Chapter 196: The Foundation of Gao Liu

Inside the small house, the oil lamp flickered, and on the desk lay a sealed letter.

When Li Yuan entered, Wang Wen yuan's heart stirred slightly: "Aside from the few true disciples of Divine Weapon Valley, are there any other disciples with exceptional talent?"

"Divine Weapon Valley has thousands of disciples—how would I know?"

Looking at the sealed letter on the desk, Li Yuan shook his head and asked: "Master Wang, is the news from the Xieshen Sect credible?"

"Credible—mostly credible."

Wang Wen yuan picked up the letter and handed it over: "Do you remember the 'Supporting Hall Spirit Turtle' I mentioned before?"

"Hm?"

Li Yuan took the letter, unfolded it, and scanned it—the content was precisely what Fang Fang Bao Luo had discussed with him earlier.

But far more detailed.

It mentioned the source of the rumor, who was stirring it up, and in it, he saw Lao Han's name.

Just days after the rumor spread, Lao Han struck violently—before Divine Weapon Valley's disciples could be hunted down, he killed hundreds first…

"Lao Han, tough!"

Li Yuan silently praised him, yet felt some concern—Lao Han's sudden appearance would surely draw massive hostility.

Regarding the Split Sea Whale Hammer, the Zhe Long Mansion is teeming with experts; even clad in divine armor, it would be hard to move freely.

"By using blood sacrifice rituals to inquire of the gods, the Xieshen Sect's Bo Suan Zhi Fa is unparalleled in the world—the emergence of the Split Sea Whale Hammer was foreseen by the sect's master through the Supporting Hall Spirit Turtle."

Wang Wen yuan said.

"How could it be calculated like that?"

Li Yuan couldn't comprehend it—he was half a Daoist Priest, yet had never seen true Bo Suan Zhi Fa.

Could a single tortoise shell and a few copper coins predict events a thousand miles away?

That makes no sense!

"The gods."

Wang Wen yuan fiddled with the copper coins: "Exactly how it's done, I don't fully understand—but if you copy the method, what's calculated still holds credibility."

"Do you know how too?"

Li Yuan stared at the coins in his hand; up close, he could see strange patterns covering their surfaces.

But there was no weapon's radiance.

"A little."

Seeing Li Yuan seemed deeply interested, Wang Wen yuan immediately shook his head and warned: "Seeking divine omens is worse than making your own choices; sitting in meditation is inferior to wielding a staff or punching."

"… "

Then why do you fiddle with copper coins all day?

Li Yuan silently sighed but didn't press further—he only asked about the implications; as someone in a small town, his only window to the outside world was Gao Liu.

"This matter—it's big, yet also small."

Wang Wen yuan stroked his long beard, recalling the many inquiries he'd received, and felt a touch of irritation:

"The rumor originated from the Xieshen Sect's main headquarters; many believe it wholeheartedly, but Gao Liu's personnel are too scattered—finding one such person is likely impossible…"

For sects like Divine Weapon Valley, both inner and outer disciples, even laborers, must have their backgrounds verified and registered.

But Gao Liu isn't an ordinary sect—even its core hundred and eight assassins leave no records; how much less the peripheral assassins?

Precisely because it's so loosely organized has Gao Liu survived—and grown stronger despite imperial court crackdowns.

Yet precisely because of this, it's constantly blamed for every crime.

Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief—apparently, this Bo Suan Zhi Fa has limits.

"That's precisely the trouble."

Wang Wen yuan sighed: "Regarding the Heavenly Destiny Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, if they can't find Li Li Yuanba, those people won't let it go."

Li Yuan's heart tightened slightly—that was the real issue.

"Several families have already moved; even if Han Han Chuijun resists as hard as he can, it won't help."

Wang Wen yuan took back the letter from his hand: "Before Li Li Yuanba appears, stay in Gao Liu County—they won't find him, and they'll truly go mad."

"If they can't find him, what will they do?"

