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    Edict of Peace 146

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    Chapter 146: The Ghost Market’s Order, Twenty-Four Generals; Kicking the Gate, Strongest Physique

    The poison in this porcelain bottle is the culprit that has tormented Li Guanyi for ten years. The excruciating pain in his chest, whenever it flares up, is almost enough to make him faint. It often lasts for an hour or two, and when it finally subsides, he’s drenched in sweat, feeling like he’s been through death.

    This is even after Li Guanyi’s mother transferred her Azure Bird Law Physique to him.

    If not for his mother’s protection, Li Guanyi would have died from the pain.

    Hearing the old man say it was an item from the Ying Country royal family, Li Guanyi’s emotions surged, then subsided.

    Sure enough…

    He merely thought this to himself.

    Guan Shier stood at the entrance of the Ghost Market, looking at the porcelain bottle. He took out a silver needle, dipped it in the poisonous blood, and casually touched a mechanism. Li Guanyi watched as the jade on the mechanism visibly changed color, quickly turning purple, then a deep black in the concentrated areas.

    Guan Shier’s expression solidified. He looked at Li Guanyi and said:

    “You!!!”

    The Mohist elder’s face changed several times. Finally, looking at the young man, he said:

    “This is a level only usable with the Emperor’s order.”

    “Legend says it comes from an extremely poisonous creature. Eight hundred years ago, the Red Emperor ordered the Divine Generals of the land to hunt down an ancient beast, a Fei, and this is what they obtained. It’s a remnant from the era of ancient myths.”

    “It is said to be like an ox with a white head, one eye, and a snake’s tail. Its name is Fei. If it walks through water, the water dries up; if it walks through grass, the grass dies; and if it is seen, a great plague sweeps the land.”

    “The Red Emperor personally led the Divine Generals to conquer and slay this ancient beast that wreaked havoc in its era.”

    “When the mountain-like beast fell, a radius of five hundred miles became a toxic swamp, which took eight hundred days to dissipate. The remaining substance was found in a large lump beneath its horn, containing blood as clear as jade, incredibly poisonous. Ying Country’s ancestors took it.”

    “They ascended to power, and overcame several dangers using the Fei’s brow blood.”

    “It is extremely precious, used only when the Emperor deems it absolutely necessary. The current Ying Emperor, known for his benevolence and steadfastness, would not use such means to kill more than three people…”

    Guan Shier said slowly, emphasizing each word: “Don’t show this thing to anyone else next time.”

    “Or you’ll be in big trouble!”

    Li Guanyi said, “It’s because it’s a Mohist elder that I dared to show it.”

    Guan Shier had nothing to say. The Mohists were renowned throughout the land, the most trustworthy group of martial artists. Their leader was one of the Six Palace Masters, ensuring the safety and propriety of the Mohist’s actions.

    Guan Shier threw the porcelain bottle back to Li Guanyi and then took out a wooden box, handing it over.

    “Put it in here; it will mask the aura, making it safer.”

    Li Guanyi thanked him and put the box away. The Mohist elder remained silent for a long time, looking at Li Guanyi before sighing deeply and saying:

    “The Emperor of Chen, the Emperor of Ying, the Ying prince, and the Jianghu (martial world)… Fei blood, assassination… A person like you, entering the Jianghu, will never have peace. Your father’s reputation is too great, his ambitions too vast, and he has offended too many people.”

    “The whole world is your enemy, child. You have a hard life.”

    Li Guanyi tucked the box back into his waistband. He patted the sword at his waist, laughing freely and replying, “I’ve lived this long, with all my limbs intact, not blind or deaf, though poor, not dead, and with excellent martial arts skills.”

    “I have friends, I have teachers.”

    “Friends from all corners of the world, sir. I have a very good life!”

    Guan Shier didn’t say anything else. He just smiled, went to bid farewell to the Nightless Marquis of the Ghost Market, and returned to Li Guanyi, saying, “Your personality is well-suited to becoming a Mohist. The world is so vast; I will wait for the day you become famous throughout the land.”

    “I’m going now.”

    The Mohist simply waved his hand to Li Guanyi before turning away. He shouldered his box and left calmly, without another word. Li Guanyi’s smile faded as he gripped his sword and went to meet the Nightless Marquis of the Ghost Market.

