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

Three days later, Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne in the Taiji Hall. As he put on the Tongtian Crown, he caught a glimpse of Zhao Kuangyin's two sons below him. The eldest son, Zhao Dezhao, clenched his fists, his eyes filled with hatred; the younger son, Zhao Defang, was still a child, gazing at the new emperor with innocent eyes.

“Nephew Dezhao,” Zhao Guangyi said, feigning tears, “the late emperor entrusted you with the care of his son before his death, asking you to go to Fangzhou to recuperate for a while.” He gestured for the eunuch to bring out the poisoned wine, “This is a tonic wine left by the late emperor; please drink it.”

Zhao Dezhao glared angrily and cursed, "Uncle, what a ruthless tactic! The 'Candle Shadow and Axe Sound' incident—who in the world doesn't know it?" With that, he poured the poisoned wine on the ground, and white smoke instantly rose from the blue bricks. Zhao Guangyi's face darkened, and he said viciously, "Drag him out!"

Then, he turned around and put on a kind smile, picked up Zhao Defang, and said affectionately, "My dear nephew, come to your royal uncle."

The child in his arms suddenly convulsed, black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth—it turned out someone had poisoned his pastries with a drug that could cause mental instability. From then on, the once intelligent prince became mentally impaired, drooling and grinning foolishly all day long.

When the news reached Luoyang, Li Danqing tore the secret report to shreds. Yelü Shihan, gazing at her husband's increasingly pale face, whispered, "Zhao Guangyi murdered his brother and usurped the throne; Heaven cannot tolerate this." She took out the Heavenly Wolf Bow, its string resonating with a clear, melodious sound, and declared resolutely, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the Xuanjia Army straight to Bianliang!"

Shi Shiyue suddenly burst in, urgently saying, "Your Majesty! The Beggars' Sect has sent an urgent report that traces of 'Drunken Immortal Powder' have been discovered in Yihua Palace!" He pulled out a piece of cloth stained with the medicine and gritted his teeth, saying, "This medicine can only be found in the forbidden area of ​​Yihua Palace. It must be the work of an inside traitor!" Before he finished speaking, Shi Feiyang's carrier pigeon message arrived—the Western Regions Holy Fire Sect was suddenly stirring, seemingly colluding with Zhao Guangyi.

Li Danqing gripped the black iron token tightly, his glassy eyes flashing with cold light as he angrily declared, "That Zhao Guangyi! How dare he join forces with the evil sects of the martial world! Issue the order to prepare for battle. This time, I will show him that this world will not tolerate a usurper who murders the emperor!"

As night falls, the lights of Luoyang and Bianliang stand facing each other across the distance.

A few days later, in the Hall of Diligent Governance of the Luoyang Imperial Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and the flickering candlelight. Li Danqing, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on the dragon throne, a faint worry furrowing between his brows. Yelü Shihan, clad in silver armor, stood quietly to one side, toying with the bowstring of the Heavenly Wolf Bow in his hand, which emitted a soft hum.

Just then, a dark figure swept in from outside the hall like a ghost; it was none other than He Quan, an elder of the Beggars' Sect.

He was dressed in a tattered blue cloth robe, and the dog-beating stick in his hand was still covered with morning dew. He quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Your Majesty, Master Shi has sent a message by carrier pigeon!" As he spoke, he took out a scroll of secret letters from his bosom and handed it to Li Danqing.

Li Danqing unfolded the letter and quickly scanned it. After a moment, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he exclaimed, "Interesting, Father is indeed shrewd and calculating." He handed the letter to Yelü Shihan and turned to He Quan, saying, "Elder He, please explain in detail."

He Quan stood up, stroking his white beard, and began to explain: "Your Majesty, Zhao Guangyi appears virtuous on the surface, but in reality he is greedy, lustful, and addicted to wine and women. Master Shi suggested that Li Yu and his empress, Xiao Zhouhou, be offered to Zhao Guangyi. Once Zhao Guangyi obtains the beauty, he will surely harbor murderous intentions towards Li Yu and possess Xiao Zhouhou for himself. In this way, the former troops of the Southern Tang will certainly not let the matter rest and will definitely rise up in rebellion to become enemies with Zhao Guangyi."

After reading the secret letter, Yelü Shihan frowned slightly and said, "This plan is ingenious, but will Zhao Guangyi take the bait so easily?"

He Quan chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but Zhao Guangyi has long coveted Xiao Zhouhou's beauty. If he gets his wish, he will surely lose his sense of propriety. Moreover, Master Shi also mentioned that the Yang family generals are fierce warriors of the Song Dynasty, with superb martial arts skills, but they are at odds with Pan Renmei. We can take this opportunity to sow discord between them and make Zhao Guangyi suspicious of the Yang family generals."

