The First Sage of Military Strategists

The three of them walked into a house not far away and sat down at a table. The two old people seemed to have endless questions and things to say.

Han Qing was extremely patient, answering every question and responding to anything that came to mind.

Seeing that the two elders were radiant and healthy, showing no signs of exhaustion despite their advanced age, he felt much more at ease.

The food at the Qi residence must be extremely plentiful, incorporating many precious medicinal herbs. The two elders would eat it every day, and even without practicing martial arts, their physical fitness would be greatly improved, their bodies would become stronger, and they would be free from all diseases.

The three chatted for an hour when suddenly, the voice of Butler Wang drifted in from outside the door.

"Young master, the imperial envoy has arrived. My master has instructed me to take you to the main hall!"

A cold glint flashed in Han Qing's eyes; he hadn't expected the imperial officials to arrive so quickly.

"Father, Mother, I need to go!"

Han Qing got up and followed Steward Wang outside. Steward Wang then turned back and instructed, "Young Master, the Master said that you'd better not reveal your true identity to avoid causing unnecessary trouble!"

Han Qing nodded slightly, thought for a moment, flipped his palm, and a mask appeared in his hand, which he immediately put on his face.

In the span of a few breaths, his appearance had changed dramatically, transforming him into the likeness of Duan Zanghai.

As he followed Butler Wang to the lobby entrance, a young man's voice drifted out from inside.

"Han Qing, that traitor, colluded with the demon race, committing a heinous crime. The court has spies who have discovered that this traitor has returned to Shu. He is a guard of the Qi family, so Lord Qi must know his whereabouts."

Han Qing frowned, stepped into the main hall, and glanced around. He saw two other people besides Qi Wufeng. One was wearing a white and gold robe and a gold crown. He had a scar on his face and large hands like palm fans. The other was an old man wearing a purple robe, with eagle eyes and a tortoise-shaped face. He was obviously an old eunuch from the palace.

Han Qing glanced at the eunuch and sensed that the old man's blood and energy were surging, his bones were strong, and his strength was quite remarkable.

Many of the palace eunuchs were top-notch experts, so he dared not underestimate them.

"Han Qu, Han Qing is not in the manor, and I know nothing about his collusion with the demon race. If you're looking for someone, you've come to the wrong place." Qi Wufeng sat in a chair, his gaze deep and his voice devoid of joy or sorrow.

Upon hearing the young man's name, Han Qing immediately knew his background; he was probably a member of the Han family.

Han Qu wasn't surprised; he had clearly anticipated this.

"Lord Qi, Han Qing is not here, but his parents are with you. I have come with an imperial decree, and I hope you will bring them here as soon as possible!"

"What do you two want these two people for?" Qi Wufeng raised an eyebrow.

"Han Qing is hiding, how can I let him have his way? Once these two are in my hands, I don't believe he won't show himself!" Han Qu said coldly.

"Hmph, despicable and shameless, beastly behavior!" Han Qing shouted in a deep voice, his loud voice echoing in the hall.

Han Qu's face darkened, his anger burning within him. He turned around and swept his gaze across the room, saying, "Who do you think you are, daring to spout such nonsense?"

Before he could finish speaking, a gust of wind suddenly blew past him, and with a loud slap, Han Qu was sent sprawling to the ground, looking utterly disheveled.

He immediately sat up, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Han Qing.

"you wanna die!"

"Be bold!"

The purple-robed eunuch beside him was startled. He hadn't expected Han Qing to move so fast that he couldn't even catch a glimpse of him.

"court death!"

Tong Guanzhong's figure flashed, and he arrived in front of Han Qing in a flash, raising his hand to strike out with a palm.

Han Qing also retaliated with a palm strike. Bang! The two palms collided with a muffled sound, and both of them floated backward, the bluestone slabs beneath their feet shattering one after another.

Qi Wufeng suddenly stood up from his chair and shouted sharply, "Aren't you going to stop?"

Han Qu stood up, his right cheek swollen, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were fixed on Han Qing, filled with resentment and hatred.

Tong Guanzhong's gaze was deep and unfathomable. He could sense Han Qing's powerful physique from this clash of palms, a strength that no ordinary person could match.

"Who is your Excellency?"

"I am Duan Zanghai!" Han Qing's voice was loud and clear.

Tong Guanzhong looked enlightened; he had heard of such a person.

"You seem to be quite skilled. Would you dare to spar with me at the training ground?" Tong Guanzhong said coldly, narrowing his eyes.

"Why don't you dare?"

Han Qing walked towards the door first. He was determined to teach these two a lesson for their rudeness.

Tong Guanzhong also walked outside, and secretly transmitted his voice.

"Young Master Han Qu, rest assured, this old servant will definitely grind this man to dust and help you regain your honor!"

"Cripple him! Killing him would be too good for him. I want him to suffer a fate worse than death!" Han Qu's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse.

When the two arrived at the spacious training ground, Qi Wufeng had already cleared out everyone else present.

"Death!"

