The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 130 Martial Saint!

"What a vicious and insidious method! If I didn't have the Seven Killings Tablet to help me discern the truth, I might have been deceived and fallen into a trap," Han Qingxin thought.

He stopped thinking about it and looked up, his eyes sweeping across the room. A large number of martial arts techniques from Chen Lianfeng appeared before his eyes.

"Heavenly Profound Technique! Its full name is the Heaven and Earth Profound Dragon True Martial Saint Technique, a seven-realm cultivation method that can lead to sainthood in martial arts! Upon entering the realm, one can condense Heavenly Profound Strength!"

"I happen to be missing a seventh-level cultivation method right now, and this Heavenly Profound Force is just right to match the six types of force I previously unleashed, keeping my combat power invincible within the same realm."

"However, before that, I need to push the Dragon Elephant Technique of the sixth realm to its limit!" Han Qing pondered.

To reach the top, one must have a solid foundation, so Han Qing strives to elevate the level of each training method to the limit.

Therefore, he first inherited a first-grade mastery sword technique, the Mighty Dragon Prison Suppressing Saber, and a second-grade mastery lightness skill, the Butterfly Dance Flower Step, from Chen Lianfeng.

If the proficiency in these two martial arts cannot be transferred to the training method at the second level of the Seven Killings Stele, this restriction is removed at the third level.

Han Qing already possesses a first-grade swordsmanship and lightness skill, so there's no need for him to keep these two skills. After all, swordsmanship and lightness skill cannot be combined, and he currently lacks the ability to integrate them and create an even more powerful swordsmanship or lightness skill.

Therefore, Han Qing did not hesitate to directly transfer his proficiency to the Dragon Elephant Skill.

Thus, with the help of the Seven Killings Stele, the proficiency of the Dragon Elephant Skill improved rapidly.

Three hours later, Han Qing opened his eyes and let out a deep, resonant moan.

He stretched his muscles a little, and a series of crackling sounds came from his body.

He took a deep breath and suddenly blew a wave of air forward. This wave of air turned into a gale, which was as sharp as a knife and actually cut a large rock in front of him to pieces.

"The Dragon Elephant Technique has reached its limit! If I were to exhale even a single breath, a martial artist of the fourth realm would be severely injured if accidentally struck!"

Han Qing murmured to himself, feeling extremely pleased and even more confident.

He glanced at the martial arts panel; the proficiency of that lightness skill and swordsmanship had been reduced to zero, in exchange for the Dragon Elephant Skill breaking through its limits.

"Now, prepare to break through to the seventh realm of martial arts! That is, Martial Saint!"

Han Qing then inherited the third martial arts technique, the Heavenly Profound Skill.

On the panel, the Heavenly Profound Technique was being entered, and the proficiency was rapidly increasing, with the realm constantly changing.

A wealth of information flooded Han Qing's mind, not only about the Heavenly Profound Technique, but also about his understanding of the Martial Saint's Path.

The biggest change at the Martial Saint realm is the awakening of the true meaning of martial arts.

Each martial saint's true martial arts intent is different, and it is related to their personality, previous martial arts skills, life experiences, etc. No one can predict how it will evolve.

As the proficiency level on the panel continued to increase, various martial arts skills that Han Qing had previously learned kept appearing in his mind.

He closed his eyes, absorbed in his thoughts, pondering a question: why did he practice martial arts?

Kong Xiu once mentioned in his notes that the key to a person's understanding of the true meaning of martial arts lies in knowing who they are and what kind of true martial arts heart they have.

As time went by, when the proficiency of this training method on the panel increased to 19%, it suddenly stopped.

Han Qing understood that he had encountered a hurdle, a hurdle that required him to reach the level of a Martial Saint.

If you can't get past this hurdle, you'll never become a Martial Saint. However, it's much easier than the Half-Saint hurdle.

Han Qing was not blocked by this hurdle for long. He was determined and calm, knowing what he was pursuing in this life. In addition, he had taken every step solidly and had a profound understanding of the previous six training methods. This made it easy for him to break through the Martial Saint hurdle.

He encountered almost no major obstacles. He simply sat there for a while, pondered for a moment, and figured out the key to the matter, thus breaking through this barrier.

In an instant, a magnificent aura burst forth from Han Qing's body. It was invisible, intangible, and ethereal, yet it instilled a deep-seated fear and trembling in those around him.

