The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 120 Intimidating Cao Zhen
Tiger Might Camp.

"Hey!"

"what!"

The soldiers' shouts were deafening. In the central courtyard of the camp, Lin Yueqiu and others were making the most of their time to practice martial arts.

The addition of Long Xiuming and Nan Jinbei has further strengthened the team.

However, the atmosphere in the courtyard was heavy and solemn, because Han Qing had summoned everyone a few days ago and subtly announced that a powerful enemy was coming to assassinate him.

Although no one knew exactly how strong this formidable enemy was, the serious expression on Han Qing's face told them that the situation was quite unusual.

As a result, everyone has been on edge these past few days, and anyone who approaches this courtyard will be subject to strict scrutiny.

noon.

Lin Yueqiu arrived outside Han Qingmen and announced loudly, "My lord, it's time for lunch."

creak!

The door opened, and Han Qing, dressed in a moon-white robe, with bright eyes and an elegant demeanor, exuded a powerful confidence, as if everything was under his control.

"Let's go." Han Qing stepped outside. A look of surprise flashed in Lin Yueqiu's eyes. He felt that Han Qing was different from before. He seemed to be stronger and exuded a stronger sense of pressure.

However, he remembered that Han Qing had just said not long ago that he had made a major breakthrough in his cultivation level and had gone out for a trip. How long has it been since then, and he has already made another breakthrough? Isn't this too unbelievable?
After walking for a while, the two turned into a spacious room facing north in the courtyard. Inside, there was a large mahogany table with many delicious dishes on it.

This place is usually where Han Qing and his large group of confidants eat.

Upon seeing Han Qing arrive, everyone shouted in unison, "Greetings, Young Master!"

"sit!"

Han Qing reached out and pressed down slightly, and everyone sat down. Many people looked at him with surprise, feeling that Han Qing was different again.

Bai Yunfei couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, your condition really changes every day. I have a feeling that you seem stronger than you were a few days ago!"

For the past few days, Han Qing has been in seclusion, digesting the three soul light points in the Seven Killings Stele: Luo Hanqiu, Pang Shanlin, and Wen Feiruo. Therefore, he has not gone out until today.

Upon hearing Bai Yunfei's words, Han Qing considered them briefly and decided not to conceal them.

With a thought, a cold wind suddenly arose, and a solid black-armored statue appeared before everyone.

This statue has changed somewhat compared to the previous ones, reaching a height of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and its weapon has been changed to a wide, thick-backed sword.

Its solidity has also increased significantly. Standing in front of everyone, it is difficult to distinguish between real and fake with the naked eye. It looks like a real person. A powerful pressure surges in the room, making it difficult for some weaker people like Qiu Da to breathe.

Lin Yueqiu was the first to react, cupping his hands and loudly proclaiming, "Congratulations, young master, on entering the Body-Possession Realm!"

Everyone could sense that this statue had undergone a tremendous change; what else could it be but the entry into the Possession Realm?
The others joined in, shouting in unison, "Congratulations, young master!"

The crowd's expressions were complex, with envy and awe in their eyes.

At the age of twenty, a Grandmaster of Martial Arts, a Refining Spirit in the Body Reincarnation Realm—such an achievement is extremely rare throughout history, making him a true martial arts prodigy, a once-in-a-millennium talent.

Han Qing picked up the wine glass in front of him and drank the wine in one gulp.

Without even raising his head, he scanned the room with his spiritual senses and took in the expressions of everyone present.

The old folks like Lin Yueqiu were fine, but the expressions of the newly joined Nan Jinbei and Long Xiuming changed drastically. At first, they were shocked, and then they were afraid.

This was exactly the result he wanted. He dared to recruit these experts as his followers because he was extremely confident in his own strength.

As long as I demonstrate extremely strong combat power and potential, it will be enough to intimidate these people and prevent them from developing any disloyal intentions.

As Han Qing pondered this, another thought struck him, and the black-armored statue behind him vanished, transforming into wisps of magical energy that flew back into the temple.

He glanced at the panel and saw that his proficiency in the sixth chapter of the Zhige Jing had reached 34.5%, but he was still at the beginner level.

In addition, a new first-grade horizontal training skill has been added to the panel, called Rock-Immovable Body, with a proficiency level of minor success. This is the martial art that Pang Shanlin is very proud of.

