Chapter 441: Three Thousand Martial Artists, As If I Were Personally Present (6000)

Li Fei followed Feng Cheng into the Imperial Study again.

This time, there was no National Master Yun Shu in the study; only the Emperor sat alone.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Li Fei walked into the Imperial Study and bowed.

"Sit."

The Emperor was holding a booklet and reading it. After Li Fei entered, he looked up and said casually.

After Li Fei sat down, the Emperor continued to look at the booklet in his hand.

The Imperial Study became quiet.

A moment later, the Emperor put down the booklet in his hand and looked up at Li Fei:

"I heard that you have been busy with government affairs recently?"

Li Fei sat upright: "Your Majesty appointed me as the Blue Patrol Special Envoy. I dare not fail Your Majesty's trust, so I must also share Your Majesty's worries in government affairs!"

"Share my worries?"

The Emperor sneered, "You are adding chaos for me!"

Li Fei did not panic when he heard this. He stood up, looked at the Emperor with a righteous face, and bowed:

"I dare not! Everything I do is in accordance with the laws of our Great Lan Dynasty, and I have never acted in violation of regulations!"

The Emperor stared at Li Fei. Although he did not erupt with any momentum, it was still very stressful.

A few seconds later, he threw the booklet he had just been reading directly to Li Fei:

"My worries now are not internal but external. Take a look; this is the latest battle report from the Northern Frontier."

Li Fei caught the booklet thrown at him, and inside was a telegram:

"May 21, Northern Barbarian King Boerhu led his army to kill to the holy land of the Huolin Tribe, surrounding it without attacking."

"May 24, the Yanxin Tribe and the Qingye Tribe, which have been on friendly terms with the Huolin Tribe for generations, arrived with their coalition forces and engaged in a standoff with Boerhu's army."

"May 25, Boerhu reached an agreement with the three tribes. In front of the ten thousand army formation, he simultaneously dueled the Great Elder of the Huolin Tribe and the chiefs of the Yanxin and Qingye Tribes. Fighting three with one, he eventually won the battle!"

"May 26, the chiefs of the three tribes swore allegiance to Boerhu on the holy mountain of the Huolin Tribe, willing to honor him as the Northern Barbarian King."

"Appendix 1: The Great Elder of the Huolin Tribe who fought Boerhu is a top-tier True Person of the 'Heavenly Fiend Earthly Fiend Great Perfection', and the chiefs of the Yanxin and Qingye Tribes are both Grandmasters who broke through the realm with five divine abilities.

Appendix 2: Boerhu's current combat power is no weaker than the Prince-level powerhouses of the Western Continent."

The content of this battle report was not long, but the Emperor had just looked at it for a long time.

Now Li Fei was also looking at these pieces of information repeatedly, feeling the 'weight' of the booklet in his hand.

Although he was not clear about the specific combat power division between Grandmasters and top-tier True Persons, he could roughly see some clues from the 'Heavenly Fiend Earthly Fiend system' of magic treasures.

Once the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends are formed, a True Person can be promoted to a top-tier True Person.

Further up, there are the Thirty-Six Heavenly Fiends, and the Heavenly Fiend Earthly Fiend Great Perfection.

Since that Great Elder of the Huolin Tribe was already 'Heavenly Fiend Earthly Fiend Great Perfection', he must be at the very peak of top-tier True Persons.

With such strength, and joining forces with two Grandmasters who broke through the realm with five divine abilities, they still lost to Boerhu, which shows the terrifying combat power of this Northern Barbarian King!

Previously, Yun Shu speculated that once the Northern Barbarian King completely unified the seventeen Northern Barbarian tribes, with the help of the Northern Barbarian luck, there would be a great chance to take that final step and break through the realm to become a Martial Saint.

Now it seems that this speculation is highly likely to be accurate!

And now Boerhu has unified eleven Northern Barbarian tribes, only six tribes away from completing the ascent!

Li Fei could imagine the anxiety in the Emperor's heart.

"Your Majesty, is it time to use troops against the Northern Barbarians?"

