Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 194 Stepping Through the Void to Arrive at the Holy Land

The autumn wind was strong, and Zhou Yi pulled the little hand beside her.

"Go home, go home, Xiaofeng, stop watching the commotion."

Dugu Feng seemed not to hear his words. With her bright eyes, she looked around Dingding Gate. Although that figure was in the crowd, his temperament could not be concealed, and she could not take her eyes off him at first glance.

When Dugu Feng first saw him, she also felt that the person was extraordinary and indescribably stunning.

"Little Celestial Master Zhou, let's go over there."

"Goodbye, it's going to rain soon, go home and collect the laundry for Grandma."

Dugu Feng was amused by his unwillingness, so she grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the crowd to the west side of Dingding Gate.

The handsome young man standing beside the city gate had extremely keen senses and spotted the two of them instantly.

So he folded a paper fan and pointed it at Zu Junyan.

"We'll hand him over to the guards of the Imperial City later."

"Yes!"

The six internal martial arts masters around him, their temples bulging, responded respectfully. The handsome young man moved with surprising speed, and despite the large number of people around him, he passed through them in a short while.

Some people blocking the way unconsciously moved aside due to a spatial pulling force.

With light, graceful steps, she entered the deep alley of the Heavenly Street from the west side of Dingding Gate.

Most of the martial arts enthusiasts here have gone out to see the excitement, leaving the alley quiet except for the weeping willows that sway in the wind, occasionally shedding their yellow and green leaves.

The handsome young man slowed his pace, deliberately waiting for the person behind him.

Following Dugu Feng's rhythm, Zhou Yi walked through the increasingly sparse willow branches that resembled a curtain, and the three of them were now walking side by side.

Dugu Feng sized up the handsome young man beside her.

Upon closer inspection, the first thing you notice is a pair of bright, elfin eyes. She is dressed as a man, but her skin is as white as snow, and she is incredibly charming with just a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

It is often said that witches are beautiful and charming, and that is absolutely true.

Her thoughts were slightly off, and she didn't notice the strange look in the handsome young man's eyes.

The girl beside her possessed an undeniable and exquisite beauty, as well as a familiar aura.

The source of this peculiar quality is naturally...
Wanwan's gaze swept past Dugu Feng and landed on Zhou Yi.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she winked at him. With just one expression, it was as if she had said a lot to him, making Zhou Yi feel guilty for neglecting her.

However, she only showed slight weakness when facing Zhou Yi.

Once she shifted her gaze, she instantly waved the folding fan in her hand. The movement was light, yet it carried a mysterious, enchanting charm, causing Dugu Feng's hair to flutter.

She was dressed as a man, hence the words:

“Miss Feng, you’re standing so close to me, your husband will be jealous later.”

"He wouldn't."

Dugu Feng's eyes were filled with a smile as she spoke softly, "When he saw his beloved sister whom he had never forgotten, it was like drinking honey; there was no sourness in his heart at all."

After hearing this, Wanwan looked at Zhou Yi and said, "Really? I heard he's very cold."

Zhou Yi's face was once again drawn to Little Phoenix's gaze, and he couldn't help but glance at them sideways:
"of course it's true."

"There are so many people in this world, too many to count, but there are only a few I'm truly close to. You could call me cold-hearted. But I do remember those who are close to me, and they're always on my mind."

Zhou Yi plucked a few narrow, half-yellow, half-green willow leaves: "These leaves were originally lush and green, but now they're withering. Whose fault is that?"

Dugu Feng knew what kind of twisted logic he was going to spout, but she played along and asked, "Whose fault is it?"

Wanwan didn't respond, casually looking at Ye Zi, then gazing intently at him.

"The autumn shadows linger, the frost falls late, leaving withered lotus leaves to listen to the sound of rain. It's all the fault of the autumn wind; it disturbs the hearts of flowers and leaves, diminishes their lush greenery and faded red blossoms, causing them to fall anxiously, adding to the sense of boundless loneliness."

