I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

Upon arriving at the abbot's meditation room, Ning Chen stared at Elder Jinchi, who was feigning composure.

"Elder, last night my teacher, Luo Zhantian, disappeared without a trace in your temple's meditation room, along with his brocade cassock. The temple owes me an explanation for this!"

Elder Jinchi's pupils contracted slightly. He clasped his hands together and spoke calmly.

"Amitabha, you are mistaken, benefactor. What a venerable person you are, Luo, with your precious robe protecting you? How could ordinary people harm you? Last night, the temple was peaceful and undisturbed. This old monk and all the disciples were in their rooms in quiet meditation. Later, we discussed Zen with you, and we did not see anything unusual. Perhaps you... left on your own?"

"Leaving on their own?"

Ning Chen couldn't help but sneer. If others had left on their own, there might have been a chance.

Luo Zhantian is a Divine Realm Traveler. If he doesn't return to Blue Star, where else can he go?

This is clearly a sign that Elder Jinchi is feeling guilty.

"Elder, you're making excuses! Since that's the case, then let the person who made the guarantee yesterday judge the matter again today!"

Before he finished speaking, Ning Chen stopped looking at Jin Chi.

He looked up at the sky, his clear voice piercing through the clouds.

"Bodhisattva Guanyin! Elder Jinchi said nothing happened at the temple last night, and my teacher left on his own. We beseech you, Bodhisattva, to appear and uphold justice! If you also say nothing happened, Ning Chen will apologize to the elder and leave immediately!"

There is one thing that makes dealing with Buddhists easier.

That is, monks do not lie.

Other monks might be able to deceive people, but if Guanyin Bodhisattva were to deceive people, her status as a Bodhisattva would probably be in jeopardy.

Ning Chen was certain that Guanyin Bodhisattva would not lie!

As soon as he finished speaking, auspicious clouds gathered and seven-colored Buddhist light shone brightly on the Guanyin Temple.

Guanyin Bodhisattva, seated on a lotus throne, slowly revealed her true form amidst the clouds, holding a vase and a willow branch.

Her gentle yet supremely majestic gaze swept over the crowd below.

All the monks inside and outside the monastery, regardless of distance, were shaken and involuntarily prostrated themselves on the ground, chanting the Buddha's name.

The Bodhisattva scrutinized Elder Jinchi for a moment before speaking calmly.

"Jinchi, is it true that your teacher, Luo Zhantian, disappeared from the meditation room last night, as mentioned by Benefactor Ning? You said you knew nothing about it, and everything you just said is true?"

Elder Jinchi trembled violently under the gaze of the Bodhisattva.

The look of disappointment in Guanyin Bodhisattva's eyes struck his Buddhist heart hard.

All the schemes and plots that were kept in the dark last night are now laid bare before the clear and pure eyes of the Bodhisattva, leaving no room for concealment.

An overwhelming sense of shame and remorse instantly overwhelmed him.

As the abbot of Guanyin Temple, he had cultivated for hundreds of years and should have been a role model for Buddhism. After his death, he was sure to go to the Western Paradise.

Now, in an attempt to evade responsibility, he lies before the Bodhisattva!

Furthermore, due to a momentary lapse of judgment, he colluded with evil spirits and kidnapped a guest who had no grudge against him!

This is hardly the behavior of a monk.

This is utterly out of their mind and morally bankrupt!

"This humble monk...this humble monk..."

Elder Jinchi's lips trembled, and tears streamed down his face. He felt ashamed to face the Bodhisattva and the ancestors of Buddhism, thinking that his lifelong reputation had been ruined.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with despair and resolve.

"This old monk is guilty! I have failed Buddha! I have failed Bodhisattva! Benefactor Nara, it was this humble monk who asked that black bear spirit to kidnap you!"

After saying this, before anyone could react, Elder Jinchi used all his strength to slam into the thick stone pillar supporting the main hall!

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, blood splattered out!

