Chapter 221: 204 Trust (Part 2)

“Martial Arts….” At that moment, Zhang Rongfang suddenly recalled that the Golden Toad Skill is actually martial arts!

Although he practiced just for the enhancement of digestion abilities in the cultivation technique.

But in reality, it is a martial art, naturally including enhancements for combat skill training.

“Understood. Then, please enlighten me, Senior Brother.” Zhang Rongfang respectfully clasped his fists toward the other, saluting.

Mingyuan nodded slightly, placed one hand behind his back, raised his right hand, and said no more.

But the meaning was clear.

He was giving Zhang Rongfang the advantage of one hand.

Swish!

In an instant, Zhang Rongfang kicked off and his figure disappeared.

Boom!!

In the blink of an eye, the two collided together, and three arms nearly turned into afterimages, interlocking their attacks and defenses like lightning.

Under Zhang Rongfang’s execution, the Flame Emperor Talisman of the Great Dao Teaching seemed like real flames, explosive, irritable, scorching.

This time, Zhang Rongfang only used ordinary moves, but the strange thing was, every five breaths, he felt a growing force gradually filling his body.

This force appeared extra.

Clearly, he had been attacking with all his might, without holding back.

But somehow, his body forcefully accumulated this extra force.

Immediately, he gathered this new force and incorporated it into his attacks.

“Your strike is faster,” Mingyuan suddenly spoke.

Zhang Rongfang knew he was explaining his own feelings, which would help in getting martial arts feedback.

Yet the new force only lasted for one move before it dissipated quickly.

The subsequent moves returned to their previous power.

“Every five breaths there’s a burst. Each burst increases the strike speed and strength by nearly thirty percent,” Mingyuan precisely explained.

From start to finish, he effortlessly blocked all attacks with one hand.

Not even his expression changed.

“Thank you.” Zhang Rongfang abruptly withdrew his moves, stepped back, and clasped his fists in gratitude.

“No need.” Mingyuan coldly replied, turned around, and vanished from the courtyard in a flash.

Leaving Zhang Rongfang alone, he clenched his hands.

’Apart from the burst every five breaths, the Golden Toad Skill has another change.’

He carefully felt the joints and bones of his hands.

’The bones have hardened….’

If it were before, when attacking with full force without gloves, the bones in his hands would definitely be in unbearable pain.

After all, his Eagle Claw Skill was just a low-grade martial art, reaching its limit against the power of surrounding experts.

But this time, Zhang Rongfang clearly felt only slight pain in his hands.

Evidently, they were much harder than before.

’The hardness of the bones is probably also an effect of the Golden Toad Skill…. worthy of being the auxiliary skill of the Sensing Sect Leader’s top martial art….’

Moreover….

He looked in the direction where Daoist Mingyuan had left.

Previously, Master Chongxuan, and now Daoist Mingyuan in this matter.

Both appeared abruptly by his side.

At a glance, it’s very likely that he had been under Master’s scrutiny the whole time….

Of course, this might just be a guess.

Zhang Rongfang’s eyes were profound; after pondering for a moment, he turned and left.

Never mind, once he accumulates a little more attributes, he can enhance the second layer of the Golden Toad Skill’s Hidden Moon.

As for the reduction in lifespan, once the subsequent improvements proceed, and attributes accumulate faster, it will naturally be compensated for.

*

*

*

Two Grandmasters of the Great Brightness Temple tragically died outside Yinhuai City.

The remaining monks scattered and fled, except for Zen Master Wuxin and Monk Tanri, among the rest of the Great Brightness Temple, the strongest were only a dozen Internal Super Grade and External Super Grade practitioners.

Such combat prowess might be considered formidable elsewhere.

But at this moment, it appeared extremely shabby.

Fortunately, various forces didn’t trouble ordinary monks and only dispatched experts to jointly eliminate all Super Grade monks.

The surviving high-level literary cultivators of the Great Brightness Temple, along with many monks not skilled in martial arts, announced the complete dissolution of the Great Brightness Temple through a posted notice on the day after all Super Grade individuals were killed.

All monks could willingly leave, secularize, or switch allegiances.

All martial arts records were destroyed. All assets were handed over to the Spirit Court’s inner treasury.

Among the high-level literary cultivators, forty-three in total, more than half committed suicide, while the rest scattered to the Western Sect.

They knew very well, although not all high-level literary cultivators could successfully worship gods, once successful, they could instantly transform into powerful spiritual veins.

Although the Eastern Sect itself is an Extreme Realm power, if they truly broke all ties and started worshiping gods recklessly,

it’s feared they could instantly produce numerous spiritual veins and spiritual guards.

Therefore, only by dying or switching allegiances could they ensure the best outcome.

The next day, a secret decree was issued by the Spirit Court, its content unknown.

But all forces targeting the Great Brightness Temple lowered their banners and drums, retreating back into hiding.

In the year 1185, July 29th.

The primary power of the Eastern Sect in the Great Capital, the Great Brightness Temple, was engulfed in towering flames.

Amidst the burning flames, it proclaimed the downfall of the last non-god-worshiping power within the Great Spirit domain.

This also marked the complete withdrawal of the Eastern Buddhist Sect from the stage of history.

In August, the Spirit Court’s Celestial Robe Pavilion issued a regulation, implementing a robe grade system across the entire Great Spirit from August onward.

Different professions, different classes, different statuses must by regulation dress accordingly.

