Chapter 33: Restless Heart Grows Murderous

A few days later, the Emperor of Zhou agreed to the Great Boundless Palace’s duel request with the Heavenly Dragon Temple as expected. Moreover, the location was set to be in the Heroes’ Palace.

The Gandharva, peak of the sixth Mortal Stage of Qi Refinement.

Master Yuanhui, head of Prajna Hall at the seventh Mortal Stage of Titan.

One from the Great Boundless Palace, one from the Heavenly Dragon Temple.

Both were competing in martial arts and Buddhist teachings.

From their cultivation level, sect, to other aspects, all were highly regarded.

However, most people were still favoring Master Yuanhui.

The head of Prajna Hall who had great strength and well learned in Buddhism had the nickname of Dharma in the world of martial arts.

The Heavenly Dragon Temple had 72 ultimate techniques they pass down in generations. He had learned 37 of them by himself, and all of them at the completion level, placing him first among other heads.

In regards to his martial knowledge and talent, they were unimaginable.

That was the reason he was given the title of Dharma.

It was meant as praise for Master Yuanhui’s innate affinity.

Know one, know all. A mark of a true master of martial arts.

“Who do you think will win?”

Within the Hanging Arch Palace, the Emperor of Zhou asked softly.

Marquis Zhao Kai who sat below him frowned. He contemplated for a moment before answering, “If it were purely from a martial arts standpoint, the Gandharva is definitely not his match.

“I have experienced the Heavenly Dragon Temple’s Dharma Yuanhui in the past.

“Within ten moves, the Gandharva will be heavily injured. Beyond fifteen moves, she will surely die!”

The Emperor of Zhou tapped his fingers against the chair, creating a series of “thock” sounds.

He fell silent for a moment, then asked, “If that’s the case, why would the Gandharva issue the challenge?”

Marquis Zhao Kai remained silent. He thought about it carefully for some time, then replied in a deep voice, “The Gandharva is still a Master after all. Her root bone is exceptional and has a keen spiritual sense.

“Previously, when Moro provoked the various experts in Tianjing City, it was because of her obscure techniques that allowed him to win seven consecutive matches.

“From that, we can ascertain that they have no honor and like to pull petty tricks.

“If the Gandharva is confident, it is likely that she has something to rely on!”

Hearing Marquis Zhao Kai’s statement, the Emperor of Zhou’s frown suddenly relaxed.

His tapping fingers stopped too.

“Your Majesty is planning to let the Gandharva win?”

Marquis Zhao Kai was at the peak of the Spiritual Transformation Stage.

He had an acute sense of the emotional state of a person and their mental fluctuations.

“Yuanmeng Empire is an external threat that the Zhou Kingdom has to get rid of. Striking at their heart and wiping them out completely would require at least the efforts of six generations!”

The emperor did not bother hiding and said bluntly, “The barbarians are like wild grass and there’s no end to them. Instead of setting enmity with them through war, why don’t we learn from the Vajrayana and control them with religion?”

Marquis Zhao Kai perked his brow and join in agreement, “Your Majesty has excellent vision!”

The emperor shook his head gently and sighed, “There’s no other way. If Yuan’er can go under the tutelage of the Yuanmeng Imperial Preceptor and take control over the Great Boundless Palace, then he would be Living Buddha respected by millions. That would be a lot better compared to being an emperor of the Zhou Kingdom.

“By then, Zhao’er would take over the Zhou Kingdom and Yuan’er will lead the plains. North and South, the brothers can help each other and let the world enjoy peace.”

The calm and steady Marquis Zhao Kai suddenly asked, “What about the Eleventh Prince?”

The emperor’s expression turned serious and said calmly, “Yuan’er smart. He will naturally agree to it for the cursed child he misses so much in the cold palace.”

While he said that, he threw a look at Chen Chaoen who was nearby.

The emperor had made the decision long ago after the banquet ended.

The eunuch by Zhao Yuan’s side was a spy arranged by the Ceremonial Directorate.

Otherwise, how could he give out advice that would resonate deeply with the Eleventh Prince’s wishes?

“Tell me, am I being overly merciless?”

The emperor lamented.

Although born from the same mother, he favored the Eleventh Prince Zhao Yuan greatly.

“Your Majesty is doing it for the Zhou Kingdom, for the lives of many. Giving up on your personal feelings for the greater good is the way of a good emperor!” Marquis Zhao Kai stood up and said while greeting with his hands held together.

