[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-peace-decree":3,"chapter-the-peace-decree-the-peace-decree-chapter-96":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Peace Decree",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2328271,4553,"Chapter 96: The Breaker Meets the White Tiger","the-peace-decree-chapter-96",96,"\u003Cp>Li Guanyi left the Daoist temple, and no one stood in his way ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These monks had been specially selected—large and fat, their physique gave them an advantage before reaching the Second Level, before entering the realm; he had beaten them senseless with a supple green bamboo pole, allowing the young man to walk away unimpeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi mounted his horse and flung the green bamboo pole over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was strong, and possessed martial skill; the bamboo flew thirty to forty zhang before landing back in its original spot. He tugged the reins, and the chestnut steed let out a long neigh, galloping off with effortless grace—the monks had lost all their earlier bravado, groaning and whimpering in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky darkened toward dusk. Li Guanyi rode his horse, the Qilin Array Map strapped to his back, heading for a secluded spot. The bronze cauldron’s qi flowed into his eyes, and he activated the Yin-Yang School’s Qi-Viewing Technique, ensuring safety as he frantically copied the array map onto white paper at the speed he once used for cheating on exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After comparing it, he rolled the scroll back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mounted his horse again and headed toward the Vermilion Gate of the Chen Imperial Palace. Vermilion lies to the south—it was the southern gate. The Emperor sat facing south, so this was the palace’s main gate, solemn and majestic, with a broad road where court officials once passed during grand ceremonies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within a certain radius, riding mounts was forbidden, and martial artists were barred from using lightness techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossbows from every nation’s palace had records of shooting down elite martial artists and turning them into human pincushions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the palace, Li Guanyi dismounted and tied his horse to a willow tree by the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he strode forward with the scroll on his back. Five palace guards approached, their faces grim, clad in armor, wielding halberds and spears. Seeing Li Guanyi approach, they lowered their weapons and barked: “Stop! Who are you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi gave a slight bow and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Guanyi of Jiangzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I come to deliver an item to the Vermilion Gate on behalf of Grand Secretary Zu Wenyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace guards said: “Grand Secretary Zu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have proof?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had indeed been instructed, but beneath his iron helmet, his gaze swept over Li Guanyi’s attire—though decent, this was Jingcheng, where officials and nobles outnumbered ants; countless people could afford silk and brocade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when he spotted the rhinoceros-horn belt at the youth’s waist, his expression softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the superior Kunlun white jade pendant, his face froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he quickly recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped swiftly aside, bowed respectfully, and spoke with great courtesy: “So it is Lord Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, please enter!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace guards’ discernment was truly sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned the bow slightly and strode into the palace’s outer precincts. The towering walls were painted crimson. Only footsteps echoed—no voices. Palace women and eunuchs walked with hands folded over their abdomens, heads bowed, bodies bent, moving swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they encountered Li Guanyi, they did not speak, only bowed slightly in respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they stepped lightly around him and hurried away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No words were needed—the oppressive weight of the palace had already surged forward like a monster. Li Guanyi remained calm. At the Vermilion Gate, he announced himself. Soon, an eunuch emerged, wearing a purple round-collar robe, jade belt, clean-shaven face, always with a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Guanyi, he showed slight surprise, then bowed and smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wondered who it was—the magpies chirped nonstop in the courtyard today. It’s Lord Li, the Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man was none other than the eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree to the Xue family. Li Guanyi’s heart stirred—he knew the Qilin Palace matter was indeed critical; even the transfer of the array map required a purple-robed Senior Eunuch to oversee it personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch studied the young captain before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first saw Li Guanyi, he had been startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt, somehow, this youth was different from their last meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, he had been martial and imposing, brimming with youthful vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he carried a new softness—like a Jiangnan swordsman, easygoing and free. It was as if two different men stood before him. The change was subtle, like Jiangnan mist, hard to detect. The Senior Eunuch’s thought passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He assumed the young captain’s demeanor had shifted because he had finally risen to success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi returned the bow, unstrapped the array map from his back, and offered it with both hands:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today I visited Grand Master Zu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He asked me to deliver this array map. I didn’t expect to see you again, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch was surprised, then laughed: “So that’s it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve long heard Grand Master Zu and Minister Wang Tong both hold you in high regard. Now I see—it’s true. They truly treat you like a nephew or son.” He took the scroll, handed it to his trusted attendant to carry, then turned to chat with the young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilin Palace array was both important and unimportant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Important because of the fire qilin inside the Qilin Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unimportant because when the qilin had recently gone berserk, they had feared the array had failed