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Fu Junzhuo's beautiful face revealed deep contempt and indignation:
"The tyrannical Emperor Yang Guang indulged in extravagance and debauchery, launching three campaigns against Goguryeo, exhausting the people's resources, and constructing the Grand Canal, which forced millions of laborers to work, leaving countless dead! Now, Wang Bo of Shandong has taken the lead in rebellion, and heroes such as Li Mi of Wagang, Dou Jiande of Hebei, and Du Fuwei of Jianghuai have risen up one after another. The world is in chaos, with war raging everywhere! The tyrannical emperor is hiding in Jiangdu, showing no remorse, and continues to live a life of debauchery!"

The voice carried the deep-seated hatred that the Goryeo people harbored towards Yang Guang:
"And what supports this crumbling Sui dynasty are the four major clans: the Li clan of Taiyuan, the Dugu clan, the Song clan, and the Yuwen clan that just chased me! These clans each have their own ulterior motives, hold military power, and treat the common people like dirt!"

When the Yuwen Clan was mentioned, Fu Junzhuo couldn't help but grit her teeth.

"The Four Great Clans... the Yuwen Clan... Yuwen Huaji... the Longevity Formula..."

Yi Huawei repeated these key names in a low voice, as if a cold chain had snapped shut in his mind.

"Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty..."

Yet another world teeming with unpredictable changes and heroes. He knew that Yuwen Huaji was merely a slightly important pawn in this chaotic game of chess. And the Goryeo woman before him, Fu Junzhuo, was the guide for those two future protagonists who would stir up the winds of change across the land, although at this moment, she had clearly not yet encountered those two hidden dragons.

"I see."

Yi Huawei's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if he had merely confirmed a trivial matter. He looked up again, his gaze sweeping across the majestic outline of the distant city before returning to Fu Junzhuo. His eyes seemed to pierce through her feigned composure and see the injuries in her internal organs.

Fu Junzhuo felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze. His eyes were so penetrating that she felt all her secrets were exposed. She suppressed her discomfort and looked at this mysterious, ruthless, yet seemingly ignorant of worldly affairs powerhouse before her. Under the pressure of life and death, a thought quickly formed.

This person's strength is unfathomable. If one could gain his assistance, even for a short time, it would be enough to deter Yuwen Huaji's pursuers and buy time for healing and escape! Although this person is extremely dangerous, he seems to be the only variable that can be utilized at the moment.

Fu Junzhuo took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and scheming in her heart, and tried her best to make her voice sound sincere: "Senior... since you have just arrived here, you must need to learn more information and find a place to rest. Although I am not very talented, I am quite familiar with the martial arts world of the Central Plains and the various forces. If you do not mind, I am willing to be your guide and can explain to you in detail what is happening here. Luoyang City is a mixed bag, but with me here, it may save you some unnecessary trouble."

She deliberately emphasized "information" and "trouble," which were the bargaining chips she could think the other party might need.

Fu Junzhuo paused slightly, observing Yi Huawei's unchanging expression, and continued, "Besides... the Yuwen Clan is powerful and has many henchmen. Senior just killed their people and scared away Yuwen Huaji. Given the Yuwen Clan's vengeful nature, they will definitely not let this go. Although Senior's skills are unparalleled, being harassed by petty people is ultimately troublesome. Why not... travel with me for a while? It would be good for both of us to look out for each other."

She spoke the last word, "take care of," with a hint of reluctance, as if she were seeking the other party's protection.

A cold wind swept through the mass grave, bringing with it a heavy stench of decay and blood. Fu Junzhuo held her breath, awaiting the judgment of this mysterious and powerful figure. She didn't know whether this invitation was a blessing or a curse, but in this desperate situation filled with corpses and surrounded by formidable enemies, it was the only piece of driftwood she could grasp.

Yi Huawei remained silent, his gaze slowly shifting between Fu Junzhuo's pale face, the bleeding wound beneath her ribs, and the distant direction of Luoyang. His eyes seemed to be assessing the value and risks of a tool. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice still unreadable:
"lead the way."

………………

Luoyang, the ancient capital, still boasts a magnificent skeleton, but its interior is now filled with the clamor and decay of a chaotic era.

