The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 102 Magic Treasure! The Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chains!

Lin Yueqiu's mind raced, his hands moving without stopping. If one strike wasn't enough, then he'd strike again.

He strode forward and quickly charged to within ten steps of the boy. Just as he was about to slash his head off, a three-zhang-tall black shadow suddenly appeared above his head.

He was dressed in black, holding a long, black staff with intricate runes that were faintly visible on its surface. Chains flew out from his body and filled the void. His face was exactly the same as the red-browed youth.

"die!"

The black-clad giant suddenly attacked, its first strike coming down with great speed and power, creating a whistling gust of wind.

Lin Yueqiu swung his sword to parry, and the stick clashed with the sword. He was no match for the sword in terms of strength and was knocked back several steps, his body swaying.

The man in black then swung his long staff in a sweeping motion, sending Lin Yueqiu flying.

The boy rolled over and sat up, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Several bones in his chest were broken, and he felt a burning pain with every breath.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he sneered, "I underestimated the Grandmaster of Martial Arts. It turns out I need to condense the Five Punishments Soul Gathering Image to fight you. I'm tired of this battle. It's time to send you on your way!"

"Huh? The Five Punishments Soul-Binding Image? What's your relationship with Han Yi?" Han Qing was startled and asked loudly.

He once asked Qi Yan, "Just how powerful is Han Yi?"

Qi Yan didn't give him an answer either, only saying that Han Yi had created a unique visualization method called the "Heavenly Punishment Technique," which was said to be able to carry out punishments on behalf of Heaven and was incredibly powerful.

The image of the Five Punishments for Detaining the Soul is one of the images in this visualization practice.

In other words, the young man must have been practicing the Heavenly Punishment Technique, which was Han Yi's unique secret technique, indicating that the two had a very special relationship.

"You know quite a lot!" The boy chuckled dryly, not answering Han Qing's question, but tacitly acknowledging the close relationship between him and Han Yi.

Then, the three-zhang-tall statue soared up and pounced directly at Han Qing's soul.

Han Qing immediately commanded over a hundred Yin soldiers to meet them, but they were no match for them. The image was extremely fast, no slower than Lin Yueqiu running at full speed, and the long staff contained tremendous power. With each swing, no Yin soldier could withstand it, and they all shattered and vanished into thin air. In an instant, nearly a third of the Yin soldiers were killed.

Han Qing immediately recalled the other Yin soldiers to the spirit temple. Each Yin soldier who died in battle required him to consume his magical power to revive. If all of these hundreds of Yin soldiers were to die, his magical power would probably be almost completely depleted, and he would no longer be able to cast any other spells.

After the ghostly soldiers dissipated, the image suddenly lunged at his true form.

Lin Yueqiu's expression turned grave: "Young Master, leave quickly! This Dharma image is extremely powerful! In terms of combat strength, even an ordinary martial arts grandmaster is no match for it!"

"Want to leave? None of you are leaving. You're all going to die today!" the boy sneered.

The image of the deity was flying in the air when suddenly black light surged around it, forming a dark vortex that slowly rotated around the image itself.

As Lin Yueqiu stepped into the dark vortex, his expression suddenly changed. He found himself feeling dizzy again, and his soul energy was once again being drawn away from him uncontrollably.

"This image of a deity actually has the ability to capture souls!" Lin Yueqiu exclaimed in surprise, dodging backward and not daring to get any closer.

Although his soul energy wouldn't be drained quickly, facing this giant statue while his five senses were disordered was practically suicide.

Seeing this scene, Han Qing couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Although they were both at the He Xiang Realm, their combat strength was indeed worlds apart.

The old man who was disguised as a herb gatherer in the mountains that day was no less powerful than this young man, even though they were both at the He Xiang Realm.

This divine statue can suppress a martial arts grandmaster simply through its speed and strength, and it also has the ability to capture souls.

He even felt that this Dharma image's combat power was equivalent to two martial arts grandmasters. After all, martial arts grandmasters cannot fly, cannot extract people's soul energy, and cannot ignore weapons.

"This magic image is too powerful, young master, you must leave quickly! I'll stop it!" Lin Yueqiu shouted in a low voice.