Li Fei asked.

The Emperor: "Initially, I promised the Buddhist sect that Mount Pudu Temple and temples in various places would accumulate and refine fifty sets of Fiend Treasures for the Imperial Court, and the Imperial Court would build more temples. I remember you were also present at that Great Morning Assembly."

Li Fei nodded: "Yes, I was also in the hall at that time. That was the first time I attended the Great Morning Assembly."

The Emperor said indifferently: "Starting next month, sixty-three new temples across the country are about to start construction."

Li Fei was startled when he heard this and quickly calculated.

In this way, in more than two years, the Buddhist sect has newly refined 3,150 sets of Fiend Treasures for the Imperial Court?!

Even if they are not the highest-level 'Ten Thousand People Fiend Treasures', if calculated according to 'Thousand People Fiend Treasures', it means the Imperial Court can have three more Imperial Camp Armies on the scale of a thousand people.

Equivalent to having three more Grandmasters on the battlefield!

This is definitely a factor that can influence the battle situation. Li Fei could guess that these extra Imperial Camp Armies would definitely be secretly sent to the Northern Frontier.

To march in the primitive jungles of the Northern Barbarians, one must be an elite force like the Imperial Camp Army.

"After the establishment of the Blue Patrol Pavilion, in the past two months, various places have cumulatively recommended more than three thousand martial artists to join the Military Affairs Office, and these three thousand-plus martial artists have all been sent to the Northern Frontier."

The Emperor continued.

More than three thousand martial artists voluntarily joined the army all at once; this is the benefit brought by the Blue Patrol Pavilion!

Li Fei continued to listen quietly, waiting for the arrangements regarding himself.

The Emperor looked at him: "Next, the Imperial Court will form a Barbarian-Killing Army to kill into the Northern Barbarian land and behead Boerhu! The three thousand-plus martial artists recommended by various places will also join the Barbarian-Killing Army. You are a cabinet member of the Blue Patrol Pavilion and a Blue Patrol Special Envoy. I intend to appoint you as the Army Supervisor of the Barbarian-Killing Army, and at the same time, you will be responsible for leading these three thousand-plus Blue Patrol Pavilion martial artists."

Li Fei was startled when he heard this. He did not expect the position the Emperor gave him to be so high—

Army Supervisor!

Although the Army Supervisor of the Great Lan Dynasty had no command authority, his status was almost on par with the Regional Commander of the army.

Monitoring punishments and rewards, reporting violations and errors, like the eyes and ears of the monarch!

It cannot be held by anyone who is not a true confidant.

And the Emperor not only let Li Fei serve as Army Supervisor but also gave him real power—commanding more than three thousand Blue Patrol Pavilion martial artists!

This is equivalent to directly letting Li Fei have his own foundation in the army; he is truly powerful and influential!

Li Fei bowed to the Emperor, feeling a bit moved in his heart:

"I, thank Your Majesty for your trust, and I will definitely not fail your commission!"

Repaying the monarch's intention on the golden platform, carrying the jade dragon to die for the monarch.

He could now somewhat understand the artistic conception of this poem.

"The Northern land is dangerous and difficult. I will wait for your triumphant return."

The Emperor said at the end.

Li Fei bowed solemnly and then withdrew.

With an excited mood, Shen Zhen came to the Jingan Marquis Mansion again.

She was soon led into the main gate by the steward and brought to the guest hall.

Li Fei was already sitting inside waiting for her.

"Greetings, Marquis."

"True Person Shen, no need for formalities, please sit."

After Li Fei invited the other party to sit down, he did not waste any words and handed over a token directly:

"Returning the original owner, True Person Shen, please check it."

Shen Zhen was stunned. She did not expect Li Fei to be so straightforward.

Previously, Li Fei said he needed to prepare for a period of time, but it had been delayed for more than two months.

Just when Shen Zhen thought Li Fei had gone back on his word and wanted to sit on the ground and raise the price, he suddenly called her to the mansion today and then directly returned the Dream-Like Order to her?