A glint of light flashed in Tong Guanzhong's eyes, and he pounced on Han Qing in a flash.

Tong Guanzhong threw the first punch, this time he was really serious. His body was shrouded in a vast martial arts intent, which gathered at the tip of his fist and, accompanied by a powerful force, he threw a punch.

Under his own eyes, Han Qing saw the shadow of a giant tortoise, as large as a mountain, looming behind him; this was the manifestation of his true martial intent.

Han Qing also threw a punch at the same time, similarly channeling his strength and the true meaning of martial arts.

The two men's fists collided, their forces clashing, and their martial arts essences also clashed against each other.

boom!
Centered on the two, a cloud of dust and sand was stirred up in the training ground, as if a sandstorm had broken out.

A figure flew out from the crowd; it was none other than the purple-robed eunuch Tong Guanzhong. The latter retreated a hundred steps, his expression extremely solemn.

With that punch, he was utterly defeated.

Han Qing stood still, not retreating an inch, while Han Qing was not only blasted away, but his internal energy and blood also surged and churned, and a portion of it was dispersed.

"How can there be such strong force and such terrifying martial arts essence?" A cold look flashed across Tong Guanzhong's face, and he dared not underestimate it in the slightest.

With a stomp of his foot, a solid suit of demonic armor suddenly appeared on his body, and a surge of demonic energy condensed around him, forming a demonic domain.

With a thought, a malevolent domain appeared beside Han Qing, containing no fewer than several thousand Yin soldiers.

He originally intended to do it himself, but suddenly remembered that he had learned an extremely powerful spell during this time, called the Undying Yin Spirit Technique.

"Condense!" he shouted, and the many Yin spirits suddenly converged, transforming into a tall and mighty Yin spirit warrior.

The warrior was entirely black, as if composed purely of shadows, with his eyes gleaming with a scarlet light.

The strength of this Yin Spirit General is related to his own magical power and the quantity and quality of his Yin soldiers. He was not sure how strong the general in front of him was, so he used Tong Guanzhong as a test stone.

Tong Guanzhong suddenly flashed out and rushed straight at the Yin Spirit Warrior.

The two figures clashed more than ten times in an instant.

For a moment, Han Qing was surrounded by deafening ringing sounds.

Tong Guanzhong grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. He hadn't expected that Han Qing himself wouldn't even make a move, yet this shadow monster alone was enough to overwhelm him. At first, they were evenly matched, but after a dozen or so moves, he was firmly suppressed. This monster not only felt no pain, but it also fought like a madman, recklessly.

However, he was unable to risk his life for such a cause, and thus lost the battle in terms of momentum.

Finally, he revealed a weakness and was suddenly punched in the chest, sending him flying and crashing to the ground not far away.

Han Qu was shocked; he hadn't expected that Tong Guanzhong would be defeated by a single spell.

"How could the strength of this Tibetan region be so terrifying?"

Suddenly, Tong Guanzhong sprang up and arrived in front of Duan Zanghai in an instant. He grabbed one of Duan's arms and suddenly soared into the sky.

"Lord Qi, I am no match for you and I concede defeat. However, this matter is not over. Han Qing has provoked the Han family and is going against the imperial court. In the end, he will only face certain death!"

Tong Guanzhong's clear voice echoed between heaven and earth.

Han Qing did not intervene. These two were not ordinary people, after all, they were carrying an imperial decree. If he killed them in the Qi residence, it could cause trouble for Qi Wufeng.

However, being able to walk now doesn't mean you'll be able to walk in the future.

"Han Qing, with your current strength, even I am no match for you." Qi Wufeng watched the entire battle and was extremely surprised. He then came to stand in front of Han Qing.

"Uncle Qi, please investigate the whereabouts of these two people thoroughly!" Han Qing said in a deep voice.

"Alright, as long as these two are still in Shu, their whereabouts cannot be hidden." Qi Wufeng knew what Han Qing was planning, and he didn't want to let Tong Guanzhong and the other man go either.

These two must die, but they cannot die in the Qi residence; they must die in Hengshan City.

With a wave of his hand, Han Qing caused the Yin Spirit Warrior to suddenly dissipate, transforming into wisps of magical energy that entered his brow.

"Uncle Qi, how many eunuchs like Tong Guanzhong are there in the palace?" he asked again.

"It's hard to say. The palace is full of experts. Even the leader of the Mohist school doesn't dare to venture in, which shows how extremely dangerous it is inside," Qi Wufeng pondered.

Han Qing nodded slightly, feeling a bit of pressure. He knew that his current strength was not enough to fight against such a behemoth as the imperial court; he needed to become stronger.

As they were talking, Qi Wufeng flipped his palm over, and a perfectly round blood pill appeared. This blood pill was beating rhythmically, just like a heart.

Han Qingfa scanned it and could feel a massive amount of blood energy surging within.

