Chapter 6, Breaking Before Rebuilding

As soon as he opened his mouth, the echo reverberated throughout the forbidden area of the Qimen, particularly jarring, and it startled him instead.

Lu Yaoguang somehow obtained a few catapults, and he struck repeatedly at the breached area, causing the ground of the forbidden zone beneath the Qimen to tremble violently. Meanwhile, Li Sheng and his companion, the two 'intelligent men', were engaged in a back-and-forth discussion, trying to verify Lu Yaoguang's origins. Yang Jin, unable to bear it any longer, forcefully interjected, 'Li Sheng, when exactly is your uncle coming?'

The Northern Army dispersed with a "whoosh," with some members going to capture the desperate youth, while others headed towards the direction from which the girl had called out. The pursuers split into several directions to encircle the youth, and it seemed they were about to trap him in the middle. At that moment, however, the youth suddenly turned around and darted behind a massive stone pillar, astonishingly disappearing into thin air right before everyone's eyes

Lu Yaoguang pushed the minor general aside with a single palm and squeezed out a word through clenched teeth: "Get lost!"

Since childhood, Zhou Fei has been accustomed to her father's self-discipline and restraint, and the head of the family is quite strict. Therefore, she could not adopt the usual ways of the common people in the martial world, who shout and indulge in drunken revelry. Even when she occasionally drinks a bowl of wine, it is mostly to warm herself, and she has never been greedy for more. She often finds herself alone outside, and when emotions rise and fall, she often has no outlet for them. Over time, Zhou Fei gradually developed a habit—whenever she felt a buildup of unresolved emotions, she would practice her skills.

Zhou Yitang did not bother to pay attention to him; this composed individual, just like Lu Yaoguang, recklessly followed directly behind the vanguard into the forbidden area. His broad cloak swept across the scattered debris as he strode in with a gust of wind at his feet

He glared at the protruding mechanisms throughout the valley with a sullen expression, enunciating each word: "I must capture these little brats!"

Lu Yaoguang's temples throbbed with veins, and with a wave of his hand, the Northern Army hurriedly retreated in a fluster from the midst of the stone pillars. Upon emerging, they discovered that they had not returned the way they came, but had instead mistakenly entered a cluster of towering stone forests.

Her injured meridians resembled a tree on the verge of withering, with the internal energy flowing extremely sluggishly. In the past, the internal energy would circulate, completing a small cycle in just half an hour. However, during this period, even when she sat facing the wall with a mind as tranquil as in meditation, her vital energy still seemed like silt accumulating, struggling to push forward through the bitter meridians, and with the slightest misstep, it would break.

Master Lü later wrote: "The way of yin and yang, mutual generation and mutual restraint, the young friends of the Qi school often live in seclusion, without contention and in harmony, frequently discarding the technique of 'mutual restraint.' Little do they know that desolation begins at the peak of prosperity, that grass and trees arise from barren soil, that fierce fire melts ice, thus giving rise to flowing water. Without knowledge of death, how can one seek life? Now, I, Lü, have erased half of the minor Qi techniques and replaced them with techniques of slaughter, creating the 'Great Qi Techniques' for future generations. The methods are perilous, with a nine out of ten chance of death; proceed with caution."

Then the blade without a handle fell to the ground with a "thud," stirring up countless settled dust particles

As the words were spoken, countless wooden arrows shot in from all directions towards the northern army trapped in the stone pillar formation. Although they were made of wood, it was unclear what mechanism had launched them, as they were hardly less lethal than real iron arrowheads, quickly taking down a large number of soldiers. When Lu Yaoguang roared for his subordinates to fight desperately against the current and trace back to the source of the arrows, he found not a single person, only a pile of grass-made grasshopper dolls in the original spot

The Northern Army, trapped within the forbidden area of Qimen, had not yet recovered from the shock of their commander being struck down by a knife, when they heard the dreadful news that they had been surrounded. Instantly, chaos erupted among the intricate stone forest and stone pillar formations, and in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the Southern Army had effortlessly taken control of the entire valley

Zhou Fei said: "Aren't you going to take a look?"

Li Sheng laughed and said: "Hahaha, I am here to propose to you. In fact, many people have sent representatives to inquire about this both openly and secretly before, but you are the first one to invest so much and come in person."

After giving instructions, Li Sheng exchanged a glance with Yang Jin and Ying He, then leaped forward. The three of them coordinated with each other and broke into the ranks of the Northern Army

Even though Zhou Yitang took them by surprise, facing the leaderless Northern Dynasty army that filled the entire valley, the finishing tasks kept him busy from noon until dark, forcing him to set up camp on the spot

The refugees extracted from the forbidden area of Qimen were collectively arranged in several tents lined up together. After this ordeal, these refugees seemed to have gained considerable courage, following Li Cheng and the others with a fearless demeanor. Many of them still held the wooden arrows they had used in the forbidden area, vigilantly patrolling the surroundings.

Wen Yu had no choice but to tactfully step aside and watch Li Sheng and the others study the items they had excavated from the forbidden area of Qi Gate

There is an ambush

At that moment, the little tiger, acting as a "sentinel" nearby, suddenly stood up straight. Zhou Fei turned her head and saw Zhou Yitang approaching with Wen Yu.

At that moment, a tremendous sound of "thump" echoed, and massive boulders came crashing down, causing the stone door of the forbidden area to finally shatter under the unbearable pressure. Simultaneously, shouts and roars erupted, as rocks crumbled and soil collapsed. Lu Yaoguang exerted his brute strength, determined to bring the Qi Gate of the forbidden area back to light, showing no concern for burying his soldiers beneath. He forcefully created a pit over several zhang in width right above the forbidden area.

A strand of long hair of Zhou Fei floated backward, briefly wrapping around the farthest gunpoint, and then quietly fell down

Zhou Fei cast a glance, indifferently withdrew her gaze, and lowered her eyes again, as if preparing to enter a meditative state once more: "Perhaps."