Li Yuan's heart tightened—he knew perfectly well Li Li Yuanba would never appear.

"Between the emergence of the Split Sea Whale Hammer and the comings and goings of Divine Weapon Valley, there were only a few thousand people total—kill them all, and you'll find him."

Wang Wen yuan spoke casually: "Something similar happened many years ago…"

"So brutal?!"

Li Yuan's eyelids twitched violently.

"In past sect wars, deaths of thousands or tens of thousands were common—how much more so when Heavenly Destiny Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing is involved?"

Wang Wen yuan dismissed it: "You still underestimate the weight of Heavenly Destiny Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing—and those families…"

"This…"

Li Yuan's heart sank—the Xieshen Sect master's casual divination had plunged Divine Weapon Valley into grave danger.

Even if Lao Han was as ruthless as ever, he couldn't possibly hold off everyone.

Unless Li Li Yuanba appeared…

"An ordinary man bears no guilt, yet possessing a treasure invites ruin—throughout history, the masters of Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, unless born into Daoist sects or the imperial court, have found it nearly impossible to protect their Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing."

Wang Wen yuan rose and pulled a faded ancient scroll from the bookshelf:

"Over thousands of years, twelve Heavenly Destiny Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing have emerged generation after generation—but only one or two of their masters met a good end."

Li Yuan took the scroll with a blank face, flipped through it quickly, and felt a chill.

"In the winter of Year 210 of the Da Zhou Dynasty, Long Yin Dao, Ding Province, the Shan Xuan Bing Mi Jing appeared—suspected to be the Great Huang Jia Hai Purple Gold Spear… sixty-seven thousand dead; the Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing master died in battle."

In the 524th year of the Da Zhou, in Yan Shan Dao, Bai Wang Zhou, the Shan Xuan Bing Mi Jing emerged, suspected to be the "Divine Dragon's Whisker Numinous Staff" appearing…

In the 942nd year of the Da Zhou, in Yun Meng Dao, Ding Xi Zhou…

In the 1210th year of the Da Zhou, in Gu Su Dao…

…

Every time a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing emerges, it stirs upheaval in the martial world, often resulting in tens of thousands dead, affecting one prefecture or one state, or even several states and daos.

On several occasions, it directly became the spark that ignited a dynasty's collapse.

At the founding of the Da Yun, four Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing emerged in succession—not legend, but true descent upon the world.

"If Li Li Yuanba had been born in Longhu Temple, it would be fine; though Shen Bing Valley has some depth, it ultimately cannot bear such fortune. To relocate the sect's foundation for him—how utterly unwise!"

As Wang Wen yuan spoke, his gaze never left Li Yuan, and seeing the latter merely flipping through the ancient scroll in silence, he felt a pang of disappointment.

Is he really not the one?

Could Shen Bing Valley truly harbor a disciple with profound innate talent?

"If you're not from a Dao Sect, are you unworthy to wield the Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing?"

Li Yuan closed the ancient scroll, his heart unable to suppress its shock.

What was recorded in this ancient volume was too brutally candid—the Wudadao Sect's relentless extermination of Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing masters was almost total.

"An ordinary man bears no guilt, yet possessing a jade disc invites blame—it has always been this way. The Wudadao Sect has endured through countless dynasties without falling; how could they allow anyone to replace them?"

Wang Wen yuan pushed open the door; the moonlight tonight was thick, bathing the courtyard in pure radiance.

"The logic holds."

Li Yuan's mind churned with conflicting thoughts. "Even the Zhai Xing Tower cannot protect a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing?"

"The Zhai Xing Tower…"

Wang Wen yuan paced beneath the moon, thoughtfully considering, then shook his head.

"Why do I feel this matter is so troublesome? Simply put—if the Zhai Xing Tower acquires a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, the imperial court will lose sleep and appetite."

"That… is true."

Only then did Li Yuan recall: for over a thousand years, the Zhai Xing Tower had devoted itself to assassinating kings and emperors—the number one archenemy of the state.

