The First Sage of Military Strategists

"Since that's the case, then let the Golden Lion King punish you!"

With a thought, Zen Master Muhua suddenly opened his mouth and let out a deafening roar. A gust of wind swept across the heavens and earth, and the sound waves surged like a storm, rushing towards Han Qing and the many soldiers behind him.

Han Qing frowned and channeled a massive amount of magical power into the Buddhist Sound Bone Scripture in his hand. In an instant, the scripture shone with dazzling light, spreading out like a water curtain, completely blocking the roaring sound waves. Visibly, ripples spread out on its surface.

Han Qing himself wasn't particularly afraid of the roar, but the many soldiers behind him couldn't stand it. The terrifying sound wave entering their ears was enough to shatter the souls of a considerable number of them.

With a flap of its wings, the Golden Lion King leaped into the air, creating a gust of wind. It soared into the sky and then plummeted downwards like a meteor hurtling to the ground, its dazzling flames trailing a long tail of light as it charged toward Han Qing.

Han Qing raised his eyes and suddenly waved the Sun and Moon Tide Fan. A golden and silver light wave suddenly surged from the front of the fan, rising from below and rushing straight up to the Golden Lion King above.

The Golden Lion King suddenly brandished his longsword and slashed fiercely at the wave of light below. A sword beam shot out from the blade, splitting the wave of light in two.

Han Qing frowned. This Golden Lion King was indeed summoned by the national treasure, and its combat power was much stronger than he had imagined.

However, he hadn't used up all his trump cards yet. In the next instant, a flash of light appeared, and a figure shot out from it. It was the Eight Directions Puppet wearing the Dragon Devouring Armor. With a whoosh, it took the initiative to pounce on the Golden Lion King who was rapidly descending from the sky.

The two figures collided suddenly in mid-air. The Golden Lion King's sword slashed fiercely at the Eight Directions Puppet's arms. The two forces collided, and the Eight Directions Puppet was at a disadvantage. He was cut down and fell to the ground. However, he quickly regained his balance and rose up again, colliding with the Golden Lion King once more.

Both figures moved at extremely high speeds; no one below the level of a saint could even see their shadows.

In an instant, the two collided dozens or even hundreds of times in the air.

Each collision creates a powerful shockwave that is incredibly destructive, so much so that even the Four Heavenly Kings dare not approach.

"As expected of the Golden Lion King, it can actually suppress the Eight Directions Puppet wearing the Dragon Devouring Armor!" Han Qing exclaimed once again. There must be a reason why it is called a national treasure. This Golden Lion King is probably able to hold its own against a powerhouse at the level of a Holy Land leader.

However, despite the suppression, the Eight Directions Puppet's advantage lies in its indestructible body. Therefore, although it was constantly repelled and cut down, it did not suffer any substantial damage. On the contrary, due to the characteristics of the Dragon Devouring Armor, it continuously absorbed power from the Golden Lion King's attacks, strengthening itself and becoming stronger with each battle.

At first, the Eight Directions Puppet could be suppressed, but after a dozen breaths, it was able to fight the Golden Lion King to a standstill. Moreover, judging from this momentum, its combat power would continue to increase, and it was very likely to reverse the situation and suppress the Golden Lion King.

Han Qing also noticed this and laughed, "A national treasure is nothing more than this."

Master Mu Hua's expression was somewhat grim: "The Mo family's supreme treasure, the Eight Directions Puppet, combined with the ancient supreme battle armor and the Manglong Devouring Heaven Armor, can indeed rival the Golden Lion King."

However, her expression quickly returned to normal, and she said slowly, "With so many treasures on your person, you are indeed a person with great fortune, so we can't let you live."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes slightly and began to chant softly.

In that instant, countless phantom images of Buddhas appeared behind her, chanting along with Han Qing, so that solemn chanting resounded throughout the entire world.

Han Qing couldn't understand what the person was singing, but he first felt a sense of solemnity and awe, and then felt an invisible attraction that made his soul want to leave his body and fly away.

"Young Master Han, be careful. This is the most powerful spell of Zen Master Mu Hua, and also a secret technique of our Great Vajra Temple, the Mu Hua Sutra. It can purify people's memories and obliterate their souls. Many powerful people have lost their minds because of this move, turning into walking corpses and being controlled by him."

At that moment, the voices of the monks from the North and South suddenly echoed in Han Qing's mind.

"The Muhua Sutra?" Han Qing quickly searched his mind for information about the Holy Desert Empire and indeed found such a supreme sutra.

