Volume One, The Sovereign's Decree; Chapter Ninety-Nine, A Gathering of New Friends and Old Acquaintances

Hidden within the Night-Illuminated Pegasus statue lies the "Iron Horse and Frozen River Map," a weapon the King of Qin has yearned for. The scroll contains the martial spirits of ancient battlefields, sealed by a special formation. Once activated, these spirits emerge from the scroll, obeying the wielder's commands to strike down enemies.

The King of Qin had long anticipated that members of the Weapon Tomb would infiltrate the Tianming Palace. These strange beings possess an extraordinary sensitivity to weaponry, and the appearance of the Dragon Pearl had drawn them out to seize it.

"Your father and I were fellow frontier soldiers in our youth. He had a natural talent for swordsmanship, far exceeding my own," the King of Qin said, his eyes flickering as he struggled to recall those carefree days. "My status did not allow me to abandon the court and roam the world. I never saw him again after I left the Southern Wilds. Before he departed, he took a Sovereign's Order from me, claiming he wanted to test it for his child."

"His child is truly destined, capable of harboring the Golden Dragon Soul. I do not know how you manage to contain it, but I hope you understand that the Golden Dragon Soul is your father’s hope. Do not bring shame upon him."

Liu Xiaoyi had been bewildered by his hardships, all of which stemmed from the Sovereign's Order. "Why would my father do this? I ask the King of Qin to clarify."

"Your mother is still alive, residing south of the Great Wilderness. Liu Chun lacked the means to reach her, so he wanted the Golden Dragon Soul to help you find her. If you lacked the capability to meet me here, then venturing to the Great Wilderness would only be a death sentence."

Liu Chun had played a massive game, wagering the entire fortune of the Iron Dynasty to send his son to the Great Wilderness. Such an absurd notion sounded entirely logical coming from the composed Prince, who did not find it strange at all.

"And you were willing to give him the Sovereign's Order? This concerns the fate of the Iron Dynasty..." Liu Xiaoyi was baffled. How could such a vital object be treated so lightly?

"A mere dynasty—if you were to step out and see this world, what is the Iron Dynasty compared to it!" The King of Qin took his hand and led him deep into the Tianming Palace, into a shrine belonging only to the Liao family, pulling out archives one by one for Liu Xiaoyi to behold.

When they emerged, the streets outside were ablaze with lanterns. Baiyu Capital was no different from any other bustling night. The troops stationed outside the city had all withdrawn; the King of Qin had used iron-fisted tactics to execute hundreds of rebel generals. Under the intimidation of the Dragon Pearl, these commanders had lost all will to resist, kneeling on the spot to accept their fate.

Regretting their impulsive decision to be seduced into marching on the capital—which had nearly brought the Iron Dynasty to the brink of chaos—the soldiers returned home in disgrace. These faces would never be seen in the capital again.

Liu Xiaoyi walked out of the Imperial City in a daze, wandering the lively streets, feeling a sudden sense of exhaustion. It turned out that beyond the Iron Dynasty and the State of Chu, there were so many unknown people and events.

The origin of the Weapon Tomb was mysterious, and the Liao family records lacked detail, but their purpose was documented thoroughly. A predecessor, claiming to be the Master of the Weapon Tomb, had exhausted his life’s work to create the Weapon Manual, sealing the power of the three hundred and sixty-five divine weapons of that era into an object not of this mortal realm.

After the Master of the Weapon Tomb vanished, the weapons from the manual disappeared into the world. Occasionally, someone would obtain one of these weapons, rising to fame in the martial world as a legendary powerhouse.

The Iron Horse and Frozen River Map held by the King of Qin ranked last in the Weapon Manual; among the three hundred and sixty-five weapons, its power was the least.

Over the years, the Weapon Tomb had not only painstakingly collected the weapons from the manual but also taken an interest in other rare treasures. The Ghost Foxes were the lowest-ranking kin of the Weapon Tomb, responsible for gathering intelligence across various regions.

This aligned with what the captive in Zhenyuan Mountain had said: a prophet among the Weapon Tomb’s kin had predicted that humanity would face a catastrophe and that the hidden treasure must be retrieved to save mankind. Thus, the kin had ventured out to collect the weapons, attempting to open the Weapon Tomb and retrieve that object.

"Hey, I’m telling the truth! Don't leave me here alone! Hello? Is anyone still here? I'm so hungry, wuu-wuu..."

On the grass inside Zhenyuan Mountain sat a girl in black. The figure behind the Ghost Fox mask was actually a girl; the hoarse voice from before was a disguise. Her stomach grumbled unceasingly; she hadn't eaten for an entire day before coming to Tianming Palace for her mission.

"Please, give me something to eat! I’ll trade intelligence for it, I beg you!" The girl's pleas echoed throughout the room, but Liu Xiaoyi did not hear them. A banquet had been prepared at the Shen residence, waiting for him.

With the King of Qin's help, Shen Desan had not only returned to his family and regained control of their business but had also purchased a residence in the capital. As Liu Xiaoyi stepped into the main hall, the fragrance of food already filled the brightly lit room.

Liu Xiaoyi hadn't enjoyed a peaceful meal in all his years since joining the Heavenly King Path. Now, with an empty stomach, he couldn't wait to feast.

