The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 468 - 280: Refining Qi and Blood

Chapter 468: Chapter 280: Refining Qi and Blood

In the central part of Yan Province, Northern Zhou, there was a place of clear mountains and beautiful waters.

Qing Yu was sitting cross-legged on a boulder next to a babbling stream, cultivating to regulate the remnants of meat relics’ Qi-blood within his body.

After obtaining what he wanted from Zhang Xuanji, Qing Yu had come to this place that he had long chosen, to begin his final retreat.

Time passed by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the end of June.

In the nearly two months, Qing Yu had diligently practiced without rest, constantly refining the remaining Qi-blood in his body, not even concerning himself with the matters of the Divine Capital.

The earlier preparations were all well underway; if Feng Jiu could mess it up, then Qing Yu could consider trying other people to deal with it.

Moreover, controlling Northern Zhou was indeed important, but compared with advancing to the True Pill Realm, it was hardly worth mentioning.

At this moment of brave and diligent cultivation, how could he trouble his mind with other matters?

And on this day, the refinement of the remaining Qi-blood of the meat relics entered its final moment.

Golden light radiated from Qing Yu’s body, a dazzling Golden Bell inscribed with countless Sanskrit Buddhist Mantras and Swastika seals appeared outside his body, ringing with waves of bell chimes.

"The Qi-blood of the Divinity Realm is really stubborn, Monk Shi Jue is quite black-hearted," Qing Yu said coldly, looking at the Golden Bell that had emerged on its own.

Monk Shi Jue must have realized that Qing Yu had experience with Buddhist Martial Arts, understanding that if he wanted to utilize the full effect of the meat relics, he would definitely choose to refine it with Buddhist Martial Arts.

And in doing so, it gave a slight chance for the remaining Qi-blood.

If one were to refine Qi-blood using Buddhist Martial Arts, over time, they would gradually merge with the Qi-blood and slowly develop a constitution suited for the Buddhist Path, and it could even affect their mindset.

Furthermore, if Qing Yu discovered that in order to refine the Qi-blood, the most essential part of Qi-blood could match the Buddhist Martial Arts he practiced, he would have to break his cultivation to refine it.

"If it were only Shi Jue, he would never plan to such an extent, even if he is as cunning as the sea, he could not grasp so many matters in his hands, planning everything so meticulously."

Qing Yu’s gaze was deep as he looked at the still functioning Golden Bell Shield, "The one capable of this tactic, I’m afraid, could only be you, Xinyuan Abbot."

"Indeed, you have set your sights on me."

Xinyuan, known for the "Life and Death in the Palm," how could he fail to notice the small actions of his disciples? Let’s not even talk about the meat relics, the Small Mahayana Path that Shi Jue cultivated must have long been seen through by Xinyuan.

It was for this reason that Shi Jue directly exposed the fact that he cultivated the Small Mahayana Path to Qing Yu. Perhaps, this wasn’t much of a secret among the high ranks of the Great Zen Temple.

After all, they were Divinity Realm experts; the differences between the Great and Small Mahayana were clear to them. In the end, as long as it could increase power, it would suffice.

Unlike Meng Shanhe, Xinyuan knew that there was one like Qing Yu acting covertly.

Even though after the Divine Capital conflict, the Heavenly Mechanism for some reason wasn’t as clear as usual, it still had no effect on those top Heavenly Mechanism masters.

For Meng Shanhe’s part, Qing Yu had always concealed his fate with connections to both Tribulation Master and Tribulation Slave, merging with Feng Jiu, thus preventing Meng Shanhe from finding him all this time.

Although Meng Shanhe must have felt something unusual, under the cover of Feng Jiu’s fate and the Northern Zhou Dragon Vein, if Meng Shanhe wanted to investigate thoroughly, he would first have to break through the cover of Feng Jiu’s fate and the Northern Zhou Dragon Vein.

And that was exactly what Meng Shanhe was apprehensive about.

He could break those covers, but the consequences would undoubtedly be something Meng Shanhe wouldn’t want to see.

It was the same for Xinyuan Abbot. Zen Sect was spreading its teachings well in Northern Zhou and should not blindly stir up trouble.

