Translator: AnubisTL
In the height of summer, the vast Bandong Grasslands resembled a boundless green ocean. As fierce winds swept across the land, the dense grasslands rippled like waves.
Scattered across this vast expanse lived numerous nomadic tribes, like the Tuwa Tribe, who relied on herding cattle and sheep for survival.
To the south of the grasslands lay two neighboring countries: Liang Country and Maple Country.
In previous years, horse bandits from the grasslands would descend each autumn to plunder grain from these nations. However, last year, they had inexplicably ceased their raids.
Had these bandits, who had always craved grain, truly had a change of heart and abandoned their plundering ways?
The answer was, of course, no!
The north wind swept across the land, snapping the white grass.
Amidst the green ocean, a massive cavalry force suddenly appeared on the grasslands.
Ahead of them stood a nomadic tribe that had just arrived to graze their herds.
Leading this formidable cavalry was a grim-looking, one-eyed dragon with a face covered in thick, horizontal scars. His remaining eye burned with a savage, brutal light.
"Chief Tuwa Ha'er, the Mulan Tribe's camp is just ahead," a Military Advisor rode forward to report.
Indeed, the leader of this vast cavalry force was Tuwa Ha'er, the former bandit chief who had once attacked the Wu Li Army.
When he had first launched his raid, he commanded a mere five thousand cavalrymen. Now, his army had swelled to over thirty thousand, a formidable force capable of crushing any obstacle in its path.
"As before, we'll try to persuade them to surrender first," Tuwa Ha'er said, squinting with his one eye. "We're all children of the grasslands. It's a waste to bleed each other dry."
After more than a year of campaigning across the Bandong Grasslands, he had united nearly all the tribes in the southern region. The remaining tribes posed little threat.
He had lost his eye in battle, but Tuwa Ha'er had no regrets. Compared to his grand, ambitious plans, losing an eye was a small price to pay.
"Our food supplies in the camps are running low. Should we consider heading south this year?"
Hearing the Military Advisor's suggestion, Tuwa Ha'er sneered and shook his head. "No, we won't move south this year. We're running out of food. Slaughter all the cattle and sheep."
"Aren't there a few tribes ahead of us? After we integrate them, we'll slaughter their cattle and sheep too and distribute the meat to everyone."
Hearing this, the wise Military Advisor immediately understood the implications.
Slaughtering all the cattle and sheep meant there would be no new lambs or calves born next year, cutting off their retreat entirely!
Tuwa Ha'er was a madman, a madman with grand ambitions.
By integrating so many tribes, he had amassed an army of over thirty thousand warriors, an unprecedentedly powerful force on the grasslands.
With such a formidable cavalry under his command, Tuwa Ha'er's intentions were clear.
In the Imperial Capital of Maple Country, Shengtian, as autumn approached, the maple trees lining the streets began to turn crimson.
This year, the bandits from the grasslands showed no sign of raiding south. They hadn't even been sighted.
Thanks to the peace, the Imperial Capital grew increasingly prosperous. Merchant caravans flowed in an endless stream, and poetry, calligraphy, and music spread throughout the land.
Amidst this era of unparalleled prosperity, Li Qing remained tirelessly dedicated to his martial arts practice. With the aid of Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine, his progress on the Martial Path had begun to accelerate.
"Hah!"
In the blacksmith's shop, Li Qing stretched his limbs, then touched his skin, the smile on his lips widening.
"First layer of the Golden Body Technique! I've done it!"
With the assistance of medicinal liquors like Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine, this martial art, which would normally take three years to master, had been achieved in just a year and a half.
This year, Li Qing turned twenty. His Outer Strength had reached its pinnacle.
Moreover, his Inner Strength had become even more profound.
Now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he could effortlessly defeat five or six Outer Strength martial artists single-handedly.
"Inner Strength... what exactly is Inner Strength?"
Li Qing narrowed his eyes, once again grappling with this question that had plagued him for a long time.
Li Qing was already at the peak of Outer Strength cultivation, but he had hit a bottleneck. This was especially perplexing for him, as he had mastered several formidable martial arts techniques. He was now at a loss as to how to advance further.
Feeling somewhat frustrated, Li Qing poured himself a glass of Tiger Bone Wine.
The spicy, potent medicinal liquor burned its way down his throat, its medicinal power surging through his body and leaving him feeling warm and relaxed.
Combined with his recent mastery of the first level of the Golden Body Technique, his physical body had become incredibly robust.
Crack!
With a slight squeeze of his hand, the wine glass shattered completely. When he opened his palm again, a pile of powder flowed through his fingers.
All of this was achieved solely through his raw, unrefined strength!
Yet there wasn't a single mark on his palm. It remained perfectly intact, a clear sign that the first level of the Golden Body Technique was already taking effect.
"I should probably find someone to consult soon," Li Qing muttered. "If I keep fumbling around on my own, I'll probably be stuck here until the end of time!"
With that, he rose to his feet, his figure vanishing from the room in a flash.
Imperial Capital, Slender Willow Street.
Even at night, the street remained brightly lit, even more lively than during the day.
This was because Slender Willow Street was lined entirely with brothels and taverns. Standing at the entrance and gazing down the street, one could clearly see girls leaning against railings, their colorful attire fluttering in the breeze, and hear the sounds of singing and dancing.
"Hehe, look! Great Hero Zhang Lai of the Flying Cloud School is drunk again!"
"Young Hero Zhang, when will you come to the Beautiful Spring Courtyard for a drink with me?"
"Young Master Zhang Lai, the girls at the Golden Phoenix Pavilion have been waiting for you for ages!"
"..."
Staggering down the street, Zhang Lai could barely walk straight. His cheeks were flushed crimson, but a dissolute grin still played on his lips.
"Hahaha, Little Rong, next time, definitely next time! Today, this young hero has urgent business at the school!"
With that, he lurched unsteadily toward the street's edge.
Drunkards were the most common sight on Slender Willow Street. Every morning, as the sun rose, a few would be found passed out like dead pigs.
It was clear how well-maintained Slender Willow Street was. Not for any other reason, but because it was the shared territory of the city's three major martial arts schools.
With a drunken swagger, Zhang Lai gradually left the brightly lit Slender Willow Street, disappearing into the dark alleyway.
But the moment his figure vanished completely into the shadows, a slender figure emerged from a corner of the alley and followed him.
In a flash, Zhang Lai, still reeling from his drunken stupor, seemed to sense something amiss. An inexplicable sense of unease gripped his heart.
Huh?
Turning around, he saw a hand, like the claw of an Azure Eagle, pierce straight through his throat.
"Ugh..."
Thud!
Before he could even cry out, Zhang Lai collapsed stiffly into the darkness.
Blood gushed from his throat like a fountain, its thick, metallic scent instantly staining the ground around him crimson.
The slender young man knelt down and placed his hand on Zhang Lai's abdomen, his movements as steady and deliberate as a seasoned hunter's.
(End of the Chapter)
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