He dared not be careless. A billowing evil mist surged from his body, transforming into a sea of ​​evil around him. He also activated the Buddhist Sound Bone Scripture, and Buddhist light surged out, transforming into a thick golden bell that enveloped him.

At this moment, chanting came whistling in, and inscriptions appeared silently in the air, flying towards Han Qing from different directions.

These inscriptions frantically impacted the evil domain, causing the evil mist to dissipate continuously and rapidly thin out. About 30% of them pierced through the evil mist and surged towards Han Qing, completely ignoring the Buddhist Classical Sound's defenses and entering his body.

In an instant, Han Qing could feel his soul being torn apart, and his memories seemed to be shattered.

At this moment, the Yuanjing Star Armor automatically activated, and suddenly some starlight appeared, merging into his soul and allowing him to quickly recover to his peak state.

The two forces were engaged in a fierce tug-of-war within Han Qing's body, causing him immense pain.

Without hesitation, he suddenly attacked, unleashing the Yin-Yang Incantation Seal towards Zen Master Muhua.

The four Vajra Guardians attacked simultaneously, and four pillars of light rose from the ground, once again repelling the Yin-Yang Curse Seal for Zen Master Muhua.

Han Qing frowned. His soul was being torn apart and repaired repeatedly, and intense pain was surging within him. Even though his pain tolerance was extraordinary, he was finding it difficult to endure at this moment.

"As expected of the top secret technique of the Great Vajra Temple, it can ignore the Buddhist chants and bone scriptures and cause direct damage to a person's soul."

"If it weren't for the protection of my Yuanjing Star Armor, I would probably be seriously injured as well," Han Qingxin thought.

He was pondering how to respond when, unexpectedly, Zen Master Muhua stopped chanting on his own initiative.

Han Qing glanced at him and saw that his face was pale and his breathing was unstable. He immediately understood the reason. Although this secret technique was powerful, it would also greatly consume the power of the Dharma mind. Even Zen Master Mu Hua could not last long. This made sense. Otherwise, he could have been invincible among his peers with this move.

Zen Master Muhua quickly regained her rosy complexion. Her eyes were fixed on Han Qing, and seeing the shimmering light on his body, she gritted her teeth and uttered a few words.

"Another ancient treasure armor, the Yuanjing Star Armor. My Muhua Sutra is ineffective against you because of this armor."

"Master Mu Hua, show us what other tricks you have up your sleeve. So many people have tried and still couldn't defeat me. If word gets out, won't we be laughed at by the whole world?" Han Qing laughed loudly.

He didn't intend to launch an attack, because although Zen Master Muhua was exhausted, she could fully recover in three to five breaths. In addition, with the Four Vajra Guardians protecting her, it was impossible to kill her unless helpers arrived.

Zen Master Muhua's face turned ashen. If word got out, she would indeed be ridiculed by the world. Five renowned masters had failed to kill a junior, which would be a disgrace to the Great Vajra Temple. However, she had already tried her best but still made no progress, and was now in a dilemma.

Just then, the situation changed again.

A deep, aged sigh suddenly echoed throughout the world.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly descended from the sky and landed beside Zen Master Muhua. He transformed into an old monk with white eyebrows, dressed in a gray robe. His eyebrows were particularly long, hanging down from his eyes to his ankles, fluttering and dancing in the wind.

Han Qing's gaze immediately fell on the old monk. His face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were bright and piercing, with a golden light faintly visible within them.

The moment their eyes met, Han Qing was suddenly plunged into an illusion, finding himself on a vast, boundless plain. Before him stood a towering, golden Buddha, as majestic as a mountain, radiating immense pressure that made one want to kneel in worship.

However, Han Qing was also extremely powerful. With a surge of magical power, he immediately broke free and returned to the real world.

"Greetings, Master!"

At this moment, Zen Master Muhua and the Four Vajras all turned around, bowed, and greeted him in unison.

Han Qing also guessed the old monk's identity: Master Xuanchan, the actual controller of the Great Vajra Temple, a terrifying existence at least at the third level of the Golden Body Realm, and a leader of the holy land whose strength was no less than that of the Heavenly Wolf King.

He nodded slightly, his face calm, his gaze sweeping over Han Qing.

"I have long admired your name, young friend Han. Meeting you today, I can see that you are indeed remarkable. To have such abilities at such a young age, I, an old monk, once considered myself a prodigy in Buddhism and Taoism, and was hailed as unparalleled throughout the ages. But compared to you, I am far inferior," Master Xuanchan said with a light laugh.

Seeing that Master Xuanchan was so calm, Han Qing did not rush to make a move. He said loudly, "Master Xuanchan, when war breaks out, all living beings will suffer. As the leader of the Great Vajra Temple, you have taken the initiative to provoke this war. Aren't you afraid of becoming a sinner for all time?"

