The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 133 Heading to the Demon Capital
Han Qing pushed open the door and walked out of the room. The image of the Seven Killings Stele appeared in his mind, with more than a hundred soul light spots still faintly visible in front of the stele.

The rest were all from lowly soldiers and were not of high value, while the other valuable soul points had all been absorbed and transformed by Han Qing into the Zhige Jing.

The proficiency level of the seventh chapter of the Zhige Jing was thus pushed to 43%.

Cultivating to the Half-Saint realm is indeed difficult. It took so many soul points, including those of a Martial Saint and a Half-Saint, to reach 43%.

Of course, this speed is still incredibly fast compared to others.

"Not urgent!"

"After becoming a semi-saint, my combat power has increased dramatically! Now, the Northern Ice Plains are teeming with experts, making it the perfect hunting ground for me!"

As Han Qing pondered, the Seven Killings Stele and the panel simultaneously vanished.

He decided to test how his combat power and abilities would change after becoming a demigod.
With a thought, a powerful force of magical energy surged forth from the temple, quickly drawing upon the power of heaven and earth.

In an instant, a strong wind arose, and Han Qing was lifted into the sky.

Yan Qiuling watched quietly from the side. Han Qing had just broken through and needed to familiarize himself with his new abilities and skills as soon as possible.

"Not bad!"

"After achieving the status of a semi-saint, the power of my magical thoughts has improved dramatically in both quantity and quality. I can easily resonate with heaven and earth, draw upon their power, and cast some simple spells, such as summoning wind and rain."

Han Qing descended from the sky, savoring the sensation of flight; it was truly exhilarating.

"That's right. After becoming a half-saint, you can learn and use most of the spells in the world. I'll give you a few Taoist spells later. Although you won't be able to unleash their full power, they will still be quite lethal and make your attacks more flexible and varied!" Yan Qiuling said with a light laugh.

Han Qing felt a surge of emotion. Normally, magic is extremely precious and should not be shared with others. Yan Qiuling's willingness to do so moved him deeply.

As he gazed at Yan Qiuling's stunningly beautiful face, a unique emotion stirred within him.

"Thank you, Miss Yan!"

“You’ve just entered the realm of a half-saint, and you need more real combat sparring to quickly familiarize yourself with the changes in your soul. I’m the perfect opponent for you,” Yan Qiuling added.

"it is good!"

Han Qing didn't hesitate either. With a thought, his magical energy transformed into malevolent energy and surged out of his body.

In an instant, malevolent energy surged forth, condensing into a malevolent domain that instantly covered the entire courtyard.

After entering the realm of half-saint, the baleful aura became even more intense and its destructive power even stronger.

One by one, ghostly soldiers appeared, their combat power becoming even stronger.

To the naked eye, these ghostly soldiers had become extremely solid, like real flesh and blood. Even their eyes were no longer empty and lifeless, but had a glimmer of light.

After reaching the semi-saint realm, each Yin soldier will awaken their former combat skills, but they will lose all sense of pain and emotions, becoming nothing more than a pure killing machine.

In other words, upon entering the realm of a semi-saint, all the abilities of a military strategist who has previously refined their divine skills will be enhanced, from the Fiend Domain to the Yin Soldiers—this is a comprehensive upgrade.

In addition, the Seven Realms will gain another special ability: Asura.

Han Qing stood in the evil domain, his eyes slightly closed, his mind seemingly splitting into countless parts, creating subtle connections with every Yin soldier around him.

He can control a portion of the ghost soldiers, using them to perform martial arts techniques, and he can also share the five senses with all the ghost soldiers.

Even more terrifying is that he can transfer his own injuries to the Yin soldiers, or he can devour the Yin soldiers to heal his injuries after being injured.

In short, as long as the Yin soldiers are not destroyed, the Asuras will never die.

Upon reaching this stage, the strength of a martial arts master will experience an astonishing leap.

The reason why military strategists are considered to have the greatest combat power is because, after reaching the semi-saint realm, there is theoretically no upper limit to the number of Yin soldiers.

The more you kill, the more ghost soldiers you have, and the stronger your fighting force becomes.

However, considering the existence of external evil spirits, one cannot kill indiscriminately, otherwise even a half-saint would suffer from qi deviation.

