Martial Cultivator

After that, as dynasties changed, the Wei Family remained, like a stone in the river, watching the waters of time flow by without changing, staying in place all along.

The Great Liang Emperor said with a laugh, ”In the history books that follow, there will presumably be many unspeakable deeds that will bear the mark of the Wei Family and your handiwork.”

The Temple Master made no attempt to deny it, saying calmly, ”For all things in the world, unchanging is often the best outcome. Someone like Your Majesty, seeking change, how can you be sure what the world will become after that change?”

The Great Liang Emperor replied, ”You stand at the highest peak, so you’re naturally resistant to change. But those in the dust cannot remain in the dust forever.”

”If one is of the dust, why yearn for the vastness of the sky?”

The Temple Master said calmly, ”Truthfully, this penniless daoist admires Your Majesty. Your Majesty’s martial prowess is unparalleled through the ages, and Your Majesty’s ambition surpasses that of many so-called heroic emperors in the annals of history. Yet, this penniless daoist and Your Majesty stand on opposite shores of the same river, and can only face each other from opposite shores.”

”Your Majesty is like a fierce wind. When the wind rises, the dust may glimpse the sky. But when the wind dissipates, the dust will inevitably fall back to the ground. In that case, what meaning is there in raising this wind, Your Majesty?”

The Great Liang Dynasty had a Chen Che, which was its blessing. But if there was only one Chen Che, it would become the Great Liang Dynasty’s curse.

The Great Liang Emperor merely smiled, unconcerned.

The Temple Master was silent for a long while before continuing slowly, ”This penniless daoist knows Your Majesty’s will is resolute and cannot be swayed by words. Therefore, today, I can only ask Your Majesty to bid farewell to this world.”

The Great Liang Emperor, still seated on the dragon throne, looked at the Temple Master before him and asked, ”Just you alone? I’m afraid that before long, the Infatuation Daoist Temple will need to select a new temple master.”

The Temple Master smiled and said, “Your Majesty, though your cultivation realm is profound, it doesn’t guarantee a decisive victory over this penniless daoist. The reason this penniless daoist came alone today is to have a battle with Your Majesty and leave no regrets. After this, there will naturally be other means. I hope that Your Majesty won’t take offense.”

The Great Liang Emperor looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

The first time they met was when he returned from the Northern Frontier. Before returning to the Divine Capital, he had encountered this Temple Master. At that time, after battling the Demon Emperor and several powerhouses, the Great Liang Emperor was in a precarious state. It would have been the best opportunity for the Temple Master to act, but for reasons unknown, the Temple Master did not make a move in the end.

Now, though the Great Liang Emperor had killed two people at the end of Nepenthe, his condition was far better than back then. Yet, the Temple Master had decided to strike now.

No matter how one looked at it, the Temple Master’s choice was hardly ideal.

The Great Liang Emperor said, “You intend to use a war of attrition to exhaust Us to death?”

The Temple Master lamented. “Your Majesty, the best course of action today would have been to focus entirely on Your Majesty alone. Why implicated so many others?”

The Great Liang emperor did not speak.

The Temple Master continued, “Since Your Majesty is unwilling, this presumably won’t force the matter. But in the end, it will still come down to this presumably and Your Majesty.”

“So be it. We also want to see whether the leader of the foreign lands will die or not.”

As he spoke, the Great Liang Emperor slowly rose from the Dragon Throne.

The Temple Master quietly watched the Great Liang Emperor before him.

Though the Temple Master’s thoughts remained unclear, today’s matters could only be resolved through combat. The Great Liang Emperor did not overthink it.

Since a battle was inevitable, then so be it.

The Temple Master took a deep breath and then smiled. “Does Your Majesty still wish to keep this Imperial City intact?”

The meaning was clear: if they fought here, the entire Imperial City would be reduced to ruins.

The Great Liang Emperor remained indifferent. “Building another Imperial City isn’t something difficult.”

The Temple Master understood the Great Liang Emperor’s intent and said no more. He just slowly spread his hands in a gesture of invitation.

The Great Liang Emperor gazed at the Temple Master and walked down the stone steps at an unhurried pace. As he walked, he said, “Watch closely.”

Choosing to fight in the Imperial City rather than elsewhere was naturally to let people take a good look.

These words were naturally directed at Chen Chao.

Chen Chao said nothing, he just looked at the Temple Master.

……

……

There were few at the end of Nepenthe in the world, and only a handful who truly stood at the summit.

Whether in both reputation or cultivation realm, the Temple Master was among the foremost. As for the Great Liang Emperor, as a martial artist who had reached his current realm, it was unprecedented.

When these two clashed, it would undoubtedly be a battle that shook heaven and earth.

Perhaps it would not surpass the duel between the two monarchs, but it would not fall far short.

The two moved forward slowly. Though they had yet to meet, a loud noise had already echoed through heaven and earth.

It was like thunder rolling in a sea of clouds, coming from afar.

It seemed as if heaven and earth themselves were beating drums to herald this battle.

Suddenly, a wind arose between heaven and earth, sweeping through the Imperial City. Beneath the eaves of some palace halls hung wind chimes, which now jingled softly with the breeze.

Amidst the morning glow, the Temple Master lifted his head and smiled, thinking to himself that the morning glow here was far inferior to that at the Infatuation Daoist Temple.

At that very moment, another person arrived in the Imperial City.

He wore a dark red daoist robe and was a young daoist priest.

It was Yun Jianyue.

This person was one of the Twin Pillars of Daoism.

Among the younger generation, he ranked first on the Latent Dragon List. Calling him the number one genius of his generation would hardly be an exaggeration.

Chen Chao looked at Yun Jianyue, and Yun Jianyue looked back at him.

The present world may belong to prominent figures like the Great Liang Emperor and the Temple Master.

But in the future, it would definitely be them.

Perhaps one day, they too would reenact a story like today’s.

And what the outcome would be on that day, no one could predict.

But for now, no one would think about that.

Because something far more important was unfolding.