The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 129 Mechanical Dragon
Yan Qiuling remained silent, and Han Qing understood that she was giving him the choice.

Han Qing agreed without hesitation.

If Yan Qiuling really wanted to kill, she could indeed kill Yue Bairu, but Han Qing didn't want Yan Qiuling to provoke the Zongheng Dao Palace and the Five Spirit Dao Saints because of his own affairs. That was one reason.

Secondly, Han Qing had long heard of Yue Bairu's reputation and wanted to experience her skills firsthand to see just how powerful this woman, known as having the greatest martial arts talent in the world, really was.

"Alright, then I'll see what Miss Yue's strength is like." With that thought, Han Qing said loudly.

“Since this is a friendly spar, let’s stop here! Young Master Han, how about we first compete in martial arts, and then fight over the divine statues?” Yue Bairu said slowly.

"Okay!" Han Qing nodded slightly.

With just a few words, he had a pretty good impression of Yue Bairu.

The woman possessed an ethereal and elegant air about her, and she spoke with great politeness.

However, this does not mean that this woman lacked arrogance; rather, she buried this arrogance deep within her heart and did not reveal it.

At this moment, Yue Bairu also leaped up from her horse and landed in front of Han Qing.

Han Qing didn't mince words, his body surging with murderous intent: "Miss Yue, I'll strike with my sword. In this clash of martial arts, this one strike will decide the victor!"

“Alright!” Yue Bairu nodded and drew out a pair of pure white short swords, each only the length of an adult’s arm.

In an instant, Han Qing's body surged with murderous aura, condensing into a murderous domain, within which thousands of Yin soldiers appeared.

"Since it's a matter of one strike to decide the outcome, I must do my utmost," Han Qing murmured to himself.

Although he was confident, he did not dare to underestimate Yue Bairu. Judging from her confrontation with Yan Qiuling just now, her strength was much greater than Luo Ding's.

"Fiend Armor!"

Han Qing whispered, and numerous Yin soldiers transformed into streams of black light that flew into his body, condensing into a suit of demonic armor on his body.

At the same time, wisps of malevolent energy were also merging into Han Qing's body, causing his physical abilities to surge.

That wasn't all. Han Qing reached out and pressed down on the hilt of his sword, closed his eyes slightly, and activated the special ability of a fifth-level martial arts master: Military Might.

When the Yin soldiers form an army, their military might can empower the soldier's master, greatly increasing the destructive power of the master's next attack, and even harming the spirit and magical thoughts.

With her eyebrows slightly raised, as white as moonlight, Han Qing felt an extremely strong sense of pressure coming from ahead even before he drew his sword.

"You're really good!"

As Yue Bai murmured, she once again unleashed the secret technique of the Path of Vertical and Horizontal. In an instant, the power of a large group of martial artists behind her converged on her, resulting in a comprehensive enhancement of her strength, physical attributes, and magical power.

For a moment, the scene was silent as both men prepared a devastating attack.

Chen Lianfeng's expression was solemn, and the many martial artists behind him also held their breath, their eyes scanning back and forth between the two.

The two figures, one in black and one in white, were dressed in black armor, their aura growing increasingly fierce, while Yue Bairu held two swords, the force on their blades growing stronger and stronger, their pure white light becoming more and more dazzling.

At one moment, the two moved at the same time, each transforming into a phantom and leaping towards the other.

"cut!"

In the instant they were close, Han Qing unleashed a slash, the blade light splitting into countless fragments, the shadows of the blades intertwining to form a vast net, or a storm, completely enveloping Yue Bairu.

Along with this slash comes a surging, overwhelming force that can dull one's mind or even cause one to collapse.

Yue Bairu's attacks were equally fierce. Her twin swords moved like shooting stars or flying swallows, advancing relentlessly to cleave through the net of blades and directly kill Han Qing behind her.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

A series of dense collision sounds rang out, and numerous scattered knife marks quickly appeared on the open ground near the two, as if in an instant, the knife and sword had clashed hundreds or even thousands of times.

Suddenly, Yue Bairu's two swords flew out of her hands, and she dodged backward, creating some distance between herself and Han Qing.

The two swords flew through the air, swirled and fell to the ground, crossing and embedding themselves in the open space in front of them.

A shocking stream of blood flowed down Yuebai's fair left arm.