Even so, the combat power of a master of military arts and spiritual cultivation will reach an extremely terrifying level over time.

Han Qing only has a little over a thousand Yin soldiers he can control, and his accumulation is still very shallow.

However, this is just the beginning. He believes that it will not be long before his strength will rise to an incredible level, and eventually he will be able to summon tens of thousands of Yin soldiers with a single thought, forming an army all by himself.

"Are you ready?"

At this moment, Yan Qiuling's voice drifted down from above, interrupting his thoughts.

Han Qing opened his eyes, his body now covered in a layer of solidified demonic armor, and wisps of demonic energy were flowing into his blood, making his physical attributes even stronger.

At this moment, he held a sword, donned armor, and exuded a murderous aura. Behind him, ghostly soldiers appeared and disappeared, truly like a demon from the abyss.

Below the level of a half-saint, ordinary cultivators or martial artists would be intimidated by the astonishing aura naturally emanating from Han Qing, causing their minds to tremble, their thoughts to stagnate, or even to completely collapse, simply by facing him directly.

"bring it on!"

With a low shout, Han Qing suddenly leaped into the air, a gust of wind swirling around him. Protected by the wind, he transformed into a streak of light, rising from the ground and heading straight for Yan Qiuling.

Yan Qiuling waved her hand, her magical thoughts surging, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth, and suddenly condensed into a large, solid fiery palm, which slammed down directly onto his head from above.

The palm struck first into the surging malevolent energy. The two forces clashed, the malevolent energy dissipated, and the flames quickly dimmed.

Although those who cultivate their spiritual essence in military strategists lack diverse ranged attack methods, their baleful aura possesses a versatile attribute, capable of both offense and defense, enhancing themselves, and also harming enemies.

At this moment, Han Qing's protective aura had already reduced the power of the flaming palm by half.

With a single slash, a sky full of sword light, accompanied by billowing murderous aura, he directly shattered and extinguished the fiery palm.

Yan Qiuling waved her hand again, and several bolts of lightning suddenly fell from above, striking Han Qing from different directions.

Han Qing continued to fight with his sword, the blade flashing wildly, scattering the lightning in succession. However, the explosion of the blade unleashed an astonishing force, knocking Han Qing to the ground. Strands of lightning even penetrated his body, causing some damage to his physique.

However, the baleful aura would accelerate the recovery of injuries for those who cultivate the spirit of military strategists, and in addition, Han Qing's physique was far superior to that of ordinary martial saints, so this injury was almost completely healed in an instant.

"continue!"

Han Qing stretched his muscles and bones, his fighting spirit boiling, and once again soared upwards, heading straight for Yan Qiuling.

So, the two fought for more than ten rounds without a clear winner.

Yan Qiuling initially held back her strength to test the waters, but later she completely unleashed her power, repeatedly knocking Han Qing down from the air. However, no matter how serious the injury Han Qing suffered after falling to the ground, he would recover in an instant and soar back into the sky in full victory.

After repeating this several times, Yan Qiuling finally chose to stop.

"stop!"

"Let's end this sparring here. As expected of a martial arts master, Han Qing, your current strength is beyond my ability to defeat. In fact, if you get close and I'm devoured by your baleful aura, I might very well die at your hands." Yan Qiuling recalled the battle just now and summarized softly.

“Miss Yan, now that the two of us are working together, what enemy on this icy plain is there to fear?” Han Qing did not refute, but laughed loudly and heartily.

This exchange was a thoroughly enjoyable and exhilarating battle.

He didn't fight with all his might, yet he was already evenly matched with Yan Qiuling.

If he exerted his full strength, he was confident that he could severely injure, or even kill, Yan Qiuling.

Of course, Yan Qiuling didn't go all out; this is just a guess.

After this battle, he had a better understanding of his own strength and a clearer understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of those who cultivate spiritual power in military strategy.

Those who cultivate their spiritual essence in military strategy lack diverse methods of combat, which is a weakness that can only be compensated for by learning more spells and refining more magical treasures.

However, those who cultivate their spiritual essence through military strategy possess extremely powerful close-combat abilities, making them virtually invincible within the Fiend Domain.