Lin Yueqiu and the others were nearby protecting him. Suddenly, they turned around, their eyes fixed on Han Qing, and their faces showed horror.

"what happened?"

Cheng Xuanji activated his divine eye and focused his gaze, only to see wisps of faint white smoke emanating from Han Qing's body, swirling around him and remaining condensed.

His pupils contracted. He had seen this thing on Yang Wanxiu before; it was the true essence of martial arts.

"Martial Saint! Young Master is actually attempting to become a Martial Saint!" Cheng Xuanji exclaimed.

"If this succeeds, then young master will surely become famous throughout the world. To become a Martial Saint at such a young age is truly unbelievable!" Lin Yueqiu said.

"My judgment was right after all," Yue Xiaobiao murmured. He had only felt that Han Qing would achieve great things in the future, but he never expected him to be so extraordinary.

"Young Master Han is at a crucial juncture in his breakthrough; please do not disturb him," Lin Yueqiu cautioned.

"it is good!"

Everyone responded in unison.

...

As these wisps of white mist, which represent the true essence of martial arts, burst forth, the proficiency level on the panel began to rise rapidly, from 19% to 20%, and it continues to increase.

Another hour passed, and Han Qing finally completed the inheritance of this martial art, with his proficiency reaching 51.2% and his skill level at the mastery level.

When this martial art is mastered to perfection, it can open sixty acupoints. With the help of the Seven Killings Stele, Han Qing opened thirty acupoints in just a few hours, completing the path that Chen Lingfeng took a lifetime to walk.

Han Qing suddenly opened his eyes. He stretched out his hand and clenched it into a fist. Under his divine eye, wisps of white energy swirled around his fist.

The next instant, Han Qing threw a punch, his fist enveloped by seven kinds of force, with a flash of purple-gold light. It left his fist and suddenly slammed into a pine forest in front of him, directly blasting a path a hundred paces away.

The Martial Saint possesses the power to kill enemies by leaving his body, but this method is extremely energy-consuming and he would not normally use it.

This punch, besides its power, also contained a true essence of martial arts.

The instant Han Qing threw his punch, this martial arts essence burst forth, rapidly spreading out and enveloping a considerable area around him. It also instantly immersed Lin Yueqiu and the others in it, their thoughts seemingly coming to a standstill.

"Young Master's martial arts essence has a sense of turning the world upside down; he is truly ambitious." Cheng Xuanji was the first to wake up, savoring the feeling of being enveloped by the martial arts essence, and tasting its flavor.

Everyone's martial arts essence is different. The more it resonates with oneself and with the principles of Heaven and Humanity, the stronger that martial arts essence becomes.

Han Qing was also savoring the punch. His eyes were bright as he murmured, "This is my martial arts heart. In this chaotic world, I am willing to pave the way for all people, to overturn the mountains and rivers, and to create a bright and clear world!"

At this moment, Yan Qiuling flew over from a distance and landed in front of Han Qing. She looked him up and down, her eyes revealing appreciation and praise.

"A martial saint at the age of twenty is not unheard of throughout history, but they are extremely rare. It is no exaggeration to describe them as extremely rare!"

"Han Qing, you haven't disgraced your mother! Come, unleash your true martial intent and attack me! Let me see your martial spirit!"

Han Qing did not hesitate and threw a punch. This time he did not use his strength, but only activated the true meaning of martial arts.

In an instant, crackling sounds echoed all around Han Qing, his blood and qi surging like a rushing river. Lin Yueqiu and the others standing next to him could even hear the rushing sound of his blood and qi, which made them even more shocked.

Han Qing had just become a Martial Saint, yet the oppressive aura he exuded was even more terrifying than that of Yang Wanxiu. Yang Wanxiu had never displayed such a frightening presence when he first made his move.

"go!"

With a low shout, Han Qing unleashed a surge of powerful martial arts intent from his fist, instantly enveloping Yan Qiuling.

This true meaning can break spells, disperse magical thoughts, and destroy the spirit and soul, but it cannot harm the physical body.

With a thought, Yan Qiuling conjured a ball of flame that enveloped her body.

This surge of martial arts essence rushed in like a tidal wave, colliding violently with the flames and extinguishing them instantly.

