Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 173 The True Laws
In midsummer, another heavy rain fell on Sichuan and Chongqing.

Recently, the martial arts world of Sichuan and Chongqing has been filled with all sorts of big news, and the storytellers in teahouses and taverns can't stop talking for a moment.

The most talked-about topic is the Battle of Duzun Fort.

The King of Qi of Liang, the King of Jin of Western Qin, and the younger brother of Wu Zun—these three men of great renown all died inside the fortress, personally beheaded by Grand Commander Zhou.

The old lord stepped down and the new lord took over, thus breaking the power structure of Sichuan and Chongqing, which was led by the Martial Arts Judge.

The three major forces reunited to support Grand Commander Zhou.

The fierce battle surrounding Sichuan and Chongqing has officially come to an end.

Ask any passerby right now, and you'll know who will be the one laughing last.

With the Sichuan and Chongqing forces expressing their stance, amidst the struggle for supremacy, the largest hegemon in the world has emerged.

These major events came together, and every day a large number of people discussed them. Whether they were newcomers to Chengdu or had left Chengdu, whether they were江湖人 (jianghu people, people from all walks of life) or business travelers, everyone wanted to comment and say a few words.

Following the Jinniu Road, you can pass through Mianyang, Zitong, and Jianmen Pass, all the way to Hanzhong.

The news spread by local martial arts figures from Hanzhong who came to Chengdu sparked a discussion about the Jianghuai forces and Grand Commander Zhou along the way, which was quite peculiar.

It should be noted that in previous years, whether on the Qishan Road in Longnan or the Chencang Road, travelers would talk more about Guanzhong than Bashu.

The saying goes that Hanzhong is on the south slope, while Guanzhong is on the north slope.

Everyone knows that Sichuan and Chongqing are peaceful and quiet, with people doing their own thing and not much fun. In contrast, Guanzhong is much more lively.

Little did they expect that the Li family, the leading clan in Guanzhong, would suffer a major setback this time.

Li Yuanji, the master of the Split Horse Spear, barely managed to save his life in Chengdu.

In the past, the Split Horse Spear was considered by many to be an unattainable existence.

However, in the battle of Duzun Fort, he was so frightened by Grand Commander Zhou that he dared not utter a word, and he completely lost face.

When such a high-ranking person suddenly falls into poverty, some people sigh with pity, but many more treat it as a source of amusement.

Upon hearing about the events in Bashu, some forces in Hanzhong quickly put on the brakes and recaptured the pigeons that had been released overnight.

They originally intended to align themselves with the Li family.

Just kidding, the wind direction changed way too fast.

In particular, many people saw Li Yuanji leading his remaining troops back to the Qinling Mountains, and the two masters, Qin Wutong with Thunder Blade and Diao Ang with Willow Leaf Blade, being carried on door panels.

Four or five hundred people came, but less than two hundred returned.

Their disheveled appearance was clearly visible, confirming that the news from Sichuan and Chongqing was true.

Some leaders of major factions in Hanzhong received letters from the Li clan, inviting them to Chang'an for drinking and merrymaking. These people were originally happy to go, but now many of them claimed to be "unwell" or "visiting friends outside."

These people who were "visiting friends" went south to Sichuan and Chongqing.

Seek out people from Duzunbao, the Chuanbang, and the Bameng to confirm their attitudes.

Those who pay attention to the overall situation are still well aware of it.

The Jianghuai Army's victory over Sichuan and Chongqing was crucial.

The man from Jianghuai didn't declare himself emperor, but now there are a bunch of people who do. They're not worth anything; strength and territory are what really matter.

As the Liang Kingdom, Western Qin, and the Li Clan all fell into major trust crises, Buddhist masters returned to the Eastern Capital.

Rumors about the He Shi Bi jade began to spread from Luoyang (the eastern capital).
Sichuan and Chongqing haven't been this lively in a long time.

Local, relatively carefree江湖人 (jianghu people) all felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, deep beneath the Xiedi Temple in northwest Chengdu, a refined scholar in blue robes strode confidently out of the decaying palace, bathed in dim light.

A purple light emanated from Xi Ying's eyes beneath his thick eyebrows, revealing a strange spiritual fluctuation within.

This made his already evil and cruel gaze even more piercing.

Beyond the peak manifestation of Purple Eyes and Fiery Eyes, there seems to be something deeper.

