The First Sage of Military Strategists

A look of surprise flashed in Zhou Xiaoru's eyes.

"What an amazing flying technique! Surrounded by clouds, gathering and dispersing into a dragon, could this be the secret technique of the Great Vajra Temple, the Cloud Dragon Soaring Technique?"

He was knowledgeable and experienced, and knew this extremely powerful flying technique, so he recognized it at a glance.

Yan Qiuling, standing to the side, also showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.

She had never seen Han Qing use this move before.

Outside the courtyard.

The voice of Yuan Baigong suddenly echoed in the minds of Long Yinchan and the others who were waiting.

"The demon race is protected by many powerful figures; we cannot fight them head-on! Retreat immediately. We will meet again in three days at the Suspended Mountain, eight hundred miles outside Feather Dragon City!"

Long Yinchan raised his eyes and saw a white light soaring into the sky, with the shadow of a white crane faintly visible. He couldn't help but feel a hint of envy in his eyes.

The art of flight is extremely rare. Although Yuan Baigong's Crane Soaring to the Sky technique is not considered a top-grade escape technique in the world, it is still an escape technique in the final analysis.

He was extremely eager to learn and had asked for advice many times, but Yuan Baigong refused to budge no matter what.

"Leave? Hmm? Soar like a dragon in the clouds!"

Just as he was about to turn and flee the city, he looked up and saw another figure leap up and chase after him at an even faster speed.

"Who is this person? How does he know the Great Vajra Temple's flying technique?" Long Yin Chan was extremely surprised.

In that split second, the two figures collided in mid-air.

Yuan Baigong thought he could escape easily, but he didn't expect that there was another person who was even faster than him.

"Since you're here, don't leave. Leave your life behind!"

Han Qing's gaze was calm. The moment he got close to Yuan Baigong, he released his evil domain. Black mist rolled in, covering a large area of ​​the sky and completely obscuring the figures of Yuan Baigong and himself.

"cut!"

"die!"

Han Qing drew his blade, and Yuan Baigong drew his sword; the light of the blade and the shadow of the sword intertwined in the air.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

Yuan Baigong's expression changed slightly; he felt he couldn't hold on and hurriedly retreated.

At this moment, Han Qing flipped his palm, and the Zen Meditation Umbrella appeared.

He wanted to test the power of this magical artifact. The instant the umbrella appeared, he suddenly opened it up, and golden light shone through, transforming into a golden domain that enveloped Yuan Baigong.

The latter froze, his expression changing drastically.

"This is the Zen Meditation Umbrella! You are Yue Jinbiao!"

Han Qing, too lazy to waste words, stepped forward and raised his hand to strike again.

Just as the blade was about to strike, Yuan Baigong regained his freedom and hurriedly dodged, but it was too late.

He was instantly engulfed by a tidal wave of blades, his body slashed open with more than a dozen wounds, and one of his arms was severed and fell to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, a chain of illusion and reality flew out, about to bind him in an instant.

At this critical moment, a precious pearl suddenly flew out of Yuan Baigong's hand, exploded in mid-air with a loud bang, and turned into a storm of red clouds that spread between heaven and earth.

"Fire Cloud Talisman! This talisman is on par with the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl, and its destructive power is extremely terrifying!" Zhou Xiaoru caught up from behind and saw this scene first. He felt a wave of heat rushing towards him, spreading throughout the world, completely dispelling the surrounding cold air.

Yuan Gong tried to escape, but after flying a short distance into the distance, a black light shot out from behind.

He suddenly turned around to block, but unexpectedly a crimson light shone on him, causing his vision to blur and his senses to become confused.

"No!"

Yuan Baigong let out a low roar, and his head was immediately pierced by black light, shattering in mid-air and turning into a cloud of blood mist that dissipated between heaven and earth.

Its body also fell from the sky to the ground.

With a thought, Han Qing used his magic to draw upon the power of heaven and earth, which swept away the two longswords and many other items from his body.

"Lord Yuan is dead?" Long Yinchan was shocked. "Yue Jinbiao? Could Yue Jinbiao be in Yulong City?"

Without thinking twice, he turned and ran, as did the other six people beside him, not daring to linger for even a moment.

Han Qing landed from the air, and Zhou Xiaoru's eyes were full of admiration.

"Young Master's strength is truly unfathomable. He killed Yuan Baigong so easily. Impressive!"

The Demon Emperor also looked at Han Qing: "Yuan Baigong's two most powerful skills are swordsmanship and escape techniques."

Your escape technique is faster than his, and your close-quarters combat ability seems superior as well. Killing him is to be expected!

