Chapter 20: The Founding of the Nation—Mission Accomplished!

Amidst the clash of blades and swords, Zhang Xiao and the man in golden armor exchanged dozens of blows. Relying on his clone, Zhang Xiao could only fight his opponent to a draw, which truly earned his respect. After his battle with Han Meng, Zhang Xiao's close-combat skills had reached a level where his actions followed his thoughts, and with the aid of his clone, he was confident that no peer could withstand more than three rounds against him. Yet today, Zhang Xiao realized he was gravely mistaken. The golden-armored man held his own against two opponents; whenever Zhang Xiao pressed the attack, his adversary would easily counter with a single sword stroke, forcing him back. The timing, strength, and speed were all precisely measured. Without his clone to distract the enemy, Zhang Xiao would have already lost.

“You are a fine warrior! May I ask your name?” The golden-armored man laughed after forcing Zhang Xiao and his clone back with countless sword shadows drawn by his ancient blade.

“I am Zhang Xiao. I have come to deliver the Imperial Jade Seal and the Emperor’s Cauldron to the First Emperor. I hope the general will permit me to pass!” Zhang Xiao clasped his hands and spoke respectfully to the golden-armored man.

He produced the Emperor’s Cauldron and the Imperial Jade Seal from his bone ring, hoping the golden-armored man would let him enter. “Ah! It truly is the Imperial Jade Seal and the Emperor’s Cauldron. My emperor will surely be overjoyed to see them,” the golden-armored man exclaimed.

Zhang Xiao was relieved. Though he feared no opponent, their strength was evenly matched; unless he used his trump cards, even after three days and nights, there would be no clear victor. “However, by the rules, you must pass my challenge before you may see the emperor.” With that, the golden-armored man’s ancient sword trembled, transforming into a winged black tiger that charged at Zhang Xiao.

Knowing he could not meet the First Emperor without defeating this opponent, Zhang Xiao faced the onrushing black tiger. He summoned the Five-Colored Cloud Banner to shield himself, and with a flicker, instantly appeared before the golden-armored man, the Bloodthirsty Blade in his hand slicing toward his opponent’s head with a crimson arc.

“Excellent skill!” The golden-armored man dodged, his body shifting with deceptive slowness, avoiding the blow and countering with a punch. Zhang Xiao could not withdraw his blade in time and answered with a punch of his own.

“Bang!” Their fists collided, the air around them exploding, creating a vacuum where they stood. As they struggled, Zhang Xiao’s clone transformed into a streak of golden light and raced into the great hall. The golden-armored man’s expression changed, and a surge of force erupted from his fist.

“Boom!” Zhang Xiao was caught off guard and sent flying by the unexpected burst of power, seeing stars and feeling his blood churn within, but he dared not relax. Seeing his opponent about to pursue the clone, he flipped his hand and produced a fiery red crossbow—the Wrath of the Fire Dragon, acquired from Karosius.

The crossbow’s aura locked onto the golden-armored man, who ignored it and continued toward the hall. Zhang Xiao’s eyes flashed with determination as he pulled the trigger.

“Roar!” Accompanied by the sound of a dragon’s roar, a red beam shot forth with a world-shaking force. To Zhang Xiao’s astonishment, the golden-armored man’s killing aura erupted, forming a tangible dragon that swallowed the red beam whole. The arrow’s destructive power was devoured, and the aura surged at Zhang Xiao.

He had no time for surprise; a ray of golden light shot from his brow, forming a golden wheel of Buddha. The sound of chanting filled the air, and illusory gods and Buddhas appeared within the wheel—this was Zhang Xiao’s first time fully unleashing the Buddha’s Golden Wheel, not merely transforming it into a sword with his clone’s power but manifesting it outside his body with all his strength.

His Buddhist energy and spiritual power poured into the wheel, and beams of Buddha’s light emerged, transforming into scriptures that blocked the dragon formed by killing intent.

“Hmph! Whoever blocks me dies!” The golden-armored man, surprised by Zhang Xiao’s treasure, flicked his ancient sword. Endless killing aura shot forth, forming a black giant sword ten meters long that slashed toward Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao’s face turned pale. Though both were at the Golden Core stage, the opponent’s unleashed power was on another level. Even with treasures like the Buddha’s Golden Wheel and Five-Colored Cloud Banner, he could barely use a fraction of their power, unable to fully withstand the attack.

As the black sword descended, Zhang Xiao gritted his teeth and quickly produced a golden talisman—the divine charm he had used in Japan to slay the Ghost King. His master, Airy Daoist, once said it could only be used twice; after using it once in Japan, Zhang Xiao cherished the remaining chance, never using it unless absolutely necessary. Now, if he did not use it, the giant sword would surely destroy him.

He flicked his finger, sending a drop of blood onto the talisman, formed a seal, and pointed toward the sky. The talisman burst forth with tremendous power, and a sword flew from it to collide with the descending giant blade.

