A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 346 Gift of Treasure Eliminates Trouble
the next day, early morning

When Zhao Kai arrived at Qingxin Courtyard, after announcing his arrival, a servant led him to the main hall. Zhao Guan was having breakfast at the time. Upon seeing Zhao Kai, he put down his chopsticks, stood up, and bowed to him, saying, "Daoist Zhao."

Zhao Kai hurriedly returned the greeting and said solemnly, "Master Zhao, Uncle Ni invites you to Lingyun Peak."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He hadn't expected to meet the real person so quickly. Whether he succeeded or not depended on this opportunity.

"Since it is Master Ni who has invited me, then I, Zhao, will naturally accept the invitation. Master Zhao, let's go this way." Although Zhao Guan appeared calm, he was extremely excited inside.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kai agreed and then led Zhao Guan to the mountainside of Lingyun Peak. When the disciples stationed there saw Zhao Kai approaching, the leader of the disciples bowed to him and said, "Uncle Ni has instructed that once you arrive, you can lead the guests up the mountain."

Zhao Kai nodded, then turned to Zhao Guan and gestured for him to follow. Zhao Guan immediately followed and headed towards the mountaintop.

"These disciples have clear Qi channels and bright eyes, clearly indicating that they have achieved success in Qi cultivation and have a solid foundation. They are worthy of the grandeur of the Tianshan Sect."

As Zhao Guan walked, he pondered in his mind. He had met almost all the high-ranking members of Tianshan Sect. Although the strength of the Seven Heroes of Tianshan Sect varied, their potential was limitless. In less than ten years, several more first-class masters would emerge, and Fu Tianjiao might even be able to advance to the Innate Realm. If Tianshan Sect did not cause any trouble in the long run, its position as the number one sect in the martial arts world would be secure.

"My master repeatedly told me not to underestimate the Tianshan Sect before I left, and now it seems that was indeed a wise move."

Zhao Guan showed no outward expression, but his mind was in turmoil. He walked along the mountain path and arrived at Lingyun Peak. Looking around, Zhao Guan saw that Lingyun Peak was only a few dozen feet in circumference, with sparse vegetation and jagged rocks. On the edge of the abyss, there was a stone platform, no more than three feet high. Sitting on it was a handsome Taoist priest dressed in a black and white Taoist robe. Just one look and Zhao Guan felt a surge of excitement. His aura involuntarily flared up. Under the impact of the energy, Zhao Guan felt a tightness in his chest and took two steps back.

"Uncle-Master, Commander Zhao has arrived."

Zhao Kai glanced at Zhao Kai, whose face was slightly pale, then quickly walked a few steps to a spot six feet away from the stone platform and respectfully bowed to Ni Qingfeng on the platform.

"Zhao Guan, the commander of the Zhenwu Division, greets Master Ni." Zhao Guan took a deep breath, came to Zhao Kai's side, and solemnly bowed, lowering his head and not daring to look at him for too long.

"Zhao Kai, you may step down now. Master Zhao, please have a seat."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kai bowed again and turned to leave. Suddenly, a gentle voice reached Zhao Guan's ears. Looking up, he saw that the Taoist on the stone platform had risen and was walking down from mid-air. The void was clearly empty, but it seemed as if there were steps under the Taoist's feet as he walked slowly and calmly to his front.

Before Zhao Guan could suppress his shock, a gust of wind blew in from nowhere, swirled in the air, and drew in the churning clouds near the abyss, instantly transforming them into two white prayer mats that solidified upon landing.

Zhao Guan watched as Ni Qingfeng sat steadily on the futon. Suppressing his shock, he reached out and touched the futon beneath his feet. It felt like cotton wool. Sitting cross-legged, he felt a warm and gentle energy envelop him, as if he were bathing in a hot spring. His chronic ailments were instantly swept away, and even his internal energy became more active.

"Master Ni, this..."

Zhao Guan had never felt so comfortable. It was far better than taking those so-called elixirs. If he could continue to cultivate under the futon for a long time, his martial arts skills would surely improve greatly.

"These are just some minor techniques I practice, called Gathering Spirit. One day of arduous practice can be equivalent to several months. However, Taoism emphasizes the principle of Yin and Yang. The consequences of the extra time must be compensated by other things. Occasionally using it is fine, but prolonged use will cause an imbalance of Yin and Yang, disrupt the flow of Qi in the world, and eventually turn it into a stagnant pool."

