Deep within the training ground lay a valley designated as a forbidden zone. Guan Yu stood bare-chested, white vapor rising from his bronze skin as air surged around him, sending sand and stones flying. He was attempting to combine Armament Haki more deeply with Rayquaza's instinctive control over the atmosphere.
Previously, his Haki had coated his blade, increasing the hardness and strength of his slashes. Now, he tried to infuse it into the "wind" surrounding him. He slowly swung the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, its edge tearing a shrill sound from the air. An invisible barrier of wind pressure formed along its path, intended not for attack, but defense. Flying stones struck the invisible wall of air and were instantly ground to dust.
"No... it must flow, not solidify." Guan Yu closed his eyes and concentrated. Though his Phoenix Eyes were shut, his Observation Haki had spread throughout the valley, sensing the changes in every wisp of wind. What he sought was to keep his Haki circulating as ceaselessly as air currents, forming a dynamic, omnidirectional field that enhanced both defense and attack. This was a crucial step toward the higher-level Ryuo, or even Internal Destruction. The process was extremely difficult, and every attempt consumed tremendous energy. Yet his will was iron, and he honed himself day after day.
Elsewhere, atop a seaside cliff a thousand feet high, Huang Zhong stood like a stone statue, his great bow drawn without an arrow. His target was a seabird resting on a reef ten thousand feet away, appearing and disappearing amid the waves.
He did not use his bow to shoot, nor did he even deliberately activate his Observation Haki to lock on. Instead, he emptied his mind completely, becoming one with his surroundings. He sensed the humidity, speed, and shifts of the sea breeze, calculated the rise and fall of the tides, and even anticipated when the seabird would next beat its wings. Dialga's power had granted him a subtle perception of the passage of time, which he now pushed to its limit. In his perception, the world seemed to slow, every detail incomparably clear.
Suddenly, he moved! There was no earth-shaking display of power, only a barely audible quiver of the bowstring. An intensely condensed burst of Armament Haki shot from the string, not in the shape of an arrow, but as an invisible shock wave. It crossed ten thousand feet and skimmed precisely past the seabird's feathers, startling it into flying away with a screech, yet leaving it completely unharmed.
"Where the mind reaches, intent follows, and energy arrives... what need is there for arrows?" Huang Zhong slowly lowered his bow and exhaled a stale breath. He was cultivating a higher form of marksmanship, condensing Haki into invisible "arrows of intent," silent and undetectable, yet more threatening. This demanded an extremely high degree of Haki cohesion and mental focus.
On the beach, a different kind of heated scene unfolded. Zhang Fei and Gan Ning were engaged in an unconventional combat drill.
Zhang Fei roared repeatedly as Groudon's power erupted. Dark red Armament Haki coated his fists, and every punch he drove into the beach sent waves of sand into the air like a miniature earthquake, attempting to restrict Gan Ning's movement. "Xingba! Take my Raging Thunder Fist!"
Gan Ning gave a long laugh, his movements ghostlike. Kyogre's power gave him an extraordinary affinity for seawater and damp sand. Rather than meet the blows head-on, he stepped upon the waves, darting like a fish through the gaps in Zhang Fei's savage attacks. His twin short halberds traced strange arcs, targeting the lower body and joints. "Brother Zhang Fei, all that strength is useless if you can't hit me! Behold my Fish Leap!"
Their powers seemed to counter one another, yet through practice in combat, they gradually found ways to complement each other. Zhang Fei marveled at Gan Ning's agility and prowess in water, while Gan Ning admired Zhang Fei's absolute strength and mastery of Haki. Sparring that came so close to actual combat greatly benefited them both as they familiarized themselves with their newfound powers and improved their ability to adapt in battle.
Zhao Yun often watched from the sidelines with his spear in his arms, occasionally offering a few pointers to incorporate Reshiram's principles of explosive speed into their offense and defense.
Inside the Strategist's Residence, Guo Jia was playing a game of Go with the visiting Zhao Yun. Black and white stones tangled across the board, deadly threats lurking everywhere.
"Brother Zhao Yun, look here." Guo Jia placed a stone that seemed inconsequential, yet subtly cut off a large group's retreat. "It's like the wharf in northern Flower Capital. It seems out of the way, but it's a hub for transporting provisions. If Xingba makes a show of force here and feigns an attack on the granaries, do you think the First Treasures Navy will come to their aid or not?" Even while playing Go, he did not forget to work through military situations.
Zhao Yun studied the board for a long time before calmly placing a stone, a brilliant move that dissolved Guo Jia's offensive without a trace. "Make the false seem real, and the real seem false. Your plan is excellent, Fengxiao. But what if the enemy commander is cautious, divides his troops to guard the positions, and keeps his main force still? What then? I believe the true killing blow may lie not at the wharf, but..." He tapped the center point of the board, representing the sky.
A gleam of Uxie's light flashed in Guo Jia's eyes. He clapped his hands and chuckled. "Brilliant! Brother Zhao Yun, you truly grasp it with the slightest hint! Troops descending from the heavens-just the thing!" The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without words. Their games were both a clash of strategic minds and a repeated refining of the tactical details for the coming battle. Through these simulations, Guo Jia continually optimized every part of the "Surprise Attack on Flower Capital" plan.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu and Liu Bei also appeared frequently in the newly acquired towns and villages. Traveling lightly with few attendants, they went among the people to understand their hardships, personally supervised land distribution, heard backlogged cases, reassured former officials, and selected talented individuals.
Liu Bei's Xerneas-like aura of warmth made it easy for him to gain the people's trust. Often, a few sincere words from him could resolve many potential conflicts and allow new policies to proceed smoothly. His cultivation lay in "cultivating virtue" and "winning the people's hearts." Though intangible and without substance, this was the firmest foundation upon which Peach Blossom Spring could establish itself and grow.
Night fell, and Huaxia City blazed with lights. Everyone gathered after returning from training. Though each was tired, their spirits were high. Over the meal, they no longer spent much time discussing military affairs, instead chatting about amusing everyday matters and sharing insights from their cultivation. The atmosphere was harmonious.
As Chen Yu looked at the brothers under his command, growing stronger by the day, his heart filled with confidence. He knew that this seemingly peaceful stretch of "daily life" was in fact the most crucial gathering of strength before the storm. When this carefully honed blade was drawn once more, it would surely shake the world.
"Everyone," Chen Yu raised his cup, "today's efforts are all for tomorrow's victory. Drain this cup, and let us quietly await the rising wind!"
"To our lord (big brother)!" everyone answered in unison, their voices shaking the night sky.
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