I Grind to Martial Saint

Although Monk Xu Shi's current appearance was quite terrifying, Kongneng recognized him at a glance.

This was his Martial Uncle Xu Shi, who had left the Sect long ago.

He hastily shouted, "Stop!"

Instantly, the gray-robed monks who were about to attack all ceased their movements.

"What happened to Martial Uncle Xu Shi?"

Monk Kongneng asked anxiously.

"He's been infected by a Source Evil Seed."

"You need to take him to the Abbot, quickly."

"Otherwise, no one will be able to save him!"

Han Yuan lowered Xu Shi from his back.

Monk Kongneng was stunned by his words.

He quickly checked Monk Xu Shi's condition, then hoisted him onto his own back and headed for the Great Vajra Temple.

"You all, take this donor to Leisure Cloud Hall!"

Monk Kongneng added before he left.

Han Yuan didn't follow.

He knew that what happened next had nothing to do with him.

He had already done everything he was supposed to do.

Whether Monk Xu Shi could escape this calamity would depend on his own fate.

"Amitabha."

"This humble monk is Huaisan. I was rude just now; please forgive me, Donor!"

A gray-robed monk hurried forward to apologize.

The other gray-robed monks followed suit.

"Alright, let's just forget about it."

Seeing how sincere their apologies were, Han Yuan had no intention of pursuing the matter further.

He had always been one to yield to reason, not force.

"Then allow me to escort you to Leisure Cloud Hall, Donor,"

the gray-robed monk Huaisan said, his palms pressed together.

"Mm... lead the way."

Han Yuan nodded.

Huaisan told his junior martial brothers to continue guarding the mountain gate while he led Han Yuan into the Great Vajra Temple.

The architecture of the Great Vajra Temple was simple, grand, and ancient. Its halls were built from gray stone bricks, lacking the garish splendor of the Mortal World.

In the distance stood a towering, nine-layer stone tower, watching over the Great Vajra Temple like a silent giant.

"That stone tower is..."

Han Yuan's interest was piqued, and he asked softly.

"That's the Demon Suppression Tower... It's a forbidden area in our Great Vajra Temple. Not even I have ever been inside."

Huaisan said in a low voice.

'Demon Suppression Tower... Interesting...'

Han Yuan mused.

The Great Vajra Temple certainly lived up to the 'Great' in its name; its grounds were quite vast.

Huaisan led Han Yuan for quite some time before they finally arrived at Leisure Cloud Hall.

Leisure Cloud Hall was essentially a tea room.

Han Yuan found a random place to sit and began to chat with Huaisan.

They mainly talked about the current state of the Great Li Dynasty.

After all, Monk Xu Shi had been away from the Great Li Dynasty for too long and wasn't familiar with its current political landscape.

He had been rushing his journey, covered in dust, without any time to learn the details.

Not long after he started talking with Huaisan, Monk Kongneng walked in.

He pressed his palms together and said gratefully, "Thank you, Donor, for bringing Martial Uncle Xu Shi back in time!"

"I was rude earlier. Please forgive me, Donor."

Han Yuan waved his hand. "Enough. They already apologized."

"How is Monk Xu Shi now?"

Monk Kongneng sighed. "It's not optimistic... The Abbot and several Elders are discussing how to expel the Source Evil Seed from Martial Uncle Xu Shi's body..."

"The Abbot also specifically sent me to invite you over, Donor."

Han Yuan nodded. "No problem."

He followed Monk Kongneng to a Buddha Hall.

Enshrined in the Buddha Hall was an extraordinary, imposing statue of a Buddha clad in armor.

The statue's palms were pressed together, a Vajra Pestle cradled in the crook of its arm. Its face was stern, yet it also bore a look of compassion.

A tall, elderly monk with graying hair and brows was kneeling before the statue, seemingly in prayer.

"Kongneng, you may leave us,"

the old monk said faintly.

Kongneng bowed and departed.

Only then did the old monk stand up, turn to Han Yuan, and say softly, "This old monk is Xu Hai. Greetings, Donor Han."

"Greetings, Abbot Xu Hai." Han Yuan cupped his fist.

"A moment ago, I communicated with my Junior Brother Xu Shi's Divine Soul..."

"I know about his deal with you... Please rest assured, Donor Han. Once we've resolved Junior Brother Xu Shi's problem, I will fulfill that promise,"

Xu Hai said softly.

"Abbot Xu Hai... Master Xu Shi... he'll be alright, won't he?"