In a battle between cultivators of the same realm, those from other schools of spiritual cultivation would almost certainly face certain death if they were besieged by the Lord of War and tens of thousands of Yin soldiers in the Fiend Domain, unless the difference in strength between the two sides was too great.

"Close combat is my fastest way to win right now!" Han Qing murmured to himself. "Close combat, infusing my body with murderous aura, wearing murderous armor, with the aura of a soldier upon me, fusing with the true meaning of martial arts, and then using the power of Asura to control several powerful Yin soldiers, while simultaneously unleashing the Phantom Thousandfold Blade, and finally combining our strength to unleash a single strike—I wonder how astonishing the power of that strike will be?"

While he was pondering, Yan Qiuling floated down from the sky and said with a smile, "Your current strength is indeed no less than mine. Unless we encounter a few people like the leader of the Mo family, if we join forces, the vast majority of strong people in the world will be no threat to us."

"Military strategists who cultivate their spirit are indeed the strongest in combat at the half-saint level, but beyond the saint level, it depends on their accumulated experience!" she added.

Han Qing nodded slightly. He only had a thousand Yin soldiers, yet Yan Qiuling was helpless against him. If he had tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Yin soldiers in the future, why would he need to fear the semi-saint powerhouses of other schools?

Extremely high combat power ceiling is also a major advantage of those who cultivate divine abilities in military strategy.

"The three most recognized schools of spiritual refinement in the world are Confucianism, Mohism, and the Military School. I already know why the Military School is so strong, but I don't know why the Confucian and Mohist schools are so strong?" Han Qing suddenly asked.

He had read a lot about Confucianism and Mohism in the book, but his understanding was not comprehensive, detailed, or thorough enough.

Yan Qiuling is knowledgeable and experienced, and he is very eager to learn. He will immediately ask questions whenever he has any doubts.

“Confucianism is the school of thought that has produced the most sages and semi-sages, which is its strength. As for Mohism, its mechanical creations can be passed down, such as the Four Symbols Giant Spirits, which are passed down and strengthened from generation to generation, eventually reaching an incredible level,” Yan Qiuling pondered.

Han Qing nodded slightly; this was pretty much what he had in mind.

Just then, Wu Yingkong, the manor's steward, rushed into the courtyard.

"My lord, this is an urgent report sent by Commander Qiu!"

Yan Qiuling took the letter from his hand, quickly glanced at it from head to toe, and bent over with her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Has something big happened?" Han Qing asked, as this was the first time he had ever seen Yan Qiuling with such an expression.

Yan Qiuling then handed over the letter: "Something big has happened deep in the Ice Plains. I originally planned to stay in Baifeng City for a few more days, but now it seems I have to go back immediately."

Han Qing took the letter, quickly scanned it, and frowned slightly.

The letter was actually written by the Demon Emperor himself. It mentioned that yesterday, a large number of experts joined forces to attack the Demon Capital, resulting in a huge battle. The Heavenly Wolf Fortress, the Chu rebels, the Great Yu Dynasty, and other forces were involved. He also saw a familiar person among them, Yang Wanxiu.

He had been wondering why the old dog hadn't come with Luo Yueshuang and the others; it turned out he had gone deep into the ice field.

The Demon Emperor didn't mention the final outcome of this battle, only saying that their target was the Boundless Stele in Zhou Xiaoru's possession. Now, the Demon Capital has calmed down, and Zhou Xiaoru has escaped outside the city. Various experts are joining forces to hunt him down.

The Demon Emperor forbade Yan Qiuling from returning, instead sending her across Yinshan to seek refuge with the Qi family in the north, or heading south to seek refuge with Qi Wufeng in Shu.

Yan Qiuling gazed into the distance and said softly, "This time, my demon race is truly facing a life-or-death moment. The news of the Boundless Monument has been leaked, and Emperor Yu is dying and needs my father's heart to prolong his life. This has caused all the forces in the world to rise up and attack, just like the Yuelu Academy back then. Unfortunately, my demon race is now weak and far less powerful than the Yuelu Academy. I'm afraid we will have a hard time surviving this calamity."

As she spoke, she turned and looked at Han Qing.

