The First Sage of Military Strategists

With a deafening roar, the shield formed by the thirteen precious orbs clashed fiercely with the dark pillar of energy. The shield slowly twisted and deformed before finally collapsing.

Peacock King Buddha's heart was stirred with ripples. He had always felt that although Han Qing was extremely talented, he had not truly grown up. In his hands, he was nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at will.

However, at this moment, he realized that he was so wrong. Han Qing had quietly grown into a giant who could rival him.

As the shield collapsed, his body was immediately engulfed by the dark flames, while the thirteen precious orbs scattered.

Han Qing's figure flashed, and he suddenly appeared outside the Boundless Monument. He thrust his spear at the pearl closest to him.

With this shot, he unleashed his full power, mobilizing almost every ounce of strength he could muster.

He was clad in the Dragon Devouring Armor, its power fully unleashed, and the true dragon power within his Dragon Spear also erupted. With the added blessing of the Fiend Domain, the power of this spear reached an unbelievable level in that instant, suddenly striking the golden jewel.

boom!
The precious pearl suddenly shattered, exploding in mid-air with a deafening roar. Golden waves of fire emanated from it, surging outwards in all directions and unleashing a devastating storm. The blizzard was evaporated by the heat, turning into a thick fog. Buildings throughout the ancient city collapsed and were completely reduced to ruins.

These thirteen precious beads are called Vajra Relics, which are the most fundamental power of the Peacock King Buddha. The destruction of each of these beads will cause irreversible damage to the Buddha's body.

Han Qing was well aware of this, so he immediately launched a full-scale attack and destroyed one of the relics.

Then, as the relic exploded, he immediately turned around and entered the Boundless Monument, urging it to fly out of the ancient city.

He did not linger in the fight, because the Peacock King Buddha was extremely powerful, and it would be difficult to win if the battle continued, and there would be no benefit in it.

Although he destroyed a relic, it was because the Peacock King Buddha was unprepared for the Boundless Stele and seriously underestimated the destructive power of the Boundless Heavenly Qi. He was caught off guard, and by the time he realized what was happening, it would be extremely difficult for him to gain any advantage.

Therefore, Han Qing succeeded in his attack and left as expected.

In the blink of an eye, he had already fled thousands of miles away. The dilapidated ancient city behind him had been completely reduced to ruins, the flames in the sky gradually subsided, and everything returned to silence.

The figure of the Peacock King Buddha appeared, his face gloomy, and his aura plummeted.

"Han Qing!" He gritted his teeth and uttered Han Qing's name, word by word.

He took a deep breath and quickly calmed down, his brows furrowing slightly: "I never imagined this child would grow to such a level. It seems I must break free from the shackles of Brahma and shed my identity as a spirit as soon as possible."

He murmured something, then suddenly took flight and disappeared into the horizon.

At the same moment, Han Qing did not linger in this world any longer. He suddenly soared into the air and broke through the void, appearing in the turbulent currents of the seventh layer of gale.

Inside the Boundless Monument, in the central courtyard, the ground is covered with golden rice grains, and the sweet aroma of malt permeates the air.

The Crimson Lotus Demoness's gaze swept back and forth, her eyes sparkling.

"A superior grade of immortality, a rare treasure of heaven and earth. Countless powerful figures fought tooth and nail for it in ancient times. I'd like to try it and see what makes this golden rice so unique."

As she spoke, she stepped forward, grabbed a piece of golden rice, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Click, click, click!

With a crisp chewing sound, the Crimson Lotus Demoness quickly chewed and swallowed the golden rice. Afterwards, she felt warm all over, and radiant light gushed out from her pores. She looked like a celestial being, and her aura increased dramatically, clearly indicating that she had gained a great benefit.

"Fantastic!"

The Crimson Lotus Demoness cried out, then took an even larger piece of golden rice from the court, held it in her hand, and began to devour it greedily.

The others also looked surprised and wanted to taste what the golden rice tasted like. However, since Han Qing didn't make a move, they felt embarrassed. The Red Lotus Demoness acted recklessly because of her personality, but the others were not like that.

Han Qing understood the thoughts of those around him. Although he had snatched the golden rice by himself, others had also contributed. The evolution of the Boundless Monument was inseparable from the magical treasures offered by everyone. Moreover, he was able to come here thanks to the Palace Master of the Horizontal and Vertical Palaces. Therefore, he did not want to keep it all for himself. He knew how to share the benefits in order to unite people's hearts.

"Ladies and gentlemen, golden rice is an ancient wonder. We are fortunate to see it today, so we cannot miss it. Come, let's taste it together and see what it tastes like!" Han Qing said loudly.

He stepped forward first and took out a grain of rice about the size of a watermelon. It was crystal clear, like a gemstone, and emitted a faint glow. A sweet aroma wafted over, making one's blood surge and causing an uncontrollable, intense hunger to rise within.

He took a bite; the texture was like a nut, but the taste was quite good, sweet and delicious. After he swallowed the whole grain, a tremendous force surged through his limbs and bones, nourishing his internal organs, muscles and bones, and even his soul.