"You flatter me!" Han Qing, standing opposite, bowed and said.

The difference in skill between the two is immediately apparent, and the outcome is already decided.

"We lost!"

Chen Lianfeng's pupils contracted.

Yue Bairu is widely regarded as the most talented person of this era, how could she lose?

"Not bad!" Yan Qiuling nodded slightly, her eyes sparkling with an inexplicable light as she watched Han Qing's retreating figure.

With a wave of her hand, Yue Bairu sent a gust of wind up the two swords that had fallen to the ground, which then swirled back into her hand.

"Young Master Han is indeed a martial arts prodigy. His strength is domineering and unparalleled. He has also mastered the Phantom Thousandfold Blade. This strike is truly formidable. Even a Martial Saint would risk sudden death if struck by it without any warning." Yue Bairu shook her head.

As she spoke, she sheathed her twin swords, and a seven-zhang-tall statue suddenly appeared behind her. It was dressed in a white robe, held twin swords, and had a face exactly like Yue Bai's, except that beneath the white robe was a thick snake tail.

Han Qing also sheathed his sword, and a black-armored god statue materialized above his head, holding a broad, long sword.

Whoosh!
The black-armored statue soared into the air and crashed directly into the statue of Yue Bairu.

The two statues immediately engaged in a fierce life-or-death battle in front of everyone.

The blades clashed fiercely, and in an instant, the flashes of light and the roar of the swords filled the air.

On the field, the two were evenly matched, and it was impossible to tell who was better at the time.

Han Qing frowned slightly. This was the first time he had encountered a divine statue clashing with another cultivator of the same realm who was on par with him.

"If we use the Great Completion Cloud-Retaining Illusionary Wind Blade, can we defeat the enemy?"

Han Qing pondered this in his heart.

Just then, he sensed something and looked up towards the north. In the distance, another ball of crimson flame drifted over and instantly appeared above everyone's heads, transforming into the appearance of an old man in a crimson robe.

However, this old man was made entirely of flames, yet every hair and every arm was lifelike, and the flames on his body were dazzling, with waves of heat rolling in all directions.

This was the first time Han Qing had ever seen such a peculiar existence, and he couldn't help but be amazed. What kind of powerful cultivator could condense such an existence with flames? Although it was an inanimate object, it seemed to contain life and was extremely agile.

At this moment, the two of them stopped fighting at the same time, and the two statues disappeared almost simultaneously.

"Grandpa, what brings you here?" Yue Bairu asked softly.

"Grandpa? Is this the Five Spirits Dao Saint You Songchuan?" Han Qing was startled.

The old man formed from flames swept his gaze across the area and landed on Yan Qiuling.

"Yan Qiuling, I didn't expect to see you here. What? You want to harm my granddaughter? I'm here, let's see how you do it!"

"You old ghost, you're just bluffing. Do you think I can't see through you? This is just a fire spirit clone, and I can see that its aura is fluctuating and the flames are spreading. It could be destroyed at any moment. It seems you're seriously injured," Yan Qiuling mocked.

"Hmph! So what if it's just a fire spirit clone? You can't kill me!" the old man sneered.

"Then I'll destroy this clone of yours!" Yan Qiuling waved her hand, and dark clouds rolled above her head, with silver lightning flashing within them.

The two renowned top-tier cultivators were about to engage in a fierce battle.

Just then, the situation changed again.

Yan Qiuling and the Five Spirits Dao Saint stopped fighting at the same time, their expressions changed slightly, and they looked in the same direction.

Rumble!
The earth shook violently, and not far away, a mountain collapsed with a deafening roar, with many waist-high boulders rolling down the mountain as if the sky had fallen and the earth had split open.

A vast and overwhelming pressure rolled in from the front like a tidal wave, engulfing everyone in an instant.

Even Han Qing felt suffocated, as if he were carrying two heavy mountains on his shoulders, stuck in a quagmire, unable to move an inch.

The other martial artists were in an even worse state, all of them bent over and unable to move, some even forced to lie face down on the ground.

Han Qing then witnessed a scene he would never forget.

Beneath the mountain, a giant dragon constructed of mechanisms soared up from the mountain. It was hundreds of feet long, and its body was covered with countless intricate mechanical parts that meshed together. When it moved, these parts made a series of strange clicking sounds.

