256: challenge

Inside the Golden Light Pagoda, Saint Monk Dingtian held the Origin manifestation jade and approached Bai Xinian.

“Patron, I wonder if this item might help your injuries?”

Bai Xinian sniffed it, her eyebrows arching slightly: “Great Master, where did you obtain this item?”

“The Buddha's calling, fate is determined in the darkness. I wonder if this item can allow the Patron to stand up again?”

Bai Xinian raised her hand: “Great Master, I do not know how to repay this kindness?”

“amitabha buddha, Patron, the great calamity of the Primordial Continent is approaching. Poor Monk saves you not for repayment, but because Poor Monk does not wish to see the world's living beings suffer.”

“The Great Master's compassion is truly rare in this world.”

“If the Patron can stop this great calamity, then everything Poor Monk has done is insignificant. Patron should deeply study how to use this Origin. Poor Monk has traveled far and wide and could not uncover its Profound Truth. amitabha buddha.”

After Heaven Stabilizer finished speaking, he performed a Kowtow Salute to Bai Xinian, then turned and left the Golden Light Pagoda.

Bai Xinian sensed the strange power emanating from her palm, her jade cheek twitching slightly, seemingly coming to a realization... On the other side, Shen Lian entered the Buddhist Domain, following the sensing of the Dao Source within his body to search for the whereabouts of the third Origin.

Just as he passed a Buddhist Rock Cliff, two monks holding Dragon Coiling Staves blocked his path.

“amitabha buddha.”

A monk on the left respectfully bowed to Shen Lian.

“Patron, the Heaven Buddha Cliff is currently giving a sermon. If Patron is willing to stay and listen, the Heaven Buddha Cliff naturally welcomes you. If not, please find another route, as this area is forbidden to all non-monastics.”

Shen Lian, however, turned a deaf ear and continued stepping forward.

“Patron, please leave!”

The arrogant monk on the right immediately raised his Dragon Coiling Staff and threatened him.

“A monastic should not easily resort to force, but if the Patron insists on not listening to advice, then Poor Monk can only force the Patron to change routes.”

Shen Lian stopped his steps, his disdainful gaze sweeping over the two monks.

“While your Buddha advises you to dedicate yourselves entirely to Buddhism, I wonder if he taught you what it means to know your limits?”

As soon as he said this, the monk on the right became furious: “amitabha buddha, since the Patron says this, it seems you are very confident in your own strength? If so, do you dare take one strike from Poor Monk's staff?”

“It seems you are very confident in your own strength?”

“That's right, Poor Monk Jing Yin. Besides fasting and chanting, the thing Poor Monk likes most in life is challenging experts from all walks of life.”

“Being able to be so proud just from defeating a bunch of third-rate trash? I'd say you're a Frog in a Well, who has never seen the vastness of the sky.”

“Wen Guo!”

Jing Yin immediately became enraged, taking off the Kasaya draped over him and tossing it to the monk beside him.

Wen Guo took the Kasaya, unable to hide a hint of worry: “Senior Brother, do not cause trouble.”

Jing Yin replied: “The Heaven Buddha Cliff's preaching does not tolerate outside interference. Since a madman dared to come knocking today, and refuses to listen to advice, we can only use Vajra Methods to make him retreat in the face of difficulty!”

Wen Guo was startled and quickly whispered to Shen Lian: “Patron, my Senior Brother is a Martial Arts Fanatic, and he has a bad temper. You should leave quickly, or he might strike without restraint.”

Hearing this, Shen Lian was completely unconcerned: “Your Senior Brother's courage is admirable, he just lacks sufficient awareness.”

Jing Yin heard this, pointed the Dragon Coiling Staff at Shen Lian: “Patron, Poor Monk won't say Poor Monk is bullying you. You can use any weapon to duel Poor Monk. If you can even touch the corner of Poor Monk's robes, Poor Monk loses.”

Shen Lian: “To deal with an ignorant ant like you, no weapon is needed.”

