Chapter 221 That's against the will of heaven
"Regarding the White Lotus Sect, you should make your own decision. Whether you are sincere or not, your father believes in you and you will not suffer any loss."

Gao Ying had a smile on his face.

Although he was hiding in the dark, he also knew about Gao Changsheng's situation.

Today, he has already grown into a towering tree. Through battles and plans one after another, he has demonstrated his strength to the fullest. He no longer needs to make plans.

"As for the Shenxiao Sect, they just can't make up their minds right now. But in this matter, they are the ones who came to you to ask for help, not you asking them. With your ability, I believe it won't take long to subdue them."

As he spoke, one could clearly see the joy in Gao Jiong's eyes.

For parents, seeing their children excel is undoubtedly the happiest thing in the world.

Because of the plan of the Sui Dynasty, Gao Jiong faked his death and escaped from the world, but in fact, he had always been paying attention to the Sui Dynasty.

And more importantly, Yang Su was also with him.

These two men are both Nine Lords and both are military gods.

They commanded the Sun and Moon Cavalry, were comrades in arms in battle, and political enemies in the court. It could be said that they were both friends and enemies.

The two have been competing with each other for most of their lives.

Yang Su never submitted to Gao Jiong, and Gao Jiong naturally did not think that he was inferior to Yang Su.

The two fought from the battlefield to the court, and even until they faked their deaths. It can be said that there was no obvious winner.

Before this, both Gao Jiong and Yang Su thought that this was how their life would be.

But no one expected that the Gao family would produce a Gao Changsheng.

In the battle of Goguryeo, Gao Changsheng and Yang Xuangan made their debut at the same time.

But at that time, Yang Xuangan actually had a greater advantage.

After all, before Gao Jiong retired, he severed the Gao family's military ties, but Yang Su did not do so.

It can be seen from the period before the Goguryeo War that when Gao Changsheng joined the army, he was basically a pure amateur.

The troops he led later were also Shi Wansui and Yu Juluo's personal soldiers who were drawn from his own circumference.

As for the rest of the younger generation, each one of them was in charge of a troop. Even Li Shimin, a member of the Li family who was not considered a powerful family in the army, could lead a vanguard. It is conceivable that Gao Changsheng's situation at that time was absolutely not worthy of the status of the Gao family.

But it was precisely such a relatively unadvantaged start that Gao Changsheng managed to pull off.

Gao and Yang, these two are the most dazzling families in the military of the Sui Dynasty.

Two descendants.

Yang Xuangan was indeed outstanding and demonstrated the brilliance of the descendants of the Yang family.

Now he is leading his troops in the territory of Western Turkestan and is in high spirits.

But if you compare people, you will die; if you compare goods, you will be thrown away.

Compared to Gao Changsheng's sun hanging in the sky, it is unparalleled in the world.

Yang Xuangan was a little embarrassed.

You know, Gao Changsheng is now the real number one in the Sui Dynasty military and is about to be crowned king. Not to mention the younger generation, he has even surpassed the older generation.

More importantly, Yang Xuangan is still under the command of Gao Changsheng.

And it was from Beimang, to Xiangfan, and then to Western Turkestan.

No matter how proud, confident, or unwilling Yang Su was, he had to admit that in terms of descendants, the Yang family lost to the Gao family, and he, Yang Su, lost to Gao Jiong.

After all, even if he didn't admit it, Yang Xuangan's attitude of calling him a junior general could not be hidden from anyone.

Gao Jiong was of course delighted to see Yang Su, who had always been unruly, arrogant and had been a rival to him all his life, lower his proud head for the first time in his life.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Thinking of this, Gao Ying couldn't help but laugh out loud.

In a secluded place in the Sui Dynasty, a tall middle-aged man suddenly opened his eyes, as if he sensed something, and his cold face turned ashen in an instant.

In the forbidden area, Gao Jiong's laughter quickly stopped.

"One last thing."

The voice turned solemn again.

Gao Changsheng also frowned when he heard this.

After the meeting, Gao Jiong did not mention anything about the big event that was about to happen.

As the other party said, all the details have been planned and there is no need to say more.

Gao Changsheng obviously didn't believe it.

Even in an ordinary battle between two armies, the strategy needs to be adjusted at any time as the battlefield situation changes.

