Lin Jin cherished those around him, and it didn’t matter if they were monsters or beasts, Lin Jin would never allow them to be bullied or killed. If his wrath was provoked, Lin Jin would surely do all he could to fight back.
Lin Jin was getting increasingly anxious because Daluo Temple refused to return White Ape to him.
The scorching blaze above was becoming increasingly ear-piercing as the flames continued dancing. Monks of insignificant cultivation were completely drenched in their own sweat, unable to endure the heat.
Boom!
A dead tree nearby simply burst into flames.
Dark plumes of smoke were already rising from different spots around Daluo Temple, and they could hear the distinct shouts of people.
“Put out the fire” someone yelled.
“Curator, my junior may have a firm personality but he never lies. It is true, Zhi Yin has yet to return,” the abbot spoke up.
He had heard a bit of the situation. However, it was normal for their monks to embark on two to three-month-long journeys.
“Hmph! Maybe Senior Zhi Yin was the one harmed by the white ape so that’s the reason for his disappearance,” a young monk behind couldn’t resist shouting.
The monks’ eyes lit up, considering the possibility.
After all, instead of traveling, Zhi Yin was out to hunt down monsters. If he succeeded in his mission, he would most definitely have returned.
His continued disappearance was indeed, an odd occurrence now that they had given it more thought.
Jue Zhen’s expression darkened. What if Zhi Yin was actually harmed by the white ape?
Allowing his imagination to go wild, this Curator might already be aware that Zhi Yin was harmed by White Ape but showed up to make a false accusation in an attempt to cover up their misdeeds, all while defaming Daluo Temple.
This was a possibility.
Since Jue Zhen could come up with this theory, the abbot obviously could too.
In an instant, the monks of Daluo Temple wore hostile expressions.
“Curator, Zhi Yin truly hasn’t returned and this itself is also an unusual phenomenon. It could be that he was the one harmed instead and it makes no sense for you to continue pressuring us here. Based on your logic, we should be able to ask for Zhi Yin’s release as well.” The abbot knew he had to stand firm this time or their temple’s reputation would be lost. Moreover, reason was on their side too. If they did investigate the incident further, this might just be a show that Curator put on to accuse them.
Lin Jin refused to believe them.
He understood White Ape well. Had White Ape killed that monk, he would have either saved Shang’er or he would continue waiting at Reed City.
Lin Jin was absolutely sure of this.
White Ape had been with him for so long that Lin Jin could read him like the back of his hand. White Ape would never ‘go missing’ for no reason.
Maybe they’ve killed White Ape, and that was the reason why they couldn’t hand him over. To turn the situation around, Daluo Temple was trying to accuse Lin Jin of killing their member instead.
“Daluo Temple, do you actually think I won’t destroy your ancient temple?” Lin Jin pressed his hand down and the blazing fire above came down by ten feet, increasing the intensity of the heat.
“Four guardian deities, Heavenly seal of Buddha!” Sensing trouble brewing, the abbot quickly performed a Buddhist spell. The mala beads in his hand crackled as they broke and three rays of light shot out. In addition to the eagle guardian from before, three more guardian deity beasts appeared. Some wore gold and silver armors while others wore golden-threaded Buddhist robes. Their appearances were nothing but majestic and overbearing.
The four guardian deities include the crowned eagle, the iron-arm bear guardian, the heavenly dragon deity, and the turtle messenger.
The four guardians took action at one, three worked to form a golden barrier above, blocking the Vulcan Edict, while the other came for Curator.
Since the abbot had taken action, it was surely a devastating blow.
All four guardian beasts were existences that surpassed Rank 4. Simply put, they were Rank 5 beasts with mana powers.
Master Abbot was clearly Daluo Temple’s most powerful asset.
Besides him, the Exorcist Hall’s rector, Jue Zhen, and the other monks refused to back down either. They all reacted at once, removing the mala beads around their necks and performed the same spell.
“Conversion of all beasts, light of the Liberator, Protective Deity Prajna, Demon Slayer!”
In an instant, a sword made of light came slashing down at Lin Jin.
Two of Daluo Temple’s greatest experts had decided to go on the offensive.
Lin Jin was enraged. He couldn’t possibly remain passive now and endure these attacks. He raised his arm and pressed it down to release the Vulcan Edict while lifting another finger to release the ‘Thunderfire Needle’ he had previously crafted.