"Oh"

"It turns out it was all caused by his philandering."

The two glanced in the same direction and saw the withered leaves swirling and flying up from his palm.

Zhou Yi took a step, and in a flash, a white figure appeared, blocking their path.

"So the trouble is with me. You should give up and stop fighting each other. As for the sweet and sour taste, it reminds me of a unique six-fruit wine that has both sweet and sour flavors. I'll find it for you to try later."

Seeing the slight seriousness in his expression, Dugu Feng couldn't help but smile:
"What are you thinking? I met Miss Wan to thank her for her help in Jiangdu last time. At the time, I was unaware of her identity and mistook her for an enemy, which is why I drew my sword against her."

Wanwan pointed to a teahouse with a sign that read "Zisunxuan" by the roadside.

"I was impetuous back then, but since we've bumped into each other today, I'd like to invite Miss Feng for a cup of tea."

Turning his head, he glanced at Zhou Yi again, suppressing his smile:

"The Celestial Master is right here. I came to Dongdu to seek the Holy Emperor of our sect, but I couldn't find any tea for the Celestial Master."

With a folding fan in hand, Wanwan instantly transformed into the 'Young Master Zhou' she was impersonating, and went upstairs with Dugu Feng.

Zhou Yi pretended not to hear and followed.

There is also a sign upstairs in Zisunxuan that reads "Huzhou Guzhu Zisun Tea".

This tea comes from Guzhu Mountain in Changxing, Huzhou, and like Bijian Tea from Xiazhou and Dongbai Tea from Wuzhou, it has the title of "tribute tea".

The teahouse was opened by people from Luoyang.

As soon as Zhou Yi stepped upstairs, the manager on the second floor initially doubted his own eyes, but after taking a closer look, he was startled.

After recognizing their identities, they hurriedly went to greet them.

His shop is just a small branch, how did it attract such an important person!

Zhou Yi didn't cause much of a commotion and went to a private room facing south with a window. The two people inside were sitting opposite each other and had left a seat for him.

The waiter, instructed by the manager, worked extremely fast, bringing the tea in the blink of an eye.

After the door closed, Zhou Yi listened to them talk about things in Jiangdu.

Then they talked about how to capture Zu Junyan and how to make him obediently write a manifesto.

Zhou Yi didn't care much about these topics.

It was a pleasant surprise that a fight didn't break out, or even that things got too tense.

Dugu Feng and Wanwan didn't call out to him, and he didn't interrupt.

Sipping tea leisurely, I savored the experience, wanting to compare the merits and demerits of this Zisun tea with its equally famous Sichuan Mengding tea.

As I savored it, I was reminded of Sichuan and Chongqing, and of the song "Moon over Jiangdu Palace".

suddenly
I felt someone step on my left foot under the table, and that foot was still resting on top of it, which was obviously intentional.

Then, the right foot received the same treatment.

Zhou Yi didn't take it seriously and intended to bear it silently.

However, some people's actions went too far.

He sipped a little more tea, frowned slightly, gently put the cup down, and used the techniques of a martial arts grandmaster.

This Crane Hand technique is silent and stealthy, capable of striking with an empty-handed opponent.

If one person acts strangely, the other person will definitely notice.

Think about this.

He used both hands to grab two smooth ankles.

Dugu Feng and Wanwan's expressions changed slightly, but as masters of the martial arts world, their movements were extremely subtle. They exchanged a glance, and in an instant, there was no further change in their expressions.

Zhou Yi felt that he had no strange hobbies or quirks, and that it was just out of curiosity.

After a series of actions, he had a sock in each hand.

Little Phoenix was a bit more sensitive, and a slight blush rose on her pretty face. She covered it with the cup lid and gave him a subtle glare.

Then I couldn't sit still any longer.

"Miss Wan, why don't we come to your residence as guests?"

"No."

Wanwan declined, saying, "I still need to find my master."

She looked at Zhou Yi: "The Celestial Master must have heard the news from the Evil King by now."

"Yeah, I heard that."

