After writing the seven 'Kill' characters, Zhao Mu felt the pent-up violence within him being swept away.
When he overheard the servants' discussions, even reciting the Frozen Heart Mantra repeatedly could not hold back the terrible killing intent welling up within him.
Being imprisoned in the cold palace for 12 long years, Zhao Mu had long given up on the relationship with his father.
He never had any hope that the emperor would one day walk into the desolate cold palace to meet with a cursed child like him and show him some kindness.
One reason being that he had transmigrated from a different world and placed no importance on his bloodline.
Another reason would be out of rational thought. He had a clear understanding of the situation he was in.
'He believes in fate and thinks that I would bring harm to my family, therefore harbor hatred for me, which is understandable,' Zhao Mu thought wordlessly to himself as his emotions fluctuated.
'However, what sin did Little Yuan commit?'
He refused to believe the emperor would be ignorant of the method the Great Boundless Palace chose their successors.
Buddhist Disciple, Master, and Guru.
Anyone with one of those three categories of root bone was eligible to be the Living Buddha's legacy disciple.
They would be taken to the great snowy mountain.
Three years of initiation along with the monks;
Three years of studying the Vajrayana scriptures;
Three years of alms round;
Three years of asceticism and evangelizing.
It would come to a total of 12 years.
Finally, the Living Buddha himself would pick out a true successor based on their performance and ability.
For someone to endure loneliness, cold weather, and polish one's heart may sound like some minor ordeal.
However, that was not the case in reality.
The standards of choosing a legacy disciple depended solely on one's root bone. The Eight Divisions of the Great Boundless Palace and its Five Sects would send people to seek out children from the tribes in the plains, or even from the Divine continent itself for those with similar root bones and bring them back to the great snow mountain.
Only one true successor would emerge among several hundred legacy disciples!
People only think of the glory of the Living Buddha of the plains, the master of the Great Boundless Palace.
However, they did not know that the Lotus Throne was built among a mountain of corpses.
"How can he be so ruthless?"
Zhao Mu pursed his lips. He did not know if that question was for himself, or the noble emperor.
The Gandharva was a Master herself, but why did she end up as one of the Eight Divisions and take up discipleship under Phags-pa's to fight for the place of the next Living Buddha?
One could guess why.
The Eight Divisions of the Great Boundless Palace were Heaven, Dragon, Yaksha, Gandharva, Asura, Karura, Kinnara, and Mahoraga, the eight guardians.
Apart from the Living Buddha himself, they had the highest status.
The Five Sects were the Red Sect, Bodhi Sect, White Sect, Flower Sect, and Yellow Sect.
Over many years, because of their different understanding of religious doctrines, they have branched out to five different lineages.
From that, one could surmise that the Great Boundless Palace which influenced the entire Yuanmeng Empire was not fully united within. They had some infighting.
When the time came to chose a candidate as the Living Buddha's legacy disciple, it was then the competition between them was fiercest.
Yuanmeng Imperial Preceptor Phags-pa came from the White Sect's Gancao Temple.
Relying on his exceptional talent and martial arts, he came up above the many legacy disciples.
After he became the Living Buddha, the Flower Sect immediately attained greater standing and suppressed the other four sects.
Because of that, this time's selection for legacy disciple would directly affect the power structure of the Great Boundless Palace for the next 200 years.
The dangers involved were obvious.
Zhao Mu gently opened his eyes which regained their calm gaze and pressed his lips thin.
All in all, once one gets involved with the infighting of the Eight Divisions and Five Sects, one could only become the next Living Buddha of the Great Boundless Palace by stepping on the corpses of others.
Otherwise, one would only become a stepping stone for others to be trampled over.
Looking at it from various perspectives, if Zhao Yuan went beyond the great wall to the Yuanmeng Empire, he would most likely be persecuted and end up dying in a foreign land.
"Fortunately Huo Rulie had some knowledge of the Ten Great Sects."
Zhao Mu laughed sarcastically.
It was understandable for him to be ignorant as he was living in the cold palace for the entire time.
However, the Emperor of Zhou had the Black Dragon Altar working for him.
Any rumors and news circulating within the imperial court and the world of martial arts would be known to him, yet he would knowingly accept the Gandharva's challenge.
Was that based on his confidence in the Heavenly Dragon Temple, or out of his greed for the 5,000 warhorses?
Or rather, he was set of letting his own son fight for the glorious position of the Great Boundless Palace's Living Buddha?
"For that slim chance, he's willing to sacrifice his own son…Hmph!"
Zhao Mu lowered his head and looked at the seven characters of "Kill" written on the white paper. The ink was like bloodstains, striking fear into the reader.
