Liu Baiyun, a first-rate master.
When she was young, she didn't often travel the martial arts world, mainly focusing on martial arts practice and training disciples within her sect, so she wasn't very famous. In recent years, with the integration of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, she represented the Mount Hua Sect in the Central Plains martial arts world and only then began to make a name for herself.
Due to her shrewd methods and exceptional martial arts, she is considered one of the outstanding female masters in the martial arts world in recent years.
As mentioned before, there isn't a unified standard for what constitutes a first-rate master; it solely depends on how widely your name is respected and how long you can maintain that reputation.
Li Miao possesses a high-level perspective, able to discern the true qi, power, and techniques of an opponent at a glance, thus enabling him to roughly judge their skill level.
To use Li Miao's past life game as an analogy, a person's rank depends on whether they can stay at that rank and for how long. Others typically judge your skill by looking at your rank insignia—which is your reputation.
Players of Li Miao's caliber can directly assess an opponent's approximate skill level from a single movement or pull.
And his classification standard, naturally, is based on Shuntian Prefecture—which could also be called Telecom Zone 1.
This crude, inconsistent regional classification method leads to an enormous disparity between the upper and lower limits among first-rate masters.
Someone like Mei Qinghe, in Li Miao's eyes, is "barely considered first-rate." As for Liu Baiyun, based on Li Miao's observation, she should be at the peak of first-rate.
After all, her age is a factor. The variations in techniques generally solidify around the age of thirty, making further breakthroughs difficult. However, experience in dealing with enemies, the level of internal energy, and the abundance of true qi can be refined over time.
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Someone like Liu Baiyun is the most standard template for a top-tier master in the martial arts world—her innate talent and comprehension are not bad, but not top-tier, and even exhausting her potential wouldn't allow her to reach the level of a peerless master. However, with years of diligent practice and combat experience, her true qi, power, and techniques are incredibly refined, with few flaws.
Youngsters like Mei Qinghe and Wang Hai, who reached first-rate master status early due to their aptitude, would have a near-certain chance of death if they fought Liu Baiyun.
While Li Miao was sizing up Liu Baiyun, Liu Baiyun was also secretly observing Li Miao and his two companions.
She first recognized Gao Ling, an elder of the Mount Tai Sect, whom she had met at the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting in previous years, so she was somewhat familiar. At this moment, Gao Ling was bowed and following behind Li Miao, silent, completely devoid of her usual demeanor.
Then she looked at Mei Qinghe. She had taken Mei Qinghe as a disciple from a young age, acting as both teacher and mother, so she naturally understood Mei Qinghe quite well. She had also guessed that she would meet Mei Qinghe near Tai'an.
However, the look in Mei Qinghe's eyes towards her was no longer the complete trust, admiration, and reliance of the past, but carried a hint of indescribable disappointment and grievance.
Liu Baiyun's heart trembled.
At this moment, with many eyes and ears present, she couldn't speak, so she had to set this matter aside and find time to be frank with Mei Qinghe later.
Finally, she looked at Li Miao.
Both Gao Ling and Mei Qinghe were first-rate masters, yet they followed behind this person, clearly indicating Li Miao was in charge. Mei Qinghe hadn't realized she had developed a rift with Liu Baiyun; at this moment, not wanting to face her, she subconsciously hid behind Li Miao. All of this was seen by Liu Baiyun.
Her first glance, naturally, was to assess Li Miao's martial arts.
If Zuo Lishan couldn't discern Li Miao's true depth, Liu Baiyun naturally couldn't either, but she was secretly puzzled.
Her second glance was to observe Li Miao's details.
This wasn't about looking for calluses on hands and feet, but rather discerning what kind of "aura" a person carried.
When a person stays in a certain position for a long time, they develop a certain "aura." Of course, this isn't feudal superstition, but rather an impression left subconsciously by a quick glance, accumulated from many details such as eyes, clothing, and posture.
Liu Baiyun detected a hint of a lofty "official aura" on Li Miao, along with another discordant temperament.
She didn't know that this discordant temperament, from Li Miao's perspective, was called "office worker's vibe."
Liu Baiyun spoke, "Esteemed Sir, greetings. I am Liu Baiyun of Mount Hua. Are you perhaps a friend of my disciple, Mei Qinghe?"
"Something like that. I am Jinyiwei Commander, Li Miao."
Li Miao had caused such a stir within Tai'an City that his identity couldn't be concealed, but Liu Baiyun had just arrived and hadn't heard the news yet. At this moment, he simply spoke directly and to the point.
This single sentence startled the Mount Hua Sect disciples, who all stood up, nervously gripping their sword hilts.
A Commander leaving the capital meant taking lives.
The young man who had just spoken involuntarily blurted out, "Senior Sister... how could you be with—"
His words were cut short by a glare from Liu Baiyun, making him swallow the rest of the sentence, "—the imperial lackeys."
"Lord Li, has my humble disciple done anything out of line, or offended the law, that you wish to take her back to the capital for trial?" Liu Baiyun asked.
Her first reaction, of course, was that Mei Qinghe had been caught by the Jinyiwei while seeking revenge. She spoke now to explain the situation and exonerate Mei Qinghe.
Even setting aside personal feelings, Mei Qinghe, at just over twenty, had reached first-rate skill and had the potential to become peerless; she was the root of the Mount Hua Sect's legacy.
Liu Baiyun secretly adjusted her stance, already prepared to subdue Li Miao.
The Mount Hua Sect naturally couldn't afford to offend the Jinyiwei, but at present, she had to protect Mei Qinghe. As long as Li Miao wasn't harmed, it shouldn't lead to the disaster of their sect's annihilation.
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At worst, she would trade her own life for Mei Qinghe's.
Although Liu Baiyun couldn't discern Li Miao's martial arts, she still had some confidence in her own.
Li Miao sensed Liu Baiyun's intention and smiled, extending his hand to gesture downwards, "Sit, everyone, please sit."
After speaking, he sat down at the table by himself.
"Your disciple is currently working for me."
"I haven't mistreated her; I even eliminated the hidden dangers in her cultivation technique. Headmaster Liu, you should be aware of this matter."
Upon hearing this, Liu Baiyun's expression changed, and she remained silent.
The young disciple beside her couldn't help but speak, "What are you talking about, my Lord? My Senior Sister is a direct disciple, cultivating the orthodox Mount Hua methods. What hidden dangers would you need to resolve for her?"
"Don't tell me you're using your status to threaten my Senior Sister—"
Whoosh—
A faint sound of wind passed, and the young disciple froze, unable to move, only his eyes darting around in terror, clearly having had his acupoints sealed.
A peanut fell from his collar and dropped to the ground.
Li Miao retracted his hand and said, "Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are speaking."
"Headmaster Liu, let's continue."
"Since we've met, and the time is right, I won't beat around the bush. Let's save some trouble."
"The Five Mountains Sword Sect is doomed, and Zuo Lishan will die."
"Does your Mount Hua Sect want to join the 'imperial lackey' family and happily desecrate the ancestral graves of the Mount Tai Sect together?"