59: Pure Yang Buddhist Sect

At the same time, outside the main hall.

As the City Lord's Manor maids led the teams from the various Holy Lands to their respective courtyards, the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat subtle.

The proud daughters of various sects, who had previously been so high and mighty, now looked at Lin Chen with an indescribable nuance in their eyes. They were all guessing why the City Lord had suddenly interrupted the banquet.

Among the crowd, several figures quietly detached themselves from their respective sect teams and walked towards Lin Chen.

Without exception, they were all men.

Each of them had faces as fair as jade and were remarkably handsome. They wore the core disciple attire of the major top Holy Lands, clearly indicating their high status.

The leader was a man from the Crimson Sun Divine Palace of the Great Yan Dynasty. With a warm, spring-like smile on his face, he clasped his hands towards Lin Chen.

"Brother Lin Chen, I've long admired your name! Meeting you today, you truly are a dragon among men, with extraordinary bearing!"

"My name is Ji Wuye, and I serve as the 'face' of the Crimson Sun Divine Palace. It's truly shameful to admit, we men are merely adornments in our sects. To see Brother Lin, as a man, be conferred the title of Holy Son today, truly brings great honor to all men under heaven!"

"That's right!" Another blue-robed man from the Mystic Water Holy Palace of the Canglan Dynasty quickly echoed, "Brother Lin, you are the hope of all men! If there's ever anything you need from us brothers in the future, just say the word!"

Their words were earnest, and their attitudes enthusiastic, as if they truly regarded Lin Chen as a "male leader" who had broken societal prejudices.

However, deep within their "enthusiastic" eyes, a hint of barely concealed jealousy and disdain lurked.

(Hope? Heh, he's just a 'male favorite' who got luckier than us and latched onto a bigger patron.)

(What real ability could a man have? Isn't it just relying on that face and that body to please women? We're all men, so why can you be a Holy Son while we can only be decorative playthings?)

(Just wait until the hidden dragon list Grand Competition. Without the protection of the Purple Cloud Holy Land's Old Ancestor, let's see how arrogant you can still be!)

These were their truest thoughts.

Lin Chen looked at these "fellow men" with their exquisite acting, his smile remaining as genial as ever. He even nodded politely at them.

Just as he was about to say a few equally "polite" pleasantries,

A somewhat untimely voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"Amitabha."

Everyone looked towards the sound and saw a bald monk, dressed in a simple monastic robe, with a burly physique and resolute features, had appeared beside Lin Chen at some unknown point.

In this world where all cultivators pursued extravagance and extraordinariness, the monk's attire seemed so out of place.

He was from the Pure Yang Sect, a sect composed purely of men. In this matriarchal world, such a sect was almost considered a joke in the eyes of all women. They couldn't understand how a place without women could possibly be passed down or become powerful.

Therefore, although the Pure Yang Sect was also one of the Holy Lands, its status had always been the most awkward and disreputable.

The Great Monk completely ignored the surprised gazes of Ji Wuye and the others. He merely clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to Lin Chen.

His eyes were clear and full of goodwill.

"Holy Son Lin," his voice was steady and powerful, "This humble monk's dharma name is 'Bu Nu'. I have something I wish to say to the Holy Son privately."

Without waiting for Lin Chen's reply, he glanced at Ji Wuye and the others beside him, slowly shaking his head.

"Holy Son, you must know, it's easy to draw a tiger's skin, but hard to draw its bones; easy to know a person's face, but not their heart."

"Some people may seem like your 'fellow men', but in reality, they wish they could eat your flesh and sleep in your skin. In their hearts, there is no admiration, only the most primal jealousy."

"Associating too much with such people will do more harm than good."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ji Wuye and the others' expressions instantly changed!

"What nonsense are you spouting, monk!" Ji Wuye's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sneer. "Our admiration for Holy Son Lin comes from the bottom of our hearts! What do you, a monk from a disreputable sect, understand?!"

"Exactly!" The blue-robed man from the Mystic Water Holy Palace even scoffed directly, "I wondered who it was, turns out it's Master from the Pure Yang Sect. What? Is it that you can't even see a woman in your place, which is why you're jealous that we can be by the side of Holy Maidens and Imperial Daughters?"

He scrutinized Monk Bu Nu from head to toe, his gaze as if he were looking at a monster.

"I heard your Pure Yang Sect has strict rules, and a bunch of grown men gather every day to chant scriptures and meditate? Heh, how laughable!"

In their eyes, this was akin to those spinsters in the real world who can't get married building a "women's college" to huddle together for warmth?

"A sect that even looks down on women dares to teach us how to do things?!"

Their words were filled with the most biting insults, perfectly showcasing the world's discrimination against the "all-male" Pure Yang Sect.

However, facing these taunts that would make any man furious,

The Great Monk named 'Bu Nu' truly did not show the slightest hint of anger on his face.

He just calmly looked at Lin Chen.

As if to say: See, this humble monk speaks the truth.

Those words, full of humiliation and discrimination, were like the filthiest garbage, wantonly dumped upon Monk Bu Nu.

Yet, facing all of this, Monk Bu Nu still stood with clasped hands, his demeanor as still as an ancient well.

He didn't even twitch an eyebrow.

Seeing this, the sneer in Ji Wuye and the others' eyes grew even stronger, as if they had completely seen through the superficial strength of this Pure Yang Sect monk.

In their view, this was the true portrayal of men in this world—weak, incompetent, and only able to passively accept their fate.

However.

The very reason they were dispatched by their respective sects to approach Lin Chen was not an honorable mission.

Crimson Sun Divine Palace, Mystic Water Holy Palace... these behemoths standing at the pinnacle of the world, would their rulers, those high and mighty Holy Lords and Empresses, truly despise Lin Chen from the bottom of their hearts just because he was a "man"?

