The First Sage of Military Strategists

"I have already cultivated the Way of War and achieved the status of a half-saint. I'm afraid the Mohist school is not meant for me." Han Qing shook his head.

“My Mo family has a secret method for transforming cultivation styles, so your strength won’t drop too much. In addition, you have extraordinary martial arts talent, so it won’t be long before you achieve the status of a half-saint through the Mo Dao!” Lin Motong added.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Changing paths and starting over usually carries great risks. I have no intention of restarting the Mo Dao. You should leave." Han Qing shook his head again.

The young man exuded arrogance as he spoke, which made him feel vaguely uncomfortable.

However, the other party's actions and words were not out of line, and he did not want to start a fight.

"Since you are unwilling, I will not force you. Your reputation has soared after the battle in the Ice Plains. Now the whole world knows you as a peerless genius. However, you have also made enemies with the Han and Luo families. When this news reaches Han Yi's ears, I'm afraid he will not be able to sit still and will personally take action against you. At that time, even if you have two half-saints by your side to help you, you will surely die. The best way is to join my Mo family."

"I, the leader of the Mohist school, am the strongest in this world. Although Han Yi is powerful, he is not someone to be feared," Lin Motong added.

"So, what do I need to give in return?" Han Qing asked.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. He didn't believe the Mo family would help him for free, fighting against the Luo and Han families, or even against Han Yi, a peerless expert.

"There are requirements. The world is in turmoil. Emperor Yu is seriously ill and neglects state affairs. Rebellions are rising up outside the capital. Within three years, the world will surely be in chaos, with dragons and snakes dancing. Only by following the next emperor and leading the trend of humanity can one become a sage as quickly as possible. The emperor chosen by my Mohist school is Xiang Ying!"
"He was born with supreme martial bones and also has double pupils, allowing him to cultivate both paths. His combat power is extremely strong. You only need to take people to Chu, follow Xiang Ying, and assist him in overthrowing the Great Yu. My Mo family will send elders to protect you," Lin Motong said slowly.

"Xiang Ying?" Han Ying whispered, shaking his head again. "This person is indeed very powerful, but he is arrogant, violent, and unruly by nature. If he really becomes the next emperor, it will not be a blessing for the people. I think Liu Yue, the leader of the rebel army in Shu, is a kind and generous person. This person should be the next emperor."

During this trip to the north, he met Xiang Ying and even fought him personally, breaking one of his arms. He had a clear understanding of Xiang Ying's character and strength.

Lin Motong is right. Those who follow the next Human Emperor and lead the trend of humanity have a good chance of becoming saints. This is a gift from Heaven.

But if you choose the wrong side or follow the wrong person, you will not only fail to become a saint, but you may also be reduced to ashes.

Lin Motong frowned. He was slightly annoyed by being rejected time and time again.

"In the end, this world is all about strength. Xiang Ying is indeed an arrogant and cruel person, but he has such combat power and achievements at such a young age. His strength will be even more terrifying in the future. Han Qing, if you can't see the way, why not listen to me? I have already pointed out a clear path for you." Lin Motong's voice rose eight octaves.

"Xiang Ying is indeed very strong now, but it won't be long before I surpass him in every way. Young Master Lin, you can leave if there's nothing else." Han Qing's tone also became somewhat unfriendly.

Lin Motong had just shown some hostility again. If it was unintentional in the woods before, it must be deliberate now, subtly pressuring and threatening me to submit.

Han Qingping disliked being oppressed more than anything else in his life. If it weren't for this person's background, he would have already killed him.

"I didn't expect you to be so confident. A genius like you has never experienced setbacks since you entered the martial arts world, so it's normal for you to be confident. I've seen too many people like you, except that some are arrogant and don't know their own limitations. If that's the case, do you dare to spar with me and let me see what you're capable of?" Lin Motong's words carried a provocative tone.

"What is there to be afraid of?" Han Qing responded loudly, exuding a sharp aura and a confident gleam in his eyes.

A look of worry flashed in Zhou Xiaoru's eyes. He felt that Lin Motong did not seem like a good person.

If Han Qing is unfortunately defeated, or even suffers a crushing defeat, his mentality will inevitably be greatly affected, and he may even lose confidence.

Throughout history, many geniuses have experienced this: smooth sailing all the way, only to suddenly suffer a heavy blow, their confidence shattered, and they fall into depravity. This is what is meant by having one's Dao heart broken.

It wasn't that he didn't believe in Han Qing's strength, it was just that Lin Motong's background was too great, a next generation giant, who knew how strong he was.
Yan Qiuling, standing to the side, did the same, secretly transmitting her thoughts.

"Han Qing, why bother sparring with him? If you lose, it will be very disadvantageous for you. You have amazing martial arts talent, but you haven't been practicing for long enough to accumulate enough experience. In another three to five years, Lin Motong will definitely be no match for you. Why bother competing with him?"

"No matter how powerful or famous this person is, he is only a half-saint. As long as he is a half-saint, I will not be afraid," Han Qing replied.

