Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 185 The Immortal Bronze Palace: The Perfect Person (Thanks to the generous patron, Azure Maple Leaf!)
Under the moonlight, the bamboo shadows slanted across the ground, and the myriad leaves filtered the clear light. The evening breeze rustled through them.

The two people who suddenly appeared emerged from the shadows of the bamboo forest, their silhouettes gradually becoming clear.

Zhou Yi was slightly surprised.

Under the cold gaze of the Evil King and Empress Yin, he took a step forward, blocking Dugu Feng by half a body length, almost drawing the gazes of these two masters of the Demonic Sect entirely onto himself.

"You two have quite the refined taste, enjoying the moonlight over the bamboo grove in front of the enemy's gate at midnight."

Zhou Yi closed his eyes slightly, his mind filled with caution.

If those two old lovers join forces, even he will have to run away.

She reached out and grabbed the little hand beside her.

Dugu Feng understood immediately and moved even closer to him, ready to retreat at any moment.

Knowing that the two people in front of him were no ordinary people, he was not afraid to be with Zhou Yi at this moment.

Shi Zhixuan and Zhu Yuyan simply looked at them without replying immediately. Seeing them holding hands and looking so affectionate, the Evil King's gaze became even more stern.

"Kid, weren't you staying in Chengdu with Xiao Qingxuan? How come you've come to Dongdu again?"

Zhou Yi ignored the Evil King's expression and glanced sideways at the girl beside him.

What is unexpected is.

Before Zhou Yi could speak, Little Phoenix had already preemptively responded to Shi Zhixuan's words:
“My lord Zhou Lang is concerned about the world and wants to quell the chaos. He is a hero of our time and will not be bound by personal feelings to settle in one place. What is so strange about him coming to Luoyang?”

Empress Yin originally intended to question him like the Evil King, but at this moment she changed her mind and looked at Shi Zhixuan with great interest.

She smiled and said:
"Yes, Shi Zhixuan, what's so strange about that?"

Shi Zhixuan's stern expression vanished, replaced by a refined smile:

"It seems you are deeply in love with him, but unfortunately you have met the wrong person. This guy is a womanizer. Just imagine, while you are longing for him in the Eastern Capital, he is out there embracing other women and has completely forgotten about you. When you meet again, you will be deceived by his sweet words."

Empress Yin looked at Zhou Yi: "What Young Master Zhou did has truly chilled the hearts of young ladies."

Zhou Yi remained unfazed: "Evil King, don't judge others by your own standards. Besides, I don't need to prove my thoughts, actions, or beliefs to you."

Shi Zhixuan's words had a provocative tone, and Dugu Feng felt uncomfortable after hearing them. She felt the hand holding her tighten its grip.

Then he suddenly remembered the booklet he had used to help his grandmother with her meridians.

He had never taken his grandmother's pulse and was unaware of her chronic illness, which could not have been cured in a short time.

With such a caring attitude, how could she possibly forget about herself?

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of Shi Zhixuan and Zhu Yuyan, Dugu Feng moved closer to Zhou Yi and looked at him with gentle eyes: "I know in my heart whether he is sincere or not, there is no need for you to enlighten me."

Zhou Yi mustered his inner energy to defend himself, while glancing back at her. He didn't explain further, only softly calling out, "Xiao Feng."

Their eyes met, and then the evil king and empress stuffed their mouths full of candy.

Empress Yin glanced at the middle-aged man beside her and couldn't help but sneer, "Shi Zhixuan, you're really pathetic."

Shi Zhixuan wasn't angry; he simply narrowed his eyes and said leisurely:
"Kid, even if you go to Sichuan in the future, don't look for Xiao Qingxuan again."

After hearing this, Empress Yin looked at Zhou Yi, and then at Dugu Feng.

She thought Zhou Yi would hesitate in his words, but to her surprise, he replied immediately:

"Qingxuan once told me that she had no father, only a mother, who died from exhaustion due to a madman. Now she is living a lonely and austere life in the deep mountains to avoid trouble. Do you know that the Great Mingzun Sect, who were with you, sent people to attack Youlin Xiaozhu? Where were you at that time?"

"You yourself have wronged Qingxuan, yet you expect me to betray her as well. You are truly heartless and cruel."