If there were a second person at this moment, just one glance from Chao Xi would be enough to sense the Demon Lord's intense confidence, but this confidence was a mystery, and its source was unknown.

He walked to the lakeside, ignoring the corpses, and picked up a bronze mechanical snake head that had been pulled up.

After examining and admiring it for a while, he revealed a sinister grin.

He opened his left hand, then swiftly closed it.

The mechanical snake's head, like a fragile heart, was instantly compressed, disintegrated, and exploded by the force of energy from all directions!
Looking at the scattered parts, Xi Ying's smugness deepened.

Looking around, he was the last person to escape from the Evil Emperor's Temple.

Xi Ying glanced at the stone statues in the decaying palace again, then followed the waterway to the Jinjiang River, determined the direction, and headed straight for Chengdu.

At this moment, his heart was already brimming with pride, but he still kept a low profile and exercised the caution befitting a master of the Demonic Sect, first investigating the situation in Chengdu.

Both the Buddhist and demonic masters left.

The Grand Commander of Jianghuai was also absent.

They fought over relics, for the orthodox lineage, for the world; each went about their own business.

That's perfect.

Having figured things out, Xi Ying sneered and walked towards the direction of Da Shi Temple.

The following evening, Fan Zhuo was talking with some friends from Hanzhong when he saw that the deputy gang leader Yan Chongxian had come looking for him and his expression was not quite right. He excused himself and went out to hear the news.

"what happened?"

"Xi Ying is back."

"Xi Ying?!"

Yan Chongxian was slightly nervous:
"The monks of Da Shi Temple returned to the temple, but unexpectedly Xi Ying suddenly returned to settle scores with the previous abbot, the great virtuous monk, and he killed many people. The master Zhenyan of Da Shi Temple was invited to the Eastern Capital, and there were almost no people here who could defeat him."

"I don't know how Xi managed to gather those defeated soldiers who were driven out of Duzun Fortress."

"At that moment, he gathered these people together, seized the Great Stone Temple, and said that he wanted to establish the Extinction of Emotions Path and the Heavenly Monarch Palace."

"The Heavenly Monarch's Palace?" Fan Zhuo was both shocked and furious. "How dare he! Does he think he's the master of the Coffin Palace?"

Yan Chongxian frowned: "This person is ruthless and cunning. The timing was perfect for him to seize the opportunity when the Buddha and the Demon retreated to Sichuan."

Fan Zhuo was furious: "If the three of us join forces to destroy him, how can we allow him to take root in Sichuan?"

"Master, this matter requires careful consideration."

Yan Chongxian said solemnly:
"It would be easy to destroy Xi Ying's power, but he himself is difficult to kill. With his ruthless nature, he would stop at nothing to take revenge. We make a living from this job, so it's no big deal if we die, but it will harm our relatives and friends."

"If we want to get rid of this scoundrel, we need a master to oversee things."

"Now that the Grand Commander is not here, the Chief can go south to Meishan County and ask Master Yuan for help again. With the Grand Commander's influence, Master Yuan should be able to help."

Fan Zhuo snapped out of his daze: "Who said the Grand Commander wasn't here?"

"Ok?"

Yan Chongxian was initially startled, but then he suddenly realized that Hou Xibai had a close relationship with the Grand Commander, so it wasn't surprising that he knew where the Grand Commander was.

Fan Zhuo paced back and forth: "I have a plan. This devil is cunning. Let him be arrogant for a few days, and don't make a move that might alert him."

"it is good!"

……

The clouds were as dark as ink, and the summer heat was intense.

The rain in Sichuan and Chongqing is still falling, and the water on the gravel path of Youlin Xiaozhu is already above ankle level.

Zhou Yi sat quietly in meditation, listening to the sound of the wind rising through the forest.

At this moment, the raindrops pierced through the forest like silver arrows, rustling against the maple leaves behind the house.

He didn't find it noisy; instead, he breathed in the air while listening to the natural melody.

The true qi circulates in the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang. This main meridian has a total of forty-four acupoints. The most difficult part is not the number of acupoints, but the gradual connection with the meridians and acupoints that have been cultivated in the body as you continue to refine the meridian.

Therefore, the difficulty of cultivation will be greater than before.

Fortunately, he refined a large amount of vital energy from this surge of essence.

Firstly, it saves ordinary people more than twenty years of arduous cultivation; secondly, it harmonizes essence, energy, and spirit, which is of great benefit to clearing the meridians.

