The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 107 Yue Xiaobiao

"Han Qing? I heard that the Qi family in Shu recently recruited a genius martial artist named Han Qing. I see that you are young and have extraordinary combat power, so it must be the same person." Qian Hou's eyes lit up, his gaze swept across the area, slowly moved down, and landed on the green chains wrapped around him.

He pondered further, "This is the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain, one of the eight great treasures of Shennong Dao Palace. It was in Luo Ding's hands, and I fought against it two years ago. Now it's in your hands. Could it be that Luo Ding died at your hands?"

"Telling you won't hurt. I did indeed take this Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain from Luo Ding. Although Luo Ding is strong, I am still able to suppress him," Han Qing said in a deep voice.

This matter cannot be concealed, unless he never uses the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain again, but that is impossible. Rather than doing so, it is better to openly admit it and deter Qian Hou.

He believed that after Luo Ding's death, the Luo family would definitely mobilize manpower and resources to conduct a full investigation into the matter, and sooner or later they would find out about him.

However, it doesn't matter if they find out. As long as he stays in the Northern Camp, with Qi Wufeng and Liu Yue behind him, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Everything has hidden dangers and risks, but if you are afraid of risks and crises and dare not take action, you are no different from a coward.

Upon hearing this, Qian Hou's eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Years ago, Luo Ding and Su Bairu were known as the Twin Prodigies. I have always disagreed with this statement. The world is vast, and there are countless geniuses. Brother Han's appearance has proven my point. That Luo Ding is extremely arrogant, and I have a deep grudge against him. Brother Han took away his magic weapon, which can be considered as venting my anger. With Brother Han's talent, he will surely become a prominent figure in the future. If you don't mind, I am willing to turn enemies into friends with you. If you want five war puppets, I will send someone to deliver them to you soon. In addition, the terrain in the North is complex, and the forces are intertwined. I will also give you a detailed map to help Brother Han achieve great things!"

Han Qing nodded slightly. After this conversation, he also had a good impression of Qian Hou. Although he still had the arrogance of a young master from a powerful family, it was not too strong. Compared with Luo Ding's lawlessness, it was nothing.

At this moment, Qian Hou took the initiative to turn enemies into friends and offered him a way out, which he naturally accepted.

Having one more friend and one less enemy is always a good thing.

"Since Brother Qian values ​​me so much, I shouldn't be confrontational."

As Han Qing spoke, with a thought, the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chains on Qian Hou's body suddenly flew up and wrapped around Han Qing's arm.

"Bring me some wine! Brother Han, we've become friends through a fight. It's very windy and freezing cold today, why not have a few sips of warm wine to warm yourselves up!" Qian Hou said loudly.

"Alright! Brother Qian, please come in!" Han Qing stepped aside.

"You all stay outside and keep watch!" Qian Hou shouted.

"Yes!" The Thirteen Guards of Baiyun, along with a large group of Qian family warriors, responded loudly.

This change left many martial artists around them dumbfounded.

No one expected that the two, who had been fighting to the death just moments before, would suddenly be drinking and chatting happily, and then turn around and go off to drink.

The two entered the courtyard, with Lin Yueqiu and Qian Feng following behind.

Lin Yueqiu's expression remained normal, but Qian Feng's expression was somewhat strange.

He still harbored resentment towards Han Qing, and the sudden transformation from enemy to friend was something he was truly unaccustomed to.

He hoped his older brother would teach Han Qing a lesson and vent his anger.

While they were pondering, Qian Hou held up the wine jar and poured a large bowl of wine into each of their bowls.

"drink!"

Qian Hou was the first to drink his wine in one gulp, while Han Qing was a step behind and only finished his wine after seeing Qian Hou finish first.

Although Qian Hou's current behavior doesn't seem like that of someone who enjoys playing tricks, as the old saying goes, one should always be wary of others. Han Qing is cautious in his actions, so we should be on guard.

"Brother Han, this is my Qian family's Golden Token, a symbol of my family's honored guest. With this token, you can travel freely within Yongzhou. If you encounter danger, show this token, and nearby Qian family warriors will surely provide assistance as long as your life is not in danger."

"Furthermore, my Qian Family Chamber of Commerce is the number one chamber of commerce in the world, with shops all over the land. With this token, you can buy goods at a cheaper price in any of the Qian Family's shops, and you may even have access to some extremely secret and rare treasures that are not seen by outsiders." As Qian Hou spoke, he took out a square token from his pocket and stuffed it into Han Qing's hand.