It is actually Zhou Fei

He spoke, flipping his hand over to reveal an old duster that could only be described as "emaciated." This duster had been discarded by someone for many years, its filthy hairs nearly all gone, yet the handle was distinctly engraved with a wave pattern. Li Sheng, with an air of mystery, brought the duster close to Zhou Fei's face and deliberately lowered his voice, saying: "Do you think this could be the last token of the wave pattern?"

Exercise caution and vigilance

Zhou Yitang suddenly felt a bit annoyed and was too lazy to continue talking to her. She waved her hand dismissively and walked away briskly

However, this time, Zhou Fei did not avert her gaze due to the stinging pain in her eyes. Her three souls and seven spirits were awakened by Li Cheng from a muddled dream, and as the Breaking Snow Blade was about to re-establish control over her spirit, it was met with resistance. In the blink of an eye, countless techniques flashed through her mind, and an inexplicable fighting spirit was born anew from the previously calm depths of Zhou Fei's heart. Her stagnant energy sea trembled violently, and the internal energy that had been disrupted and nearly dissipated immediately responded, rekindling like dying embers, re-consolidating as it coursed through her damaged meridians, akin to a bone-scraping sensation.

Zhou Yitang said lightly: "What I mean is not just a short stay"

In this battle, although tens of thousands of Northern troops were not severely injured, they were nonetheless thrown into disarray by the sudden and bizarre changes in the valley. Lu Yaoguang, possessing exceptional martial arts skills, was more than capable of being a vanguard, but when it came to commanding a faction, he fell far short. He took advantage of Zhou Fei's hand to kill Gu Tianxuan, which was momentarily satisfying; however, after turning Gu Tianxuan into a porcupine, Lu Yaoguang realized that he had lost control over the troops in the valley.

His heart skipped a beat, and only then did he see the visitor clearly, his pupils suddenly constricting

"Is the background good? Who knows," Li Sheng said with a bitter smile. "I was originally worried that my younger sister would not handle things properly and would not have time to inform my uncle. Now it seems that my worries were unnecessary. There are rumors in the Jianghu that this Lord Lu's maternal family is related to the Cao family. Their royal relatives surely cannot be the internal supporters from the south, right?"

Zhou Fei thought for a moment and replied earnestly: "I don't know, perhaps it is youthful recklessness? Father, give me some money."

Zhou Fei's footsteps were unceasing, seemingly ignoring the Beidou standing in front of her. The blade in her hand, worth only a few coins, was not particularly fast, yet in an instant, the edge converged into an extremely fine line, moving like a silk thread, light as a feather—below it, however, was a massive stone capable of turning rivers and seas upside down—obliquely blocking Lu Yaoguang's long sword.

Upon hearing this, the general was greatly alarmed. They had already ventured deep behind enemy lines, which was a risky maneuver. Now that their position was exposed, instead of immediately sending a message to Prince Duan, Cao Ning, to remedy the situation, he insisted on confronting those meddlesome individuals from the martial world. The amount of foolishness in his mind could fill Dongting Lake!

Lu Yaoguang, in a moment of haste, retreated three steps, awkwardly drew the long knife from his waist, and shouted loudly as he parried the blade that was slashing down from above.

Lu Yaoguang led the crowd into the stone pillar formation and naturally heard the faint exclamation. He immediately waved his hand and said: "Split up and surround them!"

Lu Yaoguang was taken aback and squeezed out a sentence through clenched teeth: "Very well, you are still alive after all."

On this day, Zhou Fei had finally managed to push her internal energy forward a little. Suddenly, a sound of footsteps came from beside her, causing her ears to twitch slightly. She became a bit distracted, and the vital energy she had just gathered dissipated in vain. Zhou Fei did not mind much; she simply withdrew her energy and raised her eyes to look in the direction of the newcomer

Li Sheng looked incredulously at the small hole letting in light, murmuring: "This Lu Yaoguang... does he have a problem?"

The marks of knives and axes on the stone wall coalesced into a tangible glimmer of blades and shadows, consuming her remaining meager internal energy to the ground. At first, blood seeped from her palms, and then the twelve meridians gradually succumbed, until there was hardly a part of her body that was not in pain. That pain felt somewhat familiar, reminiscent of the time in Huacheng when Duan Jiuniang carelessly infused a strand of withered vitality into her body, causing a sensation akin to being flayed. However, back then it was meant to explode, while now it was meant to crack, and it is hard to say which was more unbearable

Perhaps I still do not feel at ease with them

Li Sheng and others formed a circle, clearing a large wooden box that had been unearthed from an unknown location—its loud roar had interrupted Zhou Fei's cultivation at that time, nearly causing her demise, as it was due to someone discovering this object within the stone walls of the forbidden area. The wooden box itself seemed to be a mechanism; to open the box, one had to unlock it step by step. It is said that if one accidentally makes a mistake in the unlocking process, the contents inside would be lost.

Indeed, it remains uncertain whether Li Yan and Wu Chuchu will successfully convey the message, whether Lu Yaoguang and the others will change their plans to launch a surprise attack, and whether her father can respond appropriately... Furthermore, there are matters concerning the forty-eight strongholds and the affairs of the court. Over the years, although Li Jinrong has intentionally allowed them to gain experience, she has never completely relinquished her responsibilities, nor has she disclosed everything to her. Today, a son of a minister, and tomorrow, who knows how many tangled and chaotic matters he will shield her from.

Upon this thought, he kicked the subordinate aside and coldly said: "What do you know? Was it merely by chance that those little brats triggered the mechanisms in the valley? This matter has clearly been a trap from the very beginning. It must be that person surnamed Zhou secretly sent people to pose as refugees, leading us into a trap, dividing our forces into two routes, and defeating us one by one. His Highness the Prince of the State has been deceived!"

At the entrance excavated by Lu Yaoguang, the vanguard of the Southern Army entered first, followed immediately by groups of archers, who, without any effort, caused a group of Northern soldiers, already terrified, to kneel and surrender.

