Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 451. The Glazed Blade Shatters the Treacherous Scheme; The Broken Stele Bears Witness to the Gathering of Righteousness.

On the surface, the Tang Dynasty court appeared peaceful and prosperous, but in reality, undercurrents were surging.

The Turkic Heavenly Wolf Guard, colluding with scoundrels of the Central Plains martial arts world, plots to overthrow the order of the martial arts world. The Five Mountains Token, the shared symbol of the Five Mountains Sword Sects, contains inscriptions concealing fragments of the "Qin King's Battle Song," and legend says that collecting all five can command the armies of the realm. The lost "Thousand Gold Prescriptions: Resurrection Chapter" from Medicine King Valley, capable of curing all poisons and bringing the dead back to life, becomes the focus of contention among various factions. The Jiannan Military Governor secretly plots, and a series of martial arts upheavals concerning the fate of the nation continue to unfold.

Despite the precautions and foresight of martial arts heroes like Li Bai, Shi Feiyang, and Jiang Caiping, the An Lushan Rebellion still broke out.

Li Bai accompanied the army to quell the rebellion, and Shi Feiyang decided to start from the Jianghu (martial arts world) to contact and unite a large number of righteous martial artists, intending to disrupt An Lushan's rebel army from the flank.

At this moment, the Jade Emperor Peak atop Mount Tai is hidden in a surging sea of ​​clouds. The biting mountain wind howls past, carrying the sound of pine trees. Thirty-six command flags from various sects flutter in the wind, as if summoning the spirit of the upcoming martial arts gathering.

The morning mist lingered before Sunrise Peak. Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back, his Xuan Shuang Blade slung across his waist. His fair skin glowed with a warm light in the morning sun, which even tinged the surrounding clouds with a faint blue hue, making him appear like an immortal descending to earth.

He looked at the "Martial Arts Alliance Leader's Order" enshrined on the high platform in the center of the arena, and suddenly smiled. His clear laughter was like the clash of metal and stone, startling the copper bells on the eaves. He then mocked, "The Huashan Sect's trick of substituting one thing for another has certainly taken some thought."

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Caiping moved gracefully, her white skirt fluttering in the wind, and the silver bells on the plum blossom-patterned sword tassel rang out with a clear and melodious sound.

Holding the Five Sacred Mountains Token in her jade-like hand, her beautiful eyes darted around as she mocked, "Look, Stone Boy, the cloud patterns on the edge of this token are actually engraved upside down."

Suddenly, a figure in a purple robe swept in, the gold-embroidered pine trees of Mount Hua dazzling in the sunlight.

The Huashan Sect Leader, Yue Huiqun, stood with a haughty and authoritative expression, saying, "Miss Jiang, do not speak nonsense! This is a token passed down from our ancestors; how dare you, mere outlaws of the martial world, question it?" As soon as he finished speaking, an old monk in a kasaya stepped out from the crowd—it was none other than Master Wuran of Shaolin. His kasaya billowed like a sail in the mountain wind, and the yellowed scriptures in his hands seemed to emanate a Buddhist light.

Master Wuran questioned, "Does Sect Leader Yue recognize this page from the Lankavatara Sutra?" He unfolded the scroll, revealing the original drawing of the Alliance Leader's Decree inside. His tone was calm but sharp, and he solemnly said, "The cloud patterns on the genuine decree flow like water naturally, while the cloud patterns on the fake decree are like withered vines, stiff and lifeless. The difference between the genuine and the fake is immediately apparent."

The hundreds of martial arts heroes were immediately in an uproar and began to discuss among themselves. Yue Huiqun blushed and was extremely embarrassed.

Ashina Mu, a Turkic expert, stepped forward, his wolf-head breastplate gleaming with an eerie light, and roared like thunder, "Old monk, stop meddling in other people's business!"

Before the words were even finished, Shi Feiyang had already moved. His glassy skin rippled with icy blue patterns, shimmering like cold jade. The moment the Xuan Shuang Blade was drawn, its blade aura flashed like a startled swan, a strike from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique: "Slaying the Mortal World"! He angrily swung his blade at Ashina Mu!

Yue Huiqun parried with his sword, the Huashan sword technique "Thirteen Swords of the Gale" dancing into a net of light.

Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor avoided the sword strike. As the sword attack drew near, his left palm moved as lightly as a feather, and with a flick of his palm, he executed the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" technique.

Yue Huiqun felt a numbness in his wrist, and the longsword suddenly turned and stabbed towards his chest. Startled, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly pulled back his sword to save himself.

A cold glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes, and he said in a booming voice, "Look carefully, this is the real order!"

Jiang Caiping promptly threw out the Five Sacred Mountains Token, which streaked across the sky like a meteor and collided violently with the counterfeit token.

With a loud "clang," the fake edict shattered, and the secret Turkic letter hidden inside fluttered down, the words barely visible in the wind.

