The First Sage of Military Strategists

"Mr. Huang, the information you brought this time is very crucial. I wonder what benefits you desire—treasures, cultivation techniques, or something else? As long as it's within my power, I will do my best to satisfy you," Han Qing said calmly.

"Young Master Han, you flatter me. I was a member of the Yuelu Academy back then. Now that the academy is being rebuilt, I should do my part. What reward do I need? As long as we work together, we can surely restore the academy to its former glory. That would be a blessing for the people and the world. I would die without regret!" Huang Longzi said righteously.

Han Qing nodded slightly: "Old Master Huang is truly a man of great righteousness. However, merit should be rewarded and demerit should be punished. This is the rule of the academy, and it is also the rule of my conduct as Han Qing. Old Master, you might as well think carefully about what you want?"

"Old man, I really don't want anything. Hmm, I seem to lack some life-saving items," Huang Longzi pondered.

"A life-saving item?" Han Qing waved his hand, and with a flash of light, a dark blue battle armor transformed into a stream of light and landed in his hand. "This battle armor is a treasure from the upper realm, called the Nine Heavens Azure Dragon Armor. When you wear it, you can greatly reduce the magical attacks of a Golden Body Realm expert. It is perfect for you. I wonder if you are satisfied, sir?"

Huang Longzi took the armor and could sense the amazing spirituality contained within it.

"Thank you, young master. I am very satisfied."

As he spoke, Huang Longzi put on the armor, and his aura increased dramatically.

"It is truly a fine piece of armor," he couldn't help but exclaim.

However, he quickly regained his composure and said respectfully, "Young master, I shall take my leave now."

"Alright, Mr. Huang, take care." Han Qing nodded slightly.

...

After Huang Longzi left, Yan Qiuling asked softly, "Husband, are you going to the Holy Royal Court?"

“That’s right. The inheritance of the Demon of Lust must not fall into the hands of Emperor Yu. You wait here, I will be back in a few days.”

Han Qing pondered that a great battle might break out in the Holy Royal Court Kingdom. Not only would there be top experts from the court, such as Emperor Yu and Han Yi, but also experts from the Holy Armor Sect in the Upper Realm. This made him feel uncertain.

Yan Qiuling's strength is now extremely high in the lower realm, enough to defeat the leader of the Holy Land head-on. However, the enemy that Han Qing is facing is too terrifying. Even if Yan Qiuling went, she would not be able to help. Therefore, Han Qing decided to act alone this time.

"Husband, please be careful," Yan Qiuling said gently.

"Don't worry, with my abilities, I can go anywhere in this world. Even if Emperor Yu and the powerful beings of the Upper Realm join forces, I am confident that I can escape unscathed." Han Qing said this, then suddenly took flight and disappeared without a trace in an instant.

...

He headed east, maneuvering the Boundless Monument at breakneck speed, covering 100,000 miles in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he had already penetrated deep into the Holy Royal Court.

Although the Holy Royal Court of the past was not as prosperous as the Great Yu Dynasty, it was still a golden age of Buddhism, flourishing and prosperous. Now, it has been ravaged by war, and many cities have been completely reduced to ruins.

Han Qing did not stop at any of the well-preserved cities he occasionally passed by; he simply headed east and soon arrived at the capital of the Holy Royal Court.

This is a huge ancient city built of golden stone blocks, with a history of over a thousand years. Inside the city are numerous temples, with a solemn and dignified atmosphere, and the sound of chanting echoes all day long.

Han Qing concealed his aura with the boundary marker and suddenly descended from a small place, landing in the very center of the city. He then strode towards a magnificent palace in front of him.

The palace was milky white, surrounded by tall stupas, and its walls were inlaid with a large number of gemstones in blue, green, red, lapis lazuli, and other colors, which shone brightly in the sunlight.

Han Qing could sense that numerous experts were lurking around the palace, and powerful magical senses swept around, but none of them could detect his presence. So Han Qing swaggered in through the main gate into the palace.

Deep within the palace, a man three zhang tall, with a robust physique and pale golden skin, sat on a grand throne. His eyes were deep and unfathomable. With each breath, two white wisps of air would shoot out from his nostrils, but they would not dissipate; instead, they would swirl around him and transform into various rare and exotic beasts, displaying extraordinary and wondrous power.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door, and an old man with curly hair and pale gold skin quickly entered the palace.

"My lord, the last rebel force of the Holy Royal Court has been suppressed, and more than 1,300 martial artists of considerable strength are being escorted to the capital," the old man announced loudly.

“Indeed, I’m currently working on forging a batch of armor, and these people will serve as sacrifices. The Blood Refining and Spirit Gathering Technique will elevate the armor to a higher level,” Kou Huai said in a deep voice. “By the way, what’s been happening on Emperor Yu’s side lately?”

"Emperor Yu returned to Great Yu yesterday with the stone tablet that seals the Demon of Lust, presumably to find a way to activate the magic array and destroy the Demon of Lust," the old man said loudly.

"Hmph, the sect leader has ordered that none of the seven inheritances should be missed. The inheritance of the Demon of Lust will be kept in his hands for now. Once my Golden Armor Sect has established itself here, I will immediately lead people to seize that inheritance and wipe out the Great Yu in an instant." Kou Huai sneered.

Just then, a man's cold voice came from outside the palace.

"The people of the Upper Realm are truly morally corrupt. If they are allies, why do they still scheme against each other?"

Kou Huai raised an eyebrow and saw a young man in black walking leisurely into the palace. He frowned and said, "Han Qing, are you here to die?"

Han Qing's swaggering entry into the palace displeased him greatly. Moreover, the two were on opposing sides and were mortal enemies. This was his stronghold, and Han Qing dared to barge in alone. This was not only underestimating him, but also underestimating the Golden Armor Sect.

In his eyes, people from the lower realms were inherently inferior, and being looked down upon by Han Qing was a great humiliation, so his face instantly darkened.

"I'm here to ask you a few questions. If you cooperate obediently, nothing will happen today," Han Qing said calmly.

"Han Qing, who do you think you are, daring to speak to me in such a tone? Now that you're here, don't leave. My Holy Armor Sect Master is very interested in you and has long wanted to capture you alive and turn you into a puppet. You've come at just the right time," Kou Huai sneered.

"I've heard that your Golden Armor Sect is most skilled at crafting armor and battle puppets. Today, I'd like to experience it for myself. I hope you won't disappoint me," Han Qing said calmly.

Kou Huai suddenly shouted: "Kill him!"

Boom boom boom!
Twelve extremely powerful auras suddenly erupted from within the palace, followed by twelve golden, armored puppets that gleamed with golden light attacking Han Qing from different directions.

Back then, Young Master Qiu also had thirty-six battle puppets by his side. Han Qing silently compared them and felt that Kou Huai's twelve battle puppets were clearly stronger.

But its strength was limited. Han Qing reached out and grabbed, and with a series of swift thrusts, the Manglong Spear pierced twelve times in quick succession.

With a flash of cold light, the twelve puppets didn't even have time to rush towards Han Qing before their bodies were pierced through, and they exploded in mid-air, turning into countless fragments.

"Nothing special," Han Qing shook his head.

Kou Huai was shocked. These twelve battle puppets had once trapped and killed a Rainbow Transformation Realm expert in the Upper Realm, but he did not expect them to be so weak in Han Qing's hands.

Just how powerful is this kid?

Kou Huai exclaimed in surprise; he couldn't fathom the depths of the matter at all. (End of Chapter)