If he follows the routine and carries out every move according to the pre-planned plan, he is just an ordinary general.

And who are Gao Jiong and Yang Su? How could they possibly make a deadly plan?

Decades of planning must involve all aspects, accidents, changes, and they will take into account any conceivable factors.

And now, because of Gao Changsheng's series of actions, the situation in the Great Sui Dynasty has undergone tremendous changes both inside and outside.

Dugu Jialuo and the others were not proficient in the art of war and the art of formations, but Gao Jiong was obviously not the case.

Of course, Gao Changsheng also knew that Gao Jiong still didn't want him to get too involved in this matter.

It's like leaving a way out for the Gao family.

But as the communication deepened, Gao Ying's behavior became increasingly abnormal.

First he talked about the art of formations, then about fate, and all he talked about was Gao Changsheng's affairs.

Everything seemed to be making arrangements for one's final wishes.

"You have no confidence?"

Gao Changsheng spoke.

It was not specifically stated, but Gao Ying obviously heard it clearly.

Over the course of several decades, the most elite force of the Sui Dynasty was gathered.

Forbearance and planning.

To this end, the Sui Dynasty gave up external expansion and adopted a conservative strategy at the peak of its power.

Decades of accumulation, bursting out in one day.

Its terrifying degree is simply unimaginable. From common sense, in the face of such a force, there are very few problems that cannot be solved.

But now, judging from Gao Jiong's performance, the other party is obviously not so confident.

You have to know who Gao Jiong is. He is the military god of the Sui Dynasty and one of the two shining stars in the world.

Gao Jiong, Yang Su.

These two people of the same generation have almost the same feeling about everything that anyone who has seen them has.

Yang Su was arrogant, Gao Jiong was steady, these were just their personalities, but in other aspects, whether on the battlefield or in court, they gave people the feeling that they were in control of everything, a kind of confidence that radiated from the inside out.

In the Sui Dynasty at that time, there was a consensus that no matter what the matter was or who the enemy was, as long as it was handed over to the two of them, it would be perfectly resolved.

Gao Changsheng had never seen such a situation with his own eyes, but he had seen Gao Jiong's ability to plan.

A simple name turned out to be the beginning of a plan, which undoubtedly shows that Gao Jiong had probably made a plan before he was born.

Just three operations pushed the whole situation forward like a spring breeze and drizzle. Even if he didn't say it, it is very likely that no one in the world would know about it.

But now, such a character shows such an attitude.

Gao Changsheng was not too surprised. He had already had a general idea of ​​the plan of several people and knew how difficult it was.

"good."

Gao Jiong did not shy away from the question and nodded directly.

"It's said to be 50 percent certain, but that's only if everything goes well."

“But the reality is often not what we expect.”

"With the right time and right place, and the various forces inside and outside the Sui Dynasty, no one can predict how many unexpected situations will arise at that time."

"Even without those, you must know how difficult this matter is."

"I, Gao Zhaoxuan, have grown from a weak scholar to a warrior on the battlefield, a general and a prime minister. No matter who I face or what happens, I am confident that I can control everything. But this time, I am really not sure."

"Ugh……"

Gao Jiong sighed softly: "Human power will eventually be limited, how can we ..."

"That would go against the will of heaven!"

Before Gao Jiong could finish his words, Gao Changsheng interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

Even Gao Jiong couldn't help but be slightly stunned. He slowly raised his head and then saw Gao Changsheng's eyes that were shining like stars.

His pupils dilated slightly, and Gao Ying paused for a moment, as if he could see through time and see the past in a trance.

Smoke billowed, iron hooves clattered, the Spear of Du'e soared into the sky, accompanied by an extremely confident voice:

"The establishment of the Sui Dynasty is an inevitable trend. No one can stop it, whether it is the Southern Chen Dynasty or the Turkic Empire. If anyone dares to stop it, I will kill them. If a country dares to stop it, I will destroy it. Even immortals, gods, and Buddhas are nothing but dust and dirt under the red flames and golden crows."

"Hahaha."

Gao Ying's body trembled, and he came to his senses, and suddenly laughed out loud:
"It seems that I am really old. Yes, you are right."

"If Heaven blocks us, then we will go against Heaven."

There was no shouting or yelling.