Ashina Mu, seeing his plot exposed, roared and drew his curved sword, the blade coated with a deadly peacock-blue poison that reeked of blood. He cursed, "Shi Feiyang, how dare you cause trouble at such a grand martial arts event! This is outrageous! I will execute you now to uphold justice in the martial arts world!"

He wielded his curved sword like a bolt of lightning, the force of which whipped up pebbles from the ground.

Shi Feiyang scoffed, "Turks talking about upholding justice in the Central Plains martial arts world? Who invited you? The Huashan Sect?"

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, displaying the mysterious lightness skill of "hiding one's body and name," his figure moving ghostly and elusive. He suddenly unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade, his palm wind like a tidal wave, making the curved blade hum.

Ashina Mu sneered, "You brat, you've got some skills! But I'll still teach you a lesson so you'll know the meaning of 'there are always people better than you, and heavens beyond heavens'!" Suddenly, he changed his move, his curved blade drawing a strange arc straight for the throat.

Shi Feiyang sneered, "A mere trick, not worth mentioning!" He circulated his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison" realm, his glassy skin becoming almost transparent, radiating a chilling aura. Immediately afterward, he flicked his finger, activating the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill, his fingertip blazing with red light.

Ashina Mu felt his blood rushing backward, and he coughed up a mouthful of black blood, staining the blue stone beneath his feet red.

However, this Turkic expert was exceptionally brave and charged forward despite his injuries.

Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes flashed with a cold light. He gripped the Xuan Shuang Blade tightly with both hands and unleashed the ultimate move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, "Slaying Reincarnation"!
In an instant, sword energy surged, and the world changed color.

If you don't court death, you won't die. But Ashina Mu just had to court death. A streak of white light flashed by, and his head shot into the sky. Blood gushed from his neck like a fountain, staining the stone carving of "The Supreme of the Five Sacred Mountains" dark red.

Suddenly, the entire place fell silent, with only the howling mountain wind breaking the silence.

Shi Feiyang plunged the Xuan Shuang Blade into the ground, its blade humming like a bell, its sound reverberating across the land as he declared, "I am willing to accept Miss Jiang as the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance, to jointly resist foreign enemies!"

"We are willing to accept Miss Jiang as the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance and fight against foreign enemies together!" More than three hundred experts from various sects of the Five Mountains Sword Sect knelt down in unison, their robes billowing in the wind, like a solemn ocean.

Jiang Caiping looked at Shi Feiyang, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, and said sadly, "Shi Lang, the three hundred heroes of Hengshan Sect..." She choked up and could not speak anymore.

Years ago, three hundred masters and disciples of the Hengshan Sect perished under the scimitars of the Turkic Heavenly Wolf Guard while covering Jiang Caiping's escape with the Five Sacred Mountains Token. She cannot forget her roots and must rebuild the Hengshan Sect. This also means that she must leave her beloved, shave her head and become a nun to become the head of the Hengshan Sect.

Therefore, despite the hundreds of martial arts heroes kneeling in support, Jiang Caiping remained unmoved, her heart filled with sorrow.

Shi Feiyang grasped Jiang Caiping's hand, the chill of her fair skin mingling with her body heat. After a long while, he suddenly threw his head back and laughed, a desolate laugh, tears streaming down his face, saying, "The road of life is long, and we must part ways eventually. My lady, take care!"

Jiang Caiping remained silent, swung her sword and cut off a lock of her black hair, placing it in Shi Feiyang's hand. Then she sheathed her sword, her white robes fluttering as she drifted away.

The bloodstains on Ashina Mu's mutilated corpse gradually congealed into a dark purple color, and Shi Feiyang's palm print was clearly imprinted next to the bloodstains, with several ice crystals embedded deep within the palm lines. The leaders and disciples of various sects clasped their hands in a salute to bid farewell to Shi Feiyang.

Yue Huiqun cursed sullenly, "Shi Feiyang, don't get too cocky. You won't live much longer, hmph!"

Just then, Li Bai arrived on his skinny donkey, his wine gourd swaying on the saddle. He laughed loudly, "What a brilliant 'Slaying Reincarnation'! I, Li, will now compose a poem for Brother Shi: 'The gleaming blade reflects Mount Tai, cutting down the barbarian dust, the blood still wet. When will you achieve your goal, dust off your clothes, and depart, with a green lamp and ancient Buddha accompanying your beloved?'"

Yue Huiqun, looking embarrassed, led his disciples away.

Shi Feiyang ignored Yue Huiqun and his gang of petty scoundrels, took the wine gourd and drank it all in one gulp. The strong liquor clashed with the cold energy of Mingyu Gong, and he smiled bitterly, "Brother Li's poem is quite apt. It's just that this beauty has already entered the Buddhist order."

