Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 62: Zhang Jiexi, the Tenth in the World (10,000 words)

Gu Guanqi and Jiang Baili were not in a hurry to travel, but instead visited many scenic spots along the way, since there was still some time before the Qingzhou Martial Arts Conference was to be held.

Gu Guanqi and Jiang Baili had only been together for a short time last year when Jiang Baili went into seclusion and hasn't been able to travel like this since.

They traveled slowly, stopping and starting along the way, until they finally arrived at Tianjun Mountain outside Qingzhou City more than half a month later.

Tianjun Mountain was originally designated as a sacred site for the Guanyin sect, with construction funded by the national treasury and overseen by the local government of Qingzhou. Although the Guanyin sect was later destroyed by Gu Guanqi, the construction of the mountain gate did not cease.

Now, it has been designated by the state government as the headquarters of the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance.

Today, Tianjun Mountain is already decorated with lanterns and colorful banners.

The official road at the foot of the mountain was bustling with carriages and horses, and the flags of various sects and factions fluttered in the wind.

Ma Wanli, the commander of the Six Doors, and Yan Wangchuan, the deputy commander, have been stationed here for the past few days to oversee the alliance meeting.

With only a few days left until the martial arts tournament, most of the people from various factions have already arrived. Temporary camps have been set up on the mountainside, bustling with activity and noise. The lively sounds of people shouting and horses neighing can be heard from afar.

At noon that day, Gu Guanqi and Jiang Baili arrived at Tianjun Mountain.

Upon reaching the mountainside, one sees a brand-new cluster of buildings built against the mountain, with green tiles and white walls, looking particularly impressive in the afternoon sun.

At this moment, a large crowd had gathered in front of the mountain gate. Leading them were Ma Wanli and Yan Wangchuan, followed by various figures from the Qingzhou martial arts world, including Master Xuanbei, the Immovable King of Qingtai Temple, Venerable Shang Guzhou of the Wenjian Sect, Qi Changkong and Guo Yuanli, two of the Eight Heroes, as well as martial arts masters and core disciples from various sects throughout Qingzhou.

These people appeared together in front of the mountain gate.

They were there to welcome Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi had no interest in playing the fool, so before arriving at Tianjun Mountain, he had already sent Xu Sheng to inform them.

The carriage came to a stop.

Pang Mao, who was acting as the coachman, jumped off the carriage immediately and lifted the curtain.

Gu Guanqi got out of the car first, then turned around and helped Jiang Baili down.

Jiang Baili wore a plain white dress, her black hair cascading down her back. The sunlight fell on her, making her look like a fairy who had descended from the clouds.

Gu Guanqi was dressed in a white brocade robe, with the Autumn Water Sword hanging at his waist. He had a handsome face and an extraordinary temperament.

The two stood side by side in front of the carriage, the mountain breeze ruffling their clothes. From a distance, they looked like a pair of celestial beings who had stepped out of a painting.

There was a moment of silence in front of the mountain gate, followed by a chorus of whispers.

"Is that Jiang Baili, the most beautiful woman in Qingzhou? She's even more beautiful than the rumors say!"

"No wonder the debate about who is the most beautiful in Qingzhou disappeared after Fairy Jiang appeared; there was really no need to argue about it!"

One woman said, "Master Gu is even more amazing. His appearance and temperament are so outstanding. No wonder he is called the Sword Immortal. I originally thought it was because of his superb swordsmanship, but now it seems that he is just a god-like person."

"These two are truly a match made in heaven."

"..."

Amid a murmur of discussion

Suddenly someone whispered, "I heard that Miss Lin and Master Gu have a rather unusual relationship. And... isn't Miss Lin here too?"

"Won't we have to choose sides before the martial arts alliance is even established?"

"..."

this moment,

Many people glanced at Lin Yourong without making a sound.

The relationship between Lin Yourong and Gu Guanqi was no secret in Qingzhou, especially after Lin Yourong was appointed as an elder of the Martial Alliance's Discipline Hall some time ago, their relationship became common knowledge.

The reputation of Gu Guanqi and Jiang Baili as a perfect couple has been circulating, and it has been decided that Jiang Baili will serve as the vice leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Therefore,

The fact that Lin Yourong and Jiang Baili appeared together in this setting at the same time naturally aroused much speculation.

Amid a discussion

Ma Wanli and Yan Wangchuan, along with many renowned martial arts masters, stepped forward to greet them.

