227: Chapter 10 Subduing the Monkey Mind is Easy, Overcoming the Heart Demon is Difficult 227: Chapter 10 Subduing the Monkey Mind is Easy, Overcoming the Heart Demon is Difficult Qin Wanyang fell to the ground and looked up, his expression shifting uncertainly.
Xie Xuanyi then stopped his forward steps.
That towering figure standing atop the city wall, surrounded by a layer of pitch-black luster, with countless black irons revolving around his forearms and shoulders, coalescing into pieces of floating armor.
Just one glance bestowed an immense sense of oppression…
These floating armors covered him from head to toe, making him resemble a “Titan of Iron,” lavishly crafted by the Great Chu Imperial Family, only revealing his eyes.
But it was precisely those eyes that were enough for acquaintances to recognize his identity.
The reason Xie Xuanyi halted his steps
was because he knew…
that today’s farce was probably coming to an end.
“Big brother?”
Qin Wanyang stared at the iron giant before him, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Swoosh!”
The pitch-black luster faded as Divine Thought swept over it, unraveling on its own.
The towering iron figure instantly disassembled as the free-floating black iron merged, overlapped, before ultimately streaking into the man’s sleeves.
In just a few breaths, the man standing atop the city wall transformed from an iron giant into a plain and unadorned ordinary person.
The newcomer was none other than Qin Baihuang.
This head of the Refining Department enjoyed a good reputation within the Imperial City, and although he came from the Qin Family, Qin Baihuang did not possess the “dissolute air” of other noble scions.
He never frequented brothels to listen to music, and only occasionally went to taverns for drinks.
What’s more important was…
shared joy is double joy.
The storybooks written by Qin Baihuang were very popular.
“Not having seen you for a few days, and you’re already lifting the roof tiles.”
Qin Baihuang looked down at his younger brother sitting on the ground, reaching out and unceremoniously pulling him up.
Though the black iron had retracted into his sleeve, there remained a swath of pitch-black luster enshrouding his left forearm, covering his hand and painting it the color of obsidian.
Slap slap!
Qin Wanyang’s complexion was pale.
He reached out to hit his brother’s arm, but only the sound of metal striking iron rang out.
This pitch-black iron hand, could it really rival the physique of someone in the Vajra Realm?
This scene.
Even Xie Xuanyi was somewhat surprised…
He had been “dead” for merely ten years, and the Refining Department’s methods had developed to this extent?
“Do you know how many people are now waiting at the gates of the Imperial City to watch the ‘Qin Family’s’ spectacle?”
Qin Baihuang frowned and spoke out, rebuking coldly.
“…”
Qin Wanyang bit his lip, staying silent.
“Hurry up and come home with me.”
Qin Baihuang commanded in an indisputable tone.
After saying this, he turned towards Xie Zhen, gazing seriously at the youth before him.
His gaze lingered on the Treasure affixed to the youth’s visage.
This was a Treasure he had personally forged—the face could be changed by infusing one’s Divine Soul.
Some days ago, the Little National Master had taken it away.
Now…
it was worn upon Xie Zhen’s cheek.
This “Treasure” was one of Qin Baihuang’s most proud creations…
and its pride lay in the fact that even if the most familiar Artifact Refiner himself came, he would not be able to see through the true face of the wearer.
“Is this Master Xuanyi’s disciple?”
Qin Baihuang spoke with a smile, his eyes expressing a hint of admiration.
“I have seen Head Qin.”
Xie Xuanyi replied with a smile.
He knew, the admiration in the other’s eyes was not meant for him.
It was likely that he had seen the “All Living Beings” he had forged with his own hands, the more he looked at it, the more he liked it, and what followed was an inevitable bout of self-aggrandizement.
“Little Master Xie truly has good fortune.”
As expected, Qin Baihuang extended two fingers and lightly touched the spot where Xie Xuanyi’s eyes were, smilingly said, “This treasure becomes more remarkable the more one looks at it, truly dazzling brilliance, with superb craftsmanship…”
Xie Xuanyi couldn’t help but sigh in his heart and hurriedly interrupted, “The Little National Master told me of its history, Mr.
Qin has great talent.”
“Cough cough…”
Upon hearing these words.
Qin Baihuang felt slightly embarrassed, but having extremely thick skin, he quickly returned to normal.
Holding Qin Wanyang with one hand, he earnestly said, “Regarding today’s ‘disturbance’ at the city gate, I truly apologize.
After returning, I will properly discipline Wanyang and request that the Sword Palace take no offense.”
“It was just a question of fists, a normal exchange.”
