The First Sage of Military Strategists

"Yue Bairu, what do you think of Xiang Ying? Is he worth my gamble with my treasure from the Zongheng Dao Palace?"

Soaring through the sky, with the cold wind howling, the old man put away his gentle smile and asked slowly.

“Master, Xiang Ying’s life has been too smooth. He was born with supreme martial bones, double pupils, and a powerful companion magic weapon. His talent and abilities are extremely strong, but his temperament is average. He is too arrogant and stubborn. Even if he eventually becomes the ruler of humanity, he will not be a benevolent ruler, nor will he be a blessing to the people of the world,” Yue Bai pondered.

“If that’s the case, then it means that Xiang Ying is not the leader of the humanitarian reform. I’ve heard that Liu Yue, the leader of the righteous army in Shu, is a kind and generous elder. If I have the chance, I would like to meet him. Last month, your father and I set up a grand formation to deduce the situation of the world. We can confirm that the humanitarian reform is coming and the fate of the Great Yu is exhausted. The leader is either Xiang Ying or Liu Yue.” The Palace Master of Zongheng Dao Palace pondered.

"What about Han Qing? Master, if I may be so bold, Han Qing is, in my opinion, the true leader of the humanistic trend. His talent is astonishing, arguably the best in the world. His character is also excellent; he is confident and self-reliant, yet fearless. I believe this person will surely achieve great things in the future," Yue Bairu said.

“You’re right, but this person’s ambitions are not to be a ruler, and he has no interest in worldly power. He only wants to become the world’s top expert, so he is not within the scope of this discussion.” The old man shook his head.

As they were talking, a ball of flame suddenly flew from ahead, blocking their path. The flame kept changing shape and suddenly turned into a middle-aged man, You Songchuan.

It is said that he has five elemental clones, and the ball of flame in front of him is one of the fire element clones.

"Brother You, you don't trust me, do you? With me here, how could Bai Ru possibly get into trouble? Why do you need to send your clone to go in person?" the old man said with a smile.

“Father, I’m fine.” Yue Bai Ruye nodded.

You Songchuan glanced at Yue Bai and saw that she was as lively as a dragon and tiger, without a single injury on her body. His heart sank to his stomach.

"I've gathered a lot of information during my trip to Tongzhou, which could very well change the course of history."

"Oh? What news? Tell me about it," the old man asked.

“The strongest member of the Chen family, the military strategist Chen Liuyun, has appeared in the Great Yu Imperial Palace. He is not dead; he was injured and has been hiding in the palace to heal. Now that the situation is turbulent, he has finally emerged from seclusion. He is powerful and his swordsmanship is fierce. He should not be underestimated,” said You Songchuan.

"Yes, I fought him back then. He is indeed a formidable and troublesome character. Including the Demon Child Ma Meng who recently stirred up trouble in Tongzhou, the Great Yu Dynasty has already revealed two trump cards. I just don't know how many more trump cards are yet to be revealed." The old man nodded.

“Although the situation in Dayu is currently turbulent, it has a rich foundation and should not be underestimated.” You Songchuan nodded in agreement.

"Is there any other news?" the old man asked again.

"The Crimson Lotus Demoness has been born," You Songchuan said.

"Hmm? This guy is an old monster, a generation older than both of us, and he's still alive?" the old man exclaimed in surprise.

“There’s nothing surprising about it. This Red Lotus Demoness is a demon, and her cultivation is so high that she was even stronger than you and me at her peak. Naturally, her lifespan is also extremely long. There were rumors back then that this demoness and the Great Shun Emperor did not die, but fled to the South China Sea and hid in some small countries under assumed names. I don’t know if it’s true or not,” You Songchuan added.

"With this humanitarian reform, I fear that even more old monsters who were once famous throughout the world and whose names are etched in history will emerge and fight back. The situation will become increasingly chaotic. In my opinion, the humanitarian reform has already begun. As time goes by, more and more powerful people will perish. Only by following the right people and going with the flow can we avoid disaster and rise with the wind," You Songchuan pondered.

"Your words have filled this old man with endless worries. I'd better leave Tongzhou, this place of trouble, for I'm going fishing." The old man waved his hand.

"Is the Black Sparrow Alliance conflict over?" You Songchuan asked.

"It's probably over. Han Qing has swept up all the candidates, leaving only Qi Wufeng. With the help of the Qi family from the North, it's likely that the next leader of the Black Sparrow Alliance will be surnamed Qi." The old man nodded.

"go!"

With that, he waved his hand, and a gust of wind swept the two of them away, disappearing into the horizon in no time.

...

the other side.

Han Qing had already caught up with the Lord of Bihai Lake and the others; he didn't want to let any of them go.

"Young friend Han, what is the meaning of your relentless pursuit? We have no great grudge against each other. Although there was a friction in the underground palace just now, it was nothing serious. Why go to such lengths to kill me?" the Lord of Bihai Lake said coldly.

