The First Sage of Military Strategists

A strange look appeared in Han Qing's eyes. His eyesight was now sharp, and he could see Wei Qiong's strength clearly.

Even at his peak, Wei Qiong was no match for Li Qingniu.

However, after this brief encounter, he had a general understanding of Wei Qiong's personality: not only was he short-tempered, but he also loved to boast.

"Brother Wei is truly a man of character!"

"Not at all," Wei Qiong waved his hand.

"Now that we've been exposed, let's get out of here quickly," Han Qing said in a deep voice.

"Damn it, I wonder which bastard exposed my location again!" Wei Qiong cursed.

The next moment, the two of them took to the air. It was unclear whose property the manor belonged to, and Wei Qiong had no intention of dealing with the aftermath. The servants and maids were simply left behind.

a few days later.

The two had reached the edge of Sichuan and landed in a small border town.

Heavy rain often falls, the raindrops falling like arrows, their pattering sounds echoing as they hit the ground.

"Good wine, good wine! Five more jars, please!" Wei Qiong held up a large jar of wine high and gulped it down. In just a few breaths, the jar was empty. He then called out to the shopkeeper in a loud voice.

Han Qing sat opposite him, also drinking, but unlike Wei Qiong, he was not as boisterous and unrestrained.

He would occasionally pick up his bowl, take a small sip, and glance at a mansion not far away, where twelve black-clad warriors with swords stood guard at the main gate.

"Sir, here's your wine!"

Before long, the waiter, accompanied by two burly men, placed five large jars of wine on the open ground next to Wei Qiong.

Wei Qiong didn't hesitate either, picking up a jar of wine and chugging it down his throat.

"Gudong! Gudong!"

"Damn, that feels so good!"

Wei Qiong shouted from time to time, feeling extremely happy.

Han Qing glanced at him. He had come to understand Wei Qiong's personality along the way. No matter who he met, he couldn't help but curse a few words, whether he was happy or not. He was already used to it.

He thought for a moment and then stood up from the table.

"Where did Brother Han go?"

"Go kill someone!"

Han Qing transmitted the sound using the Dharma.

"Oh? Killing people is good, take me with you!" Wei Qiong replied.

"Brother Wei, just wait here. I'll be right back!"

The people Han Qing killed this time were Han Qu and Tong Guanzhong.

He knew the strength of these two men; killing them wouldn't be difficult. As for Wei Qiong, his injuries hadn't fully healed, so bringing him along wouldn't be of much use.

Two days ago, he had just arrived in a small town outside Shu when he received a message from Qi Wufeng via flying eagle, which indicated that Han Qu and Tong Guanzhong were currently hiding in Yuehu Manor in Tianxing City.

He came here specifically to see if the two had left. If they hadn't, he wouldn't mind killing them.

Firstly, these two had shown him a fierce killing intent last time, but their strength was inferior to his, and they ultimately failed.

Secondly, both of these people are from the imperial court, and he is now on the opposite side of the court, so he will take action whenever he can, and weaken the court's strength as much as he can.

He soared into the air, using his magical powers to manipulate the surrounding天地 (heaven and earth), distorting large areas of light and shadow, and allowing himself to disappear into the darkness.

This simple concealment technique doesn't require special learning; any semi-saint can use it, but it can be discovered by those with higher realms and more profound magical power.

However, Han Qing's intent was purely murderous. Unless one was a saint or someone specifically sought him out, very few people could discover his whereabouts.

...

North of the manor.

In the heart of a lush bamboo forest stands a magnificent five-story pavilion.

On the third floor of the attic, in a spacious room, Han Qu was practicing a set of boxing techniques. His fists and palms were unpredictable, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and his posture was sometimes as agile as a monkey and sometimes as graceful as a fox.

Before long, Han Qu finished a set of boxing techniques and slowly stopped, exhaling a breath of stale air.

He went to the windowsill, glanced around, and saw a small brass mirror next to him, reflecting his face.

After several days of recuperation, the bruises on his face have faded considerably, but obvious traces are still visible.

Han Qing's palm strike was perfectly timed, shattering his facial bones and making the injury difficult to heal, yet it didn't kill him outright.

Seeing that swollen face, Han Qu felt a surge of anger for no reason, and he raised his hand and smashed the bronze mirror in front of him with a punch.

With a loud crack, the mirror shattered, scattering its contents across the floor.

"Damn Han Qing! If I ever get the chance, I will never let this beast get away with this!"

"How hateful that I'm not strong enough!"

Han Qu took a deep breath, his mind gradually calming down. His gaze swept across the room and landed on a square mahogany box adorned with brocade patterns.

He opened the box, inside which lay the Earth Profound Spirit Pill, which was crystal clear and shimmering with multicolored light.

"Unfortunately, the Earth Profound Spirit Pill is too potent. If swallowed directly, those below the Martial Saint level will find it difficult to withstand the effects and risk exploding and dying. It must be supplemented with other medicinal herbs. If a Martial Saint were to swallow it, he could use it to open his mind and take a big step forward, saving him thirty to fifty years of hard work." Han Qu sighed.