and rushed the scroll to the Daoist temple for Grand Master Zu to divine; in truth, the qilin had soon been sealed again by the array, and the array itself had suffered no malfunction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alchemists spent two hours inspecting it, then reached their conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the array that had failed—it was the imprisoned qilin, suddenly overcome with emotion, that had violently assaulted the array, causing today’s disturbance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those in the palace who knew of this were curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had the qilin encountered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had it gone mad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alchemists reinforced the array, increasing the chains from eight to eighteen, and heightened the suppression power. The qilin was now firmly bound. The Senior Eunuch understood the gravity—and now, he felt it would be wise to chat with this young martial officer, favored by Imperial Consort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, other major matters awaited him here today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some small talk, Li Guanyi said: “I never knew our Chen state had a divine qilin as its protector.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch bowed toward the palace and smiled: “Indeed. Our great Chen has a sage emperor, ministers as numerous as clouds, scholars as plentiful as rain. The orthodox literary lineage of the world resides here, the Nine Provinces are here, the people’s hearts are here—this is an invincible land. Thus, auspicious signs appear, choosing to remain by His Majesty’s side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since ancient times, the qilin follows only the virtuous, only the sage. It willingly dwells within the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t this prove our Chen emperor is a sage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Majesty, humbled and grateful, built the Qilin Palace to house this auspicious beast, summoned the finest scholars of the realm to forge this Four Symbols array to protect the qilin’s peace and shield it from outsiders—this is the very array you delivered, Lord Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch wore a restrained smile, full of reverence—his words sounded sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi watched him. Even if his killing intent surged to draw his blade, his face showed no sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had survived ten years on the run—he had learned to smile. “Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I offer congratulations to the sage emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch said: “Congratulations to the sage emperor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi said: “No auspicious sign surpasses the qilin. But how might one gain the fortune to glimpse its glory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch laughed heartily: “Everyone wishes to see the qilin, Lord Li. You’re not the first to say this to me. Nobles and martial clans’ sons all crave a glimpse—but the qilin is a blessing for state and nation. How could it be casually displayed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even imperial princes have no chance to see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi’s face showed just the right hint of regret. Then the Senior Eunuch smiled: “But today, Lord Li, you’re lucky. If you’re in no hurry to leave, why not stand here a while? You might catch sight of some esteemed guests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Senior Eunuch, eager to befriend him, whispered: “Ying State is now on good terms with our Chen. Their ruler has sent his crown prince and second prince as envoys to visit our Chen. His Majesty is hosting a banquet in the palace tonight for the Ying court envoys and the Seven Kings of the Tielei. They should arrive shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ying crown prince?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Ying crown prince has come—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A name flashed instantly through Li Guanyi’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost as soon as he thought of the name, the sound of hooves striking the blue stone pavement echoed like war drums. Li Guanyi turned his head and saw a rider approaching down the long imperial avenue. The Ying royal carriage was not stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor’s decree had specially permitted them to ride all the way to the Vermilion Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage was luxurious and dignified, bearing the Ying royal style without overshadowing Chen’s palace. Chen palace guards surrounded it, armor and banners gleaming—a spectacle worthy of awe. Yet to Li Guanyi, all of it had lost its color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth’s body tensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze cauldron vibrated violently. The Bai Hu’s spiritual form rose beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike its usual majestic roar, this Bai Hu’s form was taut, crouched low, breathing steadily, its eyes locked fixedly ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi’s gaze fixed on the man at the front—he rode a jet-black warhorse, its head nearly a zhang above the ground. As it moved, its muscles rippled like a dragon, its mane swayed, its gaze fierce as a wild beast. The man wore a battle robe, not armor, yet radiated the authority of a general clad in full plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in Li Guanyi’s eyes, behind the man, a colossal white tiger paced slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white tiger was nearly as massive as a mountain!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stood in stark contrast to the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast, terrifying aura surged forth, enough to freeze ten thousand armies in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth on the List of Divine Generals of the Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Lie!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if guided by fate, the moment Li Guanyi’s gaze settled on Yuwen Lie, the most renowned general of the realm—whose gaze had been cold and indifferent—suddenly paused, then dropped, fixing on the young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the top-tier general’s heart rippled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By instinct, he felt an overwhelming surge of killing intent and hostility lock onto the youth—this intuition had saved his life more than once. And now, its sudden emergence was stronger than ever before!