Chapter 98: Second Realm!

Starlight surged brilliantly, jade fluid transformed into qi.

The body of the White Tiger manifestation began to swell again, even though Li Guanyi had not yet broken through, accompanied by radiant light spreading like water—hair grew, claws sharpened, starlight swirled around its body as it roared incessantly.

Li Guanyi sat cross-legged, the air around him rippling; in the void itself, the continuous roar of a tiger could be heard.

Li Guanyi could directly sense the manifestation’s power beginning to rise.

Unlike previous transformations—such as when he faced Sun Wu’chou—the fox manifestation had been drained of some primordial energy by the White Tiger and Crimson Dragon, yet it merely swallowed it, digested and absorbed it, then drew it inward.

This time was different.

This time, it was like a river reversing its flow—energy of the same origin surged forth, immense not only in scale but also exquisitely pure.

No need to dissolve it; it could be used directly.

The transformation began immediately.

“The best force to trigger a manifestation’s evolution is a higher-level manifestation of the same type?”

Li Guanyi realized this.

He immediately discarded the thought, for neither Yue Qianfeng nor Xue Daoyong’s manifestations had ever granted his own such a profound boost.

Then there was only one answer.

“The White Tiger Sect’s destiny…”

Li Guanyi grunted.

As the White Tiger manifestation began its leap and transformation, the jade fluid within Li Guanyi’s body also erupted.

The jade fluid within the bronze cauldron rapidly circulated and transformed inside him; the boy’s sinews, bones, and skin glowed faintly with golden-jade hues. The aura of the Fifth Heavenly General, even in the faintest trace, was far beyond what one at his level could possibly dispel.

Under normal circumstances, this overwhelming aura would have shattered his foundation.

He would have spat blood, collapsed, and fallen into demonic deviation.

But his physical foundation, too, originated from a once-unrivaled overlord.

From the hero who wielded his blade and leveled the Western Regions.

Golden skin, jade bones, dragon sinews, tiger marrow.

Li Guanyi forcibly withstood the impact of the jade fluid’s transformed primordial energy.

Thus, the tiger’s roar echoed in his ears.

This was the power of Yuwen Lie, the contemporary peak of the White Tiger—a force mighty even amid three centuries of chaos. Beside Li Guanyi, the White Tiger manifestation raised its head and roared, its body radiating dense luminescence as it slowly swelled.

And Li Guanyi seemed to see again the crimson-eyed White Tiger manifestation of the Tuyuhun.

The jade fluid within him transformed into primordial energy, surging like a torrent.

Li Guanyi exhaled and said, “Yuwen Lie…”

Clenching his teeth against the thunderous agony of primordial energy surging through his body, he rose abruptly, adopted a stance in the courtyard, and unleashed punches and kicks—the posture of the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Art. Primordial energy raced through his sinews and bones, continuously strengthening his body.

The White Tiger manifestation leapt beside him, pressing its paw down.

Li Guanyi trained the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Art for a full hour; with his final punch, primordial energy coalesced into the shape of a tiger’s crushing paw, roaring fiercely. The jade fluid within him gradually vanished; he breathed lightly.

The Tiger Roar Bone Forging Art, though already at its initial overlord level,

pushed forward by a mere fraction.

The golden-jade hue on his skin gradually transformed into pure white-jade luminescence.

That overlord, though he had achieved unparalleled feats, had done so at an extremely high realm—he could not have achieved what Li Guanyi had: attaining a trace of the supreme Heavenly General’s aura while still at the First Tower level.

Some things can only be accomplished at the very beginning of cultivation.

In this state, it was as if the Fifth Heavenly General Yuwen Lie himself had acted.

Willing to expend his own manifestation’s foundation and essence.

Just to forge and temper Li Guanyi’s body.

Li Guanyi clenched his fist and struck out violently; the punch shattered the air with a sharp whistle. He spun, kicked his right leg out—the stone stele in the courtyard exploded as if struck by an iron mace. Li Guanyi silently sensed his own power, the tiger’s roar still echoing in his ears.

Though only a fraction.

Even merely a tendency.

But this was undeniably the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Art surpassing the initial overlord level.

In the vast annals of history, those who practiced this art,

he was the first.

The White Tiger manifestation beside him grew still, then dissolved into starlight. Li Guanyi seemed to sense something—he lifted his head slightly, gazing at the Seven Stars of the White Tiger, feeling the starlight settle upon him, silent and boundless, as he stood alone between heaven and earth.

A sudden feeling arose within him.

Almost instinctive.

The starlight of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger favored him more.

If the favor of the Seven Stars of the White Tiger were independent, it would be fine—but if there was a fixed total, then his increased favor meant some of that starlight had departed from Yuwen Lie.

Li Guanyi felt Yuwen Lie must be furious right now.

And for this speculation and outcome, Li Guanyi felt delighted.

The youth raised an eyebrow and gave a middle finger toward the palace.

“Unreasonable old bastard!”

He exhaled, his spirit stirred; with a low roar, a tiger’s paw stepped forth, landing on the ground. The fur beneath the White Tiger’s chin trembled; the tiger on Li Guanyi’s shoulder had grown from over a meter tall to a towering ten feet—majestic, solemn.

