Volume 1, Chapter 494 – The Blue Heaven Is Dead

Faced with Zhang Fei’s question, Liu Bei did not answer at once. He glanced at Shi Lan and changed the subject.

“Miss Shi Lan’s cultivation is impressive. I wonder which eminent master of this age you studied under?”

“I come from overseas. My master has little fame in the Nine Provinces. I came here to travel through the Nine Provinces for one reason only: to temper my Martial Dao.”

Shi Lan had long prepared for this sort of question and had already thought out her wording. In this world, there were countless immortal mountains and islands beyond the seas, and it was perfectly normal for some hidden experts to cultivate in seclusion there. Besides, her background in the Nine Provinces was completely blank to begin with. Even if Liu Bei investigated, he would not be able to find the slightest trace.

If he found nothing at all, naturally he would have no way to prove that she was lying.

Liu Bei merely smiled faintly at her answer. It was impossible to tell whether he believed her or not, and he did not continue pressing the matter. Instead, he turned and asked:

“I wonder whether you are married, Miss?”

“?”

A question mark practically rose inside Shi Lan’s head. Her brows drew together slightly. Asking something like that on a first meeting was clearly rather rude.

“Miss, please do not misunderstand.”

Liu Bei shook his head slightly, the smile on his face deepening.

“I have several sons at home. I would not say they are dragons among men, but they do have some exceptional qualities, and none of them are married yet. If you do not mind, you could have a look and see whether any of them suit your heart.”

“I appreciate the kindness, but I have no plans to start a family.”

Shi Lan’s expression cooled. She clearly had no desire to continue discussing the matter.

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“It was my fault for being so presumptuous on our first meeting.”

Liu Bei laughed heartily, stepped down from the jade dais, and took a gray booklet from his sleeve, placing it on the table before Shi Lan.

“If you wish to temper your Martial Dao, you must gather the strengths of a hundred schools. Take this as my apology for just now. I hope you will be magnanimous.”

The booklet looked entirely ordinary. The cover bore only two words, Fist Classic, and it gave off a faintly cool aura.

Shi Lan pulled the booklet closer and lightly flipped through two pages. Her eyes flickered. Inside were records of many variations of fist techniques, along with a set of formulas for cultivation and breath-nurturing. It was equivalent to the general outline of an entire fist art and was extremely profound.

Moreover, it was personally written by a powerhouse who had reached great accomplishment in the martial path. It was not a copied manuscript, and it carried a trace of true martial intent, making it even more precious.

“Many thanks, Lord Liu.”

Much of the displeasure in Shi Lan’s heart dissipated. She had come to this world to improve her strength. She could not refuse something like this.

At the side, Zhang Fei glanced outside the hall and asked in puzzlement:

“Why haven’t I seen Second Brother yet? Where did he go?”

“That girl Yinping captured and killed a flood dragon in the North Sea and stirred up an old flood dragon in the process. It’s a bit troublesome, so Yunchang went to deal with it. It’s nothing serious.”

“Father and daughter indeed. Exactly alike.”

Watching the two brothers chatting and laughing, Shi Lan tactfully rose to take her leave.

“I still have some private matters to handle, so I will not stay long today.”

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Some things were clearly not suitable for her to overhear.

Liu Bei tried to persuade her to stay for a moment or two, then summoned a servant to lead Shi Lan out of the residence.

“Once you finish your business, if you have nowhere to stay, you can lodge at Tianyu Tower in the city. That is one of my properties as well. If you have time tomorrow, the two of us can also exchange pointers in martial arts.”

Zhang Fei escorted Shi Lan out of the hall, gave her that instruction, then turned and returned to the great hall.

…

“I want to use this chance to raise troops and suppress the rebellion. If I can gain some footing at court, then you and I, brothers, may soar like dragons in a single bound.”

Inside the hall, Liu Bei stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes brimming with ambition. How could a true man lack lofty aspirations? As a blood descendant of the Han imperial clan, it was clearly unrealistic to say he had not the slightest yearning for the Dragon Throne.

No matter what ambitions he held in his heart, he would only have a chance if he stepped into the court. Otherwise, everything would remain empty talk.

“I’m afraid there will be no shortage of people trying to take advantage of the situation and stir up chaos. Heroes are everywhere in Jiangdong, and the many great clans and aristocratic houses in the Central Plains are filled with experts as numerous as the clouds. They are all watching like tigers eyeing their prey. With only the three of us brothers, our strength is thin.”

