Chapter 86: Rebelling by Imperial Decree, an Extraordinary Person Comes Knocking

"Rumble!"

In the center of the Longxing County Yamen Drill Ground, a mass of clouds and mist five meters across churned and rolled to an endless barrage of thunderous explosions.

Within the mist, Wang Ping stood tall and straight.

His chest heaved slightly. With every breath, a visible shockwave erupted around him, stirring up surging torrents of air that threw the clouds into chaos.

Clouds follow the dragon, winds follow the tiger.

Right now, Wang Ping seemed to possess the power of both dragon and tiger. Wind and cloud accompanied his every move. Just by standing there, the turbulent air currents around him were enough to keep ordinary martial artists at bay.

These billowing clouds and gales were nothing less than the physical manifestation of Wang Ping's body breaking the sound barrier. Every breath was a movement made at supersonic speeds, and the resulting sonic booms generated shockwaves. If an ordinary martial artist got too close, they would suffer ruptured eardrums at best, and shattered internal organs at worst.

This was no easy feat for Wang Ping, either.

First was his physical body. After his rebirth, he had lost the artifact spirit physique of the Six Desires Heavenly Demon King. Having returned to a mortal shell, his flesh was nowhere near as formidable as before.

Second was magical power.

Without the magical power enhancement from Daoist Nun You inside the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Flag, the maximum speed his physical body could withstand had dropped significantly.

Compared to his previous peak state, the only things that hadn't vanished were the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong and his qualitatively transformed martial artist's Divine Intent.

'It's a pity that relying solely on these two, there's no way I can unleash the Sub-light Slash. Barely breaking the sound barrier is already a testament to the toughness of my body,' Wang Ping thought, filled with regret. After all, that nuclear-explosion-like slash that surpassed his limits and touched the speed of light was currently his most powerful trump card.

Halting his training, Wang Ping gently stretched his limbs.

'But it's not entirely hopeless.'

'If I can get my hands on a suit of divine armor that covers my whole body and master it perfectly, while simultaneously reaching the Tribulation Transcending First Layer and successfully condensing magical power...'

'Oh, right, I'd also need the buff from the Courage of the Noble Gentleman.'

'With those three conditions stacked, I should be able to reproduce the Sub-light Slash. And my endurance would likely surpass what it was before; maybe I could even swing a few more times!'

Wang Ping pondered deeply.

'Condensing magical power is actually fine. I'm only one final Borrowed Manifestation Method away from the Tribulation Transcending First Layer. The main difficulty lies in finding a suit of divine armor.'

At this thought, Wang Ping looked down at his hand.

'Aside from that, there is one other opportunistic method.'

He opened and closed his fingers, popping his knuckles. Thick, python-like tendons coiled around his muscular arm, looking ferocious yet possessing a unique aesthetic appeal.

Wang Ping could feel that with the qualitative transformation of his Divine Intent, a new change had occurred. Previously, his intent—equivalent to the Lower Tier Spiritual Sense—had been stuck in the realm of illusion, unable to interfere with reality. Now, although it still couldn't affect external objects, it could influence his own body.

Skin and flesh, muscles and bones.

Blood and internal organs.

As long as it existed within him, as long as it was a part of his body, he could manipulate it with his transformed Divine Intent without any restrictions!

Stopping his heart, accelerating his blood flow, shifting his organs... as long as he wanted to, he could do it all!

He could even sense that as long as he willed it, he could drive his physical body to evolve in a stronger direction, breaking free from the limits of mortal life!

'Perhaps this is the next step of the Martial Dao.'

A clear realization dawned in Wang Ping's mind: humanity had limits. The only way to surpass those limits was to let the human form, this useless fleshy vessel, evolve.

The method was his transformed Divine Intent.

'Using my transformed Divine Intent to drive my physical body to undergo a qualitative transformation alongside it, thereby raising my limits... This should be the path of the Great Shun Martial Dao Grandmaster Rank!'

Of course, doing so carried extreme risks.

After all, evolution wasn't always positive. Blindly evolving could just as easily lead to self-destruction. Therefore, Wang Ping suppressed the urge to try it immediately.

There was no rush. It was best to consult the Imperial Tribute Hall first.