No.

Quite the opposite!

It was precisely because they valued him too much!

A man who could make True Monarch Zi Wei, that old monster who had lived for thousands of years in the Purple Cloud Holy Land, personally emerge from seclusion to stand up for him!

A man who, according to top-secret intelligence, even caused the Purple Cloud Holy Land to depose its current Sect Master, Yun Yun, for his sake!

Such an existence had long surpassed the scope of a "male favorite" or "Cauldron"!

He was a huge, unknown variable!

That's why they sent Ji Wuye and other "faces" who were also men to carry out the mission.

This mission had two layers.

First, to gather intelligence. Using the identity of "fellow men" to lower Lin Chen's guard, to probe his true background, and to find out how much True Monarch Zi Wei had truly gambled on him!

And the second was an even more insidious and vicious contingency plan!

Once the probing confirmed that Lin Chen truly possessed terrifying potential capable of threatening the status of their respective sects... then Ji Wuye and the others must spare no effort!

Before the Grand Competition began, they had to use every underhanded method, including poisoning, to weaken him, or even cripple him!

This was their true objective for this trip!

And it was precisely for this reason that their hearts were filled with such pathological jealousy and hatred towards Lin Chen!

We're all men!

We're all "playthings" sent by our sects as spoils of war and decorations to Qianlong City to curry favor with those proud daughters of heaven!

Why?!

Why can you, Lin Chen, escape this damned fate and soar to the heavens, becoming a revered "Holy Son"?

Why can you receive so much attention from proud daughters of heaven whom even they can only look up to?

This jealousy, stemming from the deepest disparity in identity and destiny, had long turned into the most malicious poison, corrupting their hearts.

At this moment, Ji Wuye looked at the monk before him, whom he had humiliated, yet who dared not even utter a peep.

Then he looked at Lin Chen, who remained calm throughout, as if it had nothing to do with him.

The sense of superiority and killing intent in his heart almost gushed out simultaneously!

He straightened his clothes, put on that harmless smile again, and said gently to Lin Chen:

"Brother Lin, don't listen to this monk's nonsense. We bear no ill will towards you whatsoever."

"It's just that Qianlong City is a mixed bag, and people's hearts are treacherous. Brother Lin, since you're new here, you should be more careful and not be exploited by those with ulterior motives."

His words were spoken with such "sincerity."

As if he were the true "insider" genuinely looking out for Lin Chen.

The female disciples from other Holy Lands nearby, seeing this scene, also showed knowing sneers in their eyes.

Look.

This is men.

Infighting, jealousy, resorting to all means to gain a little pitiful attention.

Now, let's see how much substance this Holy Son of Purple Cloud Holy Land, who has been pushed into the spotlight, truly possesses.

Will he choose to trust the "fellow men" who seem difficult to deal with?

Or will he choose to win over this monk who appears more reclusive and "safer"?

Under everyone's gaze.

Lin Chen finally smiled.

He first slowly nodded at Ji Wuye, who wore a "sincere" expression.

"Brother Ji speaks wisely."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Indeed, human hearts are treacherous."

As soon as these words were spoken, a triumphant smile instantly bloomed on the faces of Ji Wuye and the others!

It's done!

This Lin Chen is indeed just a brainless good-for-nothing!

He was bluffed by us!

From his words, it seems he's preparing to accept our "goodwill" and distance himself from that meddling bald monk!

They could almost foresee that in the coming days, they would have countless ways to subtly manipulate this so-called "Holy Son" within their grasp!

However.

Their smiles had not fully bloomed.

Lin Chen's next words leisurely rang out.

His gaze slowly moved away from Ji Wuye's face, finally resting on Monk Bu Nu, who had remained silent all this time.

"Whether he harbors good intentions or has ulterior motives..."

At this point, he paused slightly, then a faint, enigmatic smile played on the corner of his lips.

He raised a finger and pointed it towards his own eyes from a distance.

"I will see for myself."

Boom!

Just five simple words.

Yet they were like an invisible bolt of thunder!

Striking fiercely at the hearts of Ji Wuye and the others!

Their smiles instantly froze!

An indescribable chill uncontrollably rushed from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads!

What does he mean?!

What does he mean by this?!

He... did he see through our... At this moment, they felt as if they had become clowns stripped naked under the gaze of those calm, unruffled dark eyes!

All the darkest, most vicious, most despicable thoughts deep within their hearts seemed to have nowhere to hide at this moment!

And Lin Chen acted as if he had done something trivial.

He slowly withdrew his gaze, even patting the shoulder of the now pale-faced Ji Wuye with a friendly gesture.

The movement was full of "encouragement" and "approval."

"Thank you all for your 'reminders'."

He deliberately placed a subtle, almost imperceptible emphasis on the word "reminders."

After speaking, he no longer looked at this group of "fellow men" who were completely stunned and terrified.

He slowly turned and said lightly to Luo Bingli and Lin Ziyan beside him:

"Let's go."

"It's a bit noisy here."

With these words, he stepped forward, leading the two directly towards the Purple Cloud Holy Land's courtyard.

From beginning to end, he didn't spare Ji Wuye and the others even a single extra glance.

As if they were just a few annoying flies by the roadside.

It wasn't until Lin Chen's figure was about to disappear around the corner of the courtyard that Monk Bu Nu, who had been silent all along, finally made a move.

On his rock-hard, resolute face, for the first time, a complex expression mixed with surprise and understanding appeared.

He looked at Lin Chen's departing back and quietly chanted a Buddhist mantra.

"Amitabha..."

"So... this humble monk was too attached to appearances."

It's easy to draw a tiger's skin, but hard to draw its bones; easy to know a person's face, but not their heart.