Zhang Fei frowned slightly, somewhat worried. On the land of the Nine Provinces, there had never been any lack of wolves with wild ambitions. They simply did not dare rebel because the national fortune of the Han had not yet been severed.

“If I had a foundation of my own, then all the mediocre rabble under heaven would be beneath concern.” Liu Bei waved a hand and said,

“Bogui, Gongsun Zan, has already agreed to join hands with me. As long as we carry military merit, securing official posts will be effortless. Once we enter the court, there will be plenty of ways to deal with those eunuch dogs.”

At this point, Liu Bei looked toward the hall entrance.

“What do you think of that Shi Lan?”

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“Her blood and qi cultivation is not weak. In this age, she would count as second-rate. For a woman to have reached this step is rare in the present world. She is still young, and if some expert were to guide her well, she would have a chance to step into the first rank of the world. If we took her under our command, she could shoulder important responsibilities.”

Zhang Fei was clearly rather appreciative of Shi Lan, though there were still some concerns in his heart.

“It’s just that her origins are unclear. She says she comes from overseas, but from her speech and bearing, I can sense the aura of battlefield slaughter about her. I do not know whether she has some hidden purpose, and her temperament has not been tested either.”

“I’m not afraid that she has something she wants. I’m afraid she wants nothing at all.” Liu Bei narrowed his eyes slightly. After pondering for a moment, he spoke again.

“Since she wants to temper her Martial Dao, then let’s give her a chance. Zilong happens to be preparing to return to his master’s mountain in the next couple of days to visit his teacher. Let her go with him.”

“Tong Yuan, the Spear God of Penglai?!”

Hearing Liu Bei’s words, Zhang Fei’s brows jumped.

“That’s one of the few absolute peak experts of this age. He has kept his mountain closed for many years. He may not be willing to offer guidance.”

If Zhao Yun’s talent had not been so monstrously exceptional, there was no way he could have become the disciple of such a legendary figure.

“I have my own arrangements for this matter. Just inform her.”

…

Far to the west of Yongzhou, several million li away, lay the West Sea. Above its waters stood an immortal mountain named Chaoyao, covered in rare wonders and famed for producing immortal ores used to forge divine weapons.

Inside the mountain, in a cave dwelling, three figures sat together.

The man in the center wore a long robe. He was thin and spare, with delicate features and a refined scholarly air. He held a scroll in his hand and stared at it without blinking. Deep within his pupils, rosy radiance blazed brilliantly.

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After a long while, the glow subsided. The man put away the scroll in his hand, a trace of joy appearing on his face.

“As the Heavenly Book reveals, when the first snow falls next year and the Jiazi cycle returns, it will be the perfect moment to rise. The water-qi of the Heavenly Dao will sink and clash against the fire-virtue qi of the Fiery Han. Natural disasters are certain to come. When that time arrives and I raise a single call from on high, all regions will answer. The great cause can be expected!”

The two men on either side showed little joy. Their faces were full of gravity.

“Big Brother, the national fortune of the Han is still blazing like the midday sun. What we are doing this time is tantamount to acting against heaven itself. If we are defeated, I fear we will die without even a burial place.”

The man on the left sighed, his expression hesitant.

“With the abilities of the three of us brothers, wouldn’t it be just as carefree to be wandering immortals overseas?”

At that, the remaining man also spoke in agreement.

“Although the disciples of the Taiping Dao are now spread across the Nine Provinces and number over ten million, since ancient times, how many who acted against heaven have managed to leave behind an intact corpse?”

“How is this acting against heaven? The court is in chaos now. I, Zhang Jiao, received guidance from an immortal. This is following Heaven’s Mandate. It is only right that I set the disorder aright and cleanse the world across its ten thousand li!”

Zhang Jiao rose to his feet and lifted a hand, stopping the other two before they could continue persuading him.

“The two of you go make your preparations and wait for my message. When the first snow falls next year and the natural disasters begin, we will raise our troops and swallow the Han!”

With that, he lifted his head. His gaze passed through the stone wall and swept across the vast sky.

“The Blue Heaven is dead. The Yellow Heaven shall rise. The year is Jiazi; all under Heaven shall prosper!”