The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

Slender, pale fingers plucked up a white seed and gently pressed it onto the chessboard.

This was a game of chess that had entered its endgame.

The black side's big dragon was almost taking shape, and this move of the white seed could only slightly contain it, but not directly strangle the big dragon.

"You seem to be merely staving off the inevitable with that move, which doesn't fit your usual style," the middle-aged man on the black side, who had an imposing presence without the need for anger, commented.

"Perhaps it's because I'm not as carefree as I used to be," the young man holding the white pieces said with a wry smile, his eyes lacking spirit.

In the past, he would move deliberately, conceding the game once he saw there was no chance for a turnaround. But now, he was stubbornly persisting in a losing game, undoubtedly a stark change from his former play style.

"You feel guilty, guilty for using Wunian," the authoritative middle-aged man declared, placing another piece down, further shaping the big dragon.

"If you regret it now, you shouldn't have sent that message to Wunian in the first place."

"I don't regret it, nor do I ever do things I'll regret..." the apparently blind young man said, as though he was envisioning the chess game in his heart, raising his hand again to place another piece.

"As the head of the Six Gates' Divine Constables, Wuming should never have allowed such a traitor to emerge from the Six Gates, leading to the deaths of previous Divine Constables and the massacre of undercover agents all over Northern Zhou. That's my true regret."

Ning Wuming said with a mixture of bitterness and resolve, "I just feel a bit guilty, that's all..."

"Master Wunian had also given me guidance in the past. He resolved the knots in my heart and helped me overcome my mental barriers. The time I spent befriending him was a phase of peace of mind.

If it hadn't been for the uncontrollable situation with Qing Yu, I wouldn't have had to scheme against Master Wunian, who hadn't left Dharma Temple for two years."

Ning Wuming sighed as he spoke.

Now, the Daqian Realm was in turmoil, with signs of chaos emerging everywhere. The Six Gates and the military, both pillars of Daqian's force, were dispatching forces to suppress the situation in various regions.

Now, Daqian was truly stretched too thin.

Unfortunately, at this time, that demon from Northern Zhou began his retreat again, which had already lasted several months with no known return. According to spies hidden in Northern Zhou by the Six Gates, the aura from the Heavenly Giant Statue was growing more frightening by the day, and that demon's progression was alarmingly rapid. So rapid that Daqian had no time to prepare.

"With Qing Yu's rise now a fact, and his schemes extremely deep, we must eliminate him if he succeeds. It's likely that he is also in contact with the Hidden Mirror Man. The threat they pose has reached a point where we cannot fail to eliminate them."

Thinking of this, Ning Wuming's eyes grew even more resolute.

He felt very guilty because he had exploited Zen Monk Wunian. The Monk, already preparing for Nirvana, had to rush to Northern Zhou to settle his karma with Qing Yu because of a letter from him.

Seven days away from Nirvana, Wunian had no choice but to go.

Moreover, Ning Wuming had concealed some information in the letter; he didn't reveal that the person cultivating the "Three Turns and Twelve Forms" was someone else from Buddhism, but instead pinned it all on Qing Yu.

The entire world already knew about Qing Yu, who cultivated Buddha Skill and boldly declared "Buddha is indeed Dao" at Pushan Temple, so blaming him came without any discord.

"I have a premonition that Qing Yu is not far from Divine Communication. If we can't disrupt his retreat this time, I will deeply regret it later on," Ning Wuming said calmly, analyzing the situation carefully.

"Your intuition, Heart Eye, is often very accurate. It seems this pawn has come close to becoming a significant threat to us," the middle-aged man said indifferently.

A warrior of the Divinity Realm, wherever placed, represented an undeniable force. However, with Daqian facing internal and external troubles, adding one more enemy to the list was not overly worrying.

But stopping his rise would indeed be a good thing.

"Be careful with Monk Shi Jue, too. Putting aside what plans this young monk has, the secrets he holds may very well rival Qing Yu's," the middle-aged man said as he made another move, seamlessly completing the big dragon.

"Great Zen Temple rose suddenly in the past, founding the Zen Sect and defeating the once-preeminent Esoteric Sect within Buddhism. The secrets behind them are profound. Be extra cautious when dealing with them."

As he spoke about Great Zen Temple, the man's expression turned serious, with a rare note of caution in his tone.

In his view, while Qing Yu was a threat, the Zen Sect's strength and potential danger far surpassed this demon still striving for the Divinity Realm.

In the past, the battle between Zen and Esoteric Sects, with the Zen Sect at a severe disadvantage, surprised many spectators with the outcome.

This struggle happened centuries ago. The Zhou Dynasty remembered this far-reaching Buddhist conflict all too well.

And inheriting most of the heritage of the Great Zhou, Daqian, of course, viewed the Zen Sect's secrets with considerable wariness. Otherwise, why wouldn't the Great Zhou Dynasty make moves to contain the Zen Sect's dominant position within Buddhism in Daqian?

"I understand," Ning Wuming replied seriously.

"As for Qing Yu, let's wait a little longer. Once the emperor starts to make a move against the Shadow King, we will reveal Qing Yu's true identity. Even if we can't confirm his connection with Gong Ziyu, we need to make sure everyone keeps their eyes on him. The Shadow King fostering this castaway from Zhenwu Sect surely has some intention toward Zhenwu Sect.

Later on, pay extra attention to the developments within Zhenwu Sect."

The middle-aged man stood up, his purple robes revealing the embroidery of a Qilin and the gold thread on the edges of his sleeves.

In the Daqian Court, wearing such clothes and having a position within the Six Gates, there was only one person— the Divine Constable.

This imposing middle-aged man was none other than the head of the Six Gates' violent apparatus, the Divine Captor.

"Your accumulation is almost sufficient so set aside your current tasks for now and go into closed-door cultivation. Xihai will take care of your duties, and the Four Gentlemen will reinforce the suppression forces in various regions," the Divine Captor said.

Ning Wuming's accumulation had reached its peak. He was simply polishing his power and holding off the breakthrough. A leap into Divinity was an extraordinary feat, and one wrong move could mean losing everything.

Ning Wuming had reached a point where he could no longer advance, and it was time for the breakthrough.

"With the Four Gentlemen taking over, I can enter into seclusion," Ning Wuming said with a smile.

The Four Gentlemen were the most powerful among the undercover agents, their reputations obscured, yet their strength matched those of the Four Great Divine Capturers in the public eye. At the very least, Bai Wuren, who simply made up the numbers, was no match for any of the Four Gentlemen.

"Hmm, I hope your guilt toward Wunian won't affect your breakthrough," the Divine Captor said finally, as if with concern.

Hearing this, Ning Wuming affirmed, "Once I've made a decision, I will not regret it. Guilt may sadden me but will not become an obstacle."