"Welcome home, we've been waiting for you!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached his ears, filled with tender longing. Yu Wenwan, whom he hadn't seen in so long, looked captivating under the orange lantern light.

Yu Wenwan rushed toward him without hesitation. Liu Xiaoyi opened his arms, and they embraced tightly. Meng Qiaoqiao, pulling Xiao Qingshu along, appeared before the hall, covering her mouth as she watched them.

"I'm back," Liu Xiaoyi said, feeling a sense of relief. The lighthearted scene before him made it hard to believe that everything he had experienced over the past year was real.

Meng Qiaoqiao and Xiao Qingshu had returned a day earlier and learned of Yu Wenwan's existence. They had intended to tease her, adding embellishments to their stories about meeting Liu Xiaoyi, hoping to make her jealous. Instead, Yu Wenwan bowed gracefully and offered them a respectful greeting.

"He is a boy and lacks manners; I thank you both on his behalf."

The two were so startled they hurriedly apologized. This girl, who had never practiced true energy, possessed an inexplicable aura that intimidated the two mischievous spirits.

"Liu Xiaoyi, with someone as kind as Sister Yu waiting for you, no wonder you wouldn't pay us any mind," Meng Qiaoqiao teased.

The remark made Yu Wenwan blush. She tugged at Meng Qiaoqiao's sleeve. "Let's go inside; everyone is waiting."

Liu Xiaoyi grabbed Yu Wenwan's hand and pulled her inside. Though surprised, she didn't let go, instead gripping his hand firmly.

His hands were rougher than a year ago, the calluses slightly abrasive, but Yu Wenwan felt a warmth in her heart that dispelled the loneliness of the past year spent guarding the cold eaves.

Seated at the banquet were familiar faces: Shen Zhong, Shen Xu, Shen Desan, the bodyguard Zhong Li, Li Jue, Cai Wu, and Ma Shan. Unexpectedly, a pale scholar was also there; Liu Xiaoyi realized it was Song Shuzai, the Prefect of Changle City.

Liu Xiaoyi had clearly seen Song Shuzai repel Ouyang Yan with the Golden-Covered Book. The unassuming Prefect was quite the formidable character.

"Brother Liu, that we can all sit here and eat today is thanks to you. Come, have a cup of warm wine. I, Shen Desan, will use this old face to toast you first!" Shen Desan laughed and downed his wine.

There were new faces and old friends, but sadly, several senior brothers from the Heavenly King Path had died in battle. Liu Xiaoyi didn't drink his second cup, pouring it onto the ground instead.

"A toast to our fallen friends!"

Hearing this, Li Jue couldn't hold back his tears. A man of stature, he wept openly before everyone; grieving for friends was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Brother Liu, if you have any tasks in the future, just command me. I, Li Jue, will not refuse!"

"You've had quite the glorious journey. When will you take me out to see the world? Father keeps making me do business; my sister is enough for that. I want to go out!"

Listening to the laughter and banter, Liu Xiaoyi smiled. "Wait until you've practiced more skills, then you can follow me. Listen to Master Zhong Li well."

"Are you going out again?" Yu Wenwan asked softly.

"To the south of the Great Wilderness, to take you to meet my mother."

Upon learning that his mother was still alive, the fire in Liu Xiaoyi’s heart had reignited. He wished he could set off for the Great Wilderness that very night.

"I have something to tell you. Come closer." Yu Wenwan stood up, but just as she sat down beside Liu Xiaoyi, a gust of wind blew out the lanterns hanging in the hall.

The pervasive magical power made everyone’s eyelids twitch. Liu Xiaoyi summoned the Green Brilliance Sword to block the hall, releasing the Soul-Guiding Divine Light without restraint to hold back the surging wave of energy.

"Not bad! Your husband has some skill, apprentice. No wonder you talk about him every day!"

"Who goes there!" Eighteen black and white chess pieces flew toward the hall, but were cut off from Liu Xiaoyi’s control as a figure flickered.

An expert! The opponent easily tore through the barrier of the Soul-Guiding Divine Light with a wave of her hand. In the light, they could see a voluptuous woman in black robes walking straight toward Yu Wenwan.

"Take your life!" Liu Xiaoyi faced a great enemy. With every step the woman took, the oppressive pressure grew. He directly unleashed the Fire Seal; a Fire Qilin roared, spitting flames at the woman, while he formed seals with his hands and struck out.

He held nothing back; the intruder was targeting Yu Wenwan, and he wouldn't let her be harmed again!

"Young people are so impulsive. You have the Fire Seal, but you aren't afraid of being killed for it." A magical formation appeared out of thin air before the black-robed woman, blocking all the flames. Liu Xiaoyi found himself trapped within the barrier before he even realized it.

Yu Wenwan rushed over, shaking the woman’s arm and acting spoiled. "Good Master, just let Xiaoyi go. I haven't told him about this yet."

"Master Fengjue?" Xiao Qingshu blurted out. The black-robed woman glanced at her, surprised. "The Hunyuan Palace couldn't keep you either? Whoever is the Palace Master there is truly unlucky."

She retracted the magical barrier in the room with a wave of her hand. Yu Wenwan pulled her to the table. "Xiaoyi, I was just about to tell you—this past year, I’ve taken a master. She is such a wonderful person!"