Just then, the boy made another move. A cyan chain wrapped around his arm suddenly soared into the air, like a green snake sweeping across the sky, flying towards Han Qing. At the same time, the Dharma image rushed towards Lin Yueqiu.

Han Qing's soul also entered the Star Shuttle. The next instant, the Star Shuttle flew out from his arms and pierced towards the locked line.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

In the span of a few breaths, the Star Shuttle and the chain collided more than ten times.

Han Qing was startled. The sharpness of the Star Shuttle was beyond doubt. It had always been able to pierce through gold and split stone, and was indestructible. He did not expect that it could not penetrate this chain, which showed that the chain was also made of extraordinary material.

Then, Han Qing discovered that the chains were even more unusual than he had imagined.

In the ensuing collisions, the Star Shuttle was ultimately defeated and was flung to the ground by the chains.

The next instant, the chain soared into the air and headed straight for Han Qing.

Han Qing drew his sword and slashed, the blade black and filled with murderous aura, intending to cut it down from mid-air.

In that instant, the chain suddenly shifted from solid to ethereal, and his knife missed its mark. The chain then wrapped around him, before instantly becoming solid again, binding him to the spot, from which he could not break free for a moment.

"These chains are actually a magical artifact!" Han Qing was shocked.

Only magical artifacts can achieve such a transformation between reality and illusion.

In that instant, the situation became extremely bad.

Han Qing lost his ability to move, and Lin Yueqiu was suppressed by the young Dharma image and was retreating step by step. It seemed that he was also struggling to hold on. If the fight continued, he would be defeated soon.

As for Liu Xiaofeng and the others, they were all weakened due to the loss of too much soul energy. Some were unconscious, some collapsed to the ground, dizzy and unable to stand up.

Han Qing never expected that before even leaving Shu and before even encountering any of the most famous figures in the world, a mere Red Eyebrow Youth would drive his entire group into a desperate situation.

However, even in such a desperate situation, Han Qing did not despair, nor did he panic in the slightest. Instead, he calmed down and carefully considered how to turn the tide.

"Thunderstorm Dzi Bead!"

Han Qing had a series of thoughts running through his mind. He understood that only by activating the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl could he have a chance to turn the tide and win.

However, the boy was too agile, and although the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl was powerful, it had obvious signs before it was used. The boy could easily dodge it. He needed to wait for a suitable opportunity. First, the boy had to be distracted, and second, the distance had to be close enough so that even if the boy realized something was wrong and wanted to run away, he would not be able to escape the range of the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl in a short time.

Han Qing's mind raced, and a stream of magical energy probed into the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl in his robes, ready to activate the precious pearl at any moment.

At this moment, the red-browed youth, seeing Han Qing fall to the ground, relaxed his guard and walked towards Han Qing with a playful smile on his face.

"You've forced me to use every trick in the book, this battle is quite interesting!! What I enjoy most is killing a genius like you."

When the boy was thirty paces away from Han Qing, suddenly, a loud eagle cry came from above his head, and a figure descended from the sky, stirring up a gust of wind and rushing straight at the boy. It was a golden eagle with blood claws flying in the sky.

This golden eagle is a magical beast with a natural ability to protect its master. Since Han Qing was carrying a bone flute, it regarded him as its master.

At this moment, the red-browed youth approached Han Qing with his knife, and the golden eagle finally made its move.

The boy clearly hadn't expected a sudden attack from high above. Hearing the cry and feeling a gust of wind coming from behind, he realized something was wrong. He turned around abruptly and saw a huge golden eagle swooping down, its sharp talons already reaching for his chest.

The boy rolled on the spot and dodged it.

Han Qing had been waiting for this moment, and it was a rare opportunity.

The boy was distracted; they were thirty paces apart, which was still a bit far, but enough.

The next instant, a surge of magical energy probed into the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl. The pearl seemed to be a bottomless pit, and the magical energy was instantly absorbed. The pearl suddenly shone brightly, and a mysterious power was activated. With a whoosh, the pearl flew out of Han Qing's arms and headed straight for the sky above.

The boy also noticed the sudden appearance of the bright light. He focused his gaze and saw a cloud of mist appear out of thin air, with lightning flashing inside and even a faint rumbling sound echoing.

"Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl!" The young man was shocked, and a look of horror appeared on his face.