"These demons of the Xieshen Sect not only target Shen Bing Valley but also seek to frame the Zhai Xing Tower—their malice is vile. This debt will be settled!"

Wang Wen yuan's expression was grim, mainly due to the imperial court's reaction now that this matter had spread.

If the Zhen Wu Wang were to appear, it would be a cataclysmic event.

"These demons."

Li Yuan loathed them deeply.

"Let's drop this. Let the old bastards worry about it."

Wang Wen yuan, in low spirits, waved his hand and returned indoors.

Li Yuan shut the door.

"Your talent is not poor, your comprehension exceptional—you are the future core I have chosen…"

Inside, Wang Wen yuan added oil to the lamp: "The Zhai Xing Tower offers no special treatment to peripheral assassins, but true seeds like you and your elder brother are different."

Is this the moment the benefits of joining the Zhai Xing Tower finally materialize?

Li Yuan stilled his mind and listened quietly as Wang Wen yuan presented his choice.

"The Zhai Xing Tower has no branches, no divisions, no central hall or headquarters—every assassin operates independently, with no connections between them, and no sect gate exists."

A truly loose organization.

Li Yuan inwardly scoffed, yet was not surprised; only the Xieshen Sect could maintain such widespread presence while being hunted by the imperial court.

"Within the Zhai Xing Tower, only Tianzi assassins may recommend true seeds. I have only ten recommendations— you are the last."

Wang Wen yuan paused slightly; Li Yuan immediately bowed in thanks.

"... You, boy, after two years away from the city, have grown even less honest."

Wang Wen yuan glared at him, then withdrew from his robe a sheet of white paper—ink still fresh, its scent lingering.

"What is this?"

Li Yuan reached out to take it; the first thing his eyes caught were the eight large characters: "Ten Thousand Beasts' Silent Forgetting, Dragon Demon Heart Scripture."

Following them were Shen Zheng Fa, Dong Xu Jiang Longshan Xuan Gong, and other legendary Divine Arts known only in myth.

"Wu Gong are ranked: inferior, middle, superior. Superior Wu Gong are further subdivided—such as Bing Dao Dou Sha Chui or Tian Chan Yang Jian—these are the most common superior techniques, called Secret Transmissions…"

"Five Weapons, Five Colors, Spiritual Void Qi is higher still—belonging to the category of Ultimate Techniques. Ultimate Techniques are often the cornerstone arts of prefecture- or state-level sects; beyond them lie Divine Arts."

Secret Transmission, Ultimate Technique, Divine Art.

Li Yuan focused intently; he had encountered similar words in the library, but never so clearly articulated as by Wang Wen yuan.

"Without superior Wu Gong, a martial artist cannot achieve Great Transformation of the Form, let alone penetrate the meridians; without Ultimate Techniques, one cannot transform internal Qi into True Qi, and thus cannot refine the organs or marrow…"

Wang Wen yuan pointed to the paper.

"When I recommended you for the Tower, I said this was a stroke of fortune—why? Those true seeds I recommend may choose one Ultimate Technique—or even a fragment of a Divine Art!"

Is it really that good?

Li Yuan's heart trembled as he gazed at the list of Divine Arts and Ultimate Techniques on the paper—among them, even the Shen Bing Valley's closely guarded "Five Weapons, Five Colors, Spiritual Void Qi."

"Does the Zhai Xing Tower really possess so many Ultimate Techniques and Divine Arts?"

Li Yuan found it unbelievable—these were the guarded arts of various sects, some even the untransmittable secrets of Dao Sects.

How could they have obtained these?

"How could the Zhai Xing Tower dare oppose the imperial court without possessing some depth?"

Wang Wen yuan smiled faintly. "Choose."

"This…"

Li Yuan's eyes were dazzled by the sight; after quite a while, he forced himself not to look at those fragments of divine arts, and instead fixed his gaze on one absolute art among them:

"Dragon-Tiger Heaven-Shaking Hammer!"