The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

On the first day of September, Qing Yu returned fully laden.

Seated cross-legged on a specially summoned White Phoenix, Qing Yu looked at the shifting clouds with a leisurely smile.

"Feng Mingxiao really doesn't know your worth, to give up riding such a divine descendant of a mystical creature and return to the Divine Capital overnight. White Phoenix, let us despise her together."

In high spirits, Qing Yu started joking with the White Phoenix.

The highly perceptive White Phoenix uttered a clear cry, seemingly responding to Qing Yu's words.

"Ha ha, you bird can even talk to me now," Qing Yu laughed.

Just then, Qing Yu sensed a resonance from the heart of the White Phoenix, this great bird was growing ever more intelligent.

"Eh?"

As he was talking and laughing with the White Phoenix, Qing Yu suddenly sensed a brisk breeze blowing over.

In the distance, a great white crane carrying a Daoist nun was flying towards them.

"Xuanzhen?"

Qing Yu signaled to the White Phoenix to fly towards the white crane.

The Immortal Crane and the White Phoenix quickly closed the gap and flew side by side.

"Daoist Xuanzhen, do you seek me for something?" Qing Yu asked with a smile.

"You're still as informal as ever," Xuanzhen said, rolling her eyes slightly.

"If Master Uncle wishes me to call you old, I can do so. Your nephew here has hair white as snow, clearly an ancient old-timer. Being the uncle of such an ancient relic, you must be an old fellow too," Qing Yu said jokingly.

"Enough, have it your way," Xuanzhen abandoned the topic and continued, "Don't get too close to the Divine Capital, there are spies around."

"Spies?" Qing Yu arched an eyebrow.

Since Feng Jiwu's ascension, the Divine Capital had repeatedly swept clear spies from other forces. Although one couldn't claim absolute cleanliness, Xuanzhen shouldn't need to warn him like this.

Being detected near the Divine Capital—how could there be such a powerful and brash spy?

"It's probably someone from the Shadow Pavilion. Ever since I entered Northern Zhou, I have been under the surveillance of the Shadow Pavilion. I arrived in the Divine Capital five days ago but had to stay hidden because you were at Feiyun Pass and didn't return until now," Xuanzhen explained.

"Shadow Pavilion..." Qing Yu's brow furrowed even deeper.

His relationship with the Shadow Pavilion had always been good, with several close collaborations in the past. Now, under Feng Jiwu's severe crackdowns, only the Shadow Pavilion and the Yin Demon Sect still extensively spread their intelligence network across Northern Zhou.

However, his relationship with the Shadow Pavilion had started to cool off, or rather, become tense.

Initially, the Shadow King had said he would gift the Zhenwu Sword to Qing Yu once he ascended to Divinity. But since Qing Yu climbed to Divinity, there had been no word from the Shadow Pavilion.

Even though Qing Yu never specifically informed the Shadow Pavilion, with their intelligence capabilities, they should have known about Qing Yu's actions at Feiyun Pass, slaying He Fengsa and repelling two warriors at Divinity Realm with Feng Mingxiao.

From the beginning, Qing Yu had doubted the Shadow King's unconditionally kind offer to gift the Zhenwu Sword—it seemed to exceed a mere investment.

Thus, after ascending, Qing Yu tested the waters, and sure enough, something felt off.

'Perhaps, even the Shadow King could not have anticipated my rapid breakthrough. The Earth Rankings list many capable individuals trapped in the True Pill Realm for decades without breaking through. The Shadow King probably just wanted to dangle a carrot to motivate me, but he didn't expect me to break through so quickly and discover his empty promise.'

"I suspect... Xuan Chen might be colluding with the Shadow Pavilion. I am about to break through, and Xuan Chen might have detected something. He has been watching me even quietly since I left the Zhenwu Sect," Xuanzhen said with some hesitation.

"Xuan Chen? He might be colluding with the Shadow Pavilion?" Qing Yu found it hard to believe.

He knew the Shadow King's stance toward the Zhenwu Sect. It was precisely because of Xuan Chen that the Shadow King and the Zhenwu Sect were in a long-standing hostile relationship.

Now Xuanzhen suspected that Xuan Chen and the Shadow King had reconciled, a change that seemed rather abrupt.

"I will have someone look into it," Qing Yu said solemnly.

Although hard to believe, with the experience from his previous life, Qing Yu knew of Murphy's Law—some things are more likely to happen precisely because they seem impossible. Better to check just to be sure.

"Master Uncle, you once mentioned in a letter that Xuan Yin has lost her purity, right?" Qing Yu suddenly asked.

Speaking of Xuan Yin, Xuanzhen's face darkened slightly, "Yes. After the Debating Conference, on the way back to the Sect, Xuan Chen and his group were attacked. When they returned, Xuan Yin was gravely injured, and I treated her. During the treatment, I found that Xuan Yin had lost her virginity."

"The Kunyuan Yin Hua Skill of Kunyin Peak is a cultivation technique that condenses Pure Yin and is extremely averse to losing virginity. However, if someone guides her using the Yang Technique, it will not only not harm her power but might even enhance it. In this process, voluntary consent is most crucial. Only heartfelt voluntary action can achieve unity of mind and spirit without harming the Yin essence."

Qing Yu paused, then asked, "Master Uncle, did Xuan Yin have feelings for anyone?"

The orthodox Dual Cultivation of the Taoist School greatly values the melding of souls. Only when the souls are in harmony can Dual Cultivation achieve the highest benefits.

The Yin power cultivated by Xuan Yin focuses on purity; if she didn't truly love that person allowing for soul harmony, then it would merely be cultivation pilfering rather than Dual Cultivation.

"Except your master, Xuanfa, she hasn't had feelings for anyone else," Xuanzhen shook her head.

Xuanfa was already dead, and it's unlikely Xuan Yin would engage in Dual Cultivation with a pile of bones.

"Regardless, Xuan Yin's current position is evidently not on our side anymore, we must be more careful in the future," Qing Yu said.

He didn't mention eliminating Xuan Yin. As one of only two female Peak Masters in the Zhenwu Seven Peaks, Xuanzhen had a close relationship with Xuan Yin, and suggesting her elimination might oppose Xuanzhen, so it was better to just advise caution.

Of course, Qing Yu and Xuan Yin had no personal relation at all. While Xuan Yin might have loved Xuanfa, that dead mentor had nothing to do with Qing Yu.

If it was possible to eliminate her, Qing Yu wouldn't hesitate to take harsh measures to send her to meet her deceased mentor, Xuanfa.

"Enough about Xuan Yin for now. Let's first look into those spies. Master Uncle, you sought me out to act as your protector, to ensure your safety during your breakthrough, right?"

"Rest assured," Qing Yu guaranteed, "here in Northern Zhou, unless the strongest come knocking, no one can disturb Master Uncle's retreat to break through."

In Northern Zhou, there truly weren't many Qing Yu feared. With two Divinity Realm residing in the Imperial Palace and Qing Yu himself forming a formidable defense, it was only if the supreme powers intervened that anyone could cause trouble.

As he spoke, a bright light appeared from within Qing Yu's chest, he pulled out an object to find a glowing jade pendant.

This Jade Pendant symbolized the connection between Qing Yu and Yun Wuyue; its glow signified that Yun Wuyue had something to discuss with Qing Yu.