…

No matter how secluded the Eternal Happiness Palace was, it was not fully separated from the world.

News of the Eleventh Prince facing the likelihood of leaving Tianjing City to the Yuanmeng Empire still made its way to Zhao Mu’s ears.

A few old eunuchs and maids gathered to gossip.

“Who do you think the Eleventh Prince will wish to win? The Dharma? Or the Vajrayana monk?”

“If the Dharma wins, then the Zhou Kingdom will obtain five thousand war horses. If the Gandharva from Vajrayana wins, then the Eleventh Prince will be accepted into the Yuanmeng Imperial Preceptor’s sect… If it were me, I’ll surely want an Innate Grandmaster as my master!”

“His Highness is getting sent to the Tong Province’s imperial tomb and his brother needs to travel beyond the great wall to that land of bitter cold. What a pity.”

“It can’t be helped. Didn’t you notice the Eleventh Prince never visited over the past few days? His Highness can’t even take a single step out of the cold palace and could only wait here.”

Zhao Mu was speechless.

His five senses were extremely sensitive. Zhao Mu, who had his spirit developed, stood at the doors of Longevity Hall.

He overhead all the servants’ discussions,

Standing with hands behind his back, he had an empty expression and a calm gaze.

He seemed to be devoid of anger and anxiety.

Sometime later, Zhao Mu slowly walked up to the desk.

Pouring some water onto the inkstone, he grabbed a stick of ink and slowly prepared the ink solution.

That was something that required patience.

The person preparing the ink must have a proper and upright posture.

Strength must be distributed evenly and well-controlled.

Only then would the ink come out thick, smooth, and have a good sheen.

It took Zhao Mu 15 minutes to complete the ink preparation.

From the brush rack, he picked out a purple-haired brush that Zhao Yuan gifted him.

After spreading the paper and dabbing the ink, he started writing.

In one breath, Zhao Mu wrote seven characters for ‘silence’.

In the past, his calligraphy would be strong yet nimble like a dragon, firm, and elegant.

It could be said to be at top-tier and was not far from an expert in the field.

However, these characters before him were different.

On the paper, the seven huge characters for silence were of poor form. They were crooked, as though ripped of a bone structure and lacked strength.

“Calm the heart, be at peace. How do I remain calm like this?”

The corner of Zhao Mu’s lips twitched. His hand holding the brush shook lightly and dropped some ink, staining the paper.

His expressionless face was like an elegant and handsome sculpture within a temple. In the end, a hint of a cold smile appeared.

Shiiiick!

He tore the paper filled with the ‘silence’ character and started waving his brush once more.

Huff! Huff! Huff!

While he wrong, his chest heaved, giving off a labored breathing sound like a bellow.

Droplets of sweat formed on his forehead as his face turned red, as though his blood and Qi were rushing to his head.

The pores all over his body started expelling hot steam as if he was placed within a steamer.

Based on Zhao Mu’s sturdy physique and cultivation stage, even strenuous exercise would not result in that kind of exertion.

He was tempering his spirit!

Using the secret technique of the Tibetan Secret Scriptures, he was polishing his thoughts and developing his spirit.

The more he focused his will and go through emotional turmoil, the more it exhausted his body and boiled his Qi.

If it were a regular person, even a top-tiered expert at the Titan Stage would not dare to blatantly stimulate their spirit like Zhao Mu, much less someone at the fifth Mortal Stage.

That was because one’s essence, Qi, and spirit were all one.

If one’s spirit gets depleted, the body would also suffer damage.

That was like how someone would easily feel hungry while being focused on something, like reading a book.

When suffering from a cold and not fully recovered, the body would be in a weakened state and one’s mental state would be fatigued as well.

Without the support of the body and Qi, one’s mental energy would be like a rootless tree or sourceless water, unable to function.

It was only because Zhao Mu had refined the Nine Aperture Golden Elixir and tempered his body to an almost perfect state that he could bear such a terrifying strain.

“Stars move when the heavens harbor killing intent! Dragons and snakes rise when the land harbors killing intent!”

Zhao Mu finished writing seven huge characters. He let go of the purple-haired brush in his hand and said with the utmost calm voice, “Heaven and earth will be flipped when humans harbor killing intent!”

He slowly closed his eyes and let his spirit rest.

On the white paper were seven huge characters that were deeply imprinted as though they were hacked out by sabers and axes.

“KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL”