Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 223 Digging a Hole (Monthly Pass +1400, Seeking Monthly Pass)

Chapter 223: Chapter 223 Digging a Hole (Monthly Pass +1400, Seeking Monthly Pass)

Jianghu Martial Arts, and indeed the entire world, were all in a state of uproar.

In an ordinary valley, however, there was profound tranquility.

A few thatched cottages huddled together, wisps of cooking smoke rising, a fence enclosing an old hen strutting about with her chicks, an atmosphere of peace and joy pervading the scene.

Zhong Shenxiu wore a coarse hemp robe, nonchalantly watching Shi Yu practice on an open piece of ground.

The boy had finally mastered the Medicine Sand Palm to its limits and could now turn to cultivating other profound martial arts.

But Zhong Shenxiu saw his dim-witted disciple had limited achievements, fearing he might only reach the level of Grandmaster in his lifetime—if smoke was rising from his ancestral grave, that is—if he didn’t lend a hand.

However, after seeing the Mad Daoist, some of his own thoughts began to gradually change.

’A Grandmaster is fine, but Great Grandmasters indeed act as beacons, easily bringing suffering to this world... hence, this realm actually does not look kindly upon Great Grandmasters...’

’Of course, Great Grandmasters are powerful in martial strength, and minor disasters can be forcefully overcome with their martial prowess...’

’But when facing true calamity, it is a different story altogether... Just looking at this major catastrophe, how tragic it has been. Although it was orchestrated by Emperor Tongtian, the fact that the conspiracies could progress so smoothly also says something.’

In fact, the only Great Grandmaster left in the world at this time was him.

Zhong Shenxiu could vaguely sense the shackles of the world, those Heavenly Show Points that were no longer increasing, which seemed to explain a lot.

’Heavenly Dao is impartial ah, you were the one who rewarded me at first, and now you’re the one who repels me...’

Zhong Shenxiu gazed at the sky, his eyes filled with a hint of resentment.

By comparison, the Mad Daoist was much smarter, having crippled his own martial arts and continuing to live well as a result.

’But... I am not the Mad Daoist, and there’s no need to cripple my martial arts, after all, I was always going to leave.’

Since there were no more benefits to be reaped in this world, leaving was the normal option.

Zhong Shenxiu watched Wei Hongyao and Yan Wushuang, who had returned from laundering clothes, a trace of a smile appearing on his face.

"How do you feel? Are you getting used to it?"

He looked at Yan Wushuang and asked.

"It’s bearable..." Yan Wushuang tidyed the stray strands of hair by her temples, smiling as she replied, "No longer having to bear everything... giving it all up is quite a nice option."

Not knowing if it was intuition or some other reason, the Goddess Constable ultimately chose to give up the Martial Arts, opting to live as an ordinary person.

Zhong Shenxiu respected her decision.

Just as he was about to discuss what to eat for dinner, his eyes suddenly shifted, gazing outside the valley.

There, a Grandmaster with several Disciples, carrying gifts, respectfully approached the mouth of the valley and called out, "Murong Jian of Golden Sword Sect seeks an audience with Grandmaster Xun!"

Zhong Shenxiu glanced at Yan Wushuang beside him.

Yan Wushuang immediately said, "Golden Sword Sect, one of Heye County’s sects, Sect Leader Murong Jian, an ordinary Grandmaster, not on the earth list... almost like a local bigwig."

"I just said... how could it be so simple to live in seclusion?"

Zhong Shenxiu covered his forehead with his hand.

The number of people from the Shanyao Gang, even if disguised as traders, did attract some attention.

And while living in seclusion sounded easy, one’s daily necessities were still tied to the outside world for trade and purchase, making it easy to slip up, especially to those local snakes.

’This shows that if I’m determined to take the Shanyao Gang into seclusion, it probably won’t be long before the Great Wu Dynasty comes knocking on my door...’

Zhong Shenxiu heaved a sigh internally and called back, "Please come in."