"How do you have Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearls? These are magic pearls that only the Great Sage of the Profound Thunder of the Spiritual Treasure Path can refine. There are thirty-six in total. How do you have them?"

The playful look on the boy's face finally vanished, replaced by an overwhelming fear. He screamed and turned to run away.

"No!"

Click!

A bolt of lightning cleaved through the clouds, like a silver-white electric snake, suddenly descending from the sky. It twisted and moved through the air at an incredible speed, and no one could dodge it, not even the young man who was using his lightness skill to escape at full speed.

The next instant, the boy was struck squarely by lightning, letting out a shrill scream. Arcs of lightning coursed around his body, causing it to tremble violently.

The Dharma image floating in the air suddenly vanished. The chains binding Han Qing also lost control and fell to the ground.

Just when Han Qing thought the boy was about to die, a piece of pure white jade pendant he carried suddenly emitted a soft white light, enveloping the boy's body and temporarily isolating him from the lightning arc.

The boy seized the fleeting opportunity to escape, turned around, and fled at top speed into the distance.

He used his lightness skill, moving at great speed, and flew close to the ground, disappearing into the depths of the dense forest in an instant.

The Thunderstorm Bead lost its target as a result, and its residual power lingered for a long time. A cloud could be seen drifting in the sky, with silver snakes darting inside.

Wherever Han Qing thought, lightning would shoot out from the clouds and strike the object his thought had locked onto; it was truly miraculous.

It took a full quarter of an hour for the cloud of mist to dissipate.

At this point, the battle is over.

Han Qing glanced around and saw that many of his men were lying or sitting, some even dead. Lin Yueqiu was also injured; his right shoulder had been hit by a stick, and his arm bone seemed to have been shattered, drooping limply.

"Young master, are you alright? This young man is terrifying. I have never encountered such a powerful opponent in my life." Lin Yueqiu approached, feeling as if he had just escaped a disaster.

"This person is probably Han Yi's disciple, a genius boy nurtured from childhood by the Luo or Han families. He even possesses two magical treasures. This treatment is unmatched by any other scion of a major family in Shu," Han Qing exclaimed.

As he spoke, he picked up the chain that had fallen to the ground and discovered that the chain was actually like a vine, with a soft touch. It was hard to imagine that it had been able to knock the star-patterned steel to the ground.

He secretly activated the Ceasefire Sutra, and a surge of magical energy flowed from the temple, probing into the chains. There was also a magical energy within, releasing a cold intent and repelling Han Qing's thoughts.

"It really is a magic weapon. It is said that the difference between magic weapons and ordinary items is that magic weapons have a spirit. This spirit is actually a kind of magical thought. The more powerful the magic weapon, the stronger this thought is."

"This chain also contains an extremely powerful magical energy, radiating a cold aura; it must be a secret treasure of the Legalist school," Han Qing pondered.

He learned from the book and from Qi Yan that magical treasures in this world are extremely rare.

It is mainly divided into two types: one is nurtured by heaven and earth, and the other is refined by postnatal rituals.

There are two methods of refining. One is for a high-level cultivator to consume their own spiritual power to nurture an item day and night. Over time, the item will become a magic weapon, and it will become more and more powerful as the nurturing time goes on.

One type is when a large number of ordinary people kneel and worship an object for a long time, which can also give rise to spiritual thoughts.

For example, he heard that many temples in the capital enshrined thousand-year-old orchid wood statues. These statues were originally just ordinary objects, but after being worshipped by tens of thousands of people for a long time, they became magical treasures with incredible powers.

Furthermore, the magical artifacts refined by practitioners of a particular school of thought will bear the characteristics of that school of thought. For example, the thoughts of Legalists are extremely cold and ruthless, while the thoughts of Military Strategists are extremely bloodthirsty.

Lin Yueqiu stared at the chain for a while, then said, "Young Master, I remember now. This chain has an extremely important origin. It is very likely the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain, one of the eight treasures of Shennong Dao Palace. The reason you think it is a secret treasure of the Legalist school is because it has been refined for a long time by a high-level Legalist cultivator. The Legalist thought and the thought of the treasure have merged, so it naturally presents a cold and ruthless meaning."