"Earth Profound Spirit Pill! I never imagined such a wondrous item truly existed in this world!"

Suddenly, Han Qu heard a young man's voice drifting from behind him. His expression changed drastically, and he turned around abruptly.

"Who?"

His gaze sharpened as he saw Han Qing dressed in black, sitting on a large rosewood chair, examining the square box in his hand with great interest.

"Han Qing!"

Han Qu cried out in alarm, a strong sense of fear suddenly rising in his heart.

"Old Tong, save me!"

Before he could finish speaking, Han Qing had already made his move. Just as he was about to resist, his body was invaded by a large amount of magical energy, and he was unable to move for a moment.

In that instant, with life and death decided, Han Qing's fist, carrying immense power, struck him squarely in the chest. The fist flashed with energy, sending Han Qu flying out of the pavilion.

If Han Qu hadn't been wearing a high-quality soft armor, that punch would have shattered his body.

However, even so, Han Qing's punch was powerful enough to shatter his bones and internal organs. He fell into the bamboo forest and died instantly.

"Who?"

Hearing the commotion, Tong Guanzhong darted out from another building not far away at lightning speed. Upon seeing Han Qu's body, he was filled with overwhelming rage.

"get out!"

Han Qing took the Earth Profound Spirit Pill from the table, flew out of the pavilion, and glanced around before landing on Tong Guanzhong directly in front of him.

The latter's expression changed drastically. This time, Han Qing appeared in his original form, which he could see clearly.

"Oh no! Let's go!"

Tong Guanzhong dared not linger, turned around and fled into the distance.

But as soon as he moved, a Yin-Yang curse seal flew out from Han Qing's body, freezing space and time.

Tong Guanzhong froze, his expression changing drastically.

"Han Qing, I have no grudge against you, why must you be so ruthless?" Han Qing ignored him and suddenly attacked. The Yin-Yang Curse Seal transformed into a large gray hand that slammed down from mid-air, directly shattering the man's body.

Although Tong Guanzhong is a half-saint, his combat strength is only average. With Han Qing's current strength, killing a half-saint is a piece of cake.

not far away.

Outside the manor, Wei Qiong witnessed the entire process, holding a large jar of wine in his hands, a look of awe flashing in his eyes.

"Damn, this Yin-Yang curse seal is really powerful!"

"A Martial Saint, just one slap, one slap, and he's dead!" Wei Qiong said, taking several large gulps of wine, the liquid splashing freely and running down his neck.

Inside the manor, the moment the battle broke out, a commotion startled many guards. They then witnessed Tong Guanzhong being slapped to death, leaving them terrified and frozen in place, too afraid to make the slightest move.

Han Qing did not have the habit of indiscriminately killing innocent people. He suddenly took flight and quickly disappeared into the distance.

After Han Qing left the manor, the overwhelming pressure that had been pressing down on these people dissipated, and the guards came to their senses and suddenly started shouting.

"Someone come here!"

“There’s an assassin!”

"Lord Tong and Young Master Han are dead!"

...

Outside the manor, Han Qing flew down and landed right in front of Wei Qiong.

"Let's go, the matter has been resolved, let's return to the Qi residence!"

Wei Qiong gave a thumbs up: "Brother Han, your combat power is truly terrifying. I admire no one but you!"

As he spoke, he gulped down the last mouthful of wine from the jar, then casually tossed it aside. The jar fell to the ground, turning into shattered ceramic shards.

The shopkeeper came out after hearing the commotion, but the two people had already disappeared, leaving only a money bag on the table.

A dark-skinned, thin waiter stepped forward, picked up the money bag, and found that it contained more than ten taels of silver, which was almost several times the cost of the wine.

The shopkeeper didn't say much. Since the money for the wine had been paid in full, smashing a jar of wine wasn't a big deal. They often encountered some rough and unruly people in the shop, so it wasn't unusual. Smashing wine jars was a normal thing.

...

a few days later.

Han Qing had already brought Wei Qiong back to the Qi family mansion.

"Old Qi, I've missed you so much! Hahaha!"

The two entered the central courtyard of the Qi residence. Qi Wufeng walked out from the main hall. Wei Qiong glanced at him and suddenly burst into laughter, his hearty voice echoing in all directions.

Qi Wufeng was a man who rarely smiled, and his expression didn't change much as he asked in a slow voice, "Old Wei, I see that your breathing is unstable, I'm afraid you're seriously injured!"

When this was mentioned, Wei Qiong's face showed anger.

"Damn it, those bastards in the palace ganged up on me and tried to kill me. Otherwise, I would have killed them like dogs!" Wei Qiong cursed.

"Come in, let's talk inside!" Qi Wufeng invited.

The two stepped into the hall, where Qi Wufeng had already arranged a table of fine wine and dishes.

Wei Qiong's eyes lit up again when he saw the fine wine on the table.

"Tsk tsk, this is the Intoxicating Wine of Immortals! I'm going to drink my fill today!"

