The Northern Liang Royal Palace, sprawling on Qingliang Mountain, boasted thousands of gates and residences, exhibiting unparalleled magnificence in architecture.

As the only royal scion of the dynasty, North Liang King Xu Xiao, hailed both in the court and among martial circles, had acquired everything except the imperial throne. In the three northwestern provinces, he was indisputably the sovereign, controlling everything with an iron grip, capable of influencing the fates of individuals and dictating the course of events.

It's no wonder that the dignitaries at court who disagreed with this non-imperial king would secretly curse him as "Xu Barbarian." Some with more sinister intentions would even dare to slanderously label him as the "Second Emperor."

Today, the atmosphere in the palace was festive. The esteemed North Liang King personally opened the central gate, arranging a magnificent reception for an elderly man with an otherworldly air. The household staff had only heard that he hailed from the Daoist holy land of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, and he had taken a liking to the foolish and simple-minded young prince, intending to take him as a closed-door disciple. This was a tremendous stroke of luck, and the North Liang Royal Palace explained it away as "the foolish have their blessings."

Indeed, the young prince had never cried since birth, and he showed no aptitude for learning. It wasn't until he was six years old that he could speak. His name, Xu Longxiang, carried an imposing air, rumored to have been given by an old immortal from Dragon and Tiger Mountain years ago, promising to return in twelve years to accept him as a disciple. And here he was, true to his word.

In a courtyard within the palace, a Daoist patriarch of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, with a wisp of snow-white beard, furrowed his brow. He carried an uncommon small Taomu sword reminiscent of Zhong Kui, and coupled with his appearance, he indeed embodied the transcendental, earning genuine admiration as an otherworldly figure.

However, this recruitment of disciples evidently encountered a considerable obstacle. It wasn't due to any objections from the royal palace, but rather because his future disciple exhibited a stubborn temperament. Squatting under a pear tree, he was using his backside to confront his esteemed master, who ranked among the top three in the world. As for martial arts, well, cough, he should at least be in the top thirty.

Even the prestigious Grand Pillar of the State, North Liang King, had to squat there, persuading him with gentle words, coaxing him with skillful appeals. "Son, if you go to Dragon and Tiger Mountain to learn some skills, and if anyone dares to call you stupid in the future, you can beat him up. You won't be afraid even if you beat up officials and generals below the third rank. Dad will back you up."

"Son, you're strong. It would be a waste if you didn't learn martial arts and become one of the top ten experts in the world. When you return, Dad will give you a position as a cavalry captain, riding a piebald horse, wearing heavy armor, very imposing."

The young prince completely ignored them, staring fixedly at the ground, seemingly enthralled.

"Huang Barbarian, you like to eat candied hawthorns, right? There are wild hawthorns all over Dragon and Tiger Mountain. You can pick and eat as many as you want. Isn't that right, Master Zhao?"

The old immortal forced a smile, nodding repeatedly in agreement. With his disciple behaving like this during the recruitment, it was indeed embarrassing. If this got out, they would be ridiculed by everyone.

But even though the distinguished Grand Pillar of the State, who held an unrivaled position and wielded great influence in the twelve provinces, felt parched and tongue-tied, the young man showed no reaction. He was probably impatient with his father's nagging, as he lifted his buttocks and let out a loud fart, then turned his head to grin at his father.

This infuriated the North Liang King, who raised his hand threateningly, but after holding it up for a while, he gave up. Firstly, he didn't want to hit him, and secondly, it would be meaningless.

This son truly lived up to his name, Xu Longxiang, derived from "the dragon has the greatest power in water, the elephant has the greatest power on land, as mighty as a vajra, called the Dragon Elephant." Despite his nickname, "Huang Barbarian," this foolish son was naive and ignorant, unable to recognize even the largest characters, with a sickly yellow complexion, and a thin and weak physique compared to peers his age. However, his strength was truly astonishing.

Xu Xiao had sighed softly in his heart. If Huang Barbarian could be a little smarter and more open-minded, he would definitely become an unparalleled top-notch general in the future.

He slowly got up and turned his head to smile awkwardly at the Daoist of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, who held a very high position. The latter's eyes signaled that it didn't matter, but he couldn't help feeling melancholic. It was embarrassing to recruit a disciple like this. Once it got out, they would be laughed at by everyone in the world. There was no way he could show his face in front of the disciples and grandchildren of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

The helpless North Liang King came up with a plan and said, "Huang Barbarian, your brother is returning from his parade. He should be entering the city soon. Why don't you go out and take a look?"