"Then I wish you success in obtaining the He Shi Bi jade."

"it is good."

After saying this, as the little phoenix turned around, the little demon girl mouthed something to him.

Zhou Yi could guess without even thinking that she was speaking ill of the Holy Maiden.
……

Beneath the gilded plaque at the main gate of the Dugu Mansion, Qiao Gongshan, who had come here on Li Jiancheng's orders, wore a somber expression.

He met Dugu Feng.

Not only did they receive confirmation from the other party that the Dugu family had officially supported the Celestial Master, but they also brought a letter written in Dugu Feng's own handwriting.

This letter was written to Li Yuan.

Judging from Dugu Feng's attitude, he probably wants to persuade the family head to bring Guanzhong to the Celestial Master.

Qiao Gongshan had no influence over the decisions made by the head of the family.

However, he had not completed the task assigned by the eldest son, leaving him full of doubts.

However, just as he heard two footsteps approaching on the long street, Qiao Gongshan looked up and was stunned. He was filled with surprise and felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun had shone through.

So that's how it is!

The reason for this quiet and unassuming process is quite surprising.

The gazes of the man and woman naturally fell upon him.

Qiao Gongshan waved behind him, and his men followed, walking towards the newcomer.

"Greetings, Celestial Master and Miss Dugu."

"Who are you.?"

Before Zhou Yi could even meet him, Qiao Gongshan immediately introduced himself: "I am Qiao Gongshan, and I have come to pay a visit on the orders of my eldest son."

"Li Jiancheng?"

"Exactly."

Seeing that Zhou Yi's attitude wasn't very friendly, Qiao Gongshan became even more careful with his words.

With his status as one of the Five Generals of Changlin, he could easily roam freely in Guanzhong, but the man before him gave him a feeling of even greater terror than when facing the eldest son or even the head of the family.

Actually, Qiao Gongshan was just overthinking things because he felt guilty.

Zhou Yi did not target him in terms of either his aura or his spirit.

Qiao Gongshan's Adam's apple bobbed as he cautiously inquired, "When the lectures at Jingnian Temple begin, will the Celestial Master personally attend?"

Zhou Yi smiled gently:
"Are you asking whether I will go when the Evil King and Empress Yin go to see the He Shi Bi jade?"

Talking to smart people is 'simple'.

Qiao Gongshan regretted it; he should have asked directly. But Zhou Yi didn't care about his little trick.

Qiao Gongshan hurriedly added:
"If we receive the Celestial Master's approval, Jingnian Temple may hold the Buddhist assembly ahead of schedule."

“I don’t have that much influence. When I met Master Kong last time, he was so stingy that he didn’t want to say a single word to me.”

Didn't the Venerable Liaokong practice silent meditation?
Qiao Gongshan glanced at him weakly, thinking to himself that this was deliberately nitpicking.

"You don't need to ask me for confirmation; whether you go or not is entirely up to you."

Qiao Gongshan's heart sank further. The battle at Hulao Pass was critical, and a major battle could break out at any moment. Yet he returned at this time, probably because he was determined to enter the temple with the two top experts of the Demonic Sect.

"Master, the eldest son would very much like to have a chat with you."

"No need."

Zhou Yi stared at him and asked, "Are you being so obsequious because Liao Kong himself said he would give you the He Shi Bi jade?"

No, not at all.

Qiao Gongshan was telling the truth, when suddenly Zhou Yi said:
“Since you’re close to them, why bother hiding it now? You should go with Li Jiancheng to inquire whether Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple want to support Li Yuan, so you don’t end up disappointed.”

"If the result is different from what you expect, then there will be a chance to sit down and talk with me."

Qiao Gongshan took a breath.

He glanced at Zhou Yi, his gaze quite complex, sensing a strong sense of self-confidence in the other man.