"No wonder you wronged the Empress Yin back then."

His words came out quickly and rapidly.

The three people around him had different feelings after hearing this.

Little Phoenix really wanted to punch this bad guy. Yin Hou looked coldly at Shi Zhixuan, while Xie Wang stared at Zhou Yi without blinking.

"Shi Zhixuan, you have truly suffered a complete defeat."

Zhu Yuyan sneered.

At this moment, Shi Zhixuan, who was on the verge of breaking through his defenses, suddenly reached out and unleashed the Undying Golden Body Seal, which was powerful enough to stabilize his true energy.

This time, he channeled his powerful spiritual energy, achieving a unity of mind and body, and directly focused on Zhou Yi's surroundings.

Empress Yin observed from the sidelines and did not intervene.

Zhou Yi also mustered his powerful spiritual energy and struck out with a single seal to counter Shi Zhixuan's seal technique.

A loud bang echoed through the air.

The evil king's hand seal was stretched open, spreading out like waves around Zhou Yi.

The nearby bamboo trees crackled and popped from the shockwave!
The exchange between the two lasted only a moment. After probing, Shi Zhixuan did not make another move, and a hint of surprise was hidden in Yin Hou's eyes.

I still remember when we were in Caoting, Meishan County, Shi Zhixuan was able to beat him.

At this point, they were almost evenly matched.

The difference may seem small, but it is a huge hurdle that many masters cannot overcome in their entire lives.

Has this kid made another breakthrough in Sichuan?

At first, when the martial arts judge mentioned the four grandmasters, the two of them didn't take it seriously, since they were well aware of Zhou Yi's strength.

Since Duzunbao is still in Bashu, how could Jie Hui possibly be fair and impartial?

Unexpectedly, he mastered his skills so quickly.

Shi Zhixuan's expression also changed slightly.

Zhou Yi flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Evil King, if we really fight, I'm not afraid of you."

"I advise you to stop now, otherwise I'll have no choice but to give you the black card."

Shi Zhixuan put his hands behind his back and suddenly changed the subject: "Where is the Evil Emperor's Relic?"

Zhou Yi said matter-of-factly, "Wasn't it taken by the Coffin Palace? If you want the relic, you should go find Old Man Zhou."

When it came to serious matters, the Empress Dowager resumed her original serious expression:
"We are not asking about the relic in the coffin palace, but about the relic left by the Evil Emperor. Don't lie to me. When the Evil Emperor taught me how to extract the essence of the relic, he mentioned the chaotic spirits of the Evil Emperors of past generations."

It seems these two old lovers guessed quite a bit.

Zhou Yi replied, "Then why are you asking me?"

"You must be someone who knows the truth."

"I just have a deep sect foundation and know more secrets than you."

Even if he tried to deny it again, the Evil King and Queen Yin wouldn't believe him.

Zhu Yuyan's gaze sharpened, and she suddenly asked, "Have you ever met Lu Miaozi?"

Zhou Yi didn't hide anything: "I've met him."

Shi Zhixuan and Zhu Yuyan both showed expressions of "I knew it".

Then Zhou Yi said, "The Empress should know Old Lu's character. He always keeps his promises. Even you couldn't find out where the relic is, let alone me?"

Zhu Yuyan was powerless to refute; she knew Lu Miaozi's bad temper all too well.

Thinking of her past with Lu Miaozi, Empress Yin fell silent for a moment.

Shi Zhixuan didn't want to argue anymore: "How about we make a deal?"

"What deal?"

"Tell us the location of Yang Gong's treasure vault, and we will help you obtain the He Shi Bi jade."

Zhou Yi did not refuse immediately, but said, "I can go to Jingnian Temple to get the He Shi Bi right now, without your help."

Empress Yin laughed and said, "You've underestimated the Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple. Those people who are in seclusion can still protect the He Shi Bi jade if they come out of the mountain gate. If we don't take action, you alone probably won't have any chance."

Shi Zhixuan said, "Xiaoyan, you don't need to persuade him. Letting him hit a wall on his own is more effective than persuading him."