“My father told me to flee the North, but I have a deep bond with my father, how could I abandon him? Han Qing, you must quickly take people away from Bai Feng City and the icy plains of the North. You have become a half-saint, so even if you face a joint pursuit by the Luo family and the Han family, you will have enough power to protect yourself. I will go to the Demon Capital now and bring my father out.”

As Yan Qiuling spoke, a resolute look appeared in her eyes.

“Miss Yan, who is this Zhou Xiaoru? Since he has the Boundary Marker, we really can’t keep it. We should just give it to him!” Han Qing pondered.

The lack of boundary markers is a hot potato; whoever holds onto it will become the target of public criticism.

"Zhou Xiaoru was a Confucian and Taoist semi-saint of Yuelu Academy. When Yuelu Academy was destroyed, he led many powerful people to flee north to the Demon Capital. He offered many treasures and formed an alliance with my father. The Two Realms Stele was in his hands. My father had known about it for a long time, but the stele could not be opened."

As for why Zhou Xiaoru refused to hand over the stele, I don't know at the moment. The situation is complicated right now, and it's hard to make a judgment. Everything will become clear when we return to the Demon Capital," Yan Qiuling said.

“Miss Yan, I will go to the North with you,” Han Qing suddenly said.

“My demon race is now the target of everyone’s hatred. If you come with me to the North, you’ll probably encounter a lot of trouble,” Yan Qiuling said solemnly.

"There are good demons and bad humans. How can we simply categorize people as good or bad based on race? Besides, Miss Yan, you helped me deal with the powerful Luo and Chen families and helped me break through my mental barrier. Without you, I could never have become a half-saint!"

Since that's the case, I, Han Qing, am willing to lend you a hand.

Moreover, this martial arts tournament is a gathering of heroes from all over the world, and I don't want to miss it. Regardless of whether I can gain any benefits, I want to see just how strong these world-renowned experts really are." Han Qing's gaze was cold and his tone was firm.

Yan Qiuling was deeply moved and admired Han Qing even more.

“Alright! Go and settle your men first. Tomorrow morning, the two of us will go to Black Tiger City for a stroll before heading to the Imperial City.” Yan Qiuling was not one to hesitate and immediately made up her mind.

Han Qing immediately summoned his trusted confidants to this courtyard, including the Nine Elders of the Crimson Dragon, Yue Xiaobiao, Lin Yueqiu, and others.

The moment they saw Han Qing, everyone sensed that something was wrong.

Although Han Qing had always exuded a strong sense of oppression, this was never the most intense one.

Now, just by standing in front, Han Qing gives everyone the illusion of facing a prehistoric beast, and an uncontrollable sense of fear surges within them.

"Gentlemen," Han Qing said loudly, "a great battle is currently raging deep within the icy plains of the North, involving countless renowned masters. I cannot afford to miss it, so I must make a trip. For the time being, you will all remain in White Phoenix City. If I do not return within three months, Lin Yueqiu, you are in charge of distributing all the supplies in the treasury. Do not wait for me any longer." Upon hearing this, everyone was startled; Han Qing's words sounded like his final instructions.

Lin Yueqiu spoke first: "My lord, I hope you will think twice before you act. With your talent, it's not a big deal if you miss this martial arts event. You can return to Shu and cultivate diligently for three to five years. You will definitely become a top expert who dominates the region. Why take such a big risk?"

“Indeed, young master, the depths of the ice plains are now teeming with powerful figures. Even a grandmaster of martial arts can be killed in the blink of an eye if he is not careful. If you insist on going, you might as well take the nine of us with you. If you encounter a martial saint-level expert, you might be able to hold your own for a while,” Yan Chilong said in a deep voice.

Han Qing stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face, his gaze sweeping over the group of people in front of him from left to right.

He clearly sensed that everyone opposed his going deep into the ice field; some dared to speak out, while others kept their opinions to themselves.

"I know what you're worried about. I know what I'm doing. Do you think I'm going to the depths of the ice field to die? You're sorely mistaken!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of cold wind swept around him, and Han Qing suddenly soared into the air.

In that instant, a tremendous and overwhelming pressure erupted from his body, making everyone below unable to breathe.

For a moment, everyone in the room looked horrified.

"Half, half-saint!" Chen Ming stammered.

Achieving semi-sainthood at the age of twenty is truly astonishing.

