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"Ten moves have passed."

Shi Feixuan suppressed the surging blood in her throat and said in a weak but clear voice, "The Martial Venerable's Blazing Sun Technique is indeed... well-deserved of its reputation."

She had done her best, knowing full well that if Bi Xuan hadn't initially been testing her and hadn't held back, she probably wouldn't have been able to withstand even five moves. But in any case, she withstood ten moves, thus preserving her sect's reputation.

Bi Xuan remained silent for a moment, the scorching and domineering evil aura emanating from his body slowly receding. He said in a deep voice, "You were able to withstand ten of my moves without being defeated, and on the ninth move, you used skill to overcome force, and on the tenth move, you seized victory from a dangerous situation, even injuring my vital energy... As a successor of Cihang Jingzhai, you have every reason to be proud. I admit that I underestimated you before."

His gaze shifted to Yi Huawei, who had been standing silently by, his eyes becoming even more profound and unfathomable:

"If your companion is like this, you must be even more formidable. I came here to verify the rumors, and now it seems... the rumors are true. What is your purpose in coming to my grasslands?"

Yi Huawei stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over Shi Feixuan, who was recuperating and healing. He nodded slightly in his heart. This battle was both a trial and a catharsis for her, and it also made her see the gap between herself and a true grandmaster, which was not necessarily a bad thing.

Turning to look at Bi Xuan, his tone was flat:
"I was merely here to admire the scenery of the grasslands. Now it seems that the Blazing Sun Technique is too forceful and lacks variation. It is too aggressive and harms both the enemy and the user, and is not the true path."

Upon hearing this, Bi Xuan's eyes blazed with renewed fury, but remembering Shi Feixuan's exquisite swordsmanship and Yi Huawei's unfathomable aura, he suppressed his urge to attack immediately. He coldly said, "The Great Dao? What is the Great Dao? The ability to defeat and kill enemies is the Great Dao! If you are not convinced, why not come down and let me experience your 'Great Dao'!"

Yi Huawei shook his head, his interest waning: "Fighting with you? There's no need. Your martial arts have reached their limit, and your path forward is blocked. Defeating you would be as easy as turning my hand, but it would be of no benefit to me. You should leave before I change my mind."

The indifference and condescension in those words fueled Bi Xuan's rage more than any provocation. In his entire life, he had never been so scorned. Yet, the other person's detached, almost otherworldly calmness gave him a surreal feeling—was the other person not deliberately humiliating him, but stating a…fact?
This realization tinged a chilling undercurrent with Bi Xuan's rage. He stared intently at Yi Huawei, his aura fluctuating wildly, clearly indicating an internal struggle. To attack? There was no guarantee of victory; a crushing defeat was even possible. To remain inactive? What would become of his reputation as a Martial Venerable?
"Boom—boom—"

Just then, the sound of hooves thundered across the grassland in the distance, causing the earth to tremble slightly. Dust billowed into the sky in the distance, like a yellow curtain rapidly drawing closer. Banners appeared and disappeared in the dust, the wolf-headed banners fluttering in the wind.

In a short while, a large and well-organized Turkic cavalry force surged forward like a steel torrent, slowly stopping a hundred paces away from Yi Huawei and his group.

The group numbered around three thousand, all elite cavalrymen, their horses and men clad in leather armor, armed with swords and bows. Their menacing aura instantly dissipated the small-scale aura that had just clashed between Bi Xuan and Shi Feixuan.

The cavalry formation split up, and several riders stepped out from the crowd.

The leader, a man around forty years old, was robust and broad-shouldered, with a thick beard. He wore a sable fur hat embroidered with gold thread and a magnificent sable cloak overlaid with exquisite chainmail. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and his every glance exuded the domineering air of a ruler surveying all directions. This was none other than DTZ Jieli Khan!

Behind Jieli Khan were several Turkic nobles and generals dressed in fine clothes and with extraordinary bearing. One of them was thin and had a sinister look in his eyes. His aura was somewhat similar to Bi Xuan's, but more reserved and mysterious. He was another master-level expert under Jieli Khan, and Jieli Khan's nephew, Tuli Khan.

Behind Tuli Khan were several warriors with shaved heads and left-fastening robes, whose expressions and demeanors were quite different from ordinary Turkic warriors. They were clearly experts from other tribes on the grasslands or from the Western Regions who had come to join him.

Jieli Khan's gaze first swept over the somewhat chaotic battlefield, lingering for a moment on Shi Feixuan, who was leaning on her sword with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. A hint of amazement and surprise flashed in his eyes before his gaze fell on Bi Xuan, who stood proudly and still exuded a scorching aura.

"Martial Lord!"

Khagan Jieli spoke in a loud, booming voice, in Turkic: "I heard that a master from the Central Plains has set foot on the grasslands, so I came to see for myself. I did not expect that the Martial Venerable would be here first. It seems that he has already tested the waters?"

His tone seemed forthright, but it carried a hint of inquiry. Although Bi Xuan was nominally his strategist, his influence was enormous, and Jieli maintained considerable respect and vigilance towards this grassland martial master.