Although Pang Shanlin was killed by him with a single strike that day, it does not mean that this external martial arts technique is not worthy of being called a first-class technique. The main reason is that the difference in combat power between the two was too great, and the Liuyun Blade was too sharp, so the power of this external martial arts technique was not shown.

Suddenly, wisps of malevolent energy emerged from his body, quickly forming a malevolent domain that enveloped the entire room, acting like a barrier that separated the inside from the outside.

"Gentlemen, I'm sure you've all been wondering these past few days what powerful enemy is trying to assassinate me? Now I'll tell you, it's a Martial Saint!" Han Qing said loudly.

Within the Demonic Domain, no sound could escape, so he could say whatever he wanted.

These words were startling, like a thunderclap, causing many people present to stand up from their chairs, and quite a few showed expressions of fear.

Han Qing raised an eyebrow: "What? Scared? Why are you all so flustered? Sit down. Even I, Han Qing, am not flustered, so why are you?"

These words awakened many people, making them realize that they had just lost their composure. For example, Chen Ming looked ashamed and admired Han Qing even more.

The Martial Saint—what a terrifying existence! How many people could not be afraid of him? Han Qing, a young man not even twenty years old, spoke with such composure and calmness. How could one not admire him?
"So what if he's a Martial Saint? If he dares to come, I'll make sure he never returns!" Han Qing said coldly. "You don't need to be afraid, I have my own backing."

Hearing Han Qing's words, many people's restless minds calmed down.

For some reason, seeing Han Qing's calm face made them feel at ease from the bottom of their hearts, as if Han Qing had a way to withstand even if the sky were to fall.

"Have a meal!"

Han Qing didn't want to say anything more. With a thought, he directly removed the evil domain that enveloped the entire room.

No one dared to ask any more questions; they all buried themselves in their food.

Before long, having finished their meal, Han Qing got up and was about to leave.

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside; it was Yue Xiaobiao returning.

"Young Master, it's been so long, I've missed you dearly. Hmm, why do you seem different to me? Such a powerful aura of pressure. Let me guess, could it be that you've entered the Integration Realm?"

As soon as Yue Xiaobiao entered, he started by flattering Yue, and then went on and on about a long, rambling thing.

Han Qing wasn't annoyed at all; that was just his personality all along.

"Let's get down to business. What are your plans, Lord Cao?"

"Lord Cao wants you to take your trusted men and go to the Yinshan camp immediately," Yue Xiaobiao said hurriedly.

"Oh?" Han Qing frowned, and after a moment's thought, he guessed what Cao Zhen was thinking.

"It seems that Commander Cao wants to see if I have the strength to contend with the Martial Saint. If I do, he will lend a hand; if not, he will turn a blind eye to avoid getting into trouble," Han Qing said leisurely.

The others were also secretly alarmed, and they all felt that Han Qing's words made sense.

It's astonishing that Han Qing, a mere twenty-year-old, could so quickly grasp the crux of the matter and so precisely control Cao Zhen's psychology.

Da da da!
The sound of horses' hooves was rapid.

On the day.

Han Qing led a large group of trusted men straight to the Yinshan headquarters to meet Cao Zhen.

At the Tiger Might Camp, he left behind the Thirteen Guards of White Cloud and the Seven Swordsmen of Vertical and Horizontal.

Bai Yunfei is skilled at commanding and training troops; with him around, the Tiger Might Camp will not descend into chaos.

As for the Seven Swordsmen of the Vertical and Horizontal, Han Qing had to admit that his strength had increased too quickly. These seven swordsmen could provide him with assistance at the time, but now, they could not keep up with his growth rate at all. Even if they went to the Yinshan Camp, they could not provide any help.

a few days later.

The group arrived at the Yinshan camp, and led by a centurion, Han Qing and the others went straight to Cao Zhen's tent.

"My lord, Commander Han has arrived!"

"Come in!"

Inside the tent, Cao Zhen sat upright in a chair. To his left was Long Chuan, and to his right was a white-faced scholar in a white robe, holding a feather fan, with an elegant demeanor. On both sides stood numerous centurions and commanders, each exuding a surging murderous aura, making the room seem shrouded in a thick black cloud.

At Cao Zhen's command, Han Qing led his entourage into the camp.

"Greetings, Commander Cao!"

Han Qing cupped his hands and still let out a loud shout full of energy.