Shen Zhen's hands trembled slightly as she carefully took the Dream-Like Order.

Injecting true power into it, she completed the check in the blink of an eye, confirming that the one in her hand was indeed the supreme treasure that the sect had lost for many years!

In an instant, Shen Zhen's eyes were a bit teary.

She stood up and was about to bow to Li Fei, but was stopped by Li Fei:

"True Person Shen, no need for this. It was something we agreed upon."

"Good, good, good!"

Shen Zhen nodded repeatedly, quickly putting the Dream-Like Order into her bosom, and calmed her state of mind.

The two sat down again, and Li Fei asked directly:

"I heard that the Nightmare Sect also recommended martial artists to join the border army?"

Shen Zhen: "That's right, my sect has two major affiliated sects. After the establishment of the Blue Patrol Pavilion, my sect recommended a total of twenty martial artists from the two major affiliated sects to join the border army. Currently, these twenty people have been transferred to the Northern Frontier and may participate in the upcoming war."

The Imperial Court sending elite troops deep into the Northern Barbarian land to behead the Northern Barbarian King was a top-secret matter.

The information currently known to the outside world was all deliberately created by the Imperial Court—the Northern Frontier army was in battle array, preparing to deal with the next wave of Northern Barbarian attacks.

Li Fei: "I will also go to the Northern Frontier next. The martial artists recommended by major organizations of the Blue Patrol Pavilion this time will all be under my command."

When Shen Zhen heard this, she immediately said: "Then I will immediately write back to the sect and ask the Sect Master to recommend fifty more elites to go to the Northern Frontier. Everyone will be at the Marquis's disposal!"

She thought Li Fei intended to obtain military merit in the Northern Frontier, so she decisively gave her support:

"In addition, my Nightmare Sect is on good terms with quite a few sects. When the time comes, I will try my best to persuade the martial artists recommended by these sects to also listen to the Marquis's command."

Li Fei smiled: "Good, then thank you, True Person."

Although the Emperor gave him the power to command more than three thousand Blue Patrol Pavilion martial artists, if he wanted to truly manage these three thousand-plus people well, relying only on his official position and reputation was not enough; he also needed his own people.

The people from Datong Prefecture, plus the people from the Nightmare Sect, could first form Li Fei's true foundation.

After sending Shen Zhen away, Li Fei probed his intent into his body.

Beside his true spirit stood an old man in a Daoist robe with a celestial appearance, who was none other than True Person Master Qingding who had just 'moved'.

Moving from the Dream-Like Order into Li Fei's Flying Sword Body normally would not take more than two months.

The reason Li Fei needed to prepare for such a long time was to ensure that this remnant soul of True Person Master Qingding would not be damaged.

The lifespan of a sorcerer is much shorter than that of a martial artist. Even for a Daoist True Monarch who is proficient in health-preserving techniques, the maximum lifespan is difficult to exceed two hundred years, while the lifespan of a Martial Saint can reach three hundred years.

However, sorcerers also have an advantage that martial artists do not have, which is the true soul.

After cultivating to the True Spirit realm, the sorcerer's self-consciousness transforms into a true soul. Even if the body dies and the path disappears, the True Person's true soul can survive alone for another seven days.

If one can find an object suitable for the true soul to reside in, the survival time of the true soul can become longer.

If it is the complete true soul of a True Person, it can survive for at least a hundred years after death in their own natal magic treasure.

If it is the complete true soul of a True Monarch, it can survive for up to two hundred years in their natal magic treasure!

Forces like the Daoist and Buddhist sects that have True Monarchs and Buddhas in every generation will have quite a few senior experts whose true souls remain after death. This is the foundation of the sect!

Of course, with only a true soul and no body, the true soul is like a rootless tree. Its own realm and power will continue to weaken with the passage of time, and it cannot maintain its original realm for too long, only becoming weaker and weaker.

Otherwise, when Qingxu rebelled initially, it would not have been just one True Monarch from the Daluo Sect who took action.

"Senior, how do you feel? Is there any discomfort?"

Li Fei's true spirit asked True Person Master Qingding beside him.

