He was a great Guardian Commander of the Black Dragon Altar who instilled fear into valiant fighters.
The moment his knees hit the ground before that illusory figure, several bricks on the ground were crushed.
"Grand Commander, please have mercy!"
Upon witnessing that, the Wolf Guardian Jiang Gong quickly prostrated himself and bowed his head.
The plain-looking, dark-skinned commander who looked like a farmhand knelt decisively.
There was no hesitation in him, nor did he care for his dignity.
One should know, within the Zhou Kingdom, only the emperor himself could have the commander of the Black Dragon Altar pay such respect.
Right then, faced with an angered Innate Grandmaster, their dignity was not something for them to worry about.
"Commander Jiang is quite the sensible person."
The Grand Commander replied slowly. Even if it was through the communication token, they could hear the sarcastic undertone in his words.
Shadow Guardian Zhou Wen and Zhen Commander Zhu Jian quickly looked away, as though they were disgusted by Jiang Gong's lack of courage.
Meanwhile, Jiang Gong himself seemed perfectly normal without any hint of shame.
He did not feel anything wrong with him following his heart.
Even Ji Liang, who was at the peak of the Sixth Mortal Stage of Qi Refinement could not resist.
He was fully suppressed by the Grand Commander Guardian without any hopes of resistance.
If it was the personal visit of an Innate Grandmaster, then it would be understandable.
After all, the difference was of several stages. He could be able to kill them easily with a single snap.
However, due to the communication token, there was only a shred of Qi that flowed through, yet he was able to send his martial will across the distance.
Even without him taking action, that horrifyingly massive amount of true Qi on him was sufficient to suppress Ji Liang, who was at the peak of Qi Refinement Stage to the point of submission.
The ferocity and approach were horrifying!
"The martial will of a Spiritual Transformation Stage is truly scary!"
Shadow Guardian Commander Zhou Wen held tightly to the folded fan in hand, feeling flustered.
Seeing Ji Liang forced to the ground helplessly, he could not help but feel some sympathy for him.
As all of them knew, the Eagle Guardian Commander cared about his dignity most.
However, looking at the situation, Ji Liang could only quietly swallow his pride and suffer the humiliation.
In fact, he dared not harbor any thoughts of vengeance nor complaints.
That was because the other party was an Innate Grandmaster, one of the few at the peak of the world!
"Ji Liang and Jiang Gong had been disrespectful toward the Grand Commander!"
Seeing both his coworkers either kneeling or kowtowing, the Zhen Guardian Commander Zhu Jian forced himself to speak up.
Nobody knew how the Grand Commander Guardian, who had achieved an unimaginable cultivation level, would react in that situation.
If he suddenly struck out to kill Ji Liang and Jiang Gong in anger, then it would be bad.
His Majesty would surely not punish an Innate Grandmaster over the death of two Black Dragon Altar Guardian Commanders.
Instead, he would only blame the Black Dragon Altar for lack of respect and consideration for the grand scheme of things.
By then, he would be trapped between the emperor and the Grand Commander, making his life difficult.
With that, Zhu Jian quickly bent over and held his hands in a greeting posture, saying, "I'll surely put in a complaint about them to His Majesty after tomorrow's morning court!
"Grand Commander, please show mercy. Don't mind their pettiness."
The Grand Commander chuckled, then said, "Be strict and avoid bigger mistakes. I won't pursue this matter.
"They're only trying to help His Majesty out of loyalty."
Hearing that, Zhu Jian let out a sigh of relief.
It seems the Grand Commander had an aloof character.
Zhu Jian shot an angry look at Ji Liang. He then gripped the communication token in his hand and looked toward the Shadow Guardian Commander Wen Zhou.
The latter seemed to come to an understanding as his fan flapped less strongly.
After a moment's hesitation, he suddenly said, "Grand Commander, you've just come out of closed door cultivation and don't wish to be disturbed. It's perfectly understandable.
"However, His Majesty did order us to pass you a message once we get in contact with you. The Taiji Pure Yang Coffin…can you return it to the imperial family?"
The hall fell silent for some time.
Ji Liang and Jiang Gong who suspected the Grand Commander as an impostor were just kneeling on the floor.
Meanwhile, Ji Liang's condition didn't seem to be well as his face was flushed red as though being burnt.
He did not even have the strength to talk.
