Chapter 84

Chapter 85: Thunder and Lightning, the Vajra of Wind and Thunder

Xie Lingfeng took a few deep breaths to calm himself down and said in a deep voice, "Xu Xiong, please continue!"

"Are you sure you want me to continue?"

Xu Yan hesitated.

"Continue!"

Xie Lingfeng gritted his teeth.

"Alright."

Xu Yan nodded and continued, "After refining the bones, it's the turn to refine the organs... when the bones and tendons resonate with thunder, and the blood and qi are as strong as a gale, that is the entry level of martial arts, and I have already reached the perfect realm of blood and qi!"

When Xu Yan finished speaking, Xie Lingfeng felt his head about to explode, a buzzing sound echoing in his ears, and a burning sensation.

His mind seemed to be on fire!

He panted, his eyes gradually losing their focus, and he began to doubt his life.

At the age of six, he started practicing martial arts, and at the age of six, he entered the realm of swordsmanship... everyone praised him as the first sword genius in a thousand years on Sword Reverence Cliff.

He believed it too.

Looking across the Inner Domain, there were few among his peers who could match him.

And in the art of swordsmanship, he was the best among his peers.

However, upon coming to the borderlands, it seemed he had discovered a cruel truth: he had not even entered the realm of swordsmanship.

Moreover, the martial arts he practiced were false martial arts!

Hu Shan panted heavily, his eyes bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth, growling, "Don't talk nonsense! The tradition of Sword Reverence Cliff, how can it be false martial arts!"

Xu Yan was not angry; instead, his eyes were filled with pity. It was truly pitiful to have practiced for half a lifetime only to discover that it was false martial arts.

It was understandable that he could not accept it.

He reflected on himself, "Did I speak too bluntly?"

He asked, "Let me ask you, I have reached the perfect realm of blood and qi, which is just the entry level of martial arts, while you are at the Master level, the pinnacle of martial arts, yet your strength is inferior to mine.

"Isn't it obvious which is true and which is false?"

"I..."

Hu Shan was speechless.

One was just entering the realm of martial arts, the other had already reached the pinnacle, yet the one at the entry level was stronger. It was clear who was true and who was false.

Xie Lingfeng stood up, dazed and dispirited, and bowed, "Xu Xiong, thank you for your guidance. I need to be alone for a while. I will visit you another day to express my gratitude!"

"Of course, Xie Xiong, please!"

Xu Yan smiled brightly.

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan took to the air and returned to the capital of Qi State.

This trip to the borderlands was originally to kill Blood Heartless, but it turned out that Blood Heartless had already been killed by someone else.

There were actually martial artists in the borderlands.

After a bout of sparring, they discovered that the martial arts they practiced were false martial arts?

Their martial arts worldview had collapsed!

The capital was bustling.

Emperor Qi and his ministers were waiting for the results of the battle.

Finally, two figures returned.

They directly returned to the imperial palace.

Emperor Qi was overjoyed, "Quick, prepare lavish gifts to thank the great master!"

He glared provocatively at Guo Rongshan, as if to say, "Just wait and see!"

Guo Rongshan's heart sank.

As soon as Emperor Qi left, the ministers avoided Guo Rongshan and his son like the plague, shouting praises of the emperor's wisdom and bravery, and hurriedly followed behind Emperor Qi.

"Dad!"

Guo Yun Kai's face was filled with worry.

"Yan'er has returned!"

Guo Rongshan suddenly spoke, his entire body relaxing.

Xu Yan flew over.

"Yan'er, you're safe, what's the result?"

Guo Rongshan sighed in relief.

"Grandpa, don't worry. Xie Lingfeng and the others practice false martial arts, which is not a concern. He has already recognized his shortcomings!"

Xu Yan said with a smile.

Guo Rongshan was taken aback, turned to look in the direction of the palace, and narrowed his eyes.

"Yun Kai, issue an order for a grand assembly tomorrow!"

"Yes, Dad!"

Guo Yun Kai was also overjoyed.

Xu Yan had won!

In the imperial palace annex, where Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan stayed, the two returned and sat on the stone bench, staring at each other, their entire beings numb.

Xu Yan's discourse on martial arts had dealt a severe blow to them, collapsing their martial arts worldview and making them doubt their lives.

Especially Xie Lingfeng, who kept replaying Xu Yan's discourse on martial arts in his mind, finding it increasingly mysterious and unbelievable, unable to comprehend how such profound martial arts could be practiced, his mind burning with confusion.

"Great master, great master, did Xu Yan bring back Blood Heartless's head?"

Emperor Qi ran over excitedly, followed by the First Prince.

As for the Third Prince, he had already been sidelined.

"Great master?"

Emperor Qi looked puzzled, sensing that the two great masters seemed off.

Even with him right in front of them, they showed no reaction.

"Great master? Two great masters?"

He extended his hand and waved it in front of Xie Lingfeng's eyes.

"Get lost!"