This prompted him to speak involuntarily:
"The Celestial Master is currently positioned between the North and the South. If Yuwen Huaji and Li Mi cooperate, even with the large army of the Eastern Capital, it would be impossible to break their alliance. Moreover, in Jiangnan, there is Jiangdu guarded by Zhang Xutuo, as well as the forces of Xiao Xian and Lin Shihong, and the Song Clan's power is also awe-inspiring in Lingnan."

"Even though the Celestial Master is powerful, it is by no means a matter of a day or two to subdue the world."

Zhou Yi had no intention of explaining to him: "You're right, we can tell Li Yuan about this later."

After saying this, he left Qiao Gongshan and the others behind and returned to the mansion with Dugu Feng.

"General Joe"

Those around him were about to speak when Qiao Gongshan cut them off in a deep voice: "Let's report back to the eldest young master first."

Zhou Yi and Dugu Feng entered the mansion together without any attempt to conceal their presence.

Although they didn't do anything intimate along the way.

But anyone with a discerning eye could tell from their familiarity with each other and their young mistress's personality that something was amiss; they certainly didn't seem like strangers who had spent a few days together.

This stunned everyone in the mansion.

Especially those relatives and friends who were kept in the dark are still processing this news.

After discussing it, they seemed to have suddenly understood everything and realized the old lady's various arrangements in recent days.

Many people were both surprised and delighted during the discussion.

This surprise was felt from top to bottom; even the gatekeeper had the illusion of being hit on the head with gold.

The Dugu family was in turmoil, and Dugu Ce stepped forward to stop some of the bad gossip in time.

My sister and brother-in-law are in love; it's not a political deal or any other shady business.

Dugu Ce had been thoroughly disciplined by his second uncle in Jiangdu, so he was quite knowledgeable about this matter.

Everyone was overjoyed to hear the news.

The outside discussion was expected. Zhou Yi and Dugu Feng first went to visit their grandmother to confirm that her old illness had been cured.

Upon learning of the Jingnian Zen Temple, the old lady suggested:

“This is indeed a good opportunity to seize the He Shi Bi jade. I am willing to join forces with you.”

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Actually, the actions of the Evil King and Empress Yin are related to me."

"Oh?"

Seeing her confusion, Zhou Yi explained the reason. You Chuhong knew he was confident and simply said she could help at any time, leaving the rest to his arrangements.

Back in the inner courtyard, upstairs in the waterside pavilion, Little Phoenix had barely sat down when she puffed out her cheeks and stretched out a hand towards him.

"Bring it here."

Seeing Zhou Yi reach into his pocket, her lovely eyes widened slightly.

"How could you have such a preference?"

"No way."

Zhou Yi sat down and said seriously, "Who told you to step on my foot first?"

Dugu Feng sat down next to him, her arm resting on her knee and her hand supporting her chin. She was somewhat displeased, but still spoke gently:

"The enchanting woman of the Demonic Sect is unparalleled in beauty, and there is no one like her in the world. No wonder she has captured your heart. I thought she would leave in a flash, but I didn't expect her to be willing to accommodate you."

She gave her a sideways glance: "You make others envious, and I feel sour. They only stepped on you, and they didn't even put their weight on you."

"I won't see your good sisters again next time."

Zhou Yi looked down at her with a smile: "My cousin said she wanted to see you."

Dugu Feng rolled her eyes at him, her eyebrows arching in a charming way.

She got angry again and hit him several times: "You still dare to talk back."

Zhou Yi held out his hand to her: "Give it to me."

"What?" Dugu Feng didn't understand. Zhou Yi reached out and skillfully placed her left leg across his own, then casually removed her shoes.

The innate true energy is extremely miraculous; even without socks, the feet are spotless, crystal clear, and smooth, like a work of art.

Dugu Feng's pretty face flushed red: "What's so interesting about it?"

Zhou Yi smiled, merely admiring her, and as he put the socks she had taken off earlier back on, he said in a rather serious tone:

"Xiaofeng, you don't need to make concessions from now on. I don't want you to suffer any grievances."

"As for your description of unparalleled beauty, let me think about it. When I first saw you in Yongqiu, I was left with an unforgettable feeling of amazement. That is the kind of unparalleled beauty I admire."