Han Qing took the token and rubbed it with his palm. The token was pure black on both sides. On the front was a powerful and vigorous character for "money" written in a flowing, dragon-like style. On the back were numerous intricate golden patterns that outlined a Pixiu (a mythical creature).

"Thank you, Brother Qian." Han Qing cupped his hands in thanks.

At this moment, all the friction and grudges between the two had completely dissipated.

If the five war puppets were the stakes after the defeat, then this token and map were Qian Hou's expression of sincerity in wanting to befriend him.

He was not a petty person, and he didn't take minor friction to heart.

"Brother Han, it will take some time to retrieve five war puppets from the treasury, ranging from five or six days to more than ten days."

"If you're not in a hurry, then wait at Jiannan Pass. If you are, I'll send someone to deliver the goods to Tianxiong City. What do you think?" Qian Hou added.

"I need to get to the Northern Camp as soon as possible, so I can't delay. Send it to Tianxiong City then." Han Qing nodded slightly.

Tianxiong City is located in the northernmost part of Yongzhou. Going north past this city means you have truly entered the northern lands, making it the perfect place for trading.

“Alright, Brother Han, then I will accompany you to Tianxiong City in the next few days,” Qian Hou said.

"No need. I don't think Brother Qian is the kind of person who goes back on his word. You gave me the gold token and the map, so we're friends now. You can leave now, and we'll meet again in Tianxiong City!" Han Qing shook his head.

A hint of admiration flashed in Qian Hou's eyes, and he appreciated Han Qing even more.

"Alright, since you trust me so much, I certainly won't go back on my word. I've decided to be your friend!"

"Farewell!"

As he spoke, Qian Hou led his younger brother Qian Feng toward the door.

Lin Yueqiu watched the two figures walk away and sighed, "Qian Hou truly lives up to his reputation as a highly regarded young master of the Qian family. He is capable of taking things on and letting them go. He is indeed a remarkable person. His younger brother, Qian Feng, is far inferior to him."

"Indeed, Qian Hou is a person worth befriending." Han Qingze nodded slightly.

at this time.

Qian Feng and Qian Hou walked forward for a while, and Qian Feng couldn't help but ask, "Brother, why did we give him the map and the gold token? This man is indeed quite capable, but if we bow down to him, wouldn't that be a loss of face for the Qian family? Once we get out, we'll immediately mobilize the clan's experts to wipe him out!"

Qian Hou turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping over them: "Shut up! My Qian family's goods are traded all over the world, do you know what we rely on?"

"What?" Qian Feng's tone softened after being swept over by his older brother's gaze.

"It's all about bowing down! Han Qing is so young yet already possesses such strength; he's destined to be a great figure in the future. Bowing down and making a good relationship is just as you said. If we don't kill him, it will be planting a huge scourge for the Qian family in the future," Qian Hou rebuked.

Qian Feng fell silent, realizing that his elder brother's words did indeed make some sense.

"Think more before you speak and act in the future, and don't cause me any trouble. There are some people you can't afford to mess with," Qian Hou said in a deep voice.

"Yes, brother!" Qian Feng bowed his head.

"After I get back, I will immediately write to my father to explain this matter and send the five Nine Hell Fangs to Tianxiong City." Qian Hou did not continue to reprimand him.

He was quite protective of Qian Feng, but because the two of them lost their mother at a young age and his father was busy managing the family business, Qian Feng had no one to teach him from childhood to adulthood, which led to his personality, and he was quite helpless about it.

As soon as the two stepped out of the courtyard gate, a domineering aura suddenly wafted from ahead, followed by an extremely violent momentum.

The aura was as imposing as a mountain and as powerful as a waterfall, its oppressive force like a prison. Even Qian Hou's expression changed drastically, a strong sense of fear rising within him, and he couldn't help but want to kneel down.

"Such a powerful aura is unmatched even by my father. He is not only a saint, but also a half-saint!" Qian Houxin thought to himself.

"I am Yue Jinbiao! The number one saint of deception! Why don't you kneel down?"

"Kneel down!!!"

A clear, loud shout echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

Then a vast, eerie wind swept across the land, and before everyone's eyes, a solid, colossal statue, several dozen feet tall, appeared between heaven and earth. It was an old man with a goatee, dressed in a blue robe.

Beneath this colossal statue, the old man stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the front, filled with arrogance and disdain.

With this loud shout, the surrounding martial artists were unable to withstand the terrifying pressure and all knelt down on the ground.

Qian Feng's legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud.

At this moment, Han Qing and Lin Yueqiu also walked out of the courtyard with solemn expressions.

Han Qing also felt the overwhelming pressure permeating the world, making it hard for him to breathe.

