Crossing Over: The Strongest Mage

"Master Liu, given how powerful the enemy is, can you guarantee that obtaining the treasure will allow us to defeat them? I'd really like to see such a miraculous treasure," Fang Yu said.

Liu Yiqing seemed not to have heard Fang Yu's words. He slowly took out a plate from under the stone table and said, "Whether or not I can guarantee anything, I don't know, but before that, I want to confirm something. Please take a look at what's on this plate."

The plate contained a segment of white bone. However, the bones appeared to have been hammered into small pieces, each about the size of a fingernail, uniformly and delicately carved.

After looking at the white bones, everyone was still puzzled about Liu Yiqing's intention. Liu Yiqing continued, "Half a month ago, we discovered the bodies of a white-clad man and a dozen or so black-clad men outside the city. One of these black-clad men had clashed with Zheng'er. The white-clad man was likely their leader. From my calculations, the martial skills of that white-clad leader should be roughly on par with mine. They all died from being struck by an incredibly powerful internal force. Their meridians were shattered, and every bone in their bodies was broken. The bones at the points of impact were shattered into pieces like this."

Liu Yiqing had been practicing martial arts since he was ten years old, and after nearly forty years of training, plus the twenty years of internal force passed down from his father, he had the strength of a person who had practiced for a full 'jiazi' (60 years). Someone with his level of skill, however, had been reduced to such a state by internal force. That meant the opponent must have had internal strength exceeding a hundred years.

"Old fox, are there really such powerful monsters in the martial world? How come I've never heard of them?" Yang Guang asked in shock.

"Monsters!? He certainly is a monster, but not old. And he's sitting right across from me," Liu Yiqing said, casting a deep gaze at Yan Huo.

As soon as those words were spoken, Yang Guang and the others looked at Yan Huo in disbelief.

"Haha! Old fox, you can't be serious, right? This kid is so young, even if he started practicing martial arts in the womb, there's no way he could have a hundred years of internal strength," Yang Guang laughed.

"Yes, Master Liu, although Yan Di knows martial arts, still..." Yang Lue was about to defend Yan Huo.

Liu Yiqing interrupted him, "But the facts are indeed as I say. Wang Shizhi is the best evidence. He was there at the scene. Those people came to kill him, but when danger struck, it was Yan Gongzi who saved him."

Yang Lue looked at Wang Mang, who nodded in affirmation.

Liu Yiqing continued, "So now I want to confirm what kind of martial arts would allow a young child to possess a hundred years of internal strength. I'm very curious. I can't think of any other possibility except for practicing the legendary cultivation method... What do you think, Yan Gongzi?"

"Cultivation?" Everyone was once again stunned and looked at Yan Huo, waiting for his answer: yes or no.

"Yes!" Yan Huo answered calmly.

Liu Yiqing asked, "Then from whom did you learn such a miraculous cultivation method? How many other cultivators like you are there behind you?"

Yan Huo sneered coldly, "Hmph! As for how I learned the cultivation method and how many fellow practitioners I have behind me, you have no right to know. All I can tell everyone here is that I, and the cultivators you've heard about before, are absolutely not from the same faction."

Upon hearing Yan Huo's definitive answer, a cold gleam flashed in Liu Yiqing's eyes. "I certainly know this. If you were one of their people, you would have never saved Wang Mang, and you wouldn't have given us the opportunity to speak here."

The words of Yan Huo caused different reactions among the others present.

"Yan Di! Is this the matter you've been keeping from me all this time?" Yang Lue couldn't help but ask Yan Huo.

"Where did you pick up this kid?" Yang Guang asked Yang Lue cheerfully.

"Yang Lue, you knew about Yan Gongzi from the beginning, didn't you?" Liu De angrily asked.

"Quiet! Everyone, let me finish speaking. You can ask him later. Whether it's for our own sake or to fulfill the late emperor's trust, we must find that treasure now." Liu Yiqing said solemnly. "For this treasure hunt, to avoid alerting the enemy, I suggest only sending four people. Each family will send one, to be fair. Wang Mang will certainly go, and Yang family will send Young Master Yang, as for the Fang family..." Liu Yiqing looked at Fang Yu, who nodded in agreement. "Then it will be Young Master Fang, and as for our Liu family?"

Liu Zheng remained seated calmly, but Liu De was fidgeting with anticipation. Liu De wanted to be the one to go on such a treasure hunt, but he dared not ask because of his father's authority. He could only hope his father would choose him over his elder brother Liu Zheng.

At that moment, however, Liu Yiqing's gaze remained fixed on Yan Huo, who sat silently across from him. After sipping from his tea cup, Liu Yiqing slowly said, "Yan... Gongzi, the Liu family will entrust this task to you."

Upon hearing this, Yan Huo's heart tightened. Though he couldn't be completely certain, Liu Yiqing's words gave him a pretty clear idea of what he was implying.

"What!? This is unfair! You old fox, the other three families are sending their sons to take risks, but why should you have an outsider do the job for both of your sons?" Yang Guang jumped up, pointing angrily at Liu Yiqing.

"Father, I can..." Liu De was confused, and the others were also puzzled.

"Yang Fatty, don't rush, I haven't finished speaking." Liu Yiqing calmed Yang Guang down before turning to Yan Huo. "Yan Huo, why don't you explain to Old Yang yourself?"

Liu Yiqing had already spoken so directly. If Yan Huo didn't understand by now, then he truly was a fool. Was Yan Huo a fool? Of course not.

Yan Huo sneered coldly. "Heh, when did you figure it out?"

"When De'er came back and mentioned your origins and name, I wasn't sure yet because I couldn't connect you with a cultivator. But now, seeing you in person, I'm ninety percent sure it's you," Liu Yiqing said.

Yan Huo asked in confusion, "Oh! But I'm wearing a mask, how did you figure it out?"

Liu Yiqing smiled and said, "Heh, first, wearing a mask is already a mistake. A mask means you want to hide something. Second, although you're wearing a mask, you haven't taken your eyes off me since you entered, and the look in your eyes is full of hatred."

"Hey! What are you two talking about? I don't understand a word!" Yang Guang interrupted. His words reflected the confusion of everyone else in the room. Not a single person understood what Yan Huo and Liu Yiqing were discussing.