Urban Martial Saint

Shen Tianjun slowly nodded, speaking in a deep voice: ”Originally, we chased after him thinking the Corpse Ghost Dragon should have no strength to attack. However, unexpectedly, he not only emerged but also injured General Helian. Fortunately, this Purple Lotus Karma Fire should have also wounded him somewhat, the three of us combined forces to delay him briefly. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have made it back!”

Upon hearing these words, everyone felt even more shocked. So, the Corpse Ghost Dragon could attack Shenchuan City at any moment?

”Uncle Shen, you just mentioned that the Corpse Ghost Dragon injured General Helian.” Ye Qing looked at Helian Tiehua and said, ”But General Helian, I don’t see any injuries on you?”

”He didn’t directly injure me; he burned me with that Purple Lotus Karma Fire.” Helian Tiehua said solemnly: ”The fire was extremely painful to endure—I nearly lost consciousness. If it weren’t for Zi Yu’s timely intervention, I fear he would have trapped me there!”

”Nearly lost consciousness?” Ye Qing paused for a moment, then asked: ”Uncle Helian, the Corpse Ghost Dragon rushed up to you and burned you with the Purple Lotus Karma Fire; approximately how long did it burn you?”

”Well...” Helian Tiehua thought for a moment and said: ”It lasted about a few seconds; the flame scorched me, and each second was torture. I, myself, didn’t count the time.”

”A few seconds.” Ye Qing nodded and then looked at Shen Tianjun and asked: ”Uncle Shen, when you confronted the Corpse Ghost Dragon, how did he attack you?”

”We didn’t face him directly.” Shen Tianjun replied: ”He used the Purple Lotus Karma Fire against Zi Yu, which I dispersed. Then the three of us trapped him temporarily and fled.”

Ye Qing looked at the three of them and said: ”So, from beginning to end, the Corpse Ghost Dragon didn’t really launch a direct attack?”

The trio exchanged glances, and upon Ye Qing’s remark, they suddenly recalled the matter. Yes, the Corpse Ghost Dragon never launched a direct attack; he only used the Purple Lotus Karma Fire against Helian Tiehua and Huangfu Ziyu—he hadn’t exerted his own strength!

”Ye Qing, are you suspecting the Corpse Ghost Dragon is bluffing?” Shen Tianjun asked lowly.

”Not suspecting; I can basically confirm it!” Ye Qing said in a deep voice: ”If he truly had no issues, considering his character, when General Helian rushed to his side, in those few seconds, General Helian almost lost consciousness and definitely had no strength to resist. If he attacked General Helian, he would very likely kill him. But he didn’t attack; he merely scorched General Helian with the Purple Lotus Karma Fire. Moreover, General Helian managed to escape in the end. Everyone has fought with the Corpse Ghost Dragon a few times; do you think this fits his style?”

”The Corpse Ghost Dragon acts ruthlessly; those he considers enemies will not receive the slightest mercy!” Shen Tianjun said in a deep voice: ”Last time at the Shen Family Manor, I exchanged a few moves with him and was severely injured. The Corpse Ghost Dragon, when given a chance, certainly won’t show any mercy.”

”So, this indeed seems to be the case!” Helian Tiehua said: ”With his strength, Zi Yu’s air arrows would be easy for him to block or avoid. But he received several air arrows and even got repelled without retaliating—this doesn’t make sense!”

”Could it be, the Corpse Ghost Dragon is really bluffing?” The group looked at Ye Qing collectively, and Ning Qianshu said in a deep voice: ”Ye Qing, this matter is not trivial. If the Corpse Ghost Dragon is deliberately deceiving us by hiding his strength, and we attack him, it could be dangerous for us!”

”Even if we don’t attack the Corpse Ghost Dragon, once he recovers his strength, we equally won’t escape alive!” Ye Qing glanced at the crowd and said solemnly: ”I think this is an opportunity. If we miss this chance, we won’t get another to strike, and we’ll just have to wait for the Corpse Ghost Dragon to come after us!”

These words plunged everyone into silence; indeed, even if they leave the Corpse Ghost Dragon be, once he recovers, he surely wouldn’t spare them.

”Great General!” Just then, a man dashed to the door, shouting: ”Urgent news!”

”Speak!” Helian Tiehua immediately walked to the door.

”The group we sent to monitor the Corpse Ghost Dragon has not returned any messages for half an hour. Our men went to check and found they were all dead!” The man paused, speaking in a deep voice: ”Moreover, the Corpse Ghost Dragon’s group has moved from that villa—they’ve all transferred out!”

”What!?” Helian Tiehua’s face changed; he turned sharply to look at the crowd inside.

After a moment of silence, everyone stood up in unison, Shen Tianjun said loudly: ”Ye Qing, you are absolutely right. The Corpse Ghost Dragon definitely has a problem; this is an opportunity!”

”The Corpse Ghost Dragon has fled; he surely suffered considerable injuries!” Ding Lianshun said in a deep voice: ”Seize this opportunity—even if we can’t kill him, we must eliminate all forces around him!”