Li Danqing nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "That's right. If the Yang family generals fall out of favor, the Song Dynasty's military strength will be greatly weakened. Elder He, is there anything else?" He Quan continued, "Master Shi said that although the Liao and Song Dynasties have an alliance, it is only based on interests. We can secretly send people to the Liao Dynasty to encourage Emperor Yelü Jing to send cavalry south to plunder Song Dynasty's resources and cut off the supply of warhorses. In this way, the Song Dynasty will lose its cavalry advantage and will find it difficult to compete with our Great Tang Dynasty on the battlefield in the future."

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Li Danqing exclaimed three times, slamming his hand on the table in excitement. He praised, "Father truly lives up to his reputation as a strategist who has traversed both the martial world and the imperial court. This plan is ingenious and meticulously crafted! Elder He, I trouble you and Elder Li Xing to make a trip to the Song and Liao kingdoms respectively to ensure this matter is handled properly. Li Yu and Little Zhou are now in your care."

He Quan clasped his hands in acceptance of the order: "Yes, Your Majesty! This old beggar will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust!" With that, he vanished into the night.

Half a month later, in Bianliang City. Zhao Guangyi sat in the magnificent palace hall, listening to the reports from his ministers below, but his heart was filled with unease. Since his ascension to the throne, he had been plagued by internal strife from the former Southern Tang forces, external threats from the Great Tang, and the Liao Kingdom's lack of genuine submission, leaving him restless and unable to eat or sleep.

"Your Majesty, there are two envoys outside the gate who claim to be from Luoyang and say they have brought generous gifts," a eunuch reported cautiously.

"Oh?" Zhao Guangyi raised an eyebrow and said, "Summon them!"

A moment later, He Quan and Li Xing led Li Yu and Xiao Zhouhou into the hall.

Li Yu, dressed in plain clothes, looked somber, while Empress Xiao Zhou bowed her head, her delicate body trembling slightly, revealing her fragile beauty. He Quan stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble subject greets Your Majesty. My master, having heard of Your Majesty's wisdom, specially ordered us to bring this small gift, hoping Your Majesty will accept it with a smile."

Zhao Guangyi's gaze fell on Xiao Zhouhou, and his eyes lit up instantly, his breathing becoming rapid.

He forced himself to remain calm and asked, "Who are these two?"

He Quan explained, "Your Majesty, this is Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and this is the stunningly beautiful Empress Xiao Zhou. My master said he wishes to present them to Your Majesty as a token of his sincerity." Zhao Guangyi was overjoyed, but his face remained impassive. He feigned concern and asked, "What is your master's intention?"

Li Xing interjected, "Your Majesty is wise and mighty. My master merely wishes to befriend Your Majesty. Li Yu was a deposed ruler; keeping him alive would only bring trouble. It would be better to offer him to Your Majesty for disposal. As for Empress Xiao Zhou, it would be her good fortune to serve Your Majesty."

Zhao Guangyi laughed heartily, "Good! Good! Go back and tell your master that I am very satisfied with this gift." He waved his hand and said loudly, "Guards, imprison Li Yu for the time being, and send Xiao Zhouhou to the inner palace."

After everyone had left, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Guangyi's eyes as he sneered, "Li Yu, Li Yu, you're always a threat. But this Little Zhou Empress..." He licked his lips, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

……

On the night of Qixi Festival in Bianliang City, dark clouds pressed down on the city like ink.

The vermilion gate of the Longxi Duke's Mansion creaked in the strong wind, and the bronze beasts on the door knockers seemed to be weeping.

Li Yu sat alone before a carved sandalwood table laden with delicacies, yet the bitterness churning within him was overwhelming. He wore a plain white robe, his jade belt now replaced by a coarse cloth sash; the former imperial majesty was replaced by only a desolate look in his eyes.

A bolt of lightning cleaved the sky, casting flickering light on his pale face. Thunder roared, rattling the windowpanes. Li Yu trembled as he picked up the luminous cup, the aged wine inside rippling, mirroring the turbulent emotions in his heart.

"The goddess of Penglai is closed off, and the painted hall is silent as people nap..." He murmured the words he had written when he first met Xiao Zhouhou, his voice choked with emotion, "Back then, did you ever imagine what would happen today?"

The distant sound of the night watchman's clapper echoed, three long and two short notes, sounding especially desolate on this rainy night.

Li Yu tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup to the last drop. The strong liquor burned his throat, but it couldn't dispel the chill in his heart. In his drunken haze, he seemed to see Empress Xiao Zhou smiling sweetly again, sitting opposite him, drinking. "Empress, this cup is a toast to our past." He raised his cup with a smile, but Empress Xiao Zhou's expression suddenly changed. Her eyebrows furrowed as she scolded, "Li Yu! You useless man, why should I keep you by my side?"

