The First Sage of Military Strategists

"Congeal!"

With a low shout, Han Qing unleashed a surge of malevolent energy from his body, instantly forming a malevolent domain within which numerous Yin soldiers could be seen and hidden.

After entering the realm of sainthood, these Yin soldiers became even more powerful. Each Yin soldier was extremely solid, with a lively light flashing in their eyes, and they were able to use many of the martial arts and combat techniques they had mastered in their previous lives.

In the next instant, numerous Yin soldiers transformed into streaks of black light and shot out, converging and coalescing in the evil domain to form a Yin spirit warrior.

Compared to those at the Half-Saint realm, this warrior has become even more powerful. At a glance, although his body is constructed of shadow, his bones, meridians, and internal organs are clearly visible, as if he has flesh and blood, just like a real person existing in this world.

He reached out and grabbed a solid, jet-black battle blade, its entire body gleaming with a bluish-green light.

As the crimson light drew near, the Yin Spirit Warrior raised his hand and slashed forward with his blade.

This strike even employed a first-grade sword technique, the Phantom Thousandfold Blade.

In an instant, the sword light split into countless forms, like a tide, obscuring the crimson glow.

But the crimson light was superior, tearing through the tide of blades like a sharp spear piercing the Yin Spirit Warrior's body.

A destructive force raged within him, causing the Yin Spirit Warrior's body to continuously collapse and then rebuild.

The reason why the Undying Warrior is called Undying is because it can absorb power from the Fiend Domain, allowing its body to recover rapidly. Unless it suffers a devastating blow in an instant, it can be reborn indefinitely, becoming immortal and indestructible.

At this moment, the power of the crimson light exceeded his tolerance.

After collapsing and reorganizing several times, the Undying War General finally could not be sustained for the seventh time and suddenly collapsed, turning into a cloud of black mist that dissipated in the Fiend Domain.

However, in the process of its repeated collapse and reconstruction, the power of this crimson light is also constantly weakening.

By the time of the final collapse, the power of the crimson light had decreased to less than half of its original strength.

With a thought, Han Qing unleashed the Yin-Yang Incantation Seal, transforming it into a large handprint that fiercely grabbed at the crimson light.

The crimson light twisted and changed within the palm formed by the Yin-Yang incantation seal, and suddenly with a loud bang, it transformed into a sky full of flowing light, scattering in all directions.

The overwhelming pressure that permeated the world dissipated.

"Walk!"

Han Qing activated the Ceasefire Sutra, and a surge of magical energy stirred up a storm, lifting Yan Qiuling and continuing westward at breakneck speed, disappearing into the distant horizon in an instant.

Shortly after the two left, Xiang Ying descended from the sky with many experts from the Sword Palace.

"Damn it! Who stole my Eight Directions Puppet? I will grind them to dust!"

Xiang Ying suddenly let out a roar, the sound as loud as thunder, which shook the minds of many Sword Palace experts around him.

...

the other side.

Han Qing, carrying Yan Qiuling, had already flown out of the desolate land and was heading west at high speed. They finally landed in this dense thorn forest, which was tens of thousands of miles away from Tianci Peak.

"This place should be safe now!" Han Qing whispered.

After becoming a great strategist, his ability to sense danger has become even stronger. Even if someone releases hostile intent from a great distance, he can sense it.

At this moment, the hostility emanating from Xiang Ying dissipated, indicating that the other party had completely lost track of him.

He guessed that there should be some connection between Xiang Ying and Bafang Kui, but that connection would be severed after they were separated by a certain distance.

"What was that crimson light just now? Its power was so terrifying that an ordinary half-saint couldn't withstand it at all and would probably be killed instantly!" Yan Qiuling's mind was filled with the scene just now, and a trace of fear appeared in her eyes.

"I've heard that Xiang Ying has a magical artifact that he possesses, namely the savage dragon halberd in his hand. It contains a terrifying power that can only be activated by his own blood essence. I think that crimson light just now came from that halberd," Han Qing pondered.

"This person's luck is truly remarkable. He has double pupils, supreme martial bones, and a companion magic treasure. No wonder he has attracted so many powerful figures from Chu to join him!" Yan Qiuling said in surprise.

"The world is vast and full of wonders. In every era, there are always a few people whose fortunes are at their peak, and people call them the chosen ones," Han Qing said.

As he spoke, the Yin-Yang curse mark transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into his brow.

He frowned and suddenly noticed that the Yin-Yang Curse Seal had dimmed a bit.

"This Yin-Yang Incantation Seal is powerful, but it is ultimately an external object. Each time it is used, it consumes Yin and Yang energies. If it cannot be replenished, its power will become weaker and weaker. This is a big problem!" Han Qing frowned.

Many thoughts flashed through Han Qing's mind, and he had already come up with several solutions.

