Chapter 1028: Chapter 498: Buddhist Sect Technology, Shocking the Heart (Part 2)

After finishing his words, the old man patted Zhang Ze’s shoulder loudly and then picked up the recorder, heading back to the village without turning back.

Zhang Ze, "..."

Li climbed back onto Zhang Ze’s head, hugging her small arms and shaking her head.

"So sad, can’t you be as simple-minded as me?"

....

The old man didn’t deceive Zhang Ze; knocking on the door indeed grants entrance to the Buddhist Sect’s temple.

Zhang Ze hadn’t finished knocking when a little bald head emerged.

Perhaps due to the baldness, Zhang Ze struggled to recognize who it was, but the monk knew him.

"Why is Senior Brother Zhang arriving so late? Weren’t you coming with Senior Sister Xiaoxue?"

Zhang Ze scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He didn’t mention his mental battle with the air, and awkwardly changed the topic.

"Is Master Konghai here?"

"The host is not here. He mentioned that if you come, go directly to the Beilin area—your friend is waiting for you with important news.

"As for the necessary items, Uncle Ming Zhi has prepared them. You can pick them up when leaving Beilin." The monk replied with clasped hands.

"I see, please lead me to Beilin, little master. By the way, I still don’t know your Dharma name," Zhang Ze asked casually while walking.

"You’re too kind, Senior Brother. My Dharma name is Xu Zhu."

Zhang Ze, "..."

After a brief silence, Zhang Ze took out a secret manual from the Hundred Treasures Bag and handed it to the monk with the Dharma name Xu Zhu.

"Brother Xu Zhu, I see that you have an extraordinary bone structure, a martial arts prodigy rare among thousands. The peace of the world relies on you. I have a secret manual here that matches your destiny, so I’ll give it to you for free."

Without waiting for Xu Zhu to refuse, Zhang Ze stuffed a Sword Sect manual, the "Thirty-Six Meridian Divine Sword," into Xu Zhu’s hands.

"Uh... Thank you, Senior Brother, for the gift,"

On the way to Beilin with Xu Zhu, Zhang Ze asked casually about the Buddhist Sect.

According to Xu Zhu, the place isn’t completely defenseless; important items are stored within the Buddha Country crafted by various masters.

Regarding why the sect is so simple, he mentioned it’s out of habit, and it’s sufficient this way.

"For those who practice cultivation, summer and winter are irrelevant; a simple room or grand hall is merely external, no difference, as long as it’s enough."

Finally, fearing Zhang Ze might think he was lecturing him, Xu Zhu added.

"Of course, this is simply our temple’s perspective, without distinctions of right or wrong. How others think or act entirely depends on their own preferences."

"If you head west, beyond that hill lies a city. Much like Thousand Mechanism Town, it’s a place where cultivators can rest and exchange ideas, and it’s far more bustling than here."

"If anyone has urgent matters, they often meet there."

Hearing this, Li remembered the words of the old man from the mountain below and curiously asked.

"So you mean, the temple’s door can’t actually be knocked open?"

"That’s not true. Anyone who wants can knock, it’s just that without urgent matters, most people won’t do it." Xu Zhu considered his words, paused, then summed up.

"Mutual respect, mutual understanding, turned into habitual customs, followed tacitly, making it convenient for everyone."

In conversation, Xu Zhu soon led Zhang Ze and Li to Beilin.

Beilin was not far from the temple, just beyond the bamboo grove in the rear mountain.

Like the style of the temple, although the inscriptionless steles in Beilin are extraordinary, there were no arrays or illusion arrays set around.

Even that old man from the mountain below, if he wanted, could climb over the not-so-high hill and arrive here via the wild path of the rear mountain.

After completing the task of leading the way, Xu Zhu excused himself, and Zhang Ze soon met the so-called friend.

Zhang Ze has many friends, but there is only one who can be called the Little Monk.

Little Monk Hui Xuan, a bald head fellow Zhang Ze has met several times, whose reckless abilities are comparable to Tang’s.

He once caused big trouble in the Northern Territory and was almost taken down as a replica boss, but Master Konghai ultimately brought him back to the Buddhist Sect.

After that, Zhang Ze didn’t hear from him.

Currently, the Little Monk was sitting with his Big Black disciple in a small pavilion.

The two sat cross-legged, engrossed in fiddling with a bunch of chess-like magical artifacts in front of them.

It looked like they were playing chess, but their dialogue sounded strange.

Little Monk, "Hurry up, let’s do it again."

Big Black Monk, "Master, I can’t do it, I really can’t, let me rest for a bit."

Little Monk, "Don’t give me that, come on, don’t force me to dock your salary."

Big Black Monk complained, "Dock whatever you want, it’s not like you’ve ever paid me a salary. Besides, remember before, whenever we went out, wasn’t I the one working to support you!"

Little Monk, "Why do you have so much to say? Hurry up, swiftly! Seven times tonight, not one less, we are saving world peace here."

Hearing this, the Big Black Monk continued placing chess pieces with a bitter face, but soon he saw his savior.

"Donor Zhang! Oh dear, you finally arrived."

After speaking, the Big Black Monk stood up and ran over, pulling Zhang Ze to the pavilion and placed him in the spot he had just vacated.

Then, under the pretense of serving tea, he dashed out of Beilin, running like a Black Bear Spirit draped in a kasaya.

Judging by his determined silhouette, it’s likely he didn’t plan on returning until the next morning before breakfast.

Zhang Ze sat cross-legged, holding Li in his arms, gazing at the Little Monk and inquiring.

"What were you up to just now?"

The Little Monk, while fiddling with the chess pieces in his hands, replied, "Of course, helping you find your way."