"Dream on if you think I'll betray them. You dogs of Ying Zheng, kill me if you dare."
After hearing Daniel Davis's words, Ying Bu immediately cursed him. Daniel's request was straightforward: information about the whereabouts of the Xiang family. Even though the Chu kingdom had fallen, the Xiang clan still lived, and people like Xiang Shaoyu and Fan Zeng were alive.
Daniel Davis had no particular interest in pursuing Xiang Shaoyu. In this life, Shaoyu had completely lost his chance. Not only were the legendary elemental talents of wind, fire, forest, and mountain incomplete, but even Yu Ji was nowhere to be found.
Shi Lan and Xiao Yu, who had infiltrated the Sanghai City Inn in the original story to mingle with the Confucians, no longer needed to do so. In the original tale, Shi Lan's mission to infiltrate Sanghai stemmed from the fact that the Fusang tree, a treasure of the Shushan clan, had been taken to the Mirage Tower by the Yin-Yang clan.
Additionally, Yu Ziqi had lost contact with his comrades. However, now that the Qin Empire and the Yin-Yang clan had yet to take action against Shushan, the Fusang Divine Tree remained there under the protection of Shi Lan and the Yu Abyss.
The world of The Legend of Qin hides numerous secrets, such as the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon, the Loulan War Demon God, and the Shushan Abyss Seal. The Loulan War Demon God was linked to the Tears of the Nine Heavens Goddess, while the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions were connected to activities of the Yin-Yang clan. Through exchanges with them, Daniel had gained some understanding of these mysteries.
The Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon, for instance, were said to be related to the legendary Investiture Platform. Speaking of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, one could not avoid the infamous War of Investiture. While this war differed significantly across worlds, it always existed in some form.
In The Outcast, the War of Investiture was a battle between two groups of mutants. In The Legend of Qin, the specifics were unclear to Daniel, but it was a subject that the Yin-Yang clan had been pursuing—building the Mirage Tower under the pretext of seeking the Immortal Mountains overseas, while in reality searching for the Investiture Platform.
The Investiture Platform was reportedly created by Jiang Ziya using insights from the Huangshi Heavenly Tome. The Mirage Tower appeared by the seaside near Sanghai City for this very reason. Jiang Ziya's choice of Qi as his fiefdom was also tied to the location of the Investiture Platform.
Yes, the Investiture Platform was near the Qi state.
The platform was shrouded in mystery, and its purpose remained unclear. Even the East Emperor Taiyi had said little about it. Perhaps only by stepping onto it would its secrets be revealed. After all, this world was one of myth and legend, not mere history.
As for the Shushan Abyss Seal, it was said that if its gate were ever opened, a disaster would ensue. Although Daniel was curious, he wasn't someone like Luffy or Naruto, recklessly charging ahead without thought. He wouldn't touch something that was clearly dangerous.
Even if he did plan to investigate, it would be after his strength had grown much further.
"Such righteousness! Fine, I'll grant your wish. Go ahead and die," Daniel said, waving his right hand. A green bamboo shoot appeared out of thin air and instantly pierced Ying Bu's chest.
Ying Bu hadn't expected Daniel to act so decisively. By the time he tried to say something, it was too late. With his mouth opening and closing silently, he collapsed forward and drew his last breath.
Tian Yan glanced at Ying Bu's corpse sprawled on the ground. With a wave, she signaled her subordinates to take it away for disposal. Even in death, Ying Bu's body could fetch a handsome reward.
"Master Strategist, what should we do about Lord Changping's daughter?"
"We'll deal with that later. First, let's settle things with the six elders."
Daniel had no intention of harming Lianxin, the young daughter of Lord Changping. After all, she was just a child. He had spared Lian Yi, so there was no reason not to spare Lianxin.
"Understood," Tian Yan said, leading Daniel toward the Six Sage Tomb of Emperor Yan. Although the six elders of the Peasant School were preparing to emerge, they had not yet completed their seclusion. At the moment, they were making their final adjustments, as the opportunity to assassinate Daniel, the Grandmaster of Qin, would only come once.
