Chapter 402 401: A Price Must Be Paid

A young disciple hurried off to get a medicine box. Master Mingjue immediately took out a pill and placed it in Mu Tianran's mouth.

Mu Tianran quickly came to and said to Master Mingjue, "Master! Master! I can't believe I'm still alive to see you!"

Master Mingjue asked, "Who beat you so badly?"

Mu Tianran said, "It was the man who killed Uncle-Master Mingjing. He's not human! He used every dirty trick to torture me and beat me black and blue!"

Flames of fury ignited in Master Mingjue's eyes. "It was him? How did you run into him?"

"He's in contact with the Chen Martial Arts Hall and was acting on their behalf. I found out that kid, Yuan Zhen, is still alive and kicking!"

"So I went over, and it turns out he was the one who saved him!"

"One thing led to another, and I ended up getting beaten up. He even said he's coming to Celestial Dragon Temple to settle the score! He's too arrogant! He has no respect for our temple at all. We have to make him pay in blood."

Master Mingjue was furious. "How can such a thing be tolerated in this world? Since when does Celestial Dragon Temple let itself be threatened by some punk? For the honor of our temple, we must teach him a severe lesson, no matter what!"

"Go find your Uncle-Master Minghui and have him treat your injuries. I'm going to report to the abbot."

Mu Tianran was thrilled. 'The abbot is the strongest expert in Celestial Dragon Temple, terrifyingly powerful. No matter how arrogant Mu Lin is, he won't escape being eliminated by the abbot.'

"Yes, sir!"

Master Mingjue turned and left, heading for the hall where the abbot of Celestial Dragon Temple was residing.

"Abbot, Senior Brother!" Mingjue called out as he walked inside.

Inside the main hall, the abbot, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened them. "Why are you in such a rush? You didn't even request an audience. Have you forgotten all etiquette?"

Mingjue had no choice but to exit the main hall and respectfully announce, "Abbot, Senior Brother. Mingjue requests an audience!"

"Come in. What is it?" the abbot asked.

Mingjue said, "We've found the man who killed Mingjing! He's on his way here right now! He also severely injured Mu Tianran. He's treating us with utter contempt!"

The abbot shot to his feet. "So that's how it is! Since he dares to come, then let's make sure he stays here forever!"

"To strike against our Celestial Dragon Temple time and again... he's truly courting death!"

Master Mingjue nodded repeatedly. "I've already had the disciples prepare for battle! When that punk arrives, he won't be leaving alive!"

The abbot shook his head. "No. He's already here."

At the entrance of Celestial Dragon Temple, Mu Lin walked inside with a casual gait.

"Stop right there! Who said you could just walk in? Do you think the gates of Celestial Dragon Temple are open for just anyone to enter?"

A harsh voice rang out, and Master Mingjue stepped out, blocking Mu Lin's path.

Mu Lin sized him up and then scanned him with his divine sense. He chuckled, "Well, what do you know. A Late-stage Grandmaster. Including Master Mingjing, whom I killed, that makes two Grandmasters from your Celestial Dragon Temple."

"And you're not even the abbot, which means there are plenty of people stronger than you here."

Master Mingjue's heart sank. He was utterly shocked. 'How could Mu Lin see through me so clearly at first glance? How did he do that?'

'He's just too strong, isn't he?'

Master Mingjue's voice was low and heavy. "You... you already have a divine sense? Are you in the Innate Divine Realm?"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "Don't be so surprised. You should know there's always a higher mountain and a stronger person. You've been throwing your weight around for so long, you should have expected a day like this would come."

Master Mingjue immediately took half a step back, dropped into a horse stance, and threw a vicious punch straight at Mu Lin.

But Mu Lin didn't retreat. Instead, he met the attack with a fierce punch of his own, one that carried the intent of the Heaven-Falling Palm and was incomparably ferocious.

As a result, Mu Lin felt a faint, sharp pain and was somewhat surprised. He had already activated his Vajra Shield for protection, so to still feel a sting like that meant Master Mingjue's attack had some effect.

But that was all it was.

Master Mingjue, however, was terrified. To block that single fierce blow from Mu Lin, he had already consumed a massive amount of True Qi, defending with all his might.