"Hmm? How could the treasure of Shennong Dao Palace be in this person's hands? Could this young man be from Shennong Dao Palace? However, this person cultivates the Legalist school, not the Agricultural school," Han Qing pondered.

“I happen to have heard about this. Shennong Kingdom has always been a vassal state of Dayu. When Emperor Taizu established his rule over the world, Shennong Kingdom sent an envoy to present this treasure, which included this Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain. Young Master, you should take this magic weapon as soon as possible, as it will greatly enhance your strength,” Lin Yueqiu explained.

"Very well, such a magical treasure! I'd like to test its wonders as well!"

Han Qing pondered, then probed into it with his spiritual sense, attempting to connect and merge with the essence of the magical artifact.

Refining a magical artifact is a slow process that requires these two thoughts to merge to a certain degree and become intertwined.

Now, the thoughts of this magical artifact and the red-browed youth have merged, thus manifesting a cold and ruthless intent.

Han Qing needed to gradually eliminate the thoughts of the red-browed youth before controlling his own magical thoughts to merge with it. Only when he felt a connection with the magical artifact could the initial refining be considered complete.

He will need to nurture it regularly to further enhance its integration, so that he can unleash the full power of this magical artifact.

Having figured out the origin of the chains, Han Qing was quite pleased. Magical treasures are extremely precious, especially since this one is a world-renowned treasure, which makes it even more delightful.

However, his joy vanished when he glanced at his large group of weakened subordinates.

"Let's save them first. These people have all suffered injuries to their souls. Those with minor injuries can recover after a few days of rest, while those with serious injuries will need external assistance. I have a few bottles of Soul-Nourishing Pills here, which are perfect for healing the souls." Han Qing said, taking out a dark green medicine bottle from his pocket. Each bottle contained twelve light green pills.

Han Qing gave Lin Yueqiu a bottle, and the two separated to feed the pills to the group of guards who were lying on the ground, listless and dispirited.

The effects of the elixir took hold quickly. After about half an hour, all the guards were able to stand up and walk freely, but there were still some aftereffects, such as dizziness and blurred vision, and a sharp pain in their heads.

Just as Lin Yueqiu and the others were beginning to relax, Han Qing suddenly sharpened his gaze and said in a deep voice, "Someone is coming. The footsteps are chaotic, at least several hundred!"

This sentence immediately made Lin Yueqiu and the others tense up again as they had just relaxed.

Having just repelled a terrifyingly powerful youth, the group had not yet recovered. If they were to encounter another formidable enemy, their chances of survival would be slim.

"Don't panic, everyone. We'll meet force with force and water with water. No matter what enemy we face, I will lead you out of here!"

Han Qing gripped the hilt of his sword, his gaze calm, and shouted in a clear voice.

Actually, he wasn't entirely confident either, but as the backbone of the team, he knew he couldn't panic or lose his composure under any circumstances. Otherwise, the entire team would immediately crumble, and their morale would collapse in an instant. Lin Yueqiu nodded slightly; Han Qing's words had an immediate effect, and the panic on Qiu Da and the others' faces vanished without a trace.

A true strong person should have such composure, remaining calm and collected no matter what situation they face.

In just a few breaths, a loud cracking sound came from ahead, as if wood was breaking.

As everyone stared intently, they saw that the dozen or so thick trees that had been blocking the road had been forcibly broken apart by brute force, creating a passageway.

Then, a burly man with a face as black as charcoal, wielding a heavy hammer, galloped out from the front, followed by more than thirty cavalrymen, and then hundreds of soldiers.

The armor and weapons on these people were quite haphazard, but their eyes were bright and sharp, radiating a wolf-like gaze, full of vigor and spirit.

Wow!
More than 500 people quickly dispersed and surrounded the crowd.

Han Qing's gaze sharpened as he realized that these people were clearly well-trained. Their movements were swift and decisive, and each person knew exactly what they were supposed to do. There was not a trace of chaos, and the more than 500 people had a sense of unity. A fierce aura emanated from them, indicating that they were not a rabble. They were either well-trained or elite troops who had been repeatedly tempered in battle.

"Such a disorganized set of equipment clearly doesn't belong to imperial soldiers," Han Qing concluded.