"If they dare to come, why should I be afraid of them in the restricted area of Qimen?" Li Sheng scoffed coldly and clapped his hands, saying, "Everyone, remove the wooden signs that indicate the way; let us wait for him to walk into the trap himself."

Li Sheng held a small brush as if facing a formidable enemy, crouching on the ground, meticulously scraping the few wooden seams, brushing out the accumulated dirt inside.

Zhou Fei blinked

Zhou Fei laughed and said: "Nonsense, I took the person back to the camp, when did I act on my own to execute anyone?"

Zhou Fei stood on tiptoe and shouted: "Father, don't forget to give me money"

Zhou Yitang understood her meaning, sighed silently, and then tactfully changed the subject, only pointing at her and saying: "You speak so boldly, even your mother wouldn't dare to call herself 'Nan Dao'"

The flying wooden knife handle shot straight towards Lu Yaoguang, and his gaze was inevitably disturbed for a moment. Just as he blinked, Zhou Fei, with hands moving like flowing clouds and flowing water, pushed the blade of the light rod in an extremely harmonious circle. The blade rotated around the Broken Army long knife, resembling a mandala slowly unfolding, naturally approaching elegance.

A group of refugees has endured numerous hardships and, after much struggle, have resolutely followed Li Sheng. Initially, they were somewhat anxious upon hearing that Lu Yaoguang was not taking the usual path, but upon seeing his determined expression, they could not help but feel a sense of reassurance, and immediately began to act as instructed.

Wen Yu is speaking to Zhou Yitang: "Lord Zhou, speed is of the essence in military matters. During the hearing, they said that Lu Yaoguang did not send a message to Cao Ning. Since we have been granted a fortuitous opportunity, why not turn the situation to our advantage..."

Zhou Fei said: "Hmm"

Every scar on the wall became clear, and although it was filled with a chilling atmosphere, it merely lay submissively against the wall, no longer harming anyone. Those scars, like the chaotic strokes above, formed a complete set of internal martial arts techniques. Before Zhou Fei could react, she had already instinctively begun to circulate her internal energy according to the method illustrated in the diagram. She had never experienced such a magical sensation; her body, previously burdened with ailments, suddenly felt light, and for the first time, she sensed a powerful control within herself. Before Zhou Fei could react, she had already instinctively begun to circulate her internal energy according to the method illustrated in the diagram. She had never experienced such a magical sensation; her body, previously burdened with ailments, suddenly felt light, and for the first time, she sensed a powerful control within herself

Zhou Fei was too lazy to pay him any attention, nor did she look at the Northern Army surrounding her as if they were facing a formidable enemy. She slightly tilted her ear, then turned her head towards the direction at the end of the stone forest and said: "Why not take advantage of the fact that there are fewer people just after they come down, quickly capture the thief and the king, and stop pretending to be divine?"

A great virtue is missing

Zhou Fei's lips twitched slightly: "And then?"

Until she saw this half of the Qiwu Jue, which had been altered by an unknown person—its originally gentle Daoist heart method had turned dangerous and malicious. At the same time, Zhou Fei was severely injured and her mental state was unstable, nearly causing her meridians to wither. Yet, she was unwilling to die easily and unexpectedly grasped the principle of the cycle of withering and flourishing, the continuity of life. By chance, she managed to unblock the true energy of withering and flourishing, taking a step that her senior brother and sister, Duan Jiuniang, had never reached in the past.

He finally managed to meet Zhou Fei, and the process was so thrilling; this heartless little beast actually plans to take some money and run away

In the valley, which was in complete disarray, the central military tent where Lu Yaoguang was located was entirely sent skyward by the grand mechanism of the Qi Gate

Zhou Fei finally finished saying her sentence: "...it would be easier to just go catch my father."

Zhou Yitang snorted and said, "Put it down, I won't give it anymore, let her buy it herself."

Just then, a figure suddenly flashed by. Before a Northern Army soldier could react, he fell silently, his machete taken away. The blade gleamed like snow as it slashed towards Lu Yaoguang. Lu Yaoguang was surprised to see the ordinary soldier's machete in the hands of the newcomer, who transformed into a formidable opponent. He barely had time to react before a series of strikes forced him into a defensive position.

Great aunt waved to Brother Lin, deliberately asking, "Xiao Lin, has your junior sister sent any letters recently? Where is she now?" Brother Lin solemnly replied, "She has arrived at Chuzhou secretly, as it has been found that the scoundrel has committed many deceits and refuses to repent. Junior sister has already taken the culprit's head to make amends to the victim."

Zhou Fei's entire mind was only enough to maintain a clear line of thought. Her whole being seemed to have returned to the time of her birth, revealing her innate competitive instinct - even when facing death, her heart was as firm as iron and stone, and she would never take the initiative to retreat.

He suddenly couldn't help but say, "In Jinling at this time of year, it is the season for poetry gatherings, enjoying chrysanthemums, and eating crabs. Although I have been away for most of the year and only occasionally return, I still receive many invitations. However, most of them are just polite gestures because many of them are inviting my family members to come along, and they all know that you and your mother are not by my side."

Lu Yaoguang brushed the dust off his face and pointed at the large pit, commanding, "Charge down!"

The young refugee had short calves, looking as if he had never had enough to eat. In a state of panic, how could he possibly escape the fierce advance of the Northern Army? He took cover behind a stone pillar, circling in place several times. Just as he was about to be caught by the Northern Army, a cry of alarm came from deep within the stone pillar, seemingly from a young girl hiding there, who whispered, "Xiao Hu! Xiao Hu, run quickly!"

Zhou Fei was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "That works too, but I'm afraid I won't make it this year. Don't forget to buy more crabs this time next year, I'll come for a feast."

The Northern Army was energetically digging holes on the forbidden ground, while Li Cheng, with his lightness skill, was swiftly leading a group of orderly refugees to clear the guiding stakes on the ground, creating a scene of bustling activity. Zhou Fei could hear the sounds of the Northern Army digging, and naturally, she also heard Li Cheng's long whistle. However, she seemed to be trapped in a very awkward situation, neither fully entering a meditative state nor able to break free from this 'hypnotized' condition, stuck in a limbo. Her internal energy felt as if it were being drained by the domineering lower half of the Qiwu Jue, becoming increasingly insufficient.

