The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 559 - 55: The Onlooker

Chapter 559: Chapter 55: The Onlooker

The next day, as dawn was barely breaking, a man left the Imperial City, spurred his horse, and galloped toward the camp of the Huoyu Army outside the city.

"Emperor Zhou is really impatient," he thought to himself. "Just one day has passed, and not all of the rebellious ministers have been dealt with, yet he has already dispatched messengers to order an assault on the people from the Three Temples."

Not far from the Imperial City, a bald figure in a tavern watched the eunuch messenger ride past on the street below and couldn’t help but murmur softly.

"This foolish ruler, huh!" Another bald figure next to the speaker huffed.

"Foolish ruler? An Emperor who could foresee this coup in advance and knows its details like the back of his hand is hardly a foolish ruler," Shi Jue said as he gently shook his head.

"Moreover, this time it is our Zen Sect that was in the wrong. Zen Master Bai Kong and the others were too impetuous, directly confronting with the most violent means; as a result, they ended up risking their own lives."

As Shi Jue spoke, he asked another middle-aged monk beside him, "Uncle Master, how is the evacuation of the monks from the three temples of Xinyi Temple going?"

Mentioning it only increased Xin Tan’s anger, and he replied coldly, "This foolish ruler actually hired assassins from the Blood Robe Building to strike first. As early as last night, assassins kept attacking the monks retreating back to Daqian. In just one night, they took the opportunity to murder dozens of people, greatly delaying their retreat.

"If we continue to let these assassins run wild, all the monks from the Three Temples might end up dead in Northern Zhou."

"Blood Robe Building, the remnants of the Azure Dragon Association..." Shi Jue muttered to himself.

As an organization that emerged from the Azure Dragon Association, the Blood Robe Building established its foothold in the world of assassins after successfully completing several deals, building on the residual terror of the Azure Dragon Association. Now, the Blood Robe Building’s reputation in Northern Zhou is almost catching up to that of the former Azure Dragon Association.

Moreover, because the Blood Robe Building only deals in the trade of assassins and doesn’t act as recklessly or murder indiscriminately like the Azure Dragon Association, it actually has a better reputation in the assassin’s world.

When Shi Jue thought of the Azure Dragon Association, he also thought of Dragon Head Young Master Yu, with whom he had cooperated several times before, and the meat relic that had been completely refined by Young Master Yu.

Shi Jue never believed that Young Master Yu would die so easily and cleanly, never to appear again.

The idea that Young Master Yu, who could escape the lock of Abbot Xinyuan, had simply been killed was something that Shi Jue refused to believe, even if it killed him.

"Keep a close watch on the Blood Robe Building, and don’t miss any clue!" Shi Jue ordered.

Although he was called Uncle Master, Xin Tan was very obedient to Shi Jue’s commands. However, upon receiving the order, Xin Tan still asked curiously, "Nephew Shi Jue, what are you..."

"Looking for someone," Shi Jue said, turning his gaze toward the Heavenly Giant Statue towering nearly half a body’s length above the walls of the Imperial City, "A dead man who’s already dead..."

’Young Master Yu, let this poor monk see how long you can hide.’

After Xin Tan left to write letters to inform the Zen Sect temples throughout the Northern Zhou Territory, Shi Jue silently watched the towering statue.

The statue was different from yesterday.

Ever since it suddenly activated last night, the statue had not been silent, continuously breathing in and out the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. Even now, in this seemingly calm state, the statue was still operating.

Not as grandiose as yesterday’s show of force during the daylight, but more profound and long-lasting, like a river, its water babbling endlessly.

Shi Jue, well-versed in the essence of the Taoist School, couldn’t help but recall a Taoist maxim upon witnessing this:

Heaven generates water, creating ceaselessly.

From last night until now, this formless pulse of inhalation and exhalation had been continuing, and it seemed poised to persist for a long while.

Sensing that formless yet forceful breath, Shi Jue couldn’t help but look on with admiration, "Demon Path Qing Yu, truly a man of exceptional talent."

The rhythmic pulsing was clearly a type of breathing technique. If the people around the Imperial City could synchronize their breaths with this pulse, even commoners would be able to strengthen their bodies and extend their lives.

For martial artists like Shi Jue at the peak of the Divine Origin Realm, it was even more possible to discern the unfathomable level of cultivation of this cultivator.

"If this cultivator is from the Demon Path, our way forward in Northern Zhou will become quite difficult," he remarked.

The Dragon Vein must not be disturbed lightly. Even an outsider like Shi Jue understood this principle.

If Emperor Zhou would allow the Demon Path user to utilize the Dragon Vein Qi for their cultivation, that level of relationship would be something not even Buddhist efforts could match. If at this moment Qing Yu were to ask for support for the Taoist School, the Buddhist presence in Northern Zhou Territory would face yet another competitor.

"The letter is ready." Xin Tan handed the letter to Shi Jue for him to see.

Without a glance, Shi Jue simply waved his hand, "Then send it off."

Xin Tan followed the directive to go out and send the letter.

"Uncle Master Xin Tan..."

"Hm?" Xin Tan turned his head in confusion.

"Your disciple is leaving."

"This... Nephew Shi Jue..." Xin Tan stuttered in surprise.

You said you came to oversee matters in the Divine Capital, but after less than three days, you want to leave? That’s rather capricious, isn’t it?

Noticing Xin Tan’s thoughts, Shi Jue simply shook his head and said, "There’s no choice, after witnessing the methods of the Demon Path, this disciple truly lacks the confidence to confront them."

Shi Jue raised his hand and pointed towards the towering Heavenly Giant Statue, "If the person cultivating by the statue is from the Demon Path, their power will surely surge. For such an opponent, this disciple has no confidence to contend. Even if by some stratagem one temporarily gains the upper hand, they will be swiftly overpowered by sheer strength."

"Then what should be done?" Xin Tan asked.

Although he was also in the True Pill Realm, his strength was not noteworthy within that realm, and he did not resort to any cunning tactics. Facing the Demon Path, Xin Tan knew he would fare even worse than Shi Jue.

"Let Uncle Master Xin Hui come," Shi Jue said.

The new head of the Arhat Hall of the Great Zen Temple, Xin Hui, was a grandmaster ranked sixth on the land rankings. He had previously rendered Zhang Yuanfeng in the Divine Capital incapacitated without injury, shattered his Dantian, and destroyed his Mental State, causing Zhang Yuanfeng to go from a land immortal in the True Pill Realm to a cripple reliant on a wheelchair for movement.

If Xin Hui were to come, the roles of offense and defense would immediately be reversed. The strength ranking of sixth on the land rankings was not easily achieved. Although the Demon Path user was strong, neither Shi Jue nor Xin Tan believed he could reach Xin Hui’s level.

If facing Xin Hui, they could be certain that Zhang Yuanfeng’s fate would be a precedent for the Demon Path user.

"If Xin Hui comes, our worries would be over," Xin Tan said with joy.

"Yes," Shi Jue nodded lightly, "I will depart today and request Uncle Master Xin Hui to come and take charge in the Divine Capital."

"So soon?"

"It can’t wait. With the terrifying strength of the Demon Path, this disciple does not want to return defeated again."

"Are you thinking of..." Xin Tan suddenly considered a possibility.

"Yes, retreat. Until I reach the True Pill, I will not leave my retreat."