Chapter 738: 305. Not having signing luck might also be deadly (Chapter combining two into one)_4

Including Yuanmie’s master, the previous Abbot of Great Void Temple, Jixiang Fawang, and many other experts from Great Void Temple, almost their entire force perished. Yuanmie himself barely escaped with his life, wounded and fleeing.

The Great Void Temple, which had just shown signs of resurgence, was struck down once again, its vitality severely damaged, and it was forced to lay down its flags and beat its drums no more.

It was rumored that Yuanmie led the survivors of the Great Void Temple back overseas.

Since then, they had not set foot in the Central Plains for many years.

Time had passed, and Yuanmie seemed to have recovered significantly.

As they had always been active at sea, it was no surprise that the Great Void Temple paid close attention to such massive turmoil in the East Sea at this moment. This was especially true since disciples of the Tianlong Temple, a proper lineage of the Buddhist Sect, were in the current waters of the East Sea. Including Abbot Miaoxin, a considerable number of core members of the Tianlong Temple were presently at sea.

Yuanmie did not choose Master Faming and others as his prey.

His target was none other than Abbot Miaoxin of the Tianlong Temple.

However, after encountering a setback at the gates of Vajra Temple, Yuanmie had become much more somber than before.

He did not immediately attack Abbot Miaoxin in secret, but instead chose to observe more from the sidelines.

The brilliance of Lei Jun’s Great Celestial Mirror, as its light flowed, also found Abbot Miaoxin.

The old monk, accompanied by several disciples, was in pursuit of a Heavenly Principle cultivator.

"This person is named Jiang Zhiming, a Great Scholar who has reached the Seventh Heavenly Layer. If he is not returned to Heavenly Principle and is allowed to stay in Great Tang, the consequences will be unpredictable." Abbot Miaoxin instructed his disciples, "At the very least, confirm his whereabouts. It would be best if he hastens back to Heavenly Principle. However, when you search, do not act rashly. If you detect any clues, report back to me, this old monk, promptly."

Everyone agreed and spread out to search.

Later, someone hurried back to report, "Abbot, there seem to be traces of a Neo-Confucian Great Scholar on an uninhabited island to the east. It might be that Benefactor Jiang."

Abbot Miaoxin nodded. "Guard the perimeter well. I will go take a look."

All the disciples agreed.

At this point, Lei Jun frowned.

For he noticed that as Abbot Miaoxin’s golden Buddhist light parted the stormy seas to head eastward, Abbot Yuanmie of Great Void Temple, who was watching this scene, showed a smile on his face. Although he said nothing, that smile was so vividly captured under the illumination of the Great Celestial Mirror. It was filled with a sense of smug satisfaction.

Following that, Yuanmie too quietly followed, heading towards that deserted island.

Lei Jun raised his eyebrows at this sight.

So, was that a trap laid by Yuanmie over there?

If it were collusion between the Tianlong Temple disciples and the demonic monks of Great Void Temple, Abbot Miaoxin would most likely not be fooled by their qi signatures.

So, had Yuanmie conspired with that Heavenly Principle cultivator named Jiang Zhiming to set up an ambush?

Or perhaps Jiang Zhiming had little to do with it, and from beginning to end, it was all Yuanmie using some special methods to lure the Tianlong Temple disciples into a trap, thereby misleading Abbot Miaoxin?

There might be some kind of setup by the Great Void Temple on that eastern island.

Yuanmie had planned it well; he was going to give Abbot Miaoxin a nasty surprise.

Then, he himself would strike suddenly.

Lei Jun’s gaze followed the Great Celestial Mirror to Abbot Miaoxin.

He remembered some conversations he had with his senior brother, Wang Guiyuan, before. Although Lei Jun had no intention of probing into his senior brother’s secrets, this trip to the East Sea required interaction with the Tianlong Temple monks, so Lei Jun had asked Wang Guiyuan for some information.

One sentence, in particular, remained fresh in Lei Jun’s memory:

"If not for the Abbot keeping things in check, some situations in the temple would become serious and rampant."

Although Wang Guiyuan’s words were vague, his overall assessment of Abbot Miaoxin was quite positive, and there was a bond of friendship between them.

Therefore, after pondering briefly, Lei Jun formed a spell incantation gesture with one hand in front of himself.

In his eyes, the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript flowed as if it momentarily paused.