The burly man with the charcoal-like face glanced around and saw the mess. There were many large craters in the ground, and sword marks on the trees nearby. In addition, he had heard thunder in the distance earlier, which clearly indicated that a fierce battle had taken place here, and the combatants were quite powerful. He immediately became extremely vigilant.

He glanced around and noticed that the leader of this group was a young man. Remembering his commander's instructions, he asked loudly, "Are you Han Qing?"

"That's right, you're Huang Xiao?" Han Qing asked in return.

"Huang Xiao is the Grand Commander, and I am one of his leaders. Lord Huang ordered us to be stationed near this mountain path to meet you. I didn't expect to wait for six days. I thought you wouldn't come, but today I suddenly heard the sound of fighting here. I brought my men to check, and I didn't expect to run into you, young master. I see that your guards don't look too good. They are probably injured. If you don't mind, young master, you can come with me to the camp to rest for a few days. We can set off again when you are in better condition!" The dark-faced man said in a deep voice.

Han Qing glanced around and landed on Lin Yueqiu beside him, his eyes questioning. Although these people looked like elite rebels, a few words were not enough to make him completely believe them.

Lin Yueqiu nodded slightly and asked loudly, "I'm asking you, what are Huang Xiao's distinctive features?"

The burly man frowned at first, then relaxed: "My master has an ordinary appearance, but he is brave in battle and has many scars on his body. Would you consider that a distinctive feature? It seems that you all do not believe me. Very well, if you do not wish to return with me, you may continue on your way. Make way!"

With a wave of his hand, the burly man with the dark complexion made way for the five hundred soldiers who had been blocking the road.

Lin Yueqiu came to Han Qing's side and said in a low voice, "Young master, this big man is not lying. Huang Xiao does have many scars on his body. Only his close friends and family know this."

Han Qing nodded slightly. This big man had already gained his trust. First, his willingness to let him pass showed that he had no ulterior motives. Second, he did not sense the slightest bit of murderous intent from this big man.

With the keen sensitivity of a military strategist to killing intent, he could accurately detect even the slightest hint of it from his opponent.

"Young Master, shall we continue onward, or return to their camp to rest for a few days?" Lin Yueqiu asked again.

"Let's go back to camp and rest for a few days. The boy didn't die; he fled towards Taining County."

According to the intelligence provided by Qi Wufeng, the general Wei Qiong, the garrison commander of Taining County, is a member of the Luo family. If this young man is a genius of the Luo family, he may very well use Wei Qiong's power to take revenge on him. The future is dangerous, and it is not safe to continue. It would be better to meet Huang Xiao and use his power to get through the last part of the road in Shu.

With this in mind, Han Qing made up his mind and said loudly, "Return to camp, I want to see Commander Huang."

"it is good!"

The burly man with the dark face respectfully accepted the order. Before setting off, Huang Xiao had instructed him to obey Han Qing's orders, whether to stay or leave.

"Everyone, listen to my command! Escort Young Master Han back to camp!"

"Yes!"

More than 500 people responded in unison, their voices thunderous and their momentum magnificent.

Han Qing was filled with admiration upon seeing this scene.

He had initially thought the rebel army was a rabble with low-quality soldiers and haphazard equipment, but it turned out that these soldiers were far more disciplined than he had imagined.

He had heard that Huang Xiao was an extremely skilled commander who was adept at training and leading troops, and that he was always at the forefront of battle, extremely brave and fearless. The scene before him was a testament to this.

A bad general makes a bad army; the fierce looks in these soldiers' eyes are likely influenced by Huang Xiao.

Thus, Han Qing and the others, escorted by this group of fierce soldiers, quickly left the mountains and forests.

After leaving the mountain path, the terrain suddenly became flat and open, and the group sped up, rushing towards the direction of the rebel army's camp.

Shortly after Han Qing and his group left, a cavalry force arrived at the battlefield at top speed, led by the red-browed youth Luo Ding.

"Sir, the person has already left."

Hundreds of soldiers dispersed and searched the forest for a while before quickly gathering around the boy.

"They escaped quickly, let's head back to the city!"

Luo Ding's face was gloomy, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. Losing a magic weapon was extremely painful for him, and he would do everything he could to get it back.

"Yes!"

The soldiers responded with a shout, and the group rode away quickly on horseback.

...

the other side.

Han Qing and his men, escorted by 500 soldiers, soon arrived at the rebel camp.

