Urban Martial Saint

The Joyous Monk certainly didn’t understand the Sun Shooting Bow. In fact, there were few people in the world who understood it.

Among the seven keys of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, the other six have always been circulating outside, so there are many legends about them. The seventh, the Sun Shooting Bow, is the most mysterious, appearing only when the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates are opened. Once it’s opened, the Sun Shooting Bow disappears again. So, people outside know very little about it.

”If the Sun Shooting Bow is so powerful, why don’t the people of Hong Alliance simply take it out to use?” the Joyous Monk asked curiously.

”It’s not that they don’t want to, but they simply don’t have the ability to take it out!” Shijia said, ”Once the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates are closed, the patterns on the Heaven Earth Man Tri-Map disappear. They only reappear the next time the gates open. The situation with the Sun Shooting Bow is similar; once the gates close, it’s sealed away. However, the place it’s sealed is controlled by the Hong Alliance, so every time it appears, the Hong Alliance gets it first.”

”Really?” The Joyous Monk was even more surprised, saying, ”How are these things possible? Is it really as people say, that the Great Sage Guiguzi of the Taoist Sect has already become an immortal? Did he leave these things using immortal methods?”

”Become an immortal? Hehe...” Shijia smiled gently, slowly looking up at the starry sky of the moonlit night, saying wistfully, ”This world, can there be immortals?”

There was a sigh and reflection in Shijia’s words, indicating that even he was unsure about the existence of immortals in this world. Shijia had lived for over two hundred years, a lifespan that alone could earn one the title of a demi-immortal. Yet, even he didn’t know if there were immortals, let alone others.

”If Guiguzi hadn’t become an immortal, how could he leave behind such magical things?” the Joyous Monk asked.

Shijia asked in return, ”If he really had become an immortal, then why would there still be a Tomb of Ghost Valley Master?”

”Guiguzi has a tomb?” The Joyous Monk was even more surprised, for such a thing he had never heard of before.

”Of course!” Shijia nodded, saying, ”And inside Guiguzi’s tomb, there lies a great secret.”

”What secret?” The Joyous Monk quickly asked.

Shijia: ”I do not know!”

”Even you don’t know?” The Joyous Monk wore a disbelieving expression. To his thinking, his senior brother was an absolute knower of all things; there was nothing he didn’t know.

Shijia said, ”What’s strange about that? From the time this tomb appeared till now, it has never been opened. Who knows what secrets are hidden inside?”

”Never been opened?” The Joyous Monk asked curiously, ”Has no one discovered it, or has it simply never been opened?”

”It hasn’t been discovered, nor has it been opened.” Shijia said, ”Before Guiguzi left behind this tomb, he had already made arrangements. Only when the Era of the Turmoil of the Three Stars of Sirius appears, will his tomb be opened. Since the time of Guiguzi until now, the layout of the Killing Wolf TriStar era has appeared only twice. The first time was in the Three Kingdoms Period, when warlords contended and chaos reigned. It is said that Sima Yi entered Guiguzi’s tomb and gained great wisdom within, rivalling Zhuge Liang who had gone through the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. The second is in this era now: the Killing Wolf TriStar gathers again, and Guiguzi’s tomb will be reopened!”

The Joyous Monk, having no previous knowledge of these historical tales, felt a yearning for the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master after hearing Shijia’s words. The Great Sage Guiguzi of the Taoist Sect could be said to be one of the most talented figures in the thousands of years of Huaxia’s history. The things he left behind have strongly influenced later generations, making it difficult to imagine what an extraordinary figure he was during his life.

”You mentioned earlier that the Sun Shooting Bow’s power far exceeds the other six weapons. In what ways does it mainly manifest?” The Joyous Monk suddenly asked, ”Aren’t the famed instruments in the world somewhat similar? Apart from the Xuanyuan Sword and Minghong Knife, the leaders of all weapons, what differences can there really be among the other famed instruments?”

”Of course!” Shijia said, ”Don’t forget, the Cold Moon Blade and the Fire Blade Sword have their unique functions. The Cold Moon Blade always brings an icy chill when drawn, and the Fire Blade Sword inevitably carries a burning flame when unsheathed. Moreover, Cui Yulong’s Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade is the same, with a fierce aura and astonishing sharpness. The Sun Shooting Bow also has its uniqueness, and its most unique aspect...”

When reaching this point, Shijia took a deep breath, looked at the Joyous Monk, and solemnly said, ”The most unique thing about the Sun Shooting Bow is that it doesn’t need arrows!”

”Doesn’t need a sword?” The Joyous Monk didn’t understand Shijia’s meaning and asked in surprise, ”What do you mean it doesn’t need a sword?”

”I mean arrow, the arrow used for shooting!” Shijia said solemnly, ”Once the Sun Shooting Bow recognizes its master, it can condense the master’s inner strength into an arrow to shoot out.”