Finally, the great master reacted, grabbing Emperor Qi by the collar and throwing him out.

The First Prince's face turned pale, he swallowed hard, and hurriedly scurried away, coming to the annex's entrance to see his father getting up with a dark face.

"Father!"

He hurriedly went to support him.

Emperor Qi's face was dark, and he said angrily, "You invited... "

"Shh!"

The First Prince's face turned pale, and he quickly raised his finger to silence Emperor Qi.

Emperor Qi hurriedly shut up and, supported by the chief eunuch, walked out with a dark face.

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary will convene a grand assembly tomorrow!"

A eunuch rushed over and said.

Emperor Qi was furious, "He Guo..."

"Your Majesty, Xu Yan has returned!"

The eunuch hurriedly said.

Emperor Qi held back his words, his face turning red with anger, and he gritted his teeth, "Issue an edict to all ministers for a grand assembly tomorrow!"

What a damn humiliation!

Emperor Qi was seething with frustration. Seeing the First Prince beside him, he took a deep breath, lifted his foot, and kicked the First Prince to the ground.

"You ungrateful son, where did you find these great masters, you've made me so angry!"

He kicked several times, feeling a bit relieved, and then strode away.

The First Prince was so angry he almost spat blood.

He cursed in his heart, "Old man, you just take out your frustrations on your son, you're a waste!"

Xu Yan stayed at the Qi State Mansion, waiting for Xie Lingfeng to visit.

He was delighted.

This trip was not in vain. He had sparred with the Inner Domain's masters, gaining new insights into swordsmanship, which would help him understand sword intent.

Incidentally, he made the Inner Domain's martial artists realize that their martial arts were false.

In the imperial palace annex, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan had been sitting there for a whole day, not moving, their minds in chaos, and their entire beings directionless.

The collapse of their martial arts worldview had a tremendous impact on them.

They wanted to deny that their martial arts were false, but thinking about Xu Yan's discourse on martial arts, it was too profound and too incredible, far surpassing what they had practiced.

Xu Yan, at the entry level of martial arts with blood and qi, could fight against them at the Master level. It was clear who was true and who was false.

Emperor Qi's mood had plummeted from the heights to the ground. He had thought he could re-establish the imperial authority, but it turned out to be a disappointment.

The grand assembly began.

The ministers flattered with smiles, bowing to Grand Secretary before and after, showing even more respect than to Emperor Qi.

In today's Qi State, everyone knew that Emperor Qi was just a symbol, having no real power, and all state affairs were decided by Grand Secretary Guo Rongshan.

The First Prince entered the grand hall, and just as he reached the Third Prince, he was secretly tripped by the Third Prince, almost falling.

He glared at the Third Prince in anger.

"Your Majesty, the First Prince has violated the grand assembly..."

Guo Rongshan stood up solemnly and bowed to Emperor Qi.

Before he could finish, Emperor Qi said angrily, "Bring this ungrateful son out and give him thirty lashes, beat him hard!"

The First Prince was shocked, lifting his head: !!

Another thirty lashes?

He cursed in his heart, "Old waste, what else can you do besides taking out your frustrations on your son?"

Guo Rongshan's lips twitched, and he silently sat down. He had intended to use this to completely strip the First Prince of his eligibility for the throne, confining him to his quarters for a month, but he did not expect Emperor Qi to be so harsh, directly giving him thirty lashes.

Indeed, the imperial family is heartless!

Guo Rongshan sighed, and the grand assembly proceeded, passing various state affairs, demoting some officials, and promoting others, with Emperor Qi having no real role.

He only needed to sit above and listen, then issue an edict.

After the grand assembly, the state affairs of Qi State were completely under the control of Guo Rongshan.

Emperor Qi returned to the imperial study, feeling extremely frustrated.

Unable to hold it in, he went to the annex to seek an audience with Xie Lingfeng, but was thrown out again.

Emperor Qi was almost driven to the brink of fury!

What kind of great master, how dare they be so disrespectful!

"Bring that ungrateful son another thirty lashes!"

Emperor Qi ordered.

The chief eunuch felt sorry for the First Prince and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, another thirty lashes, the First Prince might not be able to bear it."

Emperor Qi was silent for a moment and said, "Then wait until he recovers a bit, and then beat him!"

Xie Lingfeng sat there for two days, finally regaining some spirit. He took a deep breath and said, "Hu Shan, I'm going to visit Xu Yan."

"Master, you go ahead, I still need some time to think!"

Hu Shan said weakly.

Xie Lingfeng ignored him, left the annex, and went to the Qi State Mansion to visit Xu Yan.

"Meeting Grandmaster Guo!"

When he saw Guo Rongshan, Xie Lingfeng bowed.

Although the person in front of him was not a martial artist, he was Xu Yan's grandfather, and the proper etiquette should be observed.

"It's Xie, Yan is waiting for you, please go in."

Guo Rongshan smiled and nodded.

Today, Emperor Qi invited his sworn brother to the royal garden for a tour