The entire camp was built with wood and stone, but it did not feel cluttered.

Han Qing entered the camp through the main gate and saw that the soldiers were upright and full of energy, which made him think even more highly of Huang Xiao.

By this time, it was already dark. The burly man with the dark face mentioned that Huang Xiao had important business to attend to and was not in the camp. They would have to meet the next day, so he arranged accommodations for them first.

In a spacious and bright wooden house, Han Qing lay on a wooden bed with only a few tables and chairs around him. The furnishings were quite simple, but when marching and fighting, one cannot pursue comfort, nor can one be too demanding of etiquette.

After this hard-fought battle, Han Qing was also somewhat exhausted, and after a simple dinner, he chose to rest.

In unfamiliar surroundings, Han Qing remained vigilant, so even when he slept, he did not take off his clothes and kept his sword by his side, ready to fight at any time.

The night passed quietly and peacefully, without any unexpected events, which made him feel more at ease.

Huang Xiao had not yet returned, and Han Qing understood that time was precious.

So, early in the morning, he hastily ate a large pancake to fill his stomach, and then took out the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain to begin refining it.

He secretly activated the Stop War Sutra, and with a whoosh, his magical thoughts surged from between his eyebrows and entered the magic treasure. He immediately felt the scorching heat surging within.

Han Qing's thoughts moved closer, and the two streams of magical thoughts immediately intertwined.

In an instant, Han Qing fell into an illusion, surrounded by a multitude of phantoms. Sometimes, bloodstained warriors would charge at him with swords, and sometimes, women in thin veils would dance lightly in the wind.

Han Qing remained calm and composed, without the slightest hint of panic.

The same applies to refining magical artifacts. The more powerful the artifact, the stronger the magical intent contained within it, and the more realistic the illusion one falls into upon contact with it.

What Han Qing needs to do is to continuously break through the illusion, and the two streams of magical thought will intertwine and their degree of fusion will continue to increase.

So, for the entire morning, Han Qing sat cross-legged on the bed, amidst the arising and ceasing of numerous illusions, and the two streams of spiritual thought became increasingly intertwined.

"My magical power has become stronger!"

At noon, Han Qing opened his eyes. The magical power within the magic weapon was extremely vast. His efforts throughout the morning had only allowed him to integrate a small portion of it, which gave him the illusion that his magical power had become stronger.

In fact, once his magical thoughts withdraw from this illusory soul-suppressing chain, the sense of power will dissipate and return to normal.

He tried to use this powerful magical power to control the illusory and real Soul-Suppressing Chains, and unexpectedly succeeded.

With a whoosh, the chain soared into the air, like a green snake coiling around Han Qing's body and flying back and forth.

A realization dawned on Han Qing's mind; he had completely figured out the many mysteries of this magic weapon.

"Transform into void!"

Han Qing whispered, and the magical power left in the chain was suddenly greatly depleted, and the chain instantly turned into an illusory state.

This state is difficult to harm the physical body, but it can damage the soul and spiritual power. It is even useful against high-level cultivators, as it can bind and suppress their souls, causing their combat power to plummet.

"Concrete!"

With another thought, Han Qing's magical power within the chains was greatly depleted, causing the chains to solidify and fall to the ground from the air.

"The magic weapon is indeed amazing, but I haven't refined it long enough, the degree of integration is too low, and the magic power left in it is still too weak."

Each transition between reality and illusion consumes magical energy. When the remaining magical energy weakens to a certain point, one can no longer control the magical artifact. Han Qing pondered this.

He recalled the scene of his fight with the red-browed youth yesterday and realized that the speed of the chains he controlled was much slower than that of his opponent.

This is because the young man's spiritual realm is higher, and his power of spiritual thought is stronger.

Secondly, the younger generation has more time to refine magical artifacts, resulting in a higher degree of integration and making them easier to control.

"I can only unleash a small portion of the power of this magic weapon now. I need to refine it more in the future. Only when the two magical thoughts are completely intertwined and merged together can this magic weapon show its true power in my hands."

"However, even so, with this treasure, my combat power will be greatly enhanced!"

As Han Qing spoke, he rested for a while, then manipulated his magical thoughts to flow into the chains, continuing to break the illusion and deepen the fusion of the two magical thoughts.