However, he gritted his teeth and persevered, refusing to kneel down.

Only four people present withstood this oppressive force: him, Lin Yueqiu, Qian Hou, and Liu Xiaofeng.

"Everyone, hand over your treasures! I, Yue Jinbiao, dislike killing. Otherwise, you ants can be wiped out with a flick of my hand!"

The old man had an arrogant expression, but his clear voice echoed between heaven and earth.

Many martial artists looked unwilling, but dared not resist.

Han Qing frowned, and Lin Yueqiu lowered his voice and said, "Young Master, what should we do? It's really bad luck to run into this charlatan, Great Sage Yue Jinbiao."

I've heard that this person is one of the top ten masters in the world, and he seeks to open up a unique path of deception in order to reach the heavens.

Unfortunately, this man was of a despicable character, fond of wandering the world, stealing, cheating, robbing, and plundering, scouring everywhere for treasures and secret manuals. Many scions of powerful families fell victim to his schemes and deeply resented him. However, his methods of escaping and disguising himself were unparalleled; although he was besieged by a coalition of major powers, he lived a carefree and unrestrained life.

Han Qing nodded slightly. He had heard of this person's reputation, but he hadn't expected him to be so despicable as to rob even the weak. He was utterly lacking in the demeanor of a master.

Hearing Lin Yueqiu's words, Qian Hou, who was standing to the side, gritted his teeth and said, "This person has become even more ruthless in recent years. He has also recruited a large group of disciples who imitate his behavior to swindle and plunder treasures. Among them, there is a man named Yue Xiaobiao who is the best at learning the art of deception. My Qian family was unfortunately tricked into falling into his trap and was swindled out of a high-level martial arts technique from the treasury."

Otherwise, my father wouldn't have ordered the blockade of all official roads to track down this person.

"This Yue Jinbiao is quite an oddball," Han Qing thought to himself.

However, each master in the world has their own unique personality, and each forges their own path of deception, which is unique in itself.

At this moment, the old man seemed to have heard the conversation of the four people. He swept his sharp gaze across them, and suddenly, the pressure emanating from the four people increased dramatically again.

This time, Liu Xiaofeng finally couldn't take it anymore and was about to kneel down, but Han Qing reached out and supported him.

"Now that you have seen the Great Sage, why do you not kneel? You ants, are you courting death? I do not like killing. If you hand over all your treasures, I will let you go. If you refuse to bow down, I will make you wish you were dead!"

Under immense pressure, apart from Han Qing and his group, all the other martial artists around them chose to compromise and obediently placed all their treasures on the open ground in front of them.

Although he was unwilling, it was better than not handing it over and getting slapped to death.

As a result, the pressure fell on Han Qing and the others.

Lin Yueqiu's expression was quite grim: "Young Master, we have no choice but to back down in this situation. As long as we survive, we can always rebuild."

"Brother Han, a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. This old scoundrel, I will tear him to pieces one day!" Qian Hou couldn't hold back any longer and began to waver, wanting to give in. Han Qing frowned. He had overcome countless hardships to accumulate this fortune, and now he was just handing it over like this? How could he be willing to do so?

After a moment's thought, he decided not to back down.

He had read Kong Xiu's comments on the methods of deception in his martial arts training notes at Yuelu Academy. Kong Xiu said that the methods of deception and spiritual refinement can deceive others, deceive oneself, and deceive heaven and earth. They are ever-changing and often like to pretend to be a martial artist who is ten times stronger than himself or famous throughout the world in order to intimidate and frighten other martial artists and force them to submit.

Ordinary illusions can only confuse the five senses, but deception can truly imitate the appearance, aura, and imposing presence of a powerful martial artist, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake even when the real person arrives.

But all of this is fake. No matter how well it is disguised, it is still fake and lacks the powerful combat strength to match it.

At this moment, Yue Jinbiao is exerting a great deal of pressure, yet he is hesitant to make a move. This is likely a ruse, a deception by one of his disciples.

Therefore, he was truly unwilling to simply hand over the treasure and decided to secretly test it.

With a thought, he used telepathy to issue an attack order to the Bloodclawed Golden Eagle soaring in the air, the target being the old man beneath the solidified giant statue.

He decided to gamble with the golden eagle's life. If the giant statue easily crushed the golden eagle, it would prove that the giant statue indeed possessed immense power, and that the old man in front of him was a genuine fraudster.

As he pondered, the golden eagle, under Han Qing's command, suddenly descended from the sky, bringing with it a gust of wind, and its sharp claws lashed out at the old man.