It was just a soft hum, almost like a whisper, but the momentum contained in it was extremely shocking.

The shining stars above, the ground beneath the feet, the surrounding buildings, and even the entire palace all shook violently at this moment.

But the terrible vibration only lasted for a breath, and except for a few people, many people did not feel it.

Gao Ying regained his composure and raised his eyes again.

From the outside, there is no change at all, but the temperament he exudes is obviously different.

"Tell me about the last thing."

Gao Ying chuckled and repeated what he had said before.

But both the tone and emotion were different from before.

Gao Changsheng did not interrupt again, but just listened quietly.

"As for the way of formations, there is nothing left for your father to teach you."

"As for your cultivation, you have practiced both Qi and blood as well as martial arts, and have both reached the Grandmaster level. I, your father, would like to know about the future path. What are your plans? Will you continue to advance in both directions?" Gao Jiong said softly.

Gao Changsheng nodded.

Both paths advance at the same time, and the most important level is the Grand Master realm.

Now that he has made a breakthrough and crossed this so-called natural barrier, it is impossible for Gao Changsheng to give up the other one, both emotionally and logically.

Gao Ying was not surprised either, he nodded and continued:
"The way of martial arts, the great master, the earthly immortal, including the realms after that, there are countless predecessors, and there is a lot to learn from. It can be regarded as a smooth road to heaven."

"There is nothing your father can teach you in this regard."

"With your current status and connections to both Taoism and Buddhism, you can get much more information than I do."

Hearing this, what Gao Ying wanted to say was already very clear.

The way of war, to be precise, is the way of Qi and blood.

Gao Changsheng also pricked up his ears at the first moment.

In terms of military strategy, he has come this far by relying more on his own exploration.

Like Gao Jiong's Art of War, Wang Meng's Art of War, Yu Juluo, and even Wu Hou's War Strategy.

It was by absorbing nutrients from these volumes of top-notch military books that Gao Changsheng reached his current level.

However, these are all theories of the art of war.

There is not much discussion on the cultivation of Qi and blood.

In this regard, he had had relevant exchanges with Yu Juro at the beginning.

But now his realm has long caught up with and surpassed Yu Juluo.

However, Gao Changsheng actually has some shortcomings in this regard.

The Nine Heavens of Qi and Blood, and the path after the Nine Heavens, is equivalent to the path after becoming a land immortal in martial arts.

"King Kaoshan should have told you some general ideas." Gao Jiong said with a smile.

Gao Changsheng nodded: "On the top of Xiangfan City, King Kaoshan explained some relevant matters to me through the sound transmission method."

After the war, many people thought that Yang Lin's voice transmission was revealing some secrets of the Sui Dynasty, but in fact, the other party was just teaching him the experience of Qi and blood martial arts.

Gao Jiong obviously guessed the time, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The exclamation was not due to anything else, but to the grand formation that appeared in Xiangfan that day.

The sky-reaching formation. In front of such a huge formation, no one in the world can remain calm.

"The two legs of the army are martial arts and formation."

After calming down a little, Gao Ying spoke again:
"But the most feared aspect of the Way of Soldiers has always been the Way of Formations."

"Use soldiers to form a battle array, and change the land and sky with a wave of your hand."

"The so-called military is a general, and the commander is a general."

"A mere brave general is always inferior to a so-called commander, especially one who leads a large army."

Gao Changsheng nodded. This was almost a consensus among military strategists.

"But since there is a saying that there are four military forces and two military principles, it proves that they go hand in hand."

Gao Ying suddenly shook his head:

"The reason for this is that there is no way forward for the path of Qi and blood."

"Ok?"

Gao Changsheng frowned.

Gao Ying's voice did not stop:
"In fact, the so-called pathlessness is not just about qi and blood."

"After the ancient times, the world changed, and the martial arts, even the art of formations, would encounter bottlenecks when reaching a certain level."

“But above the Dao of Formation, there is Taigong Tongtian. In the years to come, there will also be a few amazing people who can reach this realm. Even if there is a bottleneck, it is after Tongtian.”

“As for the martial arts, it is even more prosperous. There are immortals on earth, immortals in heaven, and even in the realms beyond that, where exactly the bottleneck is, I’m afraid only a small number of people at the top level know.”

“There is only the way of Qi and blood.”