Zhou Yi glanced in the direction of Jingnian Temple: "How can I trust you? Right now, there are still many members of the Demonic Sect in Dongdu City who want to attack me. I'm afraid you are involved as well. How can you help me retrieve the He Shi Bi?"

Both the evil king and the empress laughed upon hearing this.

The two instantly understood Zhou Yi's intentions.

"You're quite cunning, but this test is unnecessary. The Eastern Capital Demonic Sect has nothing to do with us."

"really?"

Shi Zhixuan calmly glanced at him, a hint of complexity in his eyes: "I'll settle things with you after I obtain the relic."

Looking up at the night sky, Yin Hou's eyes revealed longing: "That was an opportunity to reach the pinnacle of personal power."

Both of them were already at the level of martial arts grandmasters, and Empress Yin even had the method to extract the essence of relics. Their long lifespans were indeed more attractive to them than the Eastern Capital.

It is estimated that they associated Yang Su with Lu Miaozi.

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and did not immediately agree.

Although he believed what the two men said, he was wary, because he had no confidence in controlling them.

Getting them involved in secret arrangements will only put you at a disadvantage.

They can turn on you at any time, and you can't do anything about it.

The half of the Queen's face, veiled by a light gauze, seemed to be smiling:

"Think it over carefully. I will send someone to find you. If you agree, the three of us will attack this so-called holy land of martial arts. We will be able to break through it, and then the He Shi Bi will be yours."

Shi Zhixuan didn't say anything, and walked away on the phantom.

With a slight flick of her sleeves, Yin Hou gave chase.

As the little phoenix watched their figures disappear, she couldn't help but say, "These two are very different from what I've heard."

"What you heard in the past is not wrong, but the affairs of the world are like flowing water. Once the water has flowed away, it cannot be retrieved. A change in a person's spirit may change their attitude towards life."

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, he noticed that she seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

So he stared into her eyes and took the initiative to speak: "If you want to hear about Sichuan and Chongqing, I will tell you everything without missing a single word."

Dugu Feng pursed her lips: "Are you a little nervous?"

"Well, if Xiao Feng isn't happy, even if I get the He Shi Bi now, it won't be of any interest."

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, he felt as if he had been hit hard in the waist.

Dugu Feng smiled gently: "What are you thinking? They sounded very dangerous. They just wanted to advise you not to go to Jingnian Temple anymore."

"Walk."

Without hesitation, Zhou Yi strode toward Jingnian Temple.

After climbing a hillside, the magnificent temple on that small hill became increasingly clear.

The two hurried toward the temple, gradually slowing their pace.

Finally, we arrived at a large tree outside the temple gate and looked out over the Jingnian Zen Temple. The various halls and buildings came into view, numbering in the hundreds, resembling a small town.

No wonder it has become one of the holy lands of the righteous martial arts world.

Anyone who has just stepped into the temple grounds will be awestruck by the sheer size of this secluded monastery hidden deep within the woods.

"Clang!"

The melodious chimes seemed to ripple across the moonlight, echoing in the quiet night.

Dugu Feng had told Zhou Yi everything she knew about Jingnian Temple.

Although her martial arts skills were already among the best in the martial arts world.

However, the monastery is heavily guarded at the moment, so it is not advisable to take any risks.

"I'll wait for you here."

After Dugu Feng finished speaking, Zhou Yi nodded, then flashed down to the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he jumped over the high wall and rushed towards the direction where the bell had rung.

At night, many monks still perform evening prayers.

The faint sound of chanting Buddhist scriptures drifted from afar, and Zhou Yi heard it as soon as he stepped into the temple.

The temple was guarded and patrolled by monks with profound internal skills, but no one noticed Zhou Yi as he passed through the seven main halls, including the Manjushri Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Wuliang Hall.

Jingnian Temple was so large that he sometimes lost his way in similar courtyards, so he had to jump onto the roof of the hall to look around.

However, there are skilled guards at the top of the temple, and walking on the roof would be too conspicuous.

Zhou Yi followed the clues until he finally arrived at the place where the bell had rung earlier.

The bell tower was deserted. I climbed up and looked out along the central axis of the temple.

Under the interplay of lamplight and moonlight, a hall stood tall, measuring three zhang in width and depth, and over half a zhang in height. This hall was located at the very center of Jingnian Temple. Although it did not appear large, it seemed to hold a higher status than the surrounding halls, which were ten times larger.