After Ma Wanli and Yan Wangchuan greeted Gu Guanqi, several of the most prestigious figures in the Qingzhou martial arts world, including Shang Guzhou, Master Xuanbei, Qi Changkong, and Guo Yuanli, stepped forward to pay their respects.

Subsequently,

Everyone looked at Lin Yourong with great anticipation.

Then Lin Yourong stepped forward, bowed to Gu Guanqi, and called out, "Great Hero Gu." Then she bowed to Jiang Baili and called out, "Sister!"

Jiang Baili nodded slightly, then reached out and grasped Lin Yourong's hand, saying softly, "Sister Yourong."

Lin Yourong called her "sister," and Jiang Baili called her "Sister Yourong."

This completely shattered everyone's hopes of watching a spectacle.

They were all quite disappointed.

Even masters like Ma Wanli and Master Xuanbei secretly sighed with regret.

Only Yan Wangchuan smiled and whispered, "You all underestimate Gu Guanqi. The situation there is nowhere near as complicated as in Yunzhou!"

Ma Wanli immediately became interested and asked, "Old Yan, tell me in detail!"

Xuan Bei, Guo Yuanli, and the others also quietly pricked up their ears.

Yan Wangchuan chuckled and said, "To be continued...to be continued!"

Ma Wanli and the others all rolled their eyes at Yan Wangchuan.

Subsequently,

A group of renowned martial arts masters stepped forward to pay their respects.

After everyone had finished exchanging greetings...

Ma Wanli immediately cupped his hands and said, "Master Gu, please!"

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Commander Ma, please; fellow martial artists, please!"

"Please, Master Gu!"

The crowd shouted in unison, and then scattered to both sides.

Gu Guanqi took Jiang Baili's hand with his left hand and Lin Yourong's hand with his right hand, and walked towards the mountain gate.

Many renowned figures in the martial arts world and leaders of various sects followed him.

……

quickly,

Surrounded by the crowd, Gu Guanqi arrived at a grand hall.

Sunlight streamed in through the high windows, illuminating the blue brick floor of the hall and revealing its complete furnishings.

Although the Alliance Leader's Mansion in Qingzhou was built in a rush, it still maintained all the necessary decorum.

Gu Guanqi was invited to sit in the main seat, and then everyone else took their seats in turn.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually warmed up, and the leaders of various sects expressed their closeness to Gu Guanqi in their words, with many showing goodwill.

Gu Guanqi had been serving as the leader of the martial arts alliance in Yunzhou for some time and was already used to this kind of occasion, so he handled it with ease.

After a long chat

Ma Wanli suddenly cupped his hands in greeting to Gu Guanqi and said, "Hero Gu, there's something I need to discuss with you now, taking advantage of this occasion."

Everyone fell silent.

Gu Guanqi put down his teacup and said, "Commander Ma, please speak."

Ma Wanli cupped his hands and said, "Half a month ago, Miss Lin caught a charlatan who intended to harm Master Gu. After being interrogated by the Six Doors, the man confessed that he came from the Miao village in Hongzhou and was ordered by the current Miao King Wu Tongtian to control Master Gu through Gu worms."

Then, the Six Doors and the Lin family followed the clues and captured thirteen Miao people who were hiding in Tianping City. After interrogation, their testimonies were consistent: they all claimed to be from a Miao village, but they didn't know their specific purpose, only that they were following orders from their leader. The person captured by Miss Lin was the leader, named Guangwu, one of the twelve elders of the Miao village!

Gu Guanqi looked at Lin Yourong.

Lin Yourong nodded slightly and said, "That Guangwu met with me under the pretense of joining me, and then offered to use Gu poison to help me seize power..."

immediately,

Lin Yourong then recounted how Guangwu Sanren came to her door to present Gu, how she noticed something amiss and captured him on the spot, and how Lin Youcai led people to interrogate him.

However, it saves us from the fact that the other party's slogan is mainly to help win love rather than to seize power.

As soon as Lin Yourong finished speaking...

Guo Yuanli spoke first, saying, "Some time ago, I encountered members of the Gu God Sect in Lishan County with Hero Gu. Could it be that those people came here specifically to target Hero Gu?"

At this moment, Yan Wangchuan said, "They are not the same group of people. The people we encountered in Lishan County were the high priests of the Gu God Sect, while the group that Miss Lin captured this time were people from the Miao village."

Guo Yuanli asked in confusion, "What's the difference between the two?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "The Gu God Sect is a sacred religion worshipped by the Miao people. It is mainly a religion, but when it comes to the governance of people's livelihood, it is actually the Miao King of the Miao Village who is a chieftain who has been conferred a title by the imperial court."

