Edict of Peace 81
Chapter 81 Breakthrough, Breakthrough!!!
Yu Qianfeng sat in the corner, smiling as he sized up Li Guanyi. “Not bad,” he said.
He leaped down nimbly, his clothes still simple, yet his gaze was like that of a soaring dragon. He patted Li Guanyi on the shoulder, and a surge of internal energy flowed through Li Guanyi’s body. This was their first meeting since Yu Qianfeng had imparted his cultivation method to Li Guanyi.
Even after seeing Li Guanyi’s swift departure on horseback, Yu Qianfeng had guessed that Li Guanyi’s martial arts had made some progress.
But feeling the vibrant life force and well-forged physique within him today, he couldn’t help but be surprised, sighing, “Truly, unbelievable.”
“He actually entered the realm, and his body is forged as well.”
“If I hadn’t personally taught you the ‘Breaking Formation Melody’ and the ‘Po Jun Eight Swords,’ I wouldn’t believe you could cultivate to this level in such a short time.”
Li Guanyi said, “I had a fortunate encounter.”
Seeing his expression, Yu Qianfeng laughed, waving his hand dismissively.
“Hahaha, you don’t need to explain anything to me.”
“How many people in this world don’t have some secrets or fortuitous encounters?”
“I’m befriending you, not your fortuitous encounters.”
“You were that little guy from the mountain temple, and I drank with you; now you’re a guest of the Xue family, and I still drink with you. Even if one day you become a hero of the land, I’ll still consider you the little pharmacist I met in Guan Yi City, and still look for you for drinks.”
“The way you charged out without a care for your life that day, I acknowledged you as my brother.”
Yu Qianfeng grinned. “But it’s really damn strange.”
“There’s been trouble in this city, and for some reason, the city guards seem to know I’m coming today.”
Yu Qianfeng tilted his head back, drinking. “Guan Yi City suddenly strengthened its defenses by several levels.”
“I think something’s fishy.”
“Lu Youxian, that blockhead, is like a tortoise guarding the city—no one can attack, and nothing extraordinary happened, yet he could discover my whereabouts? That old tortoise isn’t even as strong as me, it’s unbelievable.”
“They even said they caught one of Yu Qianfeng’s accomplices.”
“I didn’t originally plan to see you, but they were so convincing, saying something about broken legs and dragging them back. I couldn’t help but believe them, so I came to take a look. You, kid, are perfectly fine, aren’t you?”
“Those ruffian soldiers! They don’t guard the city properly, and they spread rumors more unreliable than the old women at the village gate!”
“If I find out who’s spreading rumors, I’ll beat the shit out of him!”
Li Guanyi remained silent, his gaze downcast.
He didn’t respond.
He merely said, “Senior Yu, you are here to…”
Yu Qianfeng waved his hand. “Don’t call me Senior Yu! Just call me Brother Yu!”
Yu Qianfeng said, “I came here, the Xue family’s tiger probably knows. I just wanted to see if you’re safe. Now that I’ve seen you, I should go.” He patted his clothes and stood up to leave. Li Guanyi’s Bronze Tripod Qingtong Ding Cultivation Technique remained motionless; he knew the last reserves of the Bronze Tripod required special actions.
Like imparting cultivation techniques, or divine weapons.
So he said, “Brother Yu, wait a moment.”
Yu Qianfeng looked at him.
Li Guanyi said, “Brother Yu has been traveling and fighting for a long time, and no one dares to disturb the Xue family to investigate. Why don’t you rest here for a while? At least have a meal of wine and meat before you go.” Yu Qianfeng didn’t intend to agree, but he had indeed been unable to eat anything good during his recent travels and battles.
Li Guanyi’s suggestion sparked his hunger.
So Li Guanyi invited Yu Qianfeng to the kitchen. He had originally planned to have him rest in a guest room, but Yu Qianfeng’s hunger took over, and he followed Li Guanyi directly to the kitchen in this courtyard. Li Guanyi went to the dining hall where the Xue family martial artists usually ate and brought out large bowls of stewed meat and strong wine.