Zhou Yitang: "..."

Immediately after, a tall and thin person shook off the guards and jumped directly from the cave entrance. When he landed, his feet stumbled for a moment, almost losing his balance. Wen Yu, dressed in military uniform, hurriedly caught up from behind and wanted to stop him but didn't dare. He could only reach out and grab the man's arm, saying, "Mr. Zhou, you..."

Wen Yu: "Lord Zhou, be careful!"

She never thought about what "kū" and "róng" meant. Only occasionally, when she made progress in the Poxue Knife, could she glimpse the path of the "Great Dao" and the true essence of kū and róng. Over the years, the true essence of kū and róng in Zhou Fei's body, except for being able to cooperate with a small part of the Poxue Nine Forms, has been basically stagnant and has not made much progress.

Li Sheng : `` ... ... ''

Is she also going to be like Lu Run, a coward who neither sees, hears, nor acts, crawling beneath the imagined "mandate of heaven"?

Lu Yaoguang raised a finger, signaling him to be silent. Although Beidou Pojun was a good-for-nothing, his skills and hearing were genuine. He closed his eyes and listened for a moment, then suddenly flicked his long sleeves and pointed in a direction, saying: "The rat-like creatures pretending to be mysterious are hiding over there"

The old charlatan surnamed Lü wrote the characters "慎之" here, who the hell can see them?

As the vanguard general raised his head, he saw a cluster of stone pillars not far away. These giant stones, as thick as an embrace, stood tall, supporting this hidden paradise. A young refugee stood there, with a bewildered expression on his face, as if he had been startled by the sudden appearance of the Big Dipper. After a brief moment of staring at each other, the two sides shouted simultaneously. The young man turned around and rushed into the midst of the stone pillars.

At this moment, on top of a large rock in the shape of a bamboo shoot, about two zhang high, in the Stone Forest, someone spoke up and said, "Dad, how did you learn to scavenge?"

Oh, at that time we had an undercover agent in another city who got drunk and caused a disturbance that resulted in someone's death. Your aunt sent you over to handle the situation, but you didn't encounter it—I also forgot whether it was the Ministry of Personnel or something else, " Li Sheng said, "In any case, it was something along those lines, claiming that he came to propose marriage.

She brushed past Lu Yaoguang, seemingly annoyed that he was in her way, and lightly bumped him with her shoulder. Lu Yaoguang's face was filled with immense shock, as if he had been frozen in place; after being bumped by her, he obediently stepped aside to make way. In an instant, Zhou Fei had already darted several steps away, and only at this moment did the gun formation of the Northern Army, woven into a large net, arrive, having to come to a halt due to Lu Yaoguang blocking the way.

At that moment, a tremendous sound suddenly echoed throughout the forbidden area, and an ominous beam of light pierced into the dark underground valley from an unknown source, with faint voices from outside becoming discernible.

Isn't it just to curry favor with your father? In the early years, those people did not take the emperor seriously, and as a result, the emperor has become increasingly powerful over the years. Those officials who chose the wrong side are now filled with regret, wishing to become the emperor's confidants but finding it impossible, so they have to seek connections everywhere. Li Sheng rested one elbow on his knee, lightly tapping his bony kneecap with his fingers. After a pause, he continued, "That young master, delicate and weak, managed to reach halfway up the mountain with great difficulty. When he could go no further, he switched to a shoulder litter and finally made it to Mount Shu alive. Upon meeting his grandaunt, he politely stated that he had come to seek the hand of the 'Miss Zhou.' Can you guess what expression his grandaunt had?"

Looking around, he asked, "Where is Zhou Fei?"

When a person is performing swordsmanship, the swordsmanship is also influencing the person. Often, after a set of vigorous and smooth swordsmanship, Zhou Fei's depression disappears. However, at this moment, Zhou Fei's sword is broken and she only has a wooden stick to assist her steps. She tries to use the stick instead of the sword, but the moves she casually swings out are still the well-practiced Poxue swordsmanship. Even with her eyes closed, there is no mistake in the moves, but the feeling has changed. She doesn't know if it's because her blood is deficient due to her serious injury, but she feels that her sword has suddenly become lifeless, making it impossible for her to exert any strength. However, at this moment, Zhou Fei's sword is broken and she only has a wooden stick to assist her steps. She tries to use the stick instead of the sword, but the moves she casually swings out are still the well-practiced Poxue swordsmanship. Even with her eyes closed, there is no mistake in the moves, but the feeling has changed. She doesn't know if it's because her blood is deficient due to her serious injury, but she feels that her sword has suddenly become lifeless, making it impossible for her to exert any strength.

Zhou Yitang suddenly stopped in his tracks. He looked up and saw Zhou Fei sitting on top of a large rock, dangling his feet. His hands were empty, and he had a face that resembled a flower cat. He smiled at him... ... His teeth were still white.

But who would have known that although Zhou Fei had obviously lost a lot of weight and looked ragged, her hands were not dull at all. Her aura was even more restrained than when she was in front of the central military tent. When martial arts reached a certain level, it was not just about external display, but rather the terrifying ability to remain calm and collected on the surface, which meant that she had reached a level of mastery where she could control her movements with ease.

Zhou Yitang: "... ..."

The old charlatan surnamed Lü wrote the characters "慎之" here, who the hell can see it? Lacking great virtue!

Li Sheng walked to her side, glanced at the "Qi Wu Jue" on the wall, and felt as if his eyes had been stung. He quickly withdrew his gaze and covered his eyes with his hand, saying, "This wall is really eerie. Can you sit somewhere else?"

And when consciousness also began to wane, all the worldly worries that troubled her vanished into thin air. She no longer had the leisure to consider the possibility of the Northern Army being close at hand, forgetting the bitter and angry questioning in her heart about "destiny." The lingering emotions that lingered in her heart became insignificant, and she even couldn't remember her own surname and name clearly.