His eyes swelled slightly, and the speed at which his internal energy flowed suddenly increased.

Before long, the swelling disappeared, and his internal energy returned to stability.

This is a sign that the "Diwuhui" acupoint has been opened. In the medical acupuncture system, this acupoint was noted in the "Huangdi Sanbu Zhenjing" (Yellow Emperor's Three Acupuncture Classics). It can cause tinnitus in both ears and trigger the inner demons of martial arts practitioners.

Fortunately, Zhou Yi was not bothered by it.

After overcoming this major obstacle, we can then refine the Xiaxi Cave.

In just half an hour, Zhou Yi passed through the acupoint at the speed of light.

With only the Qiaoyin acupoint remaining on the entire Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, the complete opening of all twelve meridians is about to be achieved, and Zhou Yi is also somewhat excited.

He initially opened the Xuanzhen Guanzang from the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, generating true qi from the Yongquan point, thus cultivating a body full of profound true essence.

Now, it begins with Lesser Yin and ends with Lesser Yang.

The Heavenly Demon Great Art also cultivates the Twelve Meridians, but it originates from Taiyin and ends at Jueyin.

The two are quite different.

Zhou Yi's last acupoint is the Zuqiaoyin acupoint, which is the well of true essence of the Foot Shaoyang meridian.

The vital energy gushed out from the Yongquan point and then entered the Qiaoyin well.

With a beginning and an end, with comings and goings, there is a sense of cyclical existence.

Zhou Yi continued practicing the last acupoint, slowly experiencing the process.

The rain was getting heavier, but when Zhou Yi closed his eyes, he could hear the scenes in the rain and they would appear in his mind.

People who practice martial arts have stronger senses than ordinary people.

Once the energy is focused on acupoints such as the eyes and ears, the perception can be enhanced several times over, and hearing insects crawling or ants moving becomes commonplace.

It was near dusk.

Zhou Yi relaxed a little and listened outside the secluded forest cottage.

During this period, he basically spent his time meditating to open his acupoints, refine his primordial essence, and eliminate mental distractions. He was even more of a homebody than Shi Qingxuan and never left the valley.

Shi Qingxuan went to Chengdu several times, buying food and supplies, and also listening to news.

But they usually leave in the morning and come back at noon.

It's already late today.

A layer of dark clouds covered the sky, and after another half hour, dusk gradually descended.

Zhou Yi only calmed down when he heard the sound of rain hitting the oil-paper umbrella coming from outside the valley.

but
He was puzzled again, as the footsteps seemed hurried and the splashing sound of water being kicked up by stomping echoed continuously.

Zhou Yi thought for a moment, then decided to remain seated in the cubicle behind the bamboo curtain.

Listening closely, his eyes involuntarily narrowed slightly.

"Beep, beep."

Footsteps sounded from under the wooden stairs. The girl in blue closed her umbrella, pushed open the door, put down what she was carrying, and then lit an oil lamp in the room.

She glanced in the direction of the bamboo curtain and felt completely at ease.

At this point, they did not activate the mechanisms or secret passages, but waited silently.

A gaze from the shadows had been watching the cabin for a long time, about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. It observed cautiously, not missing a single sound or movement. Seeing nothing amiss, it leaped down from the maple tree and plunged into the rain.

No longer bothering to conceal their footsteps, they strode towards the wooden house.

When he acts like this, the prey usually has no chance of escaping.

Wading through the water to the end of the gravel path, a man's voice rang out from outside: "Lie Xia requests an audience with Miss Qing Xuan."

The people from the Great Ming Sect hadn't shown themselves yet; it turned out they were waiting here.

This Lie Xia is the leader of the Five Mingzi, and his martial arts skills are very high. He even launched a sneak attack on him in the Chengxiang Hall before.

Last time, Lie Xia's mentality was shattered, and she fled.

I didn't expect to meet you here.

After thinking it over for a moment, Zhou Yi didn't rush to make a move against the old lecher.

It's clear that Shi Qingxuan deliberately lured Lie Xia here.

At this moment, Shi Qingxuan did not answer him.

The sounds outside were closer; judging from the footsteps, he was already under the eaves outside the door. Without the wind and rain, Lie Xia's voice was clearer.

"I know that Miss Shi is alone, so I volunteered to fill her emptiness and loneliness. If she does not respond, I will have to be presumptuous and enter without invitation."

