At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

The capital of the Northern Barbarians, the residence of the Left Wise King Tuoba Lie.

This mansion occupies a vast area and is surrounded by high walls.

The most magnificent part of the mansion is not the main hall or the garden, but the training ground paved with bluestone slabs on the east side.

The training ground was about three acres in size, and the weapon racks at the four corners were neatly arranged with knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—all eighteen kinds of weapons were available.

The ground was paved with three-foot square bluestone slabs, each one polished smooth as a mirror, the marks left by Tuoba Lie's more than ten years of day and night practice.

At this moment, the sun was setting in the west, and the slanting rays of sunlight dyed the training ground a golden hue.

Tuoba Lie stood in the center of the field, dressed in a black outfit with a dark leather belt around his waist. His long hair was tied back with a jade hairpin, with a few strands hanging down in front of his forehead.

He was tall and slender, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His face was resolute, his eyebrows were like distant mountains, and his eyes were like bright stars. He exuded a calm and steady aura.

Opposite him, ten mysterious figures dressed in black, wielding long swords and with their faces covered, spread out in a fan shape, surrounding him in the center.

These ten men were top-tier swordsmen handpicked by Tuoba Lie from the Northern Di army; each one was a seasoned veteran of countless battles.

Their swordsmanship was ruthless and sharp, and their teamwork was excellent.

"Let's begin," Tuoba Lie commanded.

The ten men in black moved at the same time.

Three men launched a feint attack from the front, four men flanked from both sides, and three men circled around to the rear to block the retreat.

Ten longswords were drawn simultaneously, their light as white as snow and their chilling aura penetrating. The ten sword shadows wove together a dense, impenetrable net, enveloping Tuoba Lie.

Tuoba Lie did not retreat.

His right hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and with a gentle flick of his thumb, the longsword was drawn three inches from its sheath with a crisp "clang," like the cry of a dragon and the song of a phoenix.

The next moment, his body moved like a falling leaf, weaving through the gaps between the ten longswords.

The first sword came from the left. He slightly turned his body, and the sword's edge grazed his clothes, missing by just an inch.

The second sword swept horizontally from the right. He lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his whole body rose into the air, the sword blade slicing through the soles of his feet.

The third sword, the fourth sword, the fifth sword!

Tuoba Lie's sword remained unsheathed.

He simply dodges, simply moves, precisely avoiding each attack with the slightest movement.

The black-clad men's swordsmanship was undeniably fast, and their teamwork was impeccable, yet Tuoba Lie anticipated every strike and effortlessly dodged them.

Tuoba Lie's lips curled up slightly.

He drew his sword.

The sword is entirely silver-white, with a blade as thin as a cicada's wing, and faint water-like patterns flowing across its surface.

The sword was thrust out, its blade trembling and emitting a buzzing sound.

The sound was like the tinkling of a spring, the babbling of a stream, and the rushing of a river.

The sword intent is like water, penetrating everywhere.

"Flowing Water Divine Sword, First Form: Gentle Stream"

The sword light was like silk, continuous and unbroken.

The ten men in black felt a flash of white light before their eyes, as if an invisible stream was flowing between them.

Their longswords were deflected by the flash of the blade, their wrists were lightly touched by the back of the sword, their hands went numb, and their longswords slipped from their grasp.

"The second move, The Great River Flows East."

Tuoba Lie's swordplay suddenly changed, from gentle to fierce.

The sword light was like a surging river, wave after wave, covering the sky and the earth.

Before the ten men in black could retreat, they were struck by the sword wind, their bodies flying backward uncontrollably and crashing heavily to the ground with muffled thuds.

Ten men, ten swords, all fell to the ground in an instant.

Tuoba Lie sheathed his sword, his breathing steady, his expression normal.

"Excellent! Your Highness's swordsmanship has reached a new level!"

A round of applause erupted from the pavilion, accompanied by a deep, resonant laugh from an elderly man.

Tuoba Lie turned around, bowed slightly towards the pavilion, and smiled humbly.

"You flatter me, Mr. Xue."

In the pavilion, an elderly man with white hair stood up.

He was thin and wiry, with a long white beard reaching his chest. He wore a gray-blue robe and exuded the air of a hermit.

This person's surname is Xue, and his given name is Wuchen.

Tuoba Lie walked out of the pavilion, stood in front of Tuoba Lie, looked him up and down, his eyes full of admiration.

"Your Highness is truly gifted. This Flowing Water Divine Sword technique of mine was created only after a lifetime of painstaking effort."

"It would take others at least three to five years to even get a basic understanding of it."

"Your Highness has cultivated to such a level in just one year. In all my years, I have never seen such a prodigy."

Tuoba Lie smiled modestly and cupped his hands, saying, "Elder Xue, you flatter me. I owe my success today entirely to your guidance. Without your generous teachings, even if I practiced for another ten years, I would never have even scratched the surface of the Flowing Water Divine Sword."

Xue Wuchen waved his hand, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"Your Highness is too modest. Talent, comprehension, and diligence are all indispensable. Your Highness possesses all three, and I am merely going with the flow."

The two entered the pavilion and sat facing each other.

A maidservant served fragrant tea. Tuoba Lie picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and gazed thoughtfully at the distant horizon.

"Elder Xue, I have a question to ask you."

"Please speak, Your Highness."

"What exactly are the differences between Northern Barbarian martial arts and Central Plains martial arts?"

Xue Wuchen stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "The martial arts of the Northern Barbarians emphasize momentum over intention. They are about being fierce and domineering, using brute force to overcome skill. They are suitable for military campaigns, sweeping away everything in the midst of thousands of troops."

"Just like the spear technique of the barbarian slayer, once the spear is thrust out, there is no return, and it is unstoppable."

"On the battlefield, this tactic definitely has a huge advantage."