A violent aura suddenly erupted from his body, revealing the powerful aura of a martial arts grandmaster and a spirit cultivator in the parasitic realm. This aura instantly dispersed the thick atmosphere that enveloped the room, causing the surrounding military leaders to tense up abruptly, feeling an overwhelming sense of fear as if they had encountered their natural enemy.

At that moment, Cao Zhen was also startled.

Leaving aside the others, his gaze was instantly drawn to Han Qing.

Han Qing seemed to be protected by destiny, and naturally became the focus of everyone's attention.

What shocked him even more was that the overwhelming aura emanating from Han Qing made him feel fear.

When they first met, Han Qing also shouted loudly, but at the time he didn't feel that way at all. He just felt that this young man had an extraordinary demeanor.

But now, he felt that Han Qing was shrouded in a mist, and his strength was unfathomable.

"In just a few months, Han Qing's strength has undergone such a dramatic change. No wonder General Qi values ​​him so highly."

A multitude of thoughts flashed through Cao Zhen's mind in an instant. Han Qing's every move today would affect his decision, and this shout alone had already made him want to lend Han Qing a hand.

However, this idea was not firm enough. As a high-ranking general, he knew very well that he had to think twice before making any decision.

Long Chuan and the refined scholar beside him both showed different expressions, and their evaluation of Han Qing rose to a new level.

As Han Qing shouted this, he was also observing the expressions of Cao Zhen and the others. After entering the Possession Realm, his ability to read people's expressions became extremely good. He could clearly recall any subtle changes in the expressions and demeanor of the people around him.

He knew that his previous guess was correct; Cao Zhen was wavering, and he could only dispel Cao Zhen's doubts by appearing confident and assertive enough.

Therefore, he cannot hide his strength today; he must be arrogant, intimidate the entire audience, and also intimidate Cao Zhen.

After he shouted this, Lin Yueqiu, Chen Ming, Nan Jinbei, Long Xiuming and others behind him also shouted in unison.

"Greetings, Lord Cao!"

At this moment, everyone unleashed their inner surging energy without reservation, sweeping across the surroundings like a whirlwind.

"Ok?"

Cao Zhen's pupils contracted, and he silently straightened his posture.

His attention had been drawn to Han Qing, but now he was surprised to find that the large group of people behind Han Qing were also menacing and ruthless, with hidden talents among them.

His gaze swept over Chen Ming, Long Xiuming, Nan Jinbei, and the Nine Elders of the Crimson Dragon, and he was even more shocked.

With his extremely sharp eyes, how could he not see that there were many martial arts grandmasters among these people? Upon comparison, he realized that his own team, as the general of the Yinshan camp, was not even as good as Han Qing's.

For a moment, many questions flashed through his mind. Even with Qi Wufeng's help, Han Qing shouldn't have so many powerful followers. Or was there another force behind Han Qing? Could it be the Lishan Academy?

Even as thoughts raced through his mind, Cao Zhen maintained a calm demeanor.

He waved his hand and said loudly, "You all go out first."

The conversation that follows may involve some secrets. These centurions and commanders are a mixed bag, and it's unknown which powerful forces they come from. So they can't be allowed to stay in the camp any longer.

In a short while, only Han Qing and his group, Cao Zhen, Long Chuan, and the refined scholar remained in the tent.

Cao Zhen's gaze swept over the large group of followers behind Han Qing, and he said in a deep voice, "As the old saying goes, 'A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation,' which is indeed true."

A few months ago, you came to my Yinshan camp. Although you had followers with you, in my eyes you were just a few big cats and small cats, nothing to be afraid of. I never expected that in the blink of an eye, you have gathered such a large group of top martial artists, which even I am wary of.

Cao boldly asked, "Besides Lord Qi, do you have any other forces supporting you? Could it be the Lishan Academy?"

Han Qing's gaze was calm, his expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Since Lord Cao has asked, I don't need to hide it. I naturally have the support of Lishan Academy behind me, but I am able to gather this large group of people entirely on my own."

Cao Zhen raised an eyebrow, unsure of Han Qing's character, but sensed a strong sense of confidence emanating from him.

Suddenly, Long Chuan said, "Young Master Han is truly skilled. I see that you have quite a few martial arts grandmasters behind you, and several others who are spirit refiners, such as Yue Xiaobiao. I have met him many times, but I still cannot see through his abilities."