His voice carried a hint of flippancy, revealing a strong sense of confidence.

Shi Qingxuan's voice was devoid of emotion: "I've never met you before, why have you been following me?"

"I've heard that you possess several secret manuals, and I would like to borrow them to take a look."

"Where did you know that?"

Shi Qingxuan then asked, "And who else has told you that I am in Phoenix Mountain?"

Her response was the creaking sound of the door opening.

Through the light from inside the house and outside, one could see the person at the door lifting his straw hat. He had a long, narrow face and skin as white as a woman's, exuding an eerie aura.

Lie Xia was always cautious, and immediately retreated after pushing open the door.

Shi Qingxuan knew about mechanisms and didn't want to fall into a trap.

However, Shi Qingxuan did not activate the mechanism. As if afraid, she took a few steps back and drew her sword.

Seeing her take the sword, Lie Xia was suddenly overjoyed.

He glanced into the room, focusing on the stunningly beautiful girl, and a lewd glint appeared in the old lecher's eyes.

He chuckled sinisterly, "Naturally, it was the Evil King who told me."

Shi Qingxuan's expression changed slightly, and she asked again, "That stone house near the Evil Emperor Temple, was it also one you searched?"

“It is precisely ignorance.”

Lie Xia readily admitted it and laughed:

"Miss Qingxuan is said to be a remarkable woman who embodies the essence of heaven and earth. I have long admired her, and seeing her today, I can confirm that the rumors are true. It's just a pity that I missed her at the stone house that day."

Shi Qingxuan completely ignored his gaze and was not angered by his words, maintaining her composure and tranquility throughout.

This puzzled Lie Xia, who rolled her eyes and scanned the room.

"That day, Commander Yun said he was deceived by the Great Ming Sect, but you were the one who lied to him?"

"Do not."

Liexia shook her head as she observed:
"I didn't lie to him. It's just that he was injured and ran a little slower, so he couldn't get out of the exit in time. He was also greedy and delusional, unwilling to part with the Evil Emperor's relic. Otherwise, wouldn't it be greatly beneficial for the Western Turks to fight to the death between the Buddhist and demonic paths underground?"

"He failed, so how can you blame me?"

Shi Qingxuan found the flaw:

"Shi Zhixuan is also underground. You are not with him. Judging from the rebels in Duzun Fort, you should be with Anlong and are now helping Xi Ying. However, Anlong does not know where my Xiaogu is. He did not tell you."

"Moreover, you didn't come here for the Undying Seal Technique. Shi Zhixuan didn't hide the Undying Seal Technique from Anlong when he wrote it. Now that he has betrayed Shi Zhixuan, he certainly won't keep the secret. You're not a disciple of the Patching Heaven or Flower Sects, so it's useless for you to obtain the seal technique."

"So, you've come to kill me?"

A look of surprise appeared on Lie Xia's enchanting face, followed by a smile: "Miss Shi is truly clever."

"Your residence is very well hidden; it took me a long time to find it."

"However, I am indeed here on the orders of the Evil King."

His words drew the attention of both Shi Qingxuan and Zhou Yi.

I was just waiting to hear what he had to say next.

Lie Xia said this on purpose. He felt that there were traps and mechanisms hidden in the room. After luring him with a sentence, he hid his left hand at his waist and flicked a small swivel into the room as he made the gesture of speaking.

This little bullet was very strange; it exploded with a bang while flying in mid-air.

It spread rapidly, instantly enveloping the entire wooden house in a cloud of red smoke.

Lie Xia smiled smugly, no longer afraid of any traps:
"Miss Qingxuan, you don't think you can stop the poisonous fog from invading by simply closing your breath, do you? This precious poisonous fog, a secret of our Great Ming Venerable Sect, can invade your delicate and smooth skin. Any virtuous woman who encounters it will immediately understand the pleasures of the human world."

The old lecher's lustful aura intensified, but his smile suddenly froze.

Driven by a sliver of murderous intent, his physical fighting instincts caused his exposed skin to tremble uncontrollably, as an immense sense of crisis descended upon him.

Since receiving repeated guidance from the Great Venerable, he had not experienced this feeling for a long time.

not good!

