The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 526 - 22: Conversation and Commitment

Chapter 526: Chapter 22: Conversation and Commitment

"In that year, Xuanfa clashed with Xuan Chen. Ultimately, Xuan Guang helped Xuan Chen emerge as the victor. In truth, this Prince never really cared how Xuan Guang was bought off, seeing that he himself was always a petty man, only concerned with immediate gains.

But yesterday, this Prince received a letter from Xuan Guang."

After putting away the Zhenwu Sword, the Shadow King slowly paced a few steps to the side, picked up the teapot from the nearby tea table, and poured himself a cup of tea, saying,

"It seems the crux of the matter, then, is what benefits Xuan Chen offered to buy off Xuan Guang."

"Indeed, your guess is very accurate," the Shadow King took a slight sip, "within the forbidden grounds of the Zhenwu Sect, there is a piece of Jade, named ’Zhenwu Jade.’ Within it lies the lifetime’s Martial Arts Enlightenment of the ancestors of the Zhenwu Sect. Every hundred years, once the Great Formation is fully powered, the younger generation can connect their spirit with the Zhenwu Jade and contemplate the life of those who have reached the peak of the Divinity Realm—the Supreme warriors."

’It’s somewhat similar to the system’s way of knowledge transmission,’ thought Qing Yu to himself.

"Xuan Chen used this to buy off Xuan Guang?"

"That’s exactly it, thanks to the Zhenwu Jade, Xuan Guang’s advancement in Martial Arts over these years has been meteoric. By the time he was in Yang City, he had already reached the peak of the True Pill Realm, just a step away from Divine Communication.

On the other hand, because the opportunity to comprehend was shared with Xuan Guang, Xuan Chen, who was already at the peak of the True Pill Realm, took another two years to finally break through and Ascend to God," the Shadow King explained.

"Prince, since you brought this up, surely you must have evidence to prove that Xuan Chen bought off Xuan Guang with the Zhenwu Jade," Qing Yu asked after hearing the story.

Xuan Guang had already been confirmed as a traitor, and a traitor’s words could not be trusted. To prove Xuan Chen’s guilt, concrete evidence was necessary.

"Quite right, in order to prevent Xuan Chen from reneging on their deal, Xuan Guang once used an Imaging Array to record their transaction. Xuan Guang secretly hid this Imaging Stone within the Zhenwu Sect. Two years ago, in Yang City, Xuan Guang disclosed the location of this Imaging Stone, as well as the details of his deal with Xuan Chen, to Xuanfeng whom he had captured, in hopes that Xuanfeng could seek revenge for Xuanfa and cause a divide within the Zhenwu Sect."

Hearing this, Qing Yu laughed and said, "He had his plan all figured out, wanting Xuanfeng to stir up the old resentments of my cheap master’s followers, to split the Zhenwu Sect and take revenge on Xuan Chen. It’s a pity he didn’t anticipate that Xuanfeng would hide the Imaging Stone and bury everything in his own heart."

Over the past two years, Qing Yu had been keeping an eye on the movements of the Zhenwu Sect. In fact, after he nearly killed Qingxu, he had secretly been keeping watch for any unusual activity from the Zhenwu Sect, fearing that they might come for him unawares.

Thus, if something big was indeed going to happen, it was impossible for Qing Yu to have received no inkling of it.

According to Qing Yu’s knowledge, the most significant event that had occurred in the Zhenwu Sect over the past two years was the tragic murder of the Sect Leader’s eldest disciple, whose bones melted away in the icy, snowy wilderness.

As for anything else, there was nothing.

Xuanfeng had been living well, staying at his Wanfa Peak every day, planting and gardening, and living like a typical elderly man enjoying his retirement. He did not seem like someone who’d failed to expose Xuan Chen and been dealt with.

Xuan Guang must have also known that Xuanfeng hadn’t taken revenge on Xuan Chen as he had planned, which is why he had written to the Shadow King, inciting the Shadow King to get involved in this affair.

"The very reason I summoned you here was indeed because of Xuanfeng," the Shadow King said.

"Xuanfeng?"

"After Xuanfeng returned to the Zhenwu Sect from Yang City, his appearance aged rapidly, and now he is practically living a life near retirement. He must have developed a Heart Demon for concealing the Imaging Stone," the Shadow King asserted.

Xuanfeng’s Realm had reached the Three Elements Combined True Pill Realm, his lifespan extending up to three hundred years. Even with natural changes in his appearance, he should not be looking so aged at the prime of his life.

Therefore, there was only one answer: Xuanfeng couldn’t let go of the matter of concealment and developed a Heart Demon, which affected his physical state.

Just as Qing Yu’s hair turned white due to his Mental State, Xuanfeng too must have had a major shift in his Mental State to look as if he was ready to depart this world at his prime.

"I have summoned you here to give you a chance. If you can ascertain the whereabouts of the Imaging Stone from Xuanfeng, then when you reach Martial Arts Divine Communication, the Zhenwu Sword shall be yours."

A single statement caused a thousand waves to stir, as the Shadow King astonishingly offered to give the Zhenwu Sword to Qing Yu. Even with Qing Yu’s shrewdness, he was momentarily stunned.

That was the Zhenwu Sword, the Guardian Sword of the Zhenwu Sect. Back when the Famous Sword List still existed, this sword was ranked as the seventh Divine Sword, much higher than Xiao Qiye’s ’Hidden Blade.’

Though there was a condition attached to this offer of the sword, Qing Yu still found it hard to believe.

Was the Shadow King really so generous? Qing Yu was deeply skeptical.

Despite having always enjoyed a pleasant relationship with the Shadow King, Qing Yu never forgot the Shadow King’s identity. The Shadow King was the ruler of shadows, the master of the dark side of Daqian, his schemes and cunning unfathomable, certainly not the kind of benevolent old grandfather from the tales—the ones that go "I see potential in you, so all my treasures, Divine Skills, and even my granddaughter are yours."

Unless Qing Yu’s mind was addled, he would never associate such grandfatherly plots with the Shadow King.

However, since the Shadow King had made the offer, Qing Yu had to accept it.

After all, if the Shadow King valued this matter highly, no matter what, Qing Yu would have to agree. Since that was the case, he might as well be straightforward about it.

As for what would happen afterwards, heh, if the Shadow King planned to imitate his former superior Lu Qifeng, Qing Yu would not mind playing along.

Right now, what Qing Yu lacked was sufficient resources and time to advance himself. As long as he had enough of both, when Qing Yu attained Divinity, it was still uncertain who would control the winds of change.

"If that is the case, I shall begin making arrangements now," Qing Yu nodded.

"However, I have another question—what if Xuan Guang has destroyed the Imaging Stone?"

The Imaging Stone, though termed an item, was actually a type of Array Jade. It was inscribed with the Imaging Array to capture images, essentially an ancient version of a camera.

Its durability was also similar to that of a camera, being a fragile item. With Xuanfeng’s power, if he desired to destroy the Imaging Stone, he could easily crush it into dust with his palm.

"That is now your concern. Go on," the Shadow King said, his hand rising slightly to exert a gentle force that pushed Qing Yu out of the room, landing him outside the small building.

’So your so-called urgent matter doesn’t seem all that urgent,’ Qing Yu thought disdainfully as he looked at the closed door from outside.

He had been summoned in a hurry by the Thousand-mile Messenger Falcon, yet all the tasks had been left to him to handle, leading Qing Yu to doubt the urgency of the situation.

’And now, is Xuan Guang trying to get involved in the affairs of the Central Plains?’

Qing Yu had a hunch that his Uncle Xuan Guang might reappear soon, ready to stir trouble once more.