Zhang Liao waited outside the camp for Lü Bu to join him on their journey. When Lü Bu finally appeared, Zhang Liao felt a fleeting sense of déjà vu, as if he was witnessing the same Lü Bu who once single-handedly challenged the heroes of the world—proud, aloof, yet undeniably heroic.
Lü Bu rode out of the camp on Red Hare, and in that moment, his mind transcended its limits. For the first time since Xiang Yu, someone had taken the most crucial step in mastering the "spirit" aspect of the trinity of essence, energy, and spirit.
"Let's go, Wen Yuan. I don't know why, but I suddenly feel as if I've transcended many things. I've gained a new perspective," Lü Bu said with a bold smile. "Come, let's meet them."
"Let's go, Fengxian!" Zhang Liao responded, stunned by Lü Bu's transformation. He bowed deeply, following Lü Bu closely, like a green leaf complementing a brilliant flower.
As Lü Bu stepped out of the camp, nearly every Internal Energy practitioner across the Central Plains felt a sudden tremor in their hearts. Almost instinctively, they all turned to face the same direction.
"Erlai, what's wrong?" Cao Cao asked, noticing that Dian Wei seemed uneasy as they faced off against Yang Feng and Zhang Ji in Sizhou.
"I don't know, but there's something coming from that direction... something that really bothers me," Dian Wei grumbled, pointing toward Yanzhou.
"Big brother, I feel the same," Xiahou Dun added, frowning as his left eye, which had never fully healed since being blinded by Gan Ning, twitched uncomfortably.
"Gongming, what's going on?" Yang Feng asked, confused as he saw Xu Huang clutching his double axes with a faraway look in his eyes.
"I felt a wave of energy from the east that made my heart race," Xu Huang replied, staring toward the horizon in shock.
"Bo Yuan, what are you looking at?" Zhang Ji asked his nephew, Zhang Xiu, who seemed distracted.
"Uncle, I think Lü Bu has taken the final step," Zhang Xiu murmured. Though he had reached the pinnacle of Internal Energy, he had no idea how to take the next step, his path seemingly at a dead end.
"The final step?" Zhang Ji asked, shocked. He knew his nephew was among the top ten fighters in the land, but what exactly did this "final step" mean?
"Yes. If Refining Qi into Steel is the limit of human potential, then Internal Energy has already surpassed what it means to be human. The next level is something beyond humanity," Zhang Xiu replied, his eyes flashing with a deadly seriousness. He couldn't fathom what lay beyond his current abilities, but Lü Bu had already taken that step.
"Is he that powerful?" Zhang Ji asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes. He is incredibly powerful," Zhang Xiu muttered to himself, then added, as if to clarify, "Truly powerful."
"Zijian, what are you looking at?" Liu Ye asked Hua Xiong, who had suddenly reined in his horse.
"Lü Bu... he's broken through," Hua Xiong said, immediately recognizing the tremor in his heart as a sign of Lü Bu's advancement.
"Broken through?" Liu Ye was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized what Hua Xiong meant—Lü Bu had surpassed Internal Energy.
"Well, it's out of our hands now. We'll leave it to Zichuan to worry about. For now, I plan to speak with Cao Cao and see if we can form an alliance. After all, we're both here to rescue the Emperor," Liu Ye remarked casually.
In Yanzhou, Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, and Xu Chu all felt the tremor in Lü Bu's spirit the moment he broke through, and they instinctively stood up. Even Han Qiong, who had been concealing himself, was shocked into revealing his presence.
"What happened?" Chen Xi asked, puzzled by their sudden reactions.
"Lü Bu has taken the first step," Zhao Yun said in disbelief.
"No wonder he's Lü Bu," Han Qiong murmured, regaining his composure before disappearing once more.
That afternoon, Chen Xi and the others waited for Lü Bu's arrival with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
At the same time, in Yuan Shao's camp, Yan Liang also felt the unsettling energy. Tian Feng, however, was thrilled. The stronger Lü Bu became, the more valuable he would be as an ally. But when news arrived that Lü Bu and Zhang Liao had gone alone to Chen Xi's camp, Tian Feng was struck as if by lightning.
Going alone to the enemy camp? To Tian Feng, this wasn't a show of courage; it was a sign of submission. Without hesitation, Tian Feng decided to go personally to Lü Bu's camp. This time, he would not play any tricks. He was prepared to offer anything to keep Lü Bu from siding with Liu Bei, even if it meant convincing him to remain neutral.
"Yan Liang!" Tian Feng called out after preparing gifts.
"Guard the camp carefully. Prepare for the possibility that Lü Bu might defect to Liu Bei," Tian Feng ordered solemnly. After all, once someone submits, it's common to prove loyalty through battle.
"Understood!" Yan Liang replied earnestly, seeing the fear in Tian Feng's eyes.
"If Lü Bu and Chen Xi attack together, hold out for just one day. Our reinforcements will arrive soon!" Tian Feng continued. The situation was dire, but they hadn't yet fallen into the abyss.
"Understood!" Yan Liang saluted, "I will defend the camp with all my might and give them no opportunity."
"Good. I'll go speak with Chen Gong," Tian Feng said, trying to maintain his composure as he hurried to Chen Gong's camp. However, his quickened pace betrayed his anxiety.
Meanwhile, after Lü Bu's departure, Chen Gong spared no effort in hosting Liu Yan. The terms Liu Yan had previously offered were already quite favorable, and now, with Lü Bu meeting Chen Xi personally, Chen Gong felt confident that an agreement was imminent. Naturally, he treated Liu Yan like one of their own.
"Wait, what?" Liu Yan nearly spat out his drink, his eyes wide with shock. The wine dribbled down his chin. "You said Zichuan is personally negotiating with General Lü?"
"Yes, indeed!" Chen Gong replied with a smile. "I thought before that Lord Xuande might be hesitant because of his reservations about General Lü, but it seems I was mistaken. Please forgive any previous offenses, Weisuo." With that, Chen Gong raised his cup and downed it.
"Of course, of course. No need to apologize, Gongtai. We were both just doing our jobs. Now, let's enjoy our wine together," Liu Yan replied, trying to maintain a facade of calm, even though his mind was in turmoil.
Chen Zichuan negotiating with Lü Bu? Liu Yan couldn't believe it. It didn't align with their overall strategy. Liu Bei's forces were strong enough that adding Lü Bu wouldn't make much of a difference. Moreover, Lü Bu was difficult to place—keeping him might create more problems than benefits.
If Lü Bu were stationed elsewhere and swayed by someone, he could become a serious threat. If kept in the main camp and he became discontented, who could stop him?
For these reasons, Liu Yan immediately sensed that something was amiss when Chen Gong mentioned this. Whether or not his suspicions were correct, his survival was paramount, so he began planning his escape from Lü Bu's camp.