Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 58 Fame Spreads Throughout the World

With Ouyang Ke's departure from Yangzhou, the news of him taking the "Longevity Manual" spread like wildfire throughout the land, fueled by Yuwen Huaji. In no time, Ouyang Ke's name had become the most prominent among the younger generation in the martial arts world in recent years.

As one of the "Four Great Martial Arts Books," the "Longevity Manual" naturally attracted the covetous eyes of many ambitious individuals.

The bright moon shone on the river, and two large ships sailed in from a tributary ahead, blocking the way.

Looking at the flags flying on the large ship, some people on the riverbank recognized it as the flagship of Li Zitong, the overlord of the East China Sea.

Li Zitong is a ruthless man. He first started an uprising in Changbai Mountain, and after crossing the Huai River, he supported Du Fuwei as his leader. Not long ago, for some unknown reason, he turned against Du Fuwei, led his troops to occupy Hailing, and proclaimed himself a general.

Legend has it that his unique weapon, the "Bamboo-Joint Copper Whip," is shaped like a long stick and is listed among the "extraordinary skills and arts." It can be both soft and hard, and is specifically designed to break internal energy. After parting ways with Du Fuwei, he first captured Hailing County and then defeated the Sui army's encirclement and suppression several times. Together with Du Fuwei, who occupied Liyang, they were the two most powerful rebel armies in the Jiangnan region.

The decks and stands of both ships were packed with people, looking menacing, as if they had received some advance warning and were trying to intercept the enemy.

The moonlight was like water, and a man stood with his hands behind his back on the deck of a large ship. He was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a handsome and dashing appearance. However, his temples were streaked with white, and his white robes fluttered in the river breeze, giving him a somewhat elegant and otherworldly air. The only flaw was his eyes, which were narrow and long, giving him a disproportionate appearance and failing to complement his otherwise perfect features. This man was Li Zitong, the overlord of the East Sea.

Although the Sui army now controls the Jiangdu area, its naval power is gradually losing out to Li Zitong.

Some curious onlookers on the riverbank stared at Li Zitong, surprised that he was so refined and handsome. They were also curious about who else in the Jiangnan region, besides the Sui army, would warrant such a large-scale operation and personal intervention from Li Zitong.

Li Zitong stood with his hands behind his back, his gleaming eyes slowly sweeping across the river, and said calmly, "How much longer until that person shows up?"

A capable scholar behind him respectfully reported, "Reporting to the general, according to the reports from the scouts along the coast, this person will arrive here in no more than half an hour."

"Very well!" A slight smile appeared on Li Zitong's lips, and a sharp glint appeared in his piercing eyes. He said softly, "Yuwen Huaji is utterly incompetent. Unable to deal with this person himself, he deliberately leaked the information, hoping we would take care of him for him. In that case, I will gladly accept the Longevity Formula."

Although the imperial guards who followed Yang Guang from Guanzhong to Jiangnan had defeated the rebel armies in Jiangnan many times, many of these homesick imperial guards had secretly deserted because Yang Guang showed no intention of returning north. This led to the growth of the two rebel armies led by Li Zitong and Du Fuwei.

Now, with Li Zitong's growing influence and the recent recruitment of tens of thousands of elite soldiers, he has the strength to attack Jiangdu.

As one of the four great martial arts books, the "Longevity Manual" is a treasure that no ambitious person in the world would sit idly by and miss.

Upon hearing of the man's whereabouts, how could Li Zitong willingly let him go!

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a light appeared in the distance on the river ahead, slowly moving closer.

The soldiers on the two large ships stood up in shock, and upon closer inspection, they were all astonished. Under the bright moonlight, they saw a small boat with a narrow bow and stern, with a bamboo pole erected on it, from which hung an exquisite octagonal palace lantern.

But the boat was completely empty, not a soul in sight. What was most bizarre was that the small boat seemed to be supported underwater, sailing freely across the wide river, heading straight towards them—it was extremely eerie.

Upon seeing this, Li Zitong's eyes narrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "No need to panic, there must be someone manning the boat underwater."

Seeing this, some people drew their bows and arrows, but the airship seemed to have eyes, immediately changing its angle of approach, causing all the arrows to miss, and then charging head-on.

The small boat had already approached within twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters). It seemed that it would soon be able to use its agility to get past the two large ships blocking its way.

Li Zitong snorted coldly, snatched a long spear from a soldier beside him, and hurled it with all his might. Everyone focused intently on the spear, watching it shoot across nearly twenty zhang (approximately 60 meters) like lightning, then skim the river's surface, disappearing about a foot underwater like a giant white water dragon as it approached the small boat. The sheer power he used was breathtaking. With this single move, Li Zitong truly deserved the title of Overlord of the East Sea.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the spear rapidly approached the airship coming downstream, the distance decreasing inch by inch. The airship, however, showed no intention of avoiding it.