"Father, this is the Han Qing I mentioned to you!" Yan Qiuling said slowly.

The Demon Emperor nodded slightly: "At such a young age, you are already a top expert who can stir up a storm in the world. Qiu Ling, you have a very good eye."

Han Qing then took out a square box from his bosom: "I can tell from your fluctuating aura that you must be injured. Here is a Dragon Tiger Pill, a holy medicine for healing."

A hint of joy flashed in the Demon Emperor's eyes. Without any hesitation, he took the box, opened it, and exclaimed, "It really is the Dragon-Tiger Pill! My demon race owes you a favor, and we will repay you handsomely in the future!"

Although you and Qiu Ling have become Daoist partners, one thing is one thing. I don't like taking other people's things without a reason!

"Father, Yulong City is no longer safe. What are your plans for the next step?" Yan Qiuling asked, a hint of worry in her eyes.

"First, leave the city and find a secluded place to heal. My injuries are quite severe, and I thought it would take more than a month to recover. Now that I have the Dragon Tiger Pill, I can recover to my best condition in three to five days. As for the next step?" The Demon Emperor frowned and did not continue.

“Father, the situation is chaotic right now. Why don’t you come back to White Phoenix City with me first? These powerful figures from various forces across the world will leave after a while. At that time, you can step forward and gather the many experts of our demon race together, and it wouldn’t be impossible for us to return to the demon capital!” Yan Qiuling said.

The Demon Emperor's brows relaxed, and he said in a deep voice, "You're right."

"We should not delay. Let's set off now, or things may change!" Han Qing said.

"good!"

An hour later, the Demon Emperor followed Han Qing and the other two straight to White Phoenix City, without any powerful demons by his side.

As Yan Qiuling mentioned before, the Demon Emperor has a special method to contact powerful members of the demon race, so splitting up is the best solution.

If they gather together, they will be too conspicuous and their whereabouts will be easily exposed, allowing them to be wiped out by the Great Yu or other forces.

...

The ice field, beneath a certain iceberg.

Xiang Ying was sitting by a campfire, resting with his eyes closed, surrounded by a large number of experts from the Chu region.

Suddenly, a loud eagle cry came from above, and then a golden-feathered eagle descended from the sky and landed on Xiang Ying's arm.

Xiang Ying met his gaze, and a message was already in her mind.

"Yuan Baigong died at the hands of Yue Jinbiao?"

He frowned, his mind filled with confusion, because he had received a lot of intelligence in the past few days, all about Yue Jinbiao's whereabouts, who had appeared in many places on the ice field.

If Yue Jinbiao didn't have a clone, then this intelligence must be false, but he has no intention of distinguishing between truth and falsehood right now.

"go with!"

With a wave of his hand, the golden eagle soared into the air again and disappeared into the sky above in an instant.

"Han Qing?"

He gazed into the distance, then recalled another piece of intelligence, which stated that there was a young man beside Yan Qiuling whose strength had reached the level of a half-saint; he was Han Qing, a prodigy from Shu.

"He is only twenty years old, yet he is already a half-saint. Such a prodigy should be put to my use."

He had already come up with a series of plans in his mind on how to subdue Han Qing and make him work for him.

a few days later.

Bai Fengcheng.

Under the cover of night, Han Qing and his group landed in the city lord's mansion.

Before entering the city, Yan Qiuling had already contacted the powerful demons in the city and learned that Bai Feng City had not been attacked by warriors from various forces and was still under the control of the demons.

And indeed, the four of them made their way smoothly without encountering any powerful figures who could stop them.

Under the cover of night, the city was peaceful, and Han Qing did not hear any sounds of fighting.

Upon his return, Han Qing immediately gathered his large group of trusted confidants.

His gaze swept over Lin Yueqiu and the others in the courtyard, and he found that many of them had improved their strength, clearly having been diligently cultivating these past few days.

Lin Yueqiu and the others, standing in front of Han Qing, still felt immense pressure, as if a mountain was pressing down on their shoulders, threatening to collapse at any moment. This feeling was even stronger than before.

Lin Yueqiu thought to herself, "Young Master's strength is probably even greater than before!"

Han Qing withdrew his gaze and loudly ordered, "I will rest here for three days. After three days, we will return to the Yinshan camp!"

"Yes, young master!" the crowd responded.

Han Qing nodded slightly. On the way back, the Demon Emperor had already swallowed the Dragon Tiger Pill and was healing his injuries while traveling. It was estimated that his injuries would be fully healed in three days.

"Young master, this is a secret letter that Commander Cao sent a few days ago!" another person said.