The general threw himself at Lu Yaoguang's feet, rolling and crawling: "Sir, please think twice. The military situation cannot be delayed!"

That made him/her stunned for a moment.

During the collision, the thin and fragile back of the knife seemed to be motionless. Then, the person suddenly shook his wrist, and with a clang, an indescribable force, like ripples in water, directly transmitted to Lu Yaoguang's hand. Immediately, Lu Yaoguang's wrist went numb up to the tiger's mouth. The long knife instantly lost its strength, and the two knife blades dangerously passed each other.

Great aunt said, "She has grown wings and I can't control her. If you are willing, go talk to Zhou Cun yourself." The young master of the Shangshu dared not confront his uncle and flattered, "I've heard that people in the martial world are not bound by trivial matters. Madam indeed embodies the spirit of ancient heroines. Could you please convey my message to Miss Zhou and ask for her opinion?" Li Sheng played two roles seamlessly, showing remarkable versatility. It's unclear when he acquired such skills in acting, singing, reciting, and fighting.

Since Lu Yaoguang was weaned, he has never been ignored like this before. He immediately became furious and shouted, "Take her down and see if Zhou Cun dares to risk his precious daughter!"

In the chaotic world, there are still influential and noble figures. Their hair seems to be adorned with golden edges, and they are afraid of losing their elegance with every move. They always remain aloof. The wind and rain cannot penetrate their lofty mansions. The iron horses and icy rivers cannot enter their dreams of luxurious tents. In Jinling, as Zhou Yitang, it is enough for Zhou Fei to be a "princess of worldly matters" - even if she comes from the "countryside", there will still be the son of a high-ranking official who dares to come and propose marriage.

Unconsciously, the wounds on her waist and legs slowly healed, growing new flesh. She could move freely without crutches. However, there was no sign of improvement in her internal injuries, and she still hung there, half-dead and lifeless.

The external noise and light re-entered her eyes and ears. Zhou Fei's scattered gaze slowly converged. The second half of the Qiwu Formula once again reflected in her eyes. To her surprise, she found that she could actually see those tempting knife and axe marks clearly!

When she mentioned the word "feel", dozens of soldiers from the Northern Army around her immediately surrounded Zhou Fei upon hearing the command. The vanguard soldiers were indeed well-trained, moving forward and backward in unison. They quickly erected a huge thorny fence with their long spears, pushing it towards Zhou Fei's back like a war chariot. At the same time, Lu Yaoguang drew his sword and poured all his lifelong skills into one strike, chopping towards Zhou Fei's head, blocking all her paths forward, and intending to trap her in the long spear formation.

Zhou Fei smiled and said, "Me? I truly feel ... ... "

On Lu Yaoguang's neck, it seemed as if someone had taken red ink and slowly stained it, a line of red thread spreading from right to left, extending all the way to beneath the earlobe. As the line was completed, the wound suddenly burst open, and blood gushed forth. He widened his eyes, his eyeballs gently trembling for a moment, before collapsing with a thud.

Between the clear text and the marks of knives and axes on the deficient and incomplete "Tao Te Ching", there is even a tiny engraved inscription that requires Zhou Fei's keen eyesight and concentration to barely discern.

The two northern armies did not wait for his orders and had already flanked towards the direction indicated by Lu Yaoguang.

Suddenly, a figure flashed by and a soldier from the Northern Army said, "General, they are over there, they haven't run away yet!"

Li Sheng burst into laughter.

Li Sheng was silent for a moment, then took back the old dust and dryly said, "We also found a secret passage, possibly leading to the outside, but it was collapsed by internal force, and the route has not been completely deciphered yet. Everyone is working hard to clear it. Although I think Lu Yaoguang, if he had any brains, would never linger in the valley, it's still better to find another way out for safety's sake."

Withdraw! Withdraw!

At that moment, even though Zhou Yitang was not an ordinary person, he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart, thinking: Why has my girl turned out like this?

Zhou Fei's blank face finally showed a hint of radiance, and she said, "My mother must be completely puzzled, and she might even have to ask who the 'Miss Zhou' is."

Upon arriving at the designated location, the tree branch was surprised to find only a small grass figure there!

Great, there is another bald feather duster among the mysterious members of the Sea and Sky.

Zhou Fei, without exhausting her breath, continued to speak leisurely, saying: "... you might as well ..."

This statement is quite arrogant, almost implying that the techniques of others are utterly useless. However, upon closer reflection, there is some truth to it— the Qiwu Jue that Daoist Chongxiao entrusted to Zhou Fei, when examined carefully, revolves entirely around the concept of "harmony." It was merely a fortunate coincidence that Zhou Fei was nearly driven to death by the madwoman Duan; otherwise, aside from strengthening the body, the Qiwu Jue hidden within the Dao De Jing truly has little significant utility.

Is this going to be abolished? she wondered.

"I understand," Zhou Fei suddenly said, "When the passage is clear, call me, I will go out to investigate, even if I encounter Lu Yaoguang, it will be fine. That old man is afraid of me."

Ying He was taken aback. He walked out of the secret room behind the Seven Stone Gate and looked around, asking, "What's going on?"

She fell silent and looked up at the underground valley of the entire Qimen restricted area. She saw that the once mysterious valley was now filled with long and short wooden signs pointing in all directions. At first glance, it looked like a group of depressed seedlings.

Meanwhile, the voice of that girl suddenly ceased, and in the vast stone pillar formation, it became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. The northern army members exchanged glances with one another, feeling extremely strange. The vanguard general was covered in goosebumps as he leaned closer to Lu Yaoguang and said, "M-Master..."

The plan to traverse the secret passage and gather forces behind enemy lines could be described as flawless, yet at the last moment, numerous unforeseen events occurred, causing Lu Yaoguang to nearly grind his teeth in frustration. A subordinate, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, approached and said: "Lord Lu, time is of the essence. I believe we should report this incident to His Highness the Crown Prince as soon as possible... Lord Lu!"

