The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 385 - 197 The Black-Hearted Shi Jue

Chapter 385: Chapter 197 The Black-Hearted Shi Jue

"Relics, in Qing Yu’s previous life, were just a mystical object of Buddhism.

But in this life, it is different. To leave behind a relic after death, one must be at least a True Pill Realm Buddhist Martial Artist.

The reason is quite simple—that is, a relic is the True Pill of a Buddhist Martial Artist.

The path of Martial Arts is the path of evolution.

The Martial Arts Realm in its early stage can be said to be quite singular. Everyone must go through the Postnatal Realm, Innate Realm, step by step laying the foundation.

By the time they reach the Divine Origin Realm, their respective Martial Arts begin to shine. Different people, different Martial Arts, presenting stark contrasts in their achievements.

As the Martial Arts progress to the later stages, it becomes a bloom of many flowers. Perhaps the end might converge, but in this middle stage, the distinction between sects and Daoist Orthodoxies is extremely clear.

Just like the True Pill Realm. ’True Pill’ is just a general term. In Buddhism, it is called ’relic,’ in Taoism, it is called ’Golden Core,’ and in Confucianism, it is called ’Dan Heart.’

Different orthodoxies have different names.

Thus, the gift from Monk Shi Jue is enormously significant—it is the essence of a Buddhist Martial Artist above the True Pill Realm.

Moreover, this is a meat relic from a warrior of the Vajra Temple lineage. A meat relic, being the essence of flesh consolidated by cremation, is exceptionally rare compared to a Primordial Qi formed relic.

After all, Primordial Qi relics are tangible, and every True Pill Realm Buddhist Martial Artist has one. Flesh relics, however, require the condensation of one’s entire essence and are only obtainable from the remains of a Body Refining Master.

Furthermore, Vajra Temple is also renowned for its prominence. Buddhist Body Refining Martial Arts thrives, and among them, Vajra Temple is a leader. In simple terms of Body Refining Martial Arts, Vajra Temple actually surpasses the Great Zen Temple.

After all, the Great Zen Temple’s ’Heart Zen Immortal Skill’ emphasizes body refinement but focuses more on the heart, not purely Body Refining Martial Arts.

However...

"Monk, you really know how to play a dark hand," Qing Yu said, slightly bowing his head, carefully examining the blood-lit meat relic.

A meat relic is an essence of flesh consolidated into form, hence it emits a blood light, but it does not appear sinister; instead, it gives a sense of warmth. After all, it is the remains of a high monk after cremation.

Such a rare relic generally would not end up outside.

Vajra Temple was originally a branch of the Great Zen Temple, its founders were from the Great Zen Temple. In the Zen Sect, Vajra Temple is also a staunch supporter of the Great Zen Temple. If there are relics left by monks within the temple, they generally return to the source, sent back to the Pure Tower Forest of the Great Zen Temple for tribute.

Under these circumstances, Monk Shi Jue daring to play a dark hand, digging up the graves of deceased monks, that too is akin to robbing one’s own guardians. This deepened Qing Yu’s perception of the darker side of Monk Shi Jue.

It is known that although Buddhists consider the physical body as a mere sack of flesh, they highly value the relics formed from the cremated remains. Simply put, these relics are equivalent to the bodies of Buddhist practitioners.

Faced with Qing Yu’s implicitly mocking words, Monk Shi Jue replied without changing his expression, "Benefactor jests, how would this poor monk dare to disturb the rest of the deceased elders. This meat relic was stolen from our Pure Tower Forest by ’Ghost Thief’ Han Wuxiu three years ago, I certainly did not commit such dishonorable acts."

"Then where did this meat relic come from?"

"Han Wuxiu encountered the head of our Precepts Hall, Uncle Master Xinyun, when he left. He was gravely injured by Uncle Master Xinyun and inadvertently left the meat relic behind, which this monk found."

"So you just directly took it into your possession?" Qing Yu chuckled lightly, his eyes rolling under the bronze mask.

Privately seizing such a treasure, Monk Shi Jue really dared to do so.

If it were discovered, it would hardly differ from grave robbing—Shi Jue would have to take a trip to the Demon Suppression Tower at the Great Zen Temple. The only difference was one term was fixed, the other, indefinite.

"Wait..."

Qing Yu seemed to suddenly make a major discovery, extending his hand to pick up the meat relic that shimmered with pure blood light, examining it closely.

His pupils constantly contracted and dilated, his True Qi and Divine Origin continuously circulated, pushing the "Heavenly Son’s Qi Observation Technique" to its limit, as if trying to discern the true nature of the meat relic.

Monk Shi Jue made no move, still maintaining his posture of lowered eyes.

After a while, Qing Yu placed the meat relic back in the box and let out a long breath, his eyes darting back and forth between Shi Jue and the meat relic.

Finally, Qing Yu seemed certain of something and said with a strange laugh, "Monk, I wondered why the relic that ’Ghost Thief’ Han Wuxiu wanted to steal seemed to be just of the True Pill Realm. It turns out that most of the essence and primordial energy within it had already been drained."

In Qing Yu’s eyes, although Monk Shi Jue appeared ordinary, just like a handsome monk, beneath his slightly frail form was contained boundless Essence Qi. If he were to release his restraint, the blood energy within his body would likely form a scape of Essence Qi smoke above his head.

Clearly, the person who had absorbed most of the essence of the meat relic was Shi Jue.

Although "Ghost Thief" Han Wuxiu was engaged in petty theft, he was ultimately a Great Being of the Divinity Realm. He wouldn’t go through great effort and risk life-threatening dangers to steal a meat relic of mere True Pill Realm from the Great Zen Temple.

This meat relic seemed to be just of the True Pill Realm, but deep within, it contained the Vajra’s Indestructible State. Qing Yu, observing with the "Heavenly Son’s Qi Observation Technique," could sense the unadorned, substantial, and terrifying nature of this realm.

Gifted with personal insights by the Shadow King, Qing Yu had a profound understanding of both the True Pill and Divinity Realms and knew this was not something a True Pill Realm Martial Artist could leave behind.

"Monk Shi Jue, such a heavy gift is a bit too much for me to handle," Qing Yu said lightly as he closed the wooden box and looked towards Shi Jue.

A relic of the Divinity Realm and one of the True Pill Realm were completely different concepts. Even if most of the essence had been drained, reducing its content to that of the True Pill Realm, it remained so.

The gap between the Divinity and True Pill Realms was like that between a phoenix and a chicken, and even a grounded phoenix was not comparable to a chicken.

They say "a grounded phoenix is not as good as a chicken," but there are all types of chickens in the world—roosters, hens, slaughtered chickens... Yet one needs to find a grounded phoenix to compare.

Offering such a heavy gift, the target Shi Jue was seeking was definitely not simple.

Perhaps, no, certainly, there would be life-threatening danger, of a severe kind.

’But this meat relic is also very important to me,’ Qing Yu inwardly lusted after it.

’Maybe...’

A trace of killing intent flickered through his mind, instantaneous and fleeting. With Qing Yu’s mastery over his mental state, even Monk Shi Jue, who was nearby.

’No, Abbot Xinyuan is supernaturally skilled in the Law of Cause and Effect. If he were truly targeted, there would be no escape for me.’

He had confidence in killing Monk Shi Jue if necessary, but Qing Yu could not bear the consequences of such an act. Compared to killing Shi Jue, it was safer for him to search for the Silent Annihilation Zen Temple with him.