The First Sage of Military Strategists

What's even more astonishing is that this person is not even twenty-five years old yet.

For a moment, King Yue and the others felt an irresistible urge to take action and kill Han Qing at all costs.

If this trend continues, Han Qing will inevitably become the next terrifying existence on par with Han Yi, and there is even a slight possibility that he will surpass him.

One Han Yi was already a major headache for them; if another Han Yi came along, the Great Yu would truly be unshakeable, and might even sweep across the world.

However, this thought only lingered in their minds, and neither Moon Guardian King nor the others put it into action, because with so many experts watching, it was impossible to kill Han Qing.

Furthermore, the Peacock King Buddha descended.

The moment Xiang Ying was killed, the shadow finally solidified, transforming into a young man wearing a cassock.

Behind the young man, nine-colored light emanated, as if converging to form a screen, within which were countless eyes that flickered and dimmed.

The young man had an extremely handsome face, neither male nor female. At first glance, he did not have any sense of authority, but the pressure emanating from him seemed to be suffocating.

Han Qing also felt the immense pressure, but he showed no fear. His hands moved without stopping. First, he took away the Manglong Spear and many other magical treasures scattered in the air. Then, he gathered the strands of magical thoughts formed by Xiang Ying's exploded soul into a ball of light and also put it into the space inside the Boundless Monument.

At the same time, he saw that the Seven Killings Stele also had an additional soul light spot, with Xiang Ying's face appearing and disappearing within it.

He had a strong urge to immediately absorb this soul light, not only for the secret technique, but also because Xiang Ying knew many secrets, which would give him a clearer understanding of the world's trends and his own situation.

However, now is not the time to do that, because an even more powerful enemy is right in front of us: the Peacock King Buddha, a peerless ruthless man who can go toe-to-toe with Han Yi.

Previously, because the Peacock King Buddha was a spirit of an artifact, he could only move within the Great Brahma Heaven and the area it covered, and could only protect the Sacred Desert Empire, but could not leave this land.

But now, he has truly become human, breaking through this layer of rules and restrictions, able to leave Brahma and go anywhere in the world. Han Qing believes that this is also a major reason why the Holy Desert Empire suddenly launched a war against the Great Yu.

As the thought crossed his mind, the Peacock King Buddha's gaze swept across the room and finally landed on Han Qing.

"To possess such formidable combat power at such a young age, even in ancient times, is extremely rare, let alone now. Xiang Ying's death was not unjust!"

"Han Qing, you are too ambitious. No one can control you. I don't need you to submit to me, but we can do it another way: form an alliance!"

"I will help you improve your strength, and I can even give you the Great Brahma if you want it, but in exchange, you need to help me kill Han Yi and destroy the Great Yu!" the Peacock King Buddha said coldly.

The people around were deeply shaken upon hearing the words of the Peacock King Buddha.

An alliance? This means that the Peacock King Buddha has placed Han Qing on an equal footing with himself. Moreover, he was even willing to give up Brahma, which shows Han Qing's potential and value in his eyes.

However, upon further reflection, everyone realized that there was nothing strange about it. At such a young age, Han Qing was already a leader-level expert in the Holy Land, and he was likely to become a powerful figure in the future.

Moreover, Han Qing possesses numerous magical treasures and spells, making him extremely capable of protecting himself. Killing him would be incredibly difficult. His power is already established, and unless a few individuals, such as the leader of the Mo family, act at any cost, no one can stop him. Such a person is worth any force's best efforts to win over.

Han Qing was quite surprised to hear this. He had thought that the Peacock King Buddha would kill him immediately, but he did not expect him to be so polite and even want to form an alliance with him.

However, Han Qing shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Those who are not of my kind will surely have different hearts. I, Han Qing, have selfish motives, but I also have a greater cause. If I help you kill Han Yi and allow the Holy Desert Empire's million-strong army to invade Dayu, it will inevitably cause the land of Dayu to be shattered and the people to suffer. That is definitely not the result I want to see."

"Renyi, Renyi, Han Qing, we have a lifespan of a thousand years, almost immortal, and can turn the world upside down with a flick of our wrist. Why should we be bound by the rules and regulations set by ordinary people? Only strength is fundamental. With my help, you will become the strongest in the world at a faster pace. I advise you to think twice before you act," the Peacock King Buddha said in a deep voice.

Han Qing's gaze was calm, and his tone was resolute: "No need for further words. Peacock King Buddha, as the ancient saying goes, those who are not of my kind will surely have different hearts. I will never help your Holy Desert Empire to conquer Dayu. If you want to join forces with me, that's not impossible. Send over Xuan Chan's head and order the million-strong army to retreat immediately. In that case, if you encounter any danger in the future, I can help you resolve it."

His words moved everyone present. No one expected that Han Qing would dare to speak to the Peacock King Buddha in such a way, giving off a feeling of taking the initiative and being the most respected.

Not only was he not afraid, but he also wanted to overpower the Peacock King Buddha.