The Thunderfire Needle shot towards the oncoming crowned eagle.
They heard a loud crash.
The stone slabs of Daluo Temple’s entrance cracked apart and the pines and cypresses around were struck by thunderfire. They were instantly reduced to ashes. The explosive might of the Thunderfire Needle fended off the eagle guardian’s attack.
On top of that, Lin Jin invoked the Divine Blade Scroll. Using his finger as a makeshift blade, he called out, “Slay!”
Jue Zhen’s blade of light simply shattered and his eyes widened in shock. As if an invisible sword had just cut through him, he fell to the ground howling in pain. If it weren’t for the remnants of protective light in his body, he would have been killed by the Sword Intent. Still, the mala beads in his hand shattered completely and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Rector!”
“Jue Zhen!”
The crowd panicked.
“All monks heed my command, protect the temple at all costs!”
The abbot became anxious as well. Knowing there was no surefire way out of this, he could only issue a command for an all-out battle.
Just then, they heard cracking sounds from above.
The golden barrier that was supported by the three guardian beasts had begun to crack under the burning sun’s pressure. All of Daluo Temple’s monks felt themselves go insane at the sight.
“We can’t hold it anymore.”
“Everyone, run!”
The higher monks looked devastated. Although they had confidence in surviving the fire, most of their normal rank monks and pet beasts would surely die.
Apart from that, the many ancient buildings, the Buddha halls, libraries, and pavilions inside Daluo Temple would all be destroyed. If a force like this Vulcan Edict truly comes crashing down, the entire Daluo Peak would be gone.
From then on, Daluo Temple would cease to exist.
“Curator, please reconsider your choice. My Senior Zhi Yin is a man of justice and diligence. He would never kill a monster without reason and the white ape might still be alive out there. There must be another reason that both of them have yet to return,” Zhi Nian suddenly shouted from the stairs.
He was an intelligent man who opted not to speak earlier. Now, he was using a Buddhist chant enhanced with a Mind-calming Spell in an attempt to stop this catastrophe himself.
If they continued going at each other’s throats, neither Curator nor Daluo Temple would come out unscathed.
Upon hearing his voice, everyone felt a cooling breeze waft over and their minds cleared up immediately.
Lin Jin was aware of this possibility too. But still, the situation earlier had been too pressing that he was left with no other choice. It wasn’t until hearing Zhi Nian’s declaration that he considered the possibility that Daluo Temple was telling the truth.
If the Vulcan Edict did come down, the number of deaths probably wouldn’t stop at a hundred.
He immediately invoked a spell to retrieve the Vulcan Edict. However, what was done was done. Even if Lin Jin wanted to, he couldn’t fully stop the Vulcan Edict anymore.
In this desperate moment, a sonorous voice resonated from the depths of Daluo Temple.
“Friend of Tao, you have impeccable skills but Daluo Temple is our cultivation ground so I’d prefer that it’s not destroyed.”
After they heard that voice, millions of fallen leaves were swept up by a gust. Together, the leaves took the shape of a large hand on which there was a Buddhist seal. Effortlessly, it blocked the falling sun.
The Vulcan Edict that three Rank 5 divine guardian beasts had found difficult to sustain was now being blocked by this hand.
Startled, Lin Jin quickly leaped up and invoked a spell, “Retrieve!”
A partially burned Vulcan Edict Amulet appeared in Lin Jin’s hand, and from the large fireball, Goldy’s silhouette appeared.
Poof!
The hand made of fallen leaves began to incinerate due to the flames that remained in the air. Besides Daluo Temple, everyone in a distance of several hundred miles could clearly see the burning hand in the sky.
The crisis was resolved. However, Lin Jin was frowning hard under his mask as he stared into the depths of Daluo Temple.
Most of Daluo Temple’s monks were shocked as well. They had no idea what to do with themselves. Even the higher monks had to admit that it was their first time witnessing such a scene.
Then, the voice spoke again.
“Since this friend of Tao is a guest, Kong Jue, invite him into the temple to have a chat with me.”
Then, an old monk suddenly appeared at the temple’s entrance as if he had materialized out of thin air. This old monk donned extremely plain robes and his age was difficult to tell, though he must be at least a hundred years old by now.
After the appearance of this old monk, the abbot shuddered in fright. Even the Exorcist Hall’s rector looked terrified.
“Gr-Grandmaster Xuan Jue!”