Nobody knew how that true Qi had such a domineering quality.
"Why would His Majesty want the Taiji Pure Yang Coffin?"
The Grand Commander's sound rang out softly through the communication token.
"The Crown Prince had been infected with evil Qi since young and it affected his foundation, causing him to suffer many delays in his Foundation Establishment Stage. Only the Taiji Pure Yang Coffin can cure his condition," Zhu Jian answered honestly.
"So that's the reason, " the Grand Commander replied casually as though hit with an epiphany. He then said, "Go pass a message to His Majesty that I still need the Taiji Pure Yang Coffin for something else. I won't be able to return it right now. Please have the Crown Prince wait a while."
Zhu Jian's mouth twitched. He almost lost his composure as he started cursing in his mind.
Let the Crown Prince wait!
If anyone else said those words, they would surely be punished for contempt for the imperial family and have their entire family exiled!
Furthermore, that was clearly disobeying the emperor's decree.
Disobedience, unauthorized possession of prized treasure, and refusal to return.
If it were any other Zhou Kingdom nobles, those serious felonies would be sufficient to have their entire family executed.
However, could the emperor's will be carried out on an Innate Grandmaster?
Zhu Jian put on a forced smile.
The answer was obvious.
Wen Zhou stopped his fanning motion as he bowed lightly, not daring to say anything else.
Zhu Jian clammed up straight away as though nothing happened.
For some time, the Black Dragon Altar's courtroom hall was dead silent.
"Is there anything else you want to say?" The Grand Commander asked softly.
Zhu Jian took a deep breath.
The communication token was a disposable item and could only be maintained for 30 minutes.
It was a rare item that would be destroyed after use.
To make sure it was not wasted, the Zhen Guardian Commander spoke at high speed.
He picked the more important things to notify the Grand Commander Guardian.
For example, the battle of Yongxue Pass and the Imperial Preceptor Phags-Pa.
"The Great Boundless Palace… Back then Master Zhizhu invaded our kingdom and tried to kill the emperor.
"Now, his disciple has yet to give up and tries to test our limits.
"On the day of my success, I will surely head to the great plains and settle this matter!"
The Grand Commander, who spoke slowly with a calm tone all the while, seemed to be enraged.
Zhu Jian was just about to put in a few words on their common enemy when he heard a cracking sound. The communication token in his hand had broken.
The shimmering light dispersed into nothingness.
The high and mighty figure disappeared along with it.
…
"Calm heart fears no calamity…"
"All changes are set, calm the mind…"
Seated within the stone chamber, Zhao Mu finally relaxed his mind. He no longer maintained the intimidating presence.
His entire body felt drained of energy. He swayed around slightly, but still managed to steady himself.
"Fortunately I have this Icy Heart Mantra."
Zhao Mu took off the bronze mask from his face and spent some time recuperating himself to peak condition.
The past few days, he had been studying the Sacred Heavenly Scripture and the Grand Commander's martial will.
Add to that the Nine Aperture Golden Elixir he digested previously, all that resulted in his body having a total of 500 years worth of accumulated true Qi.
Along with the Frozen Heart Mantra, he created a cold and distant persona of a grandmaster.
For all those reasons, he managed to toy with the four Guardian Commanders of the Black Dragon Altar.
"With the Grand Commander's identity, it'll be much easier for me to do things."
Zhao Mu touched the bronze mask on the table.
It would be a pipe dream for a regular person to impersonate an Innate Grandmaster.
However, he had the help of Sacred Heavenly Scripture, Frozen Heart Mantra, and other divine arts.
Add to it the words etched on the walls, he could study and experience the Grand Commander Guardian's martial will.
Borrowing his identity was something he could pull off with a rather high probability.
"I should've realized that the Frozen Heart Mantra was special considering that it was a martial art passed down by Nie Feng's family where it could even suppress the demonic energy from Qilin blood and dragon essence."
Zhao Mu did not pay it any heed when he acquired that mantra.
Up until that moment, when his understanding of martial arts grew, he finally realized the miraculous benefits of the Frozen Heart Mantra.
Suppress the mind and keep it still.
Regulate one's Qi and focus one's intent.
Each time he practiced, he only needed to recite the mantra.
It would help him enter an extremely rational state devoid of emotions.
"I must use this more in my future martial arts practice," Zhao Mu said after experiencing its benefits.