The Peacock King Buddha frowned, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.

"I've already given you plenty of face, but since you don't want it, don't blame me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a tremendous aura suddenly erupted from the Peacock King Buddha, and the overwhelming pressure that permeated the world increased several times over in an instant.

The surrounding powerful figures all wore solemn expressions and quickly retreated.

"Han Qing, leave immediately! The Peacock King Buddha has a secret technique called the Great Five-Colored Spiritual Light Qi, which has the power to destroy the heavens and the earth. Even a powerful expert at the level of a holy land leader would find it difficult to resist. Do not be careless or underestimate the enemy!"

A hoarse voice suddenly came to Han Qing's mind. It was the old man in purple robes, Qi Guanzi, the master of Lishan Academy.

Han Qing naturally wouldn't confront him head-on. Just as the Peacock King Buddha was flashing with spiritual light and preparing to make a move, he had already flashed onto the Taixu Blood Roc and suddenly soared into the sky, flying rapidly upwards.

Shortly after he set off, a gigantic peacock phantom, as large as a mountain, suddenly appeared on the Peacock King Buddha's body. The peacock's tail slowly spread out and suddenly swung forward, creating a whooshing sound. A gale howled, and five-colored clouds rolled forward, thick as water, like the Milky Way overturning.

Han Qing turned around and suddenly realized that the Peacock King Buddha's attack had covered everyone on the Great Yu side.

In an instant, many powerful figures used their own methods to retreat swiftly.

One of the clouds condensed into a five-colored pillar of light, rising from the ground at an astonishing speed, heading straight for Han Qing.

Han Qing immediately activated his Future Great Harmony Body, turned around and struck out with both palms, his palm power surging, to meet the five-colored spiritual light head-on.

boom!
The two immense forces collided violently, and at the center of the explosion, dark cracks spread out. The power of the collision exceeded the limit of the spatial barrier.

Suddenly, the future Great Unity Body twisted violently and was abruptly destroyed by the fierce impact of this five-colored spiritual energy, turning into specks of light that scattered between heaven and earth.

Han Qing let out a muffled groan. This was the first time his Future Great Unity Body had been shattered, and he suffered a backlash as a result. His five senses were shaken, he felt dizzy, and his brain was writhing in excruciating pain, as if it were about to break apart. However, the good news was that the five-colored spiritual light had also consumed most of its power, leaving only a small wisp of energy that flew towards Han Qing, only to be blocked by the golden light shield emanating from the Buddhist Sound Bone Scripture.

Han Qing thus gained an opportunity to escape. Stepping on the back of the Taixu Blood Roc, he shot upwards at lightning speed and disappeared into the Nine Heavens Gale Layer.

A dozen or so breaths later, the five-colored spiritual light that had permeated the world completely dissipated, and the thunder that had resounded throughout the world also subsided.

The great battle came to an end. This area, spanning tens of thousands of miles, was cleansed by the five-colored spiritual light. Countless sand dunes collapsed, and all kinds of vegetation and rocks turned into dust.

"My lord, Han Qing has escaped. With your strength, capturing and killing him should not be difficult. Letting him go is tantamount to releasing a tiger back into the mountains!"

In the sky, powerful figures from the Great Yu side, such as the Red Lotus Demoness, had all departed, leaving only a few powerful figures such as Posala and Dorjero who were on the same side as the Peacock King Buddha.

Peacock King Buddha raised his eyes and gazed at the sky, then suddenly said in a deep voice, "This is just an avatar of mine, capable of only unleashing a single five-colored spiritual light. To kill Han Qing, this one move is not enough."

"A clone?" Vasala murmured to himself. The aura of the Peacock King Buddha was too terrifying. Even standing right in front of him, he couldn't distinguish between the real Buddha and the clone.

"Let's put Han Qing's matter aside for now. His strength is formidable. Apart from me, none of you would be confident of defeating him in a one-on-one fight, not even you, Vasala," said the Peacock King Buddha.

Vasala nodded slightly. Outsiders said that he had the strength to go toe-to-toe with Han Yi, which meant that he surpassed the leader of the Holy Land and reached the Rainbow Transformation Realm.

Actually, that statement is wrong. He knew in his heart that he had not yet reached that level of strength. The reason he was able to go toe-to-toe with Han Yi back then was because the battlefield was within the territory of the Holy Desert Empire. He had the power of Brahma and the assistance of the Peacock King Buddha, making his combat strength much stronger than under normal circumstances.

Therefore, in a one-on-one fight, he was confident he could defeat Han Qing, but there was absolutely no possibility of killing him.

"Han Qing's martial arts talent is extraordinary, but the gap between the Rainbow Transformation Realm and the Golden Body Realm is enormous, like an insurmountable chasm. There's no need to worry too much. As long as he can't overcome that hurdle, he's not a concern. The most urgent task is to deal with Emperor Yu and Han Yi. These two have discovered the entrance to the Panlong Immortal Realm and are planning to break through the formation to plunder the rare treasures within," the Peacock King Buddha said softly.