Yan Qiuling's clothes fluttered. She closed her eyes slightly, feeling the residual martial arts essence that had invaded her body. It was like a gust of wind that dispersed much of her magical thoughts.

A moment later, Yan Qiuling opened her eyes, a hint of admiration flashing in them.

"Indeed, the true meaning of martial arts is also divided into different grades. Your true meaning of martial arts has a grand and majestic spirit that is invincible and can overturn the world. Based on my experience, I would say it is of the highest grade, or even the best grade. The only one I can think of who can compare with you is Han Yi. His true meaning of martial arts is filled with a confidence and domineering attitude that controls the life and death of all living beings, and its destructive power is also extremely terrifying."

"You've only just entered the Martial Saint realm, and your martial arts essence is still too weak. With time, your destructive power will increase several times over." Yan Qiuling commented, her appreciation and admiration for Han Qing growing stronger.

Han Qing took a deep breath, feeling a profound sense of exhaustion.

Yan Qiuling is right. Although the true meaning of martial arts is ethereal and intangible, it requires time to accumulate.

In a sense, this thing is equivalent to the internal energy in his previous life's martial arts novels.

Without any prior accumulation, it would require a lot of physical and mental energy to force it, which would not last long. Han Qing was already exhausted after only throwing two punches.

However, after about three to five breaths, the fatigue quickly subsided, and he returned to a state of full energy.

"I haven't had a chance to fully appreciate the strength, speed, and other aspects yet, but the recovery ability is more than ten times stronger than before," Han Qing pondered.

As he spoke, he closed his eyes slightly, suddenly bent over, exerted force with his legs, and leaped into the air.

Boom!

With a loud bang, a large crater was created in the ground beneath his feet, and he shot upwards like an arrow, easily leaping more than ten feet into the air.

Han Qing landed, his eyes gleaming with confidence.

He hadn't even used his full strength, nor had he employed any lightness skill; he had simply leaped that high with a casual bound—it was truly unbelievable.

Upon landing, he suddenly used his lightness skill, disappearing from his original spot and moving rapidly across the open space, creating gusts of wind.

Lin Yueqiu and the others could no longer track Han Qing's movements. All they could see were afterimages. It seemed as if hundreds of Han Qings were moving around, sometimes disappearing and sometimes being reborn.

A hint of surprise flashed in Yan Qiuling's eyes. Although she was able to grasp Han Qing's true form, she also felt a certain amount of pressure.

"Even for me, keeping up with Han Qing's pace is not an easy task."

Yan Qiuling murmured to herself, knowing that she was a demon, and although she had transformed into human form, her physique was much stronger than that of an ordinary human martial saint.

After running for a while, Han Qing's confidence surged once again.

"I'm already faster than that old thief Yang Wanxiu!"

“My strength is also greater than his, plus I am a master of the Military Strategist’s Body Reincarnation Realm.”

"Next time we meet, it will be a one-on-one fight, and I will personally behead this scoundrel!"

Han Qing clenched his fist, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Han Qing, it seems your martial arts foundation is incredibly solid. You've only just become a Martial Saint, yet your combat power is already stronger than many long-established Martial Saints. In terms of physique alone, Yang Wanxiu is indeed inferior to you. Even without me, with your current combat power, you can be considered a powerful figure in the world." Yan Qiuling walked over with a faint smile on her face.

Seeing that smile, Han Qing felt even more delighted.

He knew that Yan Qiuling was a proud and arrogant person, and gaining her approval was not an easy task.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xuanji and the others present felt that what they were seeing was unbelievable.

A martial saint at the age of twenty is unprecedented in the entire Great Yu Dynasty.

"Young Master's martial arts talent is truly terrifying. People often say that Martial Saints are powerful and rare, and becoming a Martial Saint is as difficult as ascending to heaven. But with Young Master, I don't feel any difficulty at all. It's as if everything is a natural progression," Cheng Xuanji exclaimed.

“Yes, young master’s name will surely resound throughout the Great Yu, and in the future it will be recorded in history books and recited by millions of people,” Lin Yueqiu added.

Han Qing stood at a distance. His five senses had been greatly enhanced, so even though the two were speaking very softly, he could still hear them clearly.

"Is it easy?"

"It was indeed very easy. The hurdle of becoming a Martial Saint was practically nonexistent for me; everything fell into place naturally!"

