong had also not shown himself.

Li Guanyi guessed that the great master of the Classic of Calculations had arrived here, completing Yue Qianfeng's first step; Wang Tong, Master Siming, and the Mo Juzi of the Mohist school were likely contacting major figures in Jiangzhou and Jingcheng, attempting to complete the final step and enter the political stage of the capital.

The struggle among various factions may have already reached its peak in the shadows, yet Yue Qianfeng had not returned.

But this had nothing to do with Li Guanyi; spring deepened, flowers bloomed profusely, willow branches hung low, and many men and women had begun to stroll for shade and leisure. As his birthday drew near, Li Guanyi practiced archery daily, cultivated Qi, and trained with his battle halberd—his days were full and simple.

It was Sun Wuchou who encountered some matters.

Later, Jin Yu's falcon delivered a letter, but unlike before, it was not one letter.

It was two.

One of them was addressed directly to Li Guanyi.

Sun Wuchou stared at the letter meant for himself, astonished to find that the Second Young Lady had instructed him to pass the other letter to Li Guanyi; though she had previously asked him to watch for extraordinary talents, she had never written to him directly.

After some thought, he invited Li Guanyi out under the pretense of drinking tea and listening to storytelling, handed him the letter, and said, "It's from the Second Young Master of my merchant guild—he read your poetry and took great interest, so he wrote specifically to converse with you."

The Second Young Master of a merchant guild?

The Second Young Master of the Duke of Ying's household in Longxi, beyond the western frontier?

Or merely a merchant's Second Young Master?

Sun Wuchou sipped tea, listening to a singer, smiling like a fox.

Li Guanyi opened the letter. After a simple, unadorned greeting came praise for the young man's deeds, admiration for the previous letter, and mention that he had already read Li Guanyi's views on the Western Regions—yet what were his thoughts on the world as a whole?

Li Guanyi glanced at the bold, swirling script on the letter, then looked up at Sun Wuchou.

He looked again at the words, seeing how the letter spoke of "the world" as casually as one might mention a jade tablet on the table.

Sun Wuchou smiled and said, "What's wrong?"

Li Guanyi weighed his words: "It's a grand spirit—first meeting, and already discussing such matters in a letter…"

Sun Wuchou said, "Because the Second Young Master truly believes you have talent."

"I am a merchant. When there is rare merchandise, one naturally pays a high price for it."

"If convenient, you may reply—even if unwilling to discuss these matters, you may politely decline."

The Second Young Master of the Ying Duke's household.

He was an absolute noble of Ying, which now controlled central China and vast territories, the most powerful state in the world. After leaving Chen, Li Guanyi and his aunt would go to Ying; cultivating goodwill with its top nobility was no bad thing.

Rather, Li Guanyi wished for a better life ahead.

How should one answer such a person, at such an age, with such bearing?

One could reply without leaving oneself vulnerable.

Li Guanyi ground ink, then had an idea. He picked up his brush and wrote a single line on white paper. Sun Wuchou, watching from the private chamber, saw the boy's strokes—solid as mountain rock, calm and unhurried.

【The world's great tide: after long unity, division; after long division, unity.】

Li Guanyi set down his brush.

He folded the letter, handed it to Sun Wuchou, and said no more.

Sun Wuchou's eyelid twitched; he sighed inwardly.

He knew that, given the Second Young Lady's stature, these twelve characters carried more weight than a hundred ornate poems, and would draw her attention far more powerfully.

Had heroes of the world become so young?

Indeed, the next day, Jin Yu's falcon returned.

The returning falcon was larger than ordinary ones, its wings full, golden feathers marked with crimson traces—the finest among eagles, or rather, no longer an eagle at all, but a golden-winged Peng bird.

A beast capable of flying ten thousand li in a day, its talons like forged metal, able to crush a horse's skull as easily as crushing tofu, able to circle above the desert, snatch armored warriors, and hurl them against cliffs to their deaths. The Turkic Khan had offered ten thousand taels of gold and a hundred thousand cattle and sheep—and still could not reclaim it.

Sending letters via a golden-winged Peng was extravagant, and showed how deeply the Second Young Lady valued this exchange.

Sun Wuchou sighed.

He felt himself reduced to a messenger between them; this talented merchant had no choice but to stay at the Xue household, pretending he had nowhere else to go. This time, after handing the letter to Li Guanyi, the Second Young Master began discussing concrete matters directly with him.

Not arguments, but discussions of historical heroes and battle formations.

Li Guanyi raised an eyebrow.

After leaving Xue Shen, was he now getting extra lessons?