"Panlong Immortal Realm? Legend has it that it is the birthplace of the Dragon and Phoenix races. Every dragon and phoenix beast is born from this realm and returns to it when its lifespan is about to end or when it is on the verge of death, until its life ends. From the Middle Ages to the present, countless people have tried to explore the entrance to this realm and break into it, but none of them have been able to find it. I didn't expect that Emperor Yu would actually find it. This person is indeed capable." Posala's eyes flickered, and there was a hint of worry in her words.

"The Panlong Immortal Realm is hidden within the Nine Heavens Gale Layer, concealed by numerous arrays, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to find its entrance. However, your statement earlier is inaccurate. People from the ancient Great Yu Dynasty once entered the Panlong Immortal Realm and obtained immense fortune within it. These individuals later established aristocratic families that have lasted for millennia, such as the Nian family. Dragons and phoenixes are ancient mythical beasts, each body a treasure. Dragon skeletons can be used to forge armor, dragon bones to refine medicine, and dragon blood to strengthen the body. We must not allow the Yu Emperor to succeed in gaining benefits from the Panlong Immortal Realm; otherwise, no force in the world can stop the Great Yu Dynasty." The Peacock King Buddha spoke solemnly.

Upon hearing this, Moon Guardian King and the others all wore solemn expressions. If Emperor Yu were to obtain a large number of dragon and phoenix corpses, he could create a large number of top-tier experts in a very short time, which was something they absolutely did not want to see.

...

a few days later.

Linchuan City.

In a manor, Han Qing and the old man in purple robes, Qi Gongzi, were playing chess in a pavilion in a peach grove. Han Qing was playing black and the old man was playing white, making moves from time to time.

After the great battle ended, Han Qing rode the Taixu Blood Roc and flew down from the Nine Heavens Gale Layer, returning to Linchuan City.

He has been resting and recuperating these past few days, healing his injuries. The backlash from the destruction of the Great Unity Body in the future will not be healed in just a day or two.

This encounter gave Han Qing a clearer understanding of the Peacock King Buddha's strength.

I am not yet his match, and even in a one-on-one fight, I might not be able to escape.

On that day, he felt that what was being transmitted was an avatar of the Peacock King Buddha, not the real Buddha, which is why he was able to escape.

He knew in his heart that he needed to become stronger.

As for Qi Gongzi, who was standing in front of him, he had visited three days ago, and Han Qing treated him with courtesy.

Han Qing also knew him to some extent. He was one of the senior experts of Yuelu Academy and had a close relationship with his mother, Su Jin. Now he was the master of Lishan Academy. He was highly experienced, had a high status, and was very strong. In addition, the old man had helped him in the previous battle, which was a favor he had always remembered. He felt he should treat him with courtesy.

After another move, Han Qing shook his head and suddenly changed his stance: "Old Master Qi truly deserves to be called the Chess Saint. His chess skills are exquisite and unparalleled. I, Han, am willing to admit defeat."

Qi Gongzi was previously known as the Chess Saint in Dayu. He initially focused on chess, hoping to forge a new path, but after thirty years of wasting time, he achieved little. In desperation, he turned to Confucianism and Taoism, which led to rapid progress. He became a saint in just ten years, but his chess skills remained unparalleled.

Qi Gongzi laughed and said, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Your chess skills are average, but your martial arts talent is the best in the world. I am extremely envious. I think it won't be long before you become the strongest person in the world. Even your mother couldn't compare to you back then."

Mentioning this, Han Qing's heart stirred slightly, and he suddenly asked, "How powerful was my mother back then?"

There were rumors that Su Jin was a half-saint of Confucianism and Taoism, but with Han Qing's current insight and knowledge, this should be a rumor. Su Jin's influence is so great that it is impossible for him to be just a half-saint.

“Your mother was a Saint of the Third Realm of Incense Offering back then. To have such strength at that age was truly astonishing. That’s why Yuelu Academy has always claimed to be a Half-Saint. As for whether anyone believes it, or how many people believe it, we don’t care,” Qi Gongzi explained.

"I see. My mother's talent is indeed extraordinary." Han Qing nodded slightly.

"Hehe, I think you are the most outstanding, young master. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you are the greatest in history," Qi Guanzi laughed.

"There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. You flatter me too much, sir. I don't deserve such praise," Han Qing said with a smile.

Qi Gongzi nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

After spending these three days together, Han Qing's reputation in his heart rose rapidly.

He speaks with humility and politeness, possessing pride but without arrogance. Such talent combined with humility is rare indeed.

As he was pondering, Han Qing suddenly said, "Old sir, I remember your help before. I have a secret technique for the Great Unity of the Future here, which I will now give to you."

As he spoke, Han Qing pointed, and a wisp of magical thought flew into Qi Gongzi's brow, containing many elements such as the future Great Harmony Body. (End of Chapter)