What's even more amazing is that this mechanical dragon looks like an inanimate object at first glance, but its huge, lantern-like eyes flicker with a lively luster.

"Is this a mechanical creation of the Mohist school? It's so huge, could it be the Azure Dragon Giant Spirit, one of the Four Symbols Giant Spirits!"

Han Qing immediately found the answer in his mind.

Mohist practitioners can create various mechanical puppet beasts and communicate with them. When they fight, the two work together to unleash astonishing combat power.

The Four Symbols Giant Spirit is the most powerful mechanical puppet beast in history. It is said to have been passed down through generations and continuously strengthened and improved by each generation of Mohist masters, and now it has become incredibly powerful.

"Old Ghost You, even if you run to the ends of the earth, I will never let you go!"

A deep, resonant voice echoed between heaven and earth; this mechanical dragon was actually speaking human language.

Seeing this, Yan Qiuling laughed and teased, "Old Ghost You, I was wondering why you looked so disheveled. It turns out you were being chased by the Azure Dragon Statue of the Mo Clan's leader."

You Songchuan snorted coldly, ignoring Yan Qiuling, his gaze fixed on the mechanical dragon soaring in the sky.

"Your master is being besieged and killed by powerful figures from all sides. Instead of protecting him, you come here to chase me. Hmph, I'm afraid it won't be long before the whole world learns of the death of the Mohist leader," You Songchuan said loudly.

"My master possesses unparalleled power; how could you cowards possibly contend with him? Enough with the nonsense, I'll destroy this one of your avatars first!"

The mechanical dragon suddenly swung its thick, long tail and lashed it down at You Songchuan below.

"not good!"

The warriors paled and fled in panic.

You Songchuan was the fastest. The instant the dragon made its move, he waved his hand, and a ball of flame enveloped Yue Bairu. He suddenly soared into the air and fled into the distance at high speed.

Yan Qiuling reacted quickly, and a gust of wind swept Han Qing up and sent him soaring into the sky.

Just as Han Qinggang flew into the sky, only a dozen feet away from the ground, the thick dragon tail lashed out at the ground.

With a deafening roar, the sky and earth seemed to collapse, dust and smoke billowed up, and waves of earth rose like walls, several dozen feet high, surging and crashing in all directions.

The thousands of Chen family soldiers were swallowed up by this dust wave in an instant. The enormous impact contained within it could cause astonishing damage to the human body.

The martial artists closest to the point where the giant tail landed were thrown high into the air. The immense force poured into their bodies, shattering their internal organs. When they landed, they were nothing but a pile of mud.

Even though Han Qing was in the air, he could feel a terrifying impact coming towards him, but Yan Qiuling blocked it all.

He stared at the massive mechanical dragon that had landed at close range, and his mind was deeply shaken, feeling a profound sense of awe from the outside in.

Before this giant dragon, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness, and an uncontrollable fear spread through his heart.

This is the result of a huge difference in strength. Ordinary humans would feel fear from the bottom of their hearts if they saw a galloping elephant, let alone a mechanical dragon that is hundreds of feet long.

"How could such a terrifying behemoth exist in this world?"

After the two landed in the distance, Han Qing steadied himself and murmured to himself.

Although he had seen descriptions of the Four Symbols Giant Spirits in Kong Xiu's notes, he thought they were exaggerations. However, after seeing them with his own eyes, he realized that Kong Xiu had not only not exaggerated, but had actually been conservative in his description.

“The Four Giant Spirits are all incredibly powerful; otherwise, the leader of the Mohist School wouldn’t be known as the number one person in the world today,” Yan Qiuling explained from the side.

However, the dragon came quickly and left quickly.

Its only target is You Songchuan; it has no interest in anyone else.

You Songchuan and Yue Bai fled, disappearing in the due east direction.

The mechanical dragon immediately gave chase, but instead of soaring through the sky, it burrowed underground.

Another earth-shaking tremor ensued, and the mechanical dragon burrowed into the ground, disappearing without a trace.

The terrifying pressure that permeated the world dissipated, and the uncontrollable fear in Han Qing's heart vanished without a trace.

He frowned, carefully recalling the feeling he had just experienced, and suddenly felt a stirring in his soul.