From a religious perspective, the Gu God Cult leads the Miao villages, but from the perspective of people's livelihood and power, the Gu God Cult is subordinate to the Miao King. Therefore, these two can be discussed together, but not entirely.

"Amitabha!"

Just then, Master Xuanbei suddenly spoke up: "What Yan Tongzhi said is true. The relationship between the Gu God Sect and the Miao Village is indeed very special. To outsiders, the Gu God Sect is under the command of the Miao King. However, internally, the Gu God Sect is a sacred sect and has supreme divine authority in the hearts of the Miao people. Even the Miao King must obey the instructions of the Gu God Sect."

Guo Yuanli said, "In the end, the Gu God Sect and the Miao Village are one and the same. So, if the Miao Village is plotting against Master Gu, and the Gu God Sect is also present in Qingzhou at the same time, is there any need to consider this?"

"These Miao people deserve to die!"

"How dare they be so arrogant? Do they really think the martial arts world of Qingzhou is easy to bully?"

"Not only in Qingzhou, but let's not forget that Master Gu is also the leader of the martial arts alliance in Yunzhou!"

"I propose that the martial arts communities of Qingyun and Liangyun provinces jointly travel to Hongzhou to get to the bottom of this!"

"What's the purpose of this Miao village? Why are they so arrogant?"

"..."

In an instant, everyone in the hall was filled with righteous indignation, and some elders were talking about the status of the Miao village in Hongzhou.

Gu Guanqi slightly raised his hand and said, "Fellow practitioners, please calm down. This matter is rather strange. I am worried that someone is stirring up trouble, intending to provoke a conflict between the martial arts world of Qingyun Prefecture and the Miao village, so that they can use someone else to do the dirty work or reap the benefits!"

Ma Wanli echoed, "I also find this quite strange. Logically speaking, if the Miao village truly intended to rule the Qingyun martial arts world, their methods wouldn't be so crude and blatant, would they?"

Qi Changkong, the leader of the Tingshan Sect, said, "But didn't the Six Doors already find out? Those Miao people all confessed!"

"I'm afraid they're being used without realizing it." Ma Wanli sighed, cupped his hands to Gu Guanqi and said, "Master Gu, this is a cross-state case and involves the Miao people who have autonomy. It's not convenient for us in the Six Doors to get involved. If we're not careful, it could trigger a war between ethnic groups, which would be troublesome."

Therefore, this matter still needs to be handled by the Martial Alliance itself. All matters concerning the martial arts world of Hongzhou are led by the Hanyue Sect, one of the eight major sects. Hero Gu can write a letter, on behalf of the Martial Alliance of Qingyun and Qingzhou, requesting the Hanyue Sect to assist in investigating this matter.

In this way, if the martial arts alliance of Qingyun and the other two prefectures were to cross the border to seek an explanation from the Miao village, they could avoid conflict with the Hanyue Sect.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "We'll do as Commander Ma says. I'll write a letter and send it to the Hanyue Sect in a bit!"

At this time,

Master Xuanbei then spoke up: "Hero Gu, the High Priest of the Gu God Sect, whom you met once in Lishan County, is currently a guest at my Qingtai Temple. After the martial arts tournament ends, Hero Gu may wish to visit Qingtai Temple and inquire in person."

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "Does Qingtai Temple still have dealings with the Gu God Cult?"

Master Xuanbei shook his head and said, "It can't be called a relationship. It just involves a decades-old feud between the martial arts world. Now, the Gu God Sect has come to Qingtai Temple to take something. Once they take it, it will be over."

Guo Yuanli asked, "If the Gu God Cult truly has ulterior motives towards Hero Gu, wouldn't they have run away?"

Master Xuanbei said, "It will take nearly half a month for the Gu God Sect to take the items from Qingtai Temple. Moreover, the items they take are very important to the Gu God Sect."

If the other party doesn't even want that treasure and still wants to leave Qingtai Temple, then it means that the Gu God Sect was indeed the one who intended to harm Master Gu, and there's no question of anyone else instigating it. In that case, our Qingzhou Martial Alliance and Yunzhou Martial Alliance can go directly to Hongzhou to punish the Gu God Sect!

Guo Yuanli nodded slightly and said, "Master Xuanbei is absolutely right!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "Then I'll visit Qingtai Temple after the martial arts tournament ends!"

"It is an honor for Qingtai Temple that Master Gu has come!"

……

Then, not long after, the banquet began.