For example, by seizing another person's Yin-Yang seal and integrating it into one's own Yin-Yang seal, the level of the Yin-Yang seal can be greatly improved. If it can reach the ninth level, the Yin-Yang seal can automatically draw on the power of heaven and earth to repair the Yin and Yang energies.

For example, practitioners of the Yin-Yang Dao have the ability and techniques to extract the Yin-Yang energy of others or to transform their own spiritual power into Yin-Yang energy.

If one could learn a similar technique, this problem could be solved very well.

The first path is the simplest and most direct, but it is also the most difficult.

On the surface, only the Grand Master of the Yin-Yang Sect in the Great Yu Dynasty controls the Yin-Yang Curse Seal, but it is rumored that the seal has twelve layers, and its power is unknown.

Han Qing already possessed a seven-layered Yin-Yang curse seal, which allowed him to roam freely. A twelve-layered one? Reason told him that if he were to actually encounter one, he would likely be no match for it, let alone attempt to snatch it.

"The Yin-Yang Curse Seal is such a powerful spell, I don't believe that no one else is secretly practicing it. There must be a chance!" Han Qing murmured, no longer thinking about it.

"Let's go, let's go back to Shu first!" Han Qing said.

"it is good!"

...

a few days later.

Han Qing and Yan Qiuling have already returned to Hengshan City in Shu.

Inside the manor.

In a courtyard, Han Qing sat under a lush willow tree, secretly activating the Boundless Stele. Above his head, a faint light gathered, forming a vortex.

Han Qing leaped into the air and disappeared into the vortex, appearing inside the Boundless Monument.

He took a step and landed in the courtyard in the center of the ancient city in the inner space. The eight puppets in front of him were being bound and suppressed by a mysterious light. Although they were struggling, they could not break free.

Han Qing looked at the puppet and felt quite surprised.

Although it was a puppet, its eyes, made of pure black, translucent gemstones, shone with a human-like light.

Han Qing saw arrogance, confidence, and domineering in him; he was practically another Xiang Ying.

He was also very confident, but Xiang Ying's confidence had gone beyond that, turning into an arrogant disdain for everything. At this moment, Yan Qiuling also entered from the outer entrance, appearing above this ancient city, and then flew down to Han Qing's side, her gaze also scrutinizing the octagonal puppet.

"The Mohists can bring mechanical puppets to life, which is truly miraculous!"

Han Qing nodded slightly: "This puppet has absorbed a large amount of Xiang Ying's essence blood, leaving a very deep spiritual imprint. I must first erase this imprint before seizing the opportunity to control this magic weapon!"

Han Qing acted immediately, channeling strands of magical energy into the puppet.

This puppet is essentially a magical artifact, and thus it contains a vast amount of Mo family magical energy. Outside of this magical energy, there is a large amount of magical energy from Xiang Ying.

These ideas are constantly trying to entangle and merge with the ideas of the Mohists.

Once the two are fully integrated, the puppet will fall completely into Xiang Ying's hands, and it will be incredibly difficult to remove it at that point.

The best news is that the two magical thoughts have not yet merged. Fortunately, he acted in time and snatched it away the moment the Eight Directions Puppet was completed, without giving Xiang Ying the chance to refine it himself.

As Han Qing pondered, he began to control his own mental energy, hunting down the many distracting thoughts coming from Xiang Ying.

The Eight Directions Puppet struggled violently, but to no avail.

Strands of distracting thoughts were destroyed and collapsed. In the eyes of the Eight Directions Puppet, that unruly gaze was rapidly dissipating, and the spiritual imprint belonging to Xiang Ying was being quickly erased.

This process lasted for about three hours. Finally, the last trace of the mark disappeared, and the Eight Directions Puppet became completely ownerless. Its eyes fell silent, and the human-like light in them no longer flickered.

Thousands of miles away, Xiang Ying was enjoying a meal in a beautifully decorated room when he suddenly sensed that his connection with the Eight Directions Puppet had been completely severed, meaning that the mark he left in the Eight Directions Puppet had been erased.

A surge of anger suddenly erupted in Xiang Ying's heart. She slammed her hand on the table, shattering it into pieces.

"what!"

The surrounding maids screamed and lay prostrate on the ground, too afraid to move.

"Eight Directions Puppet!"

"If you take my things, I will make you pay tenfold or a hundredfold in the future!"

...

In the manor.

Han Qing and Yan Qiuling flew away from the vortex of ghostly light and landed in the center of the courtyard.

Within the Eight Directions Puppet, Xiang Ying's magical thoughts have been cleared. The next step is to refine the magic weapon, to completely integrate his own thoughts with the remaining sage thoughts within the magic weapon. This is a massive undertaking that cannot be accomplished overnight.

However, Han Qing was not in a hurry. Everything had to be done slowly; rushing wouldn't work.

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside.

Han Qing glanced around and saw Qi Wufeng leading several servants into the courtyard. He was still dressed in black, with a sharp temperament and a straight posture. From a distance, he looked like a drawn sword piercing the sky.