"A solid foundation has helped me a lot, and all of this is thanks to the Seven Killings Stele," Han Qing thought with emotion.

Without the Seven Killings Stele, it would be incredibly difficult for him to make a name for himself in this world; even becoming a Martial Saint would be a very low probability.

"Han Qing, for ordinary people, becoming a Martial Saint is already reaching the pinnacle, a supreme honor that can bring joy for a lifetime. But for you, it is only a small step. You want to control your own destiny, but your strength is far from enough. You must not be arrogant," Yan Qiuling suddenly said.

Han Qing nodded slightly: "Achieving the Martial Saint at the age of twenty would make anyone in the world arrogant, but I would not feel such emotions in the slightest. You are right, for me, the path of martial arts has only just begun."

He understood that even among martial saints, there were different levels, and he was currently only the weakest of the three levels.

Only when the Heavenly Profound Technique is cultivated to perfection or even breaks through its limits can the path to becoming a Martial Saint truly begin.

Because from now on, the path ahead will require us to explore step by step, unlocking each acupoint, continuing to increase our strength, and building up our physique.

Before his seven transformations, he could follow the martial arts manuals of his predecessors and walk the paths they had explored.

However, after seven transformations, one must open one hundred more acupoints on their own to usher in the eighth transformation. This is extremely difficult, requiring a long period of exploration and accumulation, as well as a profound understanding of martial arts.

Furthermore, he had offended the Luo and Han families, two behemoths, and a mere Martial Saint who had undergone seven transformations was simply no match for them.

It should be noted that Han Yi has undergone eight transformations, and his Soul-Soul Martial Arts alone have become incredibly powerful.

"It's good that you think this way. Next, in the path of Dharma, you need to find a way to become a half-saint and a saint. In martial arts, you need to find a way to open the hundred apertures and achieve the eighth transformation! Every step is extremely difficult. Although you have extraordinary talent, you cannot be lazy." Yan Qiuling nodded slightly and advised her.

"Is there any martial arts manual in this world that can guide people to achieve eight transformations?" Han Qing suddenly asked.

“Of course there are, but such martial arts manuals are extremely rare. There are probably no more than a handful in the whole world. Even if there are, they have long been kept in the imperial palace and the treasure vaults of ancient noble families, protected by layers of security, and unknown to outsiders,” Yan Qiuling pondered.

"As expected, there is." Han Qing nodded slightly.

He stopped thinking about it. As the saying goes, there's always a way out. If he could obtain such supreme martial arts skills, that would be best. If not, he would have to find his own way. With the Seven Killings Stele, he was confident he could find a way.

"My lord, when shall we depart?"

At this moment, Bai Yunfei approached and asked respectfully.

Standing before Han Qing, he felt an overwhelming sense of fear that he couldn't control. Han Qing glanced at Yan Qiuling; even if he continued to practice martial arts diligently after becoming a Martial Saint, his combat strength wouldn't improve much unless he could break through that mental barrier.

Therefore, whether to leave or stay depends on Yan Qiuling.

The latter said softly, "Tonight, I will attempt to break through to the next realm of the Dao of Law. If I succeed, my combat power will increase greatly, and I will have more confidence to deal with any enemy I encounter. If I fail, I will stay for another three to five days."

"Then let's do as Miss Yan says," Han Qing instructed.

"Understood, sir." Bai Yunfei bowed and withdrew.

After Yan Qiuling finished speaking, she didn't linger and turned around to fly back to the camp not far away.

Han Qing had already given the order that no one was allowed to approach that camp.

He knew that secluded cultivation required a high degree of mental focus and could not be disturbed by anyone. If he was interrupted at a crucial moment, he would easily suffer a backlash and lose a lot of energy.

"Yan Qiuling's willingness to go into seclusion here shows that she trusts me to a certain extent, or perhaps she has something to rely on." Many thoughts flashed through Han Qing's mind. "No matter what she thinks, I, Han Qing, consider her a close friend and would never take advantage of her or do anything that harms others for my own benefit!"

As he pondered, Han Qing drew his Liuyun Blade and suddenly felt that the blade was incredibly light, as if he had grasped a feather, giving him a very uncomfortable feeling.