Ni Qingfeng looked at Zhao Guan opposite him, reached out and grabbed a yin-yang pattern that appeared between the two of them. The yin and yang energies swirled around each other, maintaining a balance. However, as Ni Qingfeng continuously drew spiritual energy from the air, the yin-yang pattern trembled, and then its swirling speed suddenly slowed down. In the end, it couldn't even maintain its shape. To Zhao Guan's shock, the yin-yang pattern shattered, and a wisp of turbid energy slowly fell to the ground. When Zhao Guan looked closely, he saw that it was actually a collection of tiny black grains of sand.

“I understand your words, Master. I have already benefited greatly today and dare not ask for more. However, you should also know that although you have long since transcended the mortal world, the Tianshan Sect still has experience in the mortal world and must abide by the rules. The Lord sincerely invites you to the palace to preach, which is a great honor for the Tianshan Sect. I wonder what you think?”

Zhao Guan no longer hoped that Ni Qingfeng could impart any secrets to immortality to the Emperor. After all, what had just happened was too terrifying. If the Emperor obtained this technique, he would practice it recklessly, ultimately harming the interests of the court. Those of them who depended on the Emperor would inevitably be the first to suffer.

"I am aware of the court's intentions, and I do not wish to put Master Zhao in a difficult position. I will give Master Zhao a satisfactory answer in three days. However, I also hope that Master Zhao will assist the Tianshan Sect to the best of his ability."

"I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Hearing Ni Qingfeng's words, Zhao Guan was very pleased. He had originally thought that such highly skilled cultivators would be arrogant and taciturn to outsiders, but this Master Ni was gentle and kind, which surprised Zhao Guan. Upon further reflection, he realized that all the so-called masters he had encountered before were just people who sought fame and fortune. The more capable a person is, the more humble they are. Only those who have nothing to offer will boast and try to build their reputation and create momentum for themselves.

"Hmph, after returning to the capital, those villains should be thoroughly cleaned up to prevent them from tarnishing the reputation of the Taoist school and defiling the pure name of the Taoist sages."

"The Yin Fire of Master Zhao in my temple is very strong, which means he must be practicing an extremely Yin martial art."

Ni Qingfeng glanced at Zhao Guan and easily noticed the abnormality on his body. There was a very obvious cold aura above his dantian, but it was enveloped by a ball of Yang Lie True Qi that did not belong to him. Whenever the cold aura was about to become agitated, it would be refined by the Yang Lie Qi. After the two forces merged, they turned into a ball of True Qi and sank into his dantian. This cycle continued.

"The true master's eyes are always right. My master, Zhao Huihu, taught me a martial art called Yin Wind Palm. However, this skill is of a cold and yin nature. Before I have mastered it, I need to use Fire Spirit Mushroom to avoid endangering my life."

Zhao Guan had no reservations and told everyone about the martial arts he had practiced. He said that meeting Ni Qingfeng was such a great opportunity, and it would be a huge loss if he didn't take the chance to learn from this master. Even if his master knew, he would only praise him.

"Hmm, this Yin Wind Palm is quite impressive, but its drawbacks are also very obvious. Although you have the help of the Fire Spirit Mushroom, your life essence is constantly decreasing. If you cannot reach the Great Perfection realm within five years, your lifespan will be less than ten years."

Ni Qingfeng said something indifferent, but it shook Zhao Guan's mind. He knew his own situation. Before Zhao Guan started practicing this martial art, his master Zhao Hu had explained the advantages and disadvantages clearly. In the end, Zhao Guan still chose this martial art because of its great power and the fact that it could be mastered quickly. As long as he practiced diligently, he could become a first-class master by the age of thirty. If he could get the opportunity, it would not be impossible to reach the Innate Realm.

"It is fate that we meet today. Well then, I will help you to the end. I have a fire crystal here, which contains the fire energy of the earth vein. Hold it in your palm when you are practicing, and it will surely help you."

Ni Qingfeng took out a thumb-sized, hexagonal crystal emitting a reddish light from his pocket. As soon as he took it out, a warm aura rushed towards him. Zhao Guan felt it even more clearly. The suppressed cold energy in his body seemed to be stimulated, crashing into the defense set up by the fire spirit mushroom. At this moment, the fire crystal lit up slightly, and a red light flashed on it. In a daze, Zhao Guan suddenly felt a heat in his body, and his dantian felt sore and numb. Then, a feeling of comfort made Zhao Guan groan. When he came back to his senses, he felt that the cold energy accumulated in his body had disappeared, and the meridians in his body had expanded slightly, making the flow of true energy smoother.

"Thank you so much for your help, Master!"