"Bang!" Despite the splashing water everywhere, the small boat remained unharmed.

Upon seeing this, Li Zitong's pupils contracted, and he hurled another spear with lightning speed. This time, the spear spun around and plunged into the water. Everyone focused on the river where the enemy was hiding, yet they heard no sound of oars striking the enemy, and the distance rapidly closed.

For the first time, Li Zitong had a strange feeling; this was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre scene since he started his rebellion.

He had fought countless battles throughout his life and had seen all sorts of fierce moves, but this time, he had already fallen into a passive position before even seeing the person.

But he was a martial arts master, and with a thought, he understood why: his opponent must have been hiding underwater beforehand, using skillful means to break the spear he had thrown through the water, which was why the small boat was safe and sound.

Li Zitong snorted coldly, having made up his mind that since the enemy was unwilling to show himself, he would force him to do so. The next moment, he leaped from the deck, traversing more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) of space, and landed steadily on the small boat.

Feeling a distinct sensation in his feet, Li Zitong abruptly drew his three-foot-two-inch-long "nine-section copper whip," and with a flick of his wrist, the whip snapped and lashed out at the small boat beneath his feet with a clang. However, a beam of silver light suddenly shot out from the water, colliding with Li Zitong's whip and producing a dull thud of energy clashing. The timing of this strike was impeccable, hitting the very tip of the whip.

Li Zitong felt as if he had been electrocuted, and the force of the impact sent him flying backward. He felt a tingling numbness in his right hand holding the whip, and even his blood and qi in his chest seemed to be fluctuating. He was immediately alarmed.

It should be known that his skills are characterized by strength and masculinity. Since he raised an army in the Jiangnan region, apart from Du Fuwei, who could rival him, everyone else has been defeated by the nine-section copper whip in his hand. Now, before even facing the enemy, he has already been given a show of force.

Using the momentum, Li Zitong drifted away in the opposite direction. When he reached the large ship, he used a little force to leap into the air and swoop down on the small boat like an eagle snatching a chick. At the same time, a dark shadow, accompanied by a shower of water droplets, shot diagonally up from the river surface ten feet away, crossed the water like a meteor, and flew onto the small boat. Its speed seemed to have exceeded the limits of physics.

Seeing this, Li Zitong's eyes narrowed. The water droplets that surged up from the sky transformed into countless fine strands of energy, which, like sharp knives, attacked Li Zitong with the force of the wind, slashing, cutting, and hacking, like mercury spilling onto the ground, making it impossible to defend against.

This was the first time Li Zitong had encountered such internal strength.

He wielded his nine-section copper whip, weaving a trail of light and shadow that resembled an open umbrella, reaching upwards to meet the attack. The sounds of their clashes echoed continuously as Li Zitong's copper whip firmly blocked the water droplets containing fine, wispy energy, drawing cheers from the crew on both large ships.

Li Zitong wore a smug expression, but inwardly he was already on high alert. Since their first encounter, he had been on the defensive, and now he was in an unusually precarious situation, realizing that his opponent was a formidable foe.

At the same time, a silver light flashed like lightning, striking Li Zitong's face precisely when his strength was waning. Li Zitong realized the power of this move and dared not hold back any longer. He lashed out with his whip, quickly striking the point where his opponent's energy was released.

In that instant, he sent out nine bursts of energy, indicating the urgency of his situation.

"Boom!" Li Zitong's body jolted, his eyes wide with disbelief, as he was forced to be pushed back towards the large ship several feet away. After his toes touched the ground, his body swayed slightly, barely managing to stand, his face flushed, and he spat out a small mouthful of blood.

This was the first time he had ever been so humiliated since he raised his army. Even when he turned against Du Fuwei, he hadn't been this disheveled. Li Zitong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, his gaze fixed intently on the figure on the small boat: "Are you perhaps Ouyang Ke?"

The person on the small boat had his back to the bright moon, with golden light shining down from behind him, but his face was not in darkness. A glint of purple light flashed in his eyes, making him appear indescribably sinister.

The man stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "I'll trouble General Li to see me off."

Hearing the man's strong voice, as if he hadn't suffered the slightest injury in their fierce exchange, Li Zitong was secretly astonished by the power of the Longevity Technique. He suddenly shifted to the port side, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and laughed heartily, "No wonder Yuwen Huaji was defeated by you. Your martial arts are indeed superb, even I, Li, can't help but feel envious. Let's call it a day. May you have a safe journey."