Han Qing took the secret letter from his hand, glanced at it, and the contents of the letter immediately came to mind.

A flame suddenly rose in his palm, and the paper turned to ashes.

The letter briefly described the changing situation on the icy plains, with armies from all sides emerging from the Yinshan camp to attack the demon city.

Previously, it was just a few armies scouting ahead, and top martial artists from various forces vying for the Boundless Monument and hunting down powerful demons—a high-level contest.

After the victor is decided, the real war will begin. However, he has no intention of participating in the subsequent series of wars.

On the way back to White Phoenix City, the Demon Emperor had already made his plans clear: to stay in the Ice Plains and consolidate and rebuild the demon race's power.

Han Qing decided to return to Dayu, and Yan Qiuling also decided to go with him.

The icy plains were too desolate, and there were very few strong individuals. Staying here, Han Qing's strength improved very slowly, as there were no targets to hunt and collect soul points from.

Yan Qiuling also felt that she was not strong enough, so she decided to go to Dayu together to seek some good fortune.

Three days later.

When the Demon Emperor emerged from seclusion, his strength had been restored to its peak with the help of the Dragon-Tiger Pill.

Han Qing then led three thousand soldiers and a large group of confidants out of Baifeng City and returned to the Yinshan camp by the same route.

Before setting off, his mission was to scout out the route to Baifeng City. With Yan Qiuling by his side, this mission was already easily accomplished.

...

Tiannan City.

In a mansion in the city, Han Zhuang sat in a pavilion in the middle of the lake, with a stone table in front of him and a glass of fine wine on the table.

Sitting opposite him was a blind old man named Yang Wanxiu, who was dressed in a gray robe, his body hunched over, curled up in a ball, his empty eyes gazing into the distance.

"Elder Yang, the Demon Emperor still hasn't been found?" A beautiful maidservant stepped forward, picked up a wine pot, and poured Han Zhuang a cup of warm wine. Han Qing picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Yang Wanxiu shook his head: "We haven't found him yet. Although the demon capital was plundered by the combined forces of the major human powers, the Northern Ice Plains are, after all, the territory of the demon race. They have deep roots and their power is deeply entrenched. The Demon Emperor is extremely familiar with all aspects of the land and is hiding there. It is extremely difficult to find him. However, His Majesty is ill and can only be cured by the Demon Emperor. Therefore, we must find the Demon Emperor. But this matter has nothing to do with this old servant anymore. The patriarch recently sent me a letter, asking me to come here to protect Young Master Zhuang. I will return to the capital in three to five months, after things have completely calmed down!"

"Is my father worried that a master returning from the north might take the opportunity to assassinate me?" Han Zhuang frowned.

“It’s normal for the patriarch to have such concerns. Young Master Zhuang, your identity is special, and countless people in the world want to kill you. It’s always better to be careful. With this old servant here, unless a top-ten expert descends, there will be no danger,” Yang Wanxiu said unhurriedly.

Han Zhuang nodded slightly: "Elder Yang is very capable, so I have complete peace of mind!"

"I heard that Xiang Ying was the biggest winner in this battle in the Demon Capital?" Han Zhuang asked again.

“Indeed, Xiang Ying is a cunning man who has long been planning ahead. He has bribed many powerful demons to cooperate from within and without, entering the demon capital before our Great Yu experts, looting the treasury and taking away a large number of treasures. The imperial court is currently sending people to intercept and kill him, but I heard that there has been no result. This man is extremely powerful; even the Spirit Treasure Daoist Cao Buhui could not stop him,” Yang Wanxiu said slowly.

"Born with supreme bones and double pupils, I never thought that two unparalleled physiques would appear in the same person at the same time. Heaven is unfair!" Han Zhuang clenched his fist and slammed it on the table, a fierce look appearing on his face.

“This person’s talent is likely to be the best in the world today, so Young Master Zhuang doesn’t need to be envious,” Yang Wanxiu said.

Han Zhuang drank another large cup of wine, then suddenly remembered something and said in a deep voice, "By the way, the team my family sent to hunt down Han Qing disappeared after they went deep into the icy plains. It's been so many days, it's basically certain that they were all wiped out. I wonder what kind of background this Han Qing has? Who is helping him?"

“Indeed, the entire army was wiped out. This old servant received news that Yan Qiuling was assisting this person. I have already written to report to the patriarch. If this is true, the patriarch can openly and legitimately demand Qi Wufeng to take him away. Colluding with the demon race is a heinous crime that could lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the clan!” Yang Wanxiu said.

He paused, then added, "There are also rumors that this boy's strength is extraordinary, and he may have already entered the realm of a half-saint!"