True Person Master Qingding smiled self-deprecatingly: "A remnant soul, just lingering on."

His situation was much worse than that of a True Person who left a true soul after death; he was a remnant soul residing in someone else's natal magic treasure.

Under these circumstances, he could survive for at most another ten years.

"Senior, no need to be discouraged. There is always a way to solve it."

Li Fei comforted, "Ten years later, I may not have no way to let you solve your predicament."

If it were someone else saying this, True Person Master Qingding would definitely sneer.

If the situation of a true soul remaining could be fundamentally solved, the Buddhist and Daoist sects would have had results long ago.

With the foundation and strength of the Buddhist and Daoist sects, they still haven't been able to solve this problem until now. How could one person solve it?

But the person saying this was Li Fei, the number one genius in history!

True Person Master Qingding was willing to hold a bit of expectation for him.

"Good, then this old man will look to you."

True Person Master Qingding laughed, "I won't 'live' in your place for nothing. When you refine new technique-type implants later, I can help refine them together."

Previously, it had always been Li Fei's true spirit refining implants in his body alone. Now with an extra True Person Master Qingding, it was equivalent to having an extra assistant, and the efficiency would become higher!

"Then thank you, Senior."

Li Fei left his true spirit to continue chatting with True Person Master Qingding, learning techniques and alchemy from the other party.

The true spirit is equivalent to his second consciousness. With the true spirit, he could use his mind for two purposes. Letting the true spirit follow True Person Master Qingding to learn alchemy was undoubtedly the best choice.

Walking out of the main hall, Li Fei walked toward the martial arts training field.

At this time, two martial artists were fighting on the field, one using a saber and one using a sword.

Seeing Li Fei, the two stopped and bowed to Li Fei:

"Greetings, Marquis."

Li Fei nodded: "How is the cultivation going?"

The man using the saber said: "With the Marquis's help, plus the Spirit Heart Pill bestowed, I am confident that I will complete 'Return to One' next month!"

The other martial artist using the sword also followed closely and said: "Me too, I will definitely complete 'Return to One' next month!"

These two, the one using the saber is called Miao Miao Yangxia, and the one using the sword is called Su Jia. Both are peak Qi-Transformation martial artists.

The two were previously wandering martial artists in Feng Province. After hearing that Li Fei had opened a mansion in Xingcheng to recruit people, they both ran to defect and joined the Jingan Marquis Mansion.

After Li Fei helped Xu Xu Xiaotian successfully break through the realm to become a Dao-Foundation martial artist, he let Xingcheng send two more martial artists who met the requirements of the 'Hundred-Day Breakthrough Method' over.

Thus, Miao Miao Yangxia and Su Jia came to Lanling City.

After secretly checking the two's subconsciousness with the 'Dream Realm Method' and confirming that the two were not spies sent by others and that their character had no problems, Li Fei began to help the two break through the realm and bestowed the Spirit Heart Pill he had obtained to the two.

After more than two months of hard training, the two were now only one line away from breaking through to the Dao-Foundation realm!

Soon, Li Fei would have two more Dao-Foundation experts under his command.

"I will go to the Northern Frontier next to participate in the war there. Are you willing to go with me?"

Li Fei asked straightforwardly.

Neither of them hesitated at all when they heard this, and they cupped their fists:

"Swear to follow the Marquis to the death!"

Li Fei decided to take these two to the Northern Frontier because the Dao-Foundations they practiced were the type more suitable for growing in life-and-death battles, so he wanted to take the two to temper themselves.

If they could return from the Northern Frontier alive, he would have two more experts under his command who could stand alone in the future.

As for Xu Xu Xiaotian, who had already broken through the realm, he was arranged by Li Fei to return to Datong Prefecture.

That place was in a period of rapid development and really needed Dao-Foundation experts to sit in town.

"Good, go and prepare. We will set off soon."

Li Fei said to the two.

The departure time was even earlier than Li Fei expected.

May 28, the day after meeting the Emperor, Li Fei received an imperial edict ordering him to set off for the Northern Frontier immediately!