The solidified colossus did not move; instead, the old man stepped back and dodged the attack.

A glint flashed in Han Qing's eyes; this seemed fake!
If it were truly a solidified colossus, why would this old man avoid it? It must be merely a shadowy form.

With this in mind, Han Qing made a decisive move. In a flash, the Star Shuttle flew out from his sleeve, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight toward the solidified giant statue.

This scene shocked everyone else present.

"not good!"

"Young master, please don't act rashly!"

"It's over!"

Lin Yueqiu's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected that someone as composed as Han Qing would make such a rash decision.

He could almost see the gruesome scene of Han Qing being slapped to death by the old man.

Yue Jinbiao may not be a saint, but he is ranked among the top ten masters in the world, which is enough to show his extraordinary abilities.

Even if all the martial artists present attacked together, they would probably not be a match for him.

A resolute glint suddenly appeared in his eyes. He decided to fight to the death to hold off Yue Jinbiao and buy Han Qing a chance to escape.

However, the situation changed dramatically in the next instant.

The colossus waved its hand to strike the Star Shuttle, but it couldn't catch it at all. The Star Shuttle easily bypassed its arm and pierced straight into its body, stabbing back and forth.

The colossal statue blurred and dimmed at an alarming speed, eventually collapsing completely and turning into a gentle breeze that dissipated into the world.

"what?"

How could the image of a demigod be so wretched?

"It's a scam!"

A glint flashed in Qian Hou's eyes, and he reacted immediately.

Actually, Yue Jinbiao's hesitation to make a move earlier had already made him realize something was wrong, but he didn't dare to gamble, because if he lost, he would lose his life.

But Han Qing dared to gamble, and even won, which immediately earned him his respect.

At this moment, the colossal statue shattered, and the overwhelming pressure that had permeated the world also dissipated.

The old man in the blue robe and goatee also underwent a drastic change in appearance, transforming into a young man with a pointed mouth, monkey cheeks, and an extremely ugly appearance.

His expression was very complex, showing astonishment, confusion, and a hint of panic.

Qian Hou stared intently at him, then suddenly shouted, "Yue Xiaobiao! It really is you! I didn't expect you to dare to come back. Don't be afraid, everyone. This person is not Yue Jinbiao, but his apprentice. Just now, he used deceptive techniques to imitate Yue Jinbiao's appearance and aura to intimidate others and make it easier for him to plunder property."

Qian Hou's words awakened everyone present. In an instant, many martial artists stood up, their eyes flashing with anger, gritting their teeth in hatred.

"Go to hell!"

"What a piece of shit!"

"Attack together and wipe him out!"

...

Yue Xiaobiao's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected that there would be someone here who wasn't afraid of death. He had already simulated his master's aura. The overwhelming pressure was so great that ordinary people would not be able to stand still and their will would collapse. Anyone who dared to make a move was either a fool or a madman.

He could only curse his bad luck; he had run into a madman today.

However, Yue Jinbiao, who traveled the world making enemies and swindling people everywhere, was not only skilled in deception and magic; his lightness skill was another major asset.

He would lie if he could, and run away if he was found out. He would avoid fighting if he could avoid it. This was his usual practice.

With this thought in mind, Yue Xiaobiao turned and ran, suddenly becoming a blur as he leaped down from the nearest city wall, instantly swallowed by the thick darkness.

Many nearby martial artists rushed forward, only to find nothing. They all stood on the city wall, not daring to jump down.

First, they were afraid of the dangers from the outside world; second, Yue Xiaobiao had just displayed an extremely high level of lightness skill, which ordinary people simply could not catch up with.

Han Qing hesitated for a moment, then jumped down.

Firstly, he was extremely confident in his own strength; secondly, Yue Xiaobiao was a cultivator of spirit refinement, and he did not want to let him go.

If he could kill this person, he felt he might be able to obtain a high-level martial art, such as the lightness skill he had just used.

So he floated down from the city wall, lightly tapping his toes on the wall repeatedly, and in a few breaths he landed on the ground.

Without stopping, he darted off in the direction Yue Xiaobiao had fled.

Yue Xiaobiao's lightness skill was indeed remarkable. He ran in the darkness at an extremely fast speed, leaving behind a series of afterimages, and he was getting faster and faster. There were graves all around him, and the terrain was uneven and complex, but it did not pose any obstacle or interference to him.

The scenery on both sides rushed past, and the wind howled in his ears. A sense of smugness rose in Yue Xiaobiao's heart.

