Mythical Three Kingdoms: Martial Arts Reach Divine Ranks, I Alone Rule the World

Zhang Xiu understood.

But what follows is an indescribable sense of frustration.

Before Zhang Mu told him this cruel truth...

He secretly thought that although there was a gap in strength between himself and his senior brother Zhang Rentong and Zhang Mu, who were of the same generation, at least the gap was visible.

The results of it?

Zhang Mu used the bloody facts to tell him that everything was just what he thought.

The real gap between the two was far greater than he had imagined, more like an ant gazing at the blue sky.

Zhang Xiu was like an ant.

A naive ant who thinks he is a martial arts prodigy, unaware that there are even more monstrous geniuses above him.

Unable to process this sense of loss in a short time, Zhang Xiu did not ask any further questions.

He simply clasped his hands in thanks to Zhang Mu, then left the hall in a daze and headed to his room.

Watching Zhang Xiu's retreating figure, devastated by the blow...

Zhang Mu gave a meaningful look before turning his gaze to Zhang Ren, Tong Yuan's eldest disciple, whom he had just used as a unit of measurement for his combat strength.

"And you, Chief of Staff? Do you understand?"

Upon hearing Zhang Mu's words, Zhang Ren wanted to say... "I don't understand!!"

Although he has a calm and composed personality, he still feels awkward when someone uses him as an example for no reason, saying that he could beat a thousand times over.

If he had explained it clearly...

Wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting that he, the master apprentice of the gun god, is pitifully weak?

After a long while.

Facing Zhang Mu's gaze, Zhang Ren's brows relaxed slightly, as if he had thought of something.

"Brother Zhang!"

"Aren't you worried that your words will discourage Zijin and make him lose heart? This junior brother will probably be tossing and turning all night tonight, unable to sleep?"

Zhang Ren spoke up.

This clarifies the deeper meaning behind Zhang Mu's earlier statement, "Those who do not become military ministers are all ants."

It wasn't that he wanted Zhang Xiu to understand how powerful he was.

Instead, he wanted to use this quantifiable difference in strength to temper his second junior brother's impetuousness and help him calm down and hone his martial arts skills in a down-to-earth manner.

"Will he?"

Seeing that his intentions had been exposed, Zhang Mu's opinion of Zhang Ren improved even further.

But outwardly, he simply smiled and asked the question in return to Tong Yuan's chief disciple.

"Won't!"

Zhang Ren knew his junior brother Zhang Xiu very well, and answered decisively.

Zhang Ren added, "But Brother Zhang, you won't have a peaceful time at the villa from now on."

"Once Zijin calms down..."

"He will definitely drag you into martial arts sparring every day."

"I hope you'll go easy on him. If you're too harsh, this junior brother will really be crushed!"

"Be gentle?" Zhang Mu asked with a smile in his eyes.

"The kind that's unkillable, but leaves you with a last breath?"

Although the answer was somewhat rambling, Zhang Mu's words were, in Zhang Ren's ears, tantamount to an agreement to guide and instruct Zhang Xiu.

As Zhang Ren had predicted, things turned out just as he had thought.

Zhang Mu valued Zhang Xiu no less than he valued Zhang Ren.

In Zhang Mu's view.

The fact that Zhang Xiu was accepted as one of Tong Yuan's three disciples shows that his martial arts skills were among the best.

Even more so.

In terms of martial arts skills alone, if he were to rank Zhang Ren, Zhang Xiu, and Zhao Yun...

Zhao Yun would naturally be ranked first.

Zhang Xiu was next.

Finally, in front of him stood Zhang Ren, a man of steady character and known in his previous life as the "Spear King of Shu" for his military prowess.

But what became of the three senior brothers?

Zhang Ren was appointed as the governor of Shu, and was thus promoted to the rank of general.

The ambush and killing of Pang Tong in one battle laid the groundwork for the succubus's unfinished ambitions, which were cut short by her untimely demise.

Zhao Yun's achievements speak for themselves.

In his youth, he was incredibly brave, leading the young master A Dou in a chaotic rampage.

The five valiant generals avoided their sharp edge and entered Jiangdong, where they wore the Qinggang sword to intimidate the twelve tiger ministers, thus ensuring the safety of the imperial uncle.

Even in old age.