Standing quietly beneath the starlight, radiating solemnity.

If the previous White Tiger manifestation had been the level of a real beast,

now it carried a third of a divine beast’s aura.

Previously, the White Tiger manifestation only evolved when Li Guanyi broke through a realm; even when the Crimson Dragon manifestation ascended to the Entry level, the White Tiger and Crimson Dragon manifestations had clashed.

Now, the White Tiger manifestation’s aura and level had reached higher.

Li Guanyi estimated this transformation should have required him to break through to the Second Tower—yet it had arrived prematurely due to his confrontation with Yuwen Lie, the Heavenly General.

Truly, the vast tide of the world.

Opportunity and peril coexist.

Li Guanyi reached out, gently touching the colossal White Tiger manifestation, sensing its power.

Suddenly, he paused, stepped back half a pace, and gripped his sword hilt.

Drew the blade.

As the blade left its scabbard, the White Tiger manifestation transformed into brilliant golden light, enveloping it.

He spun, slashed.

On the three-hundred-fold forged heavy blade, a layer of aura flared; as Li Guanyi swung, the blade’s aura detached, flying like a bird over a dozen feet, slicing across the courtyard’s ornamental rockery before slowly fading.

The youth sheathed his blade with clean efficiency; the blade’s return emitted a clear, ringing chime.

The peak of the rockery slid sideways, rocks crashing down with thunder.

Dust spread.

Blade aura and sword qi, piercing the body to kill—over a zhang away, meaning three to four meters. To strike and kill from such distance was beyond ordinary capability.

This was the power of a Second Tower cultivator—but Li Guanyi himself had not reached the [Primordial Unity] state. He achieved this only because his golden-skin, jade-bone body could bear immense manifestation energy, and because the White Tiger manifestation had ascended to a higher level.

He extended both hands, stroking the massive White Tiger, smiling.

“Didn’t expect you to break through before me.”

The White Tiger manifestation growled softly, lowering its head to nuzzle the boy.

Li Guanyi saw the Crimson Dragon appear, but it was much smaller; the Azure Phoenix flapped its wings, circling calmly above the serene White Tiger. Li Guanyi smiled, lifted the heavy blade still in its scabbard with his right hand.

His palm brushed the heavy blade—he, bearing the White Tiger manifestation, could sense that each time the blade slashed, internal qi surged through it. Externally, it appeared unchanged, but internally, it was already damaged.

A few more such strikes, and the blade’s structure would collapse, snapping in half.

Only a true weapon from the martial world could withstand the impact of blade aura and sword qi.

But Xue Lao had said he’d give him a good weapon—sword wasn’t important.

Best would be a halberd.

Li Guanyi thought.

Doesn’t need to be too high-grade.

Just a true weapon level.

After growing accustomed to long weapons, he regarded swords and knives as secondary arms—power, speed, and reach, long weapons far surpassed swords and knives. Even with blade aura and sword qi, a single sweep of my halberd covers greater range than any sword or knife.

Yet in the martial world, most true weapons are swords and knives; long weapons are tightly controlled by the court.

It might be difficult.

Li Guanyi re-sheathed his blade, closed his eyes to meditate, suppressing his joy. This was merely due to the White Tiger manifestation breaking through early, granting him such power. Though not all Four Symbols’ bodies had broken through, it was still a great blessing—especially with the Gold Guard selection approaching.

The world’s elite—Chen State’s Night Gallop Cavalry, Yi State’s Tiger Barbarian Cavalry, Turkic Iron Cavalry, Western Regions’ Golden Crescent Light Cavalry, Brother Yue’s Halberd Soldiers, and the Longxi Mo Dao Army—all require entry into the Second Tower; the Gold Guard is but a gilded pillow compared to the Night Gallop Cavalry.

“The truly capable among Chen State’s martial nobility all join the Night Gallop Cavalry.”

“Only those lacking skill, unwilling to endure hardship, and seeking only to polish their reputation join the Gold Guard.”

“Having Second Tower level would greatly increase my chances…”

Li Guanyi recalled the White Tiger manifestation’s transformation and suddenly longed to meet Master Siming. Among those he knew, only Master Siming could see manifestations with his own eyes and understood them better than anyone else.

He needed to ask him about his own changes and his aunt’s manifestation issue.

But Jiangzhou City was too vast, and Master Siming wandered like a mortal. Li Guanyi had no idea where to find him—he merely held his blade, gazing at the corner of his wall, his mind idly drifting through thoughts.

I wonder if placing a cup of wine in that corner could lure the old man out.

Of course.

The wine must be watered down.

The boy laughed, and the gloom in his heart lifted as the blade’s slash cut through the air.

He tossed the blade upward—it flew and landed on the rack inside the room—then walked forward slowly.

Behind him, Bai Hu paced.

Sleep!

That day, he slept well; upon waking, he practiced martial arts and fist forms alone, loosening his body, then went to the Daoist temple to seek out Zu Wenyuan, the old master, to study the *Book of Imperial Supreme Cosmic Order*. This volume was exceedingly dull—had it not been for learning the array diagrams of Qilin Palace, Li Guanyi likely could not have endured it.