Dugu Feng laughed and punched him lightly, then made a gesture of covering her ears:
"I won't listen. Your words are too sweet. That's how the demoness from the Demonic Sect must have been bewitched by you."

"No, I'm just telling the truth."

Little Phoenix naturally grabbed his arm, no longer holding a grudge against him.

Then, she stared at Zhou Yi's hand movements and paused slightly.

Zhou Yi noticed that she was staring at him and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Dugu Feng didn't speak. She withdrew her foot and took off her other shoe as well.

At this moment, Zhou Yi noticed something shocking: the two white socks on her feet were clearly different lengths, one long and one short.
……

After this incident, Zhou Yi was delighted to receive three days of silence from Little Phoenix, who refused to speak to him.

Unfortunately, only one night has passed.

As if she had forgotten about it, she took the initiative to speak to him and cancel the three-day agreement.

While Zhou Yi meditated and practiced his skills, she quietly stood by his side, arranging his trivial matters.

Another agreed-upon deadline is fast approaching.

The seventh day of the insect-slaying calendar.

Si hour.

South of Luoyang, the sky was overcast and gloomy, heavy as a leaden curtain, with the sun hidden deep behind thick clouds.

A strong wind swept through, blowing the dense clouds into a chaotic jumble, and causing the flags on the oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages along the way to flutter loudly.

"Drive~!"

"Drive~!"

A few light cavalrymen rushed ahead and saw a crowd of people on the road in the distance, with a long, winding stream of people extending deep into the valley between the two mountains. Birds were occasionally startled and flew away from the pine and bamboo forests further away, indicating that the crowd had at least reached that point.

"Faster! Faster!"

One of the leaders of the Beihai Gang shouted out, afraid of missing out on the excitement.

He looked around and saw that everyone there was a江湖人 (jianghu person, a martial arts practitioner) from nearby cities.

The lecture was not scheduled to begin, but people arrived early.

Logically speaking, these people would all be kept outside Jingnian Temple, and none of them would dare to barge in.

But then the evil king and the empress arrived, and the Jingnian Zen Temple opened its doors.

Missing such a grand event in the martial arts world would be a lifelong regret.

The halls and pavilions of Jingnian Temple stretch out in a continuous, undulating pattern, resembling a small city. It can accommodate as many wandering martial artists as there are around Luoyang.

Perhaps it's better to guide than to block, or perhaps Jingnian Temple has the confidence to do so.

Upon learning the news, they immediately sent monks to greet him at the main gate, not only setting up incense burners to pray for his well-being, but also having someone guide him through the Manjushri Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Boundless Hall.

Having witnessed the grandeur and solemnity of these palaces, the martial artists entering the Zen temple couldn't help but restrain their expressions.

They spontaneously kept quiet and dared not do anything rash.

"Dong dong~!"

The melodious sounds of bells and chanting echoed from afar, reverberating throughout the main hall and temple.

After immersing themselves in the atmosphere of Jingnian Temple, the group of martial artists arrived at the viewing area beneath the bell tower, which was a huge white stone platform with five hundred Arhats evenly distributed on each of its four entrances.

The Immortal Bronze Palace, crafted from numerous gold and bronze artifacts, is situated behind the Three Buddhas.

Manjushri Bodhisattva sits on the back of a golden lion. The shrine and incense altar are all decorated with colorful sculptures and gold ornaments. If you look closely, the five hundred Arhats are also cast in gold and bronze.

This scene brought a great shock to those who had long heard of him.

The legend of Yang Gong's treasure trove still circulates in the martial arts world.

What you see before your eyes is a wealth that Yang Su could never accumulate in his entire life.

This sacred place of martial arts has existed for a long time and possesses an astonishing cultural heritage.

It is easier for Buddhist sects to cultivate masters than for secular martial arts circles. Their training methods are clearly defined, they have senior monks to guide them, and they have no shortage of resources. They do not leave the temple for long periods of time, and they study Buddhist teachings in depth. After many years, even the major families and sects cannot compare to them.