Master Xuanchan shook his head: "The tide of human transformation is overwhelming, and no one can stop it. This old monk merely gave it a push. Since no one dares to be the leader, then let me be the one. It doesn't matter if young friend Han doesn't understand. I've come today to take three things from you. First, the Meditation Umbrella; second, the Buddhist Sound Bone Scripture; and third..."

Master Xuanchan paused, then his eyes suddenly narrowed, and his demeanor changed drastically, transforming from a gentle old monk into a ferocious monk with a hideous face: "I'll take your life!"

As he spoke, his hands quickly formed hand seals, and a vast power of heaven and earth surged around him, while he continuously chanted scriptures.

"Empty rudder, future, bitter Zen, profound Zen..."

In the blink of an eye, Master Xuanchan changed ten hand gestures, forming ten great mudras.

These ten seals merged into one, suddenly converging in the air to form a giant hand of Buddha's light.

"Tathagata, Tathagata!"

"go with!"

Ancestor Xuanchan pushed forward with both hands, unleashing a vast martial intent from his body. Under his divine eye, a thick white pillar of energy shot into the sky, suddenly merging with the Buddha's light hand. This Buddha's light hand instantly solidified and then slammed down towards Han Qing.

In an instant, the weather changed drastically, and a terrifying pressure spread. Everyone's gaze was uncontrollably drawn to this giant hand of Buddha's light, and a sense of fear rose inexplicably in their hearts, as if the world would be destroyed if this giant hand were to fall, and no one could escape.

"As expected of the leader of the Holy Land, even the first move is so terrifying." Han Qing thought to himself.

He then heard the slightly anxious voice of the monks from both the North and South.

"Young Master Han, run!"

"This is the signature technique of Master Xuanchan, the Tathagata Palm. It combines the ten Dharma Seals of my Great Vajra Temple into one, and then integrates the true meaning of martial arts, achieving the unity of Dharma and martial arts. The power of this palm has reached an unbelievable level. My master said that below the third level of the Golden Body Realm, all saints would be annihilated by this palm."

Han Qing's eyes flashed as he saw the giant palm of Buddha slamming down at lightning speed, and his fighting spirit soared.

That palm strike was indeed powerful, but he felt that the monks from the North and South were exaggerating, or perhaps they were targeting ordinary saints, not him. Although he was at the Golden Body Realm, his true combat strength must far exceed that realm.

"Let me experience the strength of the leader of Daikon Temple."

As Han Qing spoke, with a thought, the Eight Directions Puppet, clad in battle armor, shot into the sky in a flash, actively meeting the giant hand of Buddha light above its head.

The palm collided violently with the Eight Directions Puppet, which was completely unable to resist and was abruptly sent flying backward. However, a terrifying suction force erupted from the palm, pulling the Eight Directions Puppet back into its palm. Then, the five fingers joined together, trapping it within the palm. Han Qing frowned, manipulating the Eight Directions Puppet to struggle desperately, but it was completely unable to break free. The force was simply too great, the binding power too strong, and the Eight Directions Puppet was completely suppressed.

Worse still, a golden flame ignited within the palm, penetrating the Eight Directions Puppet and burning the magical thoughts Han Qing had left behind, attempting to forcibly refine and seize the treasure.

That wasn't all. Xuan Chan pointed again, and a loud rumble came from the sky. A golden, 108-story-tall white stone pagoda descended from the sky, like a mountain, pressing down on Han Qing.

Han Qing immediately dodged, but unexpectedly, a terrifying suction force erupted from the bottom of the tower, causing his body to fly uncontrollably toward the tall Buddhist tower.

The battle changed in an instant. As soon as Xuan Chan made his move, Han Qing was completely at a disadvantage and could even be said to be in dire straits.

"Even a lion needs to exert its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Young friend Han, don't struggle anymore. Although you have many secret techniques and treasures, I am a Saint of the Golden Body Realm Three. There are two major realms between us. The difference in strength is as vast as an insurmountable chasm, beyond your imagination. It cannot be overcome by a few external objects. Otherwise, this martial arts holy land in the world would have been destroyed long ago."

The voice of the Xuanzan Patriarch echoed between heaven and earth, aiming to shake Han Qing's mentality, break his fighting spirit, and make him give up resistance.

Han Qing remained silent, but in his heart he gained a clearer understanding of the Holy Land leader's combat strength.

"So this is what the Holy Land leader looks like when he unleashes his full power."

"When Sirius captured me before, he didn't put any effort into it; he just did it casually, which is why I was able to escape."

