Chapter 121

Wang Chen suddenly turned around.

About twenty or thirty steps away, there stood a monk in a gray robe.

Lean and tall with a gaunt face, his old visage etched with the vicissitudes of time, carrying an old Buddhist cage on his back.

Meeting Wang Chen’s gaze, the old monk offered a faint smile and pressed his palms together in a courteous gesture.

“This humble monk Wuxiang from Lantuo Temple greets the young friend,” he said.

Wang Chen took a deep breath and returned the salute with a vertical palm, “Wang Chen, Inner Sect Disciple of Cloud Sun Sect, greets the master.”

The stranger appeared frail and decrepit, as though a gust of wind could knock him over.

But here in the wilderness, at the heart of an Evil Nest, and in the dead of night.

For Wang Chen, who harbored a great secret, to remain calm in such a situation was extremely difficult.

He had activated his Spiritual Perception Technique at the moment he turned.

Yet, he could not discern the cultivation level or strength of this Monk Wuxiang!

Monk? Mage? Zen Master?

Wang Chen dared not ponder further.

The names for cultivation realms in the Buddhist Sects differ from those of the Taoist Sects: Novice Monk, monk, Mage, Zen Master, and Vajra correspond to Shedding Mortality, Qi Cultivation, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul, respectively.

He was one hundred percent certain that the old monk before him was no ordinary monk.

He was likely beyond even a Mage!

In any case, overpowering him would not be an issue at all.

Wang Chen had no choice but to play the Cloud Sun Sect card, hoping it would give the other party pause.

He had intended to give a false name.

But his instincts told Wang Chen,

That such a move would be ridiculously futile in front of this old monk!

The other party had no ill intentions.

Thus, as he introduced himself, Wang Chen forcefully suppressed the urge to flee using his Shadowless Divine Traverse.

“So, it is a young friend from the Cloud Sun Sect.”

Wuxiang smiled faintly, “I apologize for the disturbance. The humble monk has just arrived here to resolve a certain karmic debt. Please pardon the intrusion.”

With such politeness from the old monk, Wang Chen felt somewhat embarrassed, “The master may do as he pleases.”

His curiosity was now piqued.

He couldn’t figure out what the monk was up to!

But one thing was certain; there was no malice.

Otherwise, he would have simply taken him down without needing to engage in such small talk.

Wuxiang’s gaze fell on the shovel in Wang Chen’s hand, “Young friend, may I borrow your shovel for a moment?”

Wang Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately handed over the shovel he was holding.

“Many thanks.”

Wuxiang received the mana-supported shovel from Wang Chen.

He then began to dig right beside him.

Wang Chen watched his every movement, which was no different from that of an ordinary person.

He found it unfathomably profound!

Wuxiang swiftly unearthed a gray urn from the soil.

Holding the urn in his hands, he said softly, “You can come out now.”

After a moment, a young woman in plain clothes, holding a lantern, floated out from the chaotic grave mounds.

She looked timidly at Wuxiang, hesitating to draw near.

Wuxiang showed a compassionate expression and spoke gently, “Child, I have come to take you home.”

Witnessing this scene, Wang Chen was taken aback.

For the girl was clearly a Lantern Carrying Puppet.

Yet, under his spiritual vision, she still possessed the appearance of a human being.

Hearing Wuxiang’s words, the girl hesitated no longer and leaped into the urn he was cradling.

And then she disappeared in an instant!

Wuxiang brushed the clay off the surface of the urn and carefully placed it into the Buddhist cage on his back.

Wang Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Master, who is that person?”

He had just slain several Lantern Carrying Puppets!

“A pitiable soul,” Wuxiang sighed. “This humble monk was entrusted by someone to bring her back to her homeland, so her lost spirit may rest.”

Wang Chen bowed, “The master is compassionate, benevolent indeed.”

Wuxiang returned the gesture, “This monk sees that the young friend has profound ties with Buddhism.”

Wang Chen, on guard, chuckled dryly, “I am but a disciple of the Taoist Sect, the master thinks too highly of me.”

Although the old monk harbored no evil thoughts and seemed like an enlightened sage,

Wang Chen truly feared the monk might say he was “destined for Buddhism”, and then abduct him to shave his head!

He had indeed heard of similar stories from the original host!

Wuxiang shook his head, “Despite your youthful age, you have cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method to Golden Body Great Achievement. Such talent would be ranked highly even in the Heavenly Dragon Temple of the Western Region.”

Wang Chen was rendered speechless and immediately straightened his back, “Master, I already have a sect of my own!”

If the other party really intended to coerce him, then he…

Would simply have to concede.

After all, a wise man does not fight when the odds are against him, but a cultivator must maintain his pride!

However, Wang Chen was overthinking it.

Monk Wuxiang smiled, “The Buddha enlightens those with fate, this monk has no intention of forcing anyone.”