There is also the method of recruiting talent by "laying down the butcher's knife and converting to Buddhism".

With such a group of experts guarding the treasure, naturally no one dared to try and steal it.

However, an unexpected event occurred at this generation's holy land.

Even though they knew the He Shi Bi jade was in Jingnian Temple, some people still dared to covet it.

More and more martial artists entered Jingnian Temple, and Xue Wanche, Qiao Gongshan, and others saw familiar faces.

There were friends from the Longxi School and the Guanzhong Sword School, as well as disciples from the Lüliang School.

"Young Master, can the He Shi Bi jade be protected?"

Uncle Xie asked in a low voice.

Li Jiancheng's eyes swept around, and the martial arts people gathered in Luoyang continued to pour in: "If the Holy Land is not confident, it will never let these people in. Whether it is the Evil King and the Yin Queen or the Taoist Celestial Master, they are all included in the calculation."

Erwen Huan's eyes lit up:
"What the eldest son means is that the Zen Master is taking advantage of the situation to try to regain all the influence he has lost in the Eastern Capital."

Qiao Gongshan said, "Not only that, but we also want to create momentum for the He Shi Bi jade at the lecture."

The arrangement of the sacred site greatly benefited the Li clan in Guanzhong.

The Celestial Master's power must be suppressed now, otherwise his powerful image will be deeply ingrained in the minds of many martial arts practitioners in the north.

Ever since Qiao Gongshan reported this, they have known that the Dugu family's decision is unlikely to be shaken.

Fortunately, the Zen Master's attitude brought about a turning point in the situation.

Li Jiancheng's gaze fell on the stone platform below the five bronze halls, where three withered old monks with glowing heads and two Cihang nuns stood.

These are all top-tier experts that the Li clan cannot find.

Not to mention the presence of the Four Great Monks and the Zen Master.

He had only heard of the names of the Empress Yin and the Evil King, and he was not sure if they were much stronger than these top experts.

Even if the Celestial Master were present, there would be absolutely no chance of him breaking into the Immortal Bronze Palace.

"Clang!"

It was noon when Li Jiancheng saw the seemingly young Zen Master Liaokong suddenly open his eyes from meditation.

at this time
“Ding——!”

The large bell on the bell tower was struck by something, and the bell trembled violently, bursting out with a loud bang!
"Ah~!"

A scream rang out, and a martial arts practitioner not far from the bell tower reached out to catch the monk who had just struck the bell, causing him to fall.

Ouch!

Five or six people, having lost their strength, all collapsed.

It turned out that the monk was not far from the bell and was affected by the force. Fortunately, someone helped him, otherwise his life would have been uncertain if he had been hit on the ground.

"Here it comes~!"

Xue Wanche, Feng Li, Qiao Gongshan and others all perked up.

It's unclear who launched the attack, but it was definitely one of those three.

Liao Kong had remained silent for decades, and he did not speak at this moment either.

"Amitabha."

In front of the shrine next to the Three Buddhas, Master Jixiang, the head of the Four Great Monks and a member of the Sanlun School, chanted a Buddhist prayer.

"Shi Zhixuan, why are you causing trouble here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone heard a soft laugh, followed by a phantom figure leaping from the Boundless Palace below, appearing on the white stone platform like a ghost.

The moment he appeared, the eyes of the four holy monks, the five guardian masters on the stone platform, and Liaokong, Master Zhenyan, Juexin, Yixin, Fan Qinghui, and others all focused on him.

An invisible wind stirred the white hair at Shi Zhixuan's temples, but instead of retreating, he advanced.

That step he took seemed to strike right into everyone's hearts, giving them a jolt of energy.

The mental pressure from the experts had no effect on him.

Li Jiancheng and the five generals of Changlin were extremely surprised; the Evil King's power was beyond their expectations!

Not only them, but many people in the martial arts world also noticed something amiss.