Tuoba Lie nodded without speaking, waiting for Xue Wuchen to continue.

"But if they encounter a truly top-tier master," Xue Wuchen changed the subject, "the weaknesses of Northern Di martial arts will be exposed. They have plenty of force but lack variety; they possess immense strength but lack finesse. Once their opponents see through the flaws in their moves, it's like having their firewood removed from a cauldron, leaving them utterly vulnerable."

Tuoba Lie narrowed his eyes slightly.

"What about martial arts from the Central Plains?"

Xue Wuchen smiled slightly, a hint of arrogance flashing in his eyes.

"The martial arts of the Central Plains emphasize not only techniques, but also state of mind."

"Only with a calm mind can one perceive the opponent's weaknesses; only with a steady mind can one make the most correct judgment in the face of life and death."

"The martial arts of the Central Plains emphasize intent over form, and momentum over brute force."

"The same sword technique, when used by the Northern Di people, is wide and powerful, and awe-inspiring, while when used by the Central Plains people, it seems light and casual, but in fact it hides a deadly intent."

He paused, looking at Tuoba Lie with a deep gaze.

"Your Highness was able to master the Flowing Water Divine Sword within a year because you possess both the ferocity of the Northern Barbarians and the mindset of the Central Plains people. You combine strength and gentleness, cultivating both inner and outer strength. This is the true path of martial arts."

Tuoba Lie stood up, walked to the pavilion, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the setting sun that was about to sink below the horizon.

"Elder Xue, I've always wanted to know, with my current martial arts skills, where would I rank among the truly top-tier masters?"

Xue Wuchen remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I cannot answer that."

Why?

"Because I don't know either." Xue Wuchen's voice carried a hint of regret. "When I was in the Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty, I sparred with many masters, but I never met a truly outstanding person. Those people either lived in seclusion in the deep mountains, detached from worldly affairs, or held high positions in the imperial court, unknown to outsiders. I only know that there are heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people."

A hint of longing flashed in Tuoba Lie's eyes.

"There are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people..." he murmured, repeating the phrase, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty is quite interesting!"

Just then, a man in armor strode into the training ground, passed by the black-clad men who were still rubbing their sore wrists, and knelt down on one knee in front of the pavilion.

This man was Tuoba Lie's right-hand man, named Kublai Khan. He followed Tuoba Lie for more than ten years, was extremely loyal, and was skilled in both literature and martial arts.

"Your Highness, news has arrived from the Northern Border."

As Kublai Khan spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted to Xue Wuchen in the pavilion.

Tuoba Lie noticed his gaze, waved his hand, and laughed, "It's alright, Elder Xue is one of us, so please speak freely."

Kublai Khan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, a great change has occurred in the northern border. General Man Tu was beheaded on the battlefield outside Yuzhou City, and General Man Xiao is seriously injured and his life is uncertain. The army of 50,000 has been defeated, Qingzhou has fallen, and the Right Wise King has led 3,000 remaining soldiers to retreat to Cangzhou."

Tuoba Lie's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body leaned forward slightly.

"Barbarian Butcher was killed? He was a disciple of the Northern Barbarian's number one spearman, one of the top three fierce generals of the Northern Barbarians. Who could kill him?"

Kublai Khan raised his head, his voice low.

"The one who killed the barbarian slayer was an old general with white hair in the Great Qian army named Su Mu. He was over a hundred years old. He fought the barbarian slayer one-on-one in front of the battle and killed him with his spear technique in just six rounds."

"Six rounds?" Tuoba Lie frowned. "He killed Man Tu with spear techniques? Man Tu's spear techniques are unparalleled among the Northern Di..."

A look of shock flashed in Xue Wuchen's eyes, and the teacup in his hand stopped in mid-air, and he forgot to put it down.

"Is that Su Mu who killed Yeluqi?" Tuoba Lie pressed.

"Indeed." Kublai Khan nodded. "This man had already killed Yeluqi outside Qinghe County, and now he has killed the barbarian chieftain, defeated an army of 50,000, and recovered Qingzhou... In the Daqian army, this man has become a legend."

Tuoba Lie slowly stood up, walked to the edge of the pavilion, and remained silent for a long time.

Xue Wuchen also stood up, walked to his side, and lowered his voice to say, "Your Highness, this man is over a hundred years old, yet he was able to kill several fierce generals of the Northern Di. His martial arts skills are unfathomable. This man is probably the biggest stumbling block on the Northern Di's road to conquering the Great Qian. If Your Highness goes to the Northern Border in the future, you must be very careful."

Tuoba Lie remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Old Xue, what kind of martial art does this Su Mu practice?"

Xue Wuchen was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't know, but someone who can kill a barbarian slayer is definitely not an ordinary person."

Tuoba Lie's lips slowly curled up, a blazing light flashing in his eyes.

"A centenarian with such strength... I really want to meet him."

Xue Wuchen frowned, about to say something, when another series of hurried footsteps came from outside the training ground.

A soldier ran quickly to the pavilion, knelt on one knee, and panted heavily.

"Your Highness! The King urgently summons you to the palace!"

"It's finally here."

Tuoba Lie said softly, his tone showing no surprise, only a calm acceptance.

He turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to Xue Wuchen, and said, "Elder Xue, I'll be going to the royal court first."

Xue Wuchen returned the greeting, saying, "Your Highness, please wait patiently. I will await good news here."

Tuoba Lie strode out of the training ground, with Kublai Khan following closely behind.

As Tuoba Lie walked, he asked with a smile, "Kublai Khan, you said the King summoned me, what is the matter?"

Kublai Khan whispered, "He probably wants the prince to go to the northern border to replace the Right Wise King."

Tuoba Lie nodded and smiled, "Yes, it's time to go out for a walk!"