CHAPTER 517: CHAPTER 379: SECRET SKILLS

"He’s not in the banquet hall."

Dong Gong Ruoshu walked back after circling outside and said.

Chen Yi had not arrived for a long time. It wasn’t just Yin Weiyin who felt puzzled; even Dong Gong Ruoshu found it odd.

Logically, on the eve of the New Year, he should have come to greet her, his betrothed wife.

But after fifteen minutes passed, he still hadn’t shown up.

"Could something have happened?" Dong Gong Ruoshu asked worriedly.

"Don’t jinx it."

Yin Weiyin rebuked harshly, her brows deeply furrowed with concern.

Chen Yi’s discord with the Empress Dowager—after their ordeal in the underground palace—was crystal clear to her.

Could it be... that something truly happened to him?

A sinking feeling struck Yin Weiyin, and she said, "We can’t just wait here idly."

Dong Gong Ruoshu asked, "Then what should we do? Go find him?"

"Are you daft? The Inner Court is full of Xique Pavilion’s experts, let alone the Pavilion Master herself."

Yin Weiyin paused, realizing her words betrayed a bit of unease. Gathering herself, she resumed with an air of composed elegance:

"A sage always has their ingenious ways."

Curiosity was written all over Dong Gong Ruoshu’s face.

The female crown stood up and began to pace—stepping counter-clockwise for a lap, then clockwise for another. Finally, she lowered her gaze to the divination symbols on her hands.

The symbols were murky and obscure, portents unfavorable.

Frowning, Yin Weiyin pondered the rare misaligned divination result—clearly indicating she needed a different method.

She then retrieved a hairpin, inserted it into her chignon, and took out the smoke-colored cloud-pattern hairpin gifted by Chen Yi. Connected through his fate, she used the hairpin as the eye of the array to track Chen Yi’s movements.

Next, Yin Weiyin dipped her fingers into tea water and began to draw on the ground.

Dong Gong Ruoshu, puzzled by her actions, asked, "What are you doing?"

"I’m drawing an array to encapsulate a boundary. Do not interrupt me, and definitely do not step inside the circle."

Concerned the dim-witted girl wouldn’t heed her warning, Yin Weiyin added sternly:

"This technique, known as the Thousand-Mile Eyes Method, lets me glimpse his whereabouts. Stay outside the boundary, and I’ll tell you what I see."

Dong Gong Ruoshu nodded obediently.

Shortly after, the array was complete. Primordial Qi surged, boiling throughout her body, and a faint blue light emanated from Yin Weiyin’s entire being. Dong Gong Ruoshu watched with delighted fascination but sat still, hands carefully placed beneath her thighs, completely motionless.

Amid the firefly-like glimmers of light, something seemed to extract from her—vague and indistinct—it was her Nascent Soul.

Since the ordeal at the underworld, Yin Weiyin had recovered her Nascent Soul, which was essential for the Thousand-Mile Eyes Method, allowing it to aid her vision. Through the hazy blue light, as though clouds were parted, the female crown gradually saw the scene inside the temple hall.

Within the temple hall, streams of energy surged like rippling waves across a lake. Sharp gusts of wind seemed to echo faintly. The high-hanging swastika symbol vibrated endlessly.

The tension had grown razor-sharp.

"Are they about to... fight?"

Yin Weiyin gasped in astonishment.

Dong Gong Ruoshu, unable to see the temple hall, was equally startled and asked, "Fight? He’s fighting the Empress Dowager?"

Yin Weiyin initially thought to answer, "Not yet," but at that moment, she saw Chen Yi’s figure move, dashing toward the Empress Dowager with lightning speed.

She exclaimed, "Yes! They’re fighting!"

Inside the temple hall, Chen Yi dashed forward and launched a palm strike at the Empress Dowager.

The forceful gust generated by his hand tore through the air, shaking the plaque inscribed with the words "Spiritual Platform" slightly. The plaque, crafted five years earlier by the Empress Dowager herself, bore strokes full of fiery vigor—entirely unlike the delicate grace of a cultured lady.

Her phoenix robe, adorned in shining patterns, fluttered violently against the wind. As she maintained her Fearless Seal gesture, a torrent of Buddha Light poured forth, intercepting Chen Yi’s charging figure and forcing it to stagnate.