Yu Qianfeng didn’t use chopsticks; he grabbed several chunks with his hands, threw them into his mouth, bit down, and swallowed them in large mouthfuls.
He ate seven or eight fist-sized pieces of braised pork knuckle before relaxing.
Yu Qianfeng ate and drank heartily, and Li Guanyi kept serving him dishes.
He finally washed away the dust and weariness of his journey, feeling relaxed and comfortable, yet slightly embarrassed at having eaten and drunk so much. After a moment’s thought, he smiled.
“Speaking of which, I said that if you could enter the realm, you could take the token to find me, and I could teach you the cultivation method to enter the realm. I didn’t expect that the old man from the Xue family would get there before me, he already had his eye on you.”
“Hahahaha, the martial arts you’re cultivating now are also from the Xue family, right?”
Li Guanyi nodded and told Yu Qianfeng the name of his martial art.
With a slight buzz from the wine, Yu Qianfeng commented, “Condensing Qi? Hey, the ‘Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique,’ excels at explosive power, and its body forging methods are naturally considered first-rate in the world. However, its Qi Condensation is reliant on archery and marksmanship. The refinement and penetration of Qi is not bad, but it’s not considered top-tier.”
Li Guanyi seized the opportunity to ask, “I would like to ask Brother Yu for guidance.”
Yu Qianfeng pointed at him and laughed heartily. “You’ve got a thick skin!”
“Good, that kind of personality won’t suffer much in the world.”
Because Li Guanyi had been able to charge out from a life-or-death situation, he treated him as family, and so he said with a smile:
“Since you’re asking me, I naturally can’t refuse to teach you.”
“I do have a few methods of Qi Condensation, among which the one that condenses the most destructive Qi is one I dug up from a tomb when I was still a bandit. It seems to be a technique from a thousand years ago, using earth-sha Qi, to condense one’s true essence.”
“It allows the condensation of Qi within the body, which can be instantly released at critical moments.”
“It’s like carrying a hidden weapon with you.”
“Unfortunately, it is too harsh and domineering and differs from the current orthodox path.”
“Then there’s the one I created myself, based on my years of cultivation and fighting, the ‘Crimson Dragon Qi Condensation Technique.’ The condensed Qi naturally possesses fierce energy, adept at unleashing fiery force, burning the opponent’s lungs and accumulating fire poison, weakening them to achieve victory.”
“Besides these, there’s only one method that can be inherited with the ‘Breaking Formation Melody.'”
The ‘Qi Condensation Technique of the Alchemist,’ the ‘Crimson Dragon Qi Condensation Technique.’
One is domineering, with unique self-defense methods.
The other naturally carries fierce Qi. Li Guanyi found both appealing.
Hearing about the third method, he curiously asked:
“Was it also created by that General Zhou?”
Yu Qianfeng replied, “It’s a military secret, but it wasn’t created by the old General Zhou.”
“The Qi Condensation effect of this technique is not as domineering and fierce as the one I obtained from my fortuitous encounter; nor is it as naturally fiery as the one I created, capable of burning the opponent’s bones and muscles. However, it is balanced and peaceful, as if it can accommodate the myriad rivers and lakes.”
“Regardless of the type of body, it can be cultivated.”
Li Guanyi pondered.
Yu Qianfeng explained with a smile, “I learned it from Marshal Yue. He said that if one wants to go far, one must seek stability and balance in the foundation, like a river or sea. Marshal Yue also learned it from the general who led him into battle.”
“It’s Taiping Gong.”
“This lineage of cultivation techniques was created by Taiping Gong, and is called the ‘Taiping Scripture.'”
Li Guanyi recalled the records in historical anecdotes and what his aunt had mentioned—his father also wore a mask and fought on the battlefield. He subconsciously sat up straight. At this moment, the other two cultivation methods seemed meaningless to Li Guanyi. He asked Yu Qianfeng, “Taiping Gong’s cultivation technique.”
Yu Qianfeng said, “Yes, Taiping Gong.”