”Ah?” The Joyous Monk widened his eyes and exclaimed, ”Is that even possible? If that’s the case, the Sun Shooting Bow... the power of the Sun Shooting Bow is... simply beyond that of guns!”

”This is the most terrifying thing about the Sun Shooting Bow!” Shijia nodded slowly, saying, ”That is also why the people of Hong Alliance may not care about the positions of the other six weapons, but must firmly control the Sun Shooting Bow. Losing the Sun Shooting Bow would be a devastating catastrophe for the Hong Alliance. And the reason the Hong Alliance has never had a leader, only the Left and Right Protectors, is also because of this. Only the person who can obtain and become the master of the Sun Shooting Bow can lead the entire Hong Alliance!”

The Joyous Monk took a deep breath, realizing such things were beyond his wildest dreams. The uniqueness of the Sun Shooting Bow was truly beyond ordinary imagination. No wonder it was so mysterious. Anyone who mastered it would see their strength multiply. Even a master like the Five Uniques, with the Sun Shooting Bow, would see their combat strength increase!

”Sun Shooting Bow!” The Joyous Monk slowly repeated the three words, then looked at Shijia and said, ”If Helian Tiehua were to obtain the Sun Shooting Bow, his strength must surpass the other Five Uniques, becoming an absolute master. Would there be anyone in this world who could rival him then?”

Shijia said, ”This is also why, as the strength of the Twelve Green Halls continues to grow, the Hong Alliance is never worried. The Sun Shooting Bow is Hong Alliance’s greatest secret weapon!”

”It is indeed a secret weapon!” The Joyous Monk scratched his head, saying, ”However, I’m just curious, if Helian Tiehua with the Sun Shooting Bow, and the Supreme Gu Mother from Miao Borderlands, whose strength is stronger? Brother, I’ve heard that the Miaojiang Gu Mother is unparalleled in the world. When she appears, her brilliance can even overshadow those who have entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. How strong is her power exactly?”

Shijia shrugged and said, ”The strength of the Gu Mother can only be described as unfathomable. No one knows how truly strong she is.”

”Not even you, brother?” The Joyous Monk was shocked, saying, ”Brother, you perceive the heavenly mechanisms; is there anything in this world that you cannot discern?”

”You don’t understand,” Shijia said, ”Even if I can perceive some heavenly mechanisms, the truth is, many people exist outside of fate. The appearance of the Miaojiang Gu Mother is an occurrence beyond fate and cannot be predicted. A being like the Miaojiang Gu Mother is beyond anyone’s ability to see through. Not even me, nor that old ox-nosed Wuji, who is so proficient in Zhouyi Bagua Techniques, can perceive the strength of the Miaojiang Gu Mother. She herself transcends heavenly mechanisms and cannot be fathomed!”

The Joyous Monk opened his mouth wide, unable to speak for a long time. It seems that the strength of the Miaojiang Gu Mother is much stronger than what he had previously known.

”So, with the Miaojiang Gu Mother reigning supreme, she alone could quell the Era of the Turmoil of the Three Stars of Sirius?” the Joyous Monk remarked.

”Whether she can or not is one thing; the key issue is whether she would act to settle it,” Shijia said, ”The enmity between the Miao people and the Han people runs deep. In every era when the Gu Mother appears, relations with the Han are not harmonious. It’s quite something if she doesn’t strike against the Han; why would she intervene in the Han’s disputes?”

In truth, Shijia himself didn’t know who the Miaojiang Gu Mother was. Even though Shijia perceived all under heaven, the Miaojiang Gu Mother always lay beyond his knowledge. Naturally, he was also unaware of the connection between the Miaojiang Gu Mother and Ye Qing. Had he known of this relationship, he certainly would not have spoken in such a way.

”Ah!” The Joyous Monk sighed, ”The strongest in the world, yet ends up as an adversary to us; really frustrating!”

Shijia gently sighed as well. On the matter of the Miaojiang Gu Mother, his feelings were quite similar to those of the Joyous Monk. The Miaojiang Gu Mother, a figure who shook the world, but unfortunately, her relationship with the Han people was strained. For the Han, this was more a calamity than a blessing.

At the same time, on a small road leading to Shenchuan City, a white-clothed man, Ding San, was slowly making his way. Having just killed five people, he chose not to linger by the dock but decided to return to the city first.

Not far behind him, Prince Nalan was silently tailing him all the way. As was speculated by Shijia and the Joyous Monk, having witnessed Ding San’s strength earlier, Prince Nalan began to have serious doubts. With the Murderer’s Manual and Murderer’s Knife in his possession, even bombs couldn’t kill Ding San. If Ding San continued to grow, wouldn’t he become a figure akin to the Five Uniques?

Prince Nalan followed him all the way, hoping to find an opportunity to strike before Ding San grew, to nip him in the bud by assassinating him. In doing so, he would also be clearing an obstacle for himself in the future!