"My fear of this mechanical dragon is actually a fear of life and death. There is great terror between life and death. Only by truly overcoming this fear and no longer fearing life and death can I have a chance to break through that mental barrier and become a half-saint." A realization dawned on Han Qing's mind.

He suddenly felt that it might be good to stay with the mechanical dragon a little longer, so that he could calm down and truly experience this sense of fear, which might help him overcome it.

However, it was too late to regret now. Han Qing glanced around and looked at the messy battlefield not far away.

One lash from the tail of the mechanical dragon injured or killed at least three hundred martial artists from the Chen family. The remaining few hundred were filled with fear and their morale was greatly diminished.

"Capture Chen Lianfeng alive first, and the rest will naturally collapse!"

Yan Qiuling left behind a sentence and flew towards Chen Lianfeng in the distance.

Chen Lianfeng snapped out of his shock and saw Yan Qiuling flying over, his face immediately showing fear.

He was well aware of his own strength and weaknesses, and knew he was no match for Yan Qiuling.

So he immediately ran away into the distance. However, a gust of cold wind rose up from the ground, and strands of magical energy instantly transformed into walls of flames, surrounding him in the middle.

"break!"

With a roar, Chen Lianfeng threw a punch, and a vast martial intent surged from his fist, directly shattering the fiery barrier in front of him.

However, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky and engulfed his body.

Chen Lianfeng's body convulsed. Although his Martial Saint body was powerful, Yan Qiuling's lightning was incredibly lethal. When the lightning dissipated, Chen Lianfeng knelt on one knee, his body covered in wounds of varying lengths, blood flowing freely.

Immediately afterwards, a giant fiery hand appeared in front of him, grabbed his body, bound him tightly with immense force, and lifted him high into the air.

"Yan Qiuling, don't kill me! Let me go!" Chen Lianfeng shouted.

Yan Qiuling didn't go for the kill. With a flick of her fiery hand, Chen Lianfeng was thrown out and tumbled to the ground not far away.

"Don't move!" Chen Lianfeng steadied himself and shouted.

Upon hearing his words, the many Chen family martial artists nearby all stood still, not daring to move.

"Han Qing, feel free to ask whatever you want. This man is Chen Muxiu's steward and knows Chen Muxiu very well," Yan Qiuling said.

Han Qing nodded slightly, staring at Chen Lianfeng, and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, how strong is Chen Muxiu?"

"Chen Muxiu is a semi-saint of the Legalist school. However, a few years ago, he participated in the siege of Yuelu Academy and was accidentally injured by Su Jin. He almost lost half his life. Fortunately, You Songchuan helped him and saved the other half of his life."

However, its condition became extremely strange, resembling that of a living dead, with grayish-white skin, a stiff body, and never seeing sunlight. "Chen Lianfeng replied.

"I've heard that the strongest member of the Chen family is Chen Liuyun, the Great Sage of Military Strategy. He disappeared a few years ago. Is he dead or alive now?" Han Qing asked.

The Chen family is a second-rate family. Apart from Chen Muxiu, the most worthy of fear is Chen Liuyun.

According to his understanding, Chen Liuyun's strength was probably no weaker than Yan Qiuling's, and might even be stronger.

Chen Lianfeng pondered, "I don't know whether Chen Liuyun is alive or dead. I only heard that a few years ago, the leader of the Mo family tried to assassinate the emperor. Several powerful martial artists came to his aid, including Chen Liuyun. Although the emperor did not die, Chen Liuyun was seriously injured. It is said that he was taken to the palace and treated by a semi-saint physician. Since then, there has been no news of him."

"I never imagined there were such secrets. No wonder the court wanted to abolish all the Hundred Circuits," Han Qing said unhurriedly.

“Without Chen Liuyun, the Chen family is nothing to fear!” Yan Qiuling heard his words and stepped forward.

She then asked loudly, "Tell me, does the Chen family have a top-tier cultivation method at the seventh realm called the Heavenly Profound Technique?"

"I know perfectly well that I broke through to become a Martial Saint by relying on this very training method," Chen Lianfeng said.

“Write down this martial art, the seven realms of training methods, each one is invaluable,” Yan Qiuling said.

"it is good!"

Chen Lianfeng dared not delay and immediately ordered his servants to bring paper and pen, and began to quickly write down this method of cultivating the seven realms of the Dao.