After dinner, Gu Guanqi, surrounded by a group of renowned figures, went to familiarize himself with the surroundings of the Martial Alliance and take a look at the scenery of Tianjun Mountain.

Tianjun Mountain is the most famous scenic spot in Qingzhou. Last year, Gu Guanqi accepted Yan Wangchuan's invitation to come to Qingzhou City for two reasons: one was to have his fortune told by the fortune teller Chu Wuwang, and the other was to see the snow on Tianjun Mountain.

Although we can't see snow on Tianjun Mountain now, the scenery there is still quite beautiful.

Jiang Baili was a little tired, so she didn't go with them. Instead, Lin Yourong took her to rest.

As the two walked into a long corridor, they saw a woman dressed in green sitting on a bench, dozing off. The woman was Zhu Jing from the Tingshan Sect.

Jiang Baili's eyes lit up slightly, and he called out, "Jingjing!"

Zhu Jing opened her eyes, overjoyed, but upon seeing Lin Yourong beside Jiang Baili, her expression changed instantly. She rushed over, took Jiang Baili's hand, shielded her behind her, and bowed to Lin Yourong, saying, "Miss Lin!"

Seeing Zhu Jing's actions, Lin Yourong chuckled and said, "Miss Zhu, you don't need to be so hostile towards me. I know you're my sister's good friend and worried that I might bully her, but you don't need to worry about that at all, because I'm also my sister's person, and I'm the one who most supports her becoming her legal wife!"

Zhu Jing looked at Jiang Baili behind her.

Jiang Baili blinked her big eyes and said, "Jingjing, Sister Yourong is a good person!"

Zhu Jing asked suspiciously, "Have you two already agreed on this?"

Lin Yourong nodded slightly and said, "I've already missed my chance to become the main wife, so of course I hope someone like you, who can accept me, will become the main wife. So don't worry, I'm a staunch supporter of Jiang!"

Zhu Jing scratched her head and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Lin, Bai Li is too naive. I'm just afraid she'll be bullied."

Lin Yourong chuckled and said, "I understand. From now on, the two of us can form a strategist alliance, and we'll be one team!"

Jiang Baili asked, "What about me?"

Lin Yourong laughed and said, "We two are just here to be your strategists!"

"Oh," Jiang Baili said suddenly, then looked at Zhu Jing and asked, "Jingjing, do you have any more books you can give me?"

Zhu Jing was slightly taken aback and asked, "You've finished reading that book before?"

"Hmm," Jiang Baili said, "I've finished reading them all. Now I need other books to help me."

Zhu Jing asked, puzzled, "Bai Li, that book isn't a storybook; it's not something you read and then find boring. That book is like a martial arts manual; you can repeat the actions..." At this point, Zhu Jing raised an eyebrow and whispered, "No, Bai Li, you and Master Gu have done all the actions in that book?"

"Hmm," Jiang Baili said, "My brother and I are both martial arts experts, so those moves aren't difficult to do."

Zhu Jing's eyes widened, she gave a thumbs up, and said, "Wow, that's impressive! My husband and I... well, it's a long story..."

Lin Yourong was a little confused and asked, "What book are you two talking about?"

Jiang Baili said, "The pleasures of the boudoir!"

Zhu Jing: "??"

Is this something we can say directly to outsiders?

Lin Yourong's cheeks immediately flushed, and she stammered, "This... Sister, you... this kind of book..."

Then she lowered her head and didn't say anything.

Zhu Jing could tell that Lin Yourong was still inexperienced in such matters, so she was very shy when talking about it. It was rare to see the usually graceful and dignified Lin Yourong like this, and she couldn't help but chuckle.

Jiang Baili, completely unaware of Lin Yourong's unusual behavior, continued, "Jingjing, I need help with my book, not with the physical aspects, but because my brother made a breakthrough in his cultivation in Yunzhou recently, and his physical condition is much stronger than before."

Before, I was already struggling to get along with my brother, and now I'm extremely tired. Is there any way to make me feel less tired?

Zhu Jing smiled, her eyes narrowing with laughter, and whispered, "How come Master Gu is so physically strong?"

"Yes." Jiang Baili nodded and said, "She's much better than me."

Zhu Jing grinned, then looked at Lin Yourong with a lewd smile and said, "Don't you have helpers now?"

Jiang Baili asked疑惑地问道, "How can I help?"

As she spoke, Zhu Jing took a book from her bosom and said, "I have a book here that can help you resolve your doubts!"

Jiang Baili took the book.