Zhou Fei simply discarded the wooden stick and spent her days sitting in front of the mountain rock, meditating and regulating her internal energy. She sat for several hours at a time, and after a few days, her mind felt completely empty, as if she had forgotten all about the Broken Snow Blade. Zhou Fei, feeling utterly bored, stared at the hidden Qiwu Jue within the Dao De Jing—daring only to look at the first half, as she was unaware of the mysteries contained in the latter half. After staring for a while, her consciousness was easily captivated by the blade's edge above, causing her eyes to ache. Zhou Fei, feeling utterly bored, stared at the hidden Qiwu Jue within the Dao De Jing—daring only to look at the first half, as she was unaware of the mysteries contained in the latter half. After staring for a while, her consciousness was easily captivated by the blade's edge above, causing her eyes to ache.

The vanguard's northern general followed such an inexpressible coach, and was helpless, so he had to lead his men to catch up.

Above the forbidden area, a loud bang was heard as the trebuchet smashed down. The ground trembled, and a crack was forcefully smashed into the sunken stone door. Zhou Fei felt as if she had been split in two by a sharp blade - a "buzz" sounded in her mind, everything went black before her, and she almost lost consciousness. The disturbing noises around her grew more distant, and her vision grew dimmer. The harmful half of the "Qi Wu Jue" finally faded from her sight. The illusion of flashing swords and shadows also faded as her senses became numb. For a moment, Zhou Fei even felt her body growing cold. Everything went black before her, and she almost lost consciousness. The disturbing noises around her grew more distant, and her vision grew dimmer. The harmful half of the "Qi Wu Jue" finally faded from her sight. The illusion of flashing swords and shadows also faded as her senses became numb. For a moment, Zhou Fei even felt her body growing cold.

Zhou Yitang watched her throat move slightly, and after a while, he silently smiled. He stood still, cleared his throat twice, steadied his mind, and then softly scolded: "How old are you? Still acting like a monkey, what kind of behavior is that? Come down quickly"

Martial, upward, unyielding, and possessing a unique character

Li Sheng noticed her lack of interest, so he said again: "By the way, take a look, we also found this."

He was choked by Zhou Fei for a while, and helplessly reached into his bosom to feel around, saying: "I didn't bring it, I'll go find the guards myself later—what are you doing?"

Zhou Fei placed her hands behind her back and said nonchalantly: "That Gu Tianxuan and Lu Yaoguang must feel wronged. When they reach the underworld and remember that they died at the hands of an unnamed soldier, they will be too embarrassed to greet the other ghosts."

The Northern Army general, who had acted as a vanguard alongside Cao Ning for many years, could not discern the mysteries hidden within the Qi family's forbidden grounds at a glance, yet he instinctively sensed that something was amiss, causing him to hesitate momentarily. At that moment, Lu Yaoguang had already arrived with his men, scolding, "What are you still dawdling for! Delaying military matters is a serious offense!"

The inverted Big Dipper vanishes beneath the distant horizon

She is safe and sound, with everything intact

Sir, there is something strange about this stone pillar; let us discuss it outside first

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei observed that her father's expression was unusual, so she asked again, "Ah? What is it? Do you have something else for me to do?"

Zhou Fei slightly opened her eyes

Li Sheng has been reckless since childhood, never displaying the demeanor of an elder brother. Now that he has grown up, this is the first time he has gone to such lengths to say so much. After finishing her laughter, Zhou Fei understood his clumsy attempt to comfort her, realizing that he was just trying to make conversation.

Li Sheng nagged for a while, finally exhausting all topics. He furrowed his brow in some distress, circling around Zhou Fei several times in a state of helplessness. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and with a change of tone, he said: "By the way, do you know that a certain son of a minister came to our village this spring?"

"The fragment has been severed, I need to buy a few knives," Zhou Fei said, "Additionally, I have temporarily decided to head east, and I will not be returning home for the time being, as I did not bring enough money."

Zhou Yitang raised a hand to interrupt Wen Yu's speech. He patted Xiao Hu on the shoulder, nodded slightly to Li Yan and Li Sheng, and said to Zhou Fei: "Come here"

Lu Yaoguang originally had a good plan—at that time, amidst the chaos of the battlefield, arrows were flying everywhere. It is said that even ants can kill an elephant when they swarm, and even Gu Tianxuan was shot full of arrows, resembling a hedgehog. How could a mere Zhou Fei fare any better? Although that little girl had some skill with a knife, she had been darting around the hillside for half the night, while also needing to protect so many refugees who could only be a burden. Even if she were lucky enough to survive, she would surely be badly injured, unable to run far. Moreover, the secret passage lacked medical supplies, and it was likely that she would not even need to put in much effort; she would just sensibly die on her own. Although that little girl had some skill with a knife, she had been darting around the hillside for half the night, while also needing to protect so many refugees who could only be a burden. Even if she were lucky enough to survive, she would surely be badly injured, unable to run far. Moreover, the secret passage lacked medical supplies, and it was likely that she would not even need to put in much effort; she would just sensibly die on her own.

Lu Yaoguang closely followed the vanguard, but having rushed too quickly for a moment, he found himself trapped in the stone forest, unable to locate his own main force.

At this moment, a personal guard approached Zhou Yitang, holding a long box in his arms, and quietly inquired: "Lord Zhou, the famous sword you instructed me to retrieve for Miss Zhou is here, what do you think..."

As they were about to dig three feet into the ground, the underground forbidden area was enveloped in tranquility. The crowd followed Li Sheng as they explored the secret passages within the forbidden zone. Xiao Hu held a wooden stake, inserting it wherever Li Sheng went.