Xie Xuanyi smiled indifferently, unconcerned.
“That is very good.”
With that, Qin Baihuang breathed a sigh of relief, no longer hesitated, and turned to leave with his group.
…
…
The city gate finally returned to tranquility; the challenge of fists made quite a stir but ended very quickly.
From the moment Xie Xuanyi made his move to defeat Lin Yu to the moment Qin Baihuang appeared to take Qin Wanyang away, only a short span of several dozen breaths had passed.
However, disciples of the Martial Sect still rushed over upon hearing the news.
Seeing Lin Yu embedded in the wall, they all felt their blood boiling, wanting to step forward and continue the challenge, but Xie Zhen’s “battle results” made them suppress this impulse.
It was said that in the recent Sword Qi ceremony.
Xie Zhen alone had laid low dozens of people who approached him to challenge his sword skills.
This sort of freak…
Was almost definitely someone who would vie for the top three in the Heavenly Pride List.
In other words, without being in the Golden Body Realm, one simply had no qualifications to challenge Xie Zhen.
“Xie Zhen…”
A young Martial Sect disciple, wearing a hemp robe, stepped forward to greet Xie Xuanyi, but his expression was unfriendly.
“And you are?”
Xie Xuanyi was not putting on airs.
After Qin Baihuang left, he did not leave but deliberately waited here.
It was to meet the younger generation of the Martial Sect.
The sect established by Wu Zhexian, despite its insufficient heritage, had disciples of impressive aptitude.
Xie Xuanyi remembered that back in the day in the Martial Sect, there was a young martial artist who competed with him named “Zhou Ceng”.
If he wasn’t mistaken… that guy should now be approaching the Yin God Peak and ready to start ‘questioning the heart’?
“Who I am is not important.”
The young disciple took a deep breath and spoke gravely, “Regarding today’s challenge of fists, although you won… it doesn’t mean the Martial Sect has fallen in defeat!
The strength of Great Senior Brother Wu Yue far surpasses that of Senior Brother Lin!”
These words were spoken resoundingly and with conviction.
They had spirit, but they were also uninteresting.
Such remarks, in those previous years, Xie Xuanyi had unfortunately heard all too often.
If it had been back then, he would probably have said, “Call your great senior brother here now.”
But now.
Xie Xuanyi just silently looked at the young disciple before him, not bothered to respond to such comments.
“…”
As the great tides come forth.
Countless young cultivators, dazzling geniuses, all emerge to compete in the world.
The Heavenly Pride List, Sword Champion, these things, he had long since reached the pinnacle of them.
Would he really have to exhaust his wit again, competing with the youth for this meaningless vanity?
After the young disciple had spoken spiritedly, he turned his body, stiffly preparing to leave.
It was evident that just facing Xie Zhen required tremendous courage…
His declaration was meant to help the Martial Sect save face.
In the Great Chu Imperial City, face is very important.
Great families and sects often seek dignity befitting their status.
“Wu Yue, that’s the name, right?”
Just as he was about to leave, Xie Xuanyi spoke up.
Those two words tensed the young disciple’s body.
“Tell him when you go back that this fight today was simply a matter of challenging fists.”
Xie Xuanyi said calmly, “There is actually no grudge between the Martial Sect and the Sword Palace, don’t be used by others as a pawn.”
Upon hearing this, the young disciple let out a big sigh of relief and said no more.
Several people carried Lin Yu away, departing from there.
Xie Xuanyi still stood on the city tower, silently watching the scene below as people came and went in the Imperial City.
After the challenge of fists was over, it was no longer the “center of attention,” and the tourists, unaware of what had taken place, continued on their paths, doing their own things.
Night fell, and lamps were lit.
He looked toward the distant majestic imperial palace from the city walls, standing high and looking far, like a coiled dragon that had opened its eyes, watching over this realm.
Around him, the golden armored guards cast admiring yet fearful glances.
This scene, this moment, was very similar to the last time he entered the Imperial City.
But what was different was…
Back then, Xie Xuanyi had never thought that before long, he would be branded with the crime of “regicide.”
Glorious and radiant upon entering the Imperial City.
Covered in blood, fleeing in a wretched state.
Now, returning once more, would the outcome be different from before?
“Shhh shhh shhh.”
Flames ignited above the city tower in the night sky, and suddenly, a portal emerged.
A black-scaled guard came through the portal to the city tower and bowed respectfully: “Little Master Xie, the State Preceptor has arranged accommodations for you.
If you don’t mind, please come with me.”
…
…
“Master, you once said that a martial artist needs to cultivate their inner Qi.”