"My strength has increased more than tenfold. My body hasn't had time to fully adapt to such a drastic change. I need time to gradually adjust, or perhaps a few real battles to shorten that time," Han Qingxin thought.

He then began practicing his swordsmanship in the open space, first with the Phantom Thousandfold Blade, and then with the Cloud-Leaving Illusionary Wind Blade.

These two sword techniques can be used even by martial saints, and they will not be at a disadvantage when fighting against opponents of the same realm.

After Han Qing's physique greatly improved, the destructive power of these two sword techniques also became even more astonishing.

With a single slash, countless blade shadows appeared, accompanied by howling winds and terrifying power.

The Thousandfold Cloud Blade, on the other hand, has become even more ghostly, with its trajectory even more unpredictable.

As the blade flashes, numerous trajectories intertwine, like smoke and mist, unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

Han Qing practiced for an hour and still felt full of energy, without even panting.

After becoming a Martial Saint, his physique underwent another comprehensive leap, with his internal organs, muscles, and bones all becoming stronger.

He put away his sword, feeling much more at ease.

"I am now more than ten times stronger than before. There is tremendous power surging in these two arms, giving me the illusion that I can lift mountains."

"Indeed, this feeling of sudden increase in strength is truly fascinating."

Han Qing also set off and returned to another tent next to him. He sat cross-legged in it, summoned the Seven Killings Stele, and absorbed another soul light point, this time from Luo Liang.

Fragments of Luo Liang's memories flashed before Han Qing's eyes, from which he learned a lot of hidden information and gained a deeper understanding of the Han and Luo families.

"The Luo family is indeed colluding with the Yin-Yang Sect!"

"The Yin-Yang Sect can plunder young men and women from the common people with impunity to cultivate the number one spell of the Yin-Yang Dao, the Yin-Yang Curse Seal, because it has the support of the Luo family behind it." Han Qingjing pondered, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.

"This Great Yu may seem peaceful and prosperous, but it is rotten to the core." Han Qing shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

He first chose a spirit-refining method from Luo Liang's martial arts skills. Its name was exactly the same as the one Luo Ding had practiced back then. It was also the Law of Heavenly Punishment, the number one spirit-refining method of the Legalist school today.

"Although Luo Liang's cultivation level is higher than Luo Ding's, he is ten years older than Luo Ding. In terms of talent, he is indeed inferior to Luo Ding. No wonder the latter is considered the standard-bearer of the younger generation of the Luo family." Another thought flashed through Han Qing's mind.

He closed his eyes slightly and decided to transfer the proficiency of this Refining Spirit Technique to the Ceasefire Sutra. Its proficiency was 32%, and its realm was only at the entry level, but its grade was almost the same as the Ceasefire Sutra. Therefore, it could greatly increase the proficiency of the sixth chapter of the Ceasefire Sutra.

"First, I will perfect the sixth chapter of the Zhige Jing. That way, as long as I break through the mental barrier, I can immediately become a half-saint at the fastest speed!" Han Qingxin thought.

So, for the next period of time, Han Qing continued to improve his proficiency in the Zhige Jing (止戈经) in this tent.

As night deepened, Han Qing ended his arduous practice.

After consuming the proficiency of the Heavenly Punishment Technique, he consumed another first-grade fist technique from Luo Liang, finally bringing the sixth chapter of the Ceasefire Sutra to perfection.

He felt that the power of his magical thoughts had increased significantly, becoming much more profound than before.

With a thought, strands of his magical thoughts converged to form a black-armored divine statue, which hung above his head, becoming even more solid. From a distance, it was difficult to distinguish the real from the fake, as if another Han Qing was standing beside him.

Just as Han Qing was about to control the black-armored giant statue to go outside and carefully sense the changes in its strength, he suddenly heard a thunderous roar outside, followed by a powerful pressure that made his mind tremble.

"This oppressive aura is truly terrifying. Could it be that another powerful expert has come to attack?"

Han Qing frowned. The black-armored statue dissipated, turning into wisps of magical energy that returned to the temple. He then got up, rushed out of the tent, and came to the outside world.

At this moment, Cheng Xuanji, Lin Yueqiu, Yue Xiaobiao and others were also alarmed. Upon seeing Han Qing, they immediately gathered around.

Han Qing has now become the anchor in everyone's hearts. As long as Han Qing doesn't make a rash move, it's as if even if the sky were to fall, they wouldn't feel any fear.