Yi Huawei and Fu Junzhuo settled in a secluded, mixed-race inn in the city.

For the past three days, Yi Huawei has been like a silent ghost, wandering through the streets and alleys, taverns and teahouses, and even the darkest corners of Luoyang. He is no longer the emperor in his dragon robe, but just a silent traveler dressed in gray linen clothes with a sword at his waist, completely inconspicuous.

Fu Junzhuo dutifully acted as a guide and source of information, recounting the incompetence of the Sui Dynasty, the infighting among powerful clans, the flames of the righteous army, the undercurrents of the two sects and six paths of the demonic sect, and the transcendence of the righteous holy lands such as Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Sect.

Yi Huawei listened passively, rarely asking questions. His gaze pierced through the bustling and chaotic city, landing on something deeper:
The spiritual energy (or primordial energy) of this world is far richer and more active than that of the world in *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*. This allows martial artists to cultivate internal energy (true qi) much faster, and the upper limit seems to be higher. However, the omnipresent sense of oppression from this world is also stronger, like an invisible shackle binding him, this "outlier," not only hindering the recovery of his own primordial true essence but also subtly repelling his ability to draw upon external primordial energy. He is like someone who has entered a hyperbaric oxygen chamber; although there is ample oxygen, his body structure is under immense pressure.

The martial arts of this world, especially judging from Fu Junzhuo's descriptions and the occasional fights seen in the streets and alleys, place greater emphasis on the purity and attributes of internal energy, as well as the application of spiritual will (such as momentum and sword intent), even faintly touching the edge of "moving heaven and earth" (such as Yuwen Huaji's Ice Profound Force cold energy). This is significantly different from the system in his original world, which focuses more on the exquisite techniques and the accumulation of profound internal energy, and seems more like a starting point for a higher level of exploration.

Clans, rebel armies, demonic sects, righteous sects, Turks, Goryeo… the intertwined forces are a hundred times more complex than a martial arts world filled with numerous sects. While individual martial prowess is formidable, even top masters seem unable to truly ignore the overwhelming power of thousands of troops and vast forces. This is drastically different from his near-divine power experience in the later stages of the "Myth" world; the power ceiling in this realm seems even higher, but the rules are also more rigorous.

The legend of the Longevity Manual, this extraordinary book, is like a myth among the common people in the martial arts world, full of absurd speculations. However, through the occasional remarks of Fu Junzhuo and some corroborating information from higher levels, Yi Huawei grasped the key: it is not an internal energy cultivation method, but a "oracle bone script" heavenly book that points directly to the mysteries of heaven and earth and the universe. No one has mastered it, yet it has driven countless people crazy.

It represents a "key" that could potentially break the existing framework of martial arts and even touch upon the fundamental rules of the world.

Three days was enough for Yi Huawei to etch the basic outlines of this world into his mind, and also enough for Fu Junzhuo to treat her non-fatal injuries. She fulfilled her role as a guide, providing Yi Huawei with the basic information he needed.

On the morning of the fourth day, Yi Huawei pushed open the door to find Fu Junzhuo's room next door empty. Only a silver ingot remained on the table, as if the room fee had been paid, and there was not a word left.

Yi Huawei stood at the doorway of the empty room, his eyes utterly expressionless. A faint scent of blood and Fu Junzhuo's unique, aloof aura lingered in the air, pointing southeast.

"Yangzhou."

Fu Junzhuo's movements, her injuries, the subtle expression on her face when she mentioned the Longevity Formula, as well as her hatred for Yuwen Huaji and some unfinished mission (the resentment after failing to assassinate Yang Guang), all these clues converge and point to Yangzhou, a major city in the southeast that is both prosperous and chaotic, a hub of the Grand Canal.

She was bound to go there, perhaps to contact her fellow disciples, perhaps to conceal her whereabouts, or perhaps... there was a place she considered safer, or... to fulfill her destiny (to meet Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, whom she had not yet met).

Yi Huawei didn't care about Fu Junzhuo's sudden departure. She had fulfilled her mission as an "information carrier." A chance encounter, each taking what they needed, nothing more. Her life and death, her grudges, were as insignificant to him as fleeting clouds.

