Ten Directions Sword Master

tenth day.

The conversation was even more successful than Lu Li had imagined; no one from the Shen family showed up again, nor did they voice any objections.

Truckloads of grain were quickly delivered to the designated warehouse, and he spent all the ten gold ingots he had just acquired and some coins he had prepared in advance.

On the rebel side, the famous Zhao Sanqin personally came to pay a visit.

He has a simple and honest appearance, more like a country farmer than a rebel leader.

King Zhao, a man of unparalleled righteousness who saved countless lives, adopted a very humble attitude, always referring to Young Master Bai as someone who would go through fire and water for him.

Who wouldn't be tempted by the opportunity to redeem themselves from the rebel army and gain a high-ranking official position?

More importantly, Lu Li explicitly stated that after capturing He Zheng, the military camp would be handed over to Zhao Sanqin for garrisoning.

After years of development by He Zheng, the area now has nearly 100 hectares of farmland.

Such benefits are enough for him to risk his life.

A date has been set: we will set off in seven days, and we will deliver He Zheng's head by the end of the month.

Tang Lie, the inspector of the western city, came twice on his own initiative, ostensibly to coordinate grain supplies.

No matter how small the matter, as long as Lu Li asked for it, it would be handled perfectly.

According to Tang Lie, Zhao Sanqin's strength was similar to his, both being at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

In his youth, he ventured to the grasslands and learned a martial art style that was completely different from that of the Central Plains, which was extremely cunning and ruthless.

He Zheng, who rose from a lowly soldier in the border army, almost had the chance to become the deputy commander of a town.

He came to Bingzhou after losing the competition. He was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage and once killed a bandit who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage in three moves.

However, that was ten years ago. He Zheng, who was over sixty years old at the time, had passed the peak of his Qi and Blood, and his strength was definitely declining.

Without entering the Refining Spirit stage, one cannot resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, nor possess spiritual power. No matter how strong one's physical body is, it is impossible to defy the laws of nature.

"Young Master Bai, you are too generous! That military camp is three hundred paces long and one hundred and fifty paces wide, with a mountain spring inside and farmland outside... If managed well, it could be the starting point for a family to last a hundred years!"

Tang Lie's jealousy was burning; the reward offered would even tempt some experts at the Refinement of Spirit Realm.

"Zhao Sanqin's rebel army has a numerical advantage, and there is also a group of old brothers who followed him on the grasslands back then. If we don't care about casualties, it won't be difficult to defeat the guards of the military camp."

"However, he may not be confident in killing He Zheng. He has probably gone to ask for help these past few days... With the reward given by the young master, he can set aside a portion to find two Foundation Establishment wandering knights who are willing to risk their lives."

"A mere military camp is nothing. The Bai family never mistreats those who work hard... The stable boy who raised horses for my elder brother for twenty years recently got his youngest son a sinecure as a river god envoy in a certain place in Jiangnan. In the future, he will at least have no worries about fish and shrimp when he retires."

He wasn't supposed to pay the reward; Lu Li's promises were getting bigger and bigger.

"In a few days, Zhao Sanqin will lead his troops to attack He Zheng. Find a few soldiers familiar with the terrain to lead me to watch over him... I won't be able to get rid of my anger until I see this man die with my own eyes!"

"Young Master Bai, there's no need for you to go to such a dirty and war-torn place... How about I accompany you instead, so that the soldiers won't disturb you?"

Tang Lie offered a word of advice, then realized that this was the perfect opportunity to build a closer relationship, and quickly offered his services.

"Inspector Tang, since you're so kind, then I'll trouble you to make the trip."

How could Lu Li feel at ease until he saw He Zheng's head fall to the ground with his own eyes?

"When we return to the capital to reward those who have rendered meritorious service, I will report to my ancestor the list of local officials who are diligent in their duties to the king. We cannot allow talents like Inspector Tang to be overlooked."

Tang Lie, a burly man of seven feet, suddenly became so excited that his eyes turned red; he was also a master of acting.

……

The eighteenth day.

Lu Li's departure date was postponed by a few days. Firstly, the rebel army had already set off and was besieging the military camp without attacking, seizing farms and granaries. The decisive battle was not yet imminent.

Another one, Tang Lie wrote a letter inviting a senior fellow student with whom he had a good relationship.

On the surface, it was for Bai Gongzi's safety, but in reality, they wanted their senior brother to also enjoy some benefits.