Yet the insights of the boy ten thousand li away were sharp, bristling with edge—so startling that even Li Guanyi was taken aback. The teachings of Xue Shen became clearer through this exchange, and Li Guanyi began to gain his own insights.

Another day, a letter arrived. Li Guanyi set down his halberd and read its contents.

"Chen's military power is inwardly restrained, besieging Yue Qianfeng. Tuyuhun stirs, advancing south to invade southern Chen. The front stretches thin. The Tangut and Tuyuhun share a blood feud. According to your strategy, what should be done now?"

When Sun Wuchou read this letter, his pupils contracted.

This exchange was no longer hypothetical.

This was the Western Regions—right now!

Beyond Yicheng, where people strolled in the shade and the air was calm, Tuyuhun was mustering troops, marching south to invade Chen's flat interior plains, turning its granaries into pastures. The Tangut, fueled by bitter blood-feud, were nearly beyond restraint.

Ying's famed generals were holding back the Turks.

Yet the Seven Kings of the Turks had suddenly left the center of the steppe, their whereabouts unknown.

Central China enjoyed music and peace; the Western Regions hid blades sharpened for blood.

In the other letter given to Sun Wuchou, the Second Young Master had already laid out his own strategy—upper and middle plans—and asked Sun Wuchou to observe what Li Guanyi would write. Sun Wuchou looked at Li Guanyi and saw him grow still, then turn to face him and say:

"Has the Western Regions become this chaotic?"

Sun Wuchou was startled.

He realized it?!

He feared the boy was loyal to Chen, to its Emperor, and would angrily throw down his brush.

But he saw Li Guanyi pick up his brush—and write.

"With this opportunity, one must act. As before, striking with elite forces to cut through while Tuyuhun is entangled by Chen and the Tangut—this strategy remains insufficient. If it were me…"

He paused. "Now, I would consider that my opponent also has famed generals."

They will prevent their supply lines and troops from being cut in half.

Generals will lead troops to protect the battle formation.

Instead, feign a frontal assault while harassing their guards; secretly, a top general leads eight hundred light cavalry—not to attack the enemy army, but to take a narrow path straight into the Tuyuhun king's tent. Their intent is southern invasion, and they fear their own troops turning mutinous; if they have ambition, they should strike directly at the king's tent!

Changsun Wuchou's tense heart eased.

This was his second young master's superior strategy—dangerous, yet as brilliantly bold as she.

Then he saw Li Guanyi not stopping, continuing to write—what he wrote differed from what the fourteen-year-old second young master had just written.

Then kill their Wang Hou, but do not seize their land.

Take all their cattle, horses, grain, gold, silver, and iron, and all their people, and return.

Publicly claim defeat.

Do not acquire their land; do not seek glory.

Stockpile grain; delay claiming titles; the world's great tide is already in ruin—wait quietly for change. This is how to take…

Li Guanyi halted his brush, set it down, and pointed to the earlier strategy, saying:

"The last line is my superior strategy."

Changsun Wuchou had frozen, staring fixedly at the words "stockpile grain, delay claiming titles, wait quietly for change," as if he saw the heavens churn with storms; cold sweat dripped from his brow. Then he raised his head, gazing at this thirteen-year-old boy, and in his haze, he seemed to see behind the boy a terrifying military strategist.

Cold eyes, piercing the great tide of the world.

This was not a strategist planning warfare—it was a plan to scheme the state!

Had he ever seen such a strategy before?

No, such a battle tactic had never existed in this world's history—that was…

Changsun Wuchou clasped the letter in both hands, as if bearing something heavy, and said:

"Thank you. I humbly accept your teaching."

Li Guanyi exhaled. His past knowledge granted him a natural strategic vision in certain situations. Under the sun, there is nothing new—but perhaps these words would aid him once he left Chen State.

The boy now merely wished to forge a good connection with himself and his aunt.

That night, the golden-winged roc spread its wings and departed, while above the heavens.

As Li Guanyi trained with his battle spear at night, he suddenly sensed a shift in energy. He looked up and saw the Seven Stars of Bai Hu glowing slightly brighter than before; his Bai Hu manifestation suddenly appeared, head raised, gazing at the quiet sky.

Something indescribable seemed to descend from the night sky, absorbed by the Bai Hu.

"Huh? Who?!"

Li Guanyi suddenly sensed a presence. His gaze sharpened, and he spun, spear in hand, toward—

The corner.

Another head emerged from the wall.

Master Siming?

No!

Li Guanyi widened his eyes. There, like a radish sprouting from a high wall, a head had appeared—wearing a hood, silver strands at the temples fluttering slightly, head tilted.

Answering Li Guanyi's question:

"Me."