However, the Longevity Formula was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating a slight ripple in Yi Huawei's calm and composed mind.

"No one has mastered it... It points directly to the origin of heaven and earth... The Oracle Bone Script Heavenly Book..."

Yi Huawei walked back to his room, stood by the simple window, and gazed at the gray sky over Luoyang. Decades as prime minister, navigating the treacherous waters of the court; one hundred and twenty years as emperor, controlling the fates of millions. He had long since seen through and grown weary of the pinnacle of power. The supreme ruler, his word carrying immense weight, the power of life and death… these things that had once driven countless people to madness were, to him, merely an experience in his long life, a game he had already completed, a game he found tedious.

Conquering the world? Striving for supremacy in the Central Plains? Rebuilding an empire? These thoughts couldn't even stir a ripple in his heart. They were too tedious, too repetitive, too inefficient. The mundane power, wealth, and beauty had long lost any appeal to his soul, tempered by time.

His sole goal, clearly and coldly imprinted in the depths of his soul, was: to shatter the void and go home!
To achieve this goal, he needs power! Power sufficient to resist and even surpass the suppression of the rules of this realm! Power sufficient to tear apart the barriers of space!
The system fell silent, recovering slowly. The oppressive rules of this realm clung to it like a leech. He needed a new path, a more powerful "key."

The "Longevity Manual"... This wondrous book, regarded as mythical and undecipherable by the people of this world, possesses a description that "directly points to the origin of heaven and earth," which perfectly strikes at Yi Huawei's deepest need. It may contain the opportunity for him to understand, and even utilize, the rules of this world! It may be a path to transcend the existing martial arts system and reach a higher level of power!

Even if no one manages to master it, Yi Huawei believes that with his century of martial arts experience, the unwavering will forged by imperial destiny, and his understanding of the rules of different worlds, he might be able to glean some secrets from it. At the very least, it's worth seeing, and worth seizing!
Fu Junzhuo went to Yangzhou, and the Longevity Formula would ultimately fall into the hands of those two thugs in Yangzhou. A cold calculation flashed in Yi Huawei's eyes. He didn't need to follow Fu Junzhuo; he only needed to go to the source.

Yangzhou.

Yi Huawei picked up the horizontal sword he had obtained from the corpse of a Yuwen clan soldier on the table, his fingers slowly tracing the cold blade. The rough linen cotton clothes could not conceal the terrifying power contained within his body, a power that would make even the top experts in this world tremble.

He left the hustle and bustle of Luoyang behind. He stepped out of the inn, merged into the crowd, his direction clear—southeast, Yangzhou.

Target—The secret to immortality!

As for whether he would encounter Fu Junzhuo or the two yet-to-be-prosperous "Double Dragons" on the way, to him they were nothing more than insignificant scenery or...stepping stones that might appear on his path to his goal.

.....................

Outside Yangzhou city, dusk was falling, and a fine drizzle shrouded the world in a damp, chilly gray. Above the steep cliff edge, below flowed the mighty, turbulent river. The cold rain stung my face, carrying the chill of late autumn.

Fu Junzhuo leaned against a gnarled old pine tree. Her white clothes were stained and filthy with mud, rain, and her own blood. Several deep wounds, revealing bone, continued to ooze blood beneath her wet clothes. Every breath she took was accompanied by excruciating pain in her lungs. Her face was as pale as paper, and her right hand, gripping her sword, trembled slightly, but her eyes burned with a resolute flame as she stared intently at the figure in front of her—Yuwen Huaji.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were soaked to the bone, looking like two drowned chicks, and were tightly protected behind Fu Junzhuo.

Kou Zhong's eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched, and he gripped the short blade Fu Junzhuo had just given him tightly. His knuckles turned white from the force, and his chest heaved violently, filled with resentful anger and fear. Xu Ziling, on the other hand, was deathly pale, his lips trembling. He watched Fu Junzhuo's swaying back and futilely tried to tear off a piece of his clothing to stop the deepest wound under her ribs, but she gently pushed him away.

"Witch, why fight like a trapped beast?"

