The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

Regarding the abnormal condition of the corpse, Xuanzhen wasn't the least bit surprised as he indifferently said, "Ordinarily, the bodies of True Pill Realm Martial Artists, unless they die of natural causes, can be preserved for dozens of years without decay. However, when Xuanfa was struck by Master Tong Jue, his True Core was shattered, breaking his Three Elements Combined physique. Had it not been for the formation preserving his corpse, it would have rotted away long ago."

Qingyu glanced at it, and indeed, he saw some array patterns exist on the inner wall of the coffin.

Xuanfa's body had been preserved for so many years entirely because of the formation. Now that the formation was broken, it naturally turned to ashes.

Xuanzhen took a step forward, her phoenix eyes slightly concentrated as she looked carefully at the remains.

She was already a master in the medical field, and examining corpses was within her expertise. But she probably had never examined a body over a decade old before.

"The ribs and spine have fine cracks. These were made by Master Tong Jue's palm force back then. All the other injuries were also numerous and were inflicted during the struggle for power," she said.

"At the limbs, there are traces of having undergone the Four Symbols Body Refinement. If the internal organs were still intact, a more detailed examination would be possible. Even within the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills, there is a method for cultivating internal organs, but without them, we can only determine that he had cultivated the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills."

As Xuanzhen examined the skeletal remains, she casually announced her conclusions.

In the end, she stated, "Judging from the current situation, these are indeed Xuanfa's remains, at least according to my judgment."

"So, are you saying that Xuanfa is truly dead?" Qingyu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If I haven't missed anything, he is indeed dead and has been for over a decade." Xuanzhen nodded.

"That's a relief, you won't have to bear the infamy of having slain your master."

With some skepticism, Qingyu said, "Could it really be that I am overthinking this?"

To be honest, the least likely possibility of Xuanfa not being dead was actually what Qingyu believed the most. Many things are hard to believe unless one has witnessed them or done them themselves.

Qingyu was an expert at feigning death himself, having orchestrated it twice. When it came to the intricacies involved, he had a clear understanding.

If it were him, he could achieve a perfect feigned death, provided there was sufficient time to arrange it.

"Actually, you need not worry about whether Xuanfa is dead or not. With your current strength, even if he is alive, what can he do to you? Unless you summon the strongest, no one else is likely to defeat you, let alone kill you."

Xuanzhen spoke softly, comforting him.

Qingyu's strength was something Xuanzhen had come to know over the past few days. Although she thought Qingyu had yet to reveal his full strength, even the displayed strength was astonishing.

Qingyu didn't look like someone who had just recently ascended to the Divine Communication realm. On the contrary, he resembled a seasoned veteran of many years and was still growing.

"I repelled Ling Xuedu, and had it not been for Kong Xuankong intervening, Ling Xuedu might have died at my hands. With such strength, the enemy will indeed have a corresponding strategy.

If they appear, they will surely have a powerful trump card."

Qingyu covered the coffin with his hand and, with his True Qi, precisely nailed it back into place with a palm press, sinking the coffin into the rippling ground.

"But..."

Qingyu turned around, standing with his hands behind his back, his eyes revealing a confident radiance, "You're right. With my strength, and with your help, we can certainly suppress Xuan Chen and the others. I can let them jump out on their own and then hammer them to death one by one."

"Just as you should. I also want to see just how powerful my 'Taisu Primordial Skill' is," said Xuanzhen.

She had spent over a decade perfecting this divine skill and now felt like someone who had learned the Dragon Slaying Skill, eager to encounter a dragon to slay. Her fighting spirit was fiercely intense.

"Since that's the case, then I will force my way in directly."

"What will you do?"

"Challenge Xuan Chen."

Qing Yu suddenly exerted his strength and soared into the sky, arriving just below the high clouds and standing on white clouds. Not far away loomed the Zhenwu Seven Peaks, the mountain mists vast and rolling, entwined around their towering summits.

Among them, one peak commanded the most imposing presence, its majesty unparalleled—this was the main peak of the Zhenwu Seven Peaks, Chonghe Peak.

"Qing Yu has come to pay homage to the mountain."

The resounding voice surged through the sea of clouds and echoed across the entire Zhenwu Sect. Immense pressure descended with the force of one man, suppressing the spirit of all seven peaks.

"To barge into the Zhenwu Sect uninvited, this Daoist friend, you are too presumptuous."

Atop Chonghe Peak, swirling black and white Mystic Energy soared into the sky, merging in the air into a vast expanse that seemed both substantial and ethereal, repelling Qing Yu's momentum.

At the same time, atop the summits of the seven peaks, Primordial Energy erupted forcefully, as if the seven peaks were seven Divine Swords, pointing their tips at Qing Yu, releasing intense Sword Power.

The Zhenwu Seven Tribulations Formation began to activate.

"Daoist Qingyu of Northern Zhou, although you are a Divine Communication Venerable, thinking you can act recklessly in my Zhenwu Sect is still too much of a delusion."

Xuan Chen, wearing a purple Daoist robe, lightly pressed his hand on the floating Sword Box, looking at Qing Yu with a face full of calm composure.

"Sect Master Xuan Chen seems unsurprised by my visit!" Qing Yu said with a light chuckle.

"Of course, although Daoist Qingyu and I have never met, we have long been acquainted in spirit."

Xuan Chen replied coldly, "However, Daoist Qingyu's disrespect today warrants a lesson from me."

The atmosphere thundered as Xuan Chen formed Seal gestures, drawing on the torrential power of the Zhenwu Seven Tribulations Formation. Seven beams of light emerged miraculously from the seven peaks, each concealing swords of divine majesty within.

"What's this? Sect Master Xuan Chen wishes to use the power of the Array to oppress me? Is the Sect Leader of the Zhenwu Sect truly so lacking in confidence?" Qing Yu said with a smirk.

The mocking words didn't shake Xuan Chen in the slightest; instead, they brought forth Killing Intent on his face. "Qing Yu, you wouldn't take the heavenly path, and you choose to deliver yourself to hell's gateless entrance. I've been pondering over how to kill you, yet here you are, foolish enough to fall into my trap."

A bone-chilling killing force revealed itself from the seven peaks, like divine light refining everything, as the luminosity on the seven light pillars faded from top to bottom, slowly revealing the Heavenly God Swords within.

The Seven Divine Swords, combined with the power of Xuan Chen and the Zhenwu Seven Tribulations Formation, were not as simple as one plus one; at this moment, Xuan Chen had reached the culmination of the Divine Communication level, almost touching the traces of Supreme combat power.

An overwhelmingly powerful momentum bore down on him, and Qing Yu felt Killing Intent emanating from all directions, his spiritual sense constantly alerting him to danger, the path ahead as fraught as escaping death ten times over.

However, in such dire straits, Qing Yu suddenly chuckled, "Does Sect Master Xuan Chen think that I came here to provoke without considering the existence of the Zhenwu Seven Tribulations Formation?"

"Watch, your reliance will not become your aid."

In the distance, at Su Nu Peak, one of the light pillars that had just lost half its glow suddenly solidified. Layer upon layer of crystals formed from the bottom up, solidifying and restraining the Primordial Energy.

At the same time, unbeknownst to anyone, a figure stealthily entered Kunyin Peak, looking toward the distant main hall with an inscrutable smile.

"The final piece of the puzzle is about to be revealed."

The sudden turn of events thrust the Zhenwu Sect into an unknown future. Who would dominate this ancient sect would soon be decided.