“Hall of Masters.”

When Jian Chou gave the name of this hall, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. Originally, this was the place she had scouted during the day while walking around with the others. When she came to find Xie Buchen, she naturally already had it planned in her mind.

The temple complex of the Sacred Temple was mainly divided into five sections.

One section was designated for the Noble Consorts to reside, one section for ordinary disciples to live and cultivate, and the remaining three sections were the true main halls of the Sacred Temple.

The Hall of Masters, Hall of Dharma Kings, and Hall of Saints.

As the names suggested, the Hall of Masters was specially built for the seventy-two masters of the New Tantric tradition in the Sacred Temple, while the Hall of Dharma Kings was built for the Dharma Kings of past generations who had reached the pinnacle of cultivation.

As for the Hall of Saints, it was the core of the Sacred Temple.

This was also the main hall of the Sacred Temple that Jian Chou had visited during the day – built solely for the legendary “Holy Son.”

Among the three hall complexes, the Hall of Saints had the fewest people but the largest area; the Hall of Dharma Kings was second; and the Hall of Masters, due to its numerous occupants, was roughly equal in size to the Hall of Dharma Kings.

The strict hierarchical division within the Sacred Temple could be seen from this alone.

Xie Buchen, firstly due to his cultivation level, and secondly due to his current assumed identity as “Huaijie,” had to concentrate on visualization in his room day and night to prepare for tomorrow’s initiation ceremony, so he had neither the time nor the opportunity to come out and walk around.

But he was very clear about the Hall of Masters that Jian Chou mentioned.

Jian Chou also knew he was absolutely clear about it in his heart.

After all, someone who had already studied the written language of the Snow Region before coming here – would you believe he didn’t know?

Who would believe that.

Neither of them said much more. After deciding on their destination, they each concealed their auras and quietly slipped through the shadows of the various halls and pavilions, heading toward the Hall of Masters on the eastern side of the Hall of Saints.

The reason for choosing the Hall of Masters was simple enough:

First, in the Snow Region, the status of “Master” was already quite high. They must have participated in the recent struggle between New Tantric and Old Tantric traditions, so if the Snow Region had any movements, they as core members would certainly be aware of them.

Second, the Masters’ cultivation levels were all between Nascent Soul and Soul Separation stages. With the several magical artifacts left by Fudao Shanren on her body, Jian Chou was confident that even if something happened, she could still manage to escape immediately.

As for whether Xie Buchen could escape…

That was Xie Buchen’s own affair.

Since Master Hengxu was willing to let him come alone, he must have determined that Xie Buchen had the ability to protect himself.

Jian Chou might worry about others’ safety, but those “others” definitely didn’t include Xie Buchen.

She walked carefully all the way, using the Wind-Riding Dao Seal as she moved. Her entire being was as light as the wind, leaving almost no trace.

In contrast, Xie Buchen’s aura around him became extremely obscure, as he was actually circulating the Hidden Sword Intent.

Like this, walking somewhat behind Jian Chou, he gave off an almost ghostly and mysterious feeling. If not for occasionally turning back to catch sight of him, one could hardly sense there was another person behind.

After all, his skills had never been lacking.

Jian Chou sneered coldly in her heart, remembering how Xie Buchen had used “instantaneous movement” when he was still at Golden Core stage back when they killed Huaijie. Her vigilance and wariness grew even stronger.

Soon, the Hall of Masters was before their eyes.

This great hall was somewhat lower than the Hall of Saints. At this moment, the main doors of the hall were tightly closed, and there were no monks inside chanting sutras or keeping vigil.

Jian Chou and Xie Buchen quietly passed through the corridor on one side of the hall, and saw the vast monastery behind the hall.

The Masters usually had nothing particular to do. Whether day or night, whenever they had time, they were almost always cultivating.

Naturally, this time was no exception.

Among the dozens of monastery buildings, most had no lights on, with only a few windows showing faint glimmers of hazy light.

“Hurry up, really, don’t keep the Master waiting!”

A somewhat urgent voice, lowered due to fear, suddenly came from the small path between the nearby monastery buildings.

Jian Chou and Xie Buchen, hidden in the shadows, looked at each other but made no sound.

“Patter, patter…”

It was the sound of light footsteps.

Two figures, one in front and one behind, emerged from the small path after a moment.

Walking in front was a monk who appeared to be only at Golden Core stage. Behind him was a woman with beautiful features, a slender waist that swayed like willow branches as she walked.

She was fiddling with the agate beads hanging around her neck. After a while, she spoke with some resentment: “Master, Master – he still hasn’t taught me the dharma he promised to teach last time. Why are you being so attentive?”

“Now that the Old Tantric side has been defeated by us, Master Hongren also contributed greatly and his status has risen another level. If you listen to him, you’ll naturally have benefits.”

The monk frowned tightly upon hearing her words and actually scolded her.

“Endure this temporary hardship for now. When he’s willing to initiate me again later, I’ll have a great chance of becoming a Master. Then I’ll bring you to my side – wouldn’t that be perfect for both of us?”

“Wait for you to bring me?”

The woman actually stopped at the entrance to the alley, turned around, and looked at the monk with a cold laugh.

“You think I don’t know what you are? When you become a Master in the future, won’t you be just like the other Masters, coveting the beauty and bodies of young Noble Consorts? And you still want to get me?”