Zhao Guan hurriedly got off the prayer mat, knelt down and kowtowed to Ni Qingfeng. Ni Qingfeng nodded slightly, reached out and lifted him up, and Zhao Guan felt a sense of relief, and involuntarily stood up.

"Take this fire crystal. The fire energy hidden within it is enough for you to use for ten years. As for what happens after that, it depends on your own fate."

Ni Qingfeng handed the fire crystal to Zhao Guan, who immediately knelt down and respectfully accepted it with both hands. Upon holding it, he saw that the hexagonal crystal was covered with mysterious runes and had a faint red glow. He could feel a gentle heat in his hand, which would not burn his skin.

"I am deeply grateful for the precious gift that you have bestowed upon me."

Zhao Guan gripped the fire crystal in his hand, having already made up his mind that during his future tenure, he would have to take care of the Tianshan Sect to repay the kindness of the master who had imparted his knowledge and treasures to him.

"Master Zhao, it's getting late, you should go back now. I will give you a satisfactory answer in three days."

"Yes, this junior takes his leave." Zhao Guan dared not linger. After bowing to Ni Qingfeng once more, he quickly left Lingyun Peak and returned to Qingxin Courtyard. At this moment, a few feet away from Qingxin Courtyard, Zhao Guan's entourage was confronting Zhuo Bing and the others.

The leader, a refined young man named Song Yue, was a confidant of Zhao Guan. Four hours ago, Zhao Guan had been taken away by the Tianshan Sect and had not yet returned. This made Song Yue uneasy, so he and his other followers prepared to go to Lingyun Peak to check on him. However, someone deliberately exaggerated and said that Zhao Guan had been detained by the Tianshan Sect. Such a statement should not have been believed, but it inadvertently stirred up trouble. The group was enraged and started shouting that they wanted to ask the Tianshan Sect to release Zhao Guan.

"Miss Zhuo, we only want to go to Lingyun Peak. Why is your sect repeatedly obstructing us? Is there really a problem?"

The speaker was Chu Jiao, another confidant of Zhao Guan. He was Zhao Guan's right-hand man, with one being cold and the other warm, and was always relied upon by Zhao Guan. However, he had a fiery temper and would explode at the slightest provocation. His words were also full of anger.

"Steward Chu, Commander Zhao is a distinguished guest of our sect, and there will be no mishap. Uncle Ni is currently discussing matters with Commander Zhao. If you rush in rashly and ruin things, what will happen then?"

Zhuo Bing looked at the burly young man with his hair and beard bristling before her and replied in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.

Chu Jiao's expression changed upon hearing this. Just as he was about to speak, Song Yue stepped forward. He first glared at Chu Jiao, then cupped his hands to Zhuo Bing and said apologetically, "Please forgive me, Miss Zhuo. My brother here is straightforward and outspoken. Please forgive any offense he may have caused."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Bing's expression softened slightly, but she inwardly braced herself. Despite his expressionless face, this man gave Zhuo Bing the feeling that he was not to be trifled with. Sure enough, after saying his first sentence, Song Yue changed the subject and continued to Zhuo Bing, "Heroine Zhuo, we are very worried about the Master's absence. Since Lingyun Peak is your sect's forbidden area, we dare not trespass. How about this, we wait at the foot of the mountain? What does your sect think?"

After Song Yue finished speaking, everyone around him looked at the Tianshan Sect group. They had already made such a concession, and if the other party still did not give in, even though they were in Tianshan, they would have to ask them for advice.

Hidden among the crowd, an ordinary-looking young man saw this scene and a triumphant smile appeared on his face. He deliberately leaked the news to incite conflict between the two sides. Regardless of the outcome, the imperial court would certainly not give the Tianshan Sect a friendly look.

Upon hearing Song Yue's words, Zhuo Bing's expression darkened slightly. Just as she was pondering, a hidden weapon suddenly came from the opposite side. If Zhuo Bing hadn't reacted in time and caught it with her sword sheath, the iron caltrop would have hit her on the forehead. The Tianshan disciples on this side were furious upon seeing this and drew their swords, glaring at the people opposite them with hostile expressions.

"who is it!"

Song Yue and Chu Jiao's expressions also changed drastically. They turned around to look, but they didn't know who had launched the hidden weapon. The two exchanged a glance, and Song Yue, without waiting for Zhuo Bing's reply, clasped his hands in a salute to Zhuo Bing.

"Miss Zhuo, we will definitely give you an explanation for this matter!"