Zhou Yi took a closer look, and his eyes widened involuntarily.

That's right, it's the Immortal Bronze Palace, made entirely of bronze.

Not to mention the skilled craftsmen, even in the wealth of Jiangdu, there is no such bronze temple.

The methods Buddhist sects use to amass wealth are truly astonishing.

The palaces surrounding this bronze hall are all covered with tricolor glazed tiles, and in front of it is a huge square made of white stone and surrounded by white stone railings.

In the center of the square, there is a bronze statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva riding a golden lion, about two zhang tall.

Beside the niche are also statues of the Three Buddhas of the Three Times: Bhaisajyaguru, Shakyamuni, and Amitabha. All are painted and gilded, displaying an extraordinary grandeur.

Five hundred lifelike Arhats are placed at the four entrances of White Stone Square, with layers of stone steps leading down.

Zhou Yi had heard that there were 808 steps in total.

He clicked his tongue inwardly in admiration.

Jingnian Temple is truly wealthy. Dashi Temple in Sichuan is quite grand, and even Xi Ying wanted to seize it. But compared to Jingnian Temple, Dashi Temple is just a small village temple.

The sound of chanting came from the main hall behind the bronze hall, indicating that there were a large number of difficult monks.

Zhou Yi's gaze swept over the tightly closed bronze hall and looked toward the White Stone Square near the Manjushri Bodhisattva and the Three Buddhas, where five stone platforms had been erected, with lamps behind them.

On the stone platform, five people were meditating with their eyes closed.

Three of the monks were old and thin, but their heads seemed to be glowing and were particularly noticeable.

Their condition was very similar to that of the monks who had passed away while sitting in meditation that Zhou Yi had seen at Da Shi Temple.

There were also two old nuns, one carrying a whisk and the other carrying a sword.

There was absolutely no way they could sneak into the bronze palace unnoticed.

These five people were very old, and Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple arranged such defenses to ensure that the He Shi Bi jade was not lost.

Zhou Yi understood that the Evil King and Empress Yin were not lying.

He walked straight down from the clock tower and onto the White Jade Square.

The five people who were meditating opened their eyes almost at the same time.

"Clang!"

The old monk near the Three Buddhas flicked his finger, releasing a withered yellow leaf that caused a distant bronze bell to resonate.

This is sending a signal.

A clear laugh suddenly broke the silence of the White Stone Square: "Master, you are being far too cautious."

"I am all alone. Does the master intend to summon all the high monks of the monastery?"

The old monk put his hands together and said, "Excellent, excellent. The Celestial Master has arrived. Our temple should receive him with the highest honors."

"Jingnian Temple is known as a holy land of martial arts, but how can I, a mere wandering martial artist, be worthy of such a title?"

"You are too modest, Master."

The old monk didn't keep us in suspense: "If the Celestial Master comes here to discuss Taoism and Buddhism with us, that would be wonderful. But if it's for the sake of the He Shi Bi jade, then we can't help you."

"You're too kind."

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "I don't need your help. I can get the He Shi Bi myself."

Unlike relics, the He Shi Bi (He's Jade Disc) possesses a strange power that changes with the seasons.

This bronze hall can isolate martial arts practitioners from the He Shi Bi jade.

Zhou Yi sensed eyes peering at him from the darkness, but he did not retreat. As a large number of monks came to the main hall behind the bronze hall to do their evening prayers, he moved swiftly and rushed towards the bronze hall.

The old monk in White Stone Square and the four silent people attacked simultaneously.

The first thing to fall was a sword aura.

The old nun remained calm and composed, her mind as still as water, allowing herself to blend seamlessly with her surroundings.

This "stillness" itself is a powerful deterrent.

At this moment, stillness transforms into movement, and the activation of sword techniques becomes almost instinctive, transcending the delay of thought.

Wherever the old nun's mind directed, the sword energy followed.

This sword strike was ancient and elegant, as if it had found Zhou Yi's weakness.

But the next moment, a white light also appeared in her eyes. The sword that flew towards her was also without complicated moves, but a sword light as elusive as a gazelle's horn, as if it was meant to appear there.

