Chapter 56: Buddhist Maiden

Ouyang Xu?

The son of Ouyang Shucai, General of the Western Pacification Army of Northern Yan, who had seized Fengtian County from the Great Qin back in the day.

Since the Western Pacification Army yielded Fengtian County, the central commanders of the army had not been seen. Why would a core figure like Ouyang Xu come to Fengtian County?

"Two years ago, Ouyang Shucai entered the Grandmaster Realm; his intention to align with Great Qin is no longer hidden."

"When I took my merchant caravan to Northern Yan, the commoners and officials I encountered were all worried about the Western Pacification Army rebelling."

Zhao Changming looked at Zhang Yuan and spoke in a low voice.

Although Ouyang Shucai had stepped into the Grandmaster Realm, it was said that because he had used a secret method to break through, his cultivation was unstable, and he had been in seclusion for the past two years.

Most matters within the Western Pacification Army were handed over to Ouyang Xu.

Whether Ouyang Shucai was actually in seclusion or if his cultivation was truly unstable was something outsiders could not know.

As for whether the Western Pacification Army would be turned to the enemy, that was even more beyond the knowledge of outsiders.

However, the matters Zhao Changming mentioned required some planning and response.

Ouyang Xu would not come to Fengtian County without reason.

Whether it was the Western Pacification Army surrendering to Great Qin or something else, Luyang Prefecture, as a border city, would be on the front lines.

Zhao Changming's caravan dealt in border trade; if the situation changed, they would need to prepare in advance.

It was good that Zhao Changming had come; Zhang Yuan could just then bring up the need for crossbows and the request for veteran soldiers.

"The crossbows are in the city's merchant guilds; they can be transferred tomorrow."

"The lethality of this batch of crossbows is fifty percent stronger than the first batch."

Speaking of crossbows, Zhao Changming's eyes lit up.

The Red Fox Caravan specialized in testing new crossbow models for Zhang Yuan, and the recorded lethality data would be sent to the master smiths of the Ministry of Works.

Data obtained from such practical applications was far more authentic than data from a shooting range.

There were dozens of other experimental squads in the army also collecting combat data to continuously improve the crossbows.

Currently, the crossbows held by the Red Fox Caravan were the fourth batch of the redesigned models.

However, per Zhang Yuan's requirements, the Red Fox Caravan could only carry twenty crossbows at a time, and not a single one could be lost.

Zhao Changming thought that if everyone in the Red Fox Caravan carried the new crossbows, they could directly crush even a thousand-man military formation.

Unfortunately, he did not dare to disobey Zhang Yuan's orders in the slightest.

It wasn't just because of Zhang Yuan's strength, but because the implications were too significant.

Being able to use these crossbows was already a massive stroke of luck for the Red Fox Caravan.

"You must send me word when that boy Chen Wu gets married," Zhao Changming said with a smile before leaving.

After seeing Zhao Changming off, Zhang Yuan returned to the backyard and practiced his fist techniques several times.

Standing in the courtyard, a faint layer of golden light seemed to float around his body.

The Buddhist Golden Body Technique.

After consuming some Insight Beads to push the Iron Body Technique to its limit, Zhang Yuan had used the power of the Sarira to evolve this technique into the Golden Body Technique.

Compared to the Iron Body Technique, which purely increased physical defense and strength, the Golden Body Technique had a nickname: the "Unbreakable Golden Body."

It was said that Buddhist experts using the Golden Body Technique could become impervious to blades and spears and immune to all poisons.

This was not merely a rumor.

In the Liangyuan Region, there was a half-step Grandmaster of the Buddhist sect who had mastered the Unbreakable Golden Body. When he challenged Great Qin, he remained undefeated for three years.

In the end, it took a martial arts Grandmaster from Great Qin, who had been practicing in seclusion, to defeat him using penetrating force to shatter his heart, lungs, and internal organs.

That half-step Grandmaster had barely managed to return to the Liangyuan Region before passing away; since then, no one in Liangyuan had been heard of mastering the Unbreakable Golden Body.

Zhang Yuan could feel the boost in strength and defense provided by the Golden Body Technique at the Minor Success stage.

If given the chance, he wanted to engage in actual combat to feel if Buddhist techniques were truly as miraculous as the legends claimed.

***

In the afternoon, Young Master Tao, dressed in a moon-white scholar's robe, came to seek Zhang Yuan.

"Have you forgotten? The Kong family banquet, the dance of the Buddhist Maiden."

Seeing Zhang Yuan, Young Master Tao spoke with a smile.

If not for Young Master Tao's reminder, Zhang Yuan really would have forgotten.

Kong Baitang and the Kong family were implicated in espionage for the Northern Yan's Northern Pacification Army.

The information currently uncovered suggested it was highly likely that Xiao Han, the illegitimate son of the Northern Pacification Army's guardian Xiao Ringuang, had infiltrated the Qin borders.