“Boom!” The entire underground palace shook, cracks forming and the surrounding terracotta warriors crumbling to rubble. If this scene had occurred before the apocalypse, experts would mourn the destruction, but Zhang Xiao had no time for such thoughts. The Five-Colored Cloud Banner shielded him as his spiritual power was rapidly depleted. As he neared exhaustion, Zhang Xiao produced a jade vial and swallowed a pill—the Snow-White Elixir of Life, his last one. At this moment, nothing else mattered; he was willing to sacrifice anything to hold back the golden-armored man. The elixir instantly restored his spiritual power, and with fresh energy flowing, the Buddha’s Golden Wheel and Five-Colored Cloud Banner surged in strength.

The once faint figures of gods and Buddhas became clearer, and countless scriptures flowed from the wheel, crushing the black dragon of killing aura. Meanwhile, the sword formed by the divine charm clashed with the giant blade, flames erupted from the charm, burning it to ash, and the sword dissolved into spiritual energy, vanishing.

Zhang Xiao’s face showed bitterness—his trump cards were nearly exhausted. The only thing left was the final use of the Wrath of the Fire Dragon, which could not be used again for a year after this. The golden-armored man fared little better; his ancient sword shattered, and he suffered fierce backlash, his killing aura dissipating. The black dragon battling the Buddha’s wheel vanished.

Zhang Xiao had spent his best resources to severely injure his opponent and would not let the chance slip. He formed a seal and pointed at the golden-armored man, shouting, “Swift!” Several dark shadows shot from Zhang Xiao’s hand toward his adversary—these were the Soul-Locking Curse from the Lunar Profound Sutra. Once struck, one's cultivation would be sealed, leaving them powerless.

Zhang Xiao had no intention to kill the man but did not want him to obstruct further, so he chose to seal his abilities. Normally, Zhang Xiao would not be confident, but now the man was wounded and unable to resist. The shadows entered his body, and while he struggled against the backlash, the curse sealed his killing aura, inadvertently saving him from death’s door.

Freed from the backlash, the golden-armored man stood up, no longer attempting to block Zhang Xiao. He had lost and was now bound by the Soul-Locking Curse, powerless to resist. At that moment, a mighty aura emanated from the hall.

Zhang Xiao and his clone were of one mind and knew what had happened. The clone, after entering the hall, had found a jade coffin. Opening it, he saw a middle-aged man lying within—ordinary in appearance, yet radiating power as he lay there. Despite over two thousand years passing, his body showed no sign of decay.

The clone placed the Imperial Jade Seal inside the coffin and the Emperor’s Cauldron before it. Within the time it takes for incense to burn, golden light erupted from the Jade Seal, enveloping the First Emperor’s body.

At that moment, Zhang Xiao received the long-awaited notification: “Ding! National founding quest completed. You will receive three thousand merit points, the blessing of the national artifact, and the title of National Guardian Minister.”

Seeing this prompt, Zhang Xiao was elated. “Ding! You have received the blessing of the Jade Seal and Emperor’s Cauldron. Level increased by ten, all attributes increased by three hundred, and you have obtained the title of Guardian of the Nation.”

He checked his stats: his level went from forty-five to fifty-five, and his attributes were now incredibly powerful.

Zhang Xiao, Guardian of the Nation: Level: Cultivation: Fifth layer of the Borra Zen Sutra, Mid-Golden Core stage of the Lunar Profound Sutra, Lifespan: 430 years. Strength: 1200, Endurance: 900, Agility: 1400, Merit: 3000, Battle merit: 7000.

Though he felt something was missing, he could not tell what it was. A flash of golden light entered his brow—the return of his clone. The aura in the hall grew stronger, and the golden-armored man stood by Zhang Xiao, smiling, “Congratulations, Guardian of the Nation.”

Zhang Xiao was momentarily stunned, still unaccustomed to the new title, but quickly recovered. “Congratulations to you as well! May I ask the general’s name?”

The golden-armored general’s strength had truly shocked Zhang Xiao; if not for his ample resources and many trump cards, he would not have been a match. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Xiao asked for his name.

The golden-armored man smiled, “My name is Bai Qi, courtesy name Gongsun. You may call me Gongsun Qi.”

Zhang Xiao had suspected as much, but was still startled—this was indeed the legendary “Butcher of Men,” the god of slaughter, Marquis of Martial Peace, Bai Qi!

Author’s note (not counted toward word count): Lately, Guoshui has been suffering from headaches and insomnia, unable to sleep even when lying in bed. When I try to write, my eyes hurt. So the update schedule has been uncertain—sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. It depends on when I can get up and start writing. But one thing is certain: Guoshui has never missed an update. Since uploading a month ago, from May to now, there has not been a single missed update and there never will be. I hope everyone continues to support Guoshui.