Yue Xiaobiao turned his gaze to Han Qing, who said in a deep voice, "It wouldn't hurt to tell him."

Yue Xiaobiao no longer had any reservations and said with a smile, "To be honest, my master is Yue Jinbiao, and I am a charlatan who cultivates the spirit. It's normal that you can't see through me."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhen's expression changed, and he became even more wary of Han Qing.

Yue Jinbiao is one of the top ten masters in the world, but he is despicable and unscrupulous, so few people in the world dare to provoke him.

Most other top experts have principles in their actions, but Yue Jinbiao has no bottom line and no psychological burden. Such people are often more difficult to deal with.

“Since that’s the case, then I’ll be frank. Han Qing, you say in your heart that you’re confident you can kill a Martial Saint, but I don’t quite believe it. A Martial Saint’s strength is extremely terrifying; even a Spirit Refiner can’t control him. You’d better keep that in mind,” Cao Zhen said in a deep voice.

Han Qing nodded slightly; he was aware of this as well.

The Martial Saint possesses power integrated into his blood, resulting in an astonishing improvement in his physical attributes. Every punch and kick is imbued with the true essence of martial arts, capable of injuring and dispersing the soul, as well as shattering the power of magical thoughts.

Moreover, the path to becoming a Martial Saint is endless. As long as one can continuously open acupoints, one's physical attributes will continuously improve, and one's combat power will become stronger and stronger. Theoretically, there is no upper limit.

Therefore, despite being both Martial Saints, their combat strength is worlds apart.

Even a high-level cultivator could be killed if a Martial Saint got close to them without careful attention.

However, Han Qing was also extremely confident in his own strength.

He declared loudly, "Although the Martial Saint is strong, he is not invincible. As long as Lord Cao is willing to help me, I will lay a net of heaven and earth in the Tiger Might Camp and make sure he never returns."

Cao Zhen didn't respond; instead, Long Chuan said from the side, "Young Master Han is so confident in his abilities that I'm quite curious. Now, I'd like to test just how capable you really are. Excuse me!"

As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, a vast, eerie wind swept through the barracks. This was an illusion created by wisps of magical energy surging within. In an instant, the robes of Lin Yueqiu and the others fluttered wildly in the wind.

Han Qing's gaze was calm as he sized up the middle-aged man. The man had an ordinary appearance, a slight hunchback, and a pair of eyes that shone with a deep and immeasurable light, indicating that his mastery of the Dao of Visualization was extremely profound.

He already knew of this man's reputation; he was called Long Chuan, the top expert by Cao Zhen's side, and was also responsible for advising him.

At this moment, Long Chuan made a move to test him, but he was neither angry nor annoyed. This must have been at Cao Zhen's behest, wanting to test the depth of his strength.

Han Qing understood that he had to perform exceptionally well, ideally outshining Long Chuan, in order to intimidate Cao Zhen and gain the upper hand.

While he was pondering, Long Chuan had already made his move, sending strands of magical energy into Han Qing's body, giving him a chilling and piercing sensation all over his body.

Han Qing immediately activated the Ceasefire Sutra, and a large amount of magical power surged out of the spirit temple, creating a "storm" within his body.

At this moment, the two used Han Qing's body as their battlefield and began a contest.

Suddenly, a phantom image of a blue-robed figure holding chains appeared in Han Qing's mind. This giant image was formed by Long Chuan's spiritual energy.

However, in the next instant, a black-armored phantom suddenly appeared in front of him and slashed down with a sword in mid-air at the blue-robed phantom.

The illusory image in green was no match for it and was directly severed, turning into wisps of random thoughts that drifted away in all directions.

With a thought, Han Qing activated the Ceasefire Sutra, and numerous magical thoughts swept through his body, directly erasing all the intruding distracting thoughts.

Long Chuan grunted, his body swaying slightly, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes: "I didn't expect that you, young master, are already a master of the Body Reincarnation Realm at such a young age! Impressive! I, Long, am completely humbled!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhen was shocked. To be a master of the Body Reincarnation Realm at such a young age was truly astonishing. At this moment, he completely believed what Han Qing had said in the letter. The other party was not arrogant; he might actually have the strength to kill a Martial Saint.

"It was just a test, how could it reveal who was better? Mr. Long is too modest. In a real life-or-death battle, I might not be your match," Han Qing said with a smile.

Despite this, he was actually quite confident.