Cihang, the old nun, had her tranquility shattered as the sword light overwhelmed her own sword energy.

A powerful and righteous aura of Xuanmen energy swept over us!

Another old nun quickly unfurled her whisk and joined her in the fight. Zhou Yi unleashed a sword strike, his figure blurring as he charged past.

"Master, stop."

The force of the clashing sword energies seemed to have no effect on the three old monks; their withered yellow robes remained completely still.

Three gazes, murky yet condensed like a substance, pressed down heavily on Zhou Yi.

The somber meditation they sat in exuded an indescribable aura that emanated from them, revolving and rising around them.

It wasn't a overwhelming killing intent, but rather as if an unyielding iron that had been dormant underground for millions of years was being awakened by an invisible force.

This spirit and momentum gave Zhou Yi a sense of familiarity.

Zhu Faming in Wang Shichong's mansion?
The old monk who had spoken earlier pressed his hands together in front of his chest, his thumbs tucked in and his four fingers like hooks or claws, and then suddenly pushed them outwards and pressed them back down.

The air was suddenly torn apart, producing a dull sound like tearing cloth.

A palm force, visible to the naked eye and as concentrated as a golden giant pestle, suddenly erupted!

Almost simultaneously, the old monk on the left raised his hands in a mudra above his head, his ten fingers twisted and intertwined, resembling a miniature Mount Sumeru, and silently yet swiftly descended upon Zhou Yi's head.

Under that seal, the air was as thick as lead and mercury, and heavy pressure squeezed in from all directions.

The last monk on the right moved most elusive and mysteriously.

His body remained still, but his hands transformed into a blurry phantom in front of his chest, his ten fingers blooming like a thousand lotus petals.

Chi Chi Chi!
The sharp, piercing sounds of air being torn apart were as dense as a sudden downpour. Countless concentrated finger forces, as sharp as needles, did not shoot in straight lines, but rather followed unpredictable trajectories, weaving a vast, inescapable net of finger force that covered all the space for maneuvering in all directions.

Chiba's hand creates a myriad of illusions, sealing off all escape routes!
The three monks' true energy and spiritual power intertwined, forming a combined attack.

In an instant, the air around Zhou Yi seemed to boil.

At that very moment, he clasped his hands together, and a torrent of true energy surged forth from his body. His spiritual essence solidified as it merged with the true energy.

In the eyes of the three monks and two nuns, the spiritual essence condensed into a skeleton, with true energy covering the skeleton.

A storm of vital energy and spirit unfolded, and Zhou Yi raised his palm to the sky, his powerful force carrying a swirling airflow to withstand the attack of the five masters.

"Boom~!"

The loud bang was like lightning striking wood, and all the monks and high-ranking monks of Jingnian Temple opened their eyes wide.

The Buddhist mind that had calmed down from chanting scriptures was shaken by the mental storm.

The three monks and two nuns had no information whatsoever and were completely unaware of his actions. They never expected him to suddenly resort to such methods.

So much so that the encirclement of five people was actually broken through!

The three old monks prepared to use another method.

But Zhou Yi had no time to play with them. He used his divine speed to travel in one step, becoming a phantom and rushing straight to the Immortal Bronze Palace.

Without pausing, he flicked the back of his cloak before the steps, and with a metallic creak, opened the bronze palace gate.

It's faintly visible, as if one can see the He Shi Bi jade within!

But at that moment, terrifying auras attacked from all directions. If one were to enter the hall, one would be surrounded by the most terrifying forces in the world.

He moved with lightning speed, stepping back into the air with incredible speed, landing on the head of the two-zhang-tall Manjushri Bodhisattva.

A strong wind howled, and the black cloak fluttered in the air.

He held his sword with both hands and looked around at the group of powerful figures from the holy land.

In the very center of the bronze hall stood a handsome monk, not yet forty years old, with a serene and divine light on his face, dressed in a brown monk's robe.

He remained silent.

It was none other than the current Zen master, Liaokong.

Next came the four holy monks and the two old nuns, Yixin and Juexin.

Zhou Yi did a quick calculation, and his eye twitched slightly.

The Evil King of the Underworld is right. This monk only knows how to cheat when there are many of them. It really takes the three of them working together.