Just then, another figure, accompanied by a darting phantom of a celestial demon, merged into one on the white stone platform, transforming into a beautiful woman half-veiled in a light veil.

The most prominent of the eight masters of the Demonic Sect, known openly as the Empress Yin.

Many people saw her face for the first time.

This ability to maintain youthfulness surpasses that of Fan Qinghui; there are absolutely no traces of the passage of time on her.

Similarly, the mental pressure from a group of Buddhist masters had no effect on her.

It's clear that the martial arts prowess of these two individuals is beyond expectations!

The onlookers were astonished.

"Empress Yin, why must you get involved in the He Shi Bi matter?"

Master Jiaxiang spoke again.

Shi Zhixuan stared at the master who was imparting Buddhist teachings and trying to guide him into Buddhism, remaining silent for a long time.

Zhu Yuyan's emotions were much simpler; she smiled.

"I have always longed to see the legendary He Shi Bi, but I have never had the chance. Now that I know it is in the bronze hall behind you, Master, why not take it out and let me have a look? Once I see the treasure, all my worries will be over."

Her voice was light and airy, giving people a very casual feeling.

Master Jiaxiang, however, could not possibly compromise and agree.

He clasped his hands together and said, "I will see you at the lecture, why rush to see you after death?"

Shi Zhixuan asked, "Is the He Shi Bi really inside?"

Master Daoxin's white beard twitched, and he scolded his disciple in the tone of a master:
"Young man, why are you asking so many questions? You failed to get through last night, didn't you? We're all here today, how could you possibly have a chance? Hurry up and leave, don't disturb our meal."

Shi Zhixuan smiled gently at Daoxin:
"My master chased me away as soon as we met, which made me very sad."

Master Daoxin noticed the looks in the eyes of Venerable Dixin and Liaokong, swallowed his strange words, and simply turned his head away, no longer looking at anyone.

The old nun Juexin revealed an expression of utter understanding and said:
"These two can't get through. Have your help arrived?"

Empress Yin smiled at her: "Master, your words give the impression of extraordinary skill. Have you cultivated the Cihang Sword Manual to the point of Sword Heart Clarity?"

The old nun Juexin did not answer.

Empress Yin's smile vanished instantly: "Then what right do you have to speak so arrogantly? Do you think you can stop this sect master?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a strong wind surged in the air, pressing down like a raging wave.

Her inner energy remained still; this was merely the spiritual power of a Grandmaster.

On the stone platform, three gaunt old monks remained in meditation postures. Qianye's fingertips intertwined, shattering all the force pressing down from the air.

Ku'e spoke: "It is truly gratifying that the Empress has broken free of her shackles. She should dedicate the rest of her life to further progress. Getting entangled in worldly affairs would only waste the opportunities she has accumulated over most of her life."

Empress Yin remained silent, but Shi Zhixuan, who was standing to the side, said, "Why don't you all find a place to pass away peacefully and seek a precious raft to save the world?"

Ku'e shut his mouth.

These two unpleasant guests don't seem to be able to be persuaded to leave.

Master Jiaxiang stared sharply in the direction of the Wuliang Hall and said loudly, "Celestial Master, please show yourself as well."

There was a "whoosh" sound in the air.

At the top of the Boundless Hall, a white figure moved gracefully, transforming into a streak of white light in the air.

Then, he stepped out with a swirling force that created spatial ripples, took another step, and as his body was about to land, the true energy of the twelve meridians circulated in a yin-yang cycle, defying the heavens to step out with a second swirling step.

Therefore, from the Wuliang Hall to the White Stone Platform, his feet never touched the ground.

Yun Shuai, who was watching from a distance on the rooftop with an eagle eye, felt a chill run down his spine.

He almost thought he had become the third best in lightness skill, but upon closer reflection, he realized that no matter how much the first-place player improved, he would still be second.

so far so good
But this isn't right!
Even the world's second-best lightness skill, which allows one to move as fast as a hawk, is confusing, let alone ordinary martial arts practitioners.

