Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 742 - 579: The Ruined Temple in the Deep Mountains + - 580: Gaining the Upper Hand - Part 2

Chapter 742: Chapter 579: The Ruined Temple in the Deep Mountains + Chapter 580: Gaining the Upper Hand - Part 2

After all, the Imperial Court has vast resources and enough elite cavalry; as long as they secure a few more victories, they’ll have everything they desire.

...

The concealment techniques of Monk Xuanming are indeed extraordinary.

But they cannot escape the intuition of Zhou Ping’an.

Following the curious incense that signifies both good and evil, a meandering line seems to be drawn in Zhou Ping’an’s mind.

Heading westward, crossing mountains and ridges, after more than thirty li, the forest becomes denser, nearly obscuring the pathway.

Instead, thorny undergrowth and vines are everywhere, with the occasional roars of beasts and calls of birds, exuding a peculiar tranquility.

Here, the familiar aura of Monk Xuanming became fainter and fainter, until it disappeared not far ahead.

Zhou Ping’an suddenly felt a clear view open up before him.

With a flicker, he appeared from the mist, standing atop a tree branch, thoughtfully gazing at the landscape of white mountains and Black Water, overgrown with grass, and the ruins of an old temple.

"To think that such a level plain is hidden deep in the mountains, and even a small temple is built here."

Zhou Ping’an did not move forward, nor did he have any intention to explore the temple, but just looked from a distance, sensing the powerful crisis that made his scalp tingle.

"What a piece of work, is this still a monk? Must have grown over a hundred Heart Eyes, fanning flames everywhere, leading the way and provoking conflicts. Moreover, casually setting traps..."

Zhou Ping’an recalled the assassination attempt by the trio from the Reincarnation Hall starting in Jinhe City. He realized that the troops under Phoenix Platform seemed to have crossed paths with him.

With each move being a kill shot, he was forced to act.

Afterward, he discovered it wasn’t just the infiltrated troops from Phoenix Platform, but monks from Brahma Temple were hiding in the dark. Thus, he had the impulse to slay this person, to prevent the other side from forming alliances and causing him a headache with their back and forth maneuvers.

But just as he had caught up with the other party, he ended up falling into a big pit here.

Whether it was visible to the naked eye or sensed mentally.

He actually couldn’t discern anything extraordinary about the weathered temple.

But, precisely because there was nothing out of the ordinary, the temple located deep in the mountains seemed very strange.

There are no travelers here, no roads lead this way.

What’s the point of having a temple then?

Where does the incense come from?

And who is presiding over it?

With suspicion in his heart, Zhou Ping’an attempted to explore whether he should go and check it out, but deep within his soul, he received a warning.

’Actually, Tang Wan’s guesses weren’t too far off. My Crisis Perception, rather than being a soul’s alert, might better be described as Foreknowledge or speculation. I wonder if it’s a favor from the heavens and earth, or if the Treasures possess some spirit...’

Zhou Ping’an looked up at the sky.

The setting sun painted the sky beautifully, nothing seemed amiss.

Looking at the Mirror Trace on his wrist, he felt it giving off a slight heat.

’Most likely, the Treasures have spirits.’

’However, this time, the mirror’s jump seems a bit abnormal, as if it’s reminding me of something...’

No matter if one is a Martial Cultivator, a Magic Cultivator, or follows any other path of cultivation, once you step on the road to transcendence, you’re no longer the same as the ignorant populace.

Any kind of intuition, such as a ’Flash of Inspiration’ or a ’sudden surge of emotions,’ has deep reasoning behind it and can’t simply be dismissed as an illusion.

Therefore, Zhou Ping’an decided to retreat directly.

Since he clearly knew that this was a trap meticulously prepared by Old Monk Xuanming, there was no reason to act according to the other party’s wishes.

Chapter 580: A Hand Steadies

Old Monk Xuanming is no fool; it can be said that he has a deep understanding of me. After all, we’ve clashed in secret more than once. No matter how careless he might be, the old monk wouldn’t think that ordinary schemes could trap me.

So, since Old Monk Xuanming deliberately used roundabout ways to ambush me and coincidentally caused his aura to vanish within the temple,

There must be a reason behind it.

He must believe that this place will surely capture me.

’What kind of method is it that gives the old monk such confidence?’

Zhou Ping’an is not the slightest bit curious.

With a move, he retreated a hundred paces, leaving no trace in his path, merging with the breeze and the clouds, leaving no traces behind.

After two quarters of an hour had passed.

In front of the temple, on the wrist of the crooked and damaged Guardian Stone Statue, a dusty and battered string of Buddha Beads suddenly stirred.

The dust scattered and the beads glowed briefly; beside the temple gate, a benevolent-looking, smiling old monk suddenly appeared.

"What a Zhou Ping’an, to detect danger in such a covert Small Underworld; he must not be allowed to live."

Although the old monk still carried a smile, his tone was cold and grim.

"I wonder how exactly he discovered it? In the past, even warriors of the Divine Martial Realm suffered here, ending up soul-shattered and filled with terror. It’s a pity, such a pity. Kedaro, can you handle this?"

Old Monk Xuanming looked up at the Guardian Stone Statue beside him, brought his hands together, and bowed deeply.

The broken statue, missing a nose, an eye, and an arm, did not respond, continuing to stand silently like an inanimate object, as if it would continue to stand for centuries.

After the monk’s bow, as a gust of wind blew by, carrying twirling dust and a few withered leaves into the air, his figure had already vanished.

...

This time, Zhou Ping’an did not pursue.

Instead, he furrowed his brows and concealed himself in the shadow of the leaves, like a black mark beneath the sunlight, devoid of any fluctuations in presence.

He knew that Old Monk Xuanming had truly left this time.

The opponent indeed proved to be both decisive and cunning, a waste of a monk indeed.