...

into the night.

Haishan Manor, north of Hengshan City.

This is the manor that Han Qing bought when he returned to Hengshan City. At this moment, Yan Qiuling, Lin Yueqiu, Yue Xiaobiao and other confidants are all living here.

In a pavilion in the very center of the manor, Han Qing sat in a chair with a square box in front of him containing a Di Xuan Pill.

The moment the box was opened, the elixir emitted a dazzling five-colored radiance, illuminating half of the room and filling it with a sweet fragrance.

Yan Qiuling, dressed in red, stood behind Han Qing, her eyes scrutinizing the pill.

"I never imagined that such a rare thing as the Earth Profound Spirit Pill really existed in this world."

Han Qing nodded slightly: "This Earth Profound Spirit Pill is said to be incredibly miraculous. Today I want to see just how amazing it really is!"

He closed his eyes slightly, not in a hurry to swallow it. The Seven Killings Stele appeared in his mind, with two soul light spots faintly visible in front of the stele.

One was from Tong Guanzhong, and the other from Han Qu. Within them, the faces of these two people flickered, appearing and disappearing.

Han Qing was the first to absorb the first soul light spot, which came from Tong Guanzhong.

Although the Earth Profound Spirit Pill looked and smelled fine, he was always cautious and decided to carefully search the memories of the two people to make sure there was nothing wrong with the pill before taking it.

Thus, Tong Guanzhong's memories flowed rapidly before him like a long river, with many images appearing and disappearing in his mind.

These memories were very fragmented, but fortunately, he found what he was looking for.

"This is indeed a genuine Di Xuan Spirit Pill, and it comes from Xiang Ying, the leader of the rebel army in Chu!"
"I never imagined that Han Qu, who comes from the Han family, would secretly collude with Xiang Ying. I never imagined that Xiang Ying would be willing to give away such a precious pill as the Earth Profound Spirit Pill!" Han Qingxin said.

Besides this, he also learned an important piece of information.

The imperial court was actually preparing to launch a massive martial arts examination and expand the army significantly, aiming to gather top martial arts experts from all over the country. As for what they were going to do, Tong Guanzhong's memory did not provide an answer.

Han Qing silently memorized this information, and then, with a thought, absorbed the second soul light point from Han Qu.

Numerous fragmented memories from Han Qu flashed before my eyes like a fleeting glimpse.

A moment later, Han Qing opened his eyes and obtained a lot of useful information from it.

First, he was certain that there was nothing wrong with the Earth Profound Spirit Pill. However, if a martial artist had not reached the Martial Saint realm, they could not easily take it and would need to take other pills in conjunction with it. Otherwise, there was a risk of their body exploding and dying. This was why Han Qu did not take the pill directly after obtaining it, and ultimately he got the benefit of the bargain.

After the Martial Saint consumes it, his body will undergo a transformation. If he uses the corresponding techniques, he can open many acupoints.

These so-called acupoints are not visible acupoints, but hidden acupoints.

During this period, Han Qing used the Seven Killings Stele to continuously improve his proficiency in it and deduce the Supreme Reincarnation Heavenly Scripture, thus completing it from an incomplete version to a complete one.

He also gained a clearer understanding of the path ahead after becoming a Martial Saint.

Before becoming a Martial Saint, the acupoints that are opened are called Mingqiao, which can generate internal energy. This internal energy is a mysterious power buried in the human body, equivalent to stimulating the human body's potential.

After becoming a Martial Saint, one unlocks the Dark Aperture, which allows one to absorb the power of the stars in the sky, thereby gaining all sorts of mysterious and unpredictable abilities.

Secondly, Han Qing obtained a tremendous piece of news from his memory.

The leader of the Mohist school highly valued Xiang Ying and wanted to help him overthrow the Great Yu and become the next human emperor.

The Earth Profound Spirit Pill in his hand came from the leader of the Mo family.

Xiang Ying also obtained other treasures, one of which was called the Eight Directions Puppet, which was one of the mechanical puppets passed down from generation to generation by the Mo family. It was powerful in battle, but it was damaged in a great battle decades ago and is now incomplete.

Xiang Ying collected the essence blood of all beasts, intending to summon a thunderstorm at Tianci Peak in Chu to infuse and baptize the puppets from all directions, causing them to evolve and transform.

Han Qing frowned slightly upon seeing this message, feeling quite tempted.

He knew about Tianci Peak, located in the Tianyue Plain of Chu, in the far south of Dayu, a vast and wild land.

Tianci Peak is a strange place on this plain, where thunderstorms occur every now and then, making it extremely dangerous.

"I've read in ancient books that this Eight Directions Puppet is an extremely powerful puppet of the Mo family, possessing combat strength comparable to a Hundred Aperture Martial Saint. If Xiang Ying were to repair it, his combat power would undoubtedly rise to an even more terrifying level. If it were in my hands, even if Han Yi himself were to appear one day, I would have much more confidence in dealing with him," Han Qing pondered. (End of Chapter)