Liuquan Temple was much smaller than everyone had imagined.

This temple seemed to have existed for a very long time. The wooden structures were quite weathered and aged. However, the small courtyard was swept very clean, without a speck of dust. The old elm tree in front of the courtyard was quite old, with an extremely thick trunk and dense branches and leaves that almost completely enveloped the entire Liuquan Temple.

A sweeping monk at the entrance saw Zanxing’s group and showed a puzzled expression. Qiongniang stepped forward and gently bowed to the monk, saying: “They are here to see Master Ming Jing.”

“Senior Brother Ming Jing?” The monk glanced at everyone, put down his broom, and went inside. Before long, another young monk wearing gray robes emerged from the temple. He approached and pressed his palms together toward everyone, saying: “This humble one is Ming Jing.”

Zanxing raised her eyebrows slightly.

This monk called Ming Jing looked very young, about twenty or so years old. He was exceptionally handsome, with a naturally otherworldly and transcendent aura in his eyes and brows that made people feel peaceful just by looking at him. He wore a string of black prayer beads around his neck that contained spiritual power. In his hands, he held a Buddhist staff that was a high-grade magical artifact.

This was a young Buddhist cultivator, or, rather, a Buddhist cultivator who appeared very young.

Zanxing stepped forward and said gently, “Master Ming Jing, I am Zanxing. I’ve come here because I heard that you witnessed Gui Yansheng entering the Wulun Pagoda.”

Master Ming Jing raised his head to look at Zanxing. The moment he saw Zanxing’s face, the monk was momentarily dazed, but he quickly lowered his eyes slightly and said: “That’s correct. About half a month ago, I saw that golden-eyed youth at the Wulun Pagoda.”

Everyone paused. Someone from the Demon Suppression Army couldn’t help but question: “And then? Did he enter the pagoda? Why didn’t you stop him?”

The people from the Demon Suppression Army had no favorable impression of Master Ming Jing. Having heard that Master Ming Jing was an old friend of the Demon Empress Bujiang, since he had connections with the demon clan, the cultivation world naturally disdained to associate with him. Therefore, their tone when speaking to Ming Jing was not polite.

However, Master Ming Jing was a good-tempered person. Even when questioned so rudely, he only replied calmly: “I cannot stop those who enter the Wulun Pagoda. Anyone who can enter the Buddhist pagoda is someone recognized by Buddha.”

“But he’s from the demon clan!” A disciple from Yinfeng Sect couldn’t help but say: “If we let the demon clan break into the fifth floor of the Buddhist pagoda and pass the trials to obtain rewards, who knows how much this demon’s cultivation might increase, and how many more people he might harm. Is this what you call Buddhist compassion?”

Ming Jing answered peacefully: “At that time, there were no distinctions of male or female, high or low status, superior or inferior, nor different names. All beings share life in this world; hence, they are called sentient beings. Whether human clan or demon clan, all sentient beings are equal and can all become Buddha.”

“Why waste words with him? Anyone who can get involved with the demon clan can’t be anything good. That demon might have been deliberately let in by him—who knows what crooked schemes he has in mind!” A disciple from Chihua Gate sneered coldly.

Zanxing glanced at the speaker and smiled: “You speak with such righteous indignation. I suppose if it were you, you would step forward to stop him?” Without waiting for that person to respond, she continued: “Excellent. When we enter the pagoda later and see Gui Yansheng, we’re all very much looking forward to your performance.”

That person was immediately choked up, his face flushing red as he couldn’t speak.

“Hahahaha,” Mountain Spider laughed upon hearing this: “Young Master, don’t you know about these people—sparrows wrapping dumplings, all mouth! When they see Gui Yansheng, they’ll run faster than anyone else. Speaking tough now is just like mad dogs barking at the sun—all empty noise!”

In his excitement, he used two folk sayings in a row.

While this side was making a commotion, Gu Baiying on the other side was already frowning as he asked: “What does it mean to be ‘recognized by Buddha’?”

This Wulun Pagoda was well-known. Rather than calling it a Buddhist pagoda, it would be more accurate to call it a trial ground, though no one knew what the trial contents within this trial ground were.

Ming Jing patiently answered: “Not everyone can enter the pagoda. Only those who meet certain conditions can enter the Wulun Pagoda.”

“What are the conditions?”

“They are…” Ming Jing said this much, then stopped, looking at everyone with what seemed like helplessness: “If you wish to enter the pagoda, when you reach the Wulun Pagoda, you will naturally know.”

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. The rumors about the Wulun Pagoda were already varied and contradictory, and Ming Jing’s speaking so mysteriously made people even more suspicious.

Xiao Shuang smiled as he spoke: “Master, when you previously saw Gui Yansheng enter the pagoda, did you see him exit?”

Ming Jing slowly shook his head.

“Only saw him go in, didn’t see him come out.” Tian Fangfang was quite optimistic: “Could he have failed the trials and already died inside?”

“He should not have.” Ming Jing looked toward the direction of the Wulun Pagoda and said softly, “Last night, I heard movement from within the Wulun Pagoda. If I’m not mistaken, he should have already entered the fifth floor by now.”

“So fast?” Mu Cengxiao gripped the Mieshen Saber in his hand tightly, his expression showing more tension.

Gui Yansheng entered the Wulun Pagoda was certainly for the reward on the fifth floor of the Wulun Pagoda. Since he valued it so highly, the prize from the fifth-floor trial was no ordinary item. If he perished in the pagoda, that would naturally be best, but if he passed the trials and obtained the reward, given Gui Yansheng’s tendency to destroy heaven and earth at the drop of a hat, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster for the entire Duzhou continent.

Even if they entered the pagoda immediately now, they might not be able to stop Gui Yansheng. But if they didn’t enter the pagoda, a Gui Yansheng with higher cultivation would only be more troublesome than he was now.

Zanxing pondered in her heart. Now that the Demon Suppression Army and the demon clan had already met in advance at the base of the pagoda, trying to profit from their conflict was no longer possible. Fortunately, this Demon Suppression Army was led by Gu Baiying. Although Gu Baiying was arrogant, his actions weren’t reckless. He knew that fighting with the demon clan now would only result in mutual destruction, so he presumably wouldn’t start fighting here.

Since that was the case, it would be better to temporarily form an alliance and jointly deal with Gui Yansheng. After all, the two teams had already held hands before, so cooperating once more wouldn’t be a matter of life and death.

Zanxing thought for a moment, then said earnestly to Master Ming Jing: “Master, we want to enter the pagoda. However, this is our first time coming to Mount Yuea, and we don’t understand the taboos related to the Wulun Pagoda. You have lived here for many years and must know much about the Buddhist pagoda. Could you help guide us?”

This Buddhist cultivator had the bearing of a master—perhaps he was the key to breaking through the trials.

She had originally thought Master Ming Jing would decline somewhat, but unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the gray-robed monk didn’t even think before nodding: “Of course I can.” His attitude was very friendly.

Zanxing felt relieved. Since Master Ming Jing was willing to help, many things would be much easier to handle. She looked toward Gu Baiying again: “What about you? Do you want to go together?”

The woman’s attitude was natural, as if discussing this matter with him before taking action had been done thousands of times before.

Gu Baiying was slightly stunned as Meng Ying’s words floated in his ears like a spell.

“Your treatment of her shows deep-rooted affection, like the sea’s boundless length.”