In that probing exchange just now, although neither side went all out and they only used their magical powers to clash from a distance, Han Qing won decisively. There is still a huge gap between the two sides in terms of raw strength.

This difference stems from the quality of the visualization practice; the quality of the Zhige Sutra is far superior to the visualization practiced by Longchuan.

Longchuan was well aware of this, so he immediately chose to admit defeat.

At this moment, he secretly used his magical powers to send a message to Cao Zhen from afar.

"My lord, Han Qing is indeed not boasting. He is a genuine cultivator at the Body Refining Realm. At such a young age, he already possesses such strength. It is no wonder that he will become a Great Sage of Military Strategy in the future. In my opinion, we should not hesitate to help him with all our might. This favor will be invaluable in the future!"

Cao Zhen nodded slightly. Han Qing's performance this time far exceeded his expectations. His temperament, talent, and ability were all top-notch. Such a person is not to be trifled with.

"Someone! Summon all the giant axe warriors!"

"Yes!"

He shouted, and a servant immediately responded from outside the door and quickly left.

Seeing this, Han Qing understood that Cao Zhen had made up his mind to help him kill the Martial Saint.
After a while, accompanied by a loud footstep, eighteen heavily armored warriors, wielding giant axes, and of imposing stature, strode into the barracks.

Han Qing glanced around and found that the eighteen people all had extremely unique physical attributes, similar to Mu Dachun, all of whom were born with immense strength.

The armor he wore and the giant axe he held were extremely heavy and not something an ordinary person could use. Therefore, every step he took was extremely loud, as if he could crush the bluestone slabs on the ground.

"These eighteen giant axe warriors are the most elite guards in our army. Each of them is born with superhuman strength, has been through countless battles, and is fearless in the face of death."

"From this day forward, these eighteen men will be at your command. I will also send an additional three thousand soldiers to help you slay the Martial Saint!" Cao Zhen said in a deep voice.

When he said these words, his heart was bleeding.

These eighteen people were all martial artists he had carefully trained. If they were to die at the hands of a martial saint, it would be a great loss.

But Han Qing's assertive behavior prompted him to go to great lengths to cultivate a good relationship with him.

Even if all eighteen men die in battle, it's worth it as long as Han Qing appreciates their kindness.

Han Qing nodded slightly: "Thank you, Commander Cao. These eighteen people are strong and have solid foundations. They can indeed provide me with great assistance. As for the three thousand elite soldiers, let's skip them. I have heard that the Martial Saint moves like a ghost and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Adding three thousand soldiers would not be of much use."

Cao Zhen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the elegant scholar beside him: "This is Cheng Xuanji, also a master sent by Lord Qi, who can provide you with great assistance."

"Young Master Han, Cheng Xuanji greets you!" The scholar slowly rose and bowed.

Han Qing noticed this person as soon as he entered the barracks. He felt that this person had the temperament of a gentleman, gentle and refined, and was a very easy person to get along with.

"Mr. Cheng, you are too polite!"

Han Qing responded, and suddenly the gentle voice of the young man reappeared in his mind.

“Young master, I come from Lishan Academy. If you ever need anything important in the future, please feel free to give me your orders, and I will do my best to help you.”

Han Qing replied from afar, "Thank you, Mr. Cheng."

Previously, Qi Wufeng had written to him informing him that a master from Lishan Academy was coming to Yinshan to help, presumably Cheng Xuanji, a master of the Confucian-Taoist Body Realm with great strength.

At this moment, Cheng Xuanji's gaze fell on Lin Yueqiu, who was standing next to Han Qing.

"Brother Lin, it seems you have had a great journey to the North. Judging from your aura, you are much stronger than you were a few months ago, which means your martial arts level has greatly improved."

Lin Yueqiu cupped his hands and said, "Cheng Xuanji has a keen eye. All of this is because of you, young master. Now that you are helping me, I am even more confident. I believe that even a Martial Saint cannot do anything to you, young master."

The two of them came from the same Lishan Academy and were very close in private. However, Cheng Xuanji was extremely polite to everyone, giving off a feeling that strangers should not approach him. No matter how familiar they were, they would keep their distance when speaking to each other.

"Lord Cao, there's no time to lose, so I'll take my leave now! Lord Cao is willing to help me, and I, Han Qing, am not an ungrateful person. If you need my help in the future, I will certainly do my best." At this point, Han Qing had achieved his goal.

