The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

"General, do not worry. With Daoist Qingyu here, the Hidden Dragon won't go out of control," the Taoist Chen Fei immediately comforted Xu Tiecheng as he came to inform him.

Hearing the name of Qingyu, Xu Tiecheng steadied his heart and said with relief, "With Daoist Qingyu here, indeed, there is no need for concern. It was I who was too impatient."

The Water Soul Formation at the base of Feiyun Pass and Hidden Dragon were both entities that shunned the light. As the stationed commander at Feiyun Pass, Xu Tiecheng naturally was also a loyal follower of Qingyu and Feng Jiwu.

In fact, during the days since Feng Jiwu ascended to the throne, although the Northern Zhou Court had only experienced the major upheaval of Yi Qianshan's rebellion, many positions among the officials and generals had changed a great deal.

With those families secretly manipulated by Qingyu as assistants, Feng Jiwu had quietly altered the political situation in the court in a way that was silent but profound, steering everything towards the scenarios Qingyu and he desired.

Xu Tiecheng was one of Feng Jiwu's most trusted generals.

"The army's most elite scout team is on standby, ready to be dispatched at any moment," said Xu Tiecheng.

Although he was somewhat puzzled as to why the scouts were on standby, he also felt it was related to that weapon. These Taoists hid underground all day long just to develop that weapon.

Xu Tiecheng also wanted to experience for himself just how powerful that weapon really was.

"Then let us wait a bit longer..." said Chen Fei, his eyes flashing with excitement, "Quietly awaiting...the Hidden Dragon's show of force."

At this moment, deep beneath the ground in a cavern, Qingyu sat cross-legged on a stone platform, tracing circles with his hands and evoking the form of Taiji, which harmonizes Yin and Yang.

The surrounding currents of water spun even more rapidly in response to Qingyu's movements. Despite the swift motion, the sound produced grew fainter and fainter, and the stone walls around him were unaffected by the high-speed whirlpool.

"The dark rivers beneath the Northern Land simply cannot compare to the vastness of the sea," Qingyu suddenly sighed.

In terms of the power limit that Hidden Dragon could unleash, it should far surpass the original version. After all, it was augmented by the incredibly strong Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and an Array.

But, as the source of its power, the flow of the water was far less than the sea. Even if all the dark rivers of the Northern Land were integrated, they could not match the vast ocean.

In the midst of the sea, the currents would not be so easily controlled by Qingyu.

"If Hidden Dragon were in the sea, its power could grow several times more," Gu Chen also said regretfully, "But we were also worried that Hidden Dragon wouldn't be powerful enough. That's why we inscribed additional Array Plates. When the time comes, with the support from the brothers of the Earth Department, we can borrow a part of the Earth's power to enhance the might of Hidden Dragon."

"Oh?" Qingyu's own eyes lit up, "This idea seems quite feasible."

It's more difficult to use Earth Qi than water currents, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. In a world where Primordial Energy is so abundant, and even things as mystical as Dragon Veins exist, why couldn't Earth Qi be utilized?

If there's a Hidden Dragon, why can't there be an Earth Dragon?

Moreover, Qingyu had in his possession the Geodetic Secret Manual, the great compendium of Elder Suantian's lifetime of geomancy, which made the creation of Earth Dragon highly feasible.

"After the trial of Hidden Dragon is complete, you all should start researching Earth Dragon," Qingyu instructed.

"Earth Dragon?"

Combining what had been said earlier, Gu Chen immediately realized the significance of Earth Dragon and was greatly exhilarated.

Ascending to Divinity was out of reach for Gu Chen in this lifetime, but the fact that he could help create a weapon with the power comparable to someone in the Divinity Realm was tremendously exciting.

"It's a pity that I lack the Heavenly Talent and cannot cultivate the Circulating Earth Power; I can only assist in the creation of Earth Dragon," lamented Gu Chen.

There was no helping it; the saying goes, "Meet the soldier with a general; counter the water with earth." The Circulating Earth Power was precisely the counter to Circulating Water Energy, but trying to cultivate the former forcefully would be fatal to Gu Chen before he could succeed.

Even switching to another practice wouldn't work. The True Qi that acted as a counter couldn't be transformed; it had to be completely discarded, starting anew. But starting from scratch would mean his meager strength wouldn't suffice to oversee the creation of Earth Dragon.

"The Earth Dragon is still far off; for now, let's see the power of Hidden Dragon," said Qingyu.

With hands intercrossed, Qingyu, who had his legs crossed, performed a Hand Technique that he hadn't used in a long time, "Hidden Dragon is modeled after the human body's meridians and Dantian. As such, if these 'True Qi' (water currents) could be completely controlled, it's also possible to employ Martial Arts with them."

"Water is the softest and yet the hardest; nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. Today, let's display this martial art that embodies the force of utmost softness and hardness."

"Kanglong Youhui."

Upon the release of the hand technique, the sound of a dragon's chant echoed.

The water that had been swirling in the form of Taiji suddenly gushed in one direction, roaring through the channels (waterways) already laid out in planning.

A booming vibration erupted from underground, causing even the surface of the Earth above to tremble mightily.

"It's coming," Xu Tiecheng and Chen Fei both brightened up on the surface.

"Boom—"

Suddenly, a loud explosion came from afar, followed by a sound that felt like the earth was shaking. The sheer magnitude of the noise caused incessant clamor among the soldiers within Feiyun Pass.

"Due north, about a mile away," Xu Tiecheng, having many years of military experience, immediately determined where the tremendous sound was coming from.

"Send my command: Wind Voice Scout Squad, immediately rush to the location one mile to the north and draw everything they see in detail," he ordered, his voice bolstered by True Qi echoing from the Deputy General outside, who replied with a loud, "Yes!"

"The power is already comparable to a move released by someone in the Divinity Realm, only its maneuverability is greatly lacking."

Qingyu slowly opened his eyes. The image of the mountain one mile away crumbling into ruins was as if it was right in front of him. Naturally, he didn't need scouts to tell him about the destruction caused by Hidden Dragon. The scouts were sent for Xu Tiecheng and Gu Chen and the others.

"With my current strength, I can only remotely control up to this distance. Any farther, and I could no longer recall the water currents," Qingyu said.

This was not the sea, where the water is inexhaustible. If these currents were to escape his control, Gu Chen would have to lead people to invest a huge amount of time and energy to reroute them again.

"It is indeed a great pity that Hidden Dragon could not be built in the sea," Gu Chen also shook his head somewhat disappointedly.

The anticipated power comparable to Divinity Realm was within expectations, but the significant limitations affected Gu Chen's mood more than reaching the expected outcome did.

In the sea, it wouldn't just be about having endless seawater as a power source; there would also be the freedom to move within the sea, not limited to just within Feiyun Pass.

"Let's go."

Qingyu grabbed Gu Chen's shoulder, and they shot upward, merging into the land above.

Inside Xu Tiecheng's General Mansion.

Xu Tiecheng and Chen Fei received the album delivered by the Deputy General and were both astonished and quivering as they looked at the scene depicted within.

As an excellent scout, one needs not only sensitive perception and agile movements but also superb skills in rapid sketching.

This scout had skilfully captured the scene with just a few strokes, leaving both of them greatly shaken.