Thus, Li Fei took Miao Miao Yangxia and Su Jia to the train station to take a car.

"Marquis, take care on the journey. I will wait for your safe return!"

Outside the station, Lu Lu Wenxing said to Li Fei.

This time going to the Northern Frontier, Li Fei did not take him.

He had actually applied for it voluntarily, but was rejected by Li Fei.

In Li Fei's view, although Lu Lu Wenxing was a Dao-Foundation martial artist, he had long lost his sharpness and the potential and spirit to continue improving his realm and cultivation base.

Such a person is more suitable for managing the rear for himself, rather than going to the battlefield to kill the enemy.

"Good, if there is anything, keep in touch at any time."

Li Fei patted Lu Lu Wenxing on the shoulder.

Just as he intended to turn and enter the station, he suddenly felt something and looked in a certain direction.

He saw a car parked on the street in the distance, and a woman with very ordinary looks and figure standing beside the car door.

Li Fei recognized this person at a glance; it was 'Little Flower' who had been following the Third Imperial Prince.

This woman who was plain-looking and even had a very ordinary name was a Martial Arts Master!

Since this person had come, it meant that the Third Imperial Prince had also arrived.

"You wait for me for a moment, I'm going to see someone."

Li Fei said to Lu Lu Wenxing and the others, then turned and walked toward Little Flower.

After he walked over, Little Flower nodded to him and took the initiative to open the rear car door for him.

Inside the car, the Third Imperial Prince, who was wearing casual clothes and holding a folding fan, smiled at Li Fei.

Li Fei sat into the car.

"Your Highness."

"Congratulations, Barbarian-Killing Army Supervisor, commanding three thousand Blue Patrol Pavilion martial artists."

The Third Imperial Prince said with a smile.

This matter was still a top-secret of the Military Affairs Office and had not been made public, but he said it directly, showing his wrist again.

Li Fei was not surprised by this, after all, the other party had the number one intelligence organization in the world:

"Thank you."

"With the opportunity given by the Father Emperor, are you planning to go to the Northern Frontier to try first? If you can establish enough military merit and build a foundation in the army, there will be no need to join forces with me?"

The Third Imperial Prince asked straightforwardly.

Li Fei looked at him: "He who knows me, Your Highness."

"Hahaha."

The Third Imperial Prince laughed, closed his folding fan with a *swish*, and pointed at Li Fei:

"You think too simply of military merit, and you think too simply of the Northern Barbarians."

Li Fei said calmly: "Everything must be tried. My path has always been tried out like this."

The Third Imperial Prince restrained his smile and nodded: "Also, after all, you are the number one genius in history, miracles often accompany you."

"Anyway, I didn't come to persuade you, I came to provide you with some information."

"Your Highness, please speak."

After knowing that the other party held 'Under Heaven', Li Fei was even more afraid to underestimate the information provided by the other party.

"The commander of this Barbarian-Killing Army is Bai Yan, the Vice Pavilion Master of the Stop-Conflict Pavilion."

The Third Imperial Prince said.

"Bai Yan..."

Li Fei had met this Grandmaster once.

At that time, it was the other party who rushed from Lanling City to Tianshui City, took Night Shine from Li Fei's hands, and personally escorted Night Shine back to the capital.

"Bai Yan killed his way out of the border army step by step. After establishing military merit, he entered the Stop-Conflict Pavilion and eventually became the Vice Pavilion Master. His famous battle initially was leading more than two thousand elites deep into the wilderness, eventually destroying a branch of the Huolin Tribe, and bringing back thousands of heads, including the head of a Martial Arts Master!"

The Third Imperial Prince continued:

"Because he has experience fighting the Northern Barbarians and also has experience in long-distance raids in the wilderness jungle, he is the Regional Commander of this Barbarian-Killing Army, and the information I want to provide is also related to him."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"The reason Bai Yan was able to destroy that branch of the Huolin Tribe initially was because he fell in love with the daughter of the Huolin Tribe's Great Elder and had information provided by the other party."

