If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1226 Military Pavilion

Guowei Liao, accompanied by Yu Taishi, used earth magic to enter the Taiwei Mansion and then emerged from a secluded and desolate storeroom in the backyard.

He knocked on the door and whispered, "Wang Yuan, it's me."

"Squeak~~~" The wooden door opened, revealing a narrow path behind it.

It was only wide enough for one person to pass through, and even two people walking side by side would find it cramped. On the surface, the path was filled with miscellaneous items on both sides, and it did indeed look like the interior of a warehouse.

But Xiaoyu followed Guowei Liao forward for only one step before leaving the human world and entering the dark and rugged ghost path.

After winding their way through the ghostly path for two or three miles, the path suddenly opened up, and the two arrived at the entrance of a giant palace that was ten times more magnificent and taller than Zhangtai Palace.

Before the hall stood a middle-aged general, two and a half meters tall. He wore black armor, a helmet with a demon mask, and rode a "dragon beast" with a dragon's head and a bull's body.

The dragon beast was about ten feet tall, covered with fine, dark blue scales, and looked rather plump, with very intelligent eyes.

It even showed a wary look when it saw Grand Tutor Yu approaching.

"This humble general, Wang Yuan, pays his respects to Grand Tutor Yu!" The middle-aged general did not dismount but clasped his hands in salute from his saddle.

Xiao Yu nodded. "General, you've worked hard guarding the forbidden area of ​​the Grand Commandant's mansion."

"It's just my duty, nothing to worry about," Wang Yuan said.

"Let's go!"

Guowei Liao did not linger, nor did he have any intention of talking to Wang Yuan. He continued walking forward with Xiao Yu.

Wang Yuan watched the two enter the palace gate, then spurred his horse, and the dragon beast galloped into the darkness outside.

In the dim light, one could see many knights as tall and burly as Wang Yuan, swift as the wind, emerging from the gray mist surrounding the main hall.

Their conversation drifted on the eerie wind, faint and indistinct, muffled and whimpering, sounding like the wailing of ghosts.

Above the palace gate hangs a plaque with three ancient seal characters that read "Bingwu Pavilion".

Upon entering, there was a spacious hall the size of a football field, with eight other people inside, including men and women, young people and old men.

The eight people were each doing their own thing; some were reading, some were making tea, and some were practicing martial arts.

"Martial God Domain?!" Grand Tutor Yu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise after just one glance.

All eight of them were immortal beings, and their strength of qi and blood was rarely seen in the world.

Grand Tutor Yu had already met the Meng brothers, Meng Yi and Meng Tian, ​​who were considered the pinnacle of human immortals. However, they were still a notch below these eight in terms of qi and blood, and internal energy.

The middle-aged man practicing martial arts creates his own unique style with each move, forming a five-element domain around his body.

It was as if a small world surrounded him, isolating him from the surrounding space and time.

This is the highest realm of contemporary Xianwu, the Martial God Realm.

"Come quickly and pay your respects to Grand Tutor Yu!" the Imperial Guard Commander whispered.

The middle-aged martial artist practicing immediately withdrew his fists and feet, calmed his internal energy, and quickly walked over.

The other seven also put down their work, walked up to Grand Tutor Yu, bowed and said, "The Twelve Ghosts of the Military Pavilion pay their respects to Grand Tutor Yu."

"Twelve ghosts?" Xiaoyu scanned the area and saw only eight living people; there wasn't a single dead ghost.

The "young" girl with braided pigtails sighed softly, "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, there were originally twelve of us."

Centuries later, the four companions reached the end of their lifespans, became true ghosts, and left this place.

Sigh, back then, each person guarded the armory for a month, which made up a full year.

Our names also range from 'January' to 'December'.

For example, my common name is "Feng Jiang," but you can call me "Feng Sanyue."

Feng Sanyue patted her firm little belly, on which was embroidered three orchids.

Xiaoyu looked closely at the others and also noticed number markings on their clothing.

Upon seeing her looking over, the other seven people took turns signing in, stating their original names and their own numbers.

"From now on, the Military Martial Arts Pavilion will be under the command of Grand Tutor Yu," said the Imperial Commandant.

"The Twelve Ghosts pay their respects to the 'Pavilion Master'!" The Eight Ghosts bowed to Grand Tutor Yu with hearty gestures.

"You may go!" The Imperial Guard waved his hand, telling them to continue with their own tasks.

He led Grand Tutor Yu deeper into the main hall, explaining as they walked, "The Military Pavilion was built by King Mu."

It mainly stores military books and deduces military classics.

Unlike the Ying Clan Armory, which only housed martial arts manuals plundered by the Ying Clan.

The Martial Arts Pavilion, however, deduces methods to counter various martial arts techniques and the higher realms of Immortal Martial Arts.

Grand Tutor Yu understood immediately upon hearing this.

The world's martial arts system is constantly evolving, rather than having fixed levels and a complete system from the beginning.

During the Investiture of the Gods period 300,000 years ago, even immortals did not have "immortal martial avatars".

At this point, a peak-level immortal would likely shine brightly in a low-to-medium intensity immortal battle if they were to travel to the War of the Gods.