Immediately afterwards, light burst forth from every pore of his body, and an indescribable sense of comfort and ease spread through him.

"Truly a rare ancient artifact, a top-grade item for immortals!" he exclaimed.

The Palace Master and others beside him were also full of praise, their faces radiant with light, like immortals.

"Ancient books say that if one consumes golden rice for a long time, even an ordinary person who has never practiced martial arts can become a martial saint!"

"Indeed, if a dying person takes this for a long time, it may prolong their life."

"I've heard that golden rice can also improve one's physical constitution and enhance one's comprehension!"

...

As everyone chimed in with their opinions, Qi Guanzi suddenly said, "Young master, we can't eat all of this golden rice. Our Yuelu Academy has ancient books that record the method of cultivating golden rice. Perhaps we could give it a try."

Han Qing immediately became interested: "Oh, if it can really be grown, then there will be an endless supply of golden rice. I must give it a try."

His gaze swept across the area and then fell upon the dragon and phoenix remains that stood like small mountains nearby.

"This time we've made a great harvest, but we can't stay here long. We'll discuss it in detail when we get back."

"it is good!"

With a whoosh, the boundary marker soared into the distance.

...

Within the Panlong Immortal Realm.

The battle between Tiangongfang and Huangtian Jiulongdian was nearing its end. Both of the most powerful magical artifacts were vying for the remains of dragons and phoenixes, but in the end, Tiangongfang prevailed, taking away four hundred sets of dragon and phoenix skeletons before leaving gracefully.

Han Yi did not linger in the Nine Dragons Palace of the Heavenly Emperor. He activated this supreme treasure and used extraordinary power to lift the valley into the air and store it in the magnificent palace.

Inside the palace. Han Yi bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duties. I only managed to obtain two hundred sets of dragon and phoenix skeletons, while that old devil took most of them. I deserve to die!"

The actual controller of the Imperial Nine Dragons Palace is Han Yi. Emperor Yu has been seriously injured and is unable to control such a treasure.

"The Nine Dragons Palace of the Imperial Heaven is in a dilapidated state, so it's normal that it's not as good as the Heavenly Craft Workshop. However, Han Qing has become quite a force to be reckoned with, becoming the second biggest winner in this Panlong Immortal Realm event, which is something I didn't expect," Emperor Yu said unhurriedly.

"This boy is ambitious and rebellious. I have long wanted to kill him myself, but I have been entangled in various matters and have been unable to get away. I did not expect him to grow so fast. Now it will be difficult to kill him. However, Your Majesty need not worry. Two hundred dragon and phoenix skeletons are enough to repair the Nine Dragon Palace of the Imperial Heaven. In any case, whether it is the old ghost of the Mo family or Han Qing, they will eventually be eliminated." Han Yi's eyes were cold.

Emperor Yu nodded slightly: "Once the Nine Dragons Palace of the Imperial Heaven is repaired, we will begin a great purge. Martial arts holy lands, thousand-year-old families, Western Mang, the Royal Court, all the restless elements should be eliminated. It will all start with the Chen family."

"Hmph, the Chen family colluded with the Great Shun Emperor, attempting to unite with the remnants of the Great Shun to overthrow the country and the state. They thought His Majesty was unaware. If he doesn't act now, he won't act now, but if he does, it will be a thunderous strike, and he will definitely exterminate the entire clan!"

A majestic and cold voice echoed in the palace. The next instant, a flash of golden light appeared, and the magnificent hall rose into the air and disappeared into the Panlong Immortal Realm.

...

Half a month later.

Guiqiu City.

The courtyard features pavilions, lakes, and willows, all exuding an antique charm.

Under the pavilion, around a stone table, Han Qing, Zhou Xiaoru, Qi Guanzi, and Yan Qiuling gathered. The table was laden with a great deal of food, including delicacies from land and sea, as well as birds and beasts, making it an extremely lavish feast.

Han Qing chewed the braised beef with gusto, then took a big bite of the fragrant and sweet golden rice in his hand. The rich aroma lingered in his mouth, and he felt that this was the ultimate enjoyment in the world.

The other three were also enjoying various delicacies. Although they no longer needed to eat, enjoying food is one of the greatest pleasures for humankind, and they would not easily give it up.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Han Qing led everyone into the space inside the Boundless Monument, where there were two hundred dragon and phoenix remains, and another one hundred were distributed to the Palace Master of Zongheng and others.

Han Qing contributed the most to this battle, taking 70% for himself and leaving the remaining 30% to the others. Everyone agreed with this distribution method.

"I've heard that the essence of dragons and phoenixes can nourish the body, repair injuries, and prolong life. Let's try it today!"

Han Qing's eyes were burning. He had read in many ancient books in his early years that in ancient and even medieval times, some people hunted dragons and phoenixes, bathed in their blood, and their bodies were astonishingly strengthened, greatly increasing their combat power.

