Qingzhou, Guangming Temple.

The Mahavira Hall was silent, even the sound of breathing was faint. All the Grandmaster-level martial monks above the Vajra Realm in the entire Guangming Temple were summoned to the hall.

An old monk with aged features, earlobes touching his shoulders, and wearing an abbot's kasaya sat cross-legged at the head, looking at the five Grandmasters in front of him with a solemn expression.

He was the new abbot of Guangming Temple, Miaojue!

During the decades that Yaoxin had been in seclusion seeking a breakthrough, he had been in charge of all the affairs of the temple, and had long established authority. He also had a strong reputation within Qingzhou.

But today, he looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Because the battle results from Shuzhou City had already reached his ears.

"I wonder why Abbot has summoned us?" Guangliang, a fat monk with a mole on his mouth, looked at the new abbot with a puzzled expression.

The other martial monks in power within Guangming Temple also looked curious, wondering why the abbot had summoned them, as they had already held a meeting before.

Could it be that something major had happened in the temple?

"The reason for summoning you all today is that Guangming Temple has reached a moment of life and death," Abbot Miaojue said, looking at everyone with a heavy expression.

Several chief monks of Guangming Temple were shocked. Their Guangming Temple was a top power in Qingzhou, with few that could rival it. How could there be a major crisis of life and death?

But since the abbot said so, there must be a reason. They quickly asked:

"Abbot, what happened?"

"Could it be that demonic cultivators are attacking?"

"Please tell us plainly, Abbot."

"Abbot Yaoxin left to settle a karmic debt, going to Shuzhou. The person with whom he was settling the karmic debt was Chen Yuan, the Heavenly Envoy of the Sky Patrol Division, Marquis Wu'an."

Miaojue said each word clearly, but these words were like a thunderclap in the hearts of the chief monks. Everyone was shocked and gasped.

"What, it's him?"

"It's actually Marquis Wu'an."

"No wonder the abbot asked about Marquis Wu'an before."

The others whispered among themselves, but quickly grasped the key point. Could it be that the crisis the abbot was talking about came from this Marquis Wu'an Chen Yuan?

Sensing the thoughts of the others, Miaojue did not hide anything, nodding his head:

"The abbot failed and died at the hands of Chen Yuan."

Hearing this news, the Mahavira Hall was silent. All the chief monks had shocked expressions on their faces, stunned in place. The abbot... had passed away!

They had originally thought that the abbot had returned to Mount Ling to be reincarnated, but he did not even have the chance to be reincarnated, and had fallen at the hands of Chen Yuan. For a moment, they could not accept it.

Yaoxin's prestige was very strong. He had almost single-handedly established Guangming Temple, and was even the teacher of many of them.

Miaojue sighed softly. Abbot Yaoxin had not revealed this matter to anyone other than him before he left, in order to prevent the news from leaking.

But now that the abbot had fallen, he had to tell them.

Because according to his predictions about Chen Yuan's character, he would definitely retaliate against Guangming Temple. They had to prepare early.

"Chen Yuan, this fiend!"

"He should be suppressed on Mount Ling to repent."

Voices of indignation rang out. "...According to the information sent back, Abbot Yaoxin took the initiative to challenge Chen Yuan outside Shuzhou City, but was defeated and severely injured. Later, the abbot used the decree of Manjushri Bodhisattva, but it was also shattered by Chen Yuan, and his remains were not found.

Now, the focus of our discussion is how to face Chen Yuan's retaliation. Should we abandon Guangming Temple and flee in all directions, or should we defend this place and wait for support from other temples?"

All Buddhist temples in the world are one family. If Guangming Temple is in crisis, other temples will generally come to help, and even the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the capital will speak up.

This was the reason for his hesitation.

"Of course, we should defend the temple. The abbot's settling of karmic debt was his own affair, how can it involve the innocent? This Chen Yuan is said to be righteous, compassionate, and kind. Surely he wouldn't..."

"Senior Brother Guangming, please do not have too high expectations of this person." Guangliang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"Guangliang, have you had dealings with this person before?"

"Indeed. Back then, Nephew-Disciple Jingxin fell in the Yuan Kong Realm. This person was the one who poisoned him. Later, this poor monk wanted to suppress this person to eliminate his murderous karma, but Elder Gu Chun of the Qingyun Sword Sect intervened, and Jiang He stopped him, resolving this grievance.

And this Chen Yuan has always held this hatred in his heart. Although the Qingyun Sword Sect did not fall by his hand, Xiao Qingmu, the only daughter of Benefactor Xiao Yun, died at his hands.