Lu Yaoguang further stated: "There must be a traitor within our ranks. I mean, how could a dignified Beidou Jumen allow a mere child to capture and take them away? Isn't that the height of absurdity? It is evident that Gu Tianxuan has some tricks up his sleeve. I have foolishly called him brother for so many years, bah! Now that the traitor surnamed Gu has been shot dead by a rain of arrows, we find ourselves in such a predicament. I believe that at this point, we must employ unconventional tactics—since Zhou Cun has sent his own descendants here, let us make him pay with both his wife and his soldiers! Come here, I do not believe they can escape far with that bunch of old, weak, sick, and disabled people. Wasn't that mechanism buried underground? Now that the traitor surnamed Gu has been shot dead by a rain of arrows, we find ourselves in such a predicament. I believe that at this point, we must employ unconventional tactics—since Zhou Cun has sent his own descendants here, let us make him pay with both his wife and his soldiers! Come here, I do not believe they can escape far with that bunch of old, weak, sick, and disabled people. Wasn't that mechanism buried underground? Dig for me! Dig three feet into the ground; I do not believe we cannot unearth them!"

Zhou Fei readily replied: "What is the Book of Documents?"

At that moment, a sudden "whoosh" sound was heard behind them, and a Northern soldier was caught off guard, instantly shot through the throat, dying on the spot—the weapon was a wooden arrow with both ends sharpened!

Duan Jiuniang forcefully injected a strand of true energy representing "decay" into Zhou Fei's body with her withered hand. The violent true energy nearly cost her life, yet there was no time to explain to her how to practice or utilize the true energy of decay and prosperity. Over the years, Zhou Fei had neither a cultivation method nor a mantra; she could only harmonize and soothe the two opposing strands of true energy according to the Qiwu Jue taught to her by Daoist Chongxu, managing to coexist peacefully with the true energy of decay and prosperity.

"Facing the wall to heal, I called out to her." After Li Sheng finished speaking, he let out a long whistle, the sound echoing in the dim underground forbidden area. For quite a while, there was no response from Zhou Fei. Li Sheng did not suspect anything, as Zhou Fei had always thought these agreed-upon signals were particularly silly; she would hear them but rarely respond. He then casually remarked, "She knows she heard it, no need to worry about her."

Zhou Fei finally changed into a clean outfit—there was no size in the army that would fit such a delicate girl like her, so she had to roll up the cuffs and pant legs, making do with a small-sized men's uniform. She stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest, leaning against a tree, idly waiting to see when Li Cheng would finally figure things out.

Lu Yaoguang thought to himself: That brat Gu Tianxuan is always good at currying favor with Prince Duan. Today, so many people witnessed me ordering his execution. If that fat man asks about it later, I might not benefit from it. Even if I send a message to Prince Duan to remedy the situation now, the oversight has already occurred. If everything goes smoothly, it will naturally be attributed to Prince Duan's foresight, but if something goes wrong, won't the blame fall on me?

At this point, Zhou Fei had already sensed something unusual. She should have immediately withdrawn her energy and stopped looking at the stone wall, but the Broken Snow Blade seemed to resonate with the marks of knives and axes on that wall. An endless illusion arose before her eyes and in her ears, as if she were entranced, unable to move even her eyeballs. Blood gradually seeped from her palms, clearly a sign of being possessed by a demonic force. What was most critical was that her friends all believed she was concentrating on healing her internal injuries and had all gone in the direction of the shout that had just been heard, leaving her without anyone nearby to seek help.

Li Sheng shrugged his shoulders and said, "Anyway, when that son of the Minister heard these words, he immediately turned as pale as a wilting chive, spent the night plagued by nightmares, and even developed a fever. The next day, the doctor couldn't wait any longer and hurriedly fled down the mountain, rolling and crawling.

The Northern Army surrounded the wooden pillar from all directions, yet no one could see how it disappeared—could it be that someone possesses the ability to burrow into the ground?

Lu Yaoguang, this big fool, actually performed a live demonstration of what it means to "where there is a will, there is a way." Indeed, after such a long time doing nothing, he focused solely on digging three feet into the ground...! ... No, to be precise, at least three hundred feet; he has breached the mechanisms of the forbidden area!

When Zhou Fei suffered a severe blow, she narrowly escaped a disaster due to her serious injuries. Now, just as she is trying to regain her strength, she unexpectedly encounters such an incident

At that moment, Zhou Fei braved the risk of being stabbed in the back, choosing one over the other from the two Big Dippers, and was the first to take down Gu Tianxuan. This was because Gu Tianxuan was too cunning; if he were to be left alive, he might devise some malicious schemes. In comparison, leaving Lu Yaoguang alive would be more advantageous for them.

Yang Jin angrily said: "Since the main army has not arrived, why are you two still standing here talking without any sense of urgency? Instead of worrying about the Southern Army, it would be better to first concern ourselves with our own situation"

Zhou Fei heard about such a thing for the first time. She was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to react. After a long while, she finally said: "As a mere country bandit, what would those high-ranking officials and nobles want to marry me for? To settle down at home?"

Zhou Fei took a deep breath, organized her emotions, and re-entered a state of calm and focus. This time, she truly began to pay attention to the internal injuries that had not shown signs of improvement for a long time. It was unclear how long she had been sitting when, not far away, someone seemed to shout: "Something happened, come and see"

Suddenly, a sharp sound of a horn echoed, and the ground shook violently both above and below, while the voices of people surged like a tidal wave, muffled and resonant, enveloping the northern army in the valley as if they were wrapped in a "dumpling".

In this state of confusion, she could not tell how much time had passed. Zhou Fei felt as if she had already lived a long life. Suddenly, an indescribable sensation slowly rose from her dantian, like a gentle spring breeze, softly and tenderly washing over her dried and cracked meridians. The exhausted vital energy seemed to be rekindled from the ashes, gradually flowing through her previously stagnant meridians. At first, it was very weak, almost imperceptible, but then it gradually strengthened, in sync with the heartbeat that was becoming clear once again.

The sharp voice of the girl pierced through the blade's light and shadow of the underground forbidden place: "Brother! A Fei!"