As dusk deepened, three hundred beggars quietly arrived, their broken bowls clanging together with a peculiar rhythm.

Shi Feiyang slammed the Dog-Beating Stick heavily on the ground, the stick resonating with the Xuan Shuang Blade. He decisively said, "Brothers, let's go! Let's gather in Bianliang City!" After saying that, he used "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles," his figure disappearing into the twilight like a startled swan, leaving only pine needles scattered on the ground and a shimmering ice crystal.

Li Bai rode a donkey down the mountain and joined the military campaign to quell the rebellion.

Half a month later, the bell of the Hanging Temple on Mount Heng rang out melodiously. Jiang Caiping, dressed in a gray monk's robe, knelt on a prayer mat, her plum blossom-patterned sword lying horizontally in front of her.

The barber's razor sliced ​​through her cloud-like hair, strands falling like silent snowflakes.

In the pine forest outside the temple, Shi Feiyang gazed at the candlelight emanating from within, his fair skin glistening with fine ice crystals. He drew his sword and chopped down a pine branch; the wind from the sword blasted away the pine needles, turning them into ice crystals. Inside the Hanging Temple of Hengshan, Jiang Caiping gently stroked the blood groove of her plum-patterned sword, where Shi Feiyang's body heat still lingered.

The pine trees outside the window rustled in the breeze, as if telling a tale of a helpless past. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and amidst the chanting of Buddhist prayers, a single tear slid down her cheek, landing on the cold blade and instantly freezing into ice, sealing all her myriad emotions within this jade-like sword.

Tieguai Li came over leaning on his cane and said in a low voice, "Chief Shi, the Beggars' Clan has already laid a trap in Luoyang."

Shi Feiyang nodded and sheathed his sword. His fair skin gleamed coldly in the moonlight, making him look like an ice sculpture walking in the darkness. He looked up and sighed, "I never thought I, Shi, would return to my old ways and become the leader of the Beggars' Sect again! Ah!" He paused for a moment, then said decisively, "Let's go and smash An Lushan's dog head!" With that, he turned and left. His figure receded into the distance, leaving behind an indelible chivalrous shadow in the world.

In late autumn, the dilapidated temple outside Bianliang City shivered in the north wind, and the fallen leaves piled up among the broken walls were blown into the air by the through wind.

The newly appointed leader of the Beggars' Sect, Shi Feiyang, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the broken stele in the temple. His Xuan Shuang Blade leaned against the mottled tortoise-shaped base, the blade reflecting the leaden-gray sunlight, which dyed the faint ice patterns on his glassy skin a dark blue-green.

More than three hundred beggars were scattered among the ruins and broken walls. The turbid wine in the broken bowls rippled in the cold wind, but no one drank it.

Shi Feiyang suddenly turned around, sweeping away the snow on top of the monument with a flick of his sleeve, and shouted, "Look carefully!"

He channeled his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison" level, his glass-like skin glowing with a transparent luster. Suddenly, an ice flower condensed in his palm, and he declared loudly, "This is not a beggar's broken bowl, but a sharp blade that pierces the throat of a jackal!"

The ice flower shattered into countless ice crystals at his fingertips, falling into the nearest beggar's bowl and instantly freezing the turbid wine inside.

The Beggars' Sect elder, "Iron-Crutch Li," stepped forward, leaning on his gleaming jujube wood cane. Half of his iron prosthetic leg was visible beneath his tattered trousers. He said in a muffled voice, "Chief Shi, what can we beggars do to fight against An Lushan's henchmen?" Before he finished speaking, the neighing of warhorses suddenly came from outside the temple, and three bone-piercing nails coated with deadly poison flew through the air, aimed directly at Shi Feiyang's face.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and used the "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill. The bone-piercing nail instantly changed direction and drove into the palace pillar with a muffled "thud".

A cold glint flashed in his glassy eyes. He flicked his finger at the end of the nail, and the three poisoned nails shot back in the opposite direction. Accompanied by three screams, three corpses wearing breastplates with Turkic wolf heads rolled into the temple.

Shi Feiyang used his toe to lift a corpse, roaring, "Use this!" He unleashed the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, "Slaying the Mortal World," with a palm strike. Blade energy crisscrossed, shattering the wolf-head breastplate and revealing an inner garment embroidered with a secret letter. He took out the letter, read it quickly, and then proclaimed loudly, "An Lushan harbors bandits to maintain his power, and the Turkic Wolf Guard attempts to seize the Central Plains, but in this world..." He suddenly broke into a smile, the sound shaking the dust from the rafters, and with a wave of his hand, solemnly declared, "It is always the person with backbone who has the final say!"

"The Beggars' Sect disciples will always have backbone!" Instantly, more than three hundred disciples shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and earth.

The dilapidated beams of the ruined temple suddenly groaned under the weight, and Shi Feiyang plunged the Xuan Shuang Blade into the ground, the blade humming like a bell.