"What?" Han Zhuang was shocked and stood up abruptly. His eyes were filled with astonishment. "Impossible! Achieving half-sainthood at the age of twenty? I've only ever read about such people in ancient books. If it's true, then this person's talent is even more terrifying than Xiang Ying's. He can't be allowed to live. He must be killed!"

"This old servant also thinks so. This child is growing too fast. If he enters the realm of half-saint, he will already be a force to be reckoned with."

However, the patriarch is powerful. If he goes there in person, dealing with a half-saint like him should not be a problem. This boy should be killed as soon as possible! Yang Wanxiu said.

"Hmph, you old thief, I managed to escape after I cut off your arm last time, but you still haven't given up. You've been plotting to kill me day and night. Today, I'll kill both of you first!"

A gust of cold wind blew by, and suddenly a loud male voice rang in their minds.

"Who?" Han Zhuang's expression changed, and he stood up first.

In the next instant, the world changed color, and a thick fog enveloped the courtyard, turning it into a white expanse that isolated both the inside and outside.

"Who?" Han Zhuang's face darkened.

Wow!
There were also dozens of guards in the courtyard, who all gathered around him, watching their surroundings warily.

“This is the Primordial Spirit Pearl, which has the effect of dividing heaven and earth. The person who came must be Han Qing.” Yang Wanxiu said with a solemn expression.

The next instant, Han Qing descended from the sky, toying with the Yuanling Treasure Pearl in his hand.

Han Zhuang's pupils contracted as he stared intently at Han Qing: "You're Han Qing?"

Han Qing's gaze swept over Han Zhuang, and he said unhurriedly, "That's right, I am Han Qing. You must be Han Zhuang. Hmph, I've heard that you bully the people in the capital, act arrogantly and domineeringly, and rely on being a member of the Han family to act recklessly. You've even earned the reputation of being one of the four most notorious young men in the capital. You're unlucky to have met me today. You've offended one of my friends. I also despise young men like you who bully others by relying on their power. So today, you and Yang Wanxiu will die together!"

The person Han Qing was referring to was Lin Yueqiu, who was extremely loyal to him. In his early years, Lin Yueqiu was harmed by Han Zhuang, who not only killed his wife but also nearly executed himself. Every time he mentioned this incident, Lin Yueqiu's eyes were filled with resentment and hatred, which Han Qing noticed. Today, he came here not only because he was on his way back to Shu and had learned that Yang Wanxiu was here to avenge him, but also to kill Han Zhuang and avenge Lin Yueqiu.

Han Zhuang grinned maliciously. "Han Qing, very well. Since you can soar through the sky, it seems the rumors are true. You're not even twenty and you're already a half-saint. Such talent is unparalleled. However, you've chosen the wrong path by opposing my Han family. What good is being a genius? Throughout history, countless people have perished along the way. You will be one of them!"

Yang Wanxiu's expression was solemn: "Han Qing, how about this? You leave now, and I will go back and plead with the family head to wipe away all past grievances. What do you say?"

"You old thief, you're afraid too?" Han Qing mocked.

“A wise man submits to circumstances. Young Master’s strength is indeed remarkable, and with such talent, it will probably not be long before you become one of the world’s top experts. This old servant thinks that having one more friend and one less enemy is the best way to handle things. What do you think, Young Master?” Yang Wanxiu said expressionlessly.

"Too late? My mind is made up. Both of you will die here today!" Han Qing said in a deep voice.

“It seems that Young Master Han is not clear about the situation. In addition to me, there are no fewer than dozens of top experts and tens of thousands of soldiers in the city. Even if you make a move, you may not be able to kill us. Why force both sides to a life-or-death struggle?” Yang Wanxiu said loudly.

Han Qing didn't waste any words and made his move. In an instant, black mist rolled in, transforming into a malevolent domain that covered the entire manor.

Strands of malevolent energy invaded the bodies of Han Zhuang and the others, causing the hundreds of soldiers to lose their mobility, their bodies stiffening, and they all collapsed to the ground.

One by one, the ghostly soldiers rushed out from the evil mist and quickly killed the hundreds of soldiers.

Yang Wanxiu suddenly drew his sword, lightly touched the ground with his feet, and took the initiative to pounce on Han Qing.

Previously, in the battle at Tiger Might Camp, Yang Wanxiu's speed of dodging and weaving was unbelievable. He could often move dozens or even hundreds of steps in an instant, leaving only afterimages.

But at this moment, Yang Wanxiu in his eyes had lost his ghostly speed of movement, and even seemed to be moving very slowly.

"Too weak!"