"Tian Yan, haven't we told you not to disturb us recently? Who is this? As the leader of the Peasant School, do you not know this is a forbidden area?"
When Tian Yan and Daniel appeared in the Six Sage Tomb, the training ground of the six elders, one of them spoke. Initially indifferent, his demeanor shifted to alertness upon noticing Daniel's presence, as he had not sensed Daniel's arrival earlier.
Tian Yan's frail and sickly appearance, along with her soft footsteps and demeanor, left no doubt that she was a weak woman unskilled in martial arts.
The other five elders, noticing their companion's reaction, turned their gazes toward Tian Yan as well. Several of them, particularly the one who had spoken earlier, showed visible displeasure.
This elder, the "Master of Arms," was in charge of the Peasant School's martial discipline and was the former head of the Chiyou Hall. His fiery temperament resembled that of the current hall leader, Tian Hu. He was also Shengqi's master.
The other five elders were Yutu, Gushe, Yaowang, Lishi, and Xianzong, each overseeing fields such as water management, agriculture, herbs, calendrical studies, and music, respectively.
The Peasant School's strength and influence were undeniable, but sadly, its spirit of innovation from the days of Shennong had long been lost. Many factions, like the School of Medicine, had splintered off for good reason.
The Master of Arms, as Shengqi's teacher, naturally harbored disdain for the Tian family. This was also why he disapproved of Tian Yan's leadership. His attitude toward Shengqi and Wu Kuang's intrusion into the forbidden area in the original story made that clear—despite Tian Yan being the Peasant School's leader at the time.
"I am Daniel Davis, the Grandmaster of Qin. I heard the Peasant School issued a Shennong Command targeting me. Why go through such trouble? If you wanted to see me, you could've just asked," Daniel said with a calm smile after observing the six elders.
His introduction caused the elders' expressions to change dramatically. After a brief glance at Daniel, their gazes shifted to Tian Yan.
"So that's how it is," they muttered. In an instant, the six elders understood why so many of the Peasant School's experts had suffered significant casualties recently.
"Attack!"
Without hesitation, the six elders surrounded Daniel and Tian Yan. Their years of secluded training had allowed them to develop a deep synergy, enabling them to perfect the Peasant School's Earth Marsh Twenty-Four Formation. Recognizing this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they coordinated their efforts immediately.
As the Master of Arms moved to initiate the formation, a chilling, deadly intent locked onto him. At the same time, a sharp, icy sword light appeared at his side.
"Hmph." The Master of Arms snorted coldly, channeling his formidable internal energy into his right hand to form a sword to meet the incoming attack. His position was critical to the success of the Earth Marsh Twenty-Four Formation, so he couldn't afford to budge.
"Impossible!"
The clash of sword energy forced the Master of Arms to take two steps back. Upon seeing who had attacked him, he momentarily froze in shock—it wasn't Daniel but rather Tian Yan, the supposedly frail leader of the Peasant School.
"Shocking Whale Sword." The fame of the Yue King's Eight Swords was not lost on the six elders of the Peasant School.
"Broken Palm of Buzhou!" Yutu quickly attacked Tian Yan to prevent her from taking advantage of the Master of Arms' momentary lapse. The Broken Palm of Buzhou was a signature move of the Gonggong Hall, one of the Peasant School's elite factions, relying on water's pervasive force and ice's chilling nature.
The Peasant School's martial arts were notoriously complex, with techniques inspired by the four seasons and the twenty-four solar terms.
Tian Yan had intended to press her advantage against the Master of Arms, but she was forced to parry Yutu's attack with her sword, shattering the icy palm strike.
"Earth Marsh Twenty-Four!" At that moment, the six elders completed the intricate formation they had been refining for over a decade. Their combined internal energy fused into a spinning wall of powerful energy, trapping Daniel and Tian Yan in the center.
Realizing she couldn't breach the energy wall with her sword, Tian Yan retreated to Daniel's side and activated her "Observant Insight" ability. Daniel simultaneously used his "Focus" technique.