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A divine general’s thought was no trivial thing. In an instant, a crushing wave of killing intent slammed down. The heavens grew grim. The Senior Eunuch, who possessed inner power, had no resistance at all—he saw stars swirl before his eyes, as if he had been thrust onto a battlefield of slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw countless spears, swords, and halberds pointing at him. He smelled blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace guards around the Vermilion Gate froze, pupils shrinking, breaths halted. Even the stars above dimmed beneath this murderous aura. Li Guanyi, at the center, felt his body stiffen, his blood turn cold, his scalp prickling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if the divine general would draw his blade in the next moment and charge straight at him—this was the killing intent of a supreme martial cultivator, one of the top ten generals in the realm, directed at a mere captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, one would collapse like the guards beside him—pale, trembling, bowing like the Senior Eunuch, unable to meet Yuwen Lie’s gaze. But Li Guanyi, in this moment, felt a surge of rage and murderous energy rise within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once drawn his blade against the number-one divine general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Past experience now gave him strength. The youth stood straight, one hand gripping his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he raised his head, staring at Yuwen Lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes locked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above, the Seven Stars of Bai Hu blazed brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, the Tielei carriage arrived. The Seven Kings of the Tielei, dressed in elaborate, solemn steppe attire, followed the Ying carriage. The handsome strategist also arrived with them. The Seven Kings were gripping the strategist’s arm, warning him sternly in Tielei tongue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever you do, do not act recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is not the grasslands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do not lay hands on the emperor’s concubines, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was pondering where to find Bai Hu Zongzong; this time, he had joined the carriage procession to the State of Ying, willing to assist the Seven Kings in negotiating a marriage alliance with the Ying prince, all to reach the famed general of the realm, Yuwen Lie, said to bear the Bai Hu manifestation, invincible, single-handedly toppling nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he not the true Bai Hu Zongzong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen him before—indeed, solemn and majestic, with an air of nobility far beyond ordinary men, fierce and commanding, bearing the ancient style of a primordial overlord. Today, he intended to speak with him again when the Seven Kings were sternly warning him, when suddenly, a continuous neighing of horses arose, and all the carriages came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling coldness rose from the bottom of every heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could not help but shiver, as if a blade had already been thrust forward, pressed against their foreheads, ready to pierce straight through and claim their lives. Po Jun shuddered, lifted his head, and froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the seven stars of Bai Hu blazing brightly in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun’s eyes widened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bai Hu Zongzong?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this killing intent—could it be Yuwen Lie?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of excitement surged through him; he leapt down from the carriage at once. The Seven Kings cried, “What are you doing?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t run wild in the Chen imperial palace! You’ll get your head chopped off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he saw his own strategist and chief advisor halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turn around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Kings felt a wave of relief—he finally had some sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he saw Po Jun leap onto the carriage, grab him, and leap down again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I might get my head chopped off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you’re with me, you’ll only be scolded a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun turned his head and explained to his talisman of protection, leaving the Seven Kings dumbfounded, torn between laughter and despair, yet forced to follow. Po Jun pulled the Seven Kings forward; the palace guards, stunned by the aura, could not stop them, and they quickly surged ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun slowed his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the dragon-like steed, the divine general upon its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun’s eyes lit up with excitement; he muttered under his breath, released the Seven Kings’ arm, locked his gaze unblinkingly on Yuwen Lie, and whispered within: “The divine general of the realm, the bearing of a overlord! The one and only supreme cultivation method and realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a divine general, at thirty, can breach cities and topple nations, lead ten thousand iron cavalry across thousands of miles to battle, and with a single shift of his killing aura, the seven stars of Bai Hu shift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It can’t be wrong. It can’t be wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Bai Hu Zongzong! Such bearing, such presence—only this could be Bai Hu Zongzong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Kings groaned: “You were looking for Yuwen Lie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun did not answer. He had confirmed Bai Hu Zongzong’s identity, and his heart swelled with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly curious, who had provoked Yuwen Lie’s fury? His gaze shifted, following Yuwen Lie’s line of sight, landing on the young boy there—his strength insufficient, his back straight, his brow calm, one hand resting on his blade, black hair lightly stirred by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the man who once held his battle halberd in the sandstorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun’s body suddenly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Kings noticed that Po Jun, who had been so excited at the sight of Yuwen Lie, had suddenly grown cold. Curious, Po Jun turned, seized the Seven Kings’ arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No longer the fervor he showed upon seeing Yuwen Lie—but with force!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Force so great it nearly broke the Seven Kings’ arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Po Jun’s own hand turned bone-white from the grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly at the young boy, no longer thinking of looking away as he had before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teeth clenched, spirit taut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke, each word deliberate:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is he?!”\u003C\u002Fp>",2724,"2026-06-20T19:20:33.127Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","517423e2ef440b51b412546a183431912f4e8c43e900dea65f663024a12713c5","the-peace-decree-chapter-97","the-peace-decree-chapter-95",593,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-peace-decree-cover.jpg"]