"Han Qing, this is the Blood Essence Divine Pill. It was made by me by collecting a large number of rare and precious materials. Swallowing it is like swallowing a source of blood and qi. Not only will your blood and qi be inexhaustible and never run dry when fighting enemies, but it will also nourish your body and regenerate your limbs. You are facing many powerful enemies now. This Blood Essence Pill can greatly increase your ability to survive. Take it," Qi Wufeng said.

"Thank you, Uncle Qi!" Han Qing cupped his hands in thanks, adding another act of kindness to his heart, pondering how to repay it in the future.

He took the Blood Pill and immediately swallowed it. After about two or three breaths, the Blood Pill transformed into a source of Qi and Blood, surging in his abdomen. The deep and heavy Qi and Blood resonated throughout his limbs and bones, making him feel that his whole body was filled with a powerful force.

Before long, the surge of qi and blood ceased, but Han Qing could clearly feel that the large mass of qi and blood in his abdomen was still there. He could mobilize it whenever he needed it, either to heal injuries or to replenish the qi and blood that had been lost in his body, keeping his body in peak condition at all times.

"This Blood Essence Pill is truly powerful!" he exclaimed.

"It is powerful, but the three most potent pills in the world are the Heavenly Profound, Earthly Profound, and Human Profound Great Pills! I have heard that these three pills contain great fortune and can help an ordinary person quickly become a top expert. However, they are extremely difficult to refine. I have heard that only the Mo family and the imperial court still have the formulas for these three elixirs. What a pity." Qi Wufeng shook his head.

Han Qing had heard about these three pills many times and was quite curious about just how powerful they were. He wondered if he would have the opportunity to taste them himself someday.

"By the way, Han Qing, although there are many experts in this manor, I don't think any of them can compare to you. I happen to have something to entrust to you!" Qi Wufeng said.

"Uncle Qi, please give your orders!" Han Qing said in a deep voice.

"You must go to Yuehua Manor in Bingzhou immediately to escort Ice Soul King Wei Qiong into Shu. He is one of the top ten masters in the world and a top expert of Lishan Academy. He was infiltrating the palace as a spy, but he was exposed for some reason a few days ago and desperately escaped from the capital, but was seriously injured. A few days ago, he sent someone with a secret letter to ask me for help. You must go there immediately to prevent him from dying at the hands of the court," Qi Wufeng said.

"Okay, I'll go right away!" Han Qing replied.

He quickly searched his mind again for information about Ice Soul King Wei Qiong. This person ranked in the bottom three among the top ten masters. He was said to have an extremely irritable personality, but since he was able to work as a spy in the palace, he must be a person who is rough but meticulous.

"Han Qing, do you need any help to accompany us?" Qi Wufeng asked.

"No need. The situation is urgent. I should head to Bingzhou immediately." Han Qing said, without making any special preparations. He suddenly took flight and instantly transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for Yuehua Manor in Bingzhou.

...

Shu land.

Tianxing City.

To the north of this city lies a valley called Falling Star Valley. Legend has it that a large star fell into it, causing the heavens and earth to tremble and fireworks to soar into the sky, hence the name Heavenly Star City.

In the south of the city stands Cuihu Villa, a scenic spot owned by the Han family.

At this moment, there is a pavilion beside the emerald lake. Han Qu sits in the pavilion, his eyes deep and dark, the swollen scars on his face still not faded.

Tong Guanzhong walked over from a short distance away, glanced at Han Qu, and could sense that he was in a very bad mood. After a moment's thought, he slowly analyzed, "Although Duan Zanghai is a Martial Saint, his strength could not possibly be that great. I suspect that the person was not Duan Zanghai, but someone impersonating him. I think it is most likely Han Qing!"

Han Qu gritted his teeth, slammed his fist heavily on the stone table in front of him, and revealed a fierce expression on his face.

"That damned little beast, if he falls into my hands, I will make sure he dies a horrible death!"

“Young Master, the most urgent task is to send a letter to the court for help as soon as possible. I never expected Qi Wufeng to be so bold, let alone that Han Qing to be so powerful,” Tong Guanzhong said in a deep voice.

"Alas, my strength is too weak. I have sent people to collect a hundred women and begin to use the evil technique of Hundred Yin to forcibly enhance their innate talents and physical attributes!" Han Qu suddenly said.

Tong Guanzhong frowned: "Young master, please think twice. Although this Hundred Yin Evil Technique can enhance a person's innate talent, it also carries the risk of going into demonic possession!"

Han Qu clenched his fist, a resolute look appearing in his eyes: "My mind is made up. So what if there are risks? As long as I can become stronger, a little risk is nothing."

Tong Guanzhong nodded slightly, and seeing this, said no more.

Just then, he heard a woman's voice echoing from above.

"Han Qu, although the Hundred Yin Evil Technique can greatly enhance your innate talent, it will also cut off your path to sainthood. If you want to become stronger, I have a Di Xuan Spirit Pill here, which is equivalent to thirty years of your hard work and can give you a major breakthrough in your martial arts!"

"Who?"

The two looked up and suddenly saw a woman with slightly grayish skin descending from the sky, her eyes scanning Han Qu back and forth. (End of Chapter)