Han Qing glanced around and used magic to transmit his voice to Yan Qiuling.

"I've heard that Chen Lianfeng has followed Chen Muxiu for many years and is extremely loyal. Why would he surrender so readily today, without any backbone? Be careful, there might be a trap here."

Yan Qiuling nodded slightly: "This thief is cunning and treacherous, so we must be careful. However, there are also cowards among the Martial Saints. With me here, there is no need to be afraid. If this person makes any move, I can burn him to death with a flick of my hand."

Han Qing felt much relieved upon hearing this.

Indeed, with Yan Qiuling around, there's no need to fear Chen Lianfeng's tricks.

Although Chen Lianfeng is a Martial Saint, his strength is only average, even inferior to Yang Wanxiu, and the gap between him and Yan Qiuling is too great.

Before long, Chen Lianfeng had written tens of thousands of words.

"My lords, this is the Chen family's seventh realm cultivation method, the Heavenly Profound Technique."

"Gentlemen, please take a look!"

Chen Lianfeng respectfully presented the stack of documents, which Han Qing took and carefully examined.

Seeing his behavior, Yan Qiuling couldn't help but sneer, "Chen Lianfeng, you're supposed to be a Martial Saint, how can you be so spineless?"

Chen Lianfeng chuckled and said, "As the old saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Chen Muxiu is already half-dead, what future is there in following him? Besides, I have been a slave to the Chen family for so many years, and I have already repaid this debt of gratitude."

"You're quite open-minded," Yan Qiuling teased.

Han Qing read through the martial arts manual several times, his face remaining expressionless, but his vigilance was at its highest.

This martial art is difficult to input into the panel. He had encountered this situation before. It is not because the martial art is too high or too low in grade, but because it is harmful or cannot be cultivated, so it is difficult to input into the Seven Killings Stele.

"This old thief is indeed suspicious." Han Qing remained calm and secretly transmitted his voice to Yan Qiuling.

Upon hearing this, Yan Qiuling remained calm and secretly transmitted her voice: "Let's see what this old thief is planning to do."

Han Qing nodded slightly, deciding to cooperate with this old scoundrel in his act.

"Indeed, this Heavenly Profound Technique is extremely profound, truly worthy of being a top-tier cultivation method of the seventh realm!"

"I'm glad you're satisfied, sir." Chen Lianfeng nodded repeatedly, bowing his head.

But in the instant he lowered his head, a chilling murderous intent appeared on his face.

This martial art is indeed the Heavenly Profound Skill, but he made subtle adjustments in some places, thus turning it into a trap.

Unless one has an extremely deep understanding of the Heavenly Profound Technique, these traps are not easily discovered.

If someone were to practice this method exactly as it is written, there might be no problems at first, but once they master it, their blood and qi would surely flow in reverse, causing their body to explode and they to die.

Back then, in order to prevent this seventh-realm secret technique from being leaked, the Chen family specially gathered the top martial artists in the entire family to compile this Heavenly Profound Technique, intending to make those who coveted this secret technique pay a heavy price. However, it had never been used for so many years, but now it has finally come in handy.

"To escape this deadly situation, we must seize the opportunity to severely injure Yan Qiuling in one move. Although this woman's magic is powerful, her physique is not indestructible. She is destined to die!"
However, I cannot act rashly. I need to lower their guard and find the perfect opportunity to strike.

Many thoughts flashed through Chen Lianfeng's mind. To seek this sliver of opportunity, bowing and bending over was nothing.

At this moment, the sound of galloping warhorses came from not far away. Bai Yunfei and his men had heard the commotion and led their troops to the battlefield.

"Chen Lianfeng, tell your men to cooperate obediently, remove their weapons and armor, and squat down in the open space to the side!"

"it is good!"

Chen Lianfeng was indeed extremely cooperative. Under his command, these Chen family warriors dared not resist and did whatever he told them to do.

Before long, the remaining eight hundred-plus people were squatting on the open ground to the side, having completely given up resistance.

"My lords, I sincerely pledge my allegiance to you. I beg you to spare my life!" Chen Lianfeng said with a beaming smile.