If the Sirius King had attacked with all his might like Master Xuanchan did right from the start, I fear I would have been killed instantly.

As for the Black Sparrow Alliance elder's sword strike, it's still unknown how much force he used, since it was a test, not a life-or-death battle.

Only Xuan Chan went all out from the start. Indeed, a leader of a holy land is still a terrifying existence I cannot currently contend with.

Han Qing's strength has also been improving by leaps and bounds during this period. He originally thought he could compete with the leaders of the Holy Land, but now it seems that he is still far behind.

"Why don't you surrender? I'll spare your life because of your extraordinary talent. If you continue to resist, I will make sure you are annihilated!" Master Xuanchan's eyes were fierce and his voice was loud, suddenly echoing between heaven and earth.

Upon hearing this, Han Qing had no intention of backing down.

“Old monk Xuanchan, even if I die, I will never bow my head. I, Han Qing, have long been a person who is not afraid of life and death. Even if I am trapped in a desperate situation, I will fight with all my might. I will have no regrets even if I die!”

Master Xuanchan's gaze was deep and cold as he sneered, "You are indeed a martial arts prodigy with a steadfast mind. It's just a pity that you are not a member of my Great Vajra Temple, so you must die!"

With a low shout, the Buddha's giant palm and the Sangji Pagoda exerted their power simultaneously, becoming even stronger and their light even more dazzling.

The Sangji Pagoda unleashed an even stronger suction force, several times stronger than before, causing Han Qing to completely lose control of his body and fly rapidly into the pagoda.

Just when they were in this life-or-death situation, the circumstances changed again.

"Hehe! You old bald monk, leading a bunch of people to gang up on a junior who has been practicing martial arts for less than ten years, and even using two national treasures. Aren't you ashamed to say that? Even I can't stand it anymore."

A slightly playful girl's voice echoed between heaven and earth, and suddenly a red lotus appeared, crashing into the Sangchi Pagoda with a whoosh.

The crimson lotus suddenly exploded, and with a boom, crimson flames filled the sky.

The light emanating from the Sangchi Pagoda suddenly dimmed, as it was struck by the flames and lost its balance, spiraling downwards towards the earth.

The immense suction force suddenly dissipated, and Han Qing immediately dodged and retreated.

At the same moment, a figure suddenly appeared above the head of the Xuanchan Patriarch. It was none other than the Great Shun Emperor. He raised his hand and threw a punch, directly using the strongest move that combined magic and martial arts, the King Chuang Fist!
Master Xuanchan reacted extremely quickly, suddenly throwing the Eight Directions Puppet into the air with his giant palm, and then turning around to strike the suddenly appearing Great Shun Emperor.

A fist and a palm collided violently in mid-air, creating a deafening boom that reverberated across the heavens and earth, reaching thousands of miles away. The thick clouds above the sky were instantly dispersed, and a sandstorm that shook the earth was also stirred up.

The clash between the leaders of two martial arts holy lands was so terrifying that it was like the collapse of the sky and the arrival of the apocalypse. It was impossible to resist, and even the aftershocks could easily injure or even kill a Saint of the Incense Realm.

Han Qing then took the Eight Directions Puppet into the space inside the Boundless Monument.

His gaze swept across the scene and he saw another figure appear, none other than the Crimson Lotus Demoness. Her body was shrouded in crimson flames and emitted a hazy red light, illuminating the sky around her in a crimson glow.

Master Xuanchan's face darkened: "Red Lotus Demoness, what is the meaning of this?"

The Crimson Lotus Demoness laughed, "Hehe, you old bald monk, I can make a move whenever I want, it's none of your business."

The Great Emperor Taizu of the Shun Dynasty said in a deep voice, "Back then, when I was seriously injured, you old bald monk contributed a great deal of effort. Now that I have returned, I will definitely destroy you and settle this grudge!"

Master Xuanchan sneered: "Li Chuang, the fate of the Great Shun Dynasty has run its course. You still dream of restoring the country and rebuilding the dynasty. You are truly overestimating yourself."

Besides, with your strength, you're far from being able to go toe-to-toe with me. You're no longer at your peak. Whether you accept it or not, you need to face reality. Why not humble yourself? I, Xuan Chan, will forgive your past mistakes and grant you the position of protector of the Great Vajra Temple. In the future, we will work together to destroy the Great Yu!

A surge of murderous intent suddenly welled up in the heart of the Great Shun Emperor: "I can't kill you? Then try!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and threw another punch, still the unparalleled and domineering King Chuang Fist, a combination of martial arts and magic.

Without hesitation, Master Xuanchan unleashed his ultimate move once again: the Tathagata's Giant Palm.