“That’s not how it works. After all, you and I have a marriage agreement. No matter what others do, you’ll definitely be my Buddha Mother!” Seeing her anger, the monk’s tone softened somewhat, and he pleaded with her, “Look, it’s already this late. If you don’t go now, we’ll both suffer later.”

“Hmph.”

The woman yanked the agate beads from her neck and threw them directly at the monk’s face. She didn’t hold back her strength at all, and it didn’t look like she was just venting her anger.

But she said nothing more, only left the monk behind and strode forward.

The monk fumbled to catch the agate beads. Seeing her leave, he breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time cursed under his breath “stinking bitch,” his eyes revealing contempt and viciousness.

Then he hurried to catch up.

This time, the woman was in front, head held high, chest out, her waist and back straight, giving off a sense of resolute pride. The monk who had been in front earlier was now slightly hunched, walking behind, his shadow cast by moonlight forming a mass that was indescribably disgusting.

From beginning to end, both Jian Chou and Xie Buchen, hidden in the darkness, saw and heard everything clearly. The sense of absurdity and impropriety in their hearts grew even stronger.

That woman was actually the monk’s wife from the secular world who hadn’t yet entered his household!

In this Snow Region, for the sake of a Master’s teaching, to learn some skills, disciples would actually do such things!

However…

In other places of the Jiushijiu Zhou, even in the Central Region, such things, or similar things, might not be unheard of. It’s just that sometimes, they weren’t so obvious.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of Jian Chou’s lips, her gaze falling on the two people gradually walking away. Only after they turned into one of the monastery buildings and disappeared from sight did she look back at Xie Buchen not far beside her.

His face was hidden in shadow, indistinct.

So Jian Chou couldn’t tell what expression he wore at this moment.

But what she was thinking now, Xie Buchen understood clearly.

She just didn’t know what Xie Buchen was thinking as he watched that woman and that monk.

Jian Chou’s lowered voice was filled with endless sarcasm: “Daoist Friend Xie, I guess that woman has already developed murderous intent toward that monk. Tell me, in the future, will this monk live or die?”

“…”

Xie Buchen remained silent.

Jian Chou was just asking casually and didn’t really expect an answer from him. After asking, she flashed and quietly followed in the direction the two had left.

Obviously, she wanted to infiltrate the monastery ahead and investigate this “Master Hongren.”

Xie Buchen stood in place for a while, then followed.

Both of them already had expectations about what they were about to see, but what they didn’t expect was that what they actually witnessed was even more disgraceful than their expectations.

In the room where Buddha statues were enshrined, there was a monk with prominently bulging temples, only at early Nascent Soul stage.

But at this moment he was completely naked, with a young girl dripping with fragrant sweat in his arms. Her body was as white as snow, but covered with bruises and purple marks. Her still tender nipples were being bitten by the monk’s mouth. The monk’s movements beneath her were rough and prolonged, like torture without end.

The girl’s face already showed pain, but she dared not cry out, only whimpering.

But such whimpering not only failed to arouse the monk’s pity, but instead intensified his actions, becoming even more vicious…

In less than a moment, the girl was sobbing uncontrollably.

Behind them on the couch lay two other young women, also completely naked, both with very weak auras.

The woman who had been arguing with the young monk on the path had just entered and stood not far from the two people in the act of copulation. She seemed to have long grown accustomed to such scenes, with only her tightly furrowed brow when she appeared to bow respectfully revealing her deeply hidden disgust.

The Buddhist Snow Region, the Tantric Sacred Temple!

How many believers’ hearts considered this the purest place? Yet such filthy, disgusting things that made one sick to see were happening within!

This scene before their eyes was truly shocking.

Jian Chou knew she shouldn’t act at this moment, but the killing intent surging in her heart was so difficult to suppress. In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and what remained was a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

She could act!

Her eyes turned cold. Judging that the monk was immersed in this lewd affair and should be unguarded, she made a hand seal with her right hand, quietly formed a Heaven-Overturning Seal, and was about to strike toward the room.

But unexpectedly, a thin black shadow suddenly appeared from the side, actually blocking her!

“Ding!”

An extremely light sound, like metal striking stone!

Due to the sound-concealing techniques around both of them, this sound didn’t even carry outside. But falling on Jian Chou’s ears, it was as heavy as thunder!

Her sealed hand had been forcibly blocked by a cold, hard sword sheath.

The Human Emperor Sword.

Looking up, she saw half of Xie Buchen’s face illuminated by the faint light from the window. His brow was deeply furrowed, as if he completely didn’t understand why she would want to act at this moment. The originally somewhat refined coldness had transformed into a dangerous sternness.

She used force with her hand, and he also held his sword, using the sheath to block, not yielding an inch!

How could Jian Chou tolerate his interference in something she had decided to do?

In this moment, killing intent spread out. In a flash, she had already locked onto Xie Buchen who was close at hand. Her left wrist flicked, and the Lamp-Lighting Sword unsheathed one foot, already positioned at Xie Buchen’s neck!

Six Precious Aspect Flower patterns were like burning flame hearts. The seemingly crude and blunt sword edge revealed shocking coldness!

Colder than this sword edge and killing intent was Jian Chou’s voice: “If the people inside don’t die, then you die!”

Xie Buchen didn’t move, letting her hold the sword horizontally against his neck. His eyes, which showed no ripples, were emotionless and unfeeling. He only replied calmly: “What use is killing one? With so many people, you can’t save them all.”

However, what answered him was only Jian Chou’s cold laugh: “I know what I’m doing. And what I do – what business is it of yours?”