"..."

"Bai Yan used the daughter of the Huolin Tribe's Great Elder, and eventually, this woman was personally executed by the Great Elder. This time, the Father Emperor let Bai Yan lead the team, which has both advantages and disadvantages. I have already said the advantages. As for the disadvantages, it is that your Barbarian-Killing Army is very likely to encounter the crazy revenge of the Huolin Tribe! That Great Elder is a top-tier True Person of the 'Heavenly Fiend Earthly Fiend Great Perfection', and his strength is very terrifying."

After listening to the Third Imperial Prince's words, Li Fei was a bit puzzled:

"Why does Your Highness want to tell me these?"

The Third Imperial Prince smiled: "Since we want to pursue cooperation, naturally we must show some sincerity. I believe that no matter what kind of merit you establish in the Northern Frontier this time, you will eventually still need my help!"

Li Fei was silent for a moment and said to the Third Imperial Prince:

"Thank you for the information, Your Highness."

Then he opened the car door and got out.

"Li Fei."

The Third Imperial Prince suddenly called him.

Li Fei turned to look at the other party.

The Third Imperial Prince: "Come back alive."

Li Fei nodded: "Of course."

Finally, he closed the car door and turned away.

The information provided by the Third Imperial Prince was of course valuable, at least allowing Li Fei to check the information on the Huolin Tribe in advance and prepare some targeted means.

As for the possibility of encountering that terrifying Huolin Tribe Great Elder, Li Fei was not so worried.

The goal of this Barbarian-Killing Army this time is to behead the Northern Barbarian King Boerhu!

If one can't even deal with the other party's defeated general, what is there to talk about beheading?

Li Fei thought all the way back to the station entrance, preparing to take people in.

"Jingan Marquis—"

Suddenly, a voice came from afar.

Several people turned their heads to look and saw the Imperial Eunuch Feng Cheng.

The other party was holding a wooden box in his hands and walking toward this side.

Although he looked like he was walking slowly, the distance of several hundred meters seemed to be only a few meters under his feet, and it was crossed in the blink of an eye.

Li Fei felt a chill in his heart. He vaguely sensed the 【No Distance】 divine ability from Feng Cheng, and the other party's attainment in this divine ability was far higher than his!

"Greetings, Eunuch Feng."

Li Fei and Lu Lu Wenxing and the others bowed together.

Feng Cheng was still all smiles:

"Jingan Marquis, the Emperor asked me to see you off, and by the way, give you something."

As he said this, he handed the wooden box in his hand to Li Fei, and the following words could only be heard by Li Fei:

"The Emperor said that after you arrive at the Northern Frontier, the imperial edict for you to serve as the Barbarian-Killing Army Supervisor and command the Blue Patrol Pavilion martial artists will follow. He asked me to give you this token first."

Li Fei took the wooden box and opened it.

Inside was a gold medal engraved with a coiled dragon, faintly emitting a majestic, vast aura!

Four characters were engraved on the front of the gold medal—

As If I Were Personally Present.

Looking at this gold medal in the wooden box, Li Fei was silent for a moment.

He looked up in the direction of the Imperial Palace, then looked at Feng Cheng:

"Please trouble Eunuch Feng to convey a message to the Emperor for me."

"Jingan Marquis, please speak."

"My intention, it is all in the note left that day."

Feng Cheng felt a chill in his heart when he heard this.

He knew the content of that note. At this moment, he immediately thought of the two sentences on it:

"Fighting three thousand miles in one body, one sword can block a million teachers!"

Feng Cheng said solemnly to Li Fei: "Jingan Marquis, rest assured, I will convey it to the Emperor without missing a word."

Li Fei nodded: "Good, thank you, Eunuch Feng, farewell."

Feng Cheng bowed to Li Fei very solemnly for the first time:

"Wishing the Jingan Marquis a triumphant return."

"Definitely."

Li Fei returned the bow, took the gold medal 'As If I Were Personally Present', and turned away.

Rushing to the Northern Frontier.

Asking for monthly tickets.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 442 =====