This person's heart is extremely ruthless and vengeful. We must guard against him."

Guangliang spoke of the past grievances in one breath.

"What should we do?"

"The abbot just said that Chen Yuan had a great battle in Shuzhou City and must have suffered considerable damage. Perhaps he will rest for a while. The abbot can send a message to the national preceptor, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and ask the Emperor to pardon Guangming Temple's sins."

A chief monk suggested.

"This poor monk has already sent a message to the Bodhisattva, but perhaps there will not be enough time." Miaojue shook his head, pondered for a moment, and said with a firm gaze:

"To prevent any accidents, first send away the disciples in the temple below the Condensing Qi Realm, and recall them after this calamity has passed."

"Abbot!"

"Abbot!"

The chief monks were all shocked.

"Just do as this poor monk says, there is no time to delay..."

Before Miaojue could finish speaking, suddenly, a deafening bell rang throughout Guangming Temple.

The bell rang nine times, immediately silencing the martial artists in the Mahavira Hall.

Nine rings of the bell, an enemy attack!

"Not good."

Miaojue's eyes narrowed. Not even having time to think about why they came so quickly, he immediately leapt out of the Mahavira Hall, followed by several chief monks.

Hundreds of Guangming Temple martial monks, armed with clubs, guarded the gate with solemn expressions.

At this time, two hundred Sky Patrol Envoys of various levels were already blocking the gate. The other exits had also been surrounded. The leader was none other than Lu Renyi, the Golden Envoy of Shuzhou.

Abbot Miaojue's expression was calm. He stepped forward and walked to the front, looking around. Noticing that Chen Yuan was not there, he frowned, put his palms together, and asked:

"May I ask for the benefactor's name?"

"This official is Lu Renyi, the Golden Envoy of Shuzhou."

"Since you are an official of Shuzhou, why have you come to my Guangming Temple in Qingzhou?"

"By the order of Chen Yuan, the Heavenly Envoy of the Sky Patrol Division, Marquis Wu'an, I have come to exterminate the demonic monks who are harboring the heretics of the Unborn Church." Lu Renyi raised his head and chest, grasping the hilt of his saber. "...Guangming Temple is a pure land of Buddhism, how can it be related to demonic heretics? Benefactor Lu, you are making such blatant slanders, are you not afraid that the national preceptor, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, will impeach you in court?"

A chief monk of Guangming Temple stood out and scolded.

"Hehe, do you think this official would come if I were afraid? You demonic monks are not only harboring the heretics of the Unborn Church, but also dared to attack Shuzhou City, attempting to harm Lord Chen. You deserve to die ten thousand times! Now, put down your clubs and surrender. This official may spare you the crime of disrespect. Otherwise, today, the entire Guangming Temple will be exterminated!"

Lu Renyi said loudly with a calm gaze. Behind him, hundreds of Sky Patrol Guards all reached for the hilts of their sabers.

"Bold!"

"Outrageous!"

"How dare you!"

Hearing Lu Renyi's words of extermination, the monks of Guangming Temple, both in their faces and in their hearts, were furious, feeling that this mere Core Realm Grandmaster was too presumptuous.

In any case, Guangming Temple was a top power in the martial world, with a very high reputation in Qingzhou. A mere Golden Envoy did not have the strength to dare to speak so directly.

"Amitabha, Benefactor Lu, these words are a bit too heavy."

Miaojue still maintained his composure. Although he was also angry in his heart, he could be considered to be good at hiding his emotions.

"Abbot Miaojue, feel free to try and see if this official's words are too heavy." Lu Renyi curled his lips into a cold smile. Among those present, he was the only Core Realm Grandmaster, but this did not prevent him from adopting a high posture.

With his lord present, Guangming Temple was nothing more than a paper tiger.

"The abbot's settlement of karmic debts with Benefactor Chen of Marquis Wu'an is his own affair, and has nothing to do with my Guangming Temple. I hope that Benefactor Lu can convey this to Benefactor Chen.

In addition, this poor monk dares to swear a blood oath with my heart demon that Guangming Temple has absolutely no connection with demonic heretics. Would that be acceptable?"

Fighting was not a wise choice, because he could not figure out the source of confidence of these Sky Patrol Division members. If they fought, they would not be able to justify themselves, and even the national preceptor would not be able to speak for him.

"Lord Chen said there is, then there is. The Sky Patrol Division has always acted first and reported later, with special permission from the Emperor! Lord Chen said that the Sky Patrol Division dares to do things that other yamen don't dare to do, and he dares to offend people that other yamen don't dare to offend. You are just a mere temple, how dare you stop the Sky Patrol Division from carrying out its duties? Are you seeking death?"