Regardless of what was hidden in the room, Lie Xia's first reaction was to retreat decisively.

escape!
He unleashed the power contained in his right hand, striking the wooden steps into the house with a crack. His body instantly shifted back four zhang. Once inside the forest, under the cover of night and rain, escape would be easy.

As he focused his mind on this thought, the rain curtain before him seemed to be lifted from the middle of a brothel, like a beaded curtain he had lifted when he visited a brothel.

The force of his palm strike was also dispersed.

As soon as the rain stopped, he was locked onto by murderous intent.

At that moment, how could he not know that there were other people inside the house?

Having failed to detect even a trace of his presence, they knew this person must be a rare master in the world. Forget about countering the killing intent; escaping was the priority. However, a white figure, like a ghost, pierced through the poisonous mist and flashed out of the house.

In the dim light, upon seeing his face, Lie Xia felt a chill run down her spine and her breath caught in her throat.

His eerie, narrow, white face looked as if it had been coated with a layer of white ash; it was frighteningly white.

Even if he saw Song Que, the Heavenly Blade, come out of the house with his sword raised and attack, he wouldn't be so afraid at this moment.

Can't run away!

Lie Xia pretended to run away, then suddenly turned around and drew her sword.

With a swing of the sword, sword winds filled the air, and the Wisdom Sutra, by accelerating the airflow, created a curtain of rain.

Instantly, the howling wind and torrential rain came crashing down from all directions, concealing deadly sword energy within, ready to strike a fatal blow in conjunction with the natural summer wind and rain.

This technique is a significant improvement over the one used in the Chengxiang Hall, and the skill level is also much higher.

but
Zhou Yi is no longer the same as before. He used his overwhelming spirit to find the source of Lie Xia's cunning and deadly sword energy.

He rushed in so fast that he didn't even take his sword.

As it approached Liexia, it grabbed at Fengyu with one claw. With the space stretched, the rainwater flowed into its palm, the frost of heaven condensed and the water gave birth to an ice sword. With the qi attached, it burst forth and slashed!

Lie Xia's sword energy was extinguished, and the curtain of wind and rain collapsed, but he wielded a metal weapon and shattered the ice sword in Zhou Yi's hand.

With the energy from both sides dissipating, Lie Xia's reaction was no longer able to keep up.

The instant the sword shattered, Zhou Yi unleashed the Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique without hesitation.

Lie Xia's eyes widened, his eye sockets seemed to burst, and he saw the flying ice crystals bursting towards him. He shouted and gathered his protective true energy, but he couldn't last a breath before being pierced by the ice sword.

Instantly, I felt a chill penetrate my bones and reach the depths of my soul.

The secret techniques and spiritual will from the Great Ming Venerable Sect seemed to be frozen. With a "thud," the longsword fell into the water on the gravel path. Lie Xia's chest was filled with ice crystals. He was lifeless and fell straight down.

Zhou Yi glanced at him, then hooked his toe and picked up the fallen longsword.

In that instant, the dead Lie Xia kicked off with both feet, and Zhou Yi threw his sword, piercing Lie Xia's heart before he could move.

"What, still trying to play dead?"

"you!"

Lie Xia clutched her chest, her eerie gaze gradually losing focus. Her eyes reluctantly shifted from Zhou Yi's face, finally looking up at the dark sky.

He really wanted to ask Zhou Yi why he was there.

And how was he able to break his swordsmanship in an instant?

But there's no chance to ask anymore.
"Great... Your Excellency."

With a tilt of his neck, he breathed his last. This time, he couldn't pretend anymore.

Once Zhou Yi confirmed that the villain was dead, he quickly returned to the cabin.

The girl in blue was seen resting her head on one arm, half-lying on the bamboo couch, breathing rapidly.

She turned her face away and tried to circulate her energy again.

But once the true energy was released, her blood boiled even more. The dim light from the lamp beside her illuminated the watery light in her eyes, and her fair face looked as if it had been painted with rouge, making her extremely alluring.

You wouldn't normally see such a sight.

"fast"

Shi Qingxuan beckoned to him, her clear voice trembling slightly: "Help me quickly."

Zhou Yi came to her side and placed his hand on her back.

The Great Ming Venerable Sect's precious poisonous mist is truly wicked. This aphrodisiac can penetrate the skin and enter the meridians and acupoints, firstly affecting the true qi, causing the blood to boil and arousing desires; secondly, confusing the mind and disrupting one's consciousness.