"Hmm? Han Qing, your strength is even more unfathomable to me. Could it be that you have already stepped into the Saint Realm?" The moment Qi Wufeng's gaze fell on Han Qing, he felt an aura rushing towards him, with pressure as heavy as a mountain.

This aura wasn't something Han Qing intentionally released; rather, it was caused by the widening gap in strength between the two. Consequently, Qi Wufeng quickly formed many associations in his mind.

"Uncle Qi guessed correctly, I did indeed successfully break through and enter the Saint Realm!"

Qi Wufeng's heart was filled with shock: "I never imagined that in just three years, you would transform from an extremely weak martial artist from Baiyun County into a great sage of the Legalist school. Such talent is truly unparalleled. Looking at the past and present, there are few who can compare to you!"

"Uncle Qi, although I am strong now, I am still far behind Han Yi. It's not a big deal. I must become stronger until I can surpass Han Yi one day, only then can I truly control my own destiny!" Han Qing said in a deep voice.

"You're right. You're so young, yet you're so composed. That's even more remarkable. Throughout history, too many geniuses have died before they could fully mature, all because of their character!" Qi Wufeng praised.

"Uncle Qi, you must have come to see me for something. Let's go inside and talk in detail!" Han Qing invited.

"it is good!"

The three of them stepped into the house and each sat down in a chair.

Qi Wufeng skimmed the foam from the teacup, took a small sip of hot tea, and said in a deep voice, "Han Qing, the imperial court is making a big move. I've heard that the Holy Desert Empire is mobilizing its army with all its might, claiming to gather a million soldiers to break through the pass and invade the Great Yu. Now the imperial court is also gathering troops and conscripting experts from all sides to the capital. It is said that a martial arts examination will be held temporarily, regardless of background or origin. As long as you are strong enough, you can join the army and obtain a position that matches your qualifications."

Han Qing nodded slightly, quite calm. He already knew about this news, and now he had only confirmed it with Qi Wufeng.

"The Holy Desert Empire has always coveted the fertile lands of the Great Yu. Now that the Emperor of Yu is seriously ill, it is indeed an excellent opportunity to make a move. The court's sudden convening of a military examination shows that they are truly in a hurry. But I wonder if there is a trap involved?"

"There's no need to worry about that. I've verified it from multiple sources. The martial arts competition is real, and it's also true that the Holy Desert Empire is planning a major attack on my Great Yu."

"If war breaks out, regardless of the outcome, it will be a significant humanitarian change, and I think we cannot miss it!" Qi Wufeng said.

"Uncle Qi is right. Although I have become a saint, my foundation is shallow. I need to learn more techniques and accumulate a deeper level of spiritual power!" Han Qing said.

Every humanitarian change benefits a large number of spiritual practitioners. It is said that those who follow the right path in the trend can obtain the power of divine thought bestowed by heaven.

Han Qing naturally didn't want to miss such an opportunity.

“Alright, the imperial court needs some time to prepare for the martial arts examination. I will continue to send people to gather information. Once the imperial court makes an announcement to the world, you can set off for the capital!” Qi Wufeng said.

"Thank you, Uncle Qi!" Han Qing bowed slightly.

Qi Wufeng got up and left. Yan Qiuling, who was standing to the side, asked, "Han Qing, are you really going to the capital? If the court discovers your identity, won't your life be in danger?"

"I've also considered this. Let's not rush. I'll go to Kyoto later. With my current strength, as long as I don't want to reveal my identity, no one will be able to figure me out."

"Uncle Qi is right. If war really breaks out, it will be a humanitarian revolution. I can't miss it. Qiu Ling, if you can, you should participate too!" Han Qing said.

Yan Qiuling thought about it and felt it made sense: "If I can benefit from this and obtain the power of divine will bestowed by heaven, then I will have a great chance of opening the Heavenly Gate next time!"

"Let's put that aside for now. Improving our strength is the priority during this period!" Han Qing said.

He had already figured out what to do next. The three most important things were to refine the Eight Directions Puppet, study the Supreme Reincarnation Heavenly Scripture, open more hidden apertures, and condense his Dharma thoughts, purifying and condensing all his Dharma thoughts to the same intensity.

After these three things are done, his strength will be greatly enhanced.

...

Thousands of miles away.

Beijing.

In a magnificent palace, Emperor Yu sat on a chair, his golden crown hanging down as a beaded curtain, slightly obscuring his face. However, the occasional coughs indicated that his physical condition was not good.

Han Yi, wearing a crimson-gold crown, stood directly below the steps in the very center of the palace. He gazed upwards, his eyes calm, emanating an icy aura. Beneath his divine eye, countless chains extended from behind him, binding the countless figures of gods, Buddhas, and immortals, as if echoing with mournful cries. (End of Chapter)