He took out a bright green bamboo stick from a deerskin bag hidden from ordinary people at his waist and declared loudly, "With this stick, all beggars in the world will have a home!" The moment the bamboo stick lightly touched the ground, ice patterns suddenly cracked on the ground, spreading rapidly like a spider web to the feet of every beggar.

Shi Feiyang raised his arms and shouted again: "Now, Beggar Clan disciples, heed my command! Eight bags of filth and purity, nine altars to control the universe!"

The voice, amplified by the power of the Mingyu Gong, traveled for miles. Then, the roles were clearly assigned: "The Dirty Clothes Bag is in charge of gathering information; the Clean Clothes Bag is in charge of procuring funds and provisions; the Bowl-Holding Altar is in charge of distributing porridge; and the Lotus Altar is in charge of providing medical treatment."

With each word he spoke, a beggar would step forward and take the bamboo plaque engraved with a gourd, the clatter of broken bowls creating a strange melody.

When Tieguai Li received the main token from the soiled clothes bag, he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed, saying sadly, "Does the leader know that the three hundred brothers of Beggars' Lane in Luoyang were turned into 'human oil torches' by the rebels yesterday?" He rolled up his trouser leg, revealing a dense array of knife marks on his iron leg, and choked out, "This iron leg was broken by An Lushan's personal guards. If we don't avenge them today..."

"Revenge?" Shi Feiyang interrupted him, the icy blue light emanating from his glassy skin illuminating the dilapidated temple. He said angrily, "Revenge alone is not enough!" He slammed his dog-beating stick heavily on the ground and said domineeringly, "We want them to know that even a beggar's broken bowl can smash a wolf's head!"

Before he finished speaking, an even more intense sound of hooves came from outside the temple, and at least three hundred elite cavalrymen surrounded the dilapidated temple.

The rebel leader Ashina Ye, wielding a spiked club, smashed open the temple door. His wolf-headed battle flag fluttered in the wind as he roared, "Shi Feiyang! My general has ordered that offering the Five Sacred Mountains Tokens will guarantee your body's safety!"

The cavalrymen behind him simultaneously raised their bows, the arrowheads gleaming with a peacock blue light.

Shi Feiyang tossed the Dog-Beating Stick to Tieguai Li, drew his Xuan Shuang Blade three inches from its sheath, and said menacingly, "Want the Five Mountains Token? Ask me about the blade in my hand first!" Instantly, he used the mysterious lightness skill "Hidden Body and Name," his figure moving like a fleeting shadow, weaving through the rain of arrows. He unleashed the Hundred Victories Blade Technique "Mountain Splitting," the blade wind like a tidal wave, actually sending the front-row cavalrymen and their horses flying backward, crashing through the temple wall and revealing the mass grave behind them.

"How dare you!" Ashina Ye roared, swinging his spiked club and bringing it down. The stench from the blow was nauseating.

Instead of retreating, Shi Feiyang advanced, using the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill to change the direction of the spiked club, and then used the Xuan Shuang Blade in his hand to slash out "Severing the Edge of Heaven".

As the blade flashed, the iron teeth on the mace broke off one by one, and Ashina Ye's wrist was severed at the wrist, with fine ice crystals condensing at the break.

Shi Feiyang roared again, "You Turkic traitors, daring to offend my Great Tang, you are doomed! Humph!"

His "Shocking Calamity" divine skill instantly activated, a cold glint flashing in his crystal eyes. The front-line rebels suddenly shuddered, their bodies rapidly frosting over, shattering into countless ice shards with screams. The remaining cavalry watched this scene in horror, their bows trembling like leaves in the autumn wind.

When the last rebel fell, the mass grave in front of the ruined temple was already filled with corpses.

Shi Feiyang stepped on Ashina Ye's corpse, his Xuan Shuang Blade lifting the wolf-head battle flag. The blade's energy sliced ​​the flag into the character "beggar," and he declared domineeringly, "From this day forward, Luoyang will be our eyes, Chang'an our heart, and the eight bags and nine jars will be the sharp blade stuck in An Lushan's back!"

Tieguai Li led the beggars to kneel, raising their broken bowls above their heads: "We humbly acknowledge Hero Shi as our leader!" The three hundred broken bowls shimmered faintly in the setting sun, reflecting off Shi Feiyang's glass-like skin, creating an indescribable sense of tragic grandeur. Suddenly, he roared to the sky, his laughter containing an unspeakable desolation, and patted his chest, saying, "Leader? I only wish to be a beggar's weapon!"

As dusk fell, Li Bai hurried over on his skinny donkey, his wine gourd swaying on the saddle, and quipped, "What a sharp blade for a beggar!"