However, when you encounter someone as immune to all poisons as him, no amount of poison will be of any use.

As Zhou Yi continuously channeled his inner energy, the poison in Shi Qingxuan was quickly neutralized.

She calmed down and poured herself a glass of water.

However, the blush on her face was still there.

"Better?"

"Ah."

“I feel that if I’m not here, you can’t stay here anymore.”

Shi Qingxuan explained, "There are also traps in my valley. It's because you're here that I left long ago and didn't talk to him, letting you see my disheveled state."

She didn't show any shyness.

After saying that, she let out a soft sigh, revealing a hint of reproach: "You'd better forget what just happened."

Zhou Yi gave an "oh" and didn't reply. He looked up, gazing at the roof beam, slightly lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Shi Qingxuan looked at him.

Zhou Yi then looked at her beautiful face and teased her with a smile:
"I'm trying to forget as you instructed, but I haven't succeeded. It's all because of your beautiful appearance. The more I try to forget, the more I remember. Luckily, I'm a decent gentleman, otherwise I would have taken advantage of you."

The girl's eyes sparkled, and a smile, which she couldn't suppress, already crept onto her lips like a gentle breeze across the water.

I don't know if you're saying something nice or mean something bad.

Shi Qingxuan stood up, took a bamboo tube and handed it to him, saying with a smile, "Gentleman, please drink some wine."

This bamboo tube is exquisite. It is made from bamboo root, round and smooth, and has a bright green lid that fits perfectly.

It contained Pitong wine.

He said that this wine should be drunk from a bamboo root cup, so Shi Qingxuan made an even more exquisite one.

As a tech geek who is proficient in mechanical engineering, this is no challenge for her.

Zhou Yi sat on the bamboo couch, smiling as he took a sip.

"Did you call some people from the Sichuan gang? Didn't they say this good alcohol is expensive? How come it's always available?"

"Because Longxinghe has changed owners."

Shi Qingxuan was pleased to see that he liked the bamboo cup. When it came to business, she became serious again: "Anlong is no longer in Chengdu. His business has been basically taken over by Duzun Fort, especially the liquor shops in Sichuan and Chongqing."

"Jie Wenlong has now firmly established himself as the master of Duzun Fort. Whatever wine you want, as long as it's available in Sichuan and Chongqing, you won't be short of it."

The wine itself hinted at Jie Hui's commitment to keeping his promise.

In addition, the news that Shi Qingxuan brought back from Chengdu confirms that the three major forces in Sichuan and Chongqing have been completely stabilized.

As long as they don't cause trouble, Bashu will never betray them.

"By the way, you just mentioned Xi Ying. How come the Great Ming Sect is cooperating with him again?"

That's just my guess.

Shi Qingxuan immediately told him about Xi Ying and the "Heavenly Lord's Palace" of the Extinction Path.

"Xi Yingneng's gathering of the old rebels of Duzun Fort was probably arranged by the Great Ming Zunjiao. In other words, Anlong has been cooperating with the Great Ming Zunjiao all along. His escape this time must be because he knew he had been exposed and was afraid of Shi Zhixuan."

Shi Qingxuan looked puzzled: "But I don't understand, what's the point of them killing me?"

“Killing you will only make the Evil King more evil. He has now cured his schizophrenia, and your death will likely have an impact on him again.”

"will not."

Shi Qingxuan still didn't want to mention him.

Seeing her sullen, Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Then their killing of Qingxuan can only be to provoke me. When I get angry, I will go on a killing spree, thus leaving a stain on my record. Future generations will say that I am a cruel emperor."

The girl stared at him intently: "Really?"

"real."

“No,” she smiled brightly, as if pleased, and swayed slightly, creating a gentle breeze. “The historian’s pen is like a sharp sword, and I don’t want to become a weapon that hurts you.”

After speaking, Shi Qingxuan looked at the lamps that were swaying back and forth.

"Have you finished refining the energy within that relic?"

"Ah."

Zhou Yi nodded: "At most, three or four more days."

A hint of disappointment flashed in the girl's bright eyes, and she couldn't help but say, "So fast."

She added another sentence:
"No wonder you were able to develop such skill in such a short time. I have never heard of such a speed of training before. Even among the famous masters that my mother mentioned to me, none of them are comparable to you."

"What are your plans after you emerge from this quarantine?"