The Empress Dowager spoke slowly, "Great Yu has always revered mystic cultivation. If the dragon vein remained intact, Buddhism and the dragon vein would clash. Even if I had become Dharma King, the backlash would’ve been tremendous.

"To be honest, tonight’s invitation was not without the intention of testing my own capabilities against you."

Chen Yi narrowed his gaze at the Empress Dowager. His pupils partially contracted, for no matter how he reasoned beforehand, he hadn’t imagined that she would already inherit the Dharma King legacy—before the chaos of martial society had even commenced.

This event hadn’t occurred in his past life.

In hindsight, the scenario made sense. If not for the former Emperor severing the dragon vein, even with access to the Dharma King legacy, the Empress Dowager would’ve hesitated to inherit it due to the ensuing backlash. Ultimately, the cause stemmed from his act of taking Yin Tingxue away.

The Empress Dowager asked coolly, "Why not unsheathe your blade or sword?"

Her words ended decisively, and Chen Yi hesitated no longer. He drew his weapon without any stray thoughts.

Chen Yi’s form seemed freed from its restraints. Light streaked from his blade, pulling cold brilliance through the temple.

Unshaken, the Empress Dowager’s stance remained firm. Her hands shifted, performing the Demon Suppressing Seal. Behind her, an immense golden phantom akin to a Golden Body Dharma manifested, projecting an overwhelming force that caused the swastika symbol to quiver incessantly.

She launched a strike.

The phantom’s palm, as imposing as a mountain, came crashing down.

The sheer might was terrifying. Yet Chen Yi didn’t evade. The Hou Kang Sword on his back sprang out of its sheath on its own. With one hand gripping the hilt, Chen Yi’s Sword Intent surged tremendously—sharp and murderous. It was the bane among swords: the Destruction Zen Sword!

The sword thrust forward, piercing the air, and promptly burrowed into the phantom’s palm. Light concentrated inwardly.

Boom!

The phantom’s arm cracked at first, then completely shattered into fragments, sending explosive gusts tearing everywhere—splitting the temple’s incense-smoke to tatters.

Chen Yi closed the distance to within five feet of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager’s expression didn’t change. She stomped the ground, then leaped into the air. She didn’t rely on Qinggong; the Golden Core Stage Chen Yi vaguely noticed that lotuses materialized beneath her feet, lifting her upward.

Chen Yi moved to pursue but abruptly stopped. He saw the Hou Kang Sword embedded in the phantom swiftly repositioning, darting toward the Empress Dowager. She grasped it in an instant, pulling the sword into her hand.

"A fine sword."

The Empress Dowager complimented as she gripped its hilt, giving it a brief examination.

Chen Yi attempted to reclaim the Hou Kang Sword using Qi Manipulation, but the dense Buddha Light thwarted his effort.

Her phoenix robe swirled as she wielded the sword. A surge of sword energy erupted from her hands, transformed from Buddha Light itself.

"You want this?"

She swung the sword casually, released its grip, and flung it toward Chen Yi,

"Then take it back."

The Hou Kang Sword spun gracefully, tracing a dazzling trajectory. The blade descended upon Chen Yi perfectly balanced, retaining its Sword Energy and Sword Intent as though untouched.

Chen Yi furrowed his brows but advanced instead of retreating. He tilted his body and raised his own weapon, twisting his wrist. The Hou Kang Sword followed the knife’s edge narrowly.

A deft deflection sent the blade sideways, landing on the ground instead. Upon impact, it gouged out a massive hole, scattering wooden shards everywhere.

Chen Yi reclaimed the Hou Kang Sword using Qi Manipulation, and it returned promptly to his hand.

"It’s hard to explain, but Chen Yi performed a peculiar knife strike. The sword’s trajectory followed the blade precisely, rendering the strike ineffective and dissipating the peril like smoke."

Yin Weiyin voiced this observation tensely, providing rapid commentary to Dong Gong Ruoshu about the temple’s happenings.

The female crown’s tone was neither too high nor too low—calm yet steady, narrating the events methodically. Dong Gong Ruoshu, only listening, was able to perceive fifty to sixty percent of the unfolding action.

Dong Gong Ruoshu couldn’t help complimenting, "Miss Yin, you narrate so wonderfully."