Han Yuan hesitated before asking in a low voice.

Xu Hai shook his head slightly. "I imagine you are well aware, Donor... Junior Brother Xu Shi's corruption runs too deep..."

"The reason he wanted to return to the Great Vajra Temple was to perish together with that Source Evil Seed..."

Hearing this, Han Yuan sighed.

He had long suspected this was Xu Shi's intention.

'He's been so severely corrupted, it's impossible to expel it from his body.'

'The only way is to be destroyed along with the Source Evil Seed.'

This was Monk Xu Shi's obsession.

On the road here, he had asked Han Yuan to kill him if he lost control.

But Monk Xu Shi also knew that even if he died, the Source Evil Seed would at most lose a host body.

Even Han Yuan, as strong as he was, might not be a match for the Source Evil Seed.

The safest method was to return to the Great Vajra Temple and have Abbot Xu Hai handle it.

"We are preparing the Demon Suppression Array... It will likely begin tonight."

"If you wish, Donor, you may observe from the side,"

Monk Xu Hai said.

"Mm." Han Yuan did not refuse.

...

「That night.」

Within the Great Vajra Temple, the lights shone as bright as day.

All the monks of the Great Vajra Temple sat cross-legged on the ground, their palms pressed together, continuously chanting Buddhist Scriptures.

In the center of the plaza, the withered figure of Xu Shi also sat cross-legged, a string of Buddha Beads clutched in his hand.

He seemed to have regained some of his consciousness, a faint smile on his face.

Han Yuan walked up to Monk Xu Shi, his expression complex.

Xu Shi smiled and said, "There is no need for you to be sad, Donor... As the saying goes, 'If I do not enter Hell, who will?'"

He then handed the Buddha Beads to Han Yuan.

"Come to think of it, I still haven't thanked you for escorting me back to the Vajra Temple, Donor. This string of Buddha Beads has been with me for many years. I give it to you now."

"I hope that in the future, it may aid you in slaying demons and purging evil, Donor."

Han Yuan accepted them and nodded lightly.

"It is time for this old monk to be on his way."

"Amitabha!"

Monk Xu Shi pressed his palms together and closed his eyes.

Holding the Buddha Beads, Han Yuan walked to a corner of the plaza.

"Meow~ Is there really no other way?"

the Orange Cat asked softly, licking its paws.

"No..." Han Yuan shook his head.

"What a shame," the Orange Cat said, shaking its head.

At that moment, Xu Hai also appeared in the center of the plaza.

He didn't say anything to Xu Shi, merely pressing his palms together and saying, "Amitabha."

For them, everything that needed to be said had likely been said long ago.

"Chant the Vajra Subduing Demons Scripture!"

Xu Hai said in a deep voice.

At once, all the monks began to chant the Vajra Subduing Demons Scripture.

The positions of these monks were not random; they were part of a specific design.

As they chanted the scripture, threads of golden light began to spread from their bodies, converging in the dome of the sky.

Instantly, the dark sky was filled with golden light, instilling a sense of peace and harmony.

Even Xu Hai sat down cross-legged and continuously chanted the Vajra Subduing Demons Scripture.

His entire body practically radiated golden light, as if he had transformed into a living Buddha.

"AHHHH!!!"

At that moment, Monk Xu Shi let out a strange and ferocious roar.

The Source Evil Seed inside him seemed to sense mortal danger and began to riot.

Wisps of black energy emanated from Monk Xu Shi's body, faintly coalescing into the image of a savage, malevolent Ghost with curved horns on its head.

The moment this Ghost appeared, Han Yuan felt a sense of disgust well up inside him.

If he weren't in the Great Vajra Temple, he would have been unable to resist taking action.

The horned Ghost roared madly, as if trying to charge out of the Vajra Temple.

But the golden light gathered in the sky made the horned Ghost fearful.

Eventually, the horned Ghost retreated back into Monk Xu Shi's body.

At that moment!

Monk Xu Shi's body began to rapidly mutate. His whole body swelled, his muscles turned withered and black, and scales sprouted all over. Two curved black horns grew from his head, making him look sinister and demonic.

"Vajra, Subdue the Demon!"

Seeing this, Xu Hai no longer held back and let out a low shout!

Han Yuan instantly felt a powerful fluctuation coming from above.

He looked up.

The golden light gathered in the sky had suddenly transformed into a majestic Vajra holding a Demon-Subduing Pestle!