He could feel a wave of terrible aura rushing to his face.
It felt as though swords and sabers were drawn out at the same time, filled with bloodlust.
Even with just a glance, it gave one the terrible feeling as though standing on a mountain of corpses in an Asura's killing field.
One could even hear the illusory warcries and angry roars.
That was Zhao Mu's spiritual manifestation to polish his mental state.
He refined the violence and murderous aura within his heart.
Using brush and ink, he imprinted them on the white paper.
If someone of weak will had the unfortunate chance to look at those seven characters, they would likely be scared witless and pass out immediately.
That was the profundity of someone at the Spiritual Transformation Stage.
With the transformation of the spirit, one could affect the world with their spirit.
With that, one could twist another's heart and confound the five senses.
"The past few days, I've condensed two hundred and thirty thoughts using the Tibetan Secret Scriptures. It's about time to put it to use."
Zhao Mu took a deep breath and crumpled the paper into a ball before shooting out a line of fire to destroy it.
The reason he wrote those with his thoughts imprinted via his spirit was as preparations to counter the Gandharva.
The old eunuchs and maids in the Eternal Happiness Palace were right. He was still unable to leave the cold palace.
Before he becomes a grandmaster, he must never go out.
That was a goal Zhao Mu set.
The Yuanmeng Imperial Preceptor was suppressing the world outside.
Moreover, there was the grand world of martial arts run by the Ten Great Sects and Six Sacred Grounds.
Even if Zhao Mu left the cold palace, he would still lack freedom.
Only by becoming an Innate Grandmaster could he break free from his shackles.
'There's no need to kill with my own hands.'
Zhao Mu thought up his plans, then left the desk with hands behind his back.
He stepped out of the gates into the walkway.
"Come here."
He walked around the palace a few times before finally stopping in his tracks.
There was a kind smile on his face as he waved at the cat that put on a lot of weight.
…
Several days passed.
News of the challenge spread throughout the imperial city. The challenge that garnered the attention of many experts within Tianjing City was about to start.
On the field in front of the Heroes' Hall, there was a yellow imperial umbrella with royal guards surrounding it.
The Emperor of Zhou was seated on a golden throne with Marquis Zhao Kai beside him.
Below the platform were the princes.
This time, Zhao Yuan was no longer seated at the end.
He was in the second seat, right behind the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.
It was obvious his status has changed.
Further in the back was a wooden arena built in a hurry overnight.
The square arena filled up the entire empty plot.
Master Yuanhui, the head of Prajna Hall from the Heavenly Dragon Temple sat to the right side with his eyes half-closed.
"That Yuanmeng barbarian truly has no etiquette. How dare they make His Majesty wait!" Huffed Chen Chaoen, the old eunuch standing beside the emperor.
If those two were not backed by the Yuanmeng Imperial Preceptor Phags-pa of the Great Boundless Palace, he would have killed them with a palm strike.
"What's the hurry? It's not time yet."
The Emperor of Zhou said cheerfully. His gaze occasionally landing on the emotionless Zhao Yuan.
"I heard that martial artists would often arrive late on purpose to make the opponent wait and grow impatient, causing them to lose control of their emotions which leads to the latecomer's victory."
Marquis Zhao Kai nodded lightly and voiced his agreement, "That's psychological warfare, but it's not the best move."
"Why?"
The emperor had a curious look.
Marquis Zhao Kai explained slowly, "Trying to run and delay the battle. Such actions suggest a lack of confidence. If the opponent is calm, unaffected, and displayed confidence, then they could win without fighting."
The emperor clasped his hands together and laughed, praising, "In terms of martial arts and tactics, Marquis Zhao Kai truly has better observation!"
While they were conversing, a thunderous roar broke out suddenly.
It spread like thunder, echoing throughout the imperial palace—
"Out of the way!"
After that, it was followed by the muffled sound of a fist hitting a body.
"Who dare misbehave in the imperial city!?"
Marquis Zhao Kai remained seated with a vicious look in his eyes.
His spiritual oppression suddenly burst forth like the sun, spreading outward in all directions and enveloping the surrounding.
Chen Chaoen from the Ceremonial Directorate narrowed his eyes. It was as though he had broken through the limits of a human's body and observed the scene happening outside of the Heroes' Hall.
"Your Majesty, that's Moro, the King of Yakshas!"
The powerful old eunuch had a surprised look on his face.
Moro seemed to have met with a fierce battle. The robe on the monk was covered in blood.
His sculpted and sturdy body was also covered in wounds.
While Chen Chaoen was speaking, Moro had already arrived before the Heroes' Hall.