He was sizing up the people around him, and they were sizing him up too.

Master Daoxin's white eyebrows floated, and his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled.

"Zhou kid, we've finally got you. Now you can give up, right? These old geezers who eat dirt have all shown up. They almost got their comeuppance at your hands today. Now that you've saved face, hurry up and leave. I'm going to sleep."

He ignored Master Jiaxiang's stern look, which seemed to be telling him to shut up, and continued:

"Don't bother them after this. They're concerned about their reputation, so they didn't gang up on you this time."

"You saw the look in Master Kong Chan's eyes, didn't you? If he weren't practicing silent meditation, he would have been cursing you out by now."

After saying that, he laughed out loud twice, which was quite inappropriate.

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Master Daoxin, what does the Buddhist temple need the He Shi Bi jade for? It's just gathering dust here. Why don't you take it with you?"

Daoxin said indifferently, "I have no objection. You see if these old bald nuns agree or not."

Apart from Master Zhenyan, who was walking from a distance with a broom, all the other old monks and nuns glanced at Master Daoxin.

"Master Zhenyan, are you still going back to Daishi Temple?"

Zhou Yi looked at the gray-robed old monk.

Master Zhenyan bowed to him and said, "Thank you, Celestial Master, for removing the seat and relieving our temple from its predicament."

Zhou Yi said, "That's not necessary. My initial intention in destroying Xi Ying wasn't for the Great Stone Temple. I was just curious why Master Zhenyan stayed here. Was it also for the He Shi Bi jade?"

"Goodness is goodness."

The old monk beside the Three Buddhas said, "Brother Zhenyan has come for us."

"Junior brother?"

Zhou Yi suddenly realized, "So the three of you are eminent monks from Dashi Temple. Why did you follow the Zen Master and not return to Sichuan?"

"A stinking carcass is the same wherever it turns to ashes."

After the old monk finished speaking, Master Zhenyan, who was standing to the side, said:
“These are my senior brothers, Ku’e, Ku’nan, and Ku’jie. They practiced the solitary meditation in their early years. Later, they were fortunate enough to see the Vajra Vehicle in Yique. They stayed here to uphold the Dharma and seek the precious raft of the Vajra Vehicle. They never left Jingnian Chan Monastery for the rest of their lives.”

"I see."

Zhou Yi advised, "Since the three of you are so determined to cultivate diligently, why bother leaving your secluded retreat to do evil to me?"

The withered old monk showed neither joy nor sorrow: "We are ordinary people with no chance to comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth. Now that I am about to die, I only hope to do one last meaningful thing."

Does it really make sense?

Zhou Yi stared at him, and the withered old monk seemed to have misunderstood.

He clasped his hands together and said, "The Celestial Master is a remarkable figure. At such a young age, he has already achieved such martial arts prowess, truly deserving of the title of one of the Four Grandmasters. It's a pity that you revealed your techniques today. We were prepared, and you no longer have any chance of breaking our formation."

That's not what Zhou Yi really wanted to say.

This old bald man's mind isn't working properly after sitting in meditation.

Too lazy to argue with him, he looked at the 'young' monk, Liaokong.

“Master Liaokong, I would like to make a deal with you.”

Liao Kong didn't speak, but raised his head.

Master Jiaxiang said, "Please speak, Celestial Master."

Zhou Yi smiled gently:
"Since the Zen Master has now given me the He Shi Bi jade, I will spare your temple out of concern for the stability of the Eastern Capital. If you insist on fighting me to the end, I guarantee you will not have a chance to escape unscathed. What will become of any martial arts holy land?"

The young monk frowned slightly, as if he were in thought.

Zhou Yi glanced sideways at the two old nuns, Yixin and Juexin, whose faces were stern.

"Don't look, this is also for you. This is the last chance, so don't regret it later."

Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Yi said:
"Don't give me that nonsense about caring for the people and being compassionate. If you're truly that selfless, then support me now. I guarantee I can negotiate with the Buddhist, Taoist, and demonic factions to immediately bring peace to the Nine Provinces. Is there any way to bring stability to the world faster than that?"

Once the three major lineages unite, no hegemon in the world will dare to oppose them.

Zhou Yi believed he had this ability.