As long as they don't get tricked by the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, they might actually survive to the end and achieve "physical sainthood".

The level of development of Xianwu can fundamentally determine the strength of a country's military power and ultimately change the country's destiny.

For example, the Qin Dynasty and the Western Shu region along the Liusha River. The immortals of Western Shu only reached the "Yuan Dan Realm," and they had never even heard of anything like the dual extremes of strength and speed, or the immortal martial arts manifestation.

If the two countries were to go to war, the outcome would be self-evident.

The purpose of the Military Martial Arts Pavilion in developing the Martial Codex was to ensure that its own military strength was not weaker than that of other countries during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

Just like the weapons research and development department in Xiaoyu's previous life.

"Are these twelve the most talented immortals in the Great Qin?" Grand Tutor Yu asked.

The Imperial Commandant said, "Those most talented immortals in the Qin army throughout history will receive an invitation."

Go here to guard the Qin military treatise and martial arts manual.

It's not just about protecting the Military Pavilion.

The Guardian of the Military Pavilion is the "Nine Nether Dragon Riders," who are Iron Eagle Warriors who died in battle but whose heroic spirits will never perish.

Wang Yuan is the commander of the Dragon Cavalry and the only survivor.

The Twelve Demons are primarily responsible for experimentation and creating more powerful and innovative military strategies and immortal martial arts.

If an enemy general develops new tactics or practices new martial arts, the Military Martial Arts Pavilion will be responsible for countering them.

For example, the five most common martial arts techniques in China are "Fire Crow Strength", "Black Tortoise True Qi", "Ten Thousand Trees Forest", "White Tiger Sword Qi" and "Nine Yuan Golden Body", which correspond to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

The five elements interact in a cycle of mutual generation and restraint. The soldiers of the Fire Crow Army under the Marquis of Lieyang all practice the "Fire Crow Strength," or derived techniques such as the "Fiery Fist" and the "Fiery Sun Sword."

If Marquis Lieyang were an enemy, how should one deploy their troops when encountering his forces?

Xiao Yu said, "Use an earth-based military formation that cultivates the Nine Yuan Golden Body to block it, and use a military formation that cultivates the Northern Darkness True Qi (a derivative martial art of the Xuanwu True Qi, with a water-based tendency towards ice) to break it?"

The Grand Commandant nodded slightly. "In chaotic times, once a country creates a new set of immortal martial arts techniques, if neighboring countries cannot break it, they will be destroyed sooner or later."

Now that the world is unified, the core function of the Martial Arts Pavilion has shifted from deciphering enemy nations' immortal martial arts techniques to ascending to the pinnacle of immortal martial arts. The Martial Arts Pavilion absolutely has a reason for existing.

Unfortunately, not all geniuses are willing to abandon everything, live in anonymity, and spend their lives in the underworld.

While the Twelve Ghosts may not be the most talented or strongest in the world, they themselves are undoubtedly the most obsessed martial arts masters.

For example, the Martial God Domain was not created by the Twelve Ghosts; General Bai Qi's talent far surpasses theirs.

The Meng brothers were also more talented than them.

General Meng Tian obtained the "Bai Qi's Military Manual" from the Grand Tutor and mastered the Martial God Domain in just a few days.

General Meng did not keep anything to himself; as soon as the great battle to annihilate the Donghu at Juyong Pass ended, he immediately sent the military treatise to Xianyang.

Nearly two years later, Luo Jiuyue finally condensed the Five Elements Domain using the Five Elements Fist.

The twelve ghosts were not as talented as Meng Tian and Meng Yi.

But they are supplementing other martial arts manuals with the latest 'Martial God Domain'.

In a few years, common martial arts techniques in China such as "Fire Crow Strength", "Nine Yuan Golden Body" and "Mysterious Martial True Qi" will undergo significant changes, and a new "Martial God Domain" will be added to the realm.

Bai Qi and Meng Yi were the only ones to break through to the Martial God realm, but the Twelve Ghosts could enable all martial artists in the world to break through to the Martial God realm, allowing the martial arts of the Divine Continent to take a giant leap forward as a whole.

Grand Tutor Yu asked, "How capable are they in commanding troops and fighting battles?"

The Imperial Guard shook his head and said, "Don't count on it. They can only, and will only, study martial arts manuals."

Let alone leading troops into battle.

They are certainly capable enough to be in charge of the 'battle of generals' between the two armies, but they are unwilling to do it.

Their agreement with the Ying Clan was simply to help them deduce the martial arts manual in exchange for the Ying Clan providing longevity elixirs.

To put it bluntly, they are so obsessed with martial arts that they are willing to give up everything and live in seclusion at Bingwu Pavilion.

But they're all martial arts fanatics; how could they help you lead troops into battle?

He pointed to the bookshelf on the east side, "If the Grand Tutor has time, he can take a look."

They are exceptionally talented, and more importantly, they are able to focus and truly study many interesting things.

I dare say that, given the Grand Tutor's current level of understanding, he would gain a great deal from reading their compiled martial arts manual.

"General Bai Qi often came here to read the military manual during his lifetime."

Finally, he added a sentence to prove that he hadn't been bragging about the Twelve Ghosts.