Zhou Yi thought for a moment: "I'll travel down the Three Gorges to meet my strategist and have him send a letter to Lingnan to gauge the Song clan leader's attitude. After that, I need to return to Nanyang, and..."

Needless to say, Shi Qingxuan continued, "And the He Shi Bi jade."

"Correct."

Zhou Yi looked towards Dongdu: "Since the Buddhist sect's plans in Sichuan and Chongqing have failed, they will use the He Shi Bi jade to create momentum."

"If you receive orders from Heaven, you will live a long and prosperous life."

"These eight words have quite a bit of magic."

Shi Qingxuan said softly:

"Among all the heroes in the world today, your reputation is the most renowned. But this time in Bashu, you have offended many forces. In addition, your martial arts skills are superb, which will surely make others want to join forces against you."

In Sichuan, you'll have many friends; in Luoyang, you'll have many enemies. If you can't obtain the He Shi Bi jade, it's alright to give it up.

Knowing that she meant well, Zhou Yi didn't explain further.

"In Chengdu, we'll gather Xi Ying's men again. Before leaving Sichuan, I'll go to his so-called 'Heavenly Monarch Palace' and have the three major powers clean up the Great Ming Venerable Sect."

Without a leader, they can't cause trouble. As long as I remain, Sichuan and Chongqing will definitely be more stable than before.

In this way, Zhou Yi has fulfilled his promise.

After he explained that everything was in order, Shi Qingxuan counted down the days in her mind.

There are only a few days left.

She secretly thought that after he left, she should be able to live a peaceful and secluded life here, just like before.

Thinking this, I couldn't help but glance at the person raising their glass to drink.

Zhou Yi stayed at Youlin Xiaozhu for another three days.

For the past three days, he has been meditating and practicing the last acupoint.

Shi Qingxuan was separated by a bamboo curtain, sometimes wiping her flute, sometimes looking at the score, and occasionally flipping through the martial arts manual left by her mother.

Time flies.

On the evening of the fourth day, a loud clap of thunder sounded in the sky.

Shi Qingxuan put down the sword manual in her hand. She was not startled by the thunder, but rather sensed the changes around her.

Inside the wooden house, waves suddenly rose even though there was no wind; the bamboo curtain was lifted.

She saw the young man in white sitting inside making various hand gestures.

She couldn't see the movements clearly. Even though the hands moved very slowly, when she stared at him, her vision was blurry, but she could see the trail of his fingers behind him.

Strangely, the bamboo curtain was lifted, indicating a strong wind, but the lamp beside him did not sway at all.

In other words, he can freely control his strength within a certain space.

Shi Qingxuan was happy for his success, but she also felt a sense of loss that she herself could hardly perceive.

After a moment of joy, Zhou Yi devoted himself entirely to the Twelve Classical Meridians.

It begins in the Lesser Yin and ends in the Lesser Yang.

The qi emerges from Yongquan (KI 1) and enters Jingqiaoyin (GB 1).

Martial artists throughout the world mostly practice the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, focusing on the Ren and Du meridians, opening up the Dantian, Huangting, Jinlu, and Guanyuan, and then opening the gates of life and death.

After cultivating the earth, refine the heavens and open the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows.

Once this method of cultivating both body and mind is mastered, even the most ordinary martial arts can lead to a transformation from acquired to innate abilities.

The Twelve Primary Meridians are for the specialized practice of various esoteric arts.

The moment Zhou Yi opened the last Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, he had a sudden illusion that he could turn his inspiration into reality.

It seems to encompass all the subtle and profound principles.

He also gained a deeper understanding of why Granny Dugu's cloak and staff technique was so powerful, and even guessed the root cause of the problem within her body.

This feeling of having a clear mind can reflect all kinds of martial arts ingenuity, which is very magical.

Logically speaking, to become a grandmaster of martial arts, one must reach the state of harmony between man and nature.

Zhou Yi didn't know if he was one of them.

Perhaps the great masters of this era did not cultivate their skills in the same way as him.

What he found even more ingenious was that after the twelve meridians were fully opened, he seemed to have a clear idea of ​​how to cultivate them afterward.

It's becoming increasingly clear.

This feeling of near emptiness made him suddenly open his eyes.

Zhou Yi lifted the bamboo curtain and stepped out, standing at the door of the wooden house. He pondered for a while, then suddenly clasped his hands together tightly in front of his chest, fingertips pointing inward, in a very swift motion.