"No!" Li Yu jolted awake, his wine cup shattering on the floor with a crash. The wine, mixed with broken porcelain, meandered across the blue bricks, mirroring his shattered life. Staring at the empty seat, he suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, a laugh filled with sorrow: "Hahaha! I, Li Yu, couldn't even protect my own wife!"

Standing to the side, Li Wei's "Splashing Wind Blade" gleamed coldly in the lightning. He was about forty years old and had a burly build. He was originally a famous swordsman in the martial arts world, but he was willing to humble himself and become the guard of this prisoner in order to repay Li Yu's kindness.

Seeing his lord so grief-stricken, even the tough guy couldn't help but have tears well up in his eyes. "My lord, please don't hurt yourself." Li Wei knelt on one knee and said in a low voice, "That Zhao Guangyi..." Before he could finish speaking, Li Yu kicked him to the ground.

"Shut up!" Li Yu glared angrily and said, "Even though I, Li Yu, have lost, I am still a dignified ruler of a country! Why should I, a useless person like you, have the audacity to speak?"

Li Wei's head slammed heavily against the blue bricks, and stars flashed before his eyes. He struggled to his feet, silently wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, and thought to himself, "If Zhao Guangyi dares to bully our lord again, I, with my fierce blade, will protect him even at the cost of my life!"

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white, and the dragon pattern on the scabbard seemed to roar silently. At this moment, the songstresses stepped forward tremblingly. The one in the lead, Green Bud, who was always understanding, said softly, "My lord, listen to a song to dispel your sorrow."

After saying this, the group gently plucked the strings of their zithers and began to sing Li Yu's "Yu Meiren". The song was melodious, but it could not hide the sorrow in it: "When will the spring flowers and autumn moon end? How much of the past do we know..." Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

A guard rushed in, looking flustered, and reported, "My lord! Something terrible has happened! People from the palace have arrived!"

Before he could finish speaking, a troop of armored soldiers stormed in, led by Wang Ji'en, Zhao Guangyi's trusted eunuch. "Lord of Longxi, His Majesty summons you to the palace," Wang Ji'en said in a shrill voice, his eyes filled with disdain. "His Majesty says that today is Qixi Festival, and he wishes to enjoy the bright moon with the Lord of Longxi." He deliberately emphasized the words "enjoy the bright moon," as if mocking him. Li Yu's heart tightened, and he clenched his fists.

Li Wei immediately stepped in front of his lord, his "Wind-Piercing Blade" drawn half an inch, its cold light flashing. He said chillingly, "My lord is unwell. Please inform His Majesty." Wang Ji'en sneered, "Li, you have no right to speak in this Bianliang City." Li Yu raised his hand to stop Li Wei, smiling bitterly, "Fine, His Majesty summons me. How dare I disobey?"

He straightened his clothes and whispered to Li Wei, "Keep a close watch on the mansion and do not act rashly." After saying that, he left with the armored soldiers.

Watching his lord's departing figure, Li Wei felt alarm bells ringing in his heart. He immediately summoned his trusted men and said in a deep voice, "Brothers, something unexpected is bound to happen tonight. Keep an eye on all the exits, and if there is any unusual movement, alert us immediately."

The group obeyed and departed, their weapons flashing in the lightning.

Inside the palace, candlelight flickered. Zhao Guangyi leaned against the dragon couch, holding Little Zhou in his arms, his eyes full of smugness as he said, "Li Yu, look, this is how your empress should be." He gently stroked Little Zhou's cheek, laughing unrestrainedly.

Empress Xiao Zhou's eyes were vacant, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not let them fall.

Li Yu suppressed his anger and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise." Zhao Guangyi suddenly changed his expression, smashed his wine cup on the ground, and cursed, "Li Yu! Your poem is quite good, 'The old country is unbearable to recall under the bright moon,' do you still dream of restoring your kingdom?"

Having said that, he waved his hand, and the armored soldiers immediately surrounded Li Yu.

Li Yu felt a chill in his heart, but he still straightened his back and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Li Yu has long since lost interest in the country. He only wishes to live peacefully with the Empress."

Zhao Guangyi laughed loudly, "Live peacefully? Dream on!" He gave a wink, and Wang Ji'en immediately handed him a cup of poisoned wine, saying sinisterly, "Lord of Longxi, this is the birthday wine bestowed upon you by His Majesty."

Looking at the poisoned wine, Li Yu felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

He suddenly recalled Xiao Zhouhou's appearance when she first married him, and the days they spent composing poems and painting together. He said sadly, "Enough, enough." He picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and then looked up to the sky and sighed, "How much sorrow can one have? It's like a river of spring water flowing eastward..."

Before he could finish speaking, he coughed up blood, collapsed to the ground, and died a gruesome death.