Color, style, accessories, etc., all have corresponding regulations.

Those exceeding the range will be fined one-third of their family assets and given twenty lashes.

On the second offense, lashes are doubled, and all personal property is confiscated.

The regulations of the Celestial Robe Pavilion are clearly not something a mere administrative department can decide.

It’s evident that this has the intention of the Spirit Emperor.

In other words, this rule is a decree personally issued by the Spirit Emperor.

But in reality, everyone knows such regulations cannot be completely enforced.

Only certain classes and professions are compelled to strictly follow the rules.

The majority of others, whether due to financial pressure or the clash of various ethnic customs, cannot fully comply.

The important thing is that no one reports it. Even if reported, it can be changed before the Official arrives.

Yet this rule has, after all, sparked a heated discussion among various classes across the Great Spirit, causing waves that even drown out the cascading effects of the collapse of the Eastern Sect of the Buddhist gate.

*

*

*

At Jade Tree Palace of the Spirit Court.

Layer upon layer of high walls seemingly without end encircle the central square palace.

Red tiles and white walls, adorned everywhere with sculptures of various rare birds and exotic beasts.

Intricately carved white jade railings with dragons and phoenixes guard the originally spacious square palace gate layer by layer.

Between the railings is a stone staircase paved with special light red sandstone.

A single stone stairway could obviously suffice to reach the palace gate.

Yet the jade railings zigzag the short distance of a hundred meters, extending it to three or four hundred meters.

Inside Jade Tree Palace, a woman wearing a white beaded curtain on her head and dressed in a robe of red embroidered with gold and silver threads, draped in a white fox fur stole, kneels on the right side of the palace, examining the item before her.

The patterns of mountains, phoenix trees, sacred birds, and marvelous insects on her red robe signify her royal lineage.

The palace is cold, although the sunlight shines brightly outside, the chill penetrates to the bone.

Hence, Ye Bai does not like returning here.

Very much dislikes it.

“Your Highness, King Gao Lie, during today’s early court, again requested marriage to the Emperor… You…”

Beside her, the maid Mingzhu spoke softly.

Ye Bai remained indifferent, simply gazing at the flame-shaped golden ornament before her.

The ornament was inlaid with line-shaped white jade.

A bright green eye-shaped gem sparkled at the center, like someone’s eye.

Lonely and clear.

“Have they found the person?”

She abruptly asked.

“Yes, they’ve found him. But… is this really okay?” Mingzhu expressed concern.

“There’s no choice.” Ye Bai raised her head, carefully stowing the ornament into her wide sleeve.

“Father will not tolerate anyone defying him. Everything around me will be searched through. So…”

She paused.

“As punishment for this change, I may not be able to leave the palace for a short while…”

“That’s why you asked me to find him?” Mingzhu understood.

“Yes, he’s someone I’ve trained since childhood, the only person worthy of trust. I saved him, made him successful, gave him everything.

Now, it’s time for him to repay me…” Ye Bai’s gaze was calm.

“But is there really no issue with that person?” Mingzhu hesitated.

“I have contingencies… and this is the only way…” Ye Bai’s gaze fell.

“Since she entrusted everything to me, I will definitely not disappoint her.”

“Then… Princess… Shall I go and report back?” Mingzhu nodded.

Ye Bai nodded, not responding further.

The golden ring must not stay by her side, or it will surely be seized in a search.

So the best approach is to send it away.

Tong Zhang arranged a fake golden ring to be sent out, but the result was…

Thus, the real golden ring must be entrusted to someone absolutely trustworthy.

Finally, it must be delivered to the real three races!

And this person…

is none other than the sole unscathed expert of the Eastern Sect to date—Cheng Hui, the leader of the Golden Wing Pavilion!

Ye Bai had taken in Cheng Hui twenty years ago; back then, he was a young scion of a noble family destroyed by the Great Spirit, begging on the streets, about to starve.

It was she who gradually nurtured him, taught him martial arts, offered him a platform, fostering his growth.

In ordinary days, her relationship with Cheng Hui was like mother and son.

Hence, she believes anyone else might betray her, except Cheng Hui, who wouldn’t pose any problems.

Mingzhu soon left, her figure light, evidently skilled in martial arts as well.

Before long, the entire Jade Tree Palace reverted to quietness.

“Xiao Ling.” Ye Bai spoke again.

“Disciple here!”

From the shadows in a corner, a tall woman clad in a gray robe and wearing a pitch-black metallic helmet stepped out and knelt with one knee.

“How did the Western Sect respond?” Ye Bai softly inquired.

“Master Yuan has agreed to release Cheng Hui, on the condition that you absolutely do not personally intervene.” Xiao Ling replied.

“Very well.” A trace of relief appeared on Ye Bai’s face.

She spared no expense to preserve Cheng Hui’s life from the Western Sect’s side.

Too many from the Eastern Sect have perished by now.

However, owing to her royal identity, no one has dared to act excessively towards her faction.

So, exchanging a few words with Master Yuan, sparing one or two irrelevant lives wouldn’t pose an issue.

“Thus, send this to him. I want him to take this item and leave the Great Capital immediately. It doesn’t matter where he goes, he mustn’t return.”

Ye Bai spread her hand, showing a black metal box in her palm.

The box contained the three real golden rings she possessed.

“Disciple complies!” Xiao Ling bowed her head respectfully.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep