The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 223 - 35: Great Opportunity

Chapter 223: Chapter 35: Great Opportunity

"Not fighting anymore?"

Qing Yu dodged Yuan Jianyi’s sword finger, only to see that Yuan Jianyi had already withdrawn.

"You’re not a true Swordsman," Yuan Jianyi’s face showed ripples for the first time, looking at Qing Yu with a puzzled expression, seemingly perplexed about why Gongye Baiduan would acknowledge an unqualified Swordsman.

’I’m sorry for not being a qualified Swordsman, huh!’ Qing Yu’s eyes twitched slightly, and he was full of silent ridicule in his heart, ’In this world, how many are true Swordsmen, those who entrust their lives to the sword? Such people are rare indeed.’

"So you’re just not fighting anymore?" Qing Yu asked.

"You won this fight," Yuan Jianyi said, looking down at the twisted tip of the iron sword. The sword was ruined, remaking it was meaningless—after all, it was just an iron sword. If he were to treat it specially, it would be contrary to the original intention of indifference.

"If you’re not fighting, then I’ll be going."

Qing Yu felt no surprise at Yuan Jianyi’s concession. In the end, it was just that Yuan Jianyi didn’t want to fight anymore; his real strength hadn’t been fully displayed.

Of course, even if Yuan Jianyi had used his full strength, Qing Yu didn’t think he would lose. But what good would that kind of victory or defeat do? If it were for a little fame, Qing Yu wouldn’t have melted down the Taiming Sword. Waving the Taiming Sword in front of those who knew its value, what reputation couldn’t he get?

As for killing Yuan Jianyi, who had started the fight of his own accord, Qing Yu hadn’t even considered it. How foolish would one have to be to needlessly establish a powerful enemy like the Sword Palace? With that time, he’d be better off finding a place to catch up on sleep.

"What’s your name?" Yuan Jianyi suddenly asked.

A name? It seemed like he hadn’t chosen one yet.

After leaving the area of Gongye Baiduan, Qing Yu had taken off the bronze mask and reverted to the face of an ordinary young man he had randomly fashioned. And for this face, which was merely meant to deceive, Qing Yu naturally couldn’t be bothered to pick a name.

But now, this face needed a name.

However, it was a bit too late to think of a name, so Qing Yu decided to borrow the name of a renowned person.

"Zhao Yun, Zhao of Yan Zhao, Yun of Feng Yun," Qing Yu said, revealing an amiable smile to Yuan Jianyi.

It’s a pity that this face was too ordinary and didn’t match the handsome name.

Yuan Jianyi, unaware of the implications behind the name, still maintained his unrippled demeanor as he calmly said, "Pleased to meet you."

If one didn’t know his restraint, they might think he was being provocative.

"Zhao Yun, one month from now, at Cuige River in Hong Province, I will wait for you there."

These words seemed rather abrupt, and Yuan Jianyi seemed to realize that as he added, "At that time, many young talents will come to compete for a great opportunity. Believe me, you’ll be interested."

Yuan Jianyi, though inept at socializing, had practiced the Sword Palace’s Heart Illumination Technique well, which allowed him to see through to the heart. A brief exchange had shown him Qing Yu’s opportunistic nature. Hence, he gave Qing Yu a very interesting reason.

With that said, Yuan Jianyi turned and left.

’A great opportunity, huh...’ Qing Yu watched Yuan Jianyi’s retreating figure and thought.

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Chen Qinglin hurried down the path, his irritation mounting at the strange looks he received from his fellow disciples.

He had been back at the Zhenwu Sect for some time now, having long recovered from the weakness caused by hunger.

Then came the investigation into whether Chen Qinglin had colluded with Gong Ziyu.

The Zhenwu Sect is a Righteous Sect and, unlike the Six Gates and the Demon Sect, would not resort to the Soul Searching Technique just over a disagreement; however, they did have their ways of probing one’s mind and spirit.

"Heart Illumination Technique," a method employed by Martial Artists above the True Pill Realm, could, without the subject’s resistance, explore psychological fluctuations and glean general mental activities.

It was less convenient than the Soul Searching Technique, which could violently rummage through one’s memories, but it would not cause the severe aftereffects—turning some feeble-minded, others brain dead—associated with the Soul Search.

And it could also detect if one was under the influence of any mental control techniques.

Chen Qinglin hadn’t colluded with Gong Ziyu, and this he knew without needing to lie or being under any mental manipulation. Xuan Zheng, who applied the "Heart Illumination Technique" to probe his mind, cleared his name.

However, there was another matter Chen Qinglin couldn’t hide: under harsh torture, he had no choice but to reveal the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills.

Qing Yu had miscalculated one step; Chen Qinglin couldn’t keep secret the leakage of the Absolute Skills. Qing Yu’s manipulations became void before they could even be enacted.

After that, it was only because Xuanming, Chen Qinglin’s master, pleaded insistently, and considering the fact that the traitor who was proficient in the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills, Xuan Guang, was still at large—arguably, all had been leaked anyway—Sect Leader Xuan Chen decided to let Chen Qinglin off the hook.

Well, in truth, the primary factor was Xuanming’s promise to support Qingxu.

After a political deal between Xuanming and Xuan Chen, the fact that Chen Qinglin had leaked the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills remained unknown to anyone outside the circle of Xuan Chen, Xuan Zheng, Xuanming, and Chen Qinglin himself. But Chen Qinglin still endured the strange and prickly gazes from his fellow disciples.

After all, of the two captives, one came back only suffering from severe hunger, while the other hadn’t even been found, not even his remains. How could that not raise suspicion?

It wasn’t just the other disciples that harbored doubts; even Xuan Chen and others had their deep-seated questions. What exactly Gong Ziyu was plotting in his scheme continued to be a significant mystery to everyone in the Zhenwu Sect.

Chen Qinglin quickened his pace and rushed into his own room as if fleeing.

As a disciple dearly favored by Xuanming, Chen Qinglin had his private courtyard, which had previously drawn the envy of many but now allowed him to escape those unbearable scrutinizing stares.

Upon entering his private space, Chen Qinglin let out a guttural roar, hurling chairs, tables, and crockery in a frenzy.

"Why, why, why... Why do you all treat me this way..." Chen Qinglin screamed.

The long dark imprisonment in the cave, coupled with the near starvation experience, had already driven Chen Qinglin to the brink of insanity. Now, with this added cold hostility, his mind totally unhinged.

After tearing up his bedding, with nothing else left to destroy, a gasping Chen Qinglin sat on the ground.

"Ha ha ha..."

Suddenly, Chen Qinglin burst into deranged laughter, "Since you all suspect me of colluding with the Azure Dragon Association, then I’ll give you collusion to see. Qingxu, it’s all your fault. Just you wait, I’ll ensure you suffer a crushing defeat and meet a gruesome end at the hands of Gong Ziyu!!"

Qing Yu had miscalculated yet again; without needing any further manipulation, Chen Qinglin would willingly align himself with Gong Ziyu.

As for whether Chen Qinglin would shift his vengeful sights to another primary culprit, Gong Ziyu, after dealing with Qingxu, that would have to wait until after Qingxu was taken care of.

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