    The Nightless Marquis sat in his chair, his expression gentle and composed, though Li Guanyi didn’t know if this was his true demeanor. The Nightless Marquis smiled faintly, “Guest, were you satisfied with the hospitality of the Nether Ghost Market?”

    Finding the Mohist elder, who was most likely able to cure the musician, in such a short time…

    The Nether Ghost Market’s influence is indeed at the pinnacle of the Jianghu.

    Li Guanyi nodded in thanks.

    The Nightless Marquis said, “Since the guest is satisfied, let’s settle the account. The Ghost Market operates on clear principles and pricing. Bring it over, someone!” The Nightless Marquis clapped his hands, and a masked Ghost Market attendant brought over a box.

    The Nightless Marquis gestured for Li Guanyi to open it.

    Li Guanyi opened the box and found a token inside.

    It was made of wood, smooth to the touch.

    This was a Nether Ghost Market VIP token.

    Though it was only the lowest-level wooden token, it couldn’t compare to the token of Master Siming.

    But it was still a VIP token.

    It granted access to various forms of assistance within the Nether Ghost Market, the opportunity to purchase rare materials, and even the chance to participate in certain secret gatherings and transmit information.

    Li Guanyi looked at the Nightless Marquis, who sipped his tea, calmly and unhurriedly saying:

    “I almost forgot.”

    “Earlier, the guest completed a task for my Nether Ghost Market.”

    “Around the Nether Ghost Market, there are many black market merchants who, knowing of our existence, wish to attach themselves to the Ghost Market’s reputation, yet lack a VIP token. So they settled near the Nether Ghost Market, trading goods. The Ghost Market wished to remove them, but we lacked a good opportunity.”

    “We posted a bounty previously, and the guest fulfilled it, clearing them out.”

    “This VIP token is for you.”

    “As for the musician’s arm… ah… the payment has already been made.”

    Li Guanyi looked at the Nightless Marquis, stroking the token and saying,

    “May I ask when the bounty regarding the black markets outside the Nether Ghost Market was posted?”

    The Nightless Marquis rubbed his teacup, smiling faintly, “Just now.”

    “I see. I understand.”

    Li Guanyi nodded, swept his sleeve, and put away the token. Dawn was breaking. Li Guanyi thought for a moment and said, “Can I try using the Ghost Market’s services?”

    The Nightless Marquis said gently, “Of course.”

    He called someone to explain the various areas of the Ghost Market in detail to Li Guanyi. Li Guanyi stopped and looked at the place where information was traded. The Ghost official said, “This is where information is traded. You can write down what you want to know, place it in the box.”

    “The Ghost Market will then find out the information you want.”

    “Then place it in the box. Those investigating the information will not know your identity, or rather, those investigating the information, we Ghost Officials, our information is not shared between us, to ensure the safety of the guest’s identity.”

    “The value of the information itself will need to be traded for gold, treasures, or equivalent information.”

    Li Guanyi tried it. He paused, writing down several generals’ names. Two were among the twenty-four generals scattered from the Taiping Gong, the others were generals who had left Chen Country for various reasons. Then he put it in the box.

    Regardless of whether the twenty-four generals were willing to help him, he subconsciously wanted to find out their whereabouts and safety.

    Many VIPs want to try the Nether Ghost Market’s methods on their first visit.

    The Ghost Official was used to this.

    He simply nodded and said, “Then, in three days, the guest can come to the Ghost Market to receive your results. The payment will be collected according to the wishes of the information provider, and the Ghost Market will also take a 20% fee. I’ve told you this in advance.”

    Everything was finished. Li Guanyi left the Ghost Market. He carried his sword at his waist, his sleeves still stained with blood. He walked slowly away from the Ghost Market. It had rained; the morning mist clung to him, carrying a slight chill. Li Guanyi walked out of the street and looked back.

    He saw the thin fog shrouding the Ghost Market, indistinct, truly like a place of ghostly dreams.

    He turned and strode away. At the street corner, he had a hearty breakfast—a bowl of hot porridge and two baskets of steamed buns. He let out a sigh of relief, listening to the conversations around him. The events of yesterday were finally behind him.