Lin Yourong couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and came closer. She saw five big characters on the book cover: "One Dragon Plays with Two Phoenixes," followed by a few smaller words: "Detailed illustrations included!"

When Jiang Baili turned to the first page

Lin Yourong's face instantly turned red, and she quickly took a few steps back.

Jiang Baili turned around and called out, "Sister Yourong."

Lin Yourong hurriedly said, "I...I can't, I...I...My current martial arts realm is a pseudo-pure realm, I can't have sex. Once I can't control my desires, my realm will drop and my cultivation will vanish. I'll have to wait several years..."

"Sister You Rong," Jiang Baili interrupted Lin You Rong and said, "My cultivation level improved too quickly back then, and my master was worried that my foundation was unstable, so he specially created a mental cultivation method called Guiyuan Zhenjue."

It is specifically designed to stabilize one's realm, prevent cultivation from becoming weak and stagnant, resolve the aftereffects of breakthroughs, and permanently solidify one's martial arts realm.

"Regardless of whether your cultivation level is genuine or not, as long as you've reached that level, you can stabilize it using the Returning to Origin True Technique. This Returning to Origin True Technique is a mental cultivation method, and once you get the hang of it, cultivation becomes very fast. And getting started isn't difficult either; I can guide you!"

Lin Yourong was very tempted, but hesitated and asked, "Can such martial arts be passed on to outsiders?"

"Okay," Jiang Baili said.

"Then... then thank you, sister!" Lin Yourong bowed respectfully.

Holding the "Dragon Playing with Two Phoenixes" picture in her hand, Jiang Baili asked, "So, Sister Rong, would you like to watch it together?"

Lin Yourong quickly said, "This...this is not suitable..."

"Then I'll go to my room and watch it by myself!"

Lin Yourong stammered, "I...I'll take a look first. I...I'm just a bit eager to learn!"

……

The Qingzhou Martial Arts Tournament was different from the Yunzhou Martial Arts Tournament, which was quite troublesome. There was no competition for the championship, and no one was plotting anything in secret.

On the day the conference opened,

It was just a formality; the leaders of various sects and renowned figures in the martial arts world unanimously nominated Gu Guanqi to serve as the leader of the martial arts alliance. It was passed by a single vote, without any other dissent.

This was, after all, a nomination made on the spot, not an invitation.

There's no need for a dramatic scene of declining three times.

Therefore,

On that day, Gu Guanqi officially assumed the position of leader of the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance. Xu He, the governor of Qingzhou, and a member of the imperial family arranged by the court presented Gu Guanqi with the seal of the leader, and the two of them then hung up the plaque for the Martial Arts Alliance.

With Gu Guanqi announcing the official establishment of the Martial Alliance in front of all the martial arts heroes, the martial arts world of Qingzhou entered a new era led by the Martial Alliance.

At this moment, Gu Guanqi also began to wear the seals of the two state alliance leaders.

The martial arts alliance was bustling with activity and crowds.

Martial arts masters from all walks of life came to congratulate Gu Guanqi, and Gu Guanqi responded to them continuously.

"Alliance Leader Gu," Governor Xu He approached Gu Guanqi with a cup of tea and said, "would you mind walking with me for a bit?"

"Governor of Xu, please!"

Gu Guanqi immediately accepted.

The two then walked side by side.

At this moment, those people at the martial arts tournament, seeing Gu Guanqi and Xu He traveling together, all who were originally going to pay their respects to Gu Guanqi stopped, and no one bothered the two of them.

The two chatted as they walked.

Soon, they arrived at a secluded garden.

Xu He changed the subject, saying, "Master Gu, you've been getting quite close to Commander Ma lately."

Gu Guanqi couldn't discern the emotions in Xu He's words, nor was he well-versed in the intricacies of officialdom, so he spoke frankly: "The establishment of the Martial Arts Alliance during this period was made possible thanks to the strong support of Commander Ma!"

Xu He nodded slightly and said, "Commander Ma has indeed been very dedicated to the establishment of the Martial Arts Alliance. After all, it was the Prime Minister who pushed this matter forward with all his might."

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted.

Now I understand what Xu He was trying to say.

After going around in circles, the point is finally made: Ma Wanli is a man of Left Chancellor Zhang Jiexi.

The feud between Gu Guanqi and Zhang Jiexi was no secret in the martial arts world, after all, he killed Zhang Donglou in public.