He tossed a scroll of poetry to Shi Feiyang, saying, "Take a look at Li's new poem, 'Nobody in the Barbarian Land'—'A harsh wind blows across the frosty sea, a flute plays beneath the mountain pass. Victory is marked by the resounding drums, defeat by the death of the drums.'"

Shi Feiyang unfolded the manuscript, his glassy eyes reflecting the flickering campfire, and exclaimed, "Brother Li's poem is full of murderous intent!" He then put the manuscript into his robes, stood on the broken temple and the crumbling stele, his glassy skin glowing with a faint blue light.

He gazed at the beacon fires raging in the direction of Chang'an, and suddenly took out a jade pendant from his bosom—a gift from Yang Yuhuan in the past. Now the pendant was covered with cracks, and he couldn't help but sadly recite: "When will the royal road be peaceful, and I be able to see the light of day with a smile?"

He suddenly smiled again, threw the jade pendant into the campfire, raised his fist high, and said loudly, "We must create our own light in this chaotic world!" In the firelight, the three hundred beggars had quietly dispersed, leaving only broken bowls scattered on the ground, shimmering faintly under the starlight.

Shi Feiyang stood atop the city wall, his Xuan Shuang Blade slung across his waist. His fair skin shone with a warm glow in the wind and snow, tinging the falling snow with a pale blue hue.

He gazed at the swirling snow mist in the distance, then suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter. The sound of his laughter shook the snow off the city walls, causing it to fall in a flurry. He sneered, "That traitor An Lushan actually chose an auspicious time to meet his end!" At that moment, a Beggars' Sect disciple stumbled in to report, "Chief! The rebel army has already breached Luoyang and is marching towards Bianliang!"

Before he finished speaking, a muffled, thunderous sound of hooves suddenly rang out from the northwest. In the snow mist stirred up by three thousand elite cavalry, a military banner embroidered with a ferocious wolf's head appeared and disappeared, revealing the Turkic wolf cavalry under An Lushan's command.

Shi Feiyang raised his eyebrows and activated the Mingyu Skill. His glass-like skin instantly developed icy blue patterns, and the cold air spread wildly along the cracks in the city wall bricks, condensing into spiderweb-like ice patterns on the ground.

He slammed his emerald-green dog-beating stick heavily against the battlements, the stick and the Xuan Shuang Blade humming simultaneously. He shouted, "Well done! All beggars of the world, heed my command!" Instantly, countless figures in tattered clothes emerged from the city walls, eaves, and ruins. Three thousand beggars, holding broken bowls and dog-beating sticks, formed a battle formation in the wind and snow.

The leader, Tieguai Li, stepped forward, his iron limbs scraping sparks in the snow, and respectfully said, "What are your orders, Chief? Though we are poor, we cannot allow the barbarian cavalry to trample the Central Plains!" Shi Feiyang raised his arm and shouted, his voice carrying for miles through the Mingyu Gong: "This world has never been the world of jackals! From this day forward, the Beggars' Clan will divide into eight bags and nine jars, using Luoyang as our eyes and Chang'an as our heart, to weave a net of heaven and earth for that scoundrel An Lushan!"

……

Inside An Lushan's central command tent, the candlelight flickered.

The traitor Shi Siming slammed the wolf-headed command flag, reported by the scout, onto the sand table. The wolf-headed emblem gleamed eerily in the candlelight. He said disdainfully, "A mere beggar gang dares to oppose my army? They're like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

An Lushan stroked the jade belt at his waist, a disdainful sneer appearing on his fat face. He said casually, "General Shi, pass on my order: immediately send three thousand elite cavalry to raze the Beggars' Sect headquarters to the ground and bring me Shi Feiyang's head! Remember, use his skull as a wine cup to mourn my fallen Wolf Guards!"

Before he could finish speaking, a mournful wolf howl suddenly came from outside the tent, echoing the distant sound of horses' hooves.

Three days later, in the valley below Hulao Pass, An Lushan's vanguard was cooking.

Hundreds of tents were partially visible in the wind and snow, and the aroma of roasted meat mixed with the stench of horse manure filled the air.

The sentry on duty wrapped his fur coat tighter around himself, then suddenly his eyes widened—under the moonlight, the mountains and fields were filled with figures in tattered clothes, and countless beggars held up broken bowls, but what flickered in the bowls was not leftover food, but eerie phosphorescent light!

Shi Feiyang stood atop a giant rock atop the mountain, his smooth skin gleaming like an ice sculpture in the moonlight. Holding a dog-beating stick, his robes fluttered in the fierce wind. Suddenly, he let out a long howl that shook the valley, declaring domineeringly, "Beggar Clan disciples, follow me to 'lead the dogs into the stronghold'!"

Before he finished speaking, beggars all over the mountain simultaneously threw out the phosphorescent flames from their bowls.