He could also slay Cao Cao's generals in battle, making that unicorn from Tianshui call him "Old General" upon meeting him.

In contrast to his senior brother Zhang Ren, who suffered a defeat on the battlefield but achieved his goal, and his junior brother Zhang Xiu, whose fame still resounded in his later years, what about Zhang Xiu?

Aside from Wancheng's brief moment of brilliance in the early stages.

The end of life is truly tragic.

After the war, he surrendered to Cao Cao and was scolded to his face by Cao Pi in Xuchang.

His former subordinates were annexed by Cao Cao, and his strategist Jia Xu switched allegiance.

He himself was alienated by the civil and military officials of Cao Wei, and had to keep to himself and his family away from the public.

Finally, the opportunity to follow Cao Cao on his northern expedition against the Wuhuan and return to the battlefield has arrived...

However, he died in the bitter cold of Youzhou, from an illness.

Born and raised in the Northwest, the Northern Spear King, who fought for half his life, died in the bitter cold of the Northern Expedition!

I heard about it.

How utterly laughable!

Zhang Mu never intended to teach Zhang Xiu how to be a person.

He just wanted to smooth out the impetuousness in the Northern Gun King's personality.

Zhang Xiu, a free spirit, outstanding talent, and daring to raise an army to kill Cao Cao's eldest son...

He might become a fearsome general on the battlefield, capable of breaking through to the Martial Realm with his courage and determination.

but.

Zhang Xiu, who had shed his impetuousness, learned to conceal his spearhead, and restrained his murderous intent...

Undoubtedly, they will go further on the path of martial arts cultivation and will usher in a fairly satisfactory destiny.

Not long after talking with Zhang Mu.

Zhang Ren also left.

However, instead of going directly back to his room, he chose the direction Zhang Xiu had just left in.

The lobby was empty.

Only Zhang Mu and the young Zhao Yun remained.

"How about going out for some fresh air?"

"Perfect timing, the rain outside has stopped!"

Zhang Mu extended an invitation to Zhao Yun, who was standing there hesitant to speak. Without waiting for Zhao Yun's reply, he walked outside first.

Leaving the villa and breathing in the earthy scent wafting in the night air, Zhang Mu stood at the edge of Phoenix Perch Mountain.

Looking southeast towards the city of Changshan...

The night was deep and quiet, with only a few scattered lights visible.

But when Zhang Mu closed his eyes and turned to look at Changshan County again...

The few remaining lights disappeared.

In his perception of Qi...

What I "saw" was clearly a protective magic array radiating golden light, encompassing the entire vast county town.

"Huh, what's been happening in Changshan County lately? Even the city's protective formation has been activated?"

A hint of suspicion appeared on Zhang Mu's face.

Each prefecture city is built on the dragon veins and earth vein nodes of the Nine Provinces. Unless it is a matter of life and death, the city's protective formation must not be easily activated.

Once the grand formation is activated, it not only requires the prefect to expend literary energy to maintain it, but also consumes the dragon energy and primordial energy from the ground.

Luo wouldn't care about consuming a little dragon energy and primordial energy.

However, if the magic array is kept open for a long time, it will consume an excessive amount of dragon energy and primordial energy...

The Imperial Observatory of Luodu will surely send out its surveillance guards to investigate.

At that time.

If the prefect who activates the city's protective formation cannot provide a reasonable explanation, the Imperial Guard can even dismiss him from his post and send him back to Luodu to await the Emperor's decision.

"Tsk tsk! I hope that Changshan prefect is a good official, and not someone who's just messing around by activating the city's protective formation."

Zhang Mu sympathized with the Changshan prefect, whom he had never met, and then didn't take it to heart.

He was unaware of this.

The root cause of everything was his battle with those terracotta warriors.

To prevent the terracotta warriors from wreaking havoc on the city at night, the governor of Changshan had no choice but to activate the magic array.

"Brother Zhang!"

Zhao Yun followed him out.

He stood on the side of Zhang Mu, who was looking out over the high place.

"Little Zhao Yun, you've been acting a bit strange ever since I told you the story of the terracotta warriors' night march."

"Plus, you seemed hesitant to speak earlier, so it seems you've encountered... well, some doubts on your path to adulthood?"

"How about telling Mu?"

"Perhaps Mu can also offer some answers to your questions!"