The young prince suddenly looked up, his expression still as rigid and stiff as ever, but his usually dull and lifeless eyes suddenly burst with rare brilliance, quite dazzling. He grabbed his father's hand and rushed outside.

Unfortunately, the North Liang Royal Palace was known for its numerous corridors and winding paths. Otherwise, it wouldn't have enough space for the "Listening to the Tide Pavilion," which had long been criticized by the officials and gentlemen of the court. Xu Xiao, whose hand was being squeezed painfully by his son, had to remind him several times that they were going the wrong way. It took them a full stick of incense's time before they finally reached outside the palace.

Behind the father and son, followed a group of servants carrying large and small boxes, all packed with items prepared for Dragon and Tiger Mountain. The North Liang King was rich enough to rival a nation, and he always doted on his children, unable to bear seeing them suffer even the slightest grievance.

Once outside the palace, the young prince looked around the deserted street, disappointed at the absence of his brother's figure. He was first disappointed, then angry. He let out a deep, hoarse roar, full of frustration. Initially, he wanted to vent his anger on Xu Xiao, but despite his foolishness, he at least knew this person was his father. Otherwise, Xu Xiao's fate would likely have been like that of the unfortunate Black Panther that Xu Longxiang encountered during the recent autumn hunt, torn into two pieces by the twelve-year-old boy single-handedly. He glared angrily at his guilty father and turned away.

Relieved that things hadn't turned worse, Xu Xiao gave the Daoist a helpless look. The Daoist from Dragon and Tiger Mountain smiled faintly, extending his arm like a withered bamboo. However, he only lightly hooked his fingers around the young prince's wrist, speaking gently and kindly, "Xu Longxiang, don't waste your rare talent. Come with me to Dragon and Tiger Mountain. At most ten years, and you will be able to achieve greatness."

The young man didn't say a word, just grunted and continued forward. But strangely enough, he found that he couldn't break free from the seemingly light restraint of the old Daoist. His step forward, though taken with force, didn't seem to land on the ground.

Xu Xiao felt relieved. This senior Daoist, with such an extraordinary lineage, indeed had some skills. Like father, like son. Xu Xiao knew very well his younger son's strength, which was formidable. He even dared not to arrange too many servants and maids for his son, fearing that he might accidentally crush their arms, legs, or feet. Over the years, countless tables and chairs in the courtyard had been smashed to pieces, thanks to the North Liang Royal Palace's abundant resources. If it were an ordinary family, they would have gone bankrupt long ago.

The young prince was stunned for a moment, then suddenly became angry. With a light shout, he forcefully took a step forward, then another, and another. The real person, with a yellow crown on his head and a Daoist robe draped over his body, just raised an eyebrow, not angry but pleased. He quietly increased his strength, preventing the young man from moving forward.

As a result, Xu Longxiang was truly enraged. His face contorted like a wild beast's. He reached out with his free hand, grabbed the Daoist's arm with both hands, and with a heavy stomp, cracked two pits in the white jade floor. With a toss, he threw the old Daoist out.

Xu Xiao, the Grand Pillar of the State, squinted his eyes, not afraid of causing a murder case. If the Daoist didn't have the ability, he would have died from the fall. Xu Xiao had even conquered the proud Western Chu Dynasty with his Liangzhou Iron Cavalry. When had he ever feared the martial arts sects? And what about the leader of the martial arts world, Dragon and Tiger Mountain? Although several major sects and schools under its jurisdiction couldn't match Dragon and Tiger Mountain, they were still first-class within the dynasty. For example, Wudang Mountain, which had been vying with Dragon and Tiger Mountain for the leadership position for hundreds of years, was already quite impressive in the martial arts world. Moreover, they voluntarily sent three or four furnaces of precious pills and elixirs every year.

The old Daoist floated gently onto a two-meter-high white jade lion at the entrance of the royal palace, exuding an aura of immortality. With just this move, if placed in the market, he would have received thunderous applause.

According to the popular saying about the North Liang King's eldest son, Xu Xiao's legitimate eldest son, "Reward is due. This job is not simple, it requires skill." Who knows how much silver was rewarded, maybe hundreds or thousands of taels. Before the crown prince of North Liang began to cause trouble for others, many courtesans or swindlers had received his generous rewards.

The highest record was set by an out-of-town adventurer who fought with a local swordsman on the street. They started fighting at a vegetable stall, then fought all the way to the lakeside, and finally fought to the top of the largest building in Liangzhou, the Yizhong Pavilion, waking up the crown prince, who was indulging in debauchery in broad daylight. Immediately, he forgot about the beautiful courtesan who was as white and tender as sheep fat jade and loudly cheered at the window. After the incident, with the involvement of the crown prince, the government not only didn't investigate, but almost awarded the adventurer a large plaque as a Liangzhou hero. He even sent a large stack of one hundred thousand silver notes to the adventurer by fast horse.