Cao Zhen said in a deep voice, "Han Qing, I have already written a letter to Lord Qi explaining the situation here. I believe Lord Qi will reply soon."

If there's anything else you need my help with, just let me know. I won't refuse to help within my capabilities.

"Very well, Lord Cao, farewell!"

Han Qing said no more, got up and walked outside. He was accompanied by eighteen giant axe-wielding warriors, plus a Confucian spirit refiner, Cheng Xuanji.

Han Qing's confidence soared even higher.

Although the Martial Saint was powerful and Yang Wanxiu was a renowned expert in the capital, he was confident that he could kill the Martial Saint because he had so many experts by his side.

into the night.

The sky was dark and moonless, and a cold wind howled.

Youzhou.

The Chen family mansion, in the central courtyard.

creak creak!

In the dimly lit hall, a crystal coffin was slowly pushed open, and Chen Muxiu, with his ashen skin and stiff body, rose and walked out of the hall, reeking of decay.

There were dozens of black-clad martial artists in the courtyard, all with upright postures and solemn expressions.

"My lord, the matter has been investigated and cleared up. Young Master Chen An died at the hands of Han Qing, the commander of the Tiger Might Camp. This man was a genius martial artist who was being groomed by Qi Wufeng in Shu. He also killed Luo Ding, the most talented young man of the Luo family. Now he is in the eye of the storm." A white-bearded old man reported loudly.

Chen Muxiu's gaze was icy: "This boy is truly audacious! What is his strength? Who is helping him? Have you investigated this thoroughly?"

"My lord, it has been determined that there are two martial arts grandmasters by his side, one is Lin Yueqiu, and the other is Chen Ming, who betrayed the young master."

He himself was no more than twenty years old, and he was also a cultivator at the level of Military Strategist Integration, having undergone five transformations in his physical body. "The white-bearded old man continued.

Upon hearing this, Chen Muxiu frowned: "Not even twenty years old? What a genius! With such talent, we can't let him live. Go and summon Chen Linghui immediately. With such strength, only Chen Linghui can put my mind at ease!"

"Yes, my lord!"

After a while, footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, and then a long-faced middle-aged man in a green robe walked into the courtyard. His lips and teeth were black, and a sable was perched on his shoulder. Inside his clothes, there were colorful poisonous insects crawling around, moving about erratically, which was terrifying to look at.

Upon seeing the middle-aged man enter, the expressions of the large group of black-clad martial artists in the courtyard changed drastically, and they quickly made way for him. Even the powerful Chen Muxiu showed a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

Chen Linghui was not a member of the Chen family, but an outsider who became a servant of the Chen family to avoid trouble and was given the surname Chen.

Chen Linghui has a special constitution, naturally immune to all poisons, and has also opened the door to poisons, so his whole body is covered with deadly poisons.

His opponents often died without anyone noticing, and no one in the Chen family dared to approach him.

"Master, please give me your orders if you need anything," Chen Linghui said in a hoarse voice, his face expressionless.

"Go kill someone for me!" Chen Muxiu said, and a gust of cold wind swept through the courtyard. Strands of magical thought pierced into Chen Linghui's mind, conveying Han Qing's information to him.

Chen Linghui frowned: "Commander of the Tiger Might Battalion?"

“Indeed, with your strength, killing him shouldn’t be difficult. However, this person has Qi Wufeng’s support behind him, so you must not be careless,” Chen Muxiu said.

“Having undergone five transformations in the Dao, and reaching the Unity Realm of Spirit Refining, killing him is indeed not difficult!” Chen Linghui said no more, slowly turned around and left, his figure soon disappearing into the night.

...

Tiger Might Camp.

Central compound.

in the room.

"Mr. Cheng, please have some tea!"

Han Qing and Cheng Xuanji sat facing each other, and a servant came forward and poured a cup of hot tea for each of them.

Cheng Xuanji was a guest, not a subordinate, so Han Qing had to treat him with utmost courtesy.

Cheng Xuanji took a small sip of the hot tea and praised, "Excellent tea!"

After taking that sip, he felt his blood and energy surging throughout his body, as if he had inexhaustible strength; it was truly miraculous.

"To be honest, this tea is brewed with a medicinal soup made from the blood crystal of creation, and it can be called a holy medicine of our time," Han Qing said calmly.