If I could catch the eye of Young Master Bai, why would I have to worry about not being able to realize my ambitions?

"Senior brother, can you tell which school or sect Young Master Bai's swordsmanship belongs to?"

Tang Lie was already extremely tall and strong, but the man next to him was even thicker, with a broad back and thick waist.

"How strange! Such exquisite swordsmanship, almost to the point of being intricate, is something I have never heard of in all my years of wandering the martial world."

Wei Xuan was only a few years older, but his hair and beard had turned much whiter, making him look quite old.

"Even a casual swordplay reveals extraordinary meaning; it is probably a Heavenly-grade sword technique that can lead to the cultivation of a Dharma Body... It is likely a secret technique passed down by the imperial court or unique to the Bai family."

In this era, all martial arts techniques that can be cultivated to the True Person realm are collectively referred to as Heavenly Grade, which is a remote and unattainable realm for 99% of martial artists in the Jianghu.

It wasn't until the Great Chu Dynasty ascended to power and reformed the order that many long-established sects slightly relaxed the restrictions on such martial arts, allowing the public to understand the inner differences.

Even if you master the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber Technique to perfection, it will still be the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber Technique and will not help you advance to the True Person Realm in the slightest.

"Given Young Master Bai's background, his age and only being at the mid-stage of Qi Refining initially led one to believe he was of mediocre talent. But seeing the profound depth within his swordsmanship, it doesn't make sense."

Tang Lie shook his head, turned to his senior brother, and said.

"Senior brother, after all these years in the sect, it's time to think about yourself. Gold is hard to come by, don't risk your life. You should leave more wealth to your descendants."

Iron skin tempers the body, copper bones draw in qi, silver veins build the foundation, gold filth refines the spirit, and jade marrow makes one a true immortal.

The cultivation path of the Hanyue Sect is clear, focusing on strengthening the physical body and tempering the physique, making its survival ability unparalleled among its peers.

However, the physical body is severely damaged. Even if one consumes various powerful medicines and supplements, without breaking through to the Refinement of Spirit and the self-purification of the internal organs, the more one cultivates, the more harmful it becomes.

Wei Xuan's background was even worse than Tang Lie's; he lost both his parents and grew up in a sect from a young age.

He was kept on tenterhooks by the sect elders' hopes of refining his spirit, working diligently for decades, only to have the opportunity slip away time and time again.

At first, you are still young, and you will have plenty of opportunities in the future. Let the senior brothers who have a better chance first.

Later, with your limited potential and rare opportunities for spiritual refinement, you naturally had to prioritize your exceptionally talented junior brother.

The position of steward of the Hanyue Sect may seem prestigious, but in reality, it represents the end of one's career.

"Junior Brother Tang, I appreciate your kindness. It's your good fortune to be able to befriend the grandson of Judge Bai... Putting aside his official status, he is a true grandmaster, a figure that even the founder of a sect cannot compare to. In ancient times, he would have been a terrestrial immortal."

Wei Xuan looked at the young man who had already sheathed his sword, while Tang Lie's nephew was fawningly offering him a wet towel.

"When I was twenty, no, ten years younger, I was willing to do anything to please others... At this age, it's enough to make good connections. Which of my descendants is capable enough to go to the capital? Then I can just visit the Bai family."

"Senior brother has a longer-term perspective."

Tang Lie's children are still young, so he is thinking more about himself. In the past few days, he has been fantasizing about how to get a promotion by poaching a piece of meat from the three major families.

However, the gods' idea is good. They can prepare some local specialties and take them to the capital next year to strengthen their bond.

……

Lu Li was unaware that the two Foundation Establishment martial artists in the group were evaluating him, and even if he knew, it wouldn't matter.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique was created hundreds of years later, and during this period, no one except myself knew or mastered it.

In addition to inviting Wei Xuan, Tang Lie also mobilized fifty personal guards and three large carriages for them to rest along the way.

As the deadline for the main quest drew closer, Lu Li became increasingly calm, his mind as clear as a mirror, without the slightest fluctuation.

Each time I practice swordsmanship, I can feel myself getting a little closer to the White Dew Sword Style.

The immense pressure transformed into boundless motivation, unleashing his kendo potential.

On the morning he saw the military camp belching black smoke, Lu Li practiced his sword alone in the forest. With a single swing, dew condensed on the blade, instantly sealing in the moisture on the broken wooden stakes, causing them to wither and die.

The third move, White Dew, becomes a sword.