A large group of Northern troops howled as they descended, plunging down the giant pit. As the vanguard rushed into the forbidden area, they were stunned by the vast underground valley, causing the commanding Northern general to halt his steps involuntarily. The uninvited light illuminated the Qi Gate forbidden area, which had not seen daylight for generations. A massive Bagua diagram lay across the ground, exuding an indescribable divinity. The fine dust floating in the air resembled stardust, scattering in all directions, quietly brushing past the barbaric intruders. The uninvited light illuminated the Qi Gate forbidden area, which had not seen daylight for generations. A massive Bagua diagram lay across the ground, exuding an indescribable divinity. The fine dust floating in the air resembled stardust, scattering in all directions, quietly brushing past the barbaric intruders.

Li Sheng glanced at her, knowing that his meaning had been conveyed. He then said no more, lightly nodded, and walked away

Zhou Fei this time was too lazy to respond, merely nodding slightly to indicate that she had heard it

The strange handwriting, imbued with a menacing aura, rushed forth, directly targeting Zhou Fei

Zhou Fei said: "There is nothing else, I will leave tomorrow"

Zhou Fei was on the verge of tears, feeling utterly helpless

Most of the training focuses on sword techniques. Although the Breaking Snow Blade is varied and unpredictable, whether it embodies "gentle and unarmed" or "ethereal and ever-changing," it inherently possesses the spirit and essence passed down from a prestigious and orthodox lineage.

What should I murmur: "Is he not afraid that by digging open the secret passage, he will discover that we have already escaped through another route? I wonder, what is this person's background, and how did he join the Northern Dipper?"

The machete she casually seized was nothing but a piece of junk, and it was unknown which corrupt official had embezzled the military funds of the Northern Army. The swords and blades were made in a particularly shoddy manner, and that flimsy machete could hardly withstand the clash of two great masters. The connection between the blade and the handle began to move, and with a "crack," the wooden handle split in two from the middle. The blade flew up suddenly, and Zhou Fei sighed, unhurriedly giving the wooden handle a gentle tap before reaching out to catch the back of the blade. The connection between the blade and the handle began to move, and with a "crack," the wooden handle split in two from the middle. The blade flew up suddenly, and Zhou Fei sighed, unhurriedly giving the wooden handle a gentle tap before reaching out to catch the back of the blade

Li Sheng turned to the little tiger who had been following him closely and said: "According to the method I just taught you, use the formation here to trap them. After each round of wooden arrows is shot, immediately change your position, and do not let them catch you."

Zhou Yitang walked ahead with his hands behind his back, leading Zhou Fei through a section of the valley where the shadows of the trees slanted across the path. Only then did he reach out to tuck a strand of her long hair behind her ear and said to Zhou Fei: "Why are you being so reckless?"

The sound, accompanied by an echo, was like a thunderclap. Zhou Fei was startled, and the little bit of internal energy she had painstakingly gathered dissipated once again within her severely damaged meridians. Zhou Fei furrowed her brows and opened her eyes, feeling as if she was completely wasting her time. She mentally recited all the internal martial arts techniques she knew, but found no effective solution. Suddenly, as if guided by an unseen force, she lifted her gaze and looked at the latter half of the Qiwu Jue inscribed on the stone wall.

The previously ominous stone wall was so aggressive that it was impossible to look directly at it, and no one noticed this line of text. The elegant and neat handwriting was strikingly similar to the writing in the will of Master Lü behind the seven stone doors, contrasting sharply with the surrounding marks of axes and blades, reminiscent of a raging storm.

Li Shengwen, upon hearing these words, inwardly cursed Zhou Fei as a monster, as if she spoke of the Big Dipper's Breaker as if it were a cabbage growing in the ground, easily cut with a sickle at will

Upon careful consideration, the Daoist concept of yin and yang mutually generating one another indeed corroborates the principle of decay and flourishing, and there are traces to follow within this.

Zhou Fei saw the inscription above: "The Secret Method of Qiwu, a secret technique of the Qi School, cultivates the dual energies of Yin and Yang, which is greatly beneficial for healing injuries and refining the meridians. Over time, it yields considerable benefits. However, if one loses the essence of moderation, it ultimately remains merely a minor path for strengthening the body."

Although Zhou Fei was not overly anxious, she naturally had a somewhat impatient temperament. Under normal circumstances, she would have been restless and unable to sit still. However, at this moment, her mind was completely blank, unsure of where to go or what to do, and she even felt that the damage to her meridians was not a significant issue. With nothing else to occupy her, she continued to sit in a monotonous and futile manner, lost in thought.

Zhou Yitang paused for a moment and then said: "I have been entrusted by Liang Shaozhi to come out of retirement, and I have never regarded Nandu as my hometown. However, recently I occasionally think about it; after all, it is prosperous under the emperor's feet, with carriages and servants accompanying one in and out, and one can choose from an array of jade and gold ornaments. The food is also exquisitely prepared... It seems that father has never asked you whether you would be willing to go to Jinling"

However, she did not anticipate that this person was not only foolish but also filled with selfishness and malice. The combination of these traits made it impossible to judge him by common standards. No one could have imagined that Lu Yaoguang could be so "extraordinarily unconventional".

Zhou Yitang glared at her and asked, "When will you set off?"

Zhou Yitang looked at her and noticed a newly healed wound just below her collar, resting dangerously on her slender neck. The young lady, dressed in a borrowed coarse linen garment, was out in the world without even a few coins to buy a knife, which was truly a pitiful sight

Zhou Fei could no longer hold back her laughter upon hearing this

"Miss Zhou." Zhou Fei found it quite strange to utter this title, almost biting her tongue in the process. She couldn't help but laugh again, saying, "Haha, I didn't expect that I would be quite adept at reincarnation—no, Father, I would still prefer 'Nan Dao.'"

Li Sheng sat down on a stone with his back to the stone wall. He seemed to have something to say, yet hesitated, changing his posture several times before carefully articulating to Zhou Fei: "In the place where Master Lü raises his gu, it appears that you have discovered a pile of ancient witchcraft and poison notes by Lü Run, and are currently engrossed in studying the inscriptions on the wall."

Zhou Fei was facing the wall covered with the text of the "Qiwujue".