novelraw Chapter 45 : Remembering the Past, The Twelve Generals
Chapter 45 : Remembering the Past, The Twelve Generals
Chapter 45: Remembering the Past, The Twelve Generals
Li Tianwei immediately thought of that possibility.
His interest in science was merely a passing fancy.
But when it came to history and politics — that was where his true mastery lay.
He remembered that at the age of six, he had already read through Twenty Western Histories.
No matter how many millions of words it contained, if asked, his answer would always be — he finished it.
From that time on, Li Tianwei had harbored the ambition to unify the Central Plains.
Unfortunately, he was born too late for that dream.
Still, that hadn’t stopped him from recruiting twelve generals to vie for the Central Plains during his childhood — though all twelve of those generals had been soundly beaten by their parents afterward, and none ever again mentioned the dream of conquering the land.
Li Tianwei didn’t think much of it.
After all, the unification of the Central Plains had already been done by others.
As the protagonist, he naturally had to accomplish something no one before him had ever done.
Sadly, that goal still remained unfinished.
It was evident how history and politics could shape one’s ambition.
Having read through Twenty Western Histories, even a simple invitation like this — Li Tianwei could still discern its underlying meaning from the words alone.
The term “Hongmen Banquet” sounded plain and harmless, yet countless people had fallen for such a seemingly innocent ploy.
Just look at Liu Bang, the very man who created the Hongmen Banquet — though his dynasty had the lesson of that banquet in its history, Han Xin still died in the same fashion.
Summoned to court, then executed.
At the end of the Han, He Jin and Dong Zhuo met similar fates.
It always began as an invitation — a feast, a meeting.
But could one guard against it forever?
One could say that intricate schemes were useless.
The simplest and most direct approach — that was the most dangerous.
To cloak it in the pretense of former master-disciple affection, and further invoke the name of a Sacred Land — that was a cunning trap indeed.
In Li Tianwei’s eyes, this simple invitation contained the Extraterrestrial Demons’ understanding of human nature — and their affirmation of political stratagem.
“This Extraterrestrial Demon isn’t as simple as I imagined!”
“To think they could come up with something like a banquet invitation — truly shrewd.”
At that moment, Li Tianwei’s little head was astonishingly bright.
Profiting for no reason, being given the chance to make his name — although it appeared to take place within the Sacred Land of Lingxu, if it were truly safe, then the System wouldn’t have claimed that the Sacred Land of Lingxu had already been infiltrated by Extraterrestrial Demons until it was like a sieve.
“If it were me, I’d do the same.”
Li Tianwei picked up the invitation again as he thought.
Of course, this so-called Hongmen Banquet had a prerequisite — the inviter must be willing to act, and mustn’t hesitate over trivial details.
Once that was done, half the scheme would already be complete.
Wasn’t that how Xiang Yu operated?
Then came the second condition — the invited party’s strength must be insufficient, while the inviter possessed overwhelming power to suppress them.
Only then would the plan succeed.
Both scenarios required absolute decisiveness and unmatched strength.
As for breaking the situation — that was simple too.
Just use absolute power to suppress everything.
Then, the so-called Hongmen Banquet would turn into nothing more than a joke, and he might even use it to shatter the opponent’s scheme and probe their true strength.
As for that… Li Tianwei had complete confidence.
No, to be exact, he was always confident in himself.
As the protagonist, the Hongmen Banquet existed only to serve as his backdrop.
At this moment, within Li Tianwei’s consciousness, the System found itself, for once, outsmarted by him.
Based on its calculations, this sudden invitation was definitely problematic.
When it heard Li Tianwei’s thoughts and realized that he had already deduced as much, the System breathed a sigh of relief — thinking that Li Tianwei had finally shown a moment of brilliance.
Yet before it could even finish feeling impressed, Li Tianwei turned around with indifference, still thinking of himself as the protagonist, with the Hongmen Banquet merely highlighting his greatness.
【Host, host! The Extraterrestrial Demons aren’t as easy to deal with as you think. I advise you to tell your master about this.】
Seeing the situation, the System quickly advised him.
But deep down, the System already had its own calculations.
If it wasn’t mistaken, even if the Extraterrestrial Demons acted against Li Tianwei, they would, at most, send out a Nascent Soul cultivator.
That would be enough to suppress him — yet the System still had the means to ensure his survival.
Clearly, this crisis was also a chance for the System to showcase its own existence.
That so-called “advice” was merely a formality.
It was actually eager for Li Tianwei to go.
When Li Tianwei despaired, it could step in to save him — proving to him how powerless he truly was.
It would be killing two birds with one stone.
After this one fall, as long as it guided Li Tianwei cautiously and steadily, his power would grow stronger — and from this world, the System could harvest merit.
A wonderful future was right before its eyes.
Especially when it imagined the arrogant Li Tianwei submitting under its control, the System felt that all the frustration it had endured since binding him would finally be released.
“Hmm? You mean… I’m not good enough?”
Hearing the System’s advice, Li Tianwei suddenly sensed something off.
But because of his personality, he didn’t voice it outright — he simply questioned it.
【Of course not. You’re the host I personally chose.】
The System, still lost in its fantasy, answered instinctively.
The moment it spoke, it realized it had slipped.
“You’re acting weird, huh!”
Li Tianwei’s gaze changed at once.
After all, the System — which usually opposed him and constantly claimed he wasn’t good enough — had, for the first time, agreed with him.
【Ah!】
Realizing what had happened, the System knew it had fallen into his trap.
【No, I only meant to prepare you mentally. This situation might be full of danger, and when the time comes, you’ll need my help!】
The System quickly switched tactics.
Hearing that, Li Tianwei smiled faintly.
“Trying to fool me? I’ll just block you.”
With that, Li Tianwei directly muted the System again.
He had indeed sensed that something was off.
The likely reason — there truly might be danger in attending the banquet, but that danger was only from the System’s perspective.
Li Tianwei knew that the System was probably just trying to use this chance to establish its own authority.
As for such behavior, Li Tianwei found it understandable.
After all, its host was too outstanding — making the System seem incompetent.
Of course, regarding this rebellious subordinate, Li Tianwei didn’t intend to say much.
He believed that if he were the System and had such a perfect host, he too would feel useless and want to prove himself a little.
Unfortunately, there were no “ifs” — and never could be.
So, whatever.
It only made him seem stronger, and the System more useless!
Li Tianwei’s thoughts continuously echoed in the System’s “ears.” But since he had muted it, the System could only rage powerlessly.
【％?￥#*】
“Still, this Hongmen Banquet must be attended. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win every battle.”
Having made his decision, Li Tianwei began closed-door cultivation, intending to use this time to raise his strength as much as possible.
“Come then! Secret Techniques of Burst, show me the limit of the Undying Body of the Sacrificial Dao!”
Li Tianwei directly activated various short-term secret techniques that could explosively boost his power.
With the Undying Body of the Sacrificial Dao protecting him, he wasn’t afraid of backlash.
On the contrary, he could peer into higher realms without harming his foundation.
Very soon, his cultivation — originally at the early Foundation Establishment stage — began to rise rapidly: mid stage, late stage… until a booming sound rang in his ears.
“Crack—”
Li Tianwei saw the transformation of spiritual energy — the gaseous form condensed into liquid, and soon, it gathered into a strange, ominous orb.
That was a pseudo-core formed through the activation of secret techniques — a False Golden Core Realm.