While apologizing, Song Yue pondered who was responsible for this. Almost everyone who had accompanied Zhao Guan to the main hall was someone he had personally promoted and who was extremely loyal to Zhao Guan. He never expected that there would be a traitor among them, which made Song Yue very angry.

Zhuo Bing didn't speak upon hearing this, but simply nodded and waved his hand. The Tianshan disciples immediately sheathed their swords, but their eyes remained fixed on the opposite side. Zhuo Bing laid the sword sheath horizontally, and with a flick of his wrist, the iron caltrops nailed to the sheath fell off. Under the sunlight, they shimmered with an eerie blue light, clearly indicating that they were coated with a deadly poison.

Song Yue gave Chu Jiao a wink, and the latter took out a pair of gold-threaded gloves from his pocket, put them on, stepped forward, took the iron caltrop in his hand, examined it carefully, and his expression turned very ugly.

"Blue Poison Sand!"

Apart from Zhuo Bing, everyone else from the Tianshan Sect looked bewildered. Song Yue's expression changed upon hearing the name, and he nodded to Chu Jiao, who immediately put away the iron caltrops.

Just as Song Yue was about to explain to Zhuo Bing, he suddenly saw a familiar figure walking slowly toward him.

"Envoy!"

"Envoy!"

Song Yue nodded to Zhuo Bing and led his entourage to greet her. Zhao Guan, being very observant, observed the standoff between the two sides and pondered for a moment. He nodded to Song Yue and the others and was about to greet Zhuo Bing when Song Yue stepped closer and whispered in his ear what had just happened.

Zhao Guan's expression grew increasingly grim as he listened, especially when he heard about the blue poison sand; his anger was almost impossible to conceal.

Zhuo Bing was also intelligent and knew that this Blue Poison Sand was definitely not as simple as she thought, but must have a deeper meaning. However, it was best to leave this matter to them to solve themselves, so that they could give her an explanation.

"Master Zhao, I still have some matters to attend to at the sect, so I will take my leave now."

After saying this, Zhuo Bing immediately led the Tianshan disciples away.

"Go back to Qingxinyuan first."

Zhao Guan walked forward with a cold face. Song Yue and Chu Jiao exchanged a glance. They knew that their master was angry, but it was understandable, since this matter had crossed the line.

After everyone returned to Qingxin Courtyard, Zhao Guan kept only Song Yue and Chu Jiao behind. After the others left, Zhao Guan said to Chu Jiao, "Bring out the things. I want to see how this filthy thing got back here!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Jiao immediately placed the handkerchief containing the iron caltrops on the table. After unwrapping it, Zhao Guan saw an iron caltrops that emitted a faint blue light. With just one glance, he knew that it was undoubtedly Blue Poison Sand.

With a slap, Zhao Guan slammed his hand on the table, leaving only a shallow palm print. Song Yue and Chu Jiao were astonished. This wooden table was made of ironwood, the hardest wood imaginable. They knew that even if they pressed their full strength against it, they wouldn't achieve such an effect. The palm wielder's skill had improved considerably during this time.

"Blue Poison Sand disappeared five years ago with the death of Bai Duzi. Now it has reappeared. Could it be that Bai Duzi left behind a successor?"

Song Yue offered a possibility, but Zhao Guan quickly dismissed it. His face darkened as he looked at the caltrops and said in a deep voice, "That's absolutely impossible. My master was the one who participated in the siege of Bai Duzi back then. In that battle, the court lost four imperial guards and more than ten skilled fighters before they managed to wipe out Bai Duzi and his gang of villains. Except for a few martial arts manuals that were stored in the imperial armory, all the rest were burned and left behind..."

At this point, Zhao Guan had already made up his mind, but he couldn't say it aloud, as this matter had far-reaching implications.

However, after listening, Song Yue's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but he remained silent. Chu Jiao, who was on the side, although hot-tempered, sensed that something was wrong and suppressed the urge to ask questions.

“This matter still needs to be dealt with. Song Yue, check each of those attendants one by one. We must give the Tianshan Sect an explanation. Once it is discovered, no matter who it is, they will be punished according to the internal regulations.”

"Yes, Commander!"

"Go down."

After Song Yue and Chu Jiao bowed again, they turned and left, leaving Zhao Guan alone in the room, staring at the caltrops on the table, his eyes gleaming, lost in thought.

On the other side, Zhuo Bing returned to Hongyi Hall alone. At this moment, Fu Tianjiao was discussing the list of invited sects with Zhao Kai and others in the hall. When she saw Zhuo Bing appear, Zhou Jing immediately greeted her.

(End of this chapter)