In front of the Arhat Hall of Jingnian Temple, a slender figure leaned against a ginkgo tree. Bathed in moonlight, she appeared ethereal and holy, quietly listening to the conversation in front of the Immortal Bronze Hall.

She had a good ability to judge Zhou Yi's words.

So, Grandmaster Uncle
Was she acting out of personal gain or for the greater good?

At this moment, Shi Feixuan longed to hear a positive response from her several grandmaster uncles.

However.
Before the Immortal Bronze Hall, the old nun Yixin said coldly, "You are not the destiny of heaven; we are waiting for a golden age."

"Okay, at least you didn't put on a pitiful act."

Zhou Yi smiled and raised his voice, "Did you hear that? This is what Old Nun Yixin herself admitted."

Zhou Yi realized he had torn off all pretense of civility, and before he could finish speaking, he used his light-footed skill to escape far away.

The others didn't quite understand the meaning behind his words, simply assuming he was expressing anger.

The old nun Yixin, who was named, was even more furious, but she couldn't catch up with him in time.

But
But some people heard it clearly.

"Feixuan, what are you doing?"

Fan Qinghui walked out of the Arhat Hall and saw her beloved disciple gazing into the distance.

The ripples in Shi Feixuan's eyes immediately froze: "Master, I'm wondering where he gets his confidence from."

Fan Qinghui said, "He is not very old, but his talent is exceptionally high. How could he not be arrogant?"

Shi Feixuan asked casually, "Even if there is a prosperous era in the future that has nothing to do with him, it probably won't prevent him from becoming the top master of the world, and he might even become the number one person in the world. Wouldn't that cause a lot of trouble?"

Fan Qinghui smiled slightly: "Disciple, you are overthinking it."

"He seems invincible, yet he is not, for there are many things in this world that are hard to let go of. The future emperor will be wary of him, and he will also be wary of the emperor because of the people around him; this will be a balance."

"Furthermore, judging from his past actions, he is indeed not a wicked or evil person. The people under his jurisdiction are not persecuted by the notorious thief Shangguan and are living well. If he were to witness this prosperous era, he would know that we have done nothing wrong. Given his martial arts skills and mindset at that time, he probably wouldn't pursue the matter."

Fan Qinghui looked at her obedient disciple and saw her smiling and nodding, clearly having figured things out.

I felt gratified.

Shi Feixuan followed her master's steps and headed towards the bronze hall.

From an angle where her master couldn't see her, she looked again at the place where Zhou Yi had disappeared.

So it turns out that Master also knew you weren't an evil person.

Brother Dao, you are truly a perfect person.

Well, except for being too promiscuous.
If Fan Qinghui were to suddenly turn around at this moment, she would surely be able to appreciate the maiden's girlish side, which she had never shown to her before.

……

"Call for help, Xiao Feng, I need to call for help!"

"Call for backup? What does that mean?"

Zhou Yi said with a hint of anger, "They just dragged people over to fight together."

Dugu Feng examined him thoroughly.

Relieved to find he was unharmed, she joked, "Isn't Little Celestial Master Zhou invincible?"

“There are a lot of old bald nuns and nuns. There are too many of them for me to beat.”

Zhou Yi then asked, "Do you know what Chan practice Liaokong Can of Jingnian Chan Monastery taught?"

"I heard it's a silent mantra, where he never speaks."

"Hmm, why do you need to practice this silent meditation?"

Dugu Feng guessed, "Speaking less helps him guard his mind. He immerses himself in his inner world and remains calm. This is a kind of inner cultivation."

Zhou Yi chuckled: "The saying goes, 'Speak little and keep to the middle way, and you will accumulate wealth.'"

"Jingnian Temple is truly wealthy. The Immortal Bronze Hall is breathtaking even without a close look. You can smell the money from afar, and no amount of sandalwood can mask it. If I were to smash this bronze hall, I could never spend all the money in my lifetime."

Another complaint:
"No wonder they look down on me. After all, I started out as an ordinary person, far removed from their level."

"It's just that they were blind."

Little Phoenix didn't think too much about what he said or whether it was related to the actions of Jingnian Temple; she simply felt protective of him.

"Xiao Feng has a keen eye for talent."

