I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 817: Chapter One Hundred and Eleven: The Difficult Truth

“Where there is no prohibition in law, there ought to be freedom,” declared Bu Chun with a sage-like demeanor, shaking the examination paper in his hand as he smiled at Chen Menglu, “Being outwitted by this sly young fellow is my own oversight for neglecting the arcane spirit mysteries. Yet, from another perspective, does this not reveal his profound martial arts insight and keen sense of combat? After experiencing the Illusionary Dream Space for just one round during the second stage, he not only saw through the reality of the Illusion Dream Divine Array but also touched upon the limits of the arcane spirits.”

Other youths barely made it through selecting five secret techniques combinations from the ‘Secret Technique Catalog’, yet this young man factored in the features of the illusion spirits. Just for that, he gave me a big surprise. It seems that the name he will leave in the annals of history won’t be limited to merely a record in the Fierce Realm,” Bu Chun said.

The sharp intuition that Bu Chun esteemed so highly sentenced the Four Imperial Spirit Seals to their demise. Recalling the young man who conversed with him in the Illusionary Dream Space, Chen Menglu felt an even greater sense of frustration. Did this mean that the Four Imperial Spirit Seals really had no future? At that thought, furrows involuntarily appeared on the Illusionary Master’s brows.

…

Chongming Peak, Longxi Annex

Young participants who came to the Martial Arts Convention, despite their different talents and dispositions, shared one common trait – a strong ability for self-discipline.

Although still shaken from Tang Luo’s final combination revelation, the three members from Longxi did not forget their daily cultivation routine. However, the resentment in their lingering glances as they left sent shivers down Tang Luo’s spine even without the chill of the air.

Just as he was about to begin his training, a knock at the door unexpectedly sounded. Assuming it was his teammates returning, he opened the door only to find Xu Lao Ying, who had left several days ago, with unabashed elation twinkling in his peach blossom eyes.

“I had thought that, with your speed, you’d have returned before the third stage began,” Tang Luo complained as he stepped aside to welcome Xu Lao Ying inside.

“Well, I’m back now, aren’t I!” Xu Lao Ying sauntered into the room, poured himself a cup of tea without ceremony, took a sip, and then excitedly turned to Tang Luo, “You guessed right! That day at Chongming Peak’s herb valley, Yankong wasn’t alone; he was brought there by Tianpeng Mountain’s chief disciple, Duan Qianchou. Think about it, if it was indeed arranged by Brother Bu, why would he need to fetch someone from Tianpeng Mountain to set it up? After all, with so many disciples on Bifang Mountain, couldn’t he have simply appointed any one of them?”

“You’ve certainly become wiser over the years, learning to analyze,” Tang Luo shook his head with a smile. “In that case, Bu Xiao’s apology might be aimed at covering this matter for Duan Qianchou. But what I don’t understand is this – even at his utmost, the chief disciple of Tianpeng Mountain is but a distant relative of the Bu family, and moreover, one from Tianpeng Mountain. Why would Bu Xiao risk offending the Dao Children of two great sanctuaries just for such a person?”

“That… I don’t know.” The previously smug Xu Lao Ying was bewildered but still waved his hand with authority, “But it’s not important. I just know this matter definitely doesn’t involve Bu Xiao; it must be the doing of that chief disciple of Tianpeng Mountain. As I see it…” Xu Lao Ying looked around carefully, activated his Tongming Sword Body to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then stealthily leaned toward Tang Luo’s ear and whispered, “Why don’t we find an opportunity to assassinate him? Chief disciples like Duan Qianchou leave Martial Saint Mountain every year to visit other sects and sanctuaries. There’ll be plenty of chances!”

“Do you always distinguish so clearly between ties of kinship? You dare not even speak ill of your own Brother Bu, yet when it comes to Tianpeng Mountain’s chief disciple, you suggest dealing with him directly?” Tang Luo held his forehead with a sense of helplessness, “Think about it. Even if he is of no consequence, to become a peak’s chief disciple in a sanctuary, one must at least possess the cultivation level of the Fierce Realm. If we try to kill him, won’t we expose the roots of our own martial arts? Once the Dao Child of Yuanzhou’s Xu Clan is gone, what will become of the Tang Clan? Martial Saint Mountain might not bother with you, but they wouldn’t hesitate to destroy a Longzhou family like mine. Do you really think that the new union in Longxi could withstand an assault from Tianpeng Mountain?”

“Oh, right!” Xu Lao Ying slapped his palm in realization, “You’re right, little brother. I shouldn’t involve you in this. I’ll have to go by myself.”

Having said that, Xu Lao Ying suddenly stood up, ready to head out to Tianpeng Mountain to settle scores with Duan Qianchou, but Tang Luo quickly pulled him back and forced him to sit down.

“Do you think you can waltz over there and just kill their chief disciple?” Tang Luo pressed Xu Lao Ying’s shoulders, urging, “Can you calm down and think things through before deciding how to act?”

“Oh, yeah!” Xu Lao Ying complied obediently, sitting down and placing his hands on his knees, then inquired of Tang Luo, “Got any plans, cousin? I’m all ears!”

The eagerness in his demeanor could have fooled anyone into thinking they were conspiring to do something righteous. Tang Luo shook his head and said lightly, “Let me think.”

“You still need to think it over?” Xu Lao Ying, expecting Tang Luo had a plan, spoke with disappointment, “Isn’t it just about killing a villain full of treacherous schemes? How hard can it be? If it’s really too difficult, just use the questioning opportunity to challenge the Tianpeng Mountain’s chief disciple to a duel to the death, right?”

“It’s not that simple!” Tang Luo laughed incredulously, “Do you think Martial Saint Mountain would agree to such a request? Besides, there’s an even more pressing issue right now.”

“What issue?” Xu Lao Ying was puzzled, questioning, “Can’t you defeat this chief disciple of Tianpeng Mountain?”

“It’s not that,” Tang Luo shook his head gravely, “it’s that I can’t deal with the Buddha Seed in Tang Xing’s Sea of Consciousness. Originally, I thought I could resolve this enigmatic transmission with my martial arts proficiency and then take my chance to seek vengeance. However, I’m now uncertain whether I can extract the Buddha Seed without harming his Sea of Consciousness. This task may require the assistance of a Grandmaster from Martial Saint Mountain.”

Is revenge important? Of course, it is. But for Tang Luo, it’s more crucial to restore the young boy’s health. Each day that the Buddha Seed remains in Tang Xing’s Sea of Consciousness is another day filled with unrest for him.

Yankong and Duan Qianchou will not vanish; if vengeance can’t be achieved today, there’s always tomorrow, or the future. But if the Buddha Seed continues corrupting further, the young boy will no longer be himself.

Even if he avenged all his foes, what value would it have then?

If indeed taking the top three positions and gaining the questioning opportunity would allow one to make a request of Martial Saint Mountain, he would wish for those who researched the very principles of martial arts, the Grandmasters, to step forth and extract this Buddha Seed.

“You are right, resolving the issue within the younger cousin’s Sea of Consciousness is the key,” Xu Lao Ying nodded understandingly, “Actually, there is a Grandmaster on Bifang Mountain who is proficient in hundreds of secret techniques. If we could ask for his help, there should be no problem removing the Buddha Seed without damaging the younger cousin’s Sea of Consciousness.”