"Alright, that's all I wanted to tell you. From here on out, it's up to you to figure things out. No matter how much I explain, some things need to be seen with your own eyes to be believed."
Having been forewarned about so many things, the Twin Dragons wouldn't be as easily fooled as they were in the original story. There were more things Daniel Davis could have told them, but for one, it would have taken too much time, and secondly, the Twin Dragons had grown up in this era, deeply influenced by its norms. Some things couldn't be changed overnight.
"Brother Daniel, why are you telling us all this? After all, I plan to become emperor. We might end up as enemies in the future." Daniel Davis's words had opened a new world for Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, clarifying many things they hadn't understood before.
"Why? It's simple. Because I like you. As for the future, we'll deal with it when the time comes. Since we have this rare opportunity, why don't the two of you spar? Let me see how much you've improved."
"Since Brother Daniel is willing to guide us, let's do it, Ling Shao." Kou Zhong immediately drew his steel blade, adopting the stance of the "Ten Bloody Battles" technique.
"Alright." Xu Ziling quickly agreed.
Although Daniel Davis had told them many things, for now, martial arts were still the most appealing to the two. In fact, Daniel Davis had misjudged Kou Zhong once again. While Kou Zhong's ambition to conquer the world was partly due to Li Xiuning, his desire wasn't particularly strong at this point.
In many ways, Kou Zhong was similar to someone who shouted, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, don't bully the young and poor."
"Speaking of which, Xu Ziling does resemble Nie Feng quite a bit. It's a shame Kou Zhong isn't more like Bu Jingyun."
Watching Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling both use the "Ten Bloody Battles" technique, Daniel Davis noticed how they had each developed their own styles. Xu Ziling's version of the technique, which was originally meant for battlefield slaughter, had taken on a graceful and free-flowing quality in his hands.
Similarly, their lightness skills, both derived from the "Bird Crossing Technique," had evolved into completely different styles due to their personalities. Even Yun Yuzhen, who had taught them the technique, might not have anticipated this outcome.
This was the difference between geniuses and ordinary people. Ordinary people could only imitate, but geniuses could create their own unique styles.
"It's a shame that even if I taught them Wind God's Leg and Cloud Parting Palm, they wouldn't be able to unleash the power of Mokou Wuliang."
"Alright, now your opponent is me." After gauging their current strength, Daniel Davis stepped between them, unleashing his Tai Chi Fist. With a pull and a twist, he disarmed both of them.
Then, he expanded his Tai Chi energy field, forcing their bodies to move according to his will. From his earlier observations, he knew that aside from the "Ten Bloody Battles" technique, the Twin Dragons hadn't learned any other moves. As for the "Bird Crossing Technique," it was useless within the Tai Chi energy field.
Daniel Davis could have taught the Twin Dragons many martial arts, such as Heaven's Frost Fist, Wind God's Leg, Cloud Parting Palm, or even the Holy Spirit Sword Technique and the Six Cold Blade Techniques. However, in the end, he chose Tai Chi Fist.
The balance of hardness and softness, the interplay of yin and yang in Tai Chi Fist made it the most suitable martial art for the Twin Dragons. Kou Zhong's cold energy made him a good fit for Heaven's Frost Fist, but Tai Chi Fist was equally suitable. After all, Tai Chi wasn't just about softness—it could also unleash cold energy. The unity of yin and yang wasn't just a saying.
As for Xu Ziling, he was even more suited to Tai Chi Fist. His temperament and mindset were almost tailor-made for Daoist principles. It would be a waste if he didn't pursue this path.
To put it bluntly, if Xu Ziling hadn't become a protector of Buddhism later, he might have had the chance to study the "Yellow Sky Great Method," giving him a shot at shattering the void.
"What kind of martial art is this? It's insane!"
Kou Zhong, who had been flung onto the beach by Daniel Davis's Tai Chi energy field, struggled to get up, his face filled with disbelief.
Daniel Davis hadn't actually hurt Kou Zhong. He had simply used the Tai Chi energy field to spin the two of them around, draining their stamina and leaving them dizzy. Xu Ziling had suffered the same fate.