Bi Xuan slowly withdrew his blazing Yang energy, but he seemed to show little respect for the arrival of Jieli Khan, simply saying, "Khan's information network is quite impressive. Indeed, I exchanged a few blows with this girl from Cihang Jingzhai."

He did not mention Yi Huawei, nor did he elaborate on the outcome of the fight, but with the eyesight of Jie Li and the others, they could naturally see that Shi Feixuan was seriously injured, while Bi Xuan's aura, though slightly fluctuating, was still as powerful as a mountain.

Jieli Khan laughed heartily, his gaze finally turning to Yi Huawei, who was the most eye-catching yet also the most "ordinary" person in the room.

Yi Huawei, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back. In the face of the fierce killing intent of thousands of iron cavalry and the imposing presence of Jieli Khan, he remained as unmoved as a reef in a raging storm, his expression indifferent, as if the magnificent military formation and the noble Khan before him were no different from the earth, stones, grass, and trees by the roadside.

This extreme tranquility, more so than any flamboyant aura, instilled a chill in Jieli's heart. Having long held a high position and witnessed countless heroes, he knew that the more unfathomable a person was, the calmer they appeared.

"This gentleman,"

Jieli Khan switched to slightly stiff but quite clear Chinese, and his tone became more solemn: "You must be the 'Nameless' gentleman who has been widely rumored on the grasslands recently? To be able to traverse the Yinshan White Road on foot and penetrate deep into the heart of my Turkic territory, you are indeed extraordinary."

He had clearly received a detailed report on the whereabouts of Yi Huawei and his two companions.

Yi Huawei slightly raised his eyes, glanced at Jie Li, and nodded in response, but did not utter a word.

Khagan Jieli was not offended and continued to laugh, "I, Khagan Jieli, am the Great Khagan of the Turkic Khaganate. It is a great honor to see your esteemed presence today. I just saw your companion sparring with the Martial Venerable, and the Cihang Jingzhai sword technique was indeed exquisite, truly an eye-opener. However... since you are a guest from afar, and I am a straightforward and impetuous man of the grasslands, I hope you will forgive me if I have been rude or offensive."

His words not only revealed his identity and demonstrated his magnanimity, but also implied that this place was his territory.

With a slight smile, Yi Huawei finally spoke, his voice calm and even: "The Khan has personally led his army here, surely not just to exchange a few polite words."

A glint flashed in Jieli Khan's eyes, and he clapped his hands in praise, "Sir, you speak frankly! Very well! Then I, the Khan, will speak plainly!"

He spurred his horse forward a few steps, looking down at the rider, yet striving to adopt a humble and respectful demeanor, and said in a loud voice:
"Sir, your ability to travel thousands of miles from the South to arrive here safely demonstrates your extraordinary abilities. Judging from your demeanor, you are no ordinary person. Currently, the Central Plains are in turmoil, with heroes vying for power, endless wars, and people displaced. In contrast, our Great Turkic Khaganate boasts a vast territory, a million armored soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of archers. Wherever our army points, all submit. This is the time for heroes to display their martial prowess and realize their ambitions!"

After pausing to observe Yi Huawei's reaction, and seeing that the other party remained expressionless, he continued to increase the stakes:

"Throughout my life, I have loved to befriend heroes from all over the world, and I especially value a man as unfathomable and extraordinary as you, sir! If you do not despise me and are willing to condescend to help my Turkic people, I am willing to treat you as a guest minister! Your status will be second only to me, and you will be on par with the tribal leaders! You may carry swords within the golden tent, and you will not have to bow before me! Beautiful women of the grasslands, treasures of the Western Regions, fine horses and slaves are all at your disposal! My Turkic warriors will also be at your command!"

The terms offered by Jieli were undeniably generous, clearly demonstrating his determination to recruit Yi Huawei, or rather, his urgent need to eliminate this "uncertainty" lurking deep into the grasslands. Upon hearing this, Tuli Khan, standing beside him, flashed a hint of jealousy and wariness in his sinister eyes, but remained silent. The other Turkic nobles and generals looked surprised, clearly feeling that the Khan valued this man far too highly.

Bi Xuan also glanced sideways, wanting to see how this "nameless" person, whose true strength he himself couldn't fathom, would respond to Jieli's recruitment.

Lian Rou held her breath nervously. She knew that her master's ambitions were far beyond what a mere Turkic guest minister could achieve. However, the Khagan of Jieli was extremely powerful, and if she refused his offer to recruit her directly, it would likely lead to a confrontation with him immediately!
Shi Feixuan forcibly suppressed her injuries, listened intently, and sneered inwardly. Jieli Khan was ambitious; his recruitment of Yi Huawei was nothing more than an attempt to strengthen his own forces, and perhaps also to probe the true nature of the Central Plains and even the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

Under everyone's gaze, Yi Huawei calmly met the expectant yet imposing look of Jieli Khan.

