Chapter 403 402: Array

Master Mingjue's expression turned grim; he hadn't expected Mu Lin to know about this matter.

Still, the current situation had to be handled with care. The details Mu Lin knew couldn't be that precise.

'I'll deny whatever I can,' he thought. 'Celestial Dragon Temple is a thousand-year-old monastery! If we get implicated in a scandal like this, how will we ever show our faces again?'

"I don't know! Don't you dare slander our good name!"

Mu Lin said, "Why bother? I was planning on making peace with you, but it turns out you don't even have the guts to admit what you've done. I have no respect for people like that."

"So don't blame me for getting rough. I'll take it slow. I'm sure it won't be long before you start talking."

Just then, the flow of energy in the room shifted subtly.

Mu Lin keenly sensed the change.

Suddenly, Master Mingjue's eyes shot wide. A look of excitement flashed across his face as he cried out to someone in the distance, "Abbot!"

The abbot had arrived!

Realization dawned on Mu Lin. He looked toward the source of the oppressive aura and saw an aged figure wearing a tattered kasaya.

He looked rather strange.

Mu Lin narrowed his eyes. 'This old man's not half bad.'

It was the abbot.

The abbot stood atop the main hall, his hands held in a Buddhist salute.

'What a show-off,' Mu Lin thought. But on second thought, his expression turned serious.

'This isn't just posturing. The roof of the main hall is where the flow of energy in the entire Celestial Dragon Temple is strongest. A single portion of True Qi there is as effective as two.'

'And if the abbot also knows that Secret Technique Master Mingjue used to double his True Qi, his power would be raised to a truly terrifying level.'

But the abbot didn't seem to want to engage Mu Lin directly. Instead, he asked:

"Benefactor Mu, your suspicions are entirely baseless," the abbot said. "We do not know the whereabouts of Xu Jishan, the Patriarch of the Di Yang Xu Family. Please do not slander us."

'A guilty conscience gives itself away,' Mu Lin thought. 'Otherwise, why would the abbot need to stand in a place with such a powerful energy flow just to say that?'

It was a clear sign that he had something to hide.

"Go on, keep talking nonsense. I'll find my proof. We'll see what you do when I have it!"

Mu Lin said slowly.

But the abbot ignored Mu Lin's declaration and continued, "Today, you first injured Mu Tianran, a Lay Disciple of our Celestial Dragon Temple, and then you injured my junior brother, Master Mingjue. Your sins are numerous and unforgivable!"

"I must make you answer for them!"

Mu Lin was furious. 'They're trying to pin the blame on me? Is this really how a so-called thousand-year-old monastery acts?'

'Even the thugs on Anhua Street are more trustworthy than you!'

While Mu Lin was still lost in his thoughts, the abbot had already gathered a massive amount of force and lunged, striking at him.

A loud BANG echoed through the courtyard as the abbot's fist slammed firmly into Mu Lin's chest.

Mu Lin gritted his teeth, a deep pain seeping out from his very bones. Even though he was constantly maintaining his Vajra Shield, the immense force had briefly pierced its defenses.

Fortunately, the abbot hadn't aimed for a vital point. He probably thought that one punch, no matter where it landed, would be enough to finish Mu Lin.

The abbot's gaze grew heavy, and he said in stunned disbelief, "You've actually cultivated the Vajra Shield!"

Mu Lin laughed. "You sure know a lot to have figured that out. I'm impressed. But if you know so much, you must also know this isn't something that can be given away lightly. Are you really going to persist when even a three-year-old would understand the situation?"

"Where did you get the manual for this Secret Technique? Tell me, and I'll spare your life!"

The abbot was furious.

Mu Lin, however, just chuckled. "Feel free to try."

"If you can kill me, the Secret Technique is yours. But then again, if you can kill me, it just proves the Vajra Shield isn't all that great, so why are you trying so desperately to get it?"

The words seemed to confuse the abbot, but his momentum didn't falter. He charged furiously at Mu Lin.