Gao Ying paused for a moment before continuing.

"Qi and blood have nine levels, and eight or nine is a grandmaster. After the ninth level, one can reach a higher level and become a land immortal."

"Throughout history, there have been many generals who have reached this level. For example, King Kaoshan once reached this level, but later fell back due to certain events."

"You mean, after becoming a land immortal, there is no way for the way of Qi and blood to go."

"good."

Gao Jiong nodded: "In history, countless heroes were finally trapped at this level. It seems that the way of Qi and blood ends here."

"But although the two arms of the army are two different paths, they are not so distinct from each other. A brave general can lead troops, and a wise general can also practice martial arts. Overall, there is not much impact."

Gao Changsheng was slightly stunned, but he soon understood. Gao Jiong mentioned this matter specifically, and it was obviously impossible that he was just telling him the news that the road was blocked.

"Is this really a dead end? Is there no exception?"

"of course not."

Gao Ying shook his head decisively without any surprise:
"Since they are two-legged, there is naturally no difference between high and low. How can there be inherent strength or weakness? In fact, if any path is taken to the extreme, there will be no difference between strong and weak."

"Although a military strategist can lead an army and sweep away most martial arts masters, it is not that simple for those who have truly reached the pinnacle of martial arts."

"There is no distinction between high and low in the Tao. The Way of Military Martial Arts is actually more similar to the Way of Martial Arts than the Way of Formation. So it is natural too."

Gao Changsheng nodded.

Even though he was in Luoyang before, facing the land immortals was as easy as cutting melons and vegetables.

But that was the result of the operation of the great formation, and also because he was Gao Changsheng.

If he had gone to a place where there had been no advance preparations, he would not have had the confidence to achieve the same results.

Similarly, even in Luoyang, with the same military force and the same formation, the outcome would be completely different if a different person was in charge.

So whether it is the art of formation or the art of martial arts, when it comes down to it, the specific difference still depends on the person.

"It is true that there is no high or low, and it is also true that the road is broken." Gao Jiong spoke again:
"However, there are exceptions in history."

"Like Taigong in the realm of formation, who was the first to enter the realm of Tongtian after the ancient times. The same is true for Qi and Blood. According to historical records, there was also a person who vaguely broke through the realm that was determined to be a dead end."

"who?"

"Western Chu, the Overlord." Gao Jiong spoke.

Gao Changsheng also said in his heart, "As expected."

"King Xiang and Marquis Huaiyin, the eternal overlord and the peerless military genius, the duel between the way of courage and the way of wisdom, the ultimate duel between the two ways of military affairs."

Gao Jiong sighed, and then spoke again: "It can be confirmed that the Overlord has definitely taken that step."

"In fact, the Purple Thunder Blade in your hand was passed down by King Xiang."

"Father has communicated with Yu Juluo more than once, and has also investigated secretly. Unfortunately, Yu Juluo was only obtained by chance, and the rest of the investigations did not yield any results."

"Perhaps only by going to that big man can we find traces of the former overlord." Gao Jiong sighed again.

"I didn't have any idea at first. After all, the whereabouts of Overlord's inheritance are elusive, but until..."

Gao Jiong paused for a moment, and Gao Changsheng was also slightly stunned.

"Could it be that father has found traces of the Overlord's inheritance?"

"No, my father has been stationed in an important place and cannot go out. How can I find the inheritance of the Overlord?"

"However, I have discovered a legacy that is more suitable for you."

"what?"

Gao Jiong smiled softly, raised his head slowly, glanced somewhere, and then said with a smile: "The iron-eating beast you brought is about to overturn the Imperial Garden."

"Temple of the God of War." Gao Changsheng called out softly.

"Yes, although the Overlord's inheritance is wonderful, how can it compare to the way of the Lord of Arms? That is the pinnacle of the way of Qi and blood, and the one who can truly defeat an entire army alone."

"In fact, whether it's Qi and blood, formations, or even martial arts, they were all at their most prosperous in the ancient times."

"It's just that the ancient history has been cut off, and all the ancient inheritances have long since disappeared. But the Temple of the God of War is different. It has been passed down from ancient times."

"It may contain the true inheritance of the Lord of Arms. If you can obtain it, your road will be smooth indeed."

(End of this chapter)