"What advice does the Governor of Xu have for me?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Xu He waved his hand and said, "I wouldn't call it guidance, but I just wanted to give Alliance Leader Gu a proper reminder: Left Prime Minister Zhang Jiexi has two sons. His eldest son, Zhang Zhenjiang, has been weak and sickly since childhood and is not capable of great things, while his younger son, Zhang Donglou, is intelligent and well-loved by Zhang Jiexi and is also highly regarded!"

Gu Guanqi said in a deep voice, "In other words, my killing of Zhang Donglou means that Zhang Jiexi and I are now mortal enemies with whom we cannot resolve our differences."

Xu He chuckled and asked, "Does Alliance Leader Gu have a plan to resolve this?"

"If I had, I wouldn't have killed Zhang Donglou," Gu Guanqi said.

Xu He continued, "As far as I know, after Zhang Donglou was killed, the Left Prime Minister's subordinates were outraged, and many suggested that you be killed directly, but the Left Prime Minister suppressed them."

However, this is not a good thing, because based on my understanding of the Left Prime Minister, he usually doesn't make a move unless it's a devastating and unavoidable killing move.

Fortunately, the Eastern Depot cooperated with the Yunzhou government to suppress your plot to kill an official. In addition, given your current status as the leader of the martial arts alliance in two states, it is not convenient for the Left Prime Minister to directly use government power to deal with you.

However, it's easier to dodge a spear in the open than to guard against an arrow in the dark. You should be careful yourself, and also keep an eye on Ma Wanli; after all, he's a member of the Left Chancellor's faction.

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Governor Xu. I will pay close attention!"

Xu He smiled slightly and said, "Although you've become the alliance leader, you mustn't neglect your martial arts training. If the Left Prime Minister manages to get away one day and personally comes to kill you, that would be troublesome!"

Gu Guanqi asked, "Is Zhang Jiexi's martial arts skill very strong?"

Xu He thought for a moment and said, "The Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion once said that if there were a ranking of martial arts in the world, the Left Prime Minister could be in the top ten. His martial arts skills have reached a level where the army can be basically ignored."

"Based on what I understand about the methods Zuo Xiang displayed back then, you are far from being up to par. You don't even match his achievements before he stopped fighting, not to mention that he hasn't made a move for many years now, and nobody knows what level he has reached."

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted slightly.

A sense of oppression welled up in my heart.

I haven't felt this urge to go on blind dates in a long time.

……

Gan Guo, the capital city.

Beside a large river, a handsome middle-aged man was sitting by the lake fishing.

This man was none other than the Left Chancellor Zhang Jiexi. Because of his skill in preserving his youthful appearance, he looked to be under forty years old, but in fact he was already over sixty. He was very refined in every move he made.

He lifted the fishing rod slightly, but caught nothing.

The middle-aged scholar standing beside him immediately baited the hook for Zhang Jiexi, chuckling as he said, "Prime Minister, you're not having much luck today. Usually by this time you'd have caught at least a dozen fish, but you haven't caught anything yet!"

This middle-aged scholar was Zhang Jiexi's top advisor, known in the martial arts world as Ji Sanqian, who was known as the "Helpless Ji".

Zhang Jiexi said, "Fishing is a form of self-cultivation. When my mind is calm, the fish are also calm, making it a good time to catch them. Today, my mind is unsettled, and so are the fish."

Ji Sanqian gazed at the river. Just then, a breeze picked up, and the river shimmered. He said, "This student dares to guess that the matter that has troubled Your Excellency is related to Gu Guanqi of Qingzhou."

"I can't find a way to relieve my worries!" Zhang Jiexi sighed slightly and said, "I want to go to Qingzhou myself and kill Gu Guanqi to avenge the killing of my son, but I just can't get away from it for the time being."

Ji Sanqian quickly replied, "This student can certainly do it!"

Zhang Jiexi shook his head slightly and said, "You can't kill Gu Guanqi. I underestimated Gu Guanqi before. Judging from his record of destroying the Tingchao Sword Sect in Yunzhou, his cultivation has reached the peak below the Dao, or he has already reached the Dao with one foot in it. You are no match for him."

Ji Sanqian bowed and said, "I have heard much about entering the Dao, Your Excellency. May I ask, what is meant by entering the Dao?"

Zhang Jiexi said, "This path is the great way of heaven and earth, and can also be understood as transcendence and molting."

The vast majority of martial artists in the world remain at the level of martial arts skills, while only a very small number can reach the pinnacle of martial arts, and then sense the laws governing the operation of heaven and earth. When they sense these laws and can utilize them, they have entered the Dao!