Countless points of light converged in the air, instantly forming a winding fire dragon that swept towards the rebel camp. Phosphorescent flames ignited the tents upon contact with them, and caused the warhorses to neigh wildly, plunging the entire valley into chaos.

"Not good! It's the Beggars' Sect's fire attack!" The rebel general brandished his saber, trying to organize a counterattack, but Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes and used the peerless lightness skill "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles" to sweep across the fire like a startled swan.

The dog-beating stick danced in his hands, creating countless illusions. It was the exquisite move "luring the dog into the village" from the Dog-Beating Stick Technique! Wherever the stick's shadows went, phosphorescent flames gathered as if they had come to life, trapping the rebel cavalry who were trying to break through in a circle of fire.

"Our leader is incredibly brave!" Tieguai Li and his disciples from the Dirty Clothes Bag shouted in unison as they charged out from the flank. They wielded tattered fishing nets coated with tung oil, draped them over the rebel cavalry, and then sprinkled sulfur powder on them, instantly turning the enemies into burning figures.

Screams, horse neighs, and the sounds of clubs mingled together, sounding particularly jarring in the silent valley.

A rebel centurion charged forward, brandishing a spiked club. The stench from the club was nauseating. He then cursed recklessly, "Shi Feiyang, prepare to die!" Shi Feiyang snorted coldly, neither dodging nor avoiding the blow. When the club was about to strike, he suddenly used the "Shifting Flowers and Receiving Jade" technique.

The centurion felt a numbness in his wrist as his weapon turned and struck his chest. In desperation, he had no choice but to abandon the weapon and retreat.

"Where do you think you're going!" Shi Feiyang roared, lunging forward and drawing his dog-beating stick in an arc, executing the move "Stick to the Mangy Dog"! The tip of the stick struck the centurion's throat, sending him flying.

He activated the Mingyu Technique to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison" level, his glassy skin became almost transparent, and the cold air transformed into a tangible tornado, suppressing the surrounding flames by three points.

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang unleashed "Evil Blood Calamity!" A burst of red light erupted from his fingertips, capturing a rebel centurion from afar. The centurion's blood immediately reversed, and he coughed up a mouthful of black blood. His body visibly shriveled up, eventually shrinking into a dried-up corpse and collapsing in the snow.

The rebels were terrified at the sight and turned their horses to flee. But Shi Feiyang would not let them get away. He took a deep breath, raised his Dog-Beating Stick high, and unleashed the ultimate move of the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, "No Dogs Under Heaven!"
In an instant, the shadows of the staff filled the sky, and sharp winds blew from all directions. Wherever the force went, no one could stop it.

Dozens of rebel cavalrymen and their horses were smashed to pieces, their limbs flying everywhere, and their blood staining the snow a dark red.

As the last rebel fell, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Shi Feiyang, leaning on his dog-beating stick, looked at the chaotic battlefield and suddenly smiled, letting out a long roar: "How exhilarating! How exhilarating!" Immediately afterward, he bent down to bandage the wounds of an injured Beggar Clan disciple, the cold aura of his glassy skin quickly stopping the bleeding.

He then declared domineeringly, "Brothers, this is just the beginning. Once we wipe out the rebels, we will ensure that even the beggars of the world have enough to eat!"

Tieguai Li limped forward, his broken bowl half-filled with strong liquor, and said respectfully, "Chief, have a drink to warm yourself. Master Taibai sent someone with a poem, saying it was written for our Beggars' Clan."

Shi Feiyang took the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. The spiciness of the strong liquor and the coldness of Mingyu Gong collided in his stomach.

He unfolded the poem, which read: "The swordsman's shadow, gleaming like glass, illuminates the mountains and rivers; the dog-beating stick strikes, and the barbarian cavalry falls. Laughing and talking, we thirst for the blood of the Huns; the Beggar Clan members sing their hearts out!" Shi Feiyang laughed heartily, put the poem into his robes, and said with emotion, "Brother Li truly understands me! Let's go back to Bianliang City. We must let that scoundrel An Lushan know that even a beggar's broken bowl can smash his dog's head!"

In the wind and snow, Shi Feiyang held his Dog-Beating Stick, his smooth skin gleaming warmly in the morning sun. Behind him stood three thousand Beggar Clan disciples, broken bowls clinking rhythmically in their hands. Yellow sand swirled in the air. Suddenly, the Turkic wolf cavalry surged forth like a black torrent. They knew Shi Feiyang better than An Lushan, recognizing his formidable fighting prowess; thus, they had come to reinforce An Lushan.

The thunderous sound of hooves shook the earth, and the long swords in their hands gleamed with a cold light, exuding a murderous intent.

The Beggars' Sect disciples were on high alert, showing no fear whatsoever.

The elder at the head, agile and strong, roared, "Brothers, kill the traitorous dog and reclaim our land!" Tieguai Li also shouted, "Brothers, are kings and generals born with a special destiny? Once we reclaim our land, we will no longer be beggars, but kings and generals! Kill!"