Having spent years in the underworld, he was adept at taking risks and letting go of grudges. Knowing he had missed the best opportunity to capture his opponent, he decided to go with the flow and do him a favor, avoiding a deadly feud. After all, if his opponent survived, he would undoubtedly become an invincible top-tier expert within a few years, an enemy no one wanted to provoke. He immediately abandoned the idea of ​​calling his men for another forceful attack.

Everyone was taken aback; this seemed unlike Li Zitong's usual style. Li Zitong clasped his hands in a fist salute again, which finally convinced everyone to accept his choice.

The small boat had already passed through the river blocked by two large ships, and with the moonlight shining down, everyone could finally see the figures on the small boat clearly.

The man was dressed in black, the dark clothes perfectly highlighting his energetic physique.

As the river breeze blew, his jet-black hair fluttered gently across his broad forehead, which seemed to be sculpted from jade. A purple light seemed to constantly flow between his eyes, making it difficult for anyone to look directly at him.

This scene left everyone stunned. Li Zitong, unusually, shook his head slightly and sighed with a complex tone, "It seems that in a few years, the martial arts world will have another top master."

Ouyang Ke looked back and gazed into the distance, watching Li Zitong on the large ship gradually shrink in size, before finally letting out a long sigh of relief. Although he had indeed repelled Li Zitong, he had also paid a considerable price; his innate purple energy had not yet recovered to the level of his former Nine Yang Divine Skill.

If he had truly been blocked by Li Zitong, and with the combined might of the two large ships' soldiers, his only option would have been to jump ship and escape. Fortunately, he took a risky move, forcing Li Zitong to take action himself. While repelling the enemy, his small boat also managed to slip through the blockade of the two large ships.

Seeing that they were far from the encirclement, Ouyang Ke pursed his lips and whistled. The whistle was clear and melodious, soaring straight into the sky.

The next moment, a ball of fire landed swiftly on Ouyang Ke's shoulder. Ouyang Ke smiled and said, "Have you shaken off the pursuers by the river?"

The firebird on my shoulder let out a soft cry, as if in response.

If it hadn't given a warning in advance, Ouyang Ke would have been completely blocked on the river by the large ships personally led by Li Zitong, and a bloody battle would have been inevitable.

His legs had not yet recovered, and being surrounded would certainly be disadvantageous for him. Therefore, he hid under the small boat in advance, which led to the story of Li Zitong being forced to take action personally.

Thinking back on his experiences along the way, Ouyang Ke suddenly snorted coldly and said, "Yuwen Huaji, next time I see you, I will definitely take your life!" His gaze then turned towards the direction of Jiangdu, clearly showing that he had already harbored murderous intent towards Yuwen Huaji.

Several days later, in a small town nearly a thousand miles away.

In a simple restaurant, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling sat in a corner with bitter faces, stealing glances at the white-clad woman across from them who had taken their copy of the "Longevity Manual". The two of them were speechless.

They thought that after learning the "Longevity Manual" and receiving martial arts instruction from their elder brother, the brothers would finally be free to roam the world. But unexpectedly, they were captured by this fierce woman right from the start. Not only did she steal the copy of the "Longevity Manual" given to them by their elder brother, but she also took their freedom. Who knows how long they'll have to endure this misery?

They had just heard news about their elder brother, that he had personally defeated Yuwen Huaji and then defeated Li Zitong, the overlord of the East Sea, who had come to intercept them, in the middle of the river. He had now become the most prominent and renowned expert in the entire Jiangnan region. Upon hearing this news, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were overjoyed, but upon seeing the woman in white so close to them, their joy vanished in an instant.

The woman in white caught sight of their gazes and sneered, "You two had better tell me honestly about your past with that person, or you can forget about getting your freedom."

Kou Zhong feigned surprise and said, "You jest, Master. Xiao Ling and I would never dare to hide anything from you."

Xu Ziling forced a smile and said, "Yes, Zhong Shao and I have told the Great Master everything. We hope the Great Master will allow us brothers to leave."

Kou Zhong nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes. There are no more misunderstandings now, and we are still good friends."

The woman in white glared at him and said disdainfully, "What makes you think you can associate with me, brat? Don't even think about leaving until you explain yourself about that person."

Looking at the two men with pained expressions, the woman in white felt a rare surge of emotion. Originally from Goryeo, she viewed the people of the Central Plains as enemies, but for some reason, after capturing these two simple-minded boys, she felt a strange sense of concern. Normally, she would show no mercy to the people of the Central Plains, yet she found herself unable to muster any killing intent towards them.

After capturing the two boys, she realized that they had inexplicably mastered innate true qi. Recalling the person she fought in the dilapidated temple, she knew that their achievements must be inextricably linked to that person.

But those two silly boys deliberately avoided the topic, clearly unwilling to tell her what had happened.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads simultaneously, inwardly lamenting their misfortune.

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