After all, Great Shun Martial Dao had developed over many years. There had to be a complete lineage detailing how to evolve safely and how to maximize combat strength in the process.

At this thought, Wang Ping suddenly turned his head.

In the corner of the Drill Ground, Xugou was crouching, staring at him in a daze. He only snapped out of it when their eyes met, an awkward expression washing over his face.

"Uh... Brother Wang?"

Xugou fidgeted for a moment but finally walked over. Looking at Wang Ping, he cupped his hands and said, "I have something I do not understand. I hope Brother Wang might be generous enough to offer some guidance."

Wang Ping understood instantly. "The method for the qualitative transformation of Divine Intent?"

Xugou nodded sheepishly and lowered his voice. "I have been stuck at this bottleneck for years, unable to grasp the crux of it. I wonder if Brother Wang has any insights?"

"Hmm..." Hearing this, Wang Ping felt somewhat helpless.

'Insights? What insights? I just took out a loan for it using a promise worth a thousand gold. You don't have a cheat, so it's going to be hard to explain it to you.'

Therefore, after a moment of silence, Wang Ping could only spread his hands. "Forgive me, Senior Xugou, but I can't explain the details either. Maybe my talent is just exceptionally good. At the time, I felt like I was just one kick away from the door, so I simply went with the flow and broke through. I believe that as long as you keep working hard, Senior Xugou..."

Hearing this, Xugou looked as if he had grasped something. "I understand. You mean I haven't reached my limit like you did, and as long as I continue to work hard, there will naturally come a day when water overflows the brim?"

Wang Ping shook his head. "I meant that this way, even if you fail, you can tell yourself that at least you tried, and failing just means you purely lack the talent."

Xugou was speechless.

'Am I really not a one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy?'

At that thought, Xugou's expression stiffened, his eye twitching. He instantly lost all desire to continue chatting with Wang Ping. For a moment, he just wanted some peace and quiet.

But right at that moment.

"Idiot!"

A voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the Drill Ground. "You can't even handle this little blow, and you still want a qualitative transformation of your Divine Intent? Can't you hear Little Brother Wang's good intentions?"

Hearing the voice, Xugou froze for a second. Then, looking at the middle-aged man walking into the Drill Ground, he said in shock, "Big Brother Chenlong, you actually came in person?"

Chenlong?

Wang Ping's heart stirred upon hearing this. Judging from a title similar to Xugou's, combined with Xugou's deferential attitude, was this a higher-up in the Imperial Tribute Hall?

With that thought, a smile immediately bloomed on Wang Ping's face.

"This senior..."

Before he could finish, a clear, ringing hum of a blade interrupted him. It was the Dragon Head Guillotine hanging at his waist, unsheathing itself of its own accord.

"Long time no see."

Walking into the Drill Ground, Chenlong looked somewhat nostalgic at the sight. He then looked at Wang Ping and smiled. "The Dragon Head Guillotine was my blade before. It seems it still remembers me."

He then turned to Xugou, his face filled with exasperation at the younger man's failure to meet expectations. "What is Divine Intent? Even when facing the fame and prestige of the world head-on, to remain steadfast and hold onto an unwavering sense of self—that is the essence of Divine Intent. Someone mocks you a bit and you waver, doubting yourself? With just this, you still want to attempt a qualitative transformation of your Divine Intent?"

"Do you really think my young friend Wang was mocking you?"

"He was guiding you, trying to help you cultivate an unshakable mindset. You couldn't even grasp that. No wonder your martial arts haven't progressed all these years."

Xugou was utterly stunned to hear this and looked at Wang Ping.

"Is... is that so?"

Wang Ping was silent.

'What do I do? I'm actually just being petty because Xugou had a bad attitude toward me before, so I intentionally mocked him... I guess I can't exactly say that out loud now.'

After thinking it over, Wang Ping could only give a vague nod. Without waiting for Xugou to respond, he hurriedly changed the subject. "I had no idea the Dragon Head Guillotine was Senior's weapon. The situation was dire earlier, so I had no choice but to borrow it. Now that Senior is here, it is the perfect time to return it to its rightful owner."

With that, Wang Ping offered up the Dragon Head Guillotine.