Yuwen Huaji stood with his hands behind his back, about ten feet away. His magnificent brocade robe remained gleaming; raindrops falling on it were vaporized by an invisible chill into wisps of white mist, swirling around him, making him appear like a demon god emerging from an icy hell. A cold, confident smile played on his lips, but his eyes were sharp as knives as they swept over Fu Junzhuo and the two trembling boys behind her.

"Hand over the 'Longevity Manual,' and out of respect for your master, I, the steward, will spare your life. As for these two little bastards..."

His gaze shifted to Kou and Xu, filled with undisguised contempt and cruelty: "Crush their bones and scatter their ashes, just enough to add some fertilizer to this mass grave."

Behind him, elite guards silently dispersed, forming a fan-shaped encirclement. Their cold blades gleamed in the rain, completely sealing off any escape routes. Below the cliff roared the river; ahead lay unparalleled masters and a formidable array of swords—a desperate situation!

"Yu Wenhuaji!"

Fu Junzhuo suddenly straightened her back, ignoring the excruciating pain from her reopened wound, and forcefully mustered the last of her remaining internal energy. She activated the Yi Jian Heart Technique to its limit, and the longsword in her hand emitted a clear and melodious hum. The tip of the sword pointed at Yuwen Huaji, and a tragic aura of mutual destruction soared into the sky, briefly dispersing the surrounding rain and chill.

"You won't get away with this! Today, I'll drag you down to hell with me!"

Her voice was hoarse from her injuries and agitation, yet it carried a heart-wrenching resolve. She was willing to risk her own life to fight for a slim chance of survival for the two boys she regarded as her own children!
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling let out heart-wrenching cries:
"mother!"

Yuwen Huaji's smile instantly turned icy: "Stubborn to the end! Then... die!"

He took a step forward, and the slippery mud beneath his feet instantly froze into a large patch of white frost! His Ice Profound Energy erupted at full power, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet; even the falling rain seemed to freeze into ice needles in mid-air! His right palm slowly rose, a chilling, eerie blue light gathering within it. The surrounding air crackled under the immense pressure, as if space itself were about to freeze! This palm strike contained his killing intent and all his power, enough to shatter the heavily injured Fu Junzhuo and the two boys behind her into ice shards!
Fu Junzhuo's pupils contracted as she felt the chilling aura of death that could freeze one's soul! She held nothing back; her longsword transformed into a burning rainbow of life, resolutely piercing the dark blue, icy palm print! Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling closed their eyes in despair.

Just at this critical moment, when the icy palm print was about to collide with the sword rainbow burning with life!

A figure, like a ghost or a gray lightning bolt slicing through the rain, appeared silently three feet in front of Fu Junzhuo! Just in time to block the devastating icy palm print!

Yi Huawei was still wearing that unremarkable gray linen cotton coat, and worn-out leather boots covered in mud. Rain fell on him, but strangely, it couldn't penetrate the rough fabric, as if blocked by an invisible force, silently sliding down his body. His appearance was completely unexpected, as if he had always been standing there, simply ignored by everyone.

His timing was absolutely perfect! It was at the precise moment when Yuwen Huaji's palm strike was about to be unleashed, when the old force had already been generated but the new force had not yet been generated!

Yi Huawei didn't even glance at the deep blue palm print that could freeze steel. He simply raised his right hand casually, even with a hint of weariness. His fingers spread, palm facing forward, the movement as slow and gentle as brushing away non-existent dust from his shoulder.

There was no earth-shattering burst of momentum, no dazzling brilliance.

"puff!"

A dull, heart-stopping soft sound!
The terrifying icy palm print, imbued with Yuwen Huaji's full Ice Profound Strength and capable of shattering monuments and freezing rivers, seemed to have struck an ancient, unyielding mountain the moment it touched Yi Huawei's palm! The eerie blue light froze abruptly, then dimmed and dissipated at a visible speed! That chilling aura, capable of freezing the soul, vanished instantly upon touching Yi Huawei's skin, as if encountering its nemesis, without even causing a ripple!
Not even a white mark was left on Yi Huawei's palm!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment! (End of Chapter)