    When Li Guanyi is in a bad mood, his appetite gets better. His mood calmed, his mind as clear as the morning sun. He had two days left, the eight-strong round, with two fights each day. Li Guanyi’s fight was tomorrow. His gaze swept over a large number of Jianghu figures.

    All carrying weapons, with spirited brows.

    Many were skilled martial artists.

    Li Guanyi’s current realm is Second Heaven. As a junior officer in the army, he is a solid member. However, he glanced around and spotted many Jianghu people with comparable realms to his own. They were older, and some were even stronger.

    While the Jiangzhou City matter is a vortex of the world, this vortex is mainly centered around the various countries. Jianghu has always been separate from the court, yet so many powerful Jianghu figures have appeared here.

    Several skilled martial artists could be seen in one location.

    This implies that there are likely even more renowned experts in Jiangzhou City.

    Not to mention the Sixth Grandmaster Yu Jin Bing Ge, the Third Grandmaster, the Western Region Living Buddha, and Chen Chengbi, though not among the top ten Grandmasters, but devoted to martial arts and who, with a thought, could cause snow to fall in the palace.

    The last two had also once traveled the world under the name of the Guardian Villa.

    Li Guanyi suddenly remembered what his older brother Yue had said.

    Jianghu heroes had come to Jiangzhou City to save Marshal Yue.

    For this, Big Brother Yue had given Li Guanyi his Tiger Talisman as a token of trust.

    Li Guanyi looked at those valiant warriors, raised his hand, and pressed against his brow. He felt that the situation in Jiangzhou City was even more confusing the more he understood it, like a whirlpool, pulling him deeper and deeper.

    Suddenly, the Xuanwu Law Physique appeared again on Li Guanyi’s shoulder.

    Li Guanyi was surprised. This little creature, who never moved without a great benefit, suddenly appeared. He saw the Xuanwu Law Physique move its four legs, shifting from Li Guanyi’s shoulder, crawling toward a group of Jianghu people and quietly hiding there.

    Li Guanyi discovered that the Law Physique seemed to have expanded his perception. Without opening his ears, he could clearly hear the conversation:

    “I heard that the Sword Sage’s grandson, the young Sword Saint Xu Huiyang, will also be competing?”

    “Hey, yeah. The disciple of Grandmaster Yu Jin Bing Ge is a royal, but from an insignificant branch family. His participation in this is nothing unusual. But the Sword Sage is a free and easy Jianghu figure, yet his grandson is under the Eastern Palace Crown Prince. It’s such a pity.”

    “That’s because you don’t know this!”

    Someone laughed and lowered their voice, “I heard that the reason the Sword Sage allows him to participate is because the Chen royal family seems to have an extremely valuable treasure hidden in the library.”

    “The winner gets to choose something from the inner library; Xu Huiyang is likely after this.”

    “That’s why he joined the Crown Prince’s ranks.”

    “Oh?! What is it?!”

    The person who revealed the secret also hesitated, “This… how would I know?”

    “But if such a treasure is there, wouldn’t anyone take it?”

    “Take it? Take what?” The person who revealed the secret scoffed. “When he was enraged, he chased down seventy-six bandits in Yanshan, wiped out a region of bandits, annihilated thirteen martial arts sects, and killed so many that Chen Chengbi, who brought thirty years of good governance there, is still there.”

    “Chen the Slayer, has that title been forgotten?”

    “Even if he’s not a member of the imperial family, even after not being in the Jianghu for a long time, he still has the strength of a Top Ten Grandmaster.”

    “That old man is in the imperial family.”

    “And, according to legend, there are two other members of the royal family, with profound and domineering internal energy not inferior to Chen Chengbi. Everyone knows there are many treasures in the imperial palaces of Chen and Ying, but why doesn’t anyone take them?”

    Everyone was silent, then changed the subject, diverting the awkwardness. “However, I heard his opponent is also good, the one who pacified the Ghost Market, Li Guanyi.”

    The man with the eight-character beard and Third Heaven realm said, “He is indeed powerful, but he is four years younger than Xu Huiyang. Four years is a significant difference. Xu Huiyang has been taking various medicinal pills and received personal guidance from the Sword Sage since childhood. Such resources are something that gold-armored guard cannot compare to.”

    “Moreover, he cares very much about this victory.”