"You've followed Chen Muxiu for so many years, yet you so easily defect to me. I can't trust you. How about this: you kill all the commanders and deputy commanders of these four battalions, and then I'll believe you!" Han Qing said calmly.

Chen Lianfeng hesitated for a moment, then turned around and was about to attack the eight men. The eight men also looked terrified and were about to fight back.

Unexpectedly, Chen Lianfeng suddenly turned around, and multiple wounds on his body burst open, spraying out a cloud of blood mist.

"die!"

"Blood Prison Kill!"

Chen Lianfeng roared, his aura surging, his skin turning slightly red, as if his blood was boiling.

The blade wasn't aimed at Yan Qiuling, but at Han Qing.

Because he could sense that Yan Qiuling had not completely let her guard down, this strike would not kill her, but it would have a certain chance of killing Han Qing.

However, both Han Qing and Yan Qiuling were already on guard.

The instant Chen Lianfeng turned around, Han Qing used her lightness skill to retreat gracefully, while Yan Qiuling had been preparing her spell, waiting for the moment he would slip up.

Click!

A thick silver snake descended from the sky and crashed into him instantly. However, Chen Lianfeng's sword strike was extremely powerful. With a flash of light, his vast martial arts essence condensed into a line of cold light, which actually cleaved the silver snake in mid-air, turning it into strands of silver light that spread across the world.

"Hmm? This Blood Prison Killing move is quite powerful. It seems this is your backup plan, waiting for me to lower my guard before making your move. If I were hit by this strike, there is indeed a chance I would die," Yan Qiuling said with a smile.

After Chen Lianfeng unleashed this strike, his aura plummeted, as if he had fallen into a state of weakness.

This strike was a desperate measure, instantly consuming a large amount of vital energy to boost physical strength. He then concentrated his martial arts essence into the blade's edge before slashing forward with unstoppable force, capable of killing gods and Buddhas alike. This was his last resort to turn the tide of battle.

He hadn't expected Yan Qiuling's magic to come so quickly, giving him no chance to get close.

At this moment, Chen Lianfeng stopped pretending, his face contorted with rage as he stared intently at Yan Qiuling.

“You have always been wary of me. I have already given you the Heavenly Profound Technique, but I still cannot gain your trust.”

"Heavenly Profound Technique? You've tampered with this technique to try and kill us. Do you think I can't see through it?" Han Qing sneered.

Chen Lianfeng's expression remained normal, but his heart was in turmoil. He didn't know how Han Qing had found out.
"This is indeed the genuine Heavenly Profound Technique. If you don't believe me, you can simply burn it!"

Yan Qiuling was too lazy to listen to his nonsense anymore. With a wave of her hand, a ball of flame appeared out of thin air and directly enveloped his body.

Chen Lianfeng still refused to give up and charged towards Han Qing with the ball of flame.

Han Qing watched as the flesh and skin rapidly turned black and charred in the flames, and the aura of the warrior plummeted, yet he still maintained an extremely fast speed of movement. He couldn't help but marvel at the tenacity of the Martial Saint's vitality.

Yan Qiuling's flames were incredibly hot; any martial artist below the level of Martial Saint would be reduced to ashes the moment they touched them, without any chance to struggle.

Chen Lianfeng lunged forward, wanting to embrace Han Qing, either forcing Yan Qiuling to extinguish the flames or perishing together with Han Qing, their bodies turning to ashes at the same time.

However, he underestimated Han Qing's strength.

If Han Qing were at his peak, a one-on-one fight with Chen Lianfeng would indeed have been fatal for him.

But Chen Lianfeng was already at his limit in this state, and he felt no fear whatsoever.

A black-armored deity appeared above his head, and both he and the deity simultaneously unleashed the Great Completion Cloud-Leaving Illusionary Wind Blade.

At a certain moment, the man and the image reached a consensus, and an astonishing aura erupted, with both simultaneously slashing forward with their swords.

Chen Lianfeng was shocked and hurriedly threw a punch to block, but was directly cleaved back by the black-armored statue's blade, causing him to lose his balance.

Han Qing's blade also arrived gracefully. Chen Lianfeng had no time to dodge. With a flash of light, his head was severed and fell to the ground.

A sonorous sound!
Han Qing sheathed his sword, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. He glanced at the Seven Killings Stele, where Chen Lianfeng's soul light floated before it, his face appearing and disappearing.