However, Xinyuan had an advantage over Meng Shanhe in that he knew of Qing Yu’s existence and even had a slight interaction with him.

This interaction gave the old Monk an opportunity to take advantage.

"These old chaps are truly... not a single one of them is easy to deal with."

Qing Yu slowly closed his eyes, "Pity, I’m not one to be trifled with either."

His thoughts suddenly burst forth, as the Tribulation Power of Ten Thousand Transformations, paired with the "Ten Thousand Paths", abruptly infiltrated this autonomously functioning Golden Bell Shield, "Either transform into the Buddhist pathway, or give up the body (censorship) and start Cultivation anew? Such wishful thinking, but I refuse to make a choice."

Tribulation Power turned into Buddha Skill’s True Qi, melding with the Power of Thought of "Ten Thousand Paths" in the Golden Bell Shield, seizing territory and invading regions assimilated with blood and Qi.

At the same time, Qing Yu’s hands were continuously forming seals, casting numerous Seal imprints, his body emanating the mutually opposing yet interchanging Qi of life and death, cycling ceaselessly, merging into one, reaching an indescribable state of neither living nor dead, seeming to exist yet not.

"Not on this shore, nor on the other, nor in between."

His Qi gradually faded to nothing, and he seemed almost illusory, only the breath of Qi and blood from the uncontrolled Divinity Realm stood out conspicuously brilliant.

Although in the end, Shi Zhixuan capsized and was converted to Buddhism, when he initially entered under the wings of the Four Great Saint Monks to cultivate Buddha Skill and created the Undying Seal Technique, he intended to tread the path from Buddha into devil.

At the very least, he wouldn’t truly convert to Buddhism.

Therefore, when it came to refining Buddhist Qi, Shi Zhixuan had his own understanding.

And this understanding lay in the Buddhist concept of "not on this shore, nor on the other, nor in between."

Why, when Shi Zhixuan contemplated Buddha Skill and embraced both Flower Sect and Bu Tian Sect’s Cultivation Techniques, did the resultant "Heavenly One Heart Method" bear a Taoist name?

He aimed to drag out the fences of Buddhism, to be free from any restraints and influences.

Shi Zhixuan elevated the Buddhist notion of "emptiness" to the absolute void.

Since it is nothingness, then the so-called Buddha naturally ceases to exist. He was playing at using Buddhism to overcome Buddhism.

Pity, Old Shi capsized.

But Qing Yu wouldn’t do so.

Merged amidst the Buddhist Qi, Qing Yu suddenly opened his eyes, his state shifting from nothing to being, the previously slightly illusory body solidifying once more, the breath within the remaining Qi and blood reversing.

"Ten Thousand Paths, united as one."

In concert with the previously external Power of Thought, Qing Yu once again took control of the Golden Bell Shield, unifying the breath.

"Dong dong dong—"

The Golden Bell resounded, its faint Buddha Light still present, but no longer out of place with Qing Yu, as before.

At the same time, a crimson brilliance blossomed, the endless Vajra Mantra cleansing through Qing Yu’s heart, yet powerless to continue, merely a dying struggle.

Qing Yu smiled faintly, not reacting to this struggle but quietly watching.

In a brief moment, the seemingly Endless Vajra Mantra vanished without a trace. The crimson brilliance completely dissipated, the remnants of blood and Qi of the meat relics from the Vajra Temple lineage, were fully digested by Qing Yu.

"Dong—"

With this final bit of refined essence Qi from the blood, the Golden Bell Shield’s might surged, vaguely feeling as if it could disregard the Realm and break into the Tenth Level.

Qing Yu hurriedly practiced Qi to halt it.

If it were any other Realm, the Golden Bell Shield forcibly breaking through would be a first-class event, something Qing Yu would eagerly boost rather than forcefully stop.

But at this critical juncture nearing the breakthrough to the True Pill Realm, if the Golden Bell Shield were to break through forcibly, surpassing the correct direction of Essence Qi by a great deal, with the Three Elements discordant, then Qing Yu would be at a loss.