“Also, the Emperor burned the records, erasing his story from history.”
“People your age probably don’t know him anymore, do they?”
A hint of regret appeared on the face of this rough and boisterous general. He tilted his head back and took a drink of alcohol. “After all, he didn’t have any powerful family backing him, he was just from a peasant family. Later, the Emperor wanted to make him a king or duke, to give him the title of ‘Duke of the North,’ but Taiping Gong said, ‘The world is not at peace, so what’s the point of a Duke of the North or a Duke of the South?'”
“He picked up his sword and abandoned his farm, hoping only for peace in the world.”
“When that time comes, he will return to his fields.”
“That’s why his title is Taiping Gong (Duke of Peace).”
Li Guanyi sat quietly.
Seeing Li Guanyi’s expression, Yu Qianfeng was willing to say more, smiling,
“Do you know how Taiping Gong became famous? In the southwest region, it hadn’t been pacified yet. At that time, Taiping Gong was about twenty years old, a third-realm martial artist. Because he lacked connections, he led only two thousand new recruits, following the King of Puyang to attack the southwest.”
“And then, he was scattered.”
“Taiping Gong thought about it. If he led his scattered soldiers back, they would most likely be punished by military law. So he gritted his teeth, steeled his heart, and turned his troops toward the deepest part of enemy territory.”
“Over seven hundred battles, fighting over a thousand li, for a full hundred days without any news of him. At that time, everyone thought he had died in the southwest. But Taiping Gong carved words on bamboo slips, wrapped them in his battle robe, and threw them into the river, letting the current carry the robe downstream, where it was discovered.”
“The words written on it read:”
“‘I’m not dead yet. Don’t burn paper money for me.'”
“At the time, everyone thought it was a fantasy.”
“Later, when he fought against the southern barbarians, Taiping Gong conquered more than thirty tribes and captured more than 20,000 men and women, bringing them back. They were going to bring the barbarian leaders back as well, but every time he mentioned this, Marshal Yue would stammer. Later, we found out that Taiping Gong…”
“Hahahaha, this famous general took bribes from the barbarian leader—gold, jade, and twenty-four night pearls of considerable size, the national treasures of the barbarians. Taiping Gong thought they were beautiful and took them, then released the barbarian leader, and went back claiming he hadn’t caught him.”
“The matter eventually came out, and when Taiping Gong was questioned, he stubbornly refused to admit he had taken the treasures, almost losing his position entirely. At that time, the King of Puyang was in a terrible headache, and ended up selling his assets to cover the deficit.”
“Then he went to the emperor’s court with an iron club, almost beating Taiping Gong to death with his fists.”
“Taiping Gong fought back angrily, and the two of them stood opposite each other in front of the imperial study.”
“Hahahaha, how can a famous general be so greedy!”
Li Guanyi grinned.
The heroes who slaughtered each other in the history books seemed to come alive.
Yu Qianfeng took a sip of wine and said softly, “Later, we learned that Taiping Gong distributed the gold to the people along the way who were affected by the war; he sold the jade, exchanged it for food, meat, and military funds, and distributed them to his fellow soldiers. At that time, his reputation reached its peak.”
“Because he spared the barbarian leader, the southwest was pacified without harming the people and without wronging his comrades. And he himself pacified the southwest, took those night pearls, rode a Qilin (Chinese Unicorn) and ran for three thousand li.”
“It is said that he ran to Jiangnan and proposed marriage to a girl.”
Yu Qianfeng exclaimed, “A general who conquered the world, who rejected the advances of a princess, exchanged the treasures of a country for the woman he loved in his youth.”
“Legend has it that when Taiping Gong took off his helmet and rode a Qilin into Jiangnan, countless women threw flower petals from the second-floor pavilions. The petals fell on the bluestone slabs, into the streams, and spread down the streams.”
“I wonder what the appearance of that young and spirited general was like…”
“But the children of Jiangnan are still playing with those round pebbles, right?”
Yu Qianfeng gestured, referring to the stone beads that Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao had seen the boys treasure when they went out. Yu Qianfeng smiled slightly:
“The boys especially like them.”