Han Qing looked up at the sky and saw no other experts. It was Yan Qiuling who had somehow triggered this strange phenomenon in the heavens and earth.

Above the clouds, a towering gate, several tens of feet high, was faintly visible.

The entire gate was constructed from individual skulls, each with a pair of empty, lifeless eyes that flickered with crimson flames.

And this oppressive aura that permeates the world comes from this door.

This is the overwhelming power of Heaven; no matter how strong a person is, they will feel fear from the bottom of their heart.

Han Qing stared intently at the door, recalling some words he had read in the Demon Emperor's Notes.

For a sage to break through to a higher realm, they must open the gate of the Heavenly Dao. This process is extremely dangerous. The might of Heaven is overwhelming and awe-inspiring, even more so than the fear between life and death. If one's mind wavers, the breakthrough will surely fail. Not only that, but one will also be subjected to the baptism of lightning. If one is not careful, one's soul will be scattered. It is extremely dangerous.

He had never known whether it was true or false, but now, the appearance of this door made him believe it a little.

While pondering, Yan Qiuling suddenly accelerated, leaping upwards, her magical thoughts converging above her head to form a giant fiery statue, which rushed straight towards the white bone gate.

She herself was flying forward at high speed along with this statue.

"Don't even come here!"

Yan Qiuling's voice then echoed throughout the world.

Han Qing understood that breaking through the realm and undergoing tribulation was an extremely dangerous thing; an ordinary martial artist would be reduced to ashes if touched by even a trace of lightning.

So he immediately ordered Bai Yunfei and the others to lead the soldiers away from this area.

As for Han Qing himself, he hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to step into this area.

"The fear that arises in people's hearts when a sage undergoes tribulation, with his overwhelming divine might, is more intense than the fear of life and death."

"If I carefully contemplate and can overcome the fear brought by the pressure of heaven and earth, then I can also overcome the fear of life and death, and perhaps I can have a fearless heart and break through the barriers of my mind."

He felt this was an excellent opportunity for a breakthrough that he couldn't miss.

As he ventured deeper, the pressure he felt grew stronger, and the fear in his heart became clearer, even giving him a feeling of wanting to kneel down.

"You can't kneel!"

"If I kneel, I'll never break through in this lifetime!" Han Qing told himself, resisting the pressure and continuing forward.

He needed to mentally experience the fear that the oppressive force brought him until he could completely overcome it.

However, when he took another thirty steps forward, the pressure increased dramatically, finally reaching a critical point that he could no longer bear.

"We can't go any further."

Han Qing understood that if he took another step forward, he would not be able to bear it.

So he sat cross-legged on the ground, teetering on the edge of a mental breakdown, trying to overcome his fear.

He looked up at the sky, secretly marveling at the difficulty a sage faces in breaking through to the next level.

Even sitting on the ground, the pressure from heaven and earth was so terrifying. Yan Qiuling was about to fly into the sky. It was unimaginable how intense the pressure would be in front of that gate.

At this moment, Yan Qiuling had arrived in front of the White Tiger Gate, and the giant fiery statue suddenly crashed straight into the gate.

The collision was silent, but the fiery colossus suddenly collapsed, and many magical thoughts vanished and disappeared at the same time.

Han Qing's heart skipped a beat, and then, an even more terrifying scene unfolded.

Rumble!
The clouds churned, and within them surged bolts of lightning, which coalesced into a thick silver serpent that descended from the sky and struck Yan Qiuling below in an instant.

A ball of flames rose up around Yan Qiuling, enveloping her, before she was swallowed by lightning.

Suddenly, the world turned into a vast expanse of white. The lightning emitted a dazzling brilliance, illuminating the earth and the distant mountains.

When the bright light faded, Han Qing opened his eyes and saw Yan Qiuling falling straight down from the sky to the earth.

At such a height, even a martial saint could easily fall and be seriously injured without someone to catch them.

Han Qing gritted his teeth, not having time to think, and suddenly leaped up, rushing towards Yan Qiuling at top speed.

An indescribable sense of fear immediately filled his body, making him tremble as if he were about to collapse at any moment.

Han Qing took a deep breath, strengthened his resolve, and continued forward despite the fear. Finally, he reached the ground beneath Yan Qiuling, leaped up, caught her in mid-air, and then plummeted downwards.