"Hmph! I've come to take your life. As for why? You shouldn't have injured Qi Wufeng, that's a capital offense!" Han Qing said loudly.

"Young friend Han, your actions are so domineering. Very well, this old man will now test your abilities."

After the Lord of Azure Lake finished speaking, he raised his hand and struck forward with a palm. A cold wind suddenly rose, and wisps of green flames appeared out of thin air, instantly condensing into a green fire dragon. It suddenly soared up and circled as it pounced on Han Qing.

The instant he made his move, he leaped into the air and fled in a different direction at lightning speed.

Having witnessed Han Qing's strength in the battle between Han Qing and Xiang Ying, he knew that continuing the fight would only lead to his death, so he naturally wanted to find a way to escape.

With a thought, Han Qing's Eight Directions Puppet took the initiative to meet the giant dragon of poisonous fire. He raised his hand and punched it, directly shattering it in mid-air, turning it into wisps of fire that fell all over the sky.

The Yin-Yang Curse Seal suddenly flew out and struck towards the Lord of Azure Sea Lake.

Han Qing himself was not idle either. He carried the Liuyun Blade and appeared in front of Jing Ying in a flash, blocking her way.

The Lord of the Azure Lake suddenly turned around and saw a giant hand of colorful light flying towards him. He hurriedly took action to block it, and many flames converged and condensed into a barrier.

Bang!
The giant hand of colorful light slammed into the barrier, and with a muffled thud, the barrier collapsed suddenly. He was caught in the hand and struggled desperately, but could not break free.

The Palace Master of the Azure Sea suddenly let out a long roar, as if he had used some kind of forbidden technique. A ball of flame rose from his body, his aura surged, and he unleashed an unprecedentedly powerful force. In an instant, he broke free from the Yin-Yang Curse Seal and fled into the distance at an extremely fast speed.

However, despite his speed, he was not as fast as the Eight Directions Puppet.

With the blessing of the Yin-Yang Curse Seal, the Eight Directions Puppet's speed increased dramatically, and in an instant it arrived behind the Lord of the Azure Sea Lake. It threw another punch, which the latter could not withstand. His body was immediately blown apart in mid-air, and a divine soul flew out from it and was quickly absorbed into the space inside the Boundless Stele.

Seeing this, Jing Ying felt quite frightened.

The Lord of Bihai Lake was a well-known figure in Tongzhou, yet he was dealt with so easily? The strength of this young man in front of me is truly unbelievable.

With her mind racing, Jing Ying licked her lips and smiled charmingly: "Young Master Han, why make things difficult for me? Why not let me off the hook?"

"Once the chaos in Tongzhou is over, I will grant you your freedom. But not now. I advise you not to resist, or you will suffer the same fate as the Lord of Bihai Lake," Han Qing said loudly.

Jing Ying sighed, "I will obey your orders, young master."

With a wave of his hand, Han Qing conjured a faint light that suddenly engulfed Jing Ying and incorporated her into the Boundless Monument.

In this way, the Boundless Monument now contains two more divine souls, one from the Lord of the Azure Sea Lake and the other from Jing Tuohai, as well as two other people, Venerable Fengxing and Jing Ying.

These people are all top experts from various forces. Whether they use the Seven Killings Stele or interrogate others, they can obtain powerful spells to enhance their combat strength.

However, now was not the time to do that, as the area was not safe. So Han Qing took off and flew at high speed toward Bihai City.

...

One month later. The Imperial Palace of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Emperor Yu sat upright in his chair, listening attentively to Han Yi's report below.

"Your Majesty, Governor Yuan Shixiu of Tongzhou has sent word that the dispute over the Black Sparrow Alliance has come to an end, and the next leader of the Black Sparrow Alliance will be Qi Wufeng," Han Yi announced loudly.

"The Qi family wields considerable power in the north, so it was not unexpected for me that Qi Wufeng became the leader of the alliance," Emperor Yu said unhurriedly.

"Your Majesty, I have ascertained that Qi Wufeng is in cahoots with Liu Yue, the leader of the rebel army in Shu. His becoming the leader of the Black Sparrow Alliance is not a good thing for the court," Han Yi said loudly.

"I understand, but the court relies on the Qi family in Tongzhou and Shu, so we can't afford to break ties now," Emperor Yu said.

"We cannot afford to break ties with the Qi family, but Qi Wufeng cannot be allowed to live. I insist that we should act immediately and kill Qi Wufeng. As long as we act quickly enough and before the Qi family can react, they will have no choice but to replace him. At worst, we can give the Qi family some compensation afterward," Han Yi said loudly.

Emperor Yu remained silent, pondering for a while.

"In that case, send your clone along. Chen Liuyun will accompany you, and that will make it a sure thing."

"The minister obeys the order."

"The minister obeys the order!"