What shocked him even more was Han Qing's unparalleled growth rate. Every once in a while, he would advance to a higher realm, truly breaking through realms as easily as drinking water.

The reactions of the others were similar to Chen Ming's, their faces filled with shock.

Yue Xiaobiao felt a little fortunate. Luckily, he reacted quickly and wasn't killed by Han Qing. Now that he had latched onto this powerful figure, he felt he should stick with him forever, for the rest of his life.

"Young Master is truly a divine being!" Cheng Xuanji exclaimed.

“Now that you have become a half-saint, where in the world can’t you go? We have been worrying too much!” Yan Chilong came back to his senses and cupped his hands in greeting.

"With your strength, young master, and by joining forces with Miss Yan, there is no need to fear the many heroes of the North." Lin Yueqiu was relieved.

"You all should focus on your cultivation in White Phoenix City, keep a low profile, and avoid causing trouble," Han Qing instructed.

"Don't worry, young master, we know what we're doing!" Lin Yueqiu said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Han Qing gave a few more instructions until he was completely at ease, then followed Yan Qiuling straight to Black Tiger City.

This time, neither of them rode horses; instead, they flew on the wind, which made them even faster.

...

Just as the two were flying at high speed, on another part of the ice field, on a vast plain, a group of people on horseback were heading towards the North Pole at high speed, many of them carrying long swords on their backs.

Leading the procession was a young man dressed in black, with double pupils in his eyes, carrying a halberd, and possessing a strong and powerful physique. His domineering aura was evident in his every glance, giving one the illusion that one would have to submit to him if standing in front of him.

This man is Xiang Ying, who possesses an innate domineering aura that compels people to submit.

"My lord, urgent report! The team sent to Baifeng City has been completely wiped out."

Suddenly, a man galloped up on horseback and stopped beside Xiang Ying.

Xiang Ying frowned, her gaze turning cold: "Xiao Wuliang has three magic treasures in his hands, and he is also aided by many top experts such as Duan Tiannan. How could he have been completely wiped out? Even if this force encountered that demoness Yan Qiuling, they could have forced her back or even killed her."

"My lord, the spies' secret message says that Yan Qiuling has a young man assisting her, and he is also extremely powerful. It was the two of them who did it together," the messenger reported.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings are dead, but those three magic treasures shouldn't have been lost, especially the bronze sacrificial bell. It was the most powerful magic treasure of the ancient top master, Xuan Lei Dasheng. It could activate lightning and stimulate all the acupoints in the body, increasing the strength of the force emitted from each acupoint by 10% to 30%. It's a pity, but it doesn't matter. I will definitely see that demoness again when I go to the Demon Capital. I will kill her and take back the magic treasure!" Xiang Ying said in a deep voice, his words full of confidence.

After saying that, he squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the black Qilin horse under his feet let out a neigh and suddenly accelerated, galloping at high speed on the ice field, its hooves kicking up dust.

Not far away, on a desolate ice mountain, two figures, one tall and one short, one fat and one thin, stood on the mountaintop, watching the rapidly departing caravan.

The tall, stout man in a blue-green Taoist robe was named Cao Buhui, the current sect leader of the Lingbao Sect, and was known as the Lingbao Dao Venerable.

Unlike the serious image in the eyes of the world, this Lingbao Daozun has a round face with a warm smile. He has no imposing manner, but the oppressive force he exudes makes people dare not underestimate him.

Beside him stood a gaunt old man in a black and white robe, named Li Baifeng, the Grand Elder of Lingqing Dao.

The Taoist school of thought flourished in history, with numerous branches and Taoist temples scattered throughout the world.

However, after the chaos of war, the imperial court only recognized the Lingqing and Lingbao schools of thought.

The Lingqing Dao school of talisman making and the Lingbao Dao school of artifact making have grown rapidly.

"Lord Cao, Xiang Ying previously led a group to kill eighteen experts from my Lingbao and Lingqing sects and seized the Crimson Thunder Pearl, the Cloud Dragon Banner, and the Heavenly Thunder Sacrifice Bell—three magical treasures. Are we just going to let them leave like this?" Li Baifeng said in a deep voice.