"Of course."

Zhou Yi smiled and put his arm around her.

He steered the conversation away from the topic, and Little Phoenix stopped asking about anything related to Sichuan and Chongqing.

Although she had used a clever trick, she immediately felt guilty when she thought about how kind she had been to her when she had nothing.

Ignoring her resistance, Zhou Yi carried her all the way to the bamboo grove they had just reached.

This time, without mentioning lightness skills, they slowly trod along the moonlight stretching towards the Eastern Capital.

"Xiao Feng, doesn't Shi Zhixuan have a point? When you were in Dongdu, were you also angry with me?"

Zhou Yi asked a question, but Dugu Feng did not respond.

She pretended not to hear him and feigned sleep in his arms, clearly not wanting to answer.

But Zhou Yi shook her awake.

Dugu Feng glanced at him sideways, then snuggled into his arms again, giving a soft hum and saying, "You're so smart, you don't even need to ask."

She would never have embarrassed him in front of outsiders before, but now she doesn't need to worry about that.

"I was thinking of you in the Eastern Capital, and just by asking around, I heard about your romantic affairs."

She was clearly angry, but when she spoke to Zhou Yi, she still used that gentle tone: "You're so annoying, you don't even know how many good sisters you have."

Zhou Yi had many things he could say to comfort her, but he was unwilling to say them at this moment.

He simply tightened his grip on the girl in his arms as they walked.

Then Dugu Feng asked, "Why are you also practicing silent meditation like a monk?"

Zhou Yi said, "I am ashamed."

Seeing that he was truly ashamed, Dugu Feng knew that he was sincere towards her. She buried her head in his arms and smiled, then said, "When I first had feelings for you, I never imagined that you would achieve such success today. It's all because you were too good to me."

The girl wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

Then she said softly:
“Master Zhou, I’m really angry with you, but I like you more than I’m angry. If things were reversed in the future, I would practice the Zen of silence and never speak to you again.”

Zhou Yi lowered his head and looked down, just in time to see her raise her eyebrows and open her eyes wide, looking lively and adorable.

There is infinite tenderness in my heart.

"Xiaofeng, I will find a way to make it up to you."

There was no way to make up for what couldn't be changed, so Dugu Feng just hummed in response as if to comfort him.

Zhou Yi looked up at the moon and said slowly:

"If a hundred years isn't enough, then two hundred years; if two hundred years isn't enough, then forever and ever. No matter under which starry sky I am, I will search for the long passage of time to make up for what I owe you."

Dugu Feng used both hands forcefully to make him lower his head again.

She stared at him and said:

"I hope so too, but don't make it sound so tragic. Even if it doesn't last a hundred years, it doesn't matter. People never regret meeting you."

After saying that, he didn't give Zhou Yi another chance to speak.

She pulled him down lower and then kissed him.

Just as she was about to give in, Zhou Yi couldn't bear to part with that soft touch, and they continued along the stone path, through the pine forest, and across the crescent-shaped Luo River.

After a long while, Zhou Yi smiled at the little phoenix in his arms:
"Xiaofeng, you're so sweet. It's so dark outside, let's go back to sleep, okay?"

Dugu Feng's pretty face was flushed: "No, no, you don't sleep well."

She then whispered shyly in his ear, "My room is very close to Grandmother's and Mother's."

"It's okay, you can sneak over to my place."

This was at the Dugu residence. Zhou Yi had only mentioned it casually and hadn't intended to bring it along. The little phoenix seemed to be thinking; it neither responded nor refused.
When they approached the Eastern Capital.

The two men had exceptional hearing and heard the large group of people marching ahead of time.

"The insignia is unclear, and it's unknown which faction's personnel they belong to."

At the city gate, these people were not stopped and entered the city directly.

"The city gate guards are Duan Da's men; they must be from the same group. Otherwise, a large number of troops entering the city at night would be subject to strict scrutiny."

"Let's go, let's follow them and take a look."

The two secretly followed after entering the city.

Zhou Yi didn't know the way, but Dugu Feng did. After about half an hour, the leaders of the group entered a mansion. There was no signboard on the side gate. Dugu Feng whispered, "That's the Rong Mansion."

……

(End of this chapter)