With this pause, in the sea area where Abbot Miaoxin and Yuanmie were, a Spirit Talisman that had been drifting unnoticed with the waves suddenly blazed with Spiritual Energy.

It then ignited.

As the Spirit Talisman burned, it transformed into Spirit Light in an instant, spreading through the sea.

Although the tumultuous waves and storming skies at sea caused the Spiritual Energy to chaotically interfere with cultivators’ perceptive abilities, both Abbot Miaoxin and Yuanmie were of the Eighth Heavenly Layer in cultivation, with keen senses.

They instantly detected the change in the sea.

Abbot Miaoxin immediately became vigilant.

With his palms pressed together, he formed a Dharma Seal. Chanting a Buddhist name, his Mighty Celestial Dragon Dharma Seal manifested the Mighty Celestial Dragon Dharma Appearance. Instantly, a golden dragon coiled around his body, illuminating all directions.

Having become alert, Abbot Miaoxin intentionally searched his surroundings and this time noticed Yuanmie, who had been silently tailing him.

Yuanmie had initially been careful to conceal his presence and movements.

Unexpectedly, there was a sudden disturbance in the surrounding sea area.

Yuanmie was startled at first, thinking he had been ambushed instead.

But the startling burst of Spirit Light in the sea vanished in an instant, and Yuanmie found nothing else.

He had no time to investigate further at that moment. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Having drawn closer, he could no longer avoid detection; Abbot Miaoxin had discovered him.

"Buddha is merciful. So it was you, vile heretic."

The usually composed Abbot Miaoxin’s expression turned solemn. "Are you in league with Jiang Zhiming of the Heavenly Principle?"

Yuanmie was inherently tyrannical and unruly. It was only because of his previous setback that he had learned his lesson and forced himself not to be careless again. But his original temperament had not completely changed. Sneak attacks and ambushes were not his forte. Now that he was exposed, he wasted no more words. Black qi swirled around his form, and in mid-air, he transformed into a massive black Great Buddha.

What a pity. All that time and effort I spent setting things up on that island, all wasted now. But no matter... Yuanmie casually glanced at the distant, desolate island, then looked away.

A direct confrontation like this was much more to his liking!

His palms opened, and he actively lunged towards Abbot Miaoxin, exclaiming, "Watch me subdue you!"

Abbot Miaoxin maintained a solemn and dignified appearance. The golden Tianlong coiling around his body immediately soared up to meet the jet-black Great Buddha that Yuanmie had transformed into.

The two began a fierce battle right above the sea.

As for the Heaven’s Sight Earth’s Hearing Talisman that Master Lei had turned into nothingness, neither Abbot Miaoxin nor Yuanmie had the leisure to investigate it further at that moment. There were already towering waves, and now there was the additional turmoil of their battle.

Without needing the power of the Dark Side of Celestial Book to erase them, all traces ceased to exist. Even if Yuanmie and the others had the chance to return and search the original location later, they would find nothing.

Seeing this, Lei Jun opted to look no further.

With only Yuanmie present and no special ambushes, Abbot Miaoxin was already aware, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.

...Hmm?

Just as he was thinking this and preparing to shift the Great Celestial Mirror’s view, Lei Jun suddenly caught sight of another person approaching in the distance.

The Great Celestial Mirror’s vision focused on the newcomer, who turned out to be a familiar face.

Master Yangchao, Chu Taoyuan.

This elder from the Suzhou Chu Clan, who had once headed to Dragon Tiger Mountain to assist Li Song on personal grounds, carried his sword as he approached from another direction. He appeared to be injured and was looking for a safe place to rest for a moment.

And then...

Elder Chu set his sights on that small island.

As Abbot Miaoxin and Yuanmie continued their duel, they gradually moved away from the island. With the Spiritual Energy in disarray due to the stormy weather at sea, their clamorous battle drifted farther away.

All that remained was the lone island, enduring the beating of wind and waves.

Until Chu Taoyuan set foot on it.

Watching this scene, Lei Jun mused, Hmm...

This time, it really has nothing to do with me at all.

I had no idea this old gentleman would show up here.

As for him stepping into the trap meant for Abbot Miaoxin, he’ll have to take that up with the Great Void Temple people himself.

Well, it might be too late for talks now... Lei Jun watched through the Great Celestial Mirror as an enormous black lotus suddenly bloomed on the island, enveloping and covering the entire islet.