As Han Yi responded, a deep, resonant male voice came from a shadowy corner of the palace; it was Chen Liuyun.

With a series of footsteps, Chen Liuyun emerged from the shadows, carrying a battle sword, and went straight to Emperor Yu.

The man had a hideous scar that ran from his chest upwards and spread across his face like a spider web, making his original appearance unrecognizable and turning him into a grotesque and terrifying figure, like a vengeful ghost.

"Liu Yun, you've been recuperating for so long, it's time for you to get moving. If it weren't for your desperate efforts back then, I would have died at the hands of that old devil from the Mo family long ago," Emperor Yu said loudly.

"This is what I should do. Over the years, I have been recuperating in the palace, consuming countless rare and precious herbs. My injuries have healed, and my strength has improved significantly. I was just looking for an opponent to test my current swordsmanship, and Qi Wufeng is just the right person." Chen Liuyun's powerful voice echoed.

Emperor Yu nodded slightly and said, "I have recently heard about something else. It is said that the Red Lotus Demoness has been reborn."

"That demoness didn't die back then. She's been hiding in the turbulent winds and currents of the heavens, and no one can catch her. Now she's sensed the coming of a change in humanity and has shown herself to fight. However, Your Majesty need not worry. How strong can this old monster be, hiding like that? If she dares to act recklessly, I will make sure she's reduced to ashes!" Han Yi shouted.

"With you here, my dear minister, I feel extremely at ease. Let's leave it at that for now. You two go to Tongzhou immediately and kill Qi Wufeng!" Emperor Yu waved his hand.

"I resign!"

The two bowed and retreated, slowly withdrawing from the palace.

...

Traveling southeast from Tongzhou for several thousand miles, one enters a desolate prefecture called Shazhou.

At this moment, in Shazhou, on the vast yellow sand Gobi Desert, stands a magnificent stone city called Riyan City.

At this moment, Han Qing and his group were in this city, which was constructed entirely of crimson rock and emitted scorching heat.

Riyan City, in a manor.

After Han Qing helped Qi Wufeng end the chaos in Tongzhou and released Jing Ying, he continued his journey towards the border.

The army of the Holy Desert Empire is still gathering, and this massive war is about to break out.

This manor also belongs to a young master of the Qi family, who has many children. At this moment, Han Qing stood on the pavilion, his eyes sweeping back and forth in the courtyard. He could see many children running around the rockery, making a series of clear and melodious sounds.

"Hahaha! You can't escape, I'm about to catch you!"

"Run!"

Many children ran around, playing hide-and-seek.

Han Qingjing observed for a while, and his whole body relaxed a lot. He turned around and went back to his house, found a secret room, sat cross-legged on the ground, and continued his arduous cultivation.

He wouldn't forget the large amount of "spoils" still unharvested at the Boundless Monument.

With a thought, he appeared inside the Boundless Monument.

He stepped forward first, appearing before the divine soul of the Azure Lake Master, who was bound by the power of the Boundless Monument and unable to move.

Han Qing suddenly unleashed a punch, shattering the soul of the Lord of the Azure Sea Lake in mid-air, with wisps of magical energy scattering in all directions.

Then he reached out and grabbed, and these magical thoughts converged in his palm, condensing into a transparent pearl.

At the same time, a new soul light spot appeared around the Seven Killings Stele.

With a thought, the single point of soul light was suddenly absorbed into the monument.

In an instant, a large amount of information appeared before him, the most powerful of which was the Fire Rock Dao Technique.

In just half an hour, Han Qing mastered this rather powerful spell.

He suddenly opened his palm, and flames gathered in his palm, forming a dark green fire snake.

This snake is not only powerful, but if it explodes inside someone's body, it can also cause fire poison to invade that person's body, making it difficult to expel.

Han Qing played with it for a while, then suddenly exerted force in his palm, crushing the fire snake and turning it into flames that scattered and flew away.

He took another step forward and came to the side of Venerable Fengxing, who was also seriously injured and on the verge of death.

When the latter saw Han Qing appear, he was about to beg for mercy, but Han Qing had no intention of sparing his life. He raised his hand and punched, shattering the Wind Venerable's body and soul in mid-air. A wisp of magical energy scattered between heaven and earth.

Han Qing reached out and gathered these magical thoughts together, forming another precious pearl.

However, to Han Qing's surprise, at the moment his body collapsed, a Yin-Yang curse seal flew out from within him, though it was rather dim and only had three layers of radiance.

"Hmm? It seems there are more people in this world secretly cultivating Yin-Yang incantations than I imagined."

Han Qing smiled, and with a thought, the nine Yin-Yang incantation seals between his brows flew out and merged with this triple incantation seal.

For the next five hours, Han Qing continuously harmonized and refined the two curse seals. Finally, the two seals merged into one, increasing in power from nine layers to ten, and their light rippled outwards like waves, forming a domain of light. (End of Chapter)