Hearing this, Jing Yin decisively tossed aside the Dragon Coiling Staff: “In that case, Poor Monk will use these bare hands to personally let you experience the vastness of Buddhist Dharma.”

“Allow your foolishness to increase the joy of my victory.”

“Please.”

Jing Yin's eyes were filled with fervor. After pointing toward the nearby Stone Buddha Dao Platform, he was the first to transform into a streak of light and arrive before the stone platform.

Wen Guo wanted to advise him further, but how could Shen Lian, whose Battle Intent had been provoked, back down?

“No need to advise further. Since your Senior Brother is so confident, how can I refuse?”

Wen Guo finally advised: “Patron, my Senior Brother has already stepped into the Boundary Breaking Cultivation, and his body is protected by Maha True Essence, allowing him to challenge stronger Cultivators across ranks, you...”

Shen Lian interrupted him: “No need to advise further, rest assured. This kind of pure Martial Practitioner has the right attitude for pursuing the Great Dao,

Just for this dedication, I will only make him recognize the gap. As for his life, I will let him keep it.”

After speaking, he leaped and transformed into light, arriving before the Dao Platform in the blink of an eye.

“amitabha buddha, Patron, be careful.”

“Bald Donkey, use all your strength to prove yourself.”

After the words fell, the two faced off on the Dao Platform, neither moving first.

However, the standoff was extremely brief. Accompanied by a grating crack from Jing Yin's knuckles, the battle officially began.

“Take this palm!”

Jing Yin immediately flew toward Shen Lian and struck with a palm technique called 'Driving Straight In'.

However, Shen Lian didn't even glance at it. He merely stamped his foot lightly, and instantly, the floor tiles began to surge toward Jing Yin like a tide.

Jing Yin was too late to withdraw his move, so he decisively activated his Protective Qi Energy. After bracing himself against the hard floor tiles, he immediately retracted his power and retreated to his original position.

“Patron indeed has some tricks. Poor Monk was perhaps a little dismissive.”

“Enough with the nonsense. Just use your full strength, or you will lose miserably.”

“Since that is the case, Poor Monk will grant your wish.”

Jing Yin decisively mobilized all his Spiritual Power. Instantly, Buddhist Essence transformed into light and radiated outward from his body.

Seeing this, Wen Guo's palms became sweaty.

“Oh no, Senior Brother's Maha True Essence has been pushed to its limit. This Patron is likely in trouble.”

Shen Lian, standing on the Dao Platform, showed no change in expression even when facing Jing Yin's externally released Aura Pressure.

Just as Jing Yin was about to strike, Shen Lian finally moved.

The moment he raised his hand, the dual energies of Yin and Yang quickly condensed onto his arms.

“Sumeru Sacred Strike!”

The utterly unaware Jing Yin directly used his strongest move, wishing to quickly see the scene of Shen Lian being defeated and listening to his instruction.

However, the moment the immense Buddhist Essence struck toward Shen Lian, the counter-move had already arrived.

“Dragon Capture Art: Returning Dragon Pierces the Valley.”

In the next moment, Jing Yin's pupils couldn't help but contract.

He suddenly felt the True Essence within his body being uncontrollably pulled as he approached Shen Lian.

Before he could react, his mighty Buddhist Essence had already been dissolved into nothingness by the Yin and Yang Qi.

“What? How is this possible...”

But in the next step, his body was out of his control, directly pinned firmly to the ground by an inescapable pulling force.

As Shen Lian pushed his palm forward, Jing Yin's body immediately began to rub violently against the ground.

With a retraction of the hand, Jing Yin was uncontrollably pulled back again.

Raising his hand once more, Jing Yin was already spinning in mid-air.

Immediately afterward, Shen Lian struck more than a dozen palms into the Void Realm, then fiercely pressed his palm downward.

Bang—

Jing Yin's body uncontrollably smashed heavily into the stone wall of the Dao Platform.

“Pfft~”

When he looked up again, Jing Yin was clutching his chest and spitting out fresh blood, his gaze toward Shen Lian filled with dread and fear.