    “I heard he specifically sought out generals who use spears and halberds in the army, preparing strategies targeting Li Guanyi since yesterday. A Fourth Heaven general personally demonstrated halberd techniques; that’s a significant advantage…”

    “Wow, you can do that?”

    “Humph. The Crown Prince’s number one swordsman, it’s only natural that the Crown Prince mobilizes some military martial artists for him to train against…”

    The Xuanwu Law Physique returned, resting on Li Guanyi’s shoulder.

    It didn’t point at the library with its claws again.

    It just clung tightly to Li Guanyi, its tiny green bean eyes fixed on the young man.

    It seemed to say nothing.

    And yet, it seemed to say everything.

    “Okay, okay, let’s go to the library this time, alright?”

    “Let’s go see what exactly is so attractive to you.”

    Li Guanyi patted it, smiling in comfort.

    The little Xuanwu glared at him, practically begging him to swear an oath.

    Li Guanyi allowed the Law Physique to relax. He returned to the Xue family, thinking carefully. The matter involving his parents and the Ying royal family was something he’d considered before, so Li Guanyi wasn’t shaken by this news.

    His focus returned to the two immediate issues.

    First, Chen Yu’yun.

    Second, his opponent, Xu Huiyang.

    Li Guanyi’s mind flashed through various records about Xu Huiyang: the grandson of the renowned Sword Sage, a nineteen-year-old Third Heaven genius, gentle in nature, with peerless sword energy, having learned the Daoist sword-controlling and Confucian heart sword techniques.

    He walked through the Sword Tomb without drawing a single sword; he was the most likely successor to the Sword Sage’s legacy. He once severed a river with a single, swift horizontal strike, holding back the flow for three breaths.

    Even with his infrequent appearances, he was ranked thirty-fourth among the Jianghu warriors of his age.

    Li Guanyi had witnessed his martial arts; he could defeat his opponents with almost a single move. He didn’t draw his sword until the eight-strong round. Li Guanyi felt immense pressure. His Second Heaven realm only recently opened the brow-center Zu Qu (the main acupoint at the center of the forehead), his only advantage was this one thing:

    Physique!

    Li Guanyi quickly made his judgment.

    A physique of golden muscles and jade bones, dragon tendons and tiger marrow, represents short bursts of extreme power. The limit that would exhaust ordinary martial artists after a single burst is a normal output for someone with this kind of physique.

    Furthermore, his Qi and Blood surged rapidly, thanks to the “Eternal Moon Immortal Body” cultivation technique.

    Li Guanyi thought for a long time, realizing the situation was grim.

    His greatest advantage compared to the young Sword Saint was that:

    He was much more durable.

    And Li Guanyi, who mastered multiple advanced techniques, also had the ability to end the fight instantly, but only if his unopened Eye Qu (acupoint associated with vision and perception) could keep up with his opponent’s movements, and if he could accurately land his techniques on his opponent.

    Of course, the advanced techniques themselves were his trump cards, more important than winning, and thus not to be revealed.

    Li Guanyi was thinking this when a rustling sound came from the corner of the wall. He looked up and saw a familiar figure appear on the wall.

    White-haired, tall, it was Chen Chengbi.

    The old man looked at him, grinned, and suddenly appeared next to Li Guanyi.

    He grabbed Li Guanyi and started running.

    “Old Master, what are you doing?”

    Chen Chengbi laughed excitedly, “Xu Huiyang found a peak Fourth-Rank general to spar with him. This old man has to find someone for you too, someone who will let you and Xu Huiyang have a magnificent and spectacular fight. It’ll be more fun, boy. Don’t lose to that old fart Sword Sage’s grandson!”

    Li Guanyi was amused and exasperated, “What are you going to do?”

    Chen Chengbi shoved a bun into the young man’s mouth, “Eat something.”

    “Cough, the old hermit has his own plan.”

    Soon, Li Guanyi found out who the old man intended him to meet.

    Chen Chengbi arrived at a temple, where a young monk said, “Senior, Senior, the Living Buddha has just gone to bed.”

    Chen Chengbi said, “To bed? No, no!”

    “He isn’t asleep!”

    The old man kicked open the door, shouting,

    “Hey, hey, hey, you bald old man, get out!!!”

    “The potential for the strongest physique in history is here!”

    “Get out!”

    (End of Chapter)

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