This continued for several more hours, until it got dark and he felt somewhat tired before he stopped.

"rise!"

With a low shout, Han Qing sent the chains flying up again, swirling around his body.

"Compared to noon, the speed of these chains has greatly improved. Although they are still not as fast as that red-browed youth, they are basically usable in combat."

Han Qing felt very satisfied when he saw this scene.

This is his first magic weapon in life, and it is a famous treasure in the world. If he masters it, it will be a real weapon to kill enemies, and he will have another way to deal with high-level cultivators in the future.

"It's a pity that the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl can only be used once. Otherwise, I could bind their body and soul with the Illusory Soul Suppressing Chain and then kill them with the Thunderstorm Heavenly Pearl. Apart from a very few legendary experts who are famous throughout the world, I would not need to fear anyone else," Han Qing pondered.

After practicing for a while, his magical power was constantly being consumed, and the speed of the chains flying became slower and slower. Han Qing stretched out his right arm, and with a whoosh, the chains quickly wrapped around it.

"That red-browed youth was struck by lightning and must have suffered a great loss of vital energy. Now is the best time to kill him. If we wait for him to recover, it will be more difficult to kill him."

But he's currently hiding in Taining County, and Wei Qiong is a member of the Luo family. If I rashly go in, I'll just be walking into a trap." Han Qing felt a pang of regret.

The red-browed youth possesses such formidable combat power at such a young age, demonstrating his exceptional martial arts talent. Having his magical treasure stolen has created a deep-seated grudge between the two. As this youth grows stronger in the future, he will become even more troublesome than he is now, and keeping him around will only be a threat in the long run.

If given a choice, Han Qing would want to storm into Taining County and eliminate them completely.

Putting aside all the reasons mentioned above, he was also quite tempted by the boy's lightness skill. If he could snatch it, his ability to protect himself would definitely be greatly improved.

Just as he was pondering this, he heard footsteps outside.

"Old Lin, I didn't expect to see you here again, haha!"

He first heard a hearty laugh, the voice slightly hoarse.

"Old Huang, your righteous army is truly a fierce and powerful force. I never imagined that in just a few months, a group of people could undergo such a transformation. In the past, when the adults said that you were good at training troops, I didn't believe it. But after seeing it today, I truly believe it from the bottom of my heart," Lin Yueqiu exclaimed.

"Haha, Lao Lin, it wasn't easy. Every soldier in this army has taken so much of my effort. To get your recognition makes all that hard work worthwhile."

Hearing the commotion, Han Qing went outside and saw a man dressed in black standing next to Lin Yueqiu, with one hand on his shoulder. The two were clearly very close.

Upon seeing Han Qing emerge, Lin Yueqiu hurriedly said, "Old Huang, this is my young master, Han Qing."

"My name is Huang Xiao. Lord Liu Yue wrote a letter introducing you, praising you highly. Meeting you today, I can see that you are indeed a handsome young man with outstanding talent." Huang Xiao looked Han Qing up and down, but he saw that Han Qing was composed and neither humble nor arrogant, far beyond what ordinary people could compare to.

Han Qing was also observing this rebel leader who had a rather fierce reputation in Shu. His face was indeed unremarkable, but Han Qing saw through the gaps in his clothes that there were many crisscrossing scars on his chest, dense and shocking. He couldn't help but feel a bit of respect for him.

Such injuries suggest that this man has endured countless fierce battles; he is truly extremely brave and valiant.

"I have long heard of Commander Huang's illustrious reputation, and meeting him today, I can see that his great name is indeed well-deserved." Han Qing cupped his hands in greeting.

"Young Master Han, let's go inside and talk in detail!" Huang Xiao nodded slightly. He could feel the sincerity in Han Qing's words. These words were not flattery, but genuine praise from the bottom of his heart, which greatly increased his goodwill towards Han Qing.

"please!"

The three then entered the wooden house behind them, where soldiers came forward and offered them three cups of hot tea.

“Young Master, I observe that many of your guards are drowsy and listless, signs of damage to their souls. Could it be that you have been ambushed by a high-level cultivator?” Huang Xiao asked curiously, tapping his fingers lightly on the wooden table as he sat in his chair.

(End of this chapter)