Yan Qiuling said no more. He knew Han Qing's personality: he was extremely confident in himself and very opinionated. He would not easily give up on what he had decided on.

During their conversation, behind the mask, Lin Motong revealed a half-smile.

He appeared extremely relaxed. As a prodigy of the Mo family, he was equally confident and unafraid of any young, talented martial artist.

With a wave of his hand, a beam of black light shot out from his body, suddenly transforming into a giant mechanical ape the size of a small mountain in front of everyone.

The ape's body is primarily constructed of wood, but also incorporates various rare materials such as black crystal, refined gold, and silver mother-of-pearl.

When it first appeared, the ape was quite stiff, but in the next instant, its aura merged with Lin Motong's, and its eyes, made of black crystal, began to flicker with human-like fluctuations.

Han Qing glanced at it and knew that the Mo family's cultivators had a separate space within their bodies that could store and nurture mechanical puppets, and their combat power was also above that of these mechanical puppets.

The strength of the Mohist school lies in this: even the most ordinary puppets can have their combat power greatly enhanced after being nurtured for a long time.

These puppets could be passed down from generation to generation, which is why the Mohist school became stronger with each generation. The Four Symbols Giant Spirits had been nurtured for over a thousand years and had become an existence that made the world's strong people extremely fearful.

Lin Motong's mechanical puppet, or more accurately, his companion puppet, is this mechanical giant ape in front of him.

To defeat Lin Motong, you must destroy this giant ape. Lin Motong will also suffer a backlash and be severely injured.

The next instant, the giant ape suddenly soared into the air, its massive right fist slamming down on Han Qing with the force of a meteorite impact.

Han Qing looked up, and black mist rolled around him, with a malevolent domain emerging. A malevolent aura condensed on his body, and he suddenly soared up to meet the punch head-on.

A vast martial arts intent surged forth from the tip of his fist, and he also employed the first-grade fist technique, the Empty Bright Fist, to unleash the full power of his fist.

Under the solemn gazes of Yan Qiuling and the others, Han Qing's punch collided fiercely with the giant mechanical ape's fist, and a loud bang echoed through the sky.

A tremendous force surged from the point of the fist, and the two opponents, whose sizes were completely disproportionate, were forced to retreat simultaneously, drifting backward for a distance.

One punch lands, and neither side gains the upper hand.

But when their fists clashed, the resulting shockwaves created a strong wind all around, and the thunderous roar shook everyone to their core.

What appeared to be a casual exchange of punches was actually the clash of two terrifying, world-destroying forces.

Han Qing steadied himself and did not engage in close combat again.

He had used all his strength in that punch, but he still couldn't destroy the mechanical puppet. This meant that the puppet's combat power was extraordinary, and continuing to fight it at close range would not yield good results.

Therefore, Han Qing chose to change his tactics. Suddenly, he waved his hand, and streams of magical energy soared upwards, converging above his head to form a precious mirror. Crimson light shot out from the mirror and shone on Lin Motong.

Since we can't destroy this puppet, let's target its master.

But in the next instant, Lin Motong leaped into the air and flew into the abdominal compartment of the mechanical giant ape.

The mechanical beasts of the Mohists were all designed with great ingenuity, and the Mohist practitioners who refined their spirits could give them life, turning inanimate objects into living beings.

The moment Lin Motong entered the mechanical giant ape's body, the surging crimson light from the outside world was shut out. He was also a little surprised, because when the crimson light descended, he was unable to break free for a short time, and being illuminated by it, his five senses became extremely chaotic.

Furthermore, Han Qing was actually able to withstand a punch from his own mechanical puppet head-on. Based on these two points alone, there was no need to continue this sparring match.

Han Qing is so young, yet he has such combat power; his martial arts talent is comparable to mine.

The mechanical giant ape suddenly spoke, its deep, resonant voice emanating from its mouth.

"This sparring session ends here. Han Qing, your strength has been recognized by me. Before the return of the Mo Clan's leader, if you wish to change your mind, you may come to me at any time with this token!"

After Lin Motong finished speaking, without waiting for Han Qing's reaction, she manipulated the mechanical puppet, which suddenly took flight and disappeared without a trace in an instant.

Han Qing was deeply moved as a two-tone pure black token slowly descended from the sky into the center of his palm. On its front were three bright, golden characters: Heavenly Craftsmanship Token.

Han Qing could also sense a powerful spiritual force within the token. When his own spiritual force probed into it, it quickly intertwined and merged with the original spiritual force within the token, and a wealth of information surfaced in his mind.

"This token has the ability to locate and transmit sound."

“The Mohists are secretive and do not know each other. They communicate with each other using the Heavenly Craft Token. It seems that you have truly gained Lin Motong's approval, or rather, the Heavenly Craft Workshop’s approval,” Yan Qiuling said.