Despite its complexity, the Earth Marsh Twenty-Four Formation had an inherent weakness: the fusion points of the six elders' internal energies. Though the formation's rotation obscured these points, techniques like Observant Insight and Focus could identify them.
Aware of Tian Yan's ability, the elders grew increasingly alarmed. To counter her, the Master of Arms used the combined internal energy of the formation to forge a massive sword of energy above them.
"I'll handle it," Daniel said, halting Tian Yan's next move with a gesture. He stepped forward and threw a punch toward the energy wall. The sheer force of his strike created a deafening roar as it tore through the air.
Boom.
The moment Daniel's overwhelming power collided with the energy wall, it shattered like a brittle shell. The explosion reverberated throughout the Six Sage Tomb, causing the entire structure to quake violently. Chunks of stone and debris rained down from the surrounding walls.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Six consecutive impacts followed as the Peasant School's six elders were struck by the backlash of their shattered formation. Blood sprayed from their mouths as their bodies were hurled backward, slamming into the mountain walls with such force that they left human-shaped craters.
A single punch had obliterated their supreme formation.
Tian Yan stood frozen, her eyes reflecting shock and disbelief. Although she had known Daniel was incredibly strong, witnessing him destroy the Peasant School's ultimate defensive formation with a single strike exceeded her imagination.
"They're yours to deal with," Daniel said casually, stepping aside. Of the six elders, two had died instantly—those who had stood directly in his path and been swept away by the force of his punch. One of the deceased was the Master of Arms. The remaining four were gravely injured, barely clinging to life. Without immediate and effective treatment, they would soon follow their comrades in death.
Daniel had held back in his strike, mindful of the sacred nature of the Six Sage Tomb. The statues of Emperor Yan and Shennong were situated on the mountainside outside. While he had no qualms about crushing his enemies, he respected the legacy of the ancient Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.
"The Peasant School is finished. Next is Lianxin," Daniel said, turning his attention away from the fallen elders. With their defeat, no one within the Peasant School could oppose Tian Yan's leadership.
"Cold poison, huh," Daniel muttered after inspecting Lianxin's condition. Her body had been infiltrated by chilling energy for so long that it had penetrated her meridians and even her bone marrow. For anyone in this world, treating her condition would be nearly impossible without assistance from the Yin-Yang clan. Even the Peasant School's resources could only mitigate her symptoms, not cure her.
But for Daniel, it was a trivial matter.
"Hand her over to Lian Yi. Tell her to relinquish the Seven Nations Underground Map left behind by Lord Changping. In exchange, I'll ensure a peaceful life for both of them."
After delivering his instructions, Daniel nodded to Tian Yan and left without further comment. Whether Lian Yi chose to comply or not, he trusted Tian Yan to handle the situation appropriately. If Lian Yi refused to surrender the map despite these conditions, she would have no one but herself to blame for the consequences.
"This is the Mechanical City," Daniel mused as he arrived at the hidden Mohist fortress. Nestled deep within the mountains, the massive and intricately designed structure was a testament to the ingenuity of the Mohist clan. Constructing such an impressive facility in such a remote location must have required an extraordinary amount of manpower and resources.
Even with the Mohists' mastery of mechanical marvels like the Mechanical Vermilion Bird, transporting materials into this mountainous region would have been a monumental challenge. The scale and ambition of the project left Daniel with a begrudging admiration for the Mohist forebears.
"Relay my orders. Mobilize the army and march on the Mechanical City."
Daniel didn't linger in the fortress or attack it immediately. Instead, he traveled to the nearest city and began assembling an army of nearly ten thousand troops to lay siege to the Mohist stronghold.
This, however, was a ruse.
For Daniel, destroying the Mechanical City would be effortless. His purpose in mobilizing such a large force was to draw out the Mohists and their allies among the anti-Qin factions. The fortress's formidable defenses and reputation as an impregnable base—one that had even repelled the Chu army in the past—made it an ideal rallying point for those opposing the Qin Empire.
Given the current circumstances, the Mohists and their allies would not sit idly by while the Mechanical City was besieged. They would undoubtedly come to its defense.
And when they did, Daniel would seize the opportunity to annihilate them all in one decisive strike.
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