"Tai Chi Fist. 'The Supreme Ultimate generates the Two Forms, the Two Forms generate the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols generate the Eight Trigrams.' It represents the origin of all things, the beginning of creation." Tai Chi was the embodiment of the Dao.
"Alright, rest up. While we have time, I'll teach you this martial art." Seeing the two still lying on the ground, Daniel Davis called them over.
"Got it!" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling struggled to their feet, then sat down, palms pressed together, circulating their "Longevity Art." This was a recovery method they had discovered by accident.
The "Longevity Art" had unparalleled advantages in healing, recovery, and endurance. Just when you thought you had severely injured them, they would already be mostly recovered.
For the Twin Dragons, who had never encountered such a unique energy before, they threw themselves into learning with full enthusiasm. Before sparring with Daniel Davis, their understanding of martial arts had been limited to the strength of one's internal energy. They had no idea that energy could be used to create a field, forcing others to move against their will.
In Daniel Davis's Tai Chi energy field, they had felt like they were caught in a swirling vortex. No matter how hard they struggled, they were inevitably swept along.
This was something they should have only experienced when facing masters like Wan Wan later in their journey. But now, they had gotten a taste of it early.
The "Heavenly Demon Force Field," in some ways, was similar to the Tai Chi energy field. The two elders of the Flying Horse Ranch had died at Wan Wan's hands because they were unfamiliar with such a force field.
"Hey, Ling Shao, can you not hit my face?"
"It's not my fault. You ran into it."
Using the Tai Chi energy field's ability to redirect force, Daniel Davis made the Twin Dragons fight each other, much to their frustration. But given the vast difference in strength, they had no way to resist.
"Brother Daniel, do you have any other martial arts? I feel like Tai Chi Fist isn't really my style. It seems more suited for Ling Shao." After learning the basics of Tai Chi Fist, Kou Zhong scratched his head.
"Zhong Shao!" Xu Ziling glared at Kou Zhong.
"Not suited for you? Maybe." Daniel Davis suddenly punched Kou Zhong in the chest, sending him flying over ten meters before he landed heavily on the beach. However, Kou Zhong immediately jumped back up.
Although Daniel Davis's punch had looked powerful, he had used a clever technique to ensure Kou Zhong wasn't actually hurt.
"Tai Chi Fist is a martial art that balances hardness and softness. I taught you the soft aspect earlier. Now, it's time for the hard aspect."
"This feels more like my style."
"The Twin Dragons truly live up to their name. Such talent. It's a shame no one discovered them earlier."
Two days later, in a small valley near the beach, Daniel Davis watched as Xu Ziling stood in a pond, using his hands to create swirling currents in the water. He couldn't help but nod in admiration.
While Kou Zhong couldn't do what Xu Ziling was doing, he had made rapid progress in the hard aspect of Tai Chi Fist. Of course, this didn't mean Kou Zhong had made no progress in the soft aspect, nor did it mean Xu Ziling hadn't improved in the hard aspect.
With such talent, if they had been discovered by a major faction earlier, they would have been nurtured long ago. For example, if Shi Zhixuan had found them earlier, there would have been no need for Yang Xuyan or Hou Xibai.
"I understand the situation. I'll handle it from here. You've had a long journey. Go rest."
In Wagang Army's camp, Li Mi listened to Shen Luoyan's report before dismissing her with a wave. This reaction surprised Shen Luoyan, but she quickly composed herself and left.
Although Shen Luoyan had rushed back as quickly as possible, by the time she returned, the news of Li Mi's alliance with the Turks and his plot against Zhai Rang had already spread far and wide.
After the news broke, Li Mi's forces within the Wagang Army nearly clashed with Zhai Rang's loyalists. Fortunately, both Li Mi and Zhai Rang realized that internal conflict was the last thing they needed at this time, and they managed to restrain their subordinates, preventing a full-blown civil war.
However, the rift between the two factions had already formed, splitting the Wagang Army in two. This gave the Sui army a much-needed respite.
Before this, the Wagang Army had been engaged in a fierce battle with the Sui forces over the Xingluo Granary, the largest granary established by Emperor Yang Guang. Capturing it would have ensured the Wagang Army's food supply for nearly a decade.