The Longxi Duke's mansion was now a scene of clashing swords. Zhao Guangyi's men had been lying in ambush outside, and upon seeing Li Yu poisoned, they immediately launched their attack. Li Wei, wielding his "Splashing Wind Blade," guarded the gate; wherever the blade passed, blood rained down.

He roared, "My lord, where are you? Come back quickly!" He unleashed "Nine Styles of the Gale: Sweeping Away the Clouds!" The blade energy swept across the enemy army like a whirlwind, and the armored soldiers fell one after another. However, the enemy army was numerous, and wave after wave surged forward.

Li Wei was gradually wounded in multiple places, his battle robe stained with blood, yet he still held the gate steadfastly. "My lord! Li Wei is incompetent, unable to protect you!" he roared, swinging his sword at the charging enemies, "But today, I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!"

In the midst of the fierce battle, Li Wei suddenly saw a man in black scale the wall and head straight for Li Yu's study. He was startled and thought to himself, "Oh no! They're going to destroy my lord's manuscripts!" Ignoring his injuries, he fought his way through the enemy lines and gave chase.

Seeing Li Wei chasing after him, the man in black sneered, "The successor of the 'Wind-Sweeping Blade'? Heh heh, seems rather unimpressive! Heh heh! Today is your death day!"

Having said that, he thrust out his long sword, unleashing the "Thirteen Deadly Swords," a technique renowned throughout the martial arts world. Li Wei, undaunted, wielded his "Wind-Splashing Saber" with impenetrable speed, then roared, "The Xie family is getting involved in this mess too? Take this!"

The two were locked in fierce combat when Li Wei suddenly caught sight of flames in the study. It turned out the other group had succeeded and was burning Li Yu's manuscripts. He was frantic with worry, and his attacks became even more ruthless. Suddenly, he roared, "You scoundrel, how dare you destroy my lord's manuscripts! I'll annihilate you!" He then unleashed the "Nine Styles of the Raging Wind - Cleaving Mountains and Rivers!" His blade aimed straight for the black-clad man's throat. The black-clad man hastily tried to defend himself, but Li Wei cleaved his sword in two with a single stroke, followed by another, ending his life.

But by then, the study was engulfed in flames.

Li Wei stared at the raging fire, his heart filled with unbearable grief. He turned and charged back to the mansion gate, only to find the enemy army gathering in ever-growing numbers.

"My lord, Li Wei has come to join you!" he roared, brandishing his "Wind-Splashing Blade," and charged into the enemy ranks. Amidst the flashing blades and bloodshed, he seemed to see Li Yu composing lyrics again, with Xiao Zhouhou grinding ink beside him...

As dawn broke, the Longxi Duke's Mansion was already in ruins.

Li Wei lay in a pool of blood, still clutching the "Splashing Wind Blade" in his hand, his eyes fixed on the direction of the palace.

In the distance, the sound of the night watchman's clapper could be heard, four long beats followed by one short beat, signaling the start of a new day. Yet, no one remembered this blood-stained Qixi Festival night, no one remembered the talented but tragically fated poet-emperor, no one remembered the loyal swordsman who protected his master.

In the morning mist of Bianliang, the melody of "Yu Meiren" seemed to still echo: "The carved railings and jade steps should still be there, only the rosy cheeks have faded..."

A few days later, news of Li Yu's sudden death spread throughout Bianliang. The former Southern Tang officials were enraged and secretly contacted various factions, preparing to avenge Li Yu. Meanwhile, Zhao Guangyi was immersed in his pleasures, completely unaware of the impending crisis.

……

In the Song Dynasty army camp, Yang Ye was discussing military affairs with his sons when he suddenly heard that Pan Renmei had come to visit. Yang Ye frowned slightly, but still ordered someone to invite him into the main tent. Pan Renmei, dressed in magnificent armor, swaggered in and said with a forced smile, "General Yang, how have you been lately?"

Yang Ye clasped his hands in a salute and said in a cold tone, "Thanks to Lord Pan, all is well. May I ask what brings you here, Lord Pan?" Pan Renmei sat down in the main seat and said casually, "His Majesty heard that General Yang has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and specially ordered me to come and reward him. However, some gossip has also reached His Majesty's ears." Yang Ye's heart tightened, and he said in a deep voice, "I would like to hear the details."

Pan Renmei lowered his voice and said, "Some say that General Yang is secretly colluding with the Tang Dynasty, plotting a rebellion. His Majesty, mindful of General Yang's past merits, was unwilling to believe it, but there's no smoke without fire." Yang Ye flew into a rage, stood up abruptly, and shouted, "Pan Renmei! Don't you dare slander me! My Yang family has been loyal and virtuous for generations; how could we commit such a treasonous act?"

Pan Renmei spread his hands, feigning innocence, and said jokingly, "General Yang, please calm down. I am only thinking of you. If this is true, I hope you will make plans as soon as possible. If not, you should at least find a way to prove your innocence to His Majesty."