His lightness skill was personally taught by Yue Jinbiao and is one of the four great lightness skills of the world. It is called "Soaring Dragon for a Thousand Miles" or "Divine Speed ​​for a Thousand Miles". Its characteristic is that it is good at long-distance raids. It has a fast starting speed and the speed will increase as the distance increases, and it is quite energy-saving.

He has been swindling people for years, and when he is occasionally exposed, he has always managed to escape danger thanks to his skill in light-footedness.

However, he suddenly heard a whooshing sound behind him. When he turned around, he was so frightened that he lost his composure.

Han Qing had caught up with him from behind, and the two were only ten steps apart, with the distance getting closer and closer.

Yue Xiaobiao's lightness skill was indeed remarkable, but Han Qing's lightness skill was even faster. Her graceful movements were the fastest for short distances, so she was quickly overtaken.

As the distance closed further, Han Qing suddenly threw a punch, the tip of his fist flashing with black and gold light.

Yue Xiaobiao was startled and suddenly turned around, throwing a punch as well.

The two fists collided, producing a muffled thud in the air.

Bang!
The force of the punches surged and collided. Yue Xiaobiao let out a strange cry as a sharp pain shot through his entire arm, followed by numbness, and he rolled backward.

Just as he was about to get up, suddenly, a long, emerald-green shadow flew out and, in an instant, wrapped around his body, binding him firmly to the spot.

"Oh no! This is a magic weapon!"

Immediately afterwards, he saw a black-armored statue suddenly appear in front of him, surrounded by a malevolent aura that condensed into a domain, within which dark shadows could be seen and hidden.

"Ghost soldiers? Statues of gods?" Yue Xiaobiao exclaimed in surprise, a great fear rising in his heart.

In an instant, he felt as if he were surrounded by a vast army.

With a thought, Han Qing manipulated the statue, about to smash it down on his head.

Suddenly, Yue Xiaobiao knelt down with a thud: "My lord, please accept my bow! I see that you are young but have extraordinary martial arts skills, and your face is radiant with purple energy. You are of inestimable nobility. This is the appearance of a born sage. You will surely become a great sage of military strategy in the future!"

Although Xiao Biao has never met you, he has recognized you countless times in his dreams.

As the saying goes, "Fate brings people together even from a thousand miles away." Today, Xiao Biao and I meet; it is an arrangement of Heaven.

"Little Biao is willing to follow you to the death, sir, and serve you like a slave. I beg you, sir, to have mercy and spare my life!"

Han Qing looked puzzled, and the heavy hammer he was about to swing was now suspended in mid-air.

"You are an interesting person, eloquent and flexible, but you don't have enough reason to make me spare your life."

Yue Xiaobiao breathed a slight sigh of relief. If you can't fool someone, run away; if you can't run away, fight; if you can't fight, kneel down. This was Yue Jinbiao's survival philosophy in the martial arts world. Therefore, Yue Xiaobiao knelt down decisively and without any psychological burden.

At that moment, he broke out in a cold sweat. If he had knelt down even a step too late, his entire body might have been smashed to pieces.

"My master, Yue Jinbiao, is one of the top ten masters in the world. If you are willing to take me in, I can ask my master for help if I encounter danger in the future. That is the first reason."

Xiao Biao has been traveling the martial world for many years and has accumulated a lot of wealth and secret manuals. I see that your strength has not extended to your weapon, so you should be at the fifth level of the Body Dao. I happen to have a top-notch Body Dao sixth level training method in my hand, called Dragon Elephant Skill. If you don't kill me, I will take you to get it. That's the second point.

"At such a young age, you possess such talent, and you are also handsome and elegant. Based on my years of experience in judging people, I can tell you are a dragon among men, destined for great things. I am a Taoist practitioner who can deceive and refine the spirit, and I will surely be able to lend you a helping hand in the future!" Yue Xiaobiao rattled off a long string of words.

Looking at him, Han Qing's murderous intent subsided considerably.

The two didn't have any major life-or-death grudges.

Just now, the trickery had left a deep impression on him; this secret method was indeed extremely useful for intimidating enemies.

Moreover, Yue Xiaobiao's description of the Dragon Elephant Skill greatly appealed to him, as it was the most suitable martial arts training method for him to learn, enabling him to break through to the Grandmaster level in one fell swoop.

Furthermore, Yue Xiaobiao is indeed a clever and quick-witted person. As expected of a cultivator who deceives and refines the spirit, he can come up with so many reasons to move him in such a short time, which is quite an achievement.

After careful consideration, he felt that Yue Xiaobiao was truly a talented individual, and it would be a great pity to kill him like this.

(End of this chapter)