"I don't care if you die or not! I'm killing you first, and we'll see about the rest later!"

The boost to his energy from the rooftop hadn't faded yet. He planned to use this advantage to launch another assault.

He would maximize the amplification of his True Qi and crush Mu Lin with power several times greater than his own.

He'd smash that "turtle shell" to pieces with ease.

'That's how it would be.'

As for Mu Lin, he knew Celestial Dragon Temple would never let him go now. He decided it was time to get serious.

He had to make Celestial Dragon Temple feel some pain. That meant he had to win this fight.

With neither side backing down, the battle instantly intensified.

They exchanged lightning-fast attacks and counters, a dizzying display that left no clue as to how the battle would unfold.

The abbot could effortlessly deflect Mu Lin's attacks, while his own attacks failed to break through Mu Lin's defense.

The earlier strike had only gotten through because Mu Lin hadn't been fully focused.

Now that he was on high alert, his defense was impenetrable.

Seizing an opportunity, Mu Lin executed the Vertical Cloud Ladder technique, launching himself like a cannonball straight into the abbot.

The abbot was caught completely off guard. He never imagined Mu Lin would suddenly charge into close quarters.

The abbot went flying as if he'd been hit by a speeding truck, his body sailing through the air like a broken doll before crashing into the main hall.

The impact was so immense that he barely lost any altitude before he smashed into a wall, bursting right through it and flying toward another hall behind it.

Still carrying most of his momentum, he slammed into another wall and burst through it as well. This time, enough of the force was finally spent.

The abbot hit the ground and began to roll violently.

He tumbled a considerable distance before finally managing to struggle to a stop.

He staggered to his feet, looking disheveled and finding it hard to comprehend. 'How can Mu Lin be this strong?'

He had barely straightened up before Mu Lin was upon him.

A heavy punch landed squarely on the abbot's chest. Blood sprayed from his mouth in a gruesome display.

"Heh heh heh, you're finished, you know that?" Though exhausted, the abbot wore a triumphant smirk.

Only then did Mu Lin sense that something was wrong. The abbot suddenly bellowed, "Luohan Array, rise!"

Suddenly, several tall, powerfully built Martial Monks appeared around Mu Lin.

Mu Lin finally understood. It had looked like he'd sent the abbot flying, but in reality, he had stumbled right into a pre-arranged trap.

The abbot, realizing he probably couldn't win, had decided to trade an injury for time and positioning.

It was a very successful gambit.

The killing intent emanating from the Luohan Array was extraordinary, but Mu Lin wasn't worried. 'I just have to be careful. It's not as bad as it looks.'

'In any case, it's a hell of a lot better than the situation just now.'

Mu Lin pursed his lips, considering his next move.

After the first group of Martial Monks surrounded Mu Lin, another dozen appeared behind them, their auras every bit as powerful as those in the front rank.

It was a rotation formation. The monks confronting Mu Lin would always be peak experts, brimming with energy. After a fierce exchange, they would be immediately swapped out to rest and recover before being thrown back into the fight.

Mu Lin would never accept being worn down by this kind of attrition warfare.

He had to create an opening, and fast. He needed to find the key to breaking this stalemate.

Suddenly, he spotted an opening. If he could break through at that point, he could shatter the entire Array.

"This Array is seriously vicious," Mu Lin remarked. But that didn't mean it was unbeatable.

Besides, compared to the arrays the old man had put him through, this was child's play. Mu Lin's defense held up easily.

Mu Lin met their attacks calmly, doing his best to minimize any chance of injury.

After a long struggle against the Martial Monks, Mu Lin finally found an opportunity to strike back.

BOOM! He charged forward, sending several of the "Luohans" flying and creating a massive gap in their formation.

"Haha, and that's that!"

Everyone stared at Mu Lin, dumbfounded.

It was terrifying. How was it possible? Mu Lin had actually broken the Array.

Even the abbot, who had been so composed, lost his cool. His face flushed red with fury.

"Impossible! How could this be!" he roared in anger.