Zhang Mu saw through Zhao Yun's thoughts and looked down at the little guy beside him with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun was taken aback.

He hesitated before asking, "Brother Zhang, is Yun really that useless?"

"Faced with your and Master's departure and their prolonged absence, the eldest brother remained calm and composed, the second brother had the courage to rush out and investigate, and me..."

A look of dejection appeared on Zhao Yun's youthful face.

"There's nothing we can do!"

"I dare not say anything!"

"I could only hold the spear, head bowed, staring blankly, to conceal the unease in my heart."

"Even when you were just recounting the terracotta warriors' night march, and your battle with those strange terracotta warriors..."

"A sense of fear arose in Yun's heart for no apparent reason."

"Yun asked herself honestly..."

"If you and your master are truly no match for those eerie terracotta warriors, if Yun were in your shoes, would he really have the courage to hold his spear and shield you behind him after you fall, fighting alongside those terracotta warriors?"

"Yun...Yun really doesn't know the answer."

Zhao Yun revealed the secret in his heart.

He didn't even know why he would reveal his thoughts to Zhang Mu, a stranger he had only met twice and spent less than half a day with.

But he couldn't help but confide in her.

Zhang Mu was quite surprised by Zhao Yun's words.

Looking down at the conflicted and pained expression on the young Zhao Yun's face, Zhang Mu was stunned for a long time.

He didn't expect that.

Zhao Zilong, who would fight fearlessly against Cao Cao's million-strong army in the future, would show such "cowardice" in his youth.

then.

Zhang Mu withdrew his gaze, looked up into the distance, and said softly, "Zhao Yun, do you know what courage is?"

"courage?"

"It must be the courage to never back down!"

Young Zhao Yun spoke softly, his answer even he himself wasn't sure.

You're wrong!

Zhang Mu rejected Zhao Yun's answer.

"Courage is never the audacity to never back down, nor is it the reckless courage of a fool who heads headlong forward."

"So-called courage..."

"It's about moving forward despite the fear."

"No experience in life is useless; fear is, anxiety is, and your current confusion is also."

"so."

"Why not be a little bolder..."

Everyone makes wrong choices, everyone has moments of weakness, but what does it matter?

"This will not affect our growth amidst fear, anxiety, and confusion, nor will it hinder us from initially hiding behind others to gradually and firmly stepping forward to support the weak."

"To be born a human being, one should have an upward-looking heart, not a downward-looking body."

"Got it!"

Zhang Mu turned around and smiled slightly:

"Fear is a biological instinct, courage is the hymn of humanity."

"Is fear a biological instinct? Is courage a hymn to humanity?" Zhao Yun was shocked when he heard Zhang Mu's last sentence.

The confusion in the boy's eyes slowly disappeared, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Looking at Zhao Yun like this, Zhang Mu felt greatly gratified.

This is the Zhao Zilong of Changshan that he knows!

"Brother Zhang!"

"Which one of you is it really?"

"You were teasing my two senior brothers earlier, which Yun found a bit inappropriate, but now you're spouting such courageous and profound truths. Yun almost doesn't recognize you anymore!"

After Zhang Mu's words of encouragement, Zhao Yun immediately regained the lively spirit that a young man should have.

He looked Zhang Mu up and down, as if trying to truly understand Zhang Mu as a person.

"Which one is me?"

Zhang Mu reached out and ruffled Zhao Yun's hair, saying, "Whichever one you see is me."

"I am the one who treats your master, Tong Yuan, as an equal!"

"I was the one who verbally abused and berated your senior brother!"

"The one here to share life's lessons with you... is me!"

As he spoke, Zhang Mu flicked the black armor he was wearing with his finger.

He chuckled and said, "Even if one day in the future you see me take off this armor, put on a feather fan and a silk turban, and sit down with that renowned scholar to discuss philosophy..."

"That."

"It's me too!"

"Like now..."

Zhang Mu placed his hands on his waist, and a rustling sound rang out...

After a while.

"It nourishes heaven and earth with its own holy water!"

"It could be me too!"

"Free and unrestrained, everything is me, I am who I am!"

Young Zhao Yun was completely taken aback by Zhang Mu's sudden move and was stunned on the spot...

next moment.

The young Zhao Yun looked ashamed and silently distanced himself from Zhang Mu.