Yang Ye snorted coldly: "My Yang family has a clear conscience and needs no proof! Pan Renmei, if you dare to spread rumors and cause trouble again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Pan Renmei's expression changed, but he still forced a smile and said, "Good, good, General Yang is indeed hot-tempered. I will go back to report to His Majesty immediately." With that, he turned and left. Not long after, Zhao Guangyi issued an edict reducing the military power of the Yang family generals and transferring Yang Ye to a remote area to garrison.

Yang Ye was filled with grief and indignation, but there was nothing he could do. Morale was low in the Song army, and its fighting strength was greatly reduced.

In Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty, Emperor Yelü Jing sat in his yurt, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty as he read the secret letter in his hand. The letter detailed the chaotic situation in the Song Dynasty and hinted that if the Liao Dynasty were to march south now, it would surely gain great benefits. "Your Majesty, could this be a conspiracy by the Tang Dynasty?" a minister asked worriedly.

Yelü Jing snorted coldly and said domineeringly, "So what if it's a conspiracy? The Song Kingdom has become increasingly arrogant in recent years. If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll really think that our Great Liao is easy to bully! Besides, if we can seize the Song Kingdom's resources and cut off their warhorse supply, it will be entirely beneficial to our Great Liao."

"But, Your Majesty, we still have an alliance with the Song Kingdom..."

"An alliance?" Yelü Jing laughed and then asked rhetorically, before turning serious and saying, "In this chaotic world, only interests are eternal. Issue the order: prepare the troops and march south in three days!" Three days later, the Liao cavalry surged into the Song border like a tidal wave, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. The Song border garrison was completely unprepared and suffered a series of defeats. Upon learning the news, Zhao Guangyi panicked and hurriedly summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.

Inside the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Li Danqing looked at the battle reports from the front lines, a satisfied smile on his lips.

Yelü Shihan stood aside and said admiringly, "Your Majesty, Master Shi's plan has indeed worked. Zhao Guangyi has become addicted to wine and women and lost the hearts of the people; the Yang family generals have sown discord and greatly weakened the Song Dynasty's military strength; and the Liao Dynasty's southward advance has only made matters worse."

Li Danqing nodded and said, "That's right, but it's not time to relax yet. Send down the order to have Shi Shiyue and Shi Shiye lead the army to closely monitor the situation. Once the time is right, we will march east and take Bianliang directly!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the eunuch replied in a shrill voice, bowed, and took his leave.

At this time, the Central Plains were engulfed in war, and various forces were vying for power and intrigue. Zhao Guangyi struggled to survive amidst internal and external troubles, unaware that he had already fallen into a trap set by Li Danqing and Shi Feiyang.

The autumn night in Bianliang was soaked with blood rain. Under the eaves of the Longxi Duke's mansion, Li Hao gripped his father Li Wei's halberd, his knuckles turning white from the force. The twenty-year-old boy was covered in blood, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge.

Suddenly, the sound of a clapper rang out from the direction of the palace—three long and two short strikes. Li Hao's pupils constricted sharply—this was the signal agreed upon by the former subordinates of the Southern Tang. He sheathed his Wind-Piercing Blade and leaped onto the roof like a cheetah.

In the darkness, dozens of dark figures sped towards the palace. The leader, whose jade pendant gleamed in the moonlight, was none other than Han You, son of Han Xizai, a former official of the Southern Tang Dynasty. "Young Master Li!" Han You tossed a soft sword through the air, its blade engraved with the words "Autumn Water." He whispered, "Zhao Guangyi is hosting a banquet in the Wende Hall tonight; it's the perfect opportunity!" Li Hao caught the sword, and with a flick of his wrist, the soft sword transformed into a silver snake—the renowned martial arts technique, "Autumn Water Without Trace."

Inside the Wende Hall, Zhao Guangyi held up a luminous cup, in which the pale face of Empress Xiao Zhou was reflected.

Suddenly, the sound of tiles shattering rang out, and seven dark figures burst through the roof.

Li Hao took the lead, his soft sword drawing seven cold streaks, which was "Moon Reflected in a Cold Pool," one of the "Seven Styles of Autumn Water."

The guards beside Zhao Guangyi brandished their swords to stop him, but the blades suddenly shattered into pieces—Li Hao's sword was actually imbued with the "True Qi of Breaking Gold," a secret technique passed down in the Southern Tang Dynasty.

"Traitor!" Wang Ji'en shouted in a shrill voice, and a hundred Imperial Guards immediately surged into the hall. Li Hao was surrounded, wielding his Splashing Wind Saber and Soft Sword with both hands, his "Nine Styles of Splashing Wind" and "Autumn Water Without Trace Sword" complementing each other.