Everyone echoed, wanting to take this opportunity to deal with the Corpse Ghost Dragon. Ye Qing didn’t stop them, because he had to go find the Corpse Ghost Dragon anyway. The Broom Star was in the hands of the Corpse Ghost Dragon; he couldn’t not go rescue the Broom Star!

”It’s necessary to deal with the Corpse Ghost Dragon. However, the most critical problem now is that they’ve already fled.” Ye Qing said in a low voice, ”We must first find them, and we can’t just directly deal with him like this. We must come up with a relatively safe method. Otherwise, if we encounter danger, then we’ll be walking right into a trap!”

Everyone looked at Ye Qing together, and Bai Li Xi asked, ”Do you have a safe method?”

Ye Qing smiled slightly and said softly, ”We might be able to do something with this Purple Lotus Karma Fire, but the most crucial thing right now is to first find the Corpse Ghost Dragon and the others. If our guess is correct, and the Corpse Ghost Dragon really can’t use his power, then they will surely hide even better. It won’t be easy to find them this time!”

——————————————————

In the early morning, in a secluded mountainous area in the North Suburb of Shenchuan City, the Corpse Ghost Dragon and his group, under the cover of night, reached a heap of gigantic rocks halfway up the mountain.

This mountain is basically a Stone Mountain, with numerous peculiar rocks. In the stone forest, the view is obstructed, making it a very good place to hide people.

Shen Qianyue had been to Shenchuan City several times, and once accidentally came here and learned about this place. So, this time, when the Corpse Ghost Dragon asked him to find a concealed place to hide, he directly brought the Corpse Ghost Dragon here.

He arranged for his men to keep watch at the foot of the mountain, while Shen Qianyue, holding the Broom Star, went up the mountain with the Corpse Ghost Dragon. In the stone forest on the mountain, there’s a cave about a dozen meters deep, which is capable of hiding people.

Luan Ping followed along with the corpse of that Peak Master nearby, seeing the Corpse Ghost Dragon engulfed in purple flames, he was also quite terrified, not knowing what happened to the Corpse Ghost Dragon. But he dared not ask the Corpse Ghost Dragon, for fear of enraging him.

After leading the Corpse Ghost Dragon into the cave, Shen Qianyue said, ”Master, how about this place? Do you think it suits you?”

The Corpse Ghost Dragon looked around and nodded with satisfaction, saying, ”This place is very good, and you don’t have to worry. I just need three time systems. Once I completely dispel this Purple Lotus Karma Fire, it will be the doomsday for those people in Shenchuan City!”

Shen Qianyue was delighted and quickly placed the Broom Star to the side, saying, ”In that case, Master, you should meditate in here first. We’ll go out and keep watch for you.”

”Very well!” The Corpse Ghost Dragon glanced at Luan Ping, pointing to the corpse of that Peak Master, and said, ”Leave it here, it might be useful later.”

”Yes!” Luan Ping hurriedly placed the corpse of that Peak Master here and exited the cave with Shen Qianyue. After walking hundreds of meters away, Luan Ping cautiously glanced back and asked in a low voice, ”Qianyue, what’s going on with the Grand Master? Why hasn’t the purple flame been extinguished?”

”Master wants to use this purple flame to practice a new cultivation technique, so he hasn’t put it out!” Shen Qianyue naturally wouldn’t tell Luan Ping the truth and casually deceived him.

”A new cultivation technique?” Luan Ping was astonished, saying, ”Given the Grand Master’s current strength, does he still need to practice a new cultivation technique?”

”It’s not for me to question Master’s matters.” Shen Qianyue replied, ”We shouldn’t think too much about it either. Just keep watch. During Master’s meditation, no one must enter that cave. Otherwise, if we anger Master, we’ll be in trouble!”

Luan Ping was startled and quickly nodded, saying, ”Exactly, exactly, we have to guard this place well. Three time systems, that’s six hours, once everything is dealt with, it should be dawn. This place is so hidden, those people from Shenchuan City shouldn’t be able to find this place, right?”

Shen Qianyue didn’t answer; he was actually very worried deep down. After all, with Ye Qing in Shenchuan City, having suffered at Ye Qing’s hands several times, he already felt a sense of trepidation when he saw him now.

Inside the cave, the Corpse Ghost Dragon didn’t immediately start working but first walked around the cave, driving out snakes, insects, and rats. After that, he returned to the cave entrance and moved the Broom Star and the corpse of that Peak Master to the depths of the cave.

”Little fellow, even if you have an Innate Buddha Heart and a mouth as eloquent as a lotus, so what?” The Corpse Ghost Dragon placed the Broom Star in front of him, sneering, ”I, Corpse Ghost Dragon, am no longer under the fate of heaven. Causal cycles mean nothing to me. All virtues and vices are empty talk. In the face of absolute power, words are useless!”

”Benefactor, you do not believe in fate and think you have escaped the Heavenly Dao, so why is your heart filled with fear?” The Broom Star smiled gently at the Corpse Ghost Dragon, saying, ”Since you don’t believe in fate, why do you struggle so bitterly, exerting all your energy for just a chance to prolong life and extend your lifespan?”