Lu Renyi snorted coldly, his attitude arrogant and domineering.

But he only felt really comfortable in his heart. This kind of unbridled character was the character of the Sky Patrol Division. He had not had such a good time during his time in the capital.

No wonder Marquis Wu'an had always acted like this.

"Benefactor Lu is determined to fight?"

Miaojue took a step forward, and his cultivation in the Yuan Shen Realm erupted, his aura soaring into the sky, and a faint golden Buddhist light shrouded an area of more than ten zhang, like an immortal Buddha.

Lu Renyi took a deep breath:

"Does Guangming Temple want to rebel?"

"It's just that the Sky Patrol Division is bullying people too much. Although Buddhism compassionately saves the world, it also has wrathful deities." Guangliang then stood out, wanting to take action.

As he moved, hundreds of martial monks behind him also moved, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, as if a disaster was about to occur in the next moment.

The atmosphere was stiff, and the situation was tense.

All the Sky Patrol Guards on the Sky Patrol Division side raised their crossbows and drew their long sabers. Lu Renyi, the leader, frowned and looked around. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he immediately understood. He raised his hand: "...Since you are seeking death, then you can't blame others."

After saying that, he knelt on one knee and cupped his fist towards the left:

"This humble officer, Lu Renyi, the Golden Envoy of the Sky Patrol Division in Shuzhou, respectfully welcomes the Divine Envoy!"

"This humble officer, the Azure Envoy of the Sky Patrol Division in Shuzhou..."

"This humble officer, the Sky Patrol Division..."

"Respectfully welcome the Divine Envoy!"

Everyone shouted in unison. An aura of grandeur instantly enveloped the void within a thousand zhang, enveloping everyone and shocking their hearts.

The void rippled, and Chen Yuan, wearing a black official uniform, stepped out expressionlessly.

Miaojue immediately felt unwell, and hurriedly put his palms together:

"Benefactor Chen, this poor monk is Miaojue, the abbot of Guangming Temple. Regarding the matter of Arhat Yaoxin before..."

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Chen Yuan. He raised his palm and said lightly:

"Guangming Temple in Qingzhou colluded with the Unborn Church's heretics and plotted to harm a Heavenly Envoy of the court with the rank of Right Third Grade. The crime deserves to be punished. Today, exterminate their entire clan as a warning to others."

"Benefactor Chen, this matter has already been reported to the national preceptor, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. I hope that Benefactor can show some consideration for the Bodhisattva's sake..." Miaojue hurriedly brought out Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

Unfortunately, Chen Yuan did not buy it.

"The Sky Patrol Division is not a Buddhist sect and is not under the command of the national preceptor. Abbot Miaojue, feel free to use any means you have. There may not be a chance later."

Miaojue took a deep breath, knowing that it was difficult to turn the tide at this time. He immediately stopped talking and spread his arms. A virtual shadow slowly condensed:

"Guangming Temple Arhat True Body, I will ask Benefactor Chen for guidance."

After saying that, a huge pressure surged towards Chen Yuan, like the collapse of the sky, but such a powerful pressure stopped abruptly when it approached Chen Yuan's body by three zhang, and shattered inch by inch.

Chen Yuan took a step forward, and a wisp of saber light fell from the sky, striking down with lightning speed. Miaojue wanted to resist, but all his methods were shattered and could not stop this strike.

His physical body exploded into a mist of blood with a 'bang'. In the next moment, a primordial spirit shining with golden light emerged from his Lingtai, pointing directly towards Chen Yuan.

The surrounding people were completely silent and did not react at all. They saw their abbot's physical body explode, his primordial spirit leave his body, and attack Chen Yuan.

But their hopeful gazes still ended in disappointment.

Even in his prime, Miaojue could not block Chen Yuan's saber light, let alone his primordial spirit. As soon as his primordial spirit approached, a sharp thorn emerged from the primordial spirit.

It directly pierced Abbot Miaojue's primordial spirit.

This was the secret method of the primordial spirit that Moro had passed on to him, the Divine Thorn!

The surrounding void seemed to become silent, and even the sound of breathing could not be heard. As time passed second by second, Miaojue's primordial spirit widened its eyes, and its aura fell from the ninth heaven to the underworld. It began to melt at a speed visible to the naked eye, and finally, it dissipated in front of everyone.

Miaojue, the abbot of Guangming Temple, fell on the spot in ten breaths!