At this moment, the two bodies were pressed tightly together, and Han Qing's fingers touched Yan Qiuling's skin, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.

With such a stunning beauty in his arms, even he couldn't remain unmoved.

However, he didn't have time to think much, because the fear in his heart was still surging, assaulting his mind again and again.

Yan Qiuling opened her eyes and saw Han Qing's face, which stirred a ripple in her heart.

Such a rescue, which may seem like just a leap, is actually accompanied by enormous risks. If one is not careful, it is normal for one's soul to collapse. It can be called a life-risking rescue.

Although Yan Qiuling was a cold-hearted person, she was not heartless and ungrateful, and was quite moved.

The two fell to the ground, Han Qing's mind was still reeling, and the intense fear was growing stronger in his heart, causing his mind to be subjected to extremely strong shocks at all times.

Just as Han Qing was about to give up, this overwhelming pressure suddenly weakened rapidly and eventually disappeared without a trace.

Han Qing looked up and saw that the white bone gate that stood atop the clouds had also disappeared.

As Yan Qiuling failed to break through to the next realm, the heavenly tribulation quickly disappeared.

Han Qing breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at the stunning beauty in his arms, and said slowly, "Miss Yan, you're in terrible shape!"

Yan Qiuling's face was pale, her brows were slightly furrowed, and her breathing was disordered, as if she had been seriously injured.

"Quickly send me back to my tent, I need to heal my wounds!" Yan Qiuling murmured.

"it is good!"

Han Qing, carrying Yan Qiuling, used his lightness skill to run at top speed, leaving afterimages in his wake, and quickly entered a nearby camp.

Bai Yunfei and the others were also immersed in this terrifying pressure. Only now did they come to their senses and look at each other in bewilderment.

Some of them had never even heard of such a sight before, and they were genuinely shocked.

Cheng Xuanji was the first to regain his senses and said softly, "Everyone, now that Lord Yan Qiuling is injured, we must be even more careful and vigilant to prevent anyone from launching a sneak attack."

Bai Yunfei snapped out of his daze and said in a deep voice, "I'll go and reorganize the troops right away!"

...

In the tent.

Yan Qiuling sat cross-legged on the ground, her eyes closed, her face showing undisguised pain.

A sense of anxiety also arose in Han Qing's heart. If Yan Qiuling were to die or be seriously injured, this trip to the Northland would definitely be even more dangerous.

Putting that aside, seeing Yan Qiuling like this, he felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.

“Miss Yan, your injuries are so severe, this Creation Blood Crystal might be able to help you.” After a moment’s thought, Han Qing took out the Creation Blood Crystal from his pocket.

Yan Qiuling opened her eyes, and suddenly a gust of wind swept up the Creation Blood Crystal, hovering it in front of her. Then a ball of flame rose up and directly enveloped the blood crystal.

The flames were extremely powerful, causing the blood crystals within them to explode and transform into a cloud of crimson mist that filled the tent.

Han Qing stood up and slowly left the tent. That was all he could do; the rest was up to Yan Qiuling.

Time flies, and two days have passed in the blink of an eye.

On the afternoon of the third day, Yan Qiuling finally stepped out of the camp.

Han Qing saw that her complexion had returned to a rosy hue and her breathing had stabilized, indicating that she had adjusted her condition well.

"Miss Yan, has your injury fully healed?" Han Qing asked.

Yan Qiuling nodded slightly and said softly, "The Creation Blood Crystal truly lives up to its reputation as a miraculous medicine of heaven and earth. I absorbed all its essence and was finally able to recover from my injuries within two days. Without this, I would have had to lie dormant for several months to return to normal."

After this incident, her gaze towards Han Qing softened, her tone became more relaxed, and she had completely let down her guard, truly regarding Han Qing as someone she could trust.

Recalling yesterday's scene, Han Qing couldn't help but sigh, "I never imagined that breaking through to the next realm as a sage would be so dangerous."

“It is indeed very dangerous. According to the plan, I should have waited another six months before trying to break through to the Incense Realm. However, the situation in the North is tense, and many experts have gathered. I also feel a bit anxious and want to try it ahead of time. Sure enough, nothing can be rushed.” Yan Qiuling said softly.

(End of this chapter)