Lei Jun slapped his palm on Lin Zongquan's forehead, and Lin Zongquan instantly breathed his last.

"Lei…" Zhou Zihang stepped forward hastily. He wasn't trying to stop Lei Jun, but to take on the task for him. On one hand, he wanted to personally kill Lin Zongquan to avenge his fellow disciple from the same Sect. On the other hand, he was still worried about Xuantian Temple, so he wanted to lend a hand to Lei Jun. Just in case there was a need for someone to take the blame in the future, he couldn't let Lei Jun bear it all alone.

Lei Jun casually tossed the corpse aside. Seeing Zhou Zihang's somewhat anxious look, he shook his head slightly. He didn't like Yongxiang Monk's character, but that monk was different from the earlier Dexiang Monk, so Lei Jun's attitude towards him was also different. Yongxiang Monk's statement that today's events were entirely his own doing and did not represent the whole of Xuantian Temple must have come from the heart. It wasn't that Lei Jun particularly trusted this monk's integrity. Rather, Yongxiang Monk probably truly didn't want to embroil his Sect in this affair. The Celestial Master Mansion was undoubtedly embroiled in a fierce battle with the Jiangzhou Lin Clan and could ill-afford to create more enemies by branching out. The Buddhist Sect was similarly troubled; not only was the White Lotus Sect causing disturbances, but there might be other hidden issues as well. Apart from relatively unique individuals like Dexiang Monk, it was rare to see monks from Xuantian Temple actively leave the mountains to meddle in the Red Dust; they usually did so for matters of great importance. Over at Jiuyuan Lake, a high-ranking Buddhist monk was still battling a Great Demon. Although Yongxiang Monk, for his own reasons, had become involved in the conflict here on Great Qing Peak, he likely had no intention of escalating the situation further. His earlier intention to take Lin Zongquan and the other three back to Xuantian Temple to reflect was probably a move to keep matters quiet and avoid publicity for the time being. In other words, Yongxiang Monk would also strive to prevent any immediate conflict between Xuantian Temple and the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

Then I won't trouble you, Great Monk… Lei Jun calmly watched Yongxiang Monk in the distance.

The ascetic monks of the Holding Vow Lineage of the Buddhist Sect were indeed extraordinary; even without the protection of Buddha's light, their physical bodies were also tough and resilient. Yongxiang Monk, who had been kicked a great distance by Lei Jun, was covered in dust and looked rather disheveled, but he had not sustained serious injuries.

He coughed gently a few times, looked at Lin Zongquan and the others lying dead in the distance, and shook his head, sighing repeatedly, "The compassion of Buddha."

Despite being kicked by Lei Jun, Yongxiang Monk showed no intention of retaliating or regaining face. Unable to protect Lin Zongquan and the others, his expression merely grew more bitter. He clasped his hands together in a prayer gesture towards Lei Jun and said, "This humble monk's cultivation is insufficient. I was powerless to stop Master Lei's wrath, powerless to prevent the loss of life. For this, I am truly at fault. Master Lei believes that those with different Daos cannot walk the same path, and will not heed this humble monk's prattling. Yet, Master Lei, you are ultimately a person of great wisdom. There will come a day when you will cherish all suffering sentient beings. I hope Master Lei will soon relinquish his obsessions and attain Clear Purity and ease."

Lei Jun said, "Monk, your words and actions today also demonstrate obsession. It would be better for you to relinquish it."

Yongxiang Monk's expression became even more bitter. He sighed, "Indeed, Master Lei is a person with a Wisdom Root."

He said no more. After bowing once more to the assembled disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion, he took his leave. Lei Jun did not stop him.

Watching the direction in which the monk was leaving, he was heading towards Jiuyuan Lake. Considering all previous observations, Yongxiang Monk wasn't going for reinforcements; rather, Xuantian Temple truly had other difficulties to attend to.

After watching the young monk depart, Lei Jun turned to Zhou Zihang and the others and asked, "Is everyone alright? Did anyone get hurt?"

Zhou Zihang replied, "Three have minor injuries, but nothing serious, thanks to you, Lei, for accompanying us."

Lei Jun said, "If they are just minor injuries, apply some temporary treatment. It is still best to return to the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect. If anyone is seriously injured, to avoid the strain of travel, they may return with me to Xianliu Palace. Do not push yourselves."

The disciples quickly expressed their thanks, each saying they were not seriously hurt.

The group then roughly cleaned up the mountain battlefield before continuing on their way, crossing Great Qing Peak.

After traveling a bit further, others from the direction of Dragon Tiger Mountain came, hurrying to meet Zhou Zihang and his party. "Nephew Zhou, did you come from Great Qing Peak or from Jiuyuan Lake? Jiuyuan Lake doesn't look peaceful at all!"

Zhou Zihang said, "Master Du, you've come? It's all thanks to Lei who reminded us. There was a surge of Demonic Qi Evil Miasma at Jiuyuan Lake. We chose to return via Great Qing Peak and thus escaped a great calamity."

The newcomer now noticed Lei Jun in his apricot Daoist Robe among the crowd. "Lei?"

"Elder Du," Lei Jun smiled.

The person who had come to meet Zhou Zihang and his companions was also an old acquaintance. The Talisman-bestowed Elder leading the team was Elder Du, whom they had encountered before when the Altar shattered, triggering the Ganoderma Terrace's revival, and also amidst the events in the Blood Sea. Among the Celestial Master Mansion disciples behind him was one named Qu Yong, who had once accompanied Lei Jun on a training expedition to Yangshan Manor's Xuanyang Cave Heaven.

Mm, his forehead once bore three ridges thanks to Master Lei's knock...

There were many disciples within the Mansion with allegiances to the Li Clan, and Qu Yong was one of them, having successfully aligned himself with Li Ziyang and his son, Li Xuan. However, the task of inquiring into Lei Jun's cultivation progress had been bungled by him, which caused the already cold-faced Li Xuan to show him even greater displeasure thereafter. Qu Yong felt dejected, often lamenting how a great opportunity had been right before him, yet he had let it slip by. Now, with no new Celestial Master having ascended, the antagonism between those surnamed Li and disciples from other families had intensified. The Mansion was rife with undercurrents, and Qu Yong felt somewhat adrift for a time. As for facing Lei Jun now, Qu Yong's feelings were even more complex. Lei Jun, who had undergone the Transcension Ritual and entered the Mansion three years after him, had not only already successfully become Talisman-bestowed, but his cultivation realm also far surpassed his own. So much so that the 'Lei' he used to call him, Qu Yong now found utterly impossible to say. When he and the other disciples came forward to pay respects, he almost instinctively followed the protocol for a Transmission Disciple addressing a Talisman-bestowed Taoist: "Master Lei…"

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