Now, he could only grit his teeth and press on.

By day, he memorized by rote; upon returning, he studied his own handwritten notes in secret.

Two days passed in calm silence; the only noteworthy event was accompanying Xue Lao to draft documents and submit them to the Ministry of Personnel, preparing to join the upcoming Jinwu Guard selection—since the Grand Sacrifice was now only ten days away, he must participate tomorrow.

For some reason, all the martial aristocratic youths in the capital.

This time, they all chose the [Jinwu Guard].

The Ministry officials were stunned, marveling at how fiercely these martial scions had rallied—something unseen in years. Li Guanyi assumed it was because the Emperor wished to use him as a whetstone; returning home, he told Xue Lao: “Qi Junsong’s son is dead—why are they still planning to challenge me?”

Xue Daoyong said: “This time, you’re wrong about our Holy Emperor.”

“A couple days ago, you told me you met Yuwen Lie at a banquet—His Majesty asked the foreign envoys to speak of Chen Guo’s landscapes and customs. In truth, it was merely mutual flattery, a courtesy to preserve appearances.”

“They spoke flowery words about vast lands and flourishing culture, maintaining a facade of harmony.”

“But Yuwen Lie said the landscapes and mountains he saw were not as good as you.”

“Hmph, he’s made you famous—but now all nations know Chen Guo has a Li Guanyi. Hmph, when a tree towers above the forest, the wind must break it. This divine general of the Military School intends to use the whirlpool of Chen Guo’s Grand Sacrifice to destroy you.”

“How could these martial scions bear it? They’re all young men. Now, even those who had no prior enmity toward you can’t help but test your mettle.”

“Cunning and vicious—yet he’s turned this treacherous scheme into an open, undeniable strategy.”

“No divine general of the Military School is easy to deal with.”

Xue Lao was deeply indignant.

He returned with Li Guanyi to Li Guanyi’s courtyard, saw the shattered rockery, and burst into loud laughter. He clapped Li Guanyi on the shoulder and said: “You—you’ve always seemed so composed and calm. So you still have anger? You were so enraged by Yuwen Lie’s provocation that you smashed the rockery to vent?”

“You’re far inferior to me in this regard.”

The old man was quite pleased.

He immediately ordered tea and snacks brought, then said: “Today, you and I will drink tea. By the way, I’m very curious—why does Yuwen Lie target you so?” He looked at Li Guanyi and said softly: “If it’s the White Tiger Manifestation, I too possess the White Tiger Manifestation. If it’s youthful brilliance, the world is full of such talents.”

“He’s a divine general with achievements that toppled nations—only in his thirties, already ranked among the top ten in the land, commanding a hundred thousand troops, mastering every branch of military science: Yin-Yang, Form, Strategy, and Technique. Not even a youth of talent qualifies to even meet him.”

“My Xue family knows some secrets—some believe Yuwen Lie, this young, ruthless divine general who has destroyed states and cities, is a White Tiger Grand Master like my ancestor, the Eight-Hundred-Year Tyrant. Though brutal, he should still possess tolerance—even the fiercest generals wouldn’t kill you on the spot.”

“Guanyi—why?”

Li Guanyi looked at Xue Daoyong.

He knew.

Only the old man fully understood Yuwen Lie’s hostility toward him.

Only the old man could prepare adequately.

After finishing his tea, Li Guanyi made his decision. He rose, drew his blade, and said:

“Let me demonstrate for you, Master Xue.”

The blade hummed in its scabbard. Li Guanyi drew it—on the ink-black, three-hundred-fold forged blade, cracks appeared, then filled with golden radiance. Finally, the boy slashed downward—the blade’s aura blazed, cleaving the last remnants of the rockery.

Xue Daoyong’s hand froze mid-teacup.

Li Guanyi withdrew his hand—the blade shattered and fell.

Xue Daoyong stared at the flying blade aura, his body stiff—but he had anticipated this.

His earlier rapid breakthrough had prepared Xue Daoyong for Li Guanyi’s advancement.

Though this surpassed his expectations, he managed to steady himself: “You—you’ve reached the Second Realm? Such rapid advancement is astonishing, but it still shouldn’t make him…”

Li Guanyi sat down, placing the hilt beside him.

The qi around him condensed into the White Tiger Manifestation, its fierce aura radiating outward.

The wind stirred; in the void, the roar of a great tiger echoed.

The boy sat before the tea table, his temple hairs slightly stirred, gazing at the old man.

He spoke softly—but his words shattered the old man’s entire worldview.

Li Guanyi said:

“What if I told you…”

“I am the White Tiger Grand Master?”

“？！！！”

Xue Daoyong snapped his head up to stare at him.

His expression froze.

PS:

Today, my editor told me—scratching my head—that the book’s title is too full of killing aura and malevolence, and needs changing. After thinking it over, since the plot has reached this point, I’ve renamed it *The Edict of Peace*: summoning all under heaven to die, seeking peace and tranquility.