He took out a Jade Slip and held it in his hand, where a faint glimmer of light flashed momentarily.

“Meeting is fate itself, I shall gift to the young friend the third layer of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Right Method’s cultivation technique!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Jade Slip, along with that iron shovel, instantly appeared in front of Wang Chen!

Wang Chen’s heart trembled fiercely.

Not only had the elderly monk seen through his cultivation level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Right Method, but he had also given him the subsequent cultivation technique.

And it seemed like the Jade Slip was made on the spot!

Wang Chen had previously inquired at the Four Seas Commerce Association, and learned that the subsequent six layers of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Right Method’s cultivation technique were not for sale.

To learn them, one could only seek them from the Buddhist Sect!

In fact, due to the influence of the True Form of Heavenly Dragon, Wang Chen had no plans to continue practicing this method.

But unexpectedly, Monk Wuxiang had directly gifted him a set!

Then Monk Wuxiang continued, “It’s not that this monk is hiding something, the top three layers of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Right Method are a secret not passed down by the Heavenly Dragon Temple, and can only be comprehended by observing its treasured Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon True Soul Painting.”

With a flick of his finger,

a bead radiating a faint golden light, instantly floated before Wang Chen’s eyes!

“This Dragon-subduing Bone Relic, with the function of suppressing the True Form of Heavenly Dragon within the Sea of Consciousness, is also bestowed to the young friend.”

Looking at the Jade Slip and Bone Relic floating in front of him,

Wang Chen’s thoughts raced.

He immediately bowed deeply, “Elder’s gracious gift cannot be declined; this junior is unworthy but accepts it graciously.”

Then, Wang Chen took out the Wood Essence he had just dug up from his Storage Bag and presented it to Monk Wuxiang.

“This is a token of this junior’s humble intentions, please do accept it, grandmaster!”

The Buddhist Sect places great emphasis on fate and causality, one must not simply take things from monks.

Wang Chen accepted the Cultivation Technique and Bone Relic gifted by Monk Wuxiang, returning them with treasures earned through his own life-threatening struggles.

Setting aside their value, this made their intentions even!

Monk Wuxiang accepted the Wood Essence with a smile.

Wang Chen quietly heaved a sigh of relief and once again performed a salute, “This junior has other matters to attend to, and must take his leave now.”

Monk Wuxiang placed his palms together, “We’ll meet again if it’s fated.”

He watched as Wang Chen’s figure disappeared into the vast night.

Standing motionless on the spot.

After nearly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a dazzling Sword Light like a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, arriving in front of Monk Wuxiang.

When the Sword Light dissipated, a regally dressed beauty emerged, her cold voice inquiring, “May I ask, venerable monk, what brings you here?”

Monk Wuxiang performed a salute, “I have come here to settle a matter of fate.”

The regally dressed beauty looked around and pressed, “Is it settled then?”

Her tone carried an aggressive edge, sharp as a drawn sword.

She had just received a message from the Supreme Elder of her sect, reporting the presence of a eminent figure near the Outer Mountain Gate.

She was dispatched to investigate.

After searching with her Sword Control for a good while, she finally found this place.

She never expected the so-called eminent figure to be a monk!

She had no fondness for members of the Buddhist Sect.

If not for the fear of the monk’s mystery, she would have drawn her sword!

“It is settled,”

Monk Wuxiang said, unconcerned about the regally dressed beauty’s attitude, “This monk shall take his leave now.”

The regally dressed beauty said, “No need to see you out.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than she raised her Flying Sword again, turning into a streak of light that soared into the heavens.

Monk Wuxiang, with his Buddhist staff on his back, walked forward, slowly passing through the Chaotic Burial Mound.

“Joy, sorrow, returning to dust; all beings suffer, each must seek their own liberation…”

His low chanting of the Buddhist mantra spread in all directions.

Amid the desolate graves, specters that seemed both real and illusory rose up.

They uniformly saluted Monk Wuxiang.

And then silently dissipated between heaven and earth.

The look of great compassion deepened on Monk Wuxiang’s face as he seemingly radiated a Buddhist light from his frail body,

walking alone towards the distant horizon.

Meanwhile, Wang Chen had already returned to his home.

Only then did his pounding heart finally settle down.

The experiences of this night had been excessively thrilling.

Especially that of Monk Wuxiang, whose cultivation strength was profoundly inscrutable; perhaps not even the entirety of the Cloud Sun Sect had anyone to rival him.

That Wang Chen was able to interact with the other party politely and respectfully, was an accomplishment worthy of pride!

The pressure he felt at the time was truly immense.

And this incident also reminded Wang Chen that he should no longer carelessly venture into the Outer Domain.

He was about to enter the Inner Sect, and it was time to seriously stabilize and lay low for a while!

———

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