The two elders' voices were like booming bells, resounding throughout the surroundings.

The wolf riders arrived instantly. The leader of the wolf riders let out a strange cry, raised his long sword high, and slashed down fiercely at a Beggar Clan disciple.

The disciple showed no fear, dodging the fierce attack with a swift movement. At the same time, his dog-beating stick shot out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for the wolf rider leader's horse's belly. The horse neighed in pain, rearing up on its hind legs, and the wolf rider leader nearly fell off. He steadied himself, glared angrily, and attacked again with his sword.

The surrounding Beggars' Sect disciples joined the bloody battle.

Some disciples seized the opportunity to use their dog-beating sticks to entangle the wolf riders' long swords, twisting them forcefully in an attempt to disarm them; others used their agile movements to weave between the horses, specifically looking for weaknesses in the wolf riders' defenses, and launching surprise attacks on their lower bodies.

A young Beggar Clan disciple showed no sign of panic when facing an attack from two wolf riders.

He first lunged towards the wolf rider on the left, then swung his short stick fiercely towards the rider's knee.

The wolf rider reacted quickly, pulling on the reins and causing the horse to leap high into the air, dodging the attack. But this played right into the young disciple's hands. Taking advantage of the horse's momentary loss of balance upon landing, he leaped onto the horse's back and slammed his short club hard into the back of the wolf rider's head.

The wolf rider let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground. Before the Beggar Clan disciple could catch his breath, the wolf rider on the right swung his sword at him. He hurriedly used his short stick to block, but with a loud clang, sparks flew and his arm went numb.

But he gritted his teeth and persevered, gripping the horse's belly tightly with his legs, and engaged in a fierce battle with the wolf riders.

In the distance, several Beggars' Sect masters were engaged in a fierce battle with a pack of wolf riders.

They worked in perfect coordination: one spearheaded the attack, drawing the wolf riders' attention; another launched a flanking attack, his masterful use of the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" targeting the wolf riders' vital joints; and a third remained in the rear, ready to strike any wolf rider who showed a weakness.

Under their combined attack, several wolf riders fell from their horses.

The battle intensified, and the Beggars' Sect disciples were all wounded to varying degrees, but they fought to the death and refused to let the Turkic wolf cavalry advance an inch!
The disciples of the Dirty Clothes Faction used the "Ground-Lying Horse-Entangling Technique." They rolled on the ground to avoid the slashing of the sabers, and the moment the horses' hooves touched the ground, they hooked the horse's leg joints with their dog-beating sticks. With a flick of their wrists, they used the "Pig-Slaughtering Hoof-Binding" technique to bind the hooves of the three wolf riders together.

As the wolf riders and horses fell, another disciple used a hook to break a bowl and slit open the horse's belly, scattering lime powder from the bowl into the eyes of the fallen riders.

The lame old beggar used his iron crutch to support himself on the ground, and kicked out a red-hot iron chain while standing upside down. The end of the chain was tied with a rag soaked in tung oil.

The iron chain coiled around the horse's neck like a serpent. The old beggar yanked the chain, throwing the warhorse off its back. At the same time, he threw out the "Beggar's Chicken Bone" hidden in his sleeve—the tip of the chicken bone was coated with a poison that would break the heart, and pierced the wolf rider's throat.

The Clean Clothes Sect disciples used a "skillful armor-breaking technique." They threw out a purse embroidered with peonies, inside which was a magnet that attracted the wolf rider's armor. As the opponent bent down to draw his sword, they swung out a nine-section whip from their waist, and a tattered shoe tied to the end of the whip was precisely stuffed into the horse's mouth.

Another disciple struck the horse's rump with a folding fan, causing the warhorse to lunge forward in pain. The iron armor was deformed by the pouch, and the wolf rider's ribs were broken.

Seven clean-clothed disciples, holding broken bowls inlaid with iron, formed the Big Dipper formation, the sunlight reflecting off the rims of the bowls dazzling the eyes of the wolf riders.

The lead disciple used his "Iron Head Kung Fu" to strike the horse's chest, while the other six men held the horse's legs upside down, and together they twisted the horse's joints off.

When the wolf rider fell from his horse, the poisonous scorpions hidden in the bowl crawled out one after another.

The disciple in charge of the altar uses the "cooking utensils technique," where the altar master lifts up a bronze altar containing red-hot pebbles.

He chanted "Amitabha Buddha, transform the hungry ghosts" and poured scalding hot stones at the wolf riders.

The warhorse reared up after being scalded, and the altar master took the opportunity to hit the horse's jaw with a bowl, burning a wolf's head brand onto the two characters "fasting" engraved inside the bowl.

The disciples strung together their bamboo baskets used for begging into a net, and filled each basket with half a stale cornbread.

