I planted the spiritual roots for my people, and they bestowed upon me a body inscribed with incense

As they spoke, the monks surrounded Li Yuan. Seeing the monks approaching, Li Yuan realized he hadn't warmed up in a long time, so he gripped his broadsword tightly and charged at them.

These monks all carried staffs, which, while possessing some strength, were far inferior to Li Yuan's.

Every time Li Yuan swung his sword, someone would inevitably fall. However, these monks seemed to feel no fear and charged towards Li Yuan one after another.

Seeing this, Li Yuan finally lost his patience and unleashed several bursts of magical power, leaving only the Zen master on the field.

Upon seeing this, the Zen master's gaze faltered for a moment, then he slowly said:

"You are a Taoist? You are actually a Taoist." As he spoke, the Zen master fled frantically toward the front yard, as if he were terrified of Taoist practitioners.

Just then, Li Yuan saw the old monk sweeping the front yard slowly walking over. The Zen master, who was frantically fleeing, only glanced at the old monk before stopping in his tracks, turning around with a dazed look in his eyes and kneeling down to confess his crimes.

"Immortal, spare my life! Immortal, spare my life! I was foolish for the sake of that little bit of money. Please, Immortal, spare my life!" As he spoke, he kept kowtowing to Li Yuan.

Actually, this can't be described as just a bump; it would be more accurate to call it a collision.

Li Yuan was no fool; he could tell that the old monk sweeping the floor was suspicious. However, he couldn't discern the man's true strength, and Li Yuan feared that he wouldn't gain any advantage in a fight.

Seeing that the Zen master had admitted his mistake, Li Yuan slowly spoke to the Zen master:

"I have no intention of causing trouble. If the Zen Master does not hold my actions against me, I will leave now and promise not to interfere in this matter."

Li Yuan wasn't saying this to the Zen master. Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Zen master seemed like a different person, and slowly said:

"You've slaughtered all my cultivation resources, brat! There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan's expression hardened, and he slowly spoke:

"In that case, I'll accept your challenge."

However, if something happens to me, Prince Renhe will surely find this place, and then I'll see if your temple can still remain.

Moreover, I bear the heavy responsibility entrusted to me by the royal ancestor. You'd better think carefully before you take action. As he spoke, Li Yuan took out the jade token from the middle-aged man from last time.

Of course, Li Yuan wasn't really contacting him; he was just using him as a figurehead to intimidate the man. If he were to actually summon the middle-aged man, Li Yuan, who couldn't explain why, would still be doomed.

Upon hearing this, the Zen master's face lost its expression. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said:

"Boy, I'll let you go, but tell me how you found this place?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan frowned, then slowly said:

"Let me repeat myself, I entered this place by mistake, and did not come here intentionally to find you."

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest pondered for a moment, then slowly said to Li Yuan:

"Fine, if anyone else finds this place, I won't let you get away with it, kid. Don't think I can't find you."

"I let you go just to avoid trouble. Even if you really attract the royal ghost, I can just run away. But you'd better be careful, unless that old ghost can protect you for the rest of your life."

After saying this, the Zen master made way for Li Yuan, while the sweeping monk looked at Li Yuan with a smile.

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly turned away and walked out of the temple, ignoring the tall, thin man behind him.

Li Yuan had no time to worry about the people behind him. Judging from what had just happened, the master of this temple was not as simple as he had imagined. If he went too far, he might lose his life.

After leaving the temple, Li Yuan felt significantly more relaxed. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a little scared, realizing that there was such a powerful being in his Luoshan County.

Li Yuan pondered whether or not to report this matter to the Daqing Dynasty. He believed that as long as the matter was reported, Daqing cultivators would surely handle it. However, if what the person in the temple said was true, then Li Yuan and the Li family would surely be doomed.

After thinking it over, Li Yuan decided not to report the matter for the time being, as the Li family could not withstand such a storm.

After this incident, Li Yuan lost all interest in visiting other temples. He had thought that his cultivation level would be enough to protect him in his county, but it was clear that Li Yuan had overestimated himself and underestimated Qingshan County.

Not long after Li Yuan left, at Gutuo Temple.

The tall, thin man received no punishment; instead, he sat at a blood-stained dining table, on which sat the Zen master.

The tall, thin man looked at the Zen master on the table and slowly said:

"Having been immersed in Buddhism for so long, your internal organs must have been imbued with Buddhist nature." As he spoke, he took a deep breath at the Zen master, and like a beggar who hadn't eaten for days seeing a chicken leg, he plunged his hand into the Zen master's body and pulled out a bloody lump, which he then began to eat.

The tall, thin man spoke slowly as he ate:

"This 'Five Organs Ascension Method' is indeed wondrous. Before long, it will surely allow me to cultivate to the peak of Qi Refining."

If it weren't for the fear that the royal family's Foundation Establishment cultivator would arrive, they would surely have devoured you, a mere Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator, alive.

After muttering to himself, the tall, thin man took another vicious bite of the bloody object on his hand.

At this time, Li Yuan was obviously unaware of all this. Half a day later, Li Yuan returned to the Li family and the first thing he did was to call Wang Tiezhu over.

"Young master, is there something you need from me?" Upon hearing this, Li Yuan slowly asked.

"Uncle Wang, get up. It's nothing, I just wanted to ask who discovered the temple on the border between Qingshan County and my Luoshan County?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiezhu recalled for a moment and slowly said:

"Young master, this temple was marked by Zhou Qiang, but I've also heard that it's very efficacious. Is there a problem, young master?"

Li Yuan waved his hand

"It's nothing. Just give the order to keep people away from that temple. The rest is none of your business. Also, call Zhou Qiang over. I have something to ask him."

Seeing this, Wang Tiezhu quickly retreated. Li Yuan waited there for a while before Zhou Qiang arrived, looking travel-worn.

"Young master, is there something you need from me?"

Li Yuan nodded, gesturing for him to sit down, and then slowly began to speak:

"Uncle Zhou, have you personally visited that temple?"

Zhou Qiang nodded and slowly said:

"Young master, I did indeed go to see it, and I only informed you because I saw that its incense was thriving." Li Yuan frowned upon hearing this and slowly said:

"After you went in, did anything strange happen to you afterwards?"

Zhou Qiang thought for a while, then shook his head and slowly said:

"No, it's just that I can't quite remember how I got inside." Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Li Yuan slowly nodded and then said:

"Alright, go and get on with your business. Tell the bandit-suppression team not to approach that temple again, and don't spread this around, or they'll face the consequences."

Seeing Li Yuan's serious expression, Zhou Qiang accepted the order and left the residence.