"Hmm, very well."

Seeing this, Chenlong reached out his hand, intending to take the Dragon Head Guillotine. After all, it was a semi-divine weapon; it was highly precious even to someone at the Martial Dao Grandmaster Rank.

However, a second later, he regretted it.

Because the instant he touched the Dragon Head Guillotine, the weight transmitted to his hand felt less like a saber and more like a mountain!

The sensation left Chenlong somewhat in disbelief.

The Dragon Head Guillotine moved like an extension of Wang Ping's arm, appearing as light as a feather in his grasp, yet when Chenlong tried to pick it up, it wouldn't budge an inch.

'The Dragon Head Guillotine doesn't acknowledge me anymore?'

'This broken blade... I was the one who dug it out of the ruins back then. We were inseparable, and now it refuses to even let me hold it!'

Meanwhile, Wang Ping wore a look of confusion.

'I'm giving the blade back to you, so why aren't you taking it? Do you not want it?'

After a moment of silence, Chenlong released his grip and said indifferently, "Forget it. I have another divine weapon anyway. Since the Dragon Head Guillotine has an affinity with you, I'll give it to you."

"Besides, I didn't come here for it."

"A mere semi-divine weapon, I have no interest in it."

Having said that, Chenlong silently circulated his blood and Qi, trying to make his complexion look as normal as possible, before turning to Wang Ping. "I came mainly for you."

Without wasting any more words, Chenlong casually grabbed the dark-colored cloak off Xugou beside him and affectionately draped it over Wang Ping's shoulders.

"My young friend, are you willing to join the Tribute Hall?"

It was a straightforward invitation.

Naturally, Wang Ping was a thousand times willing to accept. However, before he spoke, he thought of another, more important matter. He said in a deep voice, "Senior, I am a rebel king now."

"It doesn't matter, just forget about it," Chenlong said nonchalantly.

"It's just a title. Are you really coveting the reputation of a rebel king?"

Wang Ping shook his head. "I don't covet the reputation, but under my leadership, the black-headed commoners of Longxing County broke into the official granaries and ate the imperial court's tax grain."

"If I am a rebel king, then they are the righteous army following me."

"I can't just abandon them."

"If I join the Tribute Hall, giving up the title of rebel king is a minor issue, but what about these black-headed commoners? Given the imperial court's usual methods, will they survive?"

Wang Ping had never been someone who only cared about short-term satisfaction.

On that day, he was the one who incited the black-headed commoners to enter the city. Since he had done so, he needed to see things through perfectly and ensure all the black-headed commoners who believed in him and followed him were well settled.

"...I understand."

Chenlong listened patiently to Wang Ping's explanation and smiled. "How about this: you can secretly join the Tribute Hall, while openly continuing to act as the Shuzhong Rebel King."

"I can register your name with the imperial court so they won't mobilize forces to exterminate you. As for the excuse, we can say that with rebel kings popping up everywhere these days, the imperial court needs someone to infiltrate the rebel groups and act as an undercover mole to provide intelligence on the rebel kings. I think you are highly suited for this role, my young friend."

"What do you think?"

'Good heavens, rebelling by imperial decree?'

Since things had been laid out so clearly, what else was there to say? Wang Ping was definitely not someone who failed to appreciate a favor. He immediately bowed and said, "Wang Ping greets Lord Chenlong."

"Good, good, good."

Seeing this, Chenlong patted Wang Ping's shoulder in satisfaction. He wanted to say something more, but just then, his movements abruptly froze.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Ping felt it too.

For at this very moment, a vast spiritual sense howled in from outside the Drill Ground. Unconcealed, domineering, and direct, it locked firmly onto him.

'Spiritual sense... an Immortal Gate cultivator?!'

Wang Ping's instincts instantly flared.

'Oh no! Did that venomous woman, Daoist Nun You, come back to kill me?'

The next second, a voice drifted in from outside the Drill Ground. "Found him... Don't be afraid, Cousin. He was in the wrong to begin with, you have reason on your side. Today, I absolutely must get justice for you!"

Immediately following that, Wang Ping saw a red-faced Madam Su being forcefully dragged inside by a tall, heroic-looking young woman with her hair tied in a high ponytail.