The bamboo basket was thrown out and got tangled in the horse's leg; the sour smell of the stale cornbread startled the warhorse.

As the wolf rider swung his sword to cut the net, the bamboo basket suddenly exploded, releasing hundreds of fleas saturated with anesthetic, instantly paralyzing the wolf rider.

The disciples of the Lotus Altar skillfully employed the "Poisonous Herb Horse-Injuring Technique." They threw out dried "Drunken Mist Grass," whose tips, upon contact with the horse's sweat, transformed into a hallucinogenic poison. When the wolf riders experienced phantom images of evil spirits, the disciples struck the horses' eyes with a pestle. The juice from the "Forget-Me-Not Grass" on the pestle's tip drove the warhorses mad, causing them to turn around and charge into their own ranks.

The female disciples carried sachets embroidered with twin lotus blossoms, containing pollen from the "Beauty's Intoxication" flower. After tossing the sachets into the herd, the pollen caused the warhorses to go into heat and run amok. The disciples then seized the opportunity to prick the horses' rumps with sewing needles coated with the "Sheep-Relieving Flower" poison, which kept the horses in a state of heightened arousal. The wolf riders eventually died from exhaustion.

The dirty-clothed disciple used iron chains to bind the legs of the two wolf-riding horses, while the clean-clothed disciple threw out his long robe soaked in strong liquor.

The robes caught fire and formed rings of flame, and hundreds of wolf riders hacked and slashed at each other in the flames.

The Beggars' Sect elder used his Dog-Beating Stick to lift the burning robe, and the stick flashed like a mad dog pouncing on its prey, smashing the enemy's head to pieces.

Shi Feiyang stood on a high place, holding a jade dog-beating stick, while his three hundred disciples struck the ground with broken bowls, producing the rhythm of "Qin King's Battle Song".

The shadows of the sticks, the light of the bowls, and the wind from the sticks converged into a vortex, engulfing a thousand wolf riders.

When the music stopped, all that remained in the world were horseshoes and wolf head badges, all shattered into dust.

The sight of broken bowls and clubs scattered across the mountains and fields caused the Turkic wolf cavalry to mistake it for a pack of dogs attacking their master, leading to a collapse in morale and a rout.

Chang'an, a thousand miles away.

Li Bai gazed eastward, raised his cup, and exclaimed, "What a fine Shi Feiyang! What a fine Beggars' Sect! With you all in the Tang Dynasty, what worries do we have about suppressing the rebels!"

In the imperial palace in Shu, Yang Yuhuan was dressing in front of a bronze mirror. A palace maid carefully placed a golden hairpin in her hair, but accidentally touched a strand of her hair. Yang Yuhuan trembled slightly, looking at her haggard face in the mirror, and couldn't help but think of Shi Feiyang.

"Your Majesty, it's time for your meal." The maid's voice pulled her back from her thoughts. Yang Yuhuan looked at the delicacies on the table, but had no appetite.

She remembered what Shi Feiyang had once said: the most precious things in the martial arts world are nothing more than a bowl of hot porridge and a dish of pickled vegetables. "If I hadn't entered the palace back then, perhaps now..." she murmured to herself, tears unknowingly sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto her plain white skirt.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the window. Yang Yuhuan lifted the curtain and saw dust billowing in the distance, with an army vaguely visible marching. It was Shi Feiyang leading the Beggars' Sect disciples, heading to their next battlefield.

The boy who once played the flute for her by the Agarwood Pavilion and practiced dancing with her in the bamboo forest is now fighting a bloody battle to defend his country.

"Shi Lang..." Yang Yuhuan called softly, tears blurring her vision.

She took off the gold hairpin from her head and gently rubbed it in her palm.

The nights in the deep palace were still long, but a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart, hoping that one day she could see that glass-like young man again and hear him tell interesting stories about the martial arts world.

News of the Battle of Hulao Pass quickly spread throughout the Central Plains. People praised the Beggars' Clan's bravery, and Shi Feiyang's name became a household name. Beggars from all over responded and joined the Beggars' Clan, causing its power to grow rapidly and become a force to be reckoned with.

In Luoyang, the Beggars' Sect established a branch, recruiting talented individuals and training disciples.

Shi Feiyang personally taught the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, combining martial arts with military strategy to create a disciplined and powerful Beggars' Clan army. They not only fought against rebels but also provided relief to disaster victims and maintained public order, winning the heartfelt love and respect of the people.

Upon learning of the disastrous defeat at Hulao Pass, An Lushan flew into a rage and dispatched even more troops to besiege the Beggars' Clan. However, Shi Feiyang led the Beggars' Clan disciples with agility and flexibility, sometimes concentrating their forces for annihilation battles, and sometimes dispersing their troops to harass the enemy, keeping An Lushan's army constantly on the move and incurring heavy losses.

(End of this chapter)