The prime Lingzhou, where the crown prince didn't have any hobbies like eagle fighting or dog fighting, was indeed lonely. The proper young ladies finally dared to go out and buy rouge, the second-rate playboys no longer had the demon to compete with them for bullying men and women, and the big and small brothels didn't expect the number one young master to squander money anymore.

The North Liang King, Xu Xiao, had two daughters and two sons, all of them exceptional individuals.

The eldest princess, although married three times, became the most beautiful widow in the dynasty, known for her stunning looks and abundant dowry. Her reputation spread far and wide in the five provinces of Jiangnan, renowned for her libertine lifestyle.

The second princess, while not outstanding in appearance, was exceptionally learned and talented. Proficient in various fields, she studied under the famous scholar Han Guzi from Shangyin Academy, becoming a junior sister to renowned military strategist Xu Huang and the versatile scholar Sima Can, among other imperial luminaries.

Xu Longxiang, the youngest son of the North Liang King, was relatively unknown, while his elder brother was a notorious figure, even renowned in the capital. Mentioning the Grand Pillar of the State, Xu Xiao, would invariably bring up his eldest son, Xu Fengnian. Unfortunately, while Xu Xiao was valiant on the battlefield, his son excelled in squandering his family's wealth on pleasure-seeking pursuits.

Three years ago, rumors circulated that the Crown Prince, Xu Fengnian, was driven out of the palace at sword point and forced to embark on a customary journey to visit the young heirs of prominent families in the Guanzhong region before the coming-of-age ceremony. It had been three years since then, and there had been no news from him. Lingzhou still remembered the tearful scene of dozens of courtesans and flower girls on the city wall when the Crown Prince left the city. However, it was said that on the same day, the Red Sparrow Tower held a grand feast, pouring an abundance of fine wine into the river, filling the entire city with the fragrance of alcohol.

Back at the palace, the obtuse young prince rushed toward the jade lion statue as if one elderly man wasn't enough to satisfy him. This time, he wanted to throw the annoying old Daoist and the supposedly weighty lion together.

However, as soon as he shook the lion, the Daoist from Dragon and Tiger Mountain floated down and grabbed the young prince's hand. Using the obscure "mountain-moving" technique of Daoism, he skillfully lifted the kneeling young prince to his feet and said with a gentle smile, "Huang Man'er, don't be naughty. Come with me."

The young prince clenched the base of the lion with one hand, his five fingers deeply embedded in the jade. He refused to let go, stretching his arms like an ape and hoarsely shouting, "I want to wait for my brother to come back. He said he would bring back the most beautiful woman in the world to be my wife. I want to wait for him!"

Xu Xiao, the Grand Pillar of the State, could only laugh helplessly, unable to do anything. He looked at the yellow-crowned Daoist and sighed heavily. "Forget it, let's wait a little longer. It's almost time anyway."

The old Daoist heard this and smiled strangely, but still let go of the young prince's arm, feeling amazed. This little guy not only had natural strength but also seemed like a celestial being descended from the Taibai Star.

However, was that scoundrel named Xu Fengnian really coming back? This was not good news. When he first returned to the palace, he had suffered a lot. First, he was mistaken for a swindler trying to scam food and drinks. Then, the seven or eight-year-old brat had set a pack of vicious dogs on him. Later, after barely explaining himself, when he entered the mansion, the little scoundrel played another nasty trick, sending two flirtatious beauties to knock on his door in the middle of the night, claiming it was cold and they needed warm blankets. If it weren't for his extraordinary self-control, he might have fallen for it. Now, occasionally remembering it, he regretted not chatting all night with the two young ladies about the "Great Enlightenment Scripture" and the "Yellow Court Scripture." Even if not about that, discussing the "Sutra of Plain Women" would have been fine.

In the twilight, an old man and a young man on the official road cast elongated shadows. The old man carried a long cloth-wrapped bag on his back, his clothes tattered, his hair white, with a few blades of grass mixed in. He could sit on the ground with a broken bowl and beg for alms, leading a thin lame horse. The young man, who didn't look his age, had a stubbled face and wore a shabby hemp shirt, resembling a refugee fleeing from calamity.

"Old Huang, hold on a little longer. When we enter the city and return home, we'll have plenty of meat and wine. Damn it, I didn't think much of meat and wine before, but now I can't stop craving it. I dream about it every day." The young man, whose real age couldn't be discerned, spoke weakly, almost breathlessly.