This was actually very normal. Miaojue's cultivation was only in the Primordial Spirit Realm, and he had not even reached the peak. The gap between him and Chen Yuan was too great. He could even kill Refining Spirit experts, let alone a Primordial Spirit Arhat.

After all, that saber strike just now was almost his full power.

One saber to slash the physical body, one thorn to extinguish the primordial spirit.

"Abbot!"

"Abbot!" "...Abbot!"

The Guangming Temple members, who had reacted, were shocked when they saw their abbot fall in front of them. In addition to anger, there was also fear. Even an expert like the abbot was wiped out by Chen Yuan with a wave of his hand, so what about them?

Chen Yuan did not care about the thoughts of these monks. He just waved his hand casually, and a burst of energy killed two Core Realm Grandmasters on the spot, and said coldly:

"Exterminate the entire clan, kill!"

"Understood!"

"Kill!"

In an instant, Guangming Temple was filled with blood and surrounded by baleful aura!

Half an hour later, the battle at Guangming Temple was almost over. Without Abbot Miaojue and several Core Realm Grandmasters, even if these martial monks were elites, the result was a one-sided massacre.

Chen Yuan did not care about these low-level killings. It was meaningless. He was not a murderer who was addicted to killing. It was just right for these elites transferred from the capital to see more blood. Guangming Temple was the first, but it was definitely not the last.

Chen Yuan wanted to expand his power in a short period of time, so he had to raise the butcher knife and crush any enemies who dared to stand in his way.

"Master Guangliang, long time no see." Chen Yuan looked at the fat monk with a mole on his mouth, whose arms were broken and who was kneeling on the ground under the pressure, and said kindly.

This was his old acquaintance. Back in the Yuan Kong Realm, Gu Hao and Jingxin joined forces to kill him, but he was killed instead. This fat monk wanted to intercept and kill him.

If it were not for Jiang He's great power, killing Gu Chun and forcing back Qingyunzi's clone, he might have been defeated. He had always remembered this 'kindness'.

However, due to the many things around him, and Jiang He had already settled the previous grievances, he did not make any counterattacks against Guangming Temple.

But not doing it did not mean that he did not remember.

A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring, and a trace of resentment should also be settled.

He was vengeful, so he took advantage of this opportunity to settle both new and old scores, and destroy the claws that Mount Ling had extended into Qingzhou.

"Fiend!!!"

Guangliang's mouth was full of blood as he glared at Chen Yuan. His eyes seemed to want to devour his flesh and sleep on his skin.

"This official saved hundreds of thousands of people in Liangzhou City, brought peace to hundreds of thousands of people in Tangshan Prefecture, and let the sons and daughters of the Central Plains stand tall. You say I am a fiend?"

Chen Yuan looked at him with interest and asked.

"You... you exterminated the entire Guangming Temple. Are you not afraid of retribution?" Guangliang cursed fiercely.

"Guangming Temple, Master Guangliang, don't you think that Guangming Temple has really brought light to the people of Qingzhou? You monks do not engage in production, do not pay taxes, only know how to practice martial arts and meditate, collect the wealth in the hands of the people, and occupy cultivation resources. You speak high-sounding words, saying that all beings are equal.

But is that really the case?"

"Of course, the Buddha said: all beings are equal."

"Then why is the Buddha high above, molding golden bodies, while the people are poor and sell their sons and daughters? Why do Buddhist disciples shout that all beings are equal, but require believers to kneel to show sincerity?

Why does Buddhism say that one can become a Buddha immediately after laying down the butcher knife? Do you think that by laying down the butcher knife, the sins on his body are really washed away?" Chen Yuan looked at him with a smile.

"Sophistry, heresy!"

"Yes, if you can't argue, it's sophistry. If you can't beat them, it's heresy. In this world, fists are the most important thing, the thing that can solve everything.

Chen Yuan has never believed in Buddha, Taoism, ghosts, gods, heaven, or earth in his life. The only thing I believe in is myself. If I didn't have the determination to climb up, how could I have reached this step?"

Chen Yuan looked down at Guangliang, like the Buddha in the Mahavira Hall looking down at all beings.

"Fiend, fiend! One day, my Buddha will suppress you under the foot of Mount Ling, and let you spend your entire life repenting for the sins you have committed!"

"Alright, then let's make an agreement under the nine springs to see if one day, I will be suppressed on Mount Ling to repent, or the Buddha will kneel in front of me and say that all beings are equal!"

Chen Yuan laughed and, disregarding Guangliang's shocked gaze, a wisp of blade pierced through his heart.

——————

Seeking monthly tickets!

Everyone, feel free to speak your mind about what divine power is suitable for the protagonist.

(End of this chapter)

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