“These are all spread from the story of Taiping Gong.”
“A general who changed the times, even if the emperor wanted to erase his existence, it is absolutely impossible.”
Listening to the story, Li Guanyi said, “Did she agree?”
Yu Qianfeng said softly, “She did, Marshal Yue said that the girl happily agreed, and everyone around them offered their blessings. But actually, he could win her over with just the pebbles he used to play skipping stones when he was a boy. The pearls were eventually exchanged for gold and silver at the wedding and given to the wounded comrades.”
“But I heard that a little girl, who was only eleven or twelve years old at that time, was so angry that she secretly took a lute and knocked it hard on Taiping Gong’s battle robe.”
“‘Put it down, put it down!'”
Li Guanyi narrowed his eyes, he might know who his parents were.
There was warmth in his heart as he listened to these stories.
Yu Qianfeng looked up, “But at the end of the story, he and she both died ten years ago. Marshal Yue was guarding the border at that time. When he heard the news and rushed to the rescue, all he saw was a blazing palace. Perhaps from that day on, Marshal Yue was no longer tolerated by the current Emperor.”
“The ‘Taiping Scripture’ he created, I am passing it on to you today.”
“I’ll demonstrate it first. If you don’t understand anything, I’ll demonstrate it again.”
Yu Qianfeng stood up, a crimson dragon spiraled, imparting the method of condensing internal energy to Li Guanyi.
The Bronze Tripod calmly completed its final accumulation of jade liquid.
Then—
It poured out!
Li Guanyi saw blurry images appear before his eyes. The images showed the wind of Jiangnan, and the back of a general riding a Qilin into Jiangnan. Then the images dissipated. This time, Li Guanyi seemed skilled, the method of condensing Qi influenced by the Bronze Tripod’s energy, completed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The ‘Taiping Scripture,’ entry level!
The ‘Taiping Scripture,’ proficiency!
The ‘Taiping Scripture,’ mastery!
But at that moment, Li Guanyi heard the roar of a dragon and tiger. The Law Physique of the crimson dragon soared and rose, appearing alongside the White Tiger Law Physique beside Li Guanyi. In his body, the White Tiger Law Physique and the Crimson Dragon Law Physique reached a similar level.
One represents the fierce tiger’s body forging.
One represents the crimson dragon’s Qi condensation.
At this moment, gold and fire rose, confronting each other. Gold and fire clashing, began to riot within Li Guanyi’s body. Li Guanyi’s expression froze, his face contorted in pain. Yu Qianfeng, who was happily eating and drinking, suddenly saw Li Guanyi’s expression and froze, then immediately reacted.
“What’s going on!”
Yu Qianfeng instantly appeared beside Li Guanyi.
His broad palm pressed down.
Forcibly controlling the riotous energy within Li Guanyi’s body, but in that instant, the intense fire and chilling metallic Qi rose and exploded within Li Guanyi, internal energy spiraled, the dragon and tiger roared in his ears, the dragon and tiger energy collided, causing Li Guanyi’s internal energy to riot inwards.
The jade liquid steadily pushed forward.
With someone helping to protect his internal organs, the dragon and tiger Law Physiques seemed to begin a battle within the boy’s body. The clash of gold and fire was like cold water poured onto hot oil, the internal energy rioted; but because Yu Qianfeng suppressed it, preventing it from injuring the internal organs, it was like a river being dammed, there was only one path left.
The internal energy surged wildly through the meridians.
Stars lit up, the sharp White Tiger Law Physique’s power rendered the meridian’s blockage as nothing.
Under these circumstances, the originally blocked meridians—
Broke open!
A burst of energy erupted from Li Guanyi’s shoulder, knocking Yu Qianfeng’s hand away.
“!!!”
“This is—”
Seeing this, Yu Qianfeng froze, his pupils constricting, recognizing Li Guanyi’s current state.
This wasn’t Qi Condensation.
This was—
Meridian Opening!
(End of Chapter)
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