“I will definitely come here often to study martial arts classics and military treatises,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

She already possesses over a thousand sword intents, all of which are immortal martial arts techniques. The Twelve Ghosts' Martial Arts Manual will definitely be very useful to her.

Then she asked curiously, "Do other vassal states have built similar military pavilions?"

Guowei Liao said, "Back then, the Qin state was a barbarian state in the west, and it learned everything from the Central Plains states."

The Bingwu Pavilion was learned from the State of Jin through the "Qin-Jin alliance".

When King Mu first established the Military Pavilion, half of the first generation of "Twelve Ghosts" were from the State of Jin, or were Qin people who learned martial arts in the State of Jin.

However, the "Bingwu Pavilion" of the State of Jin was not an original creation; they learned it from the State of Qi.

In the late Spring and Autumn Period, music and rites collapsed, and every kingdom with even a little ambition had its own 'Military Pavilion'.

The original "Bingwu Pavilion" was probably built by Jiang Ziya after the Investiture of the Gods.

Jiang Taigong had a remarkable book called "Taigong Baolu". You must have heard of it, right?

In his later years, in addition to studying the methods of refining various magical artifacts for the Investiture of the Gods, Taigong also compiled the "Taigong's Military Treatise".

The Book of Military Strategy by Taigong contains both a chapter on military strategy and a chapter on martial arts.

Military strategy was not written by Taigong alone.

For hundreds of thousands of years, the "Taigong's Art of War" has been revised repeatedly, and has been modified countless times by the "Bingwu Pavilion" of the State of Qi.

Therefore, it remains the foremost military treatise in the world to this day.

If the content of "The Art of War by Taigong" has not changed in 300,000 years, it will become outdated and worthless today.

Xiao Yu asked, "Is there a copy of 'The Art of War by Taigong' here?"

She remembered that Zhang Liang studied the "Art of War by Taigong".

When she was in Western Shu, Zen Master Wuchao told her that a young man helped an old man pick up his shoes and thus gained a connection with the immortals.

Isn't that Zhang Liang?
"Only the ancient fragments of Taigong's military treatise are of little use. It's better to read my 'Wei Liao Zi' than that. My 'Wei Liao Zi' is still with you, isn't it?"

Guowei Liao stopped in front of a large bookcase, looked around, and pulled out a huge scroll that was as thick as a bowl and two zhang long.

“I almost found you a successor. Unfortunately, his stance is wrong, and you don’t need him,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

The Imperial Guardian froze in his tracks as he unwrapped the scroll, turning his head to stare at her with a suspicious look. "What do you mean by 'not needed'?"

"Literally, he's too powerful; your military treatise is useless against him," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Suppressing his anger, Guowei Liao asked, "Has he obtained the 'Taigong's Art of War,' the 'Guiguzi,' or the 'Sunzi's Art of War'? My 'Weiliaozi' is different from them."

Grand Tutor Yu shook his head and said, "None of those. He only has one book, 'A Brief Explanation of Military Strategy'."

"A Brief Explanation of Military Strategy." The Imperial Commandant pondered for a long time, thinking of many military books with similar names, but he was not quite sure which great military strategist wrote it.

"The 'Brief Explanation of Military Strategy' was just a miscellaneous book sold on the street for two copper coins. The author copied from here and there, put it into a book, and was too embarrassed to leave his name," said Grand Tutor Yu.

"The Emperor has decreed that military treatises must not be sold. Anyone who privately prints or sells them will be executed along with their entire clan!" said the Imperial Commandant.

“Sigh, I’m using ‘two coins’ as an example to illustrate that it’s just a cheap, low-quality item,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

The Grand Commandant angrily said, "Is the Grand Tutor humiliating me with cheap goods from a street stall?"

Grand Tutor Yu sighed, “I have been humiliated by cheap knock-offs. I have your ‘Wei Liao Zi’ and General Bai Qi’s ‘Bai Qi’s Military Treatise,’ yet in the military strategy deductions in my dream, I was utterly defeated by that bastard.”

Guowei Liao said, "Grand Tutor was never good at military strategy, so it's not surprising that he lost. This doesn't prove that the man didn't need my 'Wei Liao Zi'."

"In this world, there is no general who does not need my 'Wei Liao Zi'!" he said with a firm and confident tone.

Grand Tutor Yu said calmly, "Even though your 'Wei Liao Zi' records the profound principles of military strategy, what if others already understand those principles?"

To understand a principle, you don't necessarily need to read a book, or even any books at all.

After all, if you can write a book, why can't others grasp the same principles?

The Grand Commandant gritted his teeth and said, "What is that man's name? Let me see if he is in my 'List of a Hundred Generals'."

“He’s definitely not here. He was sent by Heaven to destroy Qin,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

The Imperial Guard asked in surprise and doubt, "You actually managed to encounter such a 'chosen one'?"

"What's so special about this? I've even met the master of the Southeast Emperor's Aura," Grand Tutor Yu said casually.

"You, you~~" Guowei Liao was in a state of confusion and didn't know what to say.

"Quickly open your Hundred Generals Register!" Grand Tutor Yu urged.

(End of this chapter)