This was a crucial battle for the Wagang Army, which was why, in the original story, Zhai Rang had pretended nothing was wrong even after being betrayed by Li Mi, continuing with the plan to capture the granary. Zhai Rang, a cunning leader, had planned to deal with Li Mi after securing the granary.
But Li Mi had outmaneuvered him, leading to Zhai Rang's downfall.
However, things were different now. With Li Mi's betrayal exposed and his alliance with the Turks made public, the Wagang Army had split into two factions, each distrustful of the other. Cooperation was impossible, as neither side wanted to take the lead in attacking the Sui forces, fearing the other would take advantage.
After several failed negotiations, the opportunity to capture the Xingluo Granary was lost, and the Sui army regained its footing. The Wagang Army's chance was gone.
The Xingluo Granary had been crucial to the Wagang Army's survival. This was why, despite their conflict, both Zhai Rang and Li Mi had tried to cooperate. However, with the granary out of reach, the Wagang Army was doomed to collapse under the strain of its growing numbers and dwindling resources.
In the original story, Zhai Rang could have avoided death by splitting the Wagang Army and taking his forces with him. However, he had held out hope for a last-minute reconciliation, which Li Mi, spurred by the Twin Dragons' actions, had exploited, leading to Zhai Rang's death. Even so, Li Mi had sown the seeds of his own downfall.
In the original story, Li Mi's defeat at Luoyang was largely due to Zhai Rang's daughter, Zhai Jiao. But now, everything had changed.
Li Mi now hated Daniel Davis of the Daoist Heavenly Sect with a passion. If Li Mi had been as powerful as in the original story, Daniel Davis might have found himself facing the "Pugong Hunting Order" that the Twin Dragons had endured.
Similarly, Shen Luoyan, who had caught Daniel Davis's attention, was no longer favored by Li Mi.
What Li Mi didn't know was that he was blaming the wrong person. The rapid spread of the news wasn't Daniel Davis's doing. In an era without telephones or communication devices, spreading news across the land in just a few days was beyond Daniel Davis's capabilities.
In fact, it was the demonic sects that had orchestrated this. After Du Fuwei returned and informed Fu Gongyou, Fu Gongyou had contacted the demonic sects.
And so, Li Mi's downfall was sealed. The claim that Li Mi had allied with the Turks was an exaggeration added by the demonic sects.
"Big Brother, these are the recent events."
At the highest point of the Song Family Mountain City, Song Zhi, the "Earth Sword," reported all the noteworthy events in the Central Plains to Song Que, the supreme leader of the Song Clan.
Song Que, who was determined to restore Han supremacy, might have seemed reclusive, staying within the Song Family Mountain City, but in reality, he kept a close eye on the Central Plains, waiting for the right opportunity.
Unfortunately, his sons were not up to the task, so he had to look elsewhere. Song Que had four sons and two daughters, but none of them were particularly outstanding. Song Shidao was the best among them.
"The Daoist Heavenly Sect, from the pre-Qin era? How interesting." Song Que smiled meaningfully, as if he had thought of something.
"Big Brother, what about Li Mi?"
"Handle it yourself."
Just as Song Zhi was about to ask for instructions regarding Li Mi, Song Que vanished.
"I'll wait and see. It's a shame about Shidao."
Although the Wagang Army's situation was dire, Song Zhi decided to give Li Mi another chance. It wasn't that he particularly favored Li Mi, but there were no better options among the rebel forces.
The younger generation of the Song Clan simply lacked talent. Song Zhi had once held high hopes for Song Shidao, but after the latter's return from a salt-smuggling trip, everything had changed. When Song Zhi learned the full story, he was furious.
Even Song Que had been cold for several days.
"The Daoist Heavenly Sect... perhaps it's worth making contact."
"Master, the Li family has sent someone again."
In a small, secluded Taoist temple deep in the mountains, a young Taoist priest approached a middle-aged priest meditating in a bamboo grove.
"It's you, Chunfeng. Send them away. Now is not the time to descend the mountain."
"Master, didn't you say last time that the Li family was destined to rule the world? Why not join them now?" The young priest, Chunfeng, looked puzzled.
(End of Chapter)
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