"Although the outcome was undecided just now, for someone your age to have such a performance, you deserve the title of a peerless genius. It's normal for you to gain recognition. I suppose Lin Motong's request to spar with you wasn't really to determine who was better, but rather to personally verify whether the rumors were true," Zhou Xiaoru guessed from the side.

Han Qing nodded slightly: "Mr. Zhou is right. Although Lin Motong has shown hostility towards me many times, his actions have not crossed any lines. He can be considered a friend, but he can't be called an enemy either."

"Let's just leave it at that. Consider this Heavenly Craftsmanship Token as another backup plan," Han Qing said, stroking the token thoughtfully.

Unless absolutely necessary, he would not risk his life for Xiang Ying, and therefore would not seek refuge with the Mohists.

...

into the night.

In Fengyang City.

Han Qing did not choose to leave. Although Shao Siming Xingmou had been captured, the Yin Yang Sect still had many experts and followers in Liangzhou.

Since he promised to help Liu Jinchen resolve the crisis, he must help him to the end and completely eliminate the crisis.

Therefore, he decided to interrogate Xingmou carefully, forcing her to reveal all the information she knew, before taking action to wipe out the Yin-Yang Sect of Liangzhou and then leaving.

At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged under a willow tree in the courtyard, resting with his eyes closed. Beside him, the Boundless Stele hovered in the air, emitting a dark and mysterious light.

At this moment, Yan Qiuling is interrogating Xingmou inside using her demonic magic.

Yan Qiuling was very good at this. After a while, Han Qingxin sensed something and suddenly opened his eyes. With a thought, the dark light emitted by the Boundless Stele converged in front of the stele to form a vortex. Yan Qiuling flew out from it and landed on the open ground in the center of the courtyard.

She was still dressed in red, exuding an aura of cold arrogance from the bright moon.

"Han Qing, Xingmou has spoken; all the information you want is here!"

As she spoke, Yan Qiuling reached out and touched Han Qing's brow, and a lot of information appeared in his mind.

Han Qing quickly digested this information, dividing it into two main parts.

Firstly, it concerns the Yin-Yang Dao, such as what the Grand Master of Fate looks like, his strength, what his trump cards are, and how many powerful figures are within the sect.

Secondly, regarding the Liangzhou Yin-Yang Sect, how many branches and locations did it have, how many people were in each branch, and where were they scattered?

This is exactly the information Han Qing wants right now.

"Apart from Shao Siming, the other powerful figures in the Yin-Yang Sect are not to be feared. As for Da Siming, he is still in the capital and has been in seclusion for many years, so there is no need to worry too much about him."

"Now, as long as we clear out these thirteen large Yin-Yang Sect strongholds in Liangzhou, the crisis in Fengyang City will be resolved," Han Qing pondered.

“Young Master is right, I’ll go and call Liu Jinchen over right away,” Zhou Xiaoru said from the side.

"No need. I will go myself. With my flying technique, I can cover all thirteen places in a day. It is already extremely difficult for Liu Jinchen to defend Fengyang City. Asking him to clean up the strongholds is just asking the impossible," Han Qing said in a deep voice.

“What you say makes sense, young master.” Zhou Xiaoru nodded.

"However, before that, I must first seize the Yin-Yang Curse Seal from Star Eyes!"

As Han Qing spoke, he flew directly into the Boundless Monument.

In an instant, the scene changed, and he appeared directly above the ancient city inside the monument, then floated down into a spacious courtyard in the very center.

Ahead, Xingmou was bound to a stone pillar. Although there were no injuries on her body, her aura was weak, and her eyes had lost their previous sharpness.

"Upon seeing Han Qing arrive, Shao Siming raised his eyes, a cold smile appearing on his face. Do you know that the Grand Siming of the Yin Yang Sect and the Crown Prince are one? You dare to kill me, but it won't be long before you die too!"

She stared intently at Han Qing with resentful eyes.

"Starry Eyes, your life is in my hands. If you are willing to bow your head, I might change my mind and let you go!" Han Qing toyed with the token of the Heavenly Workshop in his hand, a faint smile on his face.

Starry eyes remained unfazed, and instead, the insults intensified.

Seeing this, Han Qing no longer hesitated, raised his hand and struck her chest with a palm, directly shattering her internal organs.

As Xingmou's soul flew out of his body, Han Qing punched him again, shattering him in mid-air.

This soul suddenly collapsed, turning into a gust of cold wind that echoed between heaven and earth.

Before the Seven Killings Stele, the soul light of Xingmou appeared.

Han Qing immediately absorbed the information, and many fragmented images appeared before his eyes, all of which were fragments of Xingmou's memories.

After a few breaths, the images disappeared, and Han Qing opened his eyes. He had also obtained a lot of information from these images. By comparing them with the information that Yan Qiuling had interrogated him, he finally confirmed that the information Yan Qiuling had interrogated him was true.

Then, a panel appeared in front of Han Qing, displaying about thirty-nine martial arts techniques.

Han Qing chose the Yin-Yang Incantation Seal first, and Xingmou had already mastered this secret technique to perfection. (End of Chapter)