The scruffy old man, resembling a servant, chuckled, revealing a gap in his yellowed teeth, which gave him a mischievous and laughable appearance.

"Laugh all you want, but I can't even cry anymore," the young man retorted, rolling his eyes. He truly didn't have the energy to joke around.

During the two-thousand-mile journey home, they had almost reached the point of begging along the way. They had fished in the water, played hide and seek with rabbits in the mountains, and climbed trees to raid bird nests. As long as they had some meat, once cooked, it became the most delicious meal in the world, regardless of whether there was salt or not. They even attempted to steal chickens and ducks from villages along the way, but they were chased by strong men wielding hoes and clubs, running for dozens of miles several times, nearly exhausted.

Wasn't every pampered son of nobility dressed in fine clothes, riding majestic horses, and boasting an imposing demeanor?

And then, look at himself: dressed in tattered hemp clothing, wearing grass shoes, leading a lame horse, and reluctant to slaughter it for meat, let alone ride it. Instead, he had become adept at mooching meals off others.

As for the old servant, Huang, with his small and frail body, just looking at him made the young man anxious. He feared that after walking two thousand miles, one day Huang might suddenly become silent and motionless, leaving him with no one to talk to and having to expend energy digging a grave in the wilderness.

Before entering the city, not far outside the city walls, there was a stall selling apricot blossom wine. Feeling utterly exhausted, he smelled the aroma of the wine, closed his eyes, and sniffed, feeling intoxicated by the scent. Determined, he walked over and found the only empty stool, sat down with a sigh, and mustered the last of his strength to call out, "Innkeeper, bring me some wine!"

The other customers resting outside or entering the city were all repelled by the shabbily dressed master and servant, intentionally sitting far away.

The busy shopkeeper had initially intended to respond with a hearty "Certainly!" upon hearing the voice. However, upon seeing the attire of the master and servant, he immediately frowned. As someone doing business, he had to have discerning eyes. These two customers didn't seem like they could afford to pay for the wine. Nevertheless, the innkeeper, being somewhat generous, didn't immediately drive them away. Instead, he approached with a half-hearted smile and reminded them, "Our signature apricot blossom wine costs twenty coins per pot. It's not expensive, but it's not cheap either."

If it were in the past, being looked down upon like this would have prompted the young man to release his dogs or his wicked servant on them. But after three years of experiencing the vicissitudes of life, getting used to days without a penny to his name, his pride and temper had been subdued significantly. Gasping for breath, he said, "It's alright, someone will come to settle the bill, and you won't miss out on your tip."

"A tip?" the innkeeper exclaimed disdainfully.

The young man gave a bitter smile, then put his thumb and forefinger to his lips, summoning all his remaining strength to let out a whistle before slumping onto the crude table and falling asleep, snoring lightly. The innkeeper felt puzzled, and only those with sharp eyes could vaguely see a shadow pass overhead.

A bird of prey, like a hawk or falcon, darted over the city walls.

Perhaps as the patrons finished their bowl of apricot blossom wine, the earth suddenly rumbled without warning. The tables shook, and the patrons stared wide-eyed as the wine sloshed with the trembling of the wooden tables, looking around cautiously.

Out from the city gates emerged a group of cavalry, stretching out into two black lines that seemed endless. Amidst the dust and debris, the horses were tall and sturdy, all belonging to the direct line of the North Liang Kingdom, renowned for their prowess, as indicated by the bright red flag carried by the leading flag-bearing general, with a single word inscribed on it: "XU"!

Goodness, the main army under the North Liang King's command.

Who in the world could rival the North Liang Iron Cavalry, which had traversed the thirteen provinces of the kingdom?

In the past, the Western Chu Dynasty had thought its 120,000 great spear soldiers could challenge them, but what was the result? In the Battle of Jinghe, the entire army was wiped out, and even the surrendering soldiers were massacred. Their cries of agony echoed like thunder.

Two hundred elite iron riders surged forward with a mighty momentum.

A spirited eagle soared above, seeming to lead the way.

The two hundred cavalrymen came to a sudden halt, their movements perfectly synchronized, displaying a level of skill far beyond that of ordinary soldiers who had been through countless battles.

The fourth-ranking military officer dismounted and rushed to the front of the tavern upon seeing the old servant holding the horse, immediately kneeling down and bowing respectfully, saying, "Qidang State's subordinate, Qidang, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Meanwhile, the impoverished young man who had boasted about giving a tip was merely murmuring in his sleep, "Innkeeper, bring me some wine."