Fist and palm collided once more, but this time, the Great Emperor of Da Shun was no match for him. He was forced back by a single palm strike, retreating over a thousand miles before regaining his footing. His breathing was erratic, clearly indicating that he had been injured.

"Hmph, the King Chuang Fist is nothing special. Since you've been meddling in my business, I'll kill you first!" Master Xuanchan's face was ferocious. Without hesitation, he leaped up and pounced on the Great Shun Emperor.

At the same time, the Crimson Lotus Witch also moved, suddenly transforming into a red lotus and flying towards Zen Master Muhua.

Zen Master Mu Hua's expression changed slightly. He leaped into the air and simultaneously activated the Golden Lion King Stone Formation, a powerful treasure, to counterattack.

Just as the Four Heavenly Kings were about to lend a hand, they suddenly saw Han Qingchao and his group rushing towards them, with the Eight Directions Puppet on their left and the Yin-Yang Curse Seal on their right.

The four warriors dared not be negligent and immediately launched an attack.

In an instant, a fierce battle broke out among many top experts in this desert.

Many soldiers had long been taken thousands of miles away by Yan Qiuling using a secret technique. At this moment, they were all standing on a hill, looking at the distant battlefield with awe and fear.

They could see nothing but the deafening roar and the occasional bursts of light and thunder that filled the sky and earth.

In their eyes, Han Qing and the others' battle was no less than gods fighting each other.

"The combat power of a leader-level expert from a holy land is truly unbelievable." Zhou Xiaoru stood beside Yan Qiuling, his gaze fixed on the distance, his eyes filled with awe.

Yan Qiuling's eyes showed a hint of anxiety: "No matter what, my husband cannot die!"

Just then, Master Xuanchan let out a soft sigh, the sound echoing across a vast area.
"Blood Essence Sacred Body? You didn't even have this technique at your peak, yet you've mastered it now. Interesting!"

At this moment, the Great Ancestor of Da Shun, who was in front of Ancestor Xuan Chan, had undergone a tremendous change. His body was surrounded by red light, and his aura was several times stronger than before.

"It is both a calamity and a blessing. I have been in seclusion for so many years, and I will not waste my time. Today, I will let you see the power of the Blood Essence Saint Body!"

As he spoke, the Great Emperor of Da Shun leaped into the air and unleashed his third King Chuang Fist. A tremendous force surged forth from the tip of his fist, making this punch even more terrifying than the previous two.

Master Xuanchan's expression was solemn, and he immediately took action. Behind him, a giant divine image appeared, which was a golden Buddha.

The next instant, the giant Buddha flew into his body, but did not return to the temple. Instead, it truly merged with his physical body. In that instant, two completely different forces merged together, causing him to unleash a terrifying aura that shook the heavens and the earth.

not far away.

Han Qing controlled the Eight Directions Puppet, raised his hand and punched the Zen Vajra, destroying its soul at the same time. Strands of his Dharma thoughts were captured and absorbed into the space inside the Boundless Stele.

These four Vajra Kings were all at the third level of the Incense Realm, and even if they joined forces, they were no match for him. Just as he was about to continue his pursuit, he suddenly felt a terrifying force surging from the side.

With a glance, he saw the golden Buddha and the Xuanchan Patriarch's bodies merge into one, their power surging.

"What kind of secret technique is this?"

Han Qing was shocked. A master of Xuan Chan's level was already so powerful that it was difficult to resist.

At this moment, this secret technique actually increased his power several times over, which was truly unbelievable.

Moreover, it seems that the Great Emperor Taizu of the Great Shun Dynasty also used the same trick, which means that this is likely a unique method that all high-level cultivators of the Divine Realm possess.

Without much thought, his figure flashed, and the Yin-Yang Incantation Seal, the Eight Directions Puppet, and his true form chased after the three Vajras.

Zen Master Muhua was completely overwhelmed by the Red Lotus Demoness and was forced to retreat in defeat.

If it weren't for the strange nature of the Red Lotus Demoness, who didn't use her full strength, Master Muhua would probably have been unable to withstand even one move.

One opened the fifth level of the Heavenly Gate, and the other opened the sixth level. Although they seemed to be only one level apart, their strength was actually separated by a huge gap that could not be crossed.

Just then, the situation changed again.

Suddenly, a slightly magnetic male voice rang out between heaven and earth.

"I never expected to encounter such a lively scene so soon after I arrived at the border."

Everyone's gaze swept across the scene and suddenly saw a middle-aged man flying in from afar, wearing a silver robe embroidered with a five-clawed python. (End of Chapter)