As quiet as it used to be, inside Daluo Temple’s main hall was where they had their Master Abbot and rectors here to recite mantras and give the other monks homework.
But now, it was vast and empty.
Even with Lin Jin, Zhi Nian, and the others, it was still too quiet.
Because they were the only ones left in Daluo Temple now. More than a thousand of their monks had died in the hands of those evil immortals.
Lin Jin told Zhi Nian about it while the latter had actually witnessed it himself.
In fact, when the black clouds began surrounding Daluo Temple, their abbot had a premonition of how severe the situation would become so he had had the younger monks follow Zhi Nian down the mountain through a secret path.
Upon hearing this, Lin Jin felt excited.
“How many monks descended the mountain with you?” Lin Jin asked. Zhi Nian answered, “Three hundred and eighty-seven.”
Lin Jin nodded.
Zhi Nian’s answer verified his previous assumption.
Their abbot clearly knew something terrible would happen when the black clouds surrounded them but he didn’t escape.
Because he was sure they couldn’t escape. If they did, all of them would die, so Master Abbot and the other high monks chose to sacrifice themselves so the future generation of Daluo Temple could live.
This was an act of sacrificing one’s life for righteousness.
With this, although a great tragedy was about to befall Daluo Temple, their younger generation would live on. One day, these youngsters could surely grow their temple again and achieve great things.
Lin Jin already anticipated Master Abbot’s thoughts and he planned on helping out.
Zhi Nian wanted to say something, and Lin Jin could tell, so he spoke first, “Master Zhi Nian, you need not worry. I’m also somehow connected to this tragedy that happened to Daluo Temple so I can’t possibly look the other way. From now on, Daluo Temple’s issue will be my issue as well.”
Such a declaration carried significant weight.
Zhi Nian was also reassured upon hearing this
Truth be told, if he were to lead this group of young monks on his own, it was impossible for him to maintain Daluo Temple’s daunting reputation.
Reputation must be matched with corresponding strength. Without sufficient strength, reputation couldn’t be maintained. Those with ill intentions would surely use this opportunity to give Daluo Temple trouble and use them as a stepping stone to rise to new heights.
Such a possibility should never be overlooked.
Back when all of Daluo Temple’s experts were still around, no one gave them trouble of course. But now, with their abbot and rectors gone, Daluo Temple’s old enemies and conspirators would certainly swarm over like flies.
However, now that Lin Jin had spoken, Daluo Temple wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore.
In terms of deterrence, Lin Jin’s name was now ten times more prominent than Daluo Temple’s previous reputation. This wasn’t an exaggeration but the truth. Prior to this, their abbot and rectors had discussed it before, saying that Lin Jin’s name had already prospered enough that he could be known as the mainland’s strongest man. No one could overpower Lin Jin’s reputation at the moment.
Although Zhi Nian had no idea what happened inside the black clouds, the fact that they dissipated after Lin Jin’s arrival proved just how capable he was.
Thus, with Lin Jin’s support, Daluo Temple could rest easy.
Zhi Nian was an efficient person. After this, he would make a public announcement to the world, just to let everyone know that Daluo Temple survived and that they would certainly take revenge.
Up next would be to rebuild Daluo Temple, appoint new rectors, and elect a new abbot.
Lin Jin was able to help in this aspect. Fortunately, there were a few slightly older and wiser monks among the surviving three hundred people. With their profound cultivation, they could hold the posts of Daluo Temple’s rectors.
While knowledge in Buddhism required time to accumulate, Lin Jin could compensate for their lack of strength by speeding up the growth of powerful pet beasts in Daluo Temple.
It was only too simple for him to promote beasts to Rank 4 now. As for creatures with better potential or bloodline, he could even promote them to Rank 5.
Some of Daluo Temple’s cultivation secrets hadn’t been lost so Zhi Nian could guide the other monks in cultivating them.
But who was to take up the position of the temple’s abbot? Lin Jin didn’t think it was much of an issue. With his extensive experience, Zhi Nian was the most suitable candidate.
And yet, the latter was too stubborn and insisted on rejecting the post.
When asked why, he said he wasn’t qualified yet and couldn’t bear such a huge responsibility.
So Lin Jin asked him who he thought was suitable.
Zhi Nian had said that Appraiser Lin could serve as their abbot for the time being.
Lin Jin immediately felt a headache coming. Zhi Nian was too daring with his thoughts, even trying to rope Lin Jin in. Lin Jin surely couldn’t accept the role, and more importantly, he had no intention of becoming a monk, not even for a short while.
But he could understand Zhi Nian’s reasoning.
Sure enough, no average person was suited for the position of Daluo Temple’s abbot. The former abbot had both moral and political integrity. He excelled in experience, moral values, Buddhism knowledge, and even cultivation level. He had no problems holding his own in any situation.
And Zhi Nian was clearly lacking in comparison.
Be it experience, moral values, Buddhism knowledge, or cultivation level, he was far too weak in all of them. Even now, when he became the most senior in all aspects after the tragedy, Zhi Nian was still too green for this responsibility.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to try, but some things couldn’t be forced. Zhi Nian was being considerate of Daluo Temple. If he became the abbot, Daluo Temple would only decline further. But if Lin Jin took the post instead, Daluo Temple may be able to rise again. The difference between these choices was too significant to ignore.
However, Lin Jin clearly had no intention of complying.
Zhi Nian simply got to his knees and this troubled Lin Jin. Fortunately, he already had an idea before this. He had planned to let Inferno Monk be their abbot.
After all, Inferno Monk did have some relations to Daluo Temple. His experience, religious knowledge, and also cultivation made him more than qualified. As for his character… Who would know if Lin Jin didn’t say anything?
Anyhow, Lin Jin felt that Inferno Monk was the best candidate. Problem was, how was he going to get the man here?
The black clouds!
That would be the best solution, but they were not something he couldn’t get for the time being.
Still, this didn’t prevent Lin Jin from painting a nice picture for the monks.
He said he would find them an honorable abbot of great integrity. The man was even a profound immortal Buddha, but he could tell that Zhi Nian and the others didn’t quite believe him.
Then, Lin Jin thought of something that just might have the same effect as the Hell’s Cage.
Everything progressed steadily after that. First, the remaining three hundred over monks held a grand funeral for their late abbot and rectors.
The funeral lasted several days and individuals of great power from all around the world came to pay their last respects.
Some of them were truly sincere in their prayers while others saw this as an opportunity to probe Daluo Temple, just to see how strong they were now.