The Black Ice Platform also placed great importance on this matter.

Zhang Yuan had originally intended to wipe out the Kong family directly.

As for the crime of collusion with the enemy, by arresting the relevant parties, they would surely confess under interrogation.

But the instruction Wang Qinian had received was not to alert the enemy.

Even now, Wang Qinian could barely protect himself, and it was unclear how the case would proceed.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Yuan spoke of Zhao Changming's visit and mentioned Ouyang Xu's appearance in Fengtian County.

"Ouyang Xu..."

Young Master Tao leaned back in the carriage, his eyes narrowing slightly.

As the carriage jolted, he coughed heavily, his face flushing red.

"Given his status, he would never come to Fengtian County for ordinary matters."

"What Deputy Commander Zhao said about the Western Pacification Army surrendering to Great Qin is quite possible."

"Great Qin has been pushing for this for five years."

At this point, Young Master Tao clapped his hands heavily.

"I understand now!"

"No wonder the prefectural government sent the Black Riders so readily this time."

The Black Riders?

Zhang Yuan's heart stirred.

"I suspect it's not just the Black Riders, is it?"

It wasn't just that the Black Riders arrived quickly and with such strength.

The escape of Tang Wenshang in Jiulin County likely had an inside story as well.

Who else could send a message before the Black Riders arrived in Jiulin County to allow Tang Wenshang to escape?

It was the Black Ice Platform itself!

The Black Riders arrived in Luyang Prefecture, let Tang Wenshang go, stripped Wang Qinian of his post, and then sent a new commanding officer.

Everything seemed to follow a logical progression.

The only unlucky one was the dismissed Wang Qinian.

However, Wang Qinian's position as the head of the Luyang Prefecture Black Ice Platform was never based on his own ability. Furthermore, if this matter succeeded, Wang Qinian could regain his post by claiming a small portion of the credit.

"It seems a great figure is coming to Luyang Prefecture, heading toward Fengtian County to meet Ouyang Xu."

"They need to deploy the Black Riders."

Young Master Tao looked at Zhang Yuan, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

To protect this great figure, the Black Ice Platform had already laid out its moves in advance.

"You will certainly have to go as well," Young Master Tao said softly.

As a Black Armor Lieutenant of the Luyang Prefecture Black Ice Platform, Zhang Yuan would inevitably be involved.

If successful, he would also share in the credit.

Meet Ouyang Xu again?

He had already met him three years ago.

Three years ago, when he went to Fengtian County to pay respects to Yu Lin and his comrades, the Yan army had not yet fully withdrawn from the county. Zhang Yuan happened to encounter Ouyang Xu, who was guarding the rear.

That battle took place in a small grove outside the city.

Fifteen minutes.

Only the two of them knew the outcome; even Young Master Tao did not know they had fought.

In that battle, Zhang Yuan had defeated Ouyang Xu within ten moves using both fist and saber techniques.

Back then, outside Fengtian County, Ouyang Xu had severely wounded Zhang Yuan in a single move.

Only two years later, Ouyang Xu was utterly defeated before Zhang Yuan.

According to Ouyang Xu, Zhang Yuan's combat strength was certainly enough to enter the top fifty of the Yongtian Continent's Hero List.

That battle remained a secret, and Zhang Yuan had not gained fame from it.

Ouyang Xu would not speak of his defeat to Zhang Yuan either.

"Though I have not met Ouyang Shucai, the Ouyang Xu I have seen is quite a figure," Zhang Yuan whispered, looking out the carriage window.

Young Master Tao chuckled.

Only someone at the Xiantian Realm like Zhang Yuan could evaluate a figure on the Hero List so nonchalantly.

...

More than half an hour later, the carriage slowly came to a halt.

"Master Tao, Second Master Zhang, please, please come in—" Standing before the carriage, Kong Baitang greeted them with a face full of smiles and clasped hands.

"Yuhuan, Yupi, accompany our two distinguished guests to the banquet."

Zhang Yuan looked up. Two women, adorned with exquisite jade and pearls, with bare arms and legs, slender waists, and faces veiled in light gauze, came strolling forward.

These were the Buddhist Maidens?

"Distinguished guests, please—" The approaching woman's voice was soft, her eyes appearing like rippling clear waters as she looked into Zhang Yuan's eyes.

The Sarira dormant within Zhang Yuan's dantian vibrated, and a faint golden light emanated from his eyes.

The woman opposite him froze instantly.

Zhang Yuan reached out, took her arm, and leaned her against his side as he followed Young Master Tao and the other woman forward.

Behind them, Kong Baitang's face showed a look of smugness.

"He really is full of youthful vigor, so impatient..."

"Fine then, let this Buddhist Maiden bewitch his mind first, and then I shall take the matter of the pulley and iron cables."