"I see. I heard years ago that the Creation Blood Crystal is a first-class elixir of heaven and earth, which can even help saints. I never thought that I would be able to taste it one day. Not bad, not bad. Thank you, young master." Cheng Xuanji nodded with a smile.

"I traveled from Shu to the North, and you escorted me all the way. What's a cup of spiritual tea compared to that?" Han Qing shook his head.

After returning to camp yesterday, he had a very pleasant conversation with Cheng Xuanji. Cheng Xuanji was a refined and knowledgeable man with an extraordinary way of speaking, from which he learned a lot.

He also learned that during his previous trip to the North, Qi Wufeng had mentioned that Liu Yue had sent a powerful figure to protect him in secret, and that person was Cheng Xuanji.

Although Cheng Xuanji did not appear in person, she secretly followed the team and helped them avert several life-or-death crises in advance.

Upon hearing this, Han Qing was secretly surprised, as he had not sensed Cheng Xuanji's presence at all.

However, upon further reflection, Cheng Xuanji was a master of the Possession Realm, possessing immense strength and an extraordinary ability to conceal his aura; it was normal that he couldn't detect him.

While pondering, Cheng Xuanji had already drunk the spiritual tea in his cup in one gulp. He felt a tremendous force surging through his body, and a surge of powerful qi and blood was flowing through him.

He suddenly stood up and laughed, "This medicine is truly potent. Young master, why don't you have a friendly spar?"

"Good! Since entering the Body Possession Realm, I haven't fully become familiar with the changes in my body. I'm in dire need of a sparring partner to increase my practical combat experience. You've come at just the right time!"

Han Qing's eyes lit up, and he strode into the courtyard.

Cheng Xuanji followed closely behind, and the two then began to spar in the courtyard.

First, they sparred in martial arts, then they engaged in a battle using their spiritual power.

Bang bang bang!
A muffled thunderous sound echoed in the courtyard. Both of them moved at extremely fast speed, displaying incredibly skillful lightness techniques.

However, Han Qing's graceful and stunning beauty was ultimately superior, and she quickly gained the upper hand.

At one point, the two exchanged a palm strike and then abruptly separated.

Cheng Xuanji retreated more than ten steps to his feet, then shook his head and said, "Young Master's close combat ability is truly formidable. I concede defeat."

"You flatter me!" Han Qing said with a smile.

He was indeed very confident in his close-combat skills.

Neither of them used their full strength in this sparring match. Han Qing didn't even use any other advanced fighting techniques; he only used a first-grade lightness skill to easily suppress Cheng Xuanji.

Cheng Xuanji couldn't keep up with his speed at all. After exchanging more than ten blows, the situation became increasingly worse, and he had no choice but to admit defeat.

"Did you just display a first-class lightness skill, graceful as a startled swan?" Cheng Xuanji asked.

"Not bad." Han Qing nodded.

"No wonder he's so fast. I've longed to learn this lightness skill for a long time, but unfortunately I've never had the chance," Cheng Xuanji sighed.

“If you wish to learn, sir, I will teach you,” Han Qing said loudly, a thought stirring in his heart.

Cheng Xuanji came to help him deal with the Martial Saint's ambush, which was a great risk. Han Qing was extremely grateful, and giving him a lightness skill was nothing.

However, Cheng Xuanji shook his head: "How could I take advantage of you, young master? How about this, my martial arts are mediocre, so I'll give you a spell called the Divine Light Mirror Technique. I'll demonstrate it for you, so watch carefully!"

As he spoke, a cold wind swept through the courtyard, and suddenly, gold-plated inscriptions flew out from Cheng Xuanji's body, converging above his head to form a solid mirror. White light shot out from the mirror and instantly landed on Han Qing.

Han Qing instantly felt that the flow of time in this world had slowed down. The people around him were moving at an extremely slow speed, and even the sounds entering his ears became one word at a time, as if they had been turned on at 0.5x speed.

Then, the magic mirror shattered, the white light dissipated, and Han Qing returned to normal, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

"Could this spell possibly slow down a person's thoughts and five senses?" Han Qing pondered.

“Young master is indeed clever. The Divine Light Mirror Technique can freeze the thoughts of others, giving them the illusion that time has stopped. In a life-or-death battle, this might be able to turn the tide. How about it? If you are willing, young master, I will exchange the Divine Light Mirror Technique for your graceful and ethereal beauty,” Cheng Xuanji said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)