Han Qing shook his head. Unbeknownst to him, his body was already covered by the Fiend Armor, and wisps of Fiend Qi were seeping into his blood, greatly enhancing his physical abilities.

As Yang Wanxiu approached, he suddenly swung his sword and slashed out. Han Qing also abruptly drew his sword and slashed out with a flash of light.

The blades clashed, and Yang Wanxiu's knife was immediately knocked away.

"not good!"

He cried out in alarm and dodged backward, but he was a step too slow. His body was already enveloped by the shadows of the blades, and in an instant, he was slashed with more than a dozen wounds, blood flowing freely!

Han Qing pressed closer and unleashed a punch, incorporating martial arts techniques—the Empty Fist!

Yang Wanxiu was covered in blood, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and fight back with his fists.

The two men's fists collided with a muffled thud, and their hand bones shattered instantly, sending blood and flesh flying everywhere.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Han Qing punched him in the chest, shattering many bones in Yang Wanxiu's body.

He was sent flying, crashing into a pavilion not far away, before collapsing to the ground, bleeding from his mouth and nose, completely incapacitated.

Han Zhuang, standing to the side, felt a great sense of fear. He had not expected such a difference in combat strength, and Yang Wanxiu had been severely injured in just three moves.

Han Qing didn't tell him that this was under the condition of restraint; otherwise, the old thief would have died even more miserably and faster!
He wanted to spare the old thief's life and take him back for further questioning.

Since this old scoundrel is Han Yi's trusted confidant, he must know many secrets about Han Yi, the Han family, and even the imperial court. He felt it was necessary to interrogate him to find out, so that he could know his enemy and himself, and have a better understanding of the situation if he were to face Han Yi one day.

Han Qing pondered, his gaze falling on Han Zhuang, who was greatly shocked.

"Han Qing, don't kill me! Whatever you want, I'll give you everything!" Han Zhuang's spirit collapsed instantly, and he no longer had his usual arrogant demeanor.

Yang Wanxiu, who was lying on the ground, struggled to his feet, panting heavily.

"Young Master Han, if you let him go, I will agree to anything you want. But if you really kill him, the patriarch will personally hunt you down. Even Qi Wufeng will not be able to protect you. You will die without a burial place!"

Before he finished speaking, Han Qing flashed and arrived in front of Han Zhuang, throwing a punch.

The latter opened his mouth wide, about to shout, but before the sound could come out, he was punched and exploded in mid-air, turning into a cloud of blood mist.

"No! This old servant will kill you!"

Yang Wanxiu let out a cry of grief and anger, and suddenly leaped up, flying towards Han Qing.

But he was already seriously injured, and his movement speed was much slower. Before he could get close, he was once again blasted away by Han Qing's punch, tumbling and crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

This time, Yang Wanxiu fell into a complete coma.

The Martial Saint's physique was indeed very powerful, but Han Qing's combat strength far surpassed his. After suffering repeated severe injuries, even a Martial Saint like him could not withstand it and had to fall into a coma.

Han Qing flashed to Yang Wanxiu's side, and with a thought, bound him with the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chains. A wisp of dark light then devoured him and directly absorbed him into the Boundless Monument.

After doing all this, Han Qing did not linger. He used his lightness skill to leap up and disappear into the horizon in an instant.

He acted swiftly and decisively. Although the whole process seemed complicated, it actually took only a dozen or so breaths from the moment he appeared until the battle ended.

After he left, the white light curtain dissipated, and many powerful figures in the city arrived, only to be shocked to find that Yang Wanxiu had vanished without a trace, and Han Zhuang's body had been completely destroyed.

"Something happened!"

"Report this to the capital immediately!"

Tiannan City was thrown into chaos. The next day, when news of Han Zhuang's death spread throughout the city, cheers could be heard from the people in every street and alley.

The people in the city had been oppressed by Han Zhuang for a long time, and even many minor officials in the government were secretly pleased, but dared not say it out loud.

However, the guards responsible for escorting Han Zhuang all looked ashen-faced.

Han Zhuang died, and Han Yi was furious. All of them could hardly escape punishment and were likely to face certain death.

In an instant, Tiannan City was in turmoil, and letters were being sent to the capital with great urgency. A storm was quietly brewing.

At this moment, Han Qing was flying along the road.

He did not conceal his identity when he killed Han Zhuang.

He knew very well that the news of his becoming a half-saint couldn't be kept secret for long. Once it spread, the Han and Luo families would definitely try every means to eliminate him. Whether he killed Han Zhuang or not, whether he hid his identity or not, the result would be the same. (End of Chapter)