However, outnumbered by the enemy, he was suddenly struck in the left shoulder by an arrow, and blood stained his robes.

At the critical moment, two figures descended like ghosts.

Shi Feiyang's silver hair flew wildly, his crystal eyes gleaming coldly in the night. Dilirena's Sacred Flame Token danced with crimson flames. "Kid, run!" Shi Feiyang roared, warning Li Hao to escape. Suddenly, he unleashed the "Heavenly Silkworm Technique," a crystalline light flowing through his palm. A strand of ice silk formed from his true energy instantly entangled three Imperial Guards. The silver-white threads, like living creatures, burrowed into their meridians, crushing their internal organs.

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill! Transforming ice into lightning, it struck the enemy, sending the Imperial Guards screaming as they were blasted away by the shockwave, shattering into countless fragments. Dilirena's Sacred Flame Token unleashed a move called "Blazing Sky," the flames illuminating Li Hao's shocked face—the person before him, when using the Bright Jade Skill, had skin as transparent as jade, like white ice shrouded in icy mist.

"Want revenge? Survive first!" Shi Feiyang grabbed Li Hao by the back of the collar and used his "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill. The three of them swept across the palace wall like meteors, and the arrows of the pursuing soldiers behind them all missed their mark.

Li Hao had never seen such a bizarre movement technique before. Every step Shi Feiyang took seemed to be on invisible steps, leaving no trace in his wake.

The Beggars' Sect headquarters, atop Mount Jun. Li Hao knelt on the bluestone slab, gazing at the Dog-Beating Stick at Shi Feiyang's waist.

"I am willing to join the Beggars' Sect and follow in the footsteps of my predecessors!" His voice carried the stubbornness unique to young men.

Shi Shiyue squatted down, used the dog-beating stick to lift his chin, and teased, "Kid, your father's wielding of the Splashing Wind Blade is superb, and your Autumn Water Sword is also quite skilled. You're a good prospect."

Shi Feiyang leaned against a pine tree, toying with an ice silkworm, and said meaningfully, "I heard you know quite a few people in the martial arts world?"

A cold glint flashed in Liuli's eyes, and Li Hao felt a chill run straight to his heart. He involuntarily said, "Lu Chengfeng of the Iron Palm Clan, Ye Wuque of the Diancang Sect, and... Qu Feiyan of the Sun Moon Divine Cult..."

Shi Feiyang nodded and smiled at Li Hao. Li Hao understood immediately, then bid farewell to Shi Feiyang and went down the mountain to contact the martial arts heroes he knew. Three months later, at the Beggars' Sect assembly, Li Hao stood beside Shi Feiyang, looking down at the vast crowd. Lu Chengfeng of the "Iron Palm Clan" demonstrated the powerful "Iron Palm National Warrior" and the mysterious "Water-Walking" lightness skill; wherever his palm strikes, the bluestone paving stones shatter inch by inch.

Ye Wuque of the Diancang Sect wielded the Diancang Sword Technique with fluid grace, his sword energy slicing through pine trees as thick as bowls. The most eye-catching was Qu Feiyan of the Sun Moon Sect, a beautiful young woman whose "Star Absorbing Technique" could absorb an opponent's weapon from a distance, shocking everyone.

"Good!" Shi Feiyang stood up and declared loudly, "From this day forward, Li Hao is the 'Green Bamboo Elder' of the Beggars' Sect, and all other brothers and sisters are all allies of the Beggars' Sect. Let us work together to protect the Central Plains, destroy the Song Dynasty, slay the Liao dogs, and restore a pure land to the world." The Beggars' Sect disciples and the righteous warriors of the martial world immediately raised their arms and shouted, "Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, wearing golden armor, Shi Feiyang's brilliant plan brings peace to the world!"

In the imperial palace of Bianliang, in Zhao Guangyi's study, Wang Ji'en, trembling, held a secret report and said, "Your Majesty, the Beggars' Clan has been recruiting talents extensively recently, even the Iron Palm Clan and the Diancang Sect..." "Enough!" Zhao Guangyi slammed the report on the ground and said sullenly, "Issue an edict ordering Pan Renmei to assemble the 'Heavenly Strategy Army' and annihilate the Beggars' Clan!" A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he said viciously, "Also, send someone to keep an eye on Little Zhou Hou. If she dares to collude with the Beggars' Clan..."

Outside Bianliang City, Li Hao led his newly recruited martial arts heroes in practicing battle formations.

His "Autumn Water Without Trace Sword" technique has reached a state of perfection; wherever the sword points, the air actually makes a tearing sound.

Shi Feiyang suddenly appeared, his Xuan Shuang Blade unleashing a move called "Severing Reincarnation." Li Hao raised his sword to parry, but felt a powerful suction force—it was the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill. "Remember, when fighting, you must use the opponent's force against them," Shi Feiyang instructed, his skin becoming increasingly translucent. "Watch closely!"