Cao Buhui still wore a kind smile: "It's not that I'm unwilling to take action, but that I can't defeat him. This Xiang Ying is truly remarkable. From afar, his blood energy soars to the sky, and his true intent is like a dragon. Moreover, he cultivates two major schools of spirit refining techniques, so his combat power has reached an unbelievable level."

Furthermore, their team is full of experts; if the two of us were to fight, we would likely meet a certain death!

Li Baifeng was stunned. He didn't expect that this high-ranking Lingbao Daozun would be so honest. Generally speaking, even if someone really couldn't win, they would find an excuse to avoid losing their prestige. He didn't expect him to admit defeat so directly.

"Let's go. We can find another opportunity to take back those three magical treasures later. A great battle is about to break out deep in the ice field. We can't miss it. It's the perfect time to fish in troubled waters. Who knows what benefits we might gain?"

"Alas, that old devil Li Qingniu is in seclusion every day. If he were willing to join forces with me to come to this icy plain to deal with Xiang Ying, it wouldn't be impossible!" Cao Buhui sighed.

“You’re right, sir. But that’s just how my sect leader is. He’s obsessed with making talismans and never leaves the Lingqing Taoist Temple!” Li Baifeng replied.

"go!"

Cao Buhui said no more, waved his hand, and a gust of wind swept the two of them up, suddenly soaring into the air and heading rapidly towards the North Pole.

a few days later.

Han Qing and his companion had already arrived at Black Tiger City.

Further north of Black Tiger City lies a vast plain, and in the very center of the plain stands a magnificent and enormous city—the Demon Capital.

Walking through this city, Han Qing's strongest feeling was that this was not an ordinary city, but a fortress.

There were hardly any bustling restaurants in the city, only squads of soldiers in black armor walking back and forth.

The entire city was filled with a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

The two arrived at the city lord's mansion, where people had already heard rumors and were waiting for them for a long time.

The leader, dressed in a wide black robe with blue scales on his arms, was Song Changfeng, the current city lord of Black Tiger City. Behind him stood dozens of figures, all of whom were leaders of various ranks in the city.

"See my lord!"

Upon seeing Yan Qiuling arrive, Song Changfeng led the way, and dozens of people shouted in unison, their voices loud and their faces respectful.

Wow!
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Changfeng knelt down on one knee, and a large group of people behind him also knelt down.

Yan Qiuling's prestige among the demons of the Northern Lands is evident.

"Get up! Quickly arrange two good rooms. Also, has anything major happened on the Ice Plains recently, especially in the direction of the Demon Capital?" Yan Qiuling said calmly.

Song Changfeng took the lead, and a large group of people stood up.

"My lord, the accommodations have been arranged. Please come in. The intelligence has been written in this document."

Yan Qiuling took the document from his hand and walked into the courtyard.

Han Qing followed, and the two walked side by side.

Before long, the two moved into the same courtyard of the city lord's mansion.

After days of flying, although they would rest occasionally, Yan Qiuling was anxious and so the rest time was very short. After such a long and hurried journey, when they arrived at Black Tiger City, both of them felt exhausted and needed to rest to recover their magical power.

in the room.

A maidservant came forward and warmed a pot of fine wine for the two of them over a brazier; it was still the most distinctive green ant wine on the ice plains.

Yan Qiuling sat by the stove, opened the document, carefully read it through, and then handed it to Han Qing.

Han Qing also took the document and carefully read it through from beginning to end.

"Xiang Ying led a group of experts from Chu to kill thirteen experts from Lingbao Dao. No wonder Xiao Wuliang has a magic weapon from Lingbao Dao Temple."

After reading the document, Han Qing put it down and slowly took a sip of warm green ant wine.

Yan Qiuling nodded slightly and said, "Lingbao Daozun Cao Buhui has also appeared. There are more and more experts on this icy plain."

"How strong is this person?" Han Qing asked.

He had never seen such renowned masters before, so he was unaware of their strength. Therefore, whenever he heard of someone, he would first ask Yan Qiuling.

Yan Qiuling pondered and said, "Cao Buhui has many magical treasures, but in terms of combat power, he is not as good as Lingqing Daozun Li Qingniu. Several years ago, I fought with him once in Yinshan. His strength is unfathomable and is not much worse than the Five Spirit Dao Saints."