Then, a handprint was made, and the rainwater that was originally flowing down the eaves fell into the ditch in a line.

As soon as he released the seal, the rain suddenly stopped. The powerful aura pressure within a certain space acted like an invisible quagmire shackle, imprisoning it.

"The Nine Syllable Mantra?"

Shi Qingxuan was quite surprised: "This is the inner binding seal of the True Word Master. Do you understand the secret method of the 'Array' True Word?"

Zhou Yi didn't speak. Shi Qingxuan continued to watch his movements and saw that he crossed his fingers with his thumb, index finger, and little finger touching vertically, similar to the Vajrakilaya mudra, and then he struck out another mudra.

At this moment, a powerful finger strike shot out, causing the wind and rain to howl.

"This is the Great Vajra Wheel Seal."

Shi Qingxuan looked at his face, and quickly realized what he meant:

"It is different again. This seal contains the secret technique of the character 'soldier', which can greatly stimulate the life energy and internal force in the body, causing the power to increase rapidly in a short period of time."

Your hand gestures resemble those of the Mantra Master, but the essence of your skill is different.

"That's right, this is not the Nine Syllable Mantra."

Zhou Yi was also puzzled. He explained, "I was just deeply impressed by Master Zhenyan's techniques, so I tried them out. I didn't expect them to actually work. I used Taoist power to activate Buddhist techniques, so the effect is naturally different."

"Hmm, but your two seals are also very strong, so you don't necessarily need the effect of the Nine Syllable Mantra."

"But Master Zhenyan must be heartbroken. He spent his whole life studying Buddhist mudras in the Arhat Hall, and you only saw them a few times. It's really discouraging."

She smiled lightly, "Do you know any other moves?"

"Of course, watch my Heart Buddha Palm technique."

Zhou Yi unleashed a palm strike, which, although powerful and similar to the Master of Wisdom's technique, lacked the aura of the Buddha's Palm.

"No, no, is there anything else?"

Zhou Yi picked up a few bamboo strips, shook them along with the leaves, and created a loud bang in the air. All the bamboo leaves flew out with a whistling sound, echoing crisply in the valley.

"This move is the Cihang Broom Kung Fu of the old nun Yixin, only I use it more elegantly and can't learn the essence of her slovenliness."

When Shi Qingxuan heard him insulting people, she knew he held a grudge and couldn't help but laugh out loud, quite lively.

She thought of the whisk that Master Yixin used, which used the whisk to stir up the Cihang Sword Qi, and it was by no means a broom.

However, when Zhou Yi swung his weapon, he truly captured some of the essence of the technique.

"When you get to Dongdu, don't make this kind of joke, or you'll provoke all the old nuns from Zhongnan Mountain to come down and attack you. Then you'll know what it means to have trouble coming from your mouth."

With a smile on her pretty face, she didn't forget to give a reminder.

Zhou Yi chuckled: "It would be more interesting if they got so angry that they came down the mountain. They're my enemies, and it would be best if they could make Dini so angry that she'd lift the lid off her coffin."

Shi Qingxuan stopped joking and asked seriously, "Judging from your improved skills, can you defeat Empress Yin head-on this time?"

"It should be about the same."

Zhou Yi said cautiously, "But we'll only know after we've fought it."

"However, something like what happened at the thatched pavilion on Mount Emei will definitely not happen again. If Shi Zhixuan makes things difficult for you again, I will fight him to the end."

"Don't mention him, don't mention him."

After Shi Qingxuan finished speaking, she found him a pot of fine wine, which had been prepared in advance to celebrate his success.

Zhou Yi reflected on the changes in himself.

The simultaneous activation of these twelve meridians is truly ingenious. Not only does it greatly increase combat power, enabling the use of various wondrous techniques, but it also allows for the generation and destruction of Shao Yang and Shao Yin during the surge of true energy. Although true energy is consumed, it can be replenished to a certain extent.

At this point, killing another old king of Tuyuhun would not require expending so much true energy.

This comprehensive improvement greatly increased his sense of security.

I was initially a little worried about the Evil King while staying in this small valley.

Now I'm actually looking forward to the Evil King coming to our door, it would be even better if we could have a good, satisfying battle.

"When will you leave the valley?"

Zhou Yi gazed at Chengdu and smiled, "Tomorrow, let's go take a look at the Heavenly Emperor's Palace."

……

(End of this chapter)