Ji Sanqian said, "This student doesn't quite understand."

Zhang Jiexi said, "Take you for example. Your martial arts have reached the limit of martial arts. Looking at the level of martial arts, there are no more than ten people in the world who can be your opponent."

The next step is for you to comprehend the laws governing the universe. Twenty years ago, I was at your level. My martial arts skills had reached their limit. I challenged many renowned masters in the world at that time and defeated them all.

At that time, I thought I had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, so I went to challenge the eight major sects. Luckily, I challenged the Great Bright Temple, otherwise I would have been dead. It was during that time at the Great Bright Temple that I learned about martial arts, martial arts: martial arts come first, and the Way comes later.

Ji Sanqian suddenly realized, "No wonder you haven't made a direct move in the past twenty years, and few of the younger generation in the martial arts world know of your reputation!"

Zhang Jiexi chuckled and said, "The path to this step is often just a thought away. Back then, I was enlightened by the Holy Monk Lianchi at Daguangming Temple and meditated under the Bodhi tree for three days and three nights. Finally, I realized my own path, which is the path of supporting the dragon!"

That year, I entered the capital to serve as an official. I then assisted the late emperor for ten years, and subsequently helped the current emperor ascend the throne, stabilizing the court until now. My path naturally unfolded during this process.

Ji Sanqian sighed, "It's a pity that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager don't understand your good intentions and even support the eunuch faction to oppose you!"

Zhang Jiexi shook his head slightly and said, "It's alright. Wei Tanjin won't be able to cause trouble for long. The day the General enters the capital will be the day his dog's head rolls to the ground!"

Ji Sanqian asked, "Prime Minister, Wei Tanjin possesses a Primordial Heavenly Will Technique, which is said to have reached a state of perfection, where life and death are intangible and the will of Heaven cannot be defied. Those lackeys of the Eastern Depot even claim that Wei Tanjin is the best in the world!"

Zhang Jiexi chuckled and said, "All the powerful martial artists in this world have one flaw after mastering their divine skills: they all consider themselves the best in the world."

In a sense, Gu Guanqi could also be considered the best in the world, because if he didn't leave the Dao Realm, very few people could defeat him, just like I was twenty years ago.

Ji Sanqian pondered for a moment, then said, "Then, is the Prime Minister the greatest in the world?"

Zhang Jiexi shook his head slightly and said, "Let me put it this way, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has actually compiled three Grandmaster Rankings, but they haven't dared to release them yet. They have divided the Grandmasters into three tiers."

The first is the Earth Ranking, which includes seventy-two people from all over the world. These seventy-two people are all martial arts masters who have reached the pinnacle and have the opportunity to enter the Dao. They are revered as Grandmasters.

The second is the Heavenly Ranking, which includes thirty-six people. These thirty-six people are all masters who have entered the Dao and are revered as supreme masters.

The third is the God Ranking, which lists the ten strongest people in the world, revered as martial arts saints, and I am ranked tenth on the God Ranking.

Ji Sanqian quickly asked, "What about Wei Tanjin?"

"Second on the Heavenly Ranking!" Zhang Jiexi said.

Ji Sanqian breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "It seems that in the judgment of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Wei Tanjin is no match for you, Prime Minister. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's judgment has always been rigorous and has never made a mistake."

Zhang Jiexi said, "Being able to defeat and being able to kill are two different things."

"The student understands," Ji Sanqian then asked, "So, did Gu Guanqi make the list?"

Zhang Jiexi nodded slightly and said, "He ranks seventh on the Earth Ranking, and is the only one under thirty years old among the three rankings of God, Heaven, and Earth. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's evaluation is that he can reach the top of the God Ranking before the age of forty!"

Ji Sanqian said in a deep voice, "He won't have a chance to live to see that day!"

Zhang Jiexi said in a deep voice, "What I'm mainly worried about now is who is behind Gu Guanqi, and who his master is. I'm afraid of provoking someone I can't afford to offend."

Ji Sanqian said, "Prime Minister, you are ranked tenth in the land, and with the imperial court as your backing, what is there to fear?"

Zhang Jiexi shook his head and said, "You're mistaken. I'm tenth on the God Ranking, not tenth in the world."

Ji Sanqian asked, puzzled, "What's the difference?"

Zhang Jiexi said, "The difference is huge. The list of Tianji Pavilion is based on people in the present world, but there is a group of people in seclusion in this world whose strength is impossible to fathom."