Before long, Murong Jian led a few Disciples inside, saw Zhong Shenxiu, immediately performed a big gesture of kowtow, and cried out, "Since the Evil Emperor stepped into the Imperial Palace, suppressing the current age with tyranny, the world has fallen into chaos, lords arise everywhere, the people suffer immensely, the Demon Path spreads in all directions, the Jianghu Martial Arts sway in the storm, those Demon Pups flaunting the Undying Evil Emperor’s backing, arrogant and unbridled, we of the righteous path have suffered heavy casualties... However, the Mad Daoist is without a trace, we thus specially come to ask Grandmaster Xun to come out of seclusion to maintain peace in this region."

Only the protection of an orderly society lets us appreciate the precious stability of the court.

Since the world plunged into chaos, the Martial Arts community has become even more disorderly, especially since the ordinary disciples of the Demon Path are unaware of the truth and have grown more wildly reckless.

"I fucking knew someone would curse me... Luckily, I didn’t reveal my identity. Yeah, this is all the Undying Evil Emperor’s fault..."

Zhong Shenxiu cursed inwardly and his face darkened, "I’ve decided to live in seclusion. Don’t bother me anymore."

"No, Grandmaster Xun, if you do not emerge from seclusion, what will become of the common people?"

Murong Jian was almost in tears.

Zhong Shenxiu’s face was as dark as iron, and he promptly kicked him out.

Such a petty person, if they truly had strength, they would have probably already raised their flag in rebellion and declared themselves a king long ago.

Coming to him now was simply because they were weak and bullied by others.

All in all, it boiled down to unchecked ambition and insatiable greed.

Zhong Shenxiu had no desire to get involved.

"Hmm? Perhaps this is also an opportunity..."

With that thought, he had an idea but outwardly refused and drove the group out of the valley.

Then, in the blink of an eye, his own figure flashed and vanished without a trace.

However, Yan Wushuang and Wei Hongyao still naturally assumed Zhong Shenxiu was in his original place.

This was the manipulation of the spirit of a Great Grandmaster.

Before long, the sound of crying and howling rose when a bloodied disciple from the Golden Sword Sect tumbled into the valley, "Disaster... our Sect Leader has been killed by a Demon Path master..."

"What?"

Wei Hongyao was somewhat shocked.

Which Demon Path would dare to commit murder in front of the righteous Grandmaster Xun Liuyi?

She looked towards Zhong Shenxiu, only to see his expression solemn and a hint of anger, "What? Such a thing has happened? The Demon Path is too rampant! I shall issue a challenge to the Undying Evil Emperor of the Evil King Sect!"

"Thank you, Great Grandmaster, for avenging us!"

The disciple saw the possibility of revenge and was overjoyed at first, but then the realization that their Sect Leader was dead and their own sect was doomed to decline made him burst into tears again.

"This decision... doesn’t seem like your style."

Yan Wushuang was somewhat surprised.

"You do not understand. After I ascended to the rank of Grandmaster, I felt the world was so different... Now, this world has become my shackles, and I believe the Undying Evil Emperor must feel the same way..."

Zhong Shenxiu spoke softly, "Above the level of Grandmaster, there might be another realm, one of breaking free from the shackles of the world. I name it— ’Shattering the Void’!"

"I believe, after both Grandmasters have cultivated to the peak, if they can fully sublimate each other in combat, they may be able to break through the heavens and shatter the void. This is also the pursuit of my lifetime!"

He appeared to have a determined look in his eyes, radiant with conviction.

In reality, however, he had laid a vast trap for the Grandmasters of this world.

Not even Emperor Tongtian could collect all the secret martial arts of the world, so he targeted subsequent Grandmasters, who were all fanatically pursuing the Martial Arts. Knowing there was a realm above that of Grandmaster would surely drive them to desperate pursuit.

Alas, both parties perishing in a deadly battle was more likely.

Even if someone really managed to ’Shatter the Void’ and escape the world, sorry... Zhong Shenxiu didn’t know what lay beyond. Without the guidance of the ’Portal of a Thousand Gates’, he couldn’t survive outside this world, depending only on the ’Portal’ to traverse through it.

Therefore, the so-called ’Shattering the Void’ was nothing but a huge pitfall!

At this moment, all that was missing from perfecting this trap was a grand performance, a show that would convince the Jianghu Martial Arts beyond doubt and be passed down through generations!

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