Yin Weiyin reacted with disdain instead of delight, gritting her teeth.

Indeed, her commentary skills were impeccable, but they stemmed entirely from... events upon the bed.

In Chen Yi’s chambers, the techniques varied wildly—of undetermined origins. To tease them playfully, he would sometimes have them narrate themselves as though books...

Little Yin fared better, while timid Yin Tingxue, submissive to a fault, was often spared after a mere few lines. Great Yin, on the other hand, suffered considerably every time.

Suppressing her turbulent mood, Yin Weiyin refocused on observing the temple’s action.

Chen Yi leapt repeatedly, but each attempt was repelled by the Empress Dowager, forcing him back to the ground. In battles between martial artists and practitioners of Buddhist Dao, the key was closing the distance to within two meters. Conversely, the farther apart, the greater the advantage for the latter, whose spells proved boundless over longer ranges.

Yin Weiyin watched the evolving temple scenario with intensity, momentarily forgetting to narrate. Beside her, Dong Gong Ruoshu’s nagging reached her ears:

"What’s happening now? Why aren’t you talking?"

The female crown, increasingly annoyed, stubbornly ignored Ruoshu while watching the battle.

Remembering her vexing companion, Yin Weiyin suddenly concocted a sly idea. After brewing it momentarily, she prepared to play a little prank on the gullible girl.

Chen Yi’s Sword Qi rose relentlessly, breaking through the Buddha Light repeatedly. The Empress Dowager’s Golden Body Dharma already appeared increasingly battered.

She could only leap higher and higher, nearing the temple’s uppermost reach. Her hands shifted, forming the Fearless Seal anew.

The Buddha Light around the Golden Body Dharma exploded forth, looming over Chen Yi with immense force, while simultaneously the Empress Dowager descended in tandem—her Buddha Light cascading down like bold ink strokes in a grand painting.

"This nearly heaven-sent move is utterly terrifying, overpowering beyond comparison. The Empress Dowager’s Fearless Seal unleashes a radiant burst of golden brilliance, a stunningly imposing assault, as Chen Yi presses forward unyieldingly with a sword strike, bringing a sudden chill into the temple..." Yin Weiyin observed Ruoshu briefly before mischievously shifting her narrative:

"...and in a flash, he unexpectedly executed a technique called ’Child Peeing Technique,’ lifting Empress Dowager high into the air."

Dong Gong Ruoshu froze for a moment, then hesitantly exclaimed, "Such an unconventional move actually exists?"

Having trained in martial arts for years, this was the first time she’d learned of such a method. Observing Yin Weiyin’s serious expression, she doubted whether deception was truly at work and grew both amazed and suspicious.

"Of course it exists—a secret finishing move usually reserved for special occasions only." Yin Weiyin responded deadpan.

Dong Gong Ruoshu, still skeptical yet somewhat convinced, urged, "Carry on."

"In that split-second moment, the Empress Dowager struck back with a powerful palm strike, repelling Chen Yi forcefully. The two widened their gap once more. As he unleashed one technique, she naturally looked to reciprocate. Her fingers formed the lotus gesture as Chen Yi resumed his assault, sword poised to pierce her..." Yin Weiyin playfully pivoted again, intertwining absurdity:

"...suddenly letting out an audible ’Ying,’ stunning her opponent."

Dong Gong Ruoshu’s eyes widened in confusion. This maneuver sounded much more conventional.

Yet why did it involve a seemingly inexplicable coo?

Noticing Ruoshu’s perplexity, Yin Weiyin offered teasing advice: "If you’re curious, by all means—request guidance directly from the Empress Dowager."

"Is it also a hidden ability?"

"More or less, along with her other techniques like Mountain-Over-Punch or Beng Sword Style." Yin Weiyin recalled the rather risqué names Chen Yi had coined.

"Such intense combat..." Ruoshu muttered.

"Naturally—the Empress Dowager remains a master of arts." Yin Weiyin replied earnestly, "The stranger the skill, the swifter the victory."

Dong Gong Ruoshu nodded emphatically. If she ever had the chance, she’d certainly seek instruction from the Empress Dowager.

Perhaps she could walk away with one or two unique techniques as souvenirs.