As that figure in white robes drifted down from the sky, it gave one the disorienting feeling of an immortal strolling through the void.

Many people gaped in disbelief, their imaginations now running wild with wonder about the art of lightness and agility.

That's an absolute allure of conquering the sky and yearning for boundless freedom!
Even Shi Zhixuan and Zhu Yuyan showed a hint of surprise.

Zhou Yi smiled and nodded at the two of them, as if to say hello.

"Master Jiaxiang, you've extended such a warm invitation; are you perhaps to present me with the He Shi Bi jade?"

Master Jiaxiang didn't respond directly, but changed the subject:
"With the Celestial Master present, how could this humble monk dare to be negligent?"

Zhou Yi smiled gently: "Master, your manners are impeccable, leaving no room for criticism. However, isn't the Zen Master of Jingnian Temple the host of this place? Why didn't he show any courtesy?"

The old nun Yixin asked sternly, "Does the Celestial Master not know that Master Liaokong practices the silent meditation?"

"Of course I know."

"However, as the saying goes, one may not speak, but one knows in one's heart. I have a question I would like to ask the Zen Master."

Before the Immortal Bronze Hall, the handsome monk, who looked no more than forty years old, took a step forward with a serene and divine light on his face.

Liao Kong lifted his brown monk's robe and gestured for Zhou Yi to speak.

"Master Zen, why do you use the He Shi Bi jade as bait to harm people everywhere and cause chaos in the world?"

Liao Kong's expression immediately turned serious upon hearing this.

The old nun Juexin frowned and said, "Why is the Celestial Master throwing mud at us?"

Neither the Yin Queen nor the Evil King spoke. They saw Zhou Yi take another step forward, staring intently at the empty passage.
"You were the ones who released the news about the He Shi Bi jade, which led to various forces in the martial arts world being drawn to the Eastern Capital, causing constant fighting and killing countless people in the martial arts world."

"Then he deliberately sent people to the Rong family's birthday banquet, ostensibly to spread news of the lecture, but in reality to recruit a large number of people for Rong Fengxiang, this sorcerer, and to instigate a great battle, resulting in the tragic deaths of tens of thousands of people."

"Why did Wang Shichong raise a rebellion during the Battle of Tianjie Imperial City? It was because you used the He Shi Bi jade to lure the people behind him to Luoyang that he was able to save his life and thus suffered this calamity."

"Afterwards, Li Mi took the opportunity to attack Luoyang, but he was defeated by me and thus failed. If he had entered the city, how many innocent people would have suffered?"

People in the surrounding martial arts world were greatly alarmed upon hearing this.

They followed Zhou Yi's gaze and looked up at the sky:
"You are a Zen master, yet you pretend to be deaf and dumb, causing the deaths of so many people, and you still talk about compassion. This silent Zen is not worth practicing."

"Nonsense!!" the two old nuns shouted.

Zhou Yi said casually, "Then refute me. Which point I made is unrelated to the He Shi Bi jade in your possession? And in what way did I wrong you?"

Although the two old nuns were furious, they were genuinely at a loss for how to prove it.

How could what happened in Luoyang be unrelated to the He Shi Bi jade?
"Goodness is goodness."

A Buddhist chant rang out, and Yixin and Juexin looked at Kong in surprise. Their decades of silent meditation had been broken today.

Liaokong bows to the Buddha with both hands:

"Don't even mention that I practice the silent meditation method. Even if I talked for a lifetime, I still couldn't out-argue the Celestial Master."

Zhou Yi's voice was cold: "Since you've tacitly agreed, there's no need to argue. Just bring out the He Shi Bi jade."

Liao Kong shook his head: "Master, there's no need to force us. We will bring it out ourselves at the lecture."

Empress Yin said, "May I, the sect leader, take a look first?"

Liao Kong still refused: "It's of no use for the Empress to observe this."

The Evil King stopped wasting words, formed a hand seal with one hand, and smiled elegantly: "Then there's nothing more to say."

……

(End of this chapter)