In the Martial Sect’s practice ground, two figures sat facing each other.
A young man in green robes had his hands resting on his knees, his blood Qi surging like dragons and elephants.
Wu Yue’s voice was heavy, each word thunderous: “Disciple doesn’t understand, after today’s challenge at the city gate, with Junior Brother Lin defeated, why just let it be?
How can one let go of that inner Qi so easily?”
“The martial path requires the taming of the mind’s monkey.”
The man sitting opposite Wu Yue appeared young, with handsome features and a youthful face, yet his hair was completely white.
Zhou Ceng said slowly, “If the mind’s monkey and the heart’s horse run wild, they will surely backfire on you.”
Wu Yue was momentarily stunned, somewhat puzzled.
“The true ‘martial mindset’ is to have a heart undisturbed, focused only on victory and defeat.”
Zhou Ceng spoke softly, “Now, ask yourself, do you only think of victory and defeat, nothing else in your heart?”
Wu Yue fell silent.
“You wish to challenge Xie Zhen simply because the gossip of the outside has reached your ears, and you want to fortify the name of the Martial Sect, to avenge Lin Yu.”
Zhou Ceng smiled, “With this state of mind, challenging Xie Zhen, is it truly beneficial for you?”
“This realm is too high, I don’t understand, and can’t understand.”
Wu Yue shook his head, “All I know is what my great-master said, ‘If you suffer an injustice, fight back.'”
“This is the Great Chu Imperial City.”
Zhou Ceng said calmly, “When has the Martial Sect truly suffered an injustice here?”
Wu Yue initially wanted to say that not long ago, the great-master had been snubbed by Zhao Chunyang.
But such words were too disrespectful, so he swallowed them back.
“I know what you want to say, but that’s not really an ‘injustice.’
Zhou Ceng stated indifferently, “If you are inferior in skill and lose, then you’ve lost.
The sect master wouldn’t be disturbed or irrational due to losing to Zhao Chunyang.
Those who have reached the Yang God have done so by being ‘beyond reproach.’ And moreover…
after that fight, the Qin Ancestor also intervened.”
Wu Zhexian and Zhao Chunyang were not on the same level.
The real fight would be between Qin Ancestor and Zhao Chunyang.
“But this fight…
everyone says the Qin Ancestor lost,” said Wu Yue, clenching his teeth.
“They?”
Zhou Ceng chuckled, “How many Yang Gods are there in this world, and how many are qualified to witness this fight?
Those storytellers, who say the Qin Ancestor lost, how many pounds of tea did they sell that day, how many silver coins did they make…
Wu Yue, don’t live in the eyes of the public, you are soon to form the ‘Divine Embryo,’ before the Northern Hunt, take good care to retreat in seclusion, don’t get involved with the intrigues of the Imperial City.”
“Intrigues?”
Wu Yue raised an eyebrow, realizing the true intention of his master.
“This challenge, Lin Yu initiated it himself, losing to Xie Zhen, he can only blame his lack of mastery.”
“A seemingly simple sparring match.”
“Behind Lin Yu stands the Qin Family, and behind the Qin Family, there’s Fangyuan Fang…”
“With Fangyuan Fang behind it, dark clouds gather, the true manipulator unseen.
Over the years, Fangyuan Fang has stirred up the Imperial City.
Logically, the Imperial Family should not tolerate it.”
Zhou Ceng spoke slowly, “But now, Fangyuan Fang is alive and well, and getting stronger…
Over these ten years, I’ve only come to understand one thing, the entire Imperial City is under the Holy Empress’s control.”
Some things are better left unsaid too bluntly.
Wu Yue understood.
“During this time, I also need to enter seclusion.”
Zhou Ceng took a deep breath, stood up, and said calmly, “Martial artists searching their souls, the final tribulation lies in ‘taming the mind’s monkey.'”
“Master will surely succeed.”
Wu Yue hastened to speak.
If Zhou Ceng was successful in his introspection, then…
it wouldn’t be long before the Martial Sect would have another Yang God!
“Difficult.”
Zhou Ceng chuckled softly, his voice hoarse, “The mind’s monkey is easy to tame, but the Heart Demon is hard to overcome.”
Having said that,
He shook his head and left the practice ground.
Wu Yue was somewhat bewildered…
Over the years, the disciples of the Martial Sect had said that he was a rare martial talent of his era, overwhelming everyone in the sect.
Yet, in the company of his master, Wu Yue discovered,
His master’s martial talent seemed even greater than his own.
Could such a person also have a Heart Demon?
…
…
(There will be two more updates today.
The second update will be before 6 p.m.)