He gained a great deal from these two consecutive battles.

If Han Qing were to absorb the soul points of Chen Lianfeng, Luo Yueshuang, Luo Liang, and the two top-tier retainers of the Luo family, his strength would increase to an unbelievable level.

Even if they can't break through the barrier to the Half-Saint realm, they still have a great chance of becoming a Martial Saint.

"Even if I don't become a half-saint, stepping into the realm of Martial Saint will still bring about an astonishing increase in my strength!" Han Qingxin thought to himself.

At this moment, Yan Qiuling waved her hand, and a gust of cold wind swept over, carrying many of Chen Lianfeng's belongings to her.

After a moment's thought, Han Qing took off the Seven Star Soul-Chasing Sword from his back.

"Miss Yan, catch!" He raised his hand and tossed it over.

Yan Qiuling caught the giant starlight sword in mid-air and asked with a smile, "This is one of the most precious treasures of the Yin-Yang Dao, and its value is immeasurable. You just gave it to me so easily?"

"The situation in the North is chaotic, and there are many experts. This item can exert its maximum combat power in your hands, so it's best for you to keep it," Han Qing said calmly.

"Oh? Such a precious treasure is so tempting, don't you feel any heartache?" Yan Qiuling asked again.

Han Qing shook his head: "Although this magic weapon is powerful, I, Han Qing, will surely obtain more and more powerful treasures in the future. I won't miss this one. Besides, you are my close friend. You have contributed greatly in these two battles. It is only reasonable for you to take this magic weapon."

"You are truly an open and confident person!" Yan Qiuling laughed. "Then I'll keep it. I'll return it to you whenever you become a half-saint!"

"Sir, what should we do with these people?" Bai Yunfei asked as he approached the two men.

Han Qing glanced around and saw that there were still about eight hundred people.

"In your opinion, how should this be handled?"

“Sir, these eight hundred men are all fierce. Don’t underestimate them because of their small number. If they really fight, our Tiger Might Battalion of three thousand men may not be a match for them. It is too risky to recruit them into the camp. I suggest killing them on the spot!” Bai Yunfei said in a low voice.

“Kill prisoners? This is not a benevolent act! If word gets out, our opponents will likely fight to the death. In the long run, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.” Han Qing shook his head. “However, you are not wrong. It is too dangerous for these eight hundred men to accompany the team. If they have the opportunity to cause trouble, the consequences will be endless.”

"Han Qing, here's what we'll do: you take your men to White Phoenix City, and I'll step in and take over these eight hundred warriors in the name of the demon race, in exchange for other supplies for you."

"There are too few of you to eat, but there are many powerful demons in White Phoenix City, so they don't have that problem," Yan Qiuling said.

"Alright!" Han Qing nodded.

These people were all enemies, and he dealt with them without the slightest mercy.

...

By the time the group returned to their campsite at the foot of Jianfeng Mountain, it was already broad daylight.

Han Qing wasn't in a hurry to travel. He decided to digest and absorb these few soul light points first, improve his strength as much as possible, and adjust himself to his peak condition. In this way, if he encountered any experts on the road ahead, he would have a stronger ability to protect himself.

Just then, Yan Qiuling also gained great insights during the continuous fierce battles and decided to go into seclusion to seize these insights and break through to a higher realm.

So the two hit it off and decided to rest for a few more days.

Han Qing first chose to absorb Chen Lianfeng's soul light points, and many fragmented images appeared in his mind.

These fragments of memory flashed by rapidly before his eyes, and before long, Han Qing opened his eyes, having gained a more detailed understanding of Chen Muxiu.

"I never imagined that this old scoundrel Chen Muxiu, who is nominally a member of the Great Yu Dynasty, would be so close to the Zongheng Dao Palace behind the scenes. No wonder Yue Bairu would lend a helping hand."

His gaze swept across the room and landed on the stack of papers on his left with the words "Heavenly Profound Technique" written on them. These were the very papers that Chen Lianfeng had written earlier.

He also got the answer from his memory. It turned out that the Chen family had specially forged a new version of the Heavenly Profound Technique in order to prevent it from being lost. This technique was nine parts true and one part false. If one were to learn it step by step, one would eventually suffer great damage to one's vital energy, or even die from physical explosion.

(End of this chapter)