"Zilong, you appeared very suddenly earlier, which is why Elder Han reacted the way he did," Chen Xi sighed as he spoke. In that earlier situation, it was clear that Zhao Yun's appearance had been too abrupt, prompting Han Qiong to prepare to strike without even thinking, which led to him revealing his presence. Otherwise, Zhao Yun probably wouldn't have noticed Han Qiong.
To be honest, Chen Xi still couldn't understand why Han Qiong felt the need to stay hidden. Did all experts enjoy being mysterious and elusive? But on that note...
"Zilong, can you turn invisible?" Chen Xi asked curiously.
"Invisible?" Zhao Yun looked at Chen Xi, puzzled. "Do you mean like this?"
As he spoke, Zhao Yun's body began to disappear from his feet upwards until he completely vanished. Then, like scattered snowflakes, he gradually reappeared, once again fully visible.
"It's a simple secret technique. When my master taught me, I only had to watch it once to learn it," Zhao Yun said casually. "I know many such techniques. This one just involves bending light, and at most, it diminishes one's presence. However, at my level, even if I fully activate this technique, as long as someone glances at me, I can still sense where they are."
Not far from Chen Xi, Han Qiong had the urge to spit blood. He finally understood why his senior brother always spoke of Zhao Yun with both pride and frustration. To think that Zhao Yun would describe such a high-level technique as "simple"! Han Qiong had spent a long time mastering it himself!
"Oh, so that's how it is. So as long as someone glances at you, you can sense their location?" Chen Xi asked in amazement.
"That's about right. My senses have become much sharper, and my intuition has improved significantly," Zhao Yun nodded. "For example," he glanced around and pointed to a spot, "my senior uncle is right there."
Han Qiong bitterly revealed himself, completely baffled as to how Zhao Yun had discovered him. He hadn't left a trace, yet Zhao Yun had found him so effortlessly. It defied logic.
"Zilong, please escort Marquis Chen back. I have some matters to attend to," Han Qiong said with a wry smile before flying off. He could feel the pressure emanating from Zhao Yun, a clear sign that Zhao Yun had already surpassed him, his senior uncle.
Zhao Yun cupped his hands in respect toward Han Qiong, then scanned the surroundings once more. After confirming that there were no other presences, he closed his eyes. When he reopened them, Zuo Ci, who had been secretly watching from Jingling Hall, smiled bitterly as his spiritual perception suddenly vanished without a trace.
Chen Xi didn't perceive the change as clearly, but to him, the biggest difference was that the moment Zhao Yun opened his eyes, the once faint noises in Fenggao turned into complete silence.
"It's much safer this way," Zhao Yun said with a smile. "Strategist, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead," Chen Xi nodded. "What is it?"
"You once mentioned that you personally calculated the destinies of the various civil and military officials in the world, correct?" Zhao Yun asked, a bit embarrassed.
Chen Xi felt slightly awkward. Back at Hulao Pass, he had said that somewhat offhandedly. Although what he said wasn't untrue, asking for more detailed predictions would be difficult, given how different the world had become.
"That is true. What I said back then should be mostly accurate, though some people might have transcended their destined calamities and gained a new lease on life. After all, fate is not fixed, and I can't guarantee absolute certainty," Chen Xi replied as they walked, weighing his words carefully. He wasn't sure why Zhao Yun was asking this now.
"I understand. Zijian seems to have overcome his destined calamity, and I believe that when anyone does so, their abilities will see a significant increase," Zhao Yun mused, speaking somewhat cryptically.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Xi said, "Indeed. Those who overcome their destined calamity are usually people of great courage or absolute conviction. Once they free themselves from the heaviest burdens, it's only natural that their abilities would improve."
As Chen Xi said this, he couldn't help but think of Li You. Li You was a monster in his own right. Not only did he possess an immense amount of spiritual power, but the sheer purity of it was frightening. If anyone in this world could change the fate of an entire province without external assistance, Li You would be the only one. His spiritual power had continued to grow ever since his second breakthrough, though the growth had slowed considerably.
"Strategist, I believe I will also overcome my destined calamity in the future. I have already received intelligence about Yanzhou, and Lü Bu's strength far surpasses mine. You have seen it yourself, but you also once said that at my peak, I could rival Lü Bu. The only explanation is that I will overcome my destined calamity," Zhao Yun said in a low voice. "So, Strategist, could you tell me what my calamity is?"
Chen Xi was speechless. Changban Slope? Well, in that battle, it certainly seemed like a situation of certain death, but Zhao Yun survived, and afterward, his combat prowess seemed to transcend barriers, receiving the same treatment as Lü Bu—surrounded and besieged, yet always prevailing.
The problem was that Zhao Yun was asking Chen Xi what his destined calamity was. How was Chen Xi supposed to answer that? If someone in this world could force Liu Bei to flee across the river with the people, or push one of Liu Bei's generals into a desperate solo battle, then Chen Xi, Jia Xu, and Guo Jia might as well slit their own throats.
"Zilong, what are you worried about?" Chen Xi asked, frowning.
"Because we're heading to Yanzhou soon, and I can't defeat Lü Bu. I can clearly sense the gap between us. Although I could escape unscathed, defeat is still defeat. I have a feeling that even if the three of us joined forces again, like at Hulao Pass, he might still walk away unscathed," Zhao Yun said with a bitter smile. Lü Bu's strength had become abnormal.
It was precisely because he had sensed Lü Bu's power that Zhao Yun had come to ask Chen Xi about his destined calamity. The more he understood Lü Bu, the more he recognized his immense strength, which made Zhao Yun eager to find a way to catch up.
Chen Xi rubbed his temples and stopped walking. He looked at Zhao Yun in front of him and felt an odd sensation. Zhao Yun might not be lacking in strength—he might not even be weaker than Lü Bu in terms of raw power. What Zhao Yun seemed to be missing was something else entirely.
"What's wrong, Strategist?" Zhao Yun asked when he saw Chen Xi stop.
"Zilong, I don't think what you need is to overcome a calamity," Chen Xi suddenly raised his head. "You probably don't have a calamity. What you're lacking is a certain mindset—a mindset of invincibility. When you compare yourself to Lü Bu, what do you think he has that you don't?"
Zhao Yun looked at Chen Xi in confusion, carefully considering the comparison. In terms of strength, inner energy—whether in quality or quantity—Zhao Yun was not inferior. Recovery? That wasn't it either; he was just as fast. Power, skill, speed, his steed, his weapon? None of these seemed to be areas where he was clearly outmatched by Lü Bu. So why did he feel that even two of him could only defeat but not injure Lü Bu?