He didn't answer immediately, but first glanced at the vast grassland in the distance, then at the Turkic cavalry behind Jieli, who were solemn and disciplined yet couldn't hide their arrogance, before finally looking back at Jieli's face.

The corner of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly, as if he were smiling, but there was no smile at all.

"Your guest?"

Yi Huawei's voice remained calm, yet it carried clearly throughout the entire venue, even seeming to pause the howling wind. "High position and great power, treasures and beauties, sounds good."

Just as a hint of joy appeared on Jieli Khan's face, Yi Huawei continued:

Unfortunately, I have no interest in this.

Jieli's smile froze instantly, his eyes darkening. The generals behind him glared angrily, their hands gripping their sword hilts, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The thousands of cavalry seemed to sense the Khan's change in mood, letting out a low, unified shout, their killing intent solidifying as they pressed down on Yi Huawei and his companions!

"What do you mean by this, sir?" Jieli Khan's voice turned colder, no longer concealing its domineering nature. "Do you feel that I am not sincere enough? Or... do you look down on my Turkic people?"

"It's not that I look down on you."

Yi Huawei shook his head, seemingly completely oblivious to the overwhelming killing intent: "We simply have different paths, so we cannot work together."

"The Dao?" Jieli frowned.

"What you, Khan, seek is nothing more than to consolidate your power, expand your territory, collect tribute from all directions, and enjoy supreme honor. Perhaps you even dream of one day following in the footsteps of your predecessors, marching south to the Central Plains and herding horses along the rivers."

Yi Huawei’s tone carried an indescribable sense of detachment: “This is the way of the king, the path to supremacy. Countless heroes have walked this path over the centuries. You are not the first, nor will you be the last.”

"My path lies not in assisting anyone to achieve hegemony, nor in seizing temporary power and wealth. What I see is not the rise and fall of a single race or nation at a particular time, but the flow of civilization, the destiny of all living beings, and the vicissitudes of heaven and earth. The Turks may be strong, but they are merely a wave in the long river of history, destined to ebb away. Why should I waste my energy on them?"

These words, cryptic and condescending, seemingly dismissed the entire Turkic Khaganate and Jieli's ambitions with a casual remark. Not only were Jieli and his men shocked and enraged, but even Bi Xuan frowned, feeling that this man was far too arrogant.

"Insanity!"

A burly general standing beside Jieli couldn't help but shout angrily, "How dare you show such contempt for my Great Turkic Khaganate! Khan, please allow me to seize this madman!"

Jieli Khan raised his hand to stop his subordinates. His face was grim, his eyes flashing with a fierce light as he stared intently at Yi Huawei.
"Sir, your words are excessive. Since the founding of our Turkic Khaganate, we have dominated the grasslands, commanding a million archers. Our territory extends east to Liaodong, west to Persia, south to the Central Plains, and north to the various tribes. This is a magnificent and powerful force. How can it be easily dismissed by your words? Since you are unwilling to be the national advisor, could it be that... you look down on me and think I am unworthy of your assistance? Or is it that you have other plans and wish to become an enemy of our Turkic Khaganate?"

The last sentence already hinted at a murderous intent. Three thousand iron cavalrymen stepped forward simultaneously, their hooves thundering, the oppressive force intensifying.

Lian Rou's palms were sweating, and Shi Feixuan also gripped the Sekong Sword tightly. Although she was injured, she would fight to the death if she made a move.

"An enemy?"

Yi Huawei smiled, a hint of mockery in his smile: "Jieli, you overestimate yourself and underestimate me."

He raised a finger, pointing it at Jieli, then slowly traced it across the iron cavalry behind him. The movement was slow, yet carried a strange rhythm:

“If I were your enemy, by now, you, and the three thousand so-called ‘elite’ behind you, would already be corpses strewn across the ground. Your so-called martial arts…”

He glanced at Bi Xuan: "The military force you rely on is no different from children playing around in my eyes."

These words are not just arrogant, but blatant contempt and provocation!
"court death!"

"kill him!"

The Turkic generals could no longer contain themselves and roared in anger, the sound of bowstrings being drawn echoing throughout the land.

Jieli Khan's face turned ashen, his anger rising. As the overlord of the grasslands, how could he have ever suffered such humiliation? But he was, after all, a shrewd and ruthless ruler, and forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately order an attack. Yi Huawei's arrogant and fearless attitude, as if he regarded thousands of troops as nothing, was simply too strange. Moreover, the Martial Venerable Bi Xuan was right beside him, yet he remained silent, offering no rebuttal or challenge, which made him even more wary.

"Sir, you have quite the nerve!"

Jieli spat out the words through gritted teeth: "I, the Khan, would like to see how you will turn my three thousand warriors into corpses!"

He had made up his mind. Regardless of whether this person truly possessed extraordinary abilities, such humiliation of himself and the Turks could not be tolerated! Even at a cost, he would kill him on the spot as a warning to others!
Just as Jieli's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he was about to wave his hand to give the order...

Bi Xuan made a move. (End of Chapter)