He had long wanted to experience what it felt like to bathe in the essence of dragon and phoenix blood, and today he finally had the chance.

With a thought, a dark light appeared, instantly enveloping the dragon and phoenix skeletons. Accompanied by specks of light, a large amount of essence blood was extracted from it, then divided into four streams and sprinkled onto the bodies of the four people.

In an instant, Han Qing felt as if he were in magma, his body burning hot and with a faint stinging sensation. At the same time, he could feel his body and bones slowly becoming stronger.

This is the body absorbing the essence of dragon blood and phoenix blood. Dragon blood can enhance physical strength. If the amount of dragon blood absorbed is large enough, one may obtain a human-dragon body. Phoenix blood is a great medicine for healing, which can greatly enhance the body's self-healing ability, remove hidden ailments, and greatly increase the body's ability to survive.

Time passed slowly, and Han Qing continued to absorb the essence of the dragon and phoenix, feeling his body grow stronger, and he was overjoyed.

Several hours later, he stopped cultivating. There was still some dragon blood essence left, but his body had reached saturation and could no longer absorb any more essence.

The same applies to Zhou Xiaoru and the others. Each person has a limit to the amount of dragon and phoenix blood essence they can absorb. Among the four, Han Qing had the highest limit, absorbing for a full six hours. Yan Qiuling was next, absorbing for four hours. Finally, Qi Guanzi absorbed for three hours, and Zhou Xiaoru for one hour.

Han Qing closed his eyes slightly, calmly sensing the changes in his body, and found that a dragon and phoenix power had emerged within him.

With a thought, he activated this secret power. First, his physique changed, and crimson scales appeared on his skin, like armor, covering his entire body. This was the external manifestation of the Dragon's Secret Power, giving him a natural armor. Then, a ball of icy blue flame rose from his body. This was the Ice Phoenix Secret Power, which could freeze enemies and heal himself.

The others also possessed these two secret powers, but none were as powerful as Han Qing's.

"The essence of the dragon and phoenix is ​​indeed powerful; it can actually cause such a great change in my physique." Zhou Xiaoru's body also flared with icy blue flames as he calmly felt the power of the dragon and phoenix within his body.

"The dragon and phoenix are the most extraordinary beasts of ancient times. Even after many years of death, their essence and blood still have such effects. It is truly miraculous," Yan Qiuling murmured.

With a thought, Han Qing withdrew the dragon and phoenix power and glanced at the golden rice beside him.

"Mr. Qi, did you bring the yin-yang soil for cultivating golden rice? Today is a good day to give it a try."

"I have not forgotten such an important matter." Qi Guanzi waved his hand, and black and white dust appeared out of thin air. Following the soil, it actually looked like crystals. Both the black and white dust particles were full and crystal clear.

Guided by it, the two plumes of dust quickly covered a corner of the courtyard, forming a patch of yin-yang soil.

“In ancient times, there were many ways to cultivate golden rice, and Yin-Yang Soil was one of them. It was watered with the power of thunder, which allowed it to grow quickly,” Qi Guanzi explained.

"I'll try it now." Han Qing said, first burying some golden rice into the Yin-Yang soil, and then using his magic to conjure lightning, bombarding the land from top to bottom. Wisps of lightning moved through the Yin-Yang soil like electric snakes.

Before long, an amazing scene unfolded: a large amount of golden rice grew out of the Yin-Yang soil. Although it was called rice, each stalk was actually like a tree, with light flowing all over its body, and the rice was the fruit that grew on the tree.

The entire growth process was very rapid; from the moment Han Qing took action until the rice matured, it took less than half a day.

When Han Qing picked the ripe rice, each "tree" withered rapidly, instantly turning into a cloud of light that drifted between heaven and earth.

"It really works! Now we'll have an endless supply of golden rice." Yan Qiuling's eyes lit up.

Han Qing nodded slightly: "If we go back and forth a few times, the golden rice we have can multiply several times over, but we need someone to activate the power of thunder at all times."

“Young master, there’s no need to worry. I’ll just spend some time constructing a thunder array here,” Qi Guanzi said.

"The Thunder Formation is indeed a good idea, let's go with that then." Han Qing made up his mind.

Afterwards, Qi Guanzi stayed in the inner space to begin constructing the magic array, while Han Qing and the others returned to the outer courtyard.

Several days later, the magic array began to take shape. At the same time, a letter was suddenly sent from Shu.

Han Qing opened the letter and felt an overwhelming surge of anger. The letter was from Qi Wufeng, who mentioned that three days ago, he had captured an assassin in Hengshan City. This person had attempted to harm his adoptive parents, but before he could actually do so, he exposed his whereabouts and was imprisoned. After being severely interrogated, he learned that the person was from the Chu region.

Han Qing didn't want to pay attention to these people from Chu. After all, their opposition to the imperial court indirectly helped him relieve pressure, and watching dogs fight each other was also an interesting thing.

But now it's different. These people want to harm his adoptive parents, which crosses his bottom line. (End of Chapter)