For example, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has existed in the world for so many years, yet no one has seen his true face, nor has anyone seen him make a move, and no one knows his name. Yet, he knows everything in the world and everyone in the world, but he is not on the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's God Ranking.

For example, in Qingzhou, Zhuque encountered an old Taoist priest there. Zhuque was tricked and seriously injured by the old Taoist priest. That old Taoist priest should be the master of Jiang Baili, the most beautiful woman in Qingzhou. He was a hermit in the mountains for decades, at least a hundred years old, but he left no information.

The martial world is vast, and there are many similar figures to these two. That person is too mysterious; whether he is stronger or weaker than us, no one can be sure. Therefore, I can only say he is tenth on the God Ranking, not tenth in the world.

Ji Sanqian cupped his hands in greeting and said, "This student has learned a lot. If I may be so bold as to ask the Prime Minister, just how strong is the power of entering the Dao? I have only heard that one person can form an army and one person can break through an army, but I really cannot understand what kind of power it is."

Zhang Jiexi thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his fishing rod and caught a golden koi. It was quite heavy, weighing at least three pounds.

He took the koi carp off the river and released it back into the water, saying, "Behold, this is the great power of entering the Tao!"

Ji Sanqian stared at the river, his eyes filled with confusion.

The golden koi had already swum back to the depths, the river surface shimmering, everything as usual, as if nothing had just happened.

"Your Excellency," Ji Sanqian said, bowing, "this student is foolish; I only saw the koi carp entering the water, and did not see the 'great power' you spoke of."

Zhang Jiexi smiled slightly but did not reply.

He slowly raised his right hand and gently touched the surface of the river with his index finger.

The movements were extremely light and slow, as if casually brushing away a speck of dust from a robe.

Ji Sanqian's eyes were fixed on that finger.

Then, his pupils suddenly contracted.

On the river, starting from where Zhang Jiexi pointed, the water parted to both sides, not pushed or split, but simply as if the river itself knew where to go.

A straight crack appeared in the middle of the river and quickly extended to both ends. The water on both banks receded to the sides, revealing the wet riverbed below, where aquatic plants trembled gently in the damp mud.

The river surface was split.

The river, which was forty or fifty feet wide and forty or five feet deep, was split in two, with the gap being several tens of feet long.

The river water on both sides hangs in mid-air like two huge water walls. The surface of the water walls is as smooth as a mirror, without a drop of water falling or a splash. It is as if they were meant to stand and flow like that.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, shining into the crack and making the mud shimmer faintly.

The golden koi fish was suspended in mid-air in the center of the rift.

It didn't sink to the bottom of the river, nor did it struggle; it just floated there quietly, its fins swaying gently, as if it were still swimming in the water.

Zhang Jiexi gently raised his hand.

The golden koi carp flew up from the crack in the river, drawing a golden arc in the air before landing steadily in his palm.

The fish's tail gently patted between Zhang Jiexi's fingers, its scales shimmering in the sunlight.

The crack in the river surface slowly closed up at the same moment Zhang Jiexi retrieved the koi carp.

The water walls on both sides seemed to be held up by an invisible hand, slowly returning to their original positions. When the water surfaces met, there was no sound, only a shallow ripple spreading outwards, which disappeared without a trace in an instant.

The river returned to its original state, shimmering and gurgling, as if it had never been separated.

Ji Sanqian stood there, his lips slightly parted, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

A fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead, and his back was soaked with cold sweat. The scene before him was beyond his imagination.

"Prime Minister..." he began, his voice slightly hoarse, "may I ask, how much power did you use just now?"

Zhang Jiexi repositioned his fishing rod and said, "Just now, I used less than ten percent of my strength."

Ji Sanqian was stunned.

Zhang Jiexi's gaze fell on the river surface, and he slowly said, "At my level, I no longer need to use my inner strength to 'do' anything. That finger strike just now was in accordance with the laws of nature, letting the water know it should give way, and it did."

"Let...the water know?" Ji Sanqian's voice carried a hint of bewilderment and confusion.

"Yes, let the water know."

Zhang Jiexi said, "All things in heaven and earth have their own laws. Those who enter the Dao have merely touched upon those laws and then guided them accordingly. Daoism speaks of ascension to immortality, Buddhism speaks of Nirvana, and various schools of thought speak of 'shattering the mortal realm'—these are all laws!"

Ji Sanqian asked in surprise, "Is it all true?"

"Who knows? It's all just a pattern we sense!"

Zhang Jiexi chuckled softly, his gaze returning to the river.

A gentle breeze rippled across the river, creating layers of fine waves.