"This strength is indeed terrifying." Han Qing nodded slightly.

He had previously heard from Yan Qiuling that this Five Spirits Dao Saint was among the top three in combat power among the Ten Great Masters, and among the top twenty in combat power across the world. Li Qingniu was on par with him, which was an extremely high evaluation.

“There is no need to be afraid. Although there are many strong people on the ice plains, they are not a united front. Instead, they are constantly fighting each other. This is an opportunity!” Han Qing said again.

Yan Qiuling nodded in agreement. Indeed, the three most powerful forces at present—Xiang Mang, Xiang Ying, and Dayu—are fighting each other, and countless powerful figures have been killed in the process.

"By the way, Miss Yan, I have figured out what this Heavenly Thunder Sacrifice Bell is used for," Han Qing said, taking the bell out of his backpack.

"Alright!"

With a low shout, strands of magical energy transformed into a whirlwind, surging into the sacrificial bell. The bell trembled slightly, emitting a series of ringing sounds, and then burst forth with arcs of lightning, suddenly surging towards Han Qing and piercing into the acupoints that had been opened throughout his body.

In an instant, Han Qing's aura surged dramatically. He could clearly feel that power was surging out from every acupoint. Although the power surging out from a single acupoint was small, the power from countless acupoints combined to form a massive force.

Nourished by this force, his physique seemed to undergo another transformation, growing stronger from the inside out.

Yan Qiuling had a keen eye; with just one glance, she understood what was going on and couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

"This magic weapon is truly extraordinary. It can actually draw out lightning arcs, stimulate acupoints, and unleash power. It is a priceless treasure. Even the Crimson Thunder Pearl and the Cloud Dragon Banner combined probably cannot compare to it!"

“Indeed, I have read about this magic weapon in a book. It is the most prized magic weapon created by the ancient Xuanlei Daozun. Now that it has fallen into our hands, we must make good use of it,” Han Qing said.

“Alright, then let’s stay in Black Tiger City for a few more days. I want to see where the limits of this magic weapon are, and to what extent it can transform the body.” Yan Qiuling’s eyes held a hint of anticipation.

Therefore, Han Qing poured more magical power into this magic weapon, stimulating more lightning arcs, and half of them dispersed into Yan Qiuling's body.

Yan Qiuling did not stop him. This behavior actually carried certain risks, but after spending so many days together, Yan Qiuling had become increasingly trusting of Han Qing.

So, for the next three days, the two of them stayed in this room, using heavenly thunder to consecrate the bell, unleashing their power and tempering their bodies.

Before going into seclusion, Yan Qiuling had already given an order that no one was allowed to approach this courtyard.

Three days later, in the afternoon, Han Qing opened his eyes. Strands of lightning arcs traveled around his body, but no more energy could be released from his acupoints.

"It's reached its limit!"

Yan Qiuling on the other side also opened her eyes and nodded slightly.

"That's right, but even so, our physical bodies have undergone another transformation, which is no less than having a miraculous encounter."

Han Qing got up and went into the courtyard. He casually swung his fists forward a few times, and wherever his fists struck, waves of air surged and plants were broken.

"The power has more than doubled!"

Han Qing silently assessed the power of his punch and vaguely came to a conclusion.

Doubling may not sound like much, but he is now a Martial Saint, and his basic strength has long exceeded 100,000 jin with one arm. Doubling his strength would result in a terrifying increase in combat power.

"Unless I encounter a Martial Saint with a Hundred Apertures, I am confident that I can defeat anyone in the world in close combat," Han Qing thought to himself.

His physique already far surpassed that of ordinary martial saints. Now, after another transformation, his physical attributes have increased dramatically. Coupled with the numerous abilities of a military strategist who refines the spirit, his combat power has reached an unbelievable level.

Yan Qiuling also stepped out of the courtyard at this moment, looking Han Qing up and down.

"Now that we are ready, let's head to the depths of the icy plains and fight against the heroes of the world."

"Miss Yan, I am already prepared." Han Qing's eyes gleamed with confidence.

Yan Qiuling did not move, her eyes fixed on Han Qing's face. The two looked at each other and both saw something unusual in each other's eyes.

(End of this chapter)