Elder Jinchi's body slumped down, his forehead a bloody mess, and his breath ceased instantly.

A highly respected monk ended his life in such a tragic way, thus bringing an end to the farce he had instigated.

"Master!"

Buddhist disciples such as Guangzhi and Guangmou broke down in tears and collapsed to the ground.

Above the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva witnessed this scene, a complex expression flashing across her face before finally turning into a long sigh.

"Amitabha... Elder Jinchi colluded with demons and stubbornly defied the law, ultimately reaping bitter fruit. A single wrong thought caused a hundred years of cultivation to turn to dust... This calamity was destined to be his."

Her compassionate gaze swept over Jin Chi's corpse, then turned to Ning Chen.

"Benefactor Ning, this calamity arose because of my decree. Although Jin Chi was wrong, he has already committed suicide to atone for his sins. Your teacher, Luo Zhantian, must have been kidnapped by the Black Bear Demon of Black Wind Mountain. I will accompany you on this journey to demand his return."

The lotus platform of Guanyin Bodhisattva trembled slightly, and auspicious clouds carried Ning Chen and the others, instantly flying to the sky above Black Wind Cave.

A strange wind blew in front of the Black Wind Cave, while inside, the black bear spirit was trying to dissuade Lao Luo.

"My benefactor, I won't eat your food. Please eat something, or I'll have to face Jin Chi if I starve to death!"

Luo Zhantian, bound hand and foot, roared with wide-open eyes.

"You bear demon, don't even think about feeding me! You think you know me? You just want to fatten me up so you can have a good meal. Let me tell you, I'd rather starve to death than eat a single thing from you!"

Suddenly, a little demon came to report.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Someone has come to your door demanding the return of the monk you captured!"

"Hmm, why did they come knocking on our door so quickly?"

The black bear, puzzled, strode out, carrying its black-tasseled spear.

Ning Chen focused his gaze and saw that the strange fruit was ferocious-looking, with a bowl-shaped iron helmet that gleamed with fire-lacquer, a black gold armor that shone brightly, a black robe with wind-blown sleeves, long black and green silk tassels, holding a black-tasseled spear, wearing a pair of black leather boots, and eyes that gleamed like lightning. It was none other than the Black Wind King of the mountains.

When he saw Guanyin Bodhisattva and Ning Chen on the clouds, he was first stunned, then bowed respectfully in a deep voice.

"So it's Guanyin Bodhisattva! How unwelcoming! May I ask what brings you to our Black Wind Cave, Bodhisattva?"

The Bodhisattva lowered his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Black Bear, the benefactor Luo you abducted from Guanyin Temple yesterday is a distinguished guest of our Buddhist sect and one of the pilgrims. Release him immediately, return the robe, and this matter will be over."

Upon hearing this, the black bear spirit's eyes, as big as copper bells, widened in surprise.

"Release him? No way! Bodhisattva, although I, Old Bear, am a demon, I still know the meaning of trust and righteousness! That bald-headed Luo was invited to my cave by my good friend, Abbot Jinchi! Brother Jinchi has treated me well, often brewing tea and discussing the Dao. How can I easily go back on my word? Unless you bring Elder Jinchi here and have him say it himself: release him!"

The black bear spirit spoke with a resolute tone, carrying a stubborn and simple-minded air.

The Bodhisattva shook his head slightly.

"Elder Jinchi...he committed suicide by hanging himself under a pillar in the monastery because he felt guilty."

"What?"

The black bear spirit was struck as if by lightning; its massive body swayed violently, and a terrifying, ferocious light instantly flashed in its eyes.

"Dead? Brother Jinchi... how could he... it must be you! You drove him to his death!"

"Though I, Old Bear, am a demon, I am more loyal than you hypocritical bastards! Want people? You'll have to raze this Black Wind Cave to the ground! Otherwise, don't even think about it!"

Overwhelmed with grief and rage, the black bear spirit slammed his black-tasseled spear into the ground, causing the rocks to tremble.