He unleashed the "Evil Blood Calamity," and the withered tree in the distance suddenly oozed resin, its trunk twisting into a shriveled shape.

Li Hao gasped, his burning desire for revenge intensifying.

As night fell, the lights of the Beggars' Sect headquarters flickered on Junshan Mountain.

Li Hao stroked the Po Feng Blade at his waist, and Shi Feiyang's words echoed in his ears: "Zhao Guangyi's retribution is coming."

Outside Bianliang City, Pan Renmei's Tian Ce Army pressed down on the city like a dark cloud. Thirty thousand armored soldiers stood in neat formation, their spears like a forest and their swords flashing.

The military flags fluttered in the wind, and the banner bearing the character "Pan" billowed, exuding a chilling and menacing aura.

As Pan Renmei rode his tall horse, gazing at the distant Junshan Mountain, a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Shi Feiyang, Beggar Clan, today is your death day!" At the summit of Junshan Mountain, the atmosphere inside the Beggar Clan's headquarters was heavy.

Shi Feiyang was dressed in white, his silver hair fluttering in the wind, and his glassy eyes gleaming with a cold light.

He stood in the center of the council hall, toying with an ice silkworm in his hand, and looked around before saying, "Zhao Guangyi has finally lost his patience and has sent Pan Renmei with the Tian Ce Army. Brothers, do you have any strategies to defeat them?"

Li Hao gripped the Wind-Piercing Blade at his waist, stepped forward, and declared loudly, "Chief, although the Tian Ce Army is numerous, our Beggars' Clan has the assistance of righteous martial artists from all walks of life. We may not be unable to fight them! Brother Lu Chengfeng of the Iron Palm Clan possesses unparalleled iron palm power, Senior Brother Ye Wuque of the Diancang Sect has exquisite swordsmanship, and Miss Qu Feiyan has the Star-Absorbing Technique. We will surely make the enemy tremble with fear!"

Shi Shiyue brandished his dog-beating stick and laughed loudly, "Good! Let's set up a series of traps on Junshan Mountain and make sure that old bastard Pan Renmei never comes back!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically and began to nervously set up defenses. Lu Chengfeng led the Iron Palm Clan disciples to lay caltrops all over the mountain path, Ye Wuque directed the Diancang Sect members to set up a sword formation in the forest, and Qu Feiyan led the Sun Moon Cult followers to secretly ambush and prepare to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's rear.

As dusk settled over Junshan Mountain, a crimson sunset cast its glow. The Beggars' Sect disciples were already in ambush on both sides of the mountain path. The sound of bamboo whistles shattered the silence, and the hoofbeats of the Tian Ce Army approached from afar. Thirty thousand armored soldiers surged towards Junshan Mountain like a black torrent.

"Release!" With a command from He Quan, the deputy leader of the Beggars' Sect, logs and rocks rained down from the hillside.

The mountain path was instantly thrown into chaos, with men and horses falling and screams echoing everywhere. The Tian Ce Army, true to its reputation as the elite of the Song Dynasty, quickly regrouped after the brief disarray. Pan Renmei, mounted on his tall horse, waved his command flag and roared, "Charge! Annihilate the Beggars' Clan, and the reward will be plentiful!"

The Beggars' Sect disciples, wielding weapons such as dog-beating sticks and machetes, emerged from the shadows. Leading them was Wu Meng, the Eight-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect, who brandished his thick, iron dog-beating stick and roared, "Beggars' Sect disciples, heed my command! Kill!"

As the clubs flew, two Tian Ce Army soldiers had their skulls shattered and their brains splattered.

A young Beggar Clan disciple, wielding a short knife, was locked in combat with a captain of the Tian Ce Army. The knife sparked against the captain's chainmail, but failed to inflict fatal damage. Taking advantage of an opening, the captain swung his knife down, but the Beggar Clan disciple dodged to the side and, in the process, plunged his short knife into the captain's knee.

The captain, in pain, knelt on one knee and stabbed the Beggar Clan disciple in the abdomen with his sword.

The two remained locked in a stalemate as they fell into a pool of blood, neither letting go of their weapons until their deaths.

Shi Shiyue wielded his nine-section steel whip, sending blood and flesh flying wherever it went. The whip swept across the neck of a Tian Ce Army soldier, and blood gushed out like a fountain. But his back was also struck by an archer, the arrow piercing through the flesh and embedding itself deep in his back.

Shi Shiyue roared, snapped the arrow shaft, and swung his steel whip around the archer's neck. With a forceful pull, he dragged the archer off his horse and slammed him heavily onto the rocks, his brains splattering everywhere.

On the mountain path, the Beggars' Sect disciples and the Tian Ce Army engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand battle.

