The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

Time flew by, and the years inside the cave imperceptibly drifted away.

Since one generally no longer needed food in the True Pill Realm, they only required the timely ingestion of an Elixir with fasting effects to continue secluded cultivation in deep meditation.

Only after his injuries were fully healed, and the Xuanyin Sword Energy operated to his liking, did Qingyu slowly open his eyes.

The Dragon Essence in his palm emitted a slightly dimmed fierce radiance, no longer as brilliant as before. Clearly, Qingyu had continuously absorbed the power of the Dragon Essence day and night to moderate the Xuanyin Sword Energy, causing significant consumption of the Dragon Essence.

However, even with such consumption, the energy contained within the Dragon Essence remained tumultuous and fierce, continuously transmitting a sensation of intense heat while held in his palm. It was still sufficient for use until reaching Divinity Realm.

"This time, the healing turned out to be a blessing in disguise,"

Qingyu stood up, stretching his limbs as he talked to himself.

Not only because the Xuanyin Sword Energy had been honed for better control, but also because Qingyu's mind had been in deep sync with Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi during the healing, binding even more tightly with it.

If he were to impersonate Xuan Dou now, the effect would undoubtedly be better than before.

By now, Zhang Yuanchu and the others must have realized that the Daoist at the Debating Conference was an imposter. The real Supreme Daoist Xuan Dou had been in secluded meditation within the Supreme Taoist Sect all along.

Thus, it was better not to push their luck under these circumstances.

Qingyu stepped out of the cave, his Power of Thought reaching out to the being he had been sensitizing, calling for its arrival.

Before long, the White Phoenix, which had been lingering nearby these days, descended from the sky, its intelligent large eyes revealing a clear joy.

"It hasn't been long since I last saw you, but you've undergone quite the transformation," Qingyu remarked in surprise at the divine bird before him.

The White Phoenix's plumage shimmered with a bright jade luster, spotlessly clean, not at all like something that had been in the wilderness for over twenty days.

In the past, if the White Phoenix wasn't cleaned for ten days, a thin layer of dust would coat its feathers.

Such a mount was like a car from a past life; white ones got dirty the easiest.

Riding a bird soaring high might look splendid, but it actually required diligent care every day without cutting any corners.

Yet now, the White Phoenix had reached a stage where it no longer required such attendance.

Qingyu placed a hand on it, sensing a flow of energy within it that differed from True Qi, resembling more closely the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth.

Its spotlessness after more than twenty days in the wilderness was clearly the work of this unknown energy.

"This is good; as a mount, its improved combat ability can keep up without falling behind."

Riding the Phoenix through the clouds was a fashionable way to display elegance and luxury. Qingyu did not want the White Phoenix to become useless once he reached Divinity.

At least with the Phoenix's strength increasing, it could maintain its status as a mount.

There was no need to think about it fighting alongside Qingyu; it just needed to ensure it wasn't killed by the remnants of the battle.

"Then, let's set off." Qingyu leapt onto the vast back of the White Phoenix and commanded.

With so many days passed, Qingyu needed to find out what had happened in all this time. After the great battle of Divinity at the Debating Conference, what had followed?

"Caw—"

The White Phoenix emits a clear cry as it soars into the sky.

"Your Majesty, there have been numerous incursions by the Lang Man on the Northern Grassland recently. According to military scouts, a large number of Lang Man tribes have gathered, intending to invade Kuocang Pass."

In the Yangxin Hall of the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, the newly appointed Crown Prince's Tutor, Si Haofeng, reported.

The Crown Prince's Tutor is one of the Three Masters of the Eastern Palace, essentially a teacher for the Crown Prince. Currently, Great Zhou had no Crown Prince. Si Haofeng was appointed as the Crown Prince's Tutor to prepare for the future education of Feng Xi.

Indeed, this Crown Prince's Tutor was actually the Princess' Grand Tutor. It must be said, Feng Jiu cherished his first daughter to the core.

However, Feng Xi was not yet a year old, and her formal education was still years away. Si Haofeng's main role for now was acting as Feng Jiu's personal secretary, handling some affairs for him.

As for the so-called Lang Man, they are people from the Golden Wolf Khan Court on the grassland.

The grassland people are fiercely brave and uneducated, often scornfully referred to as "Lang Man" by many civil officers of the Northern Zhou. Recently, some tribes that do not belong to the Golden Wolf Khan Court started to frequently invade the borders of Northern Zhou.

Feng Jiu knew this was a tactic of the Golden Wolf Khan. These so-called tribes not belonging to the Golden Wolf Khan Court were actually orchestrated by the court itself.

With the Golden Wolf Khan's dominance, how could he tolerate disobedience on the grassland?

These little tricks were designed to circumvent agreements made with Meng Shanhe. Since the Golden Wolf Khan Court must not invade for ten years, then tribes not belonging to the court should be fine, right?

Clearly, the Khan was aware of the changing political landscape of Central Plains and wished to have a hand in it.

These tribes were his tests.

"Has Daoist Qingyu returned?" Feng Jiu, somewhat exhausted, rubbed his brow as he asked.

Recently, just dealing with the collaboration with the Four Demonic Sects had been tiring enough, and now he faced invasions from the Northern Grassland.

It had to be said, Feng Jiu began to miss Qingyu. Qingyu was always resourceful; no matter how big the problem, he always found a solution.

If he were here, these Lang Man from the Northern Grassland wouldn't be a problem at all.

"Your Majesty," Si Haofeng raised his voice, "The leader of this tribal alliance, Jashu, is rumored to be the illegitimate son of the Golden Wolf Khan, fully inheriting his father's Martial Arts skills. With Jashu leading, nearly one hundred and fifty thousand grassland troops have gathered. This is with the full support of the Golden Wolf Khan from behind. If our dynasty is careless and loses Kuocang Pass, it will be the beginning of a great disaster for Northern Zhou!"

What time is it for still mentioning that mystical white-haired Daoist? What use is the Director of Imperial Observatory? Can the Director of Imperial Observatory defeat the grassland people? Can the Director of Imperial Observatory repel an army of one hundred and fifty thousand?

Si Haofeng, usually so straightforward, was becoming frantic. The grassland people were almost at the gates, and he was still concerned about when Daoist Qingyu would return?

"Si Qing, you..." Feng Jiu sighed helplessly, "I, the Emperor, am not anxious, Cold Eunuch, this eunuch, is not anxious, yet you are anxious to death."

He muttered to himself, "I sent messages five days ago to all stations to notify him to hurry back to Northern Zhou, why hasn't he arrived?"

The trouble caused by the Lang Man had been anticipated by Feng Jiu and Qingyu, and they had prepared countermeasures. However, to implement those measures, Qingyu's involvement was crucial.

Now that Qingyu was absent, even if Feng Jiu was eager to repel the enemy, there was nothing he could do. He certainly couldn't ask Cold Eunuch to execute a beheading strategy.

If Divinity Realm warriors were deployed, it would undoubtedly escalate the level of military prowess. Previously, the former Emperor Feng Tianming had allowed Cold Eunuch to assist Yi Qianshan, forcing Meng Shanhe to personally rush to the grassland to suppress dissatisfaction.

"Once Daoist Qingyu returns, the problem will resolve itself." In the end, Feng Jiu reluctantly revealed some news.