The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

"It's really... I didn't expect to fall into the trap so easily; I hadn't even played my two trump cards yet?"

"I didn't even get the chance to use the 'Seven Absolute Desolate' before I was done for. That's just tragic."

Qing Yu watched as the silhouette of Emperor Shitian slowly faded away, and a black aura suddenly flashed across his body. For a moment, it felt as though he was plummeting into hell.

In his eyes, there was a fleeting glimpse of a dead, desolate light, filled with an ominous void that made one's heart tremble.

To defeat Emperor Shitian, Qing Yu had set up three plans and used the Power of Thought to simulate dozens of battles in his mind.

He had thought it would take all three plans to have a chance of defeating Emperor Shitian, but to his surprise, the opponent did not withstand even the first plan.

Hit by the 'Five Thunders Transmutation Hand' twice, Emperor Shitian was outplayed...

"I always feel like I'm pitting my wits against thin air," Qing Yu complained.

"Ding, congratulations, Host, for killing the boss guarding the gate, Emperor Shitian. You have received the following rewards:

The Inheritance of the gatekeeper boss, Emperor Shitian.

One special lottery draw."

The system's notification rang in his ears, shattering the silence that followed with the inheritance of Emperor Shitian.

"Ding, congratulations, Host, you have acquired the item: Phoenix Blood (Five Stars), Martial Arts Inheritance: 'Sacred Heart Technique' (Five Stars), 'All Swords Return to the Sect' (Five Stars), 'Seven Absolute Desolate' (Five Stars), 'Iron Refining Hand' (Four and a Half Stars)."

Among the five Martial Arts, the 'Sacred Heart Technique' encompasses everything, representing the culmination of Emperor Shitian's lifetime of Martial Arts. Although, because of his personal experiences, it is skewed towards overpowering the weak, its strength is undeniable.

There is also the 'Seven Absolute Desolate' which Emperor Shitian did not have the chance to use—Martial Arts version of elementalization, known only to those who use it.

'Iron Refining Hand,' one that Emperor Shitian once helped Huai Kong master. Although he didn't practice it much, leveraging the Phoenix Fire, he could wield it directly.

Of course, these are just the Martial Arts displayed on the surface. Having spent so many years wandering the world, Emperor Shitian learned innumerable Martial Arts. Besides, having no shame, he would even make a little someone countless years younger his master for the sake of Martial Arts, so his collection was vast.

Thus, the sea of Martial Arts Enlightenment that flooded into Qing Yu's mind was also vast.

Although Xu Fu's talent for Martial Arts was somewhat poor, his comprehension was noteworthy. Otherwise, Martial Arts like 'Sacred Heart Technique' and 'Seven Absolute Desolate' would not have been created.

As such, a millennium of enlightenment poured into Qing Yu's mind all at once, overwhelming him.

Qing Yu once told Wunian that his mind held more than three hundred years of memories. Indeed, Qing Yu had absorbed the insights of dozens of villains, and his memory had long exceeded three hundred years.

But three hundred years and a thousand years are incomparable.

Qing Yu could only seal the enlightenment and absorb it in batches.

"Phew—"

After exiting the system space, Qing Yu shook his head, which was slightly dizzy, and tiredly said, "System, start the special lottery draw."

"Special lottery draw, drawing..."

"Ding, congratulations, Host, you have obtained a Six-star item: 'Saint and Demon Embryo.'"

Following the system notification, an infant less than a month old was placed into Qing Yu's system space.

Item: Saint and Demon Embryo

Grade: Six Stars

Function: Believe me, you can become the Bento Emperor too.

Seeing the drawn item, Qing Yu remained impassive, unfazed by the outcome.

"Bam—"

With a thunderclap on a clear day, surging Primordial Energy burst forth, creating a hurricane-like phenomenon in the sky above.

The Emperor of Northern Zhou, Feng Jiu, who was reviewing memorials, suddenly froze, his hand trembling so much that the fine Jade Wolf Brush he held snapped in his right hand.

All because at the other end of their soul bond, the tumultuous surge made it difficult for Feng Jiwu to control his body.

"Saint and Demon Embryo..." Qing Yu gazed absently at the infant inside the system space.

The Saint and Demon Embryo was a special life form created by Emperor Qi Tian, possessing dual bodies and three souls. The dual bodies could appear simultaneously for combat or switch seamlessly if one was injured; they could transfer Power and move the Primordial Spirit irrespective of the distance between them. The three souls were equivalent to three Primordial Spirits, each capable of creating and controlling avatars.

The Saint and Demon Embryo that Qing Yu drew was likely Emperor Qi Tian's son, Zhu Wu, not yet imbued with the Primordial Spirit. Initially meant to be a vessel for Emperor Qi Tian's rebirth, it was now Qing Yu's draw—whether a reproduction by the system or the original swiped by Qing Yu.

Regardless, acquiring this Saint and Demon Embryo would have a profound impact on Qing Yu.

Even though the Embryo was just a newborn and had not been infused with both the Heavenly Demon Blood Pool and the Divine Province Pillar Qi, its innate nature had already reached Divine Communication level.

Furthermore, being specifically prepared to contain Emperor Qi Tian's Primordial Spirit, the Embryo lacked its own self-awareness—it existed merely as an empty shell waiting for occupancy.

"Embryo..." Qing Yu pondered, "If I use the 'Blood Soul True Understanding' to refine the Embryo into a Blood Soul and incorporate it into my body, it will be like absorbing a treasure between heaven and earth, and my progress thereafter will be beyond imagination.

If instead, I transfer my own Primordial Spirit into the Embryo, I can use the transformative opportunity of Ascending to God to perfectly merge my Primordial Spirit with it. Henceforth, I truly become the Saint and Demon Embryo."

"Both options have their pros and cons. The former leads to an elevation in the level of life, ensuring a boundless future, but I may not fully reap the benefits of the Embryo. Of course, this also means I avoid being constrained by the Embryo later on.

The latter reshapes my foundation from a perfect starting point. Though the growth speed may not match the former, I can quickly regain my existing strength and go further in the future. Naturally, this would impose restrictions upon me. With a strong bloodline also comes greater limitations.

If I cannot break free from this cage, my ultimate limit might just become another Yinhuang Zhuwu."

Qing Yu carefully weighed the two options, contemplating his choice.

The former was like accepting an investment to start from scratch, while the latter was like inheriting a top-ten global enterprise, growing smoothly until taking over the company entirely.

What would Qing Yu choose?

"Is there even a need to think about it? Obviously, it's the latter."

As Qing Yu walked his path, he adopted a utilitarian philosophy, maximizing the use of every available resource. Since he could better utilize the Saint and Demon Embryo, why opt for a shortsighted action like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs?

As for the future limitations of the bloodline, oh, what is the path of Martial Arts without obstacles? Without the resolve and confidence to break all constraints, how could one reach the peak of Martial Arts?

"System, claim the Saint and Demon Embryo."

Holding the swaddled infant that appeared in his arms, Qing Yu cradled it, bringing its forehead to touch his own.

"Boom—"

Instantly, thunder roared in the clear sky, and strange, fiery red lightning flashed amidst the clouds.