Some men, pierced by spears, clung tightly to their enemies, biting their throats; others, their arms severed, wielded weapons with their remaining hands until they died of exhaustion. Blood stained the mountain path, and corpses piled up like mountains.

A female disciple of the Beggars' Sect wielded twin swords, engaging in fierce combat with three soldiers of the Tian Ce Army. She moved with agility, her swords flashing and striking two of them in succession. However, the third soldier seized the opportunity to attack from behind, his spear piercing her abdomen.

Despite the excruciating pain, the female disciple slit the soldier's throat with a backhand stroke, then slowly collapsed, still tightly gripping her twin swords.

Seeing this, Pan Renmei personally led his personal guards in a charge. Wielding a gilded broadsword, he cleaved open the skull of a Beggar Clan disciple, splattering blood all over his face. "Kill! Kill all these beggars!" he roared, his blade flashing, and several more Beggar Clan disciples fell beneath his blade.

Before he finished speaking, Lu Chengfeng led his Iron Palm Clan disciples out from the shadows.

Lu Chengfeng roared, "Song dog, you're weak to outsiders and cruel to your own people. The common people are living in misery. I've long been unable to swallow this insult!" He slapped out with both palms, the wind from his palms powerful and fierce.

The Tian Ce Army soldiers in front were struck by his Iron Palm's mighty force, flying backward like kites with broken strings, spitting blood. The Iron Palm Clan disciples followed closely behind, engaging the Tian Ce Army in fierce combat.

A captain of the Tian Ce Army swung his longsword at Lu Chengfeng, but Lu Chengfeng dodged the blade and struck the captain in the chest with a backhand. With a "thud," the captain's chest caved in, and he fell to the ground dead.

However, the Tian Ce army was numerous and powerful, surging in wave after wave. Lu Chengfeng fought with increasing ferocity, his iron palms flashing, leaving blood and flesh flying wherever they went, but he gradually felt his strength waning. Just as Lu Chengfeng was caught in a fierce battle, Ye Wuque led the Diancang Sect disciples in an attack.

"Diancang Seven Luminaries Sword Formation!" With Ye Wuque's command, seven Diancang Sect experts drew their swords, their cold light flashing. The sword formation, like a bright moon, enveloped the charging Tian Ce Army soldiers.

The sword formation was unpredictable, with sword shadows crisscrossing, making it impossible for the Tian Ce Army soldiers to get close. One soldier tried to thrust his spear at a Diancang Sect disciple in the sword formation, but a flash of sword light cleaved his spear in two, followed by a sword piercing his throat.

Wherever the sword formation passed, the Tian Ce army suffered heavy casualties.

At this moment, Qu Feiyan led the followers of the Sun Moon Cult to attack from behind the enemy lines.

Qu Feiyan let out a delicate shout and unleashed the "Star Absorbing Technique." The suction force in her palm surged, and she actually managed to pull away the spear of a Tian Ce Army general from a distance.

Then, she leaped into the air, striking out with both palms. The suction force pulled the surrounding soldiers towards her, and then she unleashed her inner strength, sending them flying backward, coughing up blood. Seeing the situation was dire, Pan Renmei roared, "Concentrate your firepower! Break the sword formation first!"

The soldiers of the Tian Ce Army raised their arrows and fired them at the sword formation.

Seeing this, Ye Wuque shouted, "Change formation!" The sword formation immediately changed, forming a huge sword shield that blocked the arrows.

Shi Feiyang used his "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill, appearing like a ghost, and activated the Mingyu skill to the "Supreme Forgetfulness Ice Soul Cold Prison!" His skin became transparent like jade, and powerful cold air spread outwards from him.

The soldiers of the Tian Ce Army felt a bone-chilling cold assail them, and their weapons instantly became covered in frost.

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang unleashed "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder," the icy energy transforming into a thunderstorm that exploded among the enemy ranks. The soldiers screamed in agony; some were frozen into ice sculptures, while others were blasted to pieces by the thunderstorm.

Then, Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill! With a flash, he easily dodged Pan Renmei's attack, then used the force of her attack to deflect Pan Renmei's weapon back. Pan Renmei was shocked and hurriedly dodged.

Shi Feiyang pressed his advantage, unleashing the "Severing Reincarnation" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Art with both palms. The palm wind was like a blade, and the blade light was like lightning, aiming straight for Pan Renmei's head.

Pan Renmei raised his sword to parry, but with a "crack," the sword was severed in two. He watched in horror as Shi Feiyang's blade drew ever closer, when suddenly a guard rushed forward and blocked the blow for him. Pan Renmei seized the opportunity to turn his horse and flee in a sorry state.

Upon seeing their commander flee, the Tian Ce Army was thrown into chaos and collapsed in disarray. (End of Chapter)