If Mu Lin were to launch two or three more attacks of the same intensity, he would probably be forced to use his full power.

"What was that move you just used?" Master Mingjue exclaimed. "How can you be so strong?"

Mu Lin sneered, "You're about to die. Don't you think it's a ridiculous question to ask?"

He mobilized even greater power and bore down on Master Mingjue.

'If I don't get a decisive result soon,' Master Mingjue thought, 'I'll be dragged into a battle of attrition with Mu Lin.'

'That's not my forte. I'm afraid Mu Lin will just wear me down until I'm dead.'

'That would be a terrible end!'

'I can't let that happen.'

With that, Master Mingjue attacked swiftly, mobilizing all his power.

He aimed a deadly strike at Mu Lin's vital points—it was do or die.

BANG!

A powerful sound followed. Mu Lin was surprised to find that the ground had suddenly shattered, and his feet had sunk into it.

Master Mingjue was overjoyed. 'The heavens themselves are helping me!'

He immediately rushed forward, attacking furiously.

"Die!" This strike was aimed right at the crown of Mu Lin's head.

But with a light tap of his foot, Mu Lin freed himself from the dangerous pit, rising up as if being plucked from dry ground.

Floating in the air, Mu Lin left Master Mingjue stunned. His attack had hit nothing but air.

Mu Lin said, "That was some wishful thinking. You figured that as long as I was stuck in that pit, you could attack me relentlessly, and since I couldn't dodge, you'd definitely finish me off. Is that what you were thinking?"

Master Mingjue wanted to retreat, but it was too late.

Mu Lin pounced on him like a raging beast, ramming into him with such force that he was sent reeling. The powerful energy instantly shredded Master Mingjue's training robes into pieces. Many of his bones were shattered, and his body was a bloody mess.

Mu Lin tossed him into the main hall like a basketball.

"In you go!"

The disciples happened to be gathered in that very hall, holding staffs and ready to defend the temple.

But to their astonishment, they saw Master Mingjue land in their midst, his body a mass of mangled flesh, and their faces filled with panic and fear.

Mu Lin walked over, quietly placing his right hand behind his back.

After clashing palms with Master Mingjue, Mu Lin's hand had been alternating between a sharp, stabbing pain and a tingling numbness.

It was quite uncomfortable, and he had to divert a portion of his True Qi to suppress it. Only after a while did the feeling subside.

"Ahh, much better."

'Master Mingjue must have used some kind of Secret Technique to boost his power. That's the only way he could have increased his attack strength so much in such a short time.'

'After all, Master Mingjue's raw power couldn't possibly surpass my own. Of that, I'm confident.'

Mu Lin pondered for a moment. 'If I could learn this Secret Technique, with my already abundant True Qi and power, what would happen if I could double it, and then double it again?'

'Just the thought of it was incredibly exciting.'

'But it was also a little worrying. If everyone at Celestial Dragon Temple knew this, wouldn't that mean any random member could kill experts far above their own level?'

'The entire Martial World would be thrown into chaos.'

Mu Lin thought to himself that he would rather not see that happen.

Mu Lin walked into the main hall and saw Master Mingjue twitching all over, his face contorted in pain.

Master Mingjue pointed at Mu Lin and said, "You... your attack was laced with lightning qi!"

Mu Lin laughed. "You're right! So what?"

Despair washed over Master Mingjue's face. Although his rank among his martial brothers wasn't high in terms of seniority, his actual power was second only to the abbot.

But he had lost so miserably, taken down by Mu Lin in a situation like this.

It was just too pathetic.

Mu Lin said, "Let me make one thing clear. Master Mingjing was trying to kill me, which is why I killed him in return."

"Just now, you attacked me, so I hit you back. I've always been a pretty reasonable person, but it seems you have no interest in reasoning with me?"

"In that case, your current predicament isn't pitiable at all. In fact, you could say you brought it on yourselves."

Mu Lin's words were simple, but they made Master Mingjue's anger flare up.

"Alright, I won't say any more. I don't want to make things too hostile with Celestial Dragon Temple. I didn't come here to wipe you all out. I just have one question."

"Were you trying to kill Yuan Zhen because he witnessed the entire process of you kidnapping Xu Jishan and his son?"