After the young monk went to inform the abbot, the three did not have to wait long before the young monk quickly returned and respectfully said, "Three benefactors, the abbot is waiting in the main hall. Please follow this humble monk."
"Thank you."
Wu Mei cupped her fists in thanks to the young monk, then said to Ye Ling and Bai Lan, "Husband, Lan'er, let's go together."
"Mm."
Ye Ling nodded slightly, and the three followed the young monk into Tianyin Temple, arriving at a grand hall with a giant Buddha statue.
An old monk in a kasaya, with a kind face, was meditating before the giant Buddha.
Judging solely by his appearance, it was difficult to guess that this old monk was the Wrathful Sea Mad Monk who had once annihilated a hundred thousand troops alone.
"This humble monk will guide you no further."
After leading Ye Ling and the other two into the main hall, the young monk bowed slightly to them and then hurried away.
"Miss Wu, what brings you to Tianyin Temple to seek this old monk?" Fayun, still seated before the giant Buddha, asked without opening his eyes, his back to Ye Ling and the other two.
Wu Mei gestured for Ye Ling and Bai Lan to remain silent. She bowed respectfully to Fayun's back and said, "Abbot, I have found my destined husband recently. I have come to Tianyin Temple today specifically to inform you of this matter."
Fayun opened his eyes slightly, and a ripple appeared in his deep gaze. He then rose and looked at Ye Ling, who stood beside Wu Mei, scrutinizing him.
Wu Mei continued, "My husband, Wang Liren, is an unparalleled swordsman, far surpassing me in martial arts. He has long heard of the abbot's great reputation and wishes to spar with you."
Upon hearing Wu Mei's words, Fayun closed his eyes again, clasped his hands together, and said faintly, "This old monk has long vowed before the Buddha not to make any more moves. I fear I will disappoint the benefactor."
Wu Mei seemed to have anticipated Fayun's response. She gave Ye Ling a helpless look, signaling him to act freely.
Ye Ling stopped Bai Lan, who was about to speak, and said to Fayun, "Abbot, I am a straightforward person. Although I am new to the martial world, I wish to claim the title of number one in the world in a short time. I hope you will spar with me and help me on my way."
"What is the point of being number one in the world?" Fayun shook his head slightly. "In the end, it is all but an illusion. This old monk has no desire for supremacy. I ask the benefactor to return."
Ye Ling was unfazed by Fayun's attitude. "I am a rather impatient person. If the abbot is unwilling to spar with me, I fear I might do something rash."
"What does the benefactor intend to do?" Fayun opened his eyes slightly, his deep gaze fixed on Ye Ling.
"Since the abbot has made a vow before the Buddha, I shall tear down Tianyin Temple and destroy a hundred Buddha statues. In doing so, the abbot's vow will be rendered void." Ye Ling said nonchalantly. Wu Mei, standing beside him, was stunned and looked at Ye Ling with disbelief.
She never expected Ye Ling to utter such arrogant words!
Tianyin Temple, as one of the five top powers in the martial world, had countless experts, as well as many hidden eminent monks not recorded in the "Jianghu Heroes' Register."
The difficulty of tearing down Tianyin Temple was likely far greater than defeating Fayun in a spar!
"The benefactor is impatient and overambitious. Your disposition still needs tempering; you are not suited for martial arts."
After hearing Ye Ling's words, Fayun closed his eyes again, dismissing Ye Ling as an ignorant and arrogant hothead.
"If the benefactor truly wishes to tear down Tianyin Temple, then try it. This old monk still needs to meditate, so I will not accompany you." Fayun showed no intention of making a move and turned to resume his meditation.
"You said it yourself."
Before Fayun could sit down, Ye Ling's voice echoed.
The next moment, an incredibly terrifying pressure emanated from Ye Ling's body. Fayun, who had closed his eyes, opened them again, his eyes filled with infinite shock.
*Bang!!!*
A deafening sound erupted from behind Fayun. Ye Ling stomped his foot, instantly shattering all the Buddha statues in Tianyin Temple, including the giant Buddha in the main hall, alarming countless monks!
"Hus-, husband..."
Wu Mei stared at Ye Ling, utterly stunned, never imagining that Ye Ling would actually act!
Even more terrifying was that he had indeed shattered all the Buddha statues in Tianyin Temple with a single stomp!
What profound internal energy was required for this?
"Benefactor..."
Fayun looked at the shattered Buddha statues before him, his face turning incredibly grim. He slowly turned and said to Ye Ling in a deep voice, "Do you know that the monks who cultivate in Tianyin Temple were once soldier-monks who defended the country? They can achieve enlightenment through killing!"
Before Fayun's words had even finished, many martial monks exuding immense killing intent had arrived from outside the hall, surrounding Ye Ling and the other two.
Shattering Buddha statues with internal energy was an act of great disrespect to the Buddha and deserved death!
Even Wu Mei, who had seen many grand occasions, felt her legs go weak as she was surrounded by the martial monks.
She truly couldn't fathom how to quell the monks' anger.
This was simply... too insane!
"Abbot, if I defeat all the martial monks, will you spar with me?" Ye Ling asked Fayun with a smile, completely unfazed by the surrounding monks radiating killing intent.
"If the benefactor can achieve that, this old monk does not mind breaking his vows and sending you to the Pure Land to atone for your disrespect to the Buddha." Fayun's eyes, which had been as still as a deep well, now surged with a long-lost killing intent.
The temperature around them plummeted. Even though the weather was hot, the martial monks present still felt a chill.
"Form the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation and capture the villain!"
"Hah!!!"
At this moment, a powerful martial monk suddenly shouted, and the surrounding monks immediately formed a formation, beginning to advance on Ye Ling.
The combined aura of the monks condensed, as if a wrathful Buddha had descended.
Wu Mei, well aware of the power of the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation, quickly shouted to Ye Ling, "Husband, this place is dangerous, we should first..."
However, before Wu Mei could finish speaking, Bai Lan smiled and said to Wu Mei, "Don't worry, Master's wife. My master knows his limits and won't kill anyone."
"Lan'er, what are you saying..."
Wu Mei looked at Bai Lan speechlessly, unsure how to describe her feelings.
What did she mean by "knows his limits and won't kill anyone"?
Wasn't her husband currently at a disadvantage?
Before Wu Mei could recover, Ye Ling's figure flickered for a moment, then he took a step forward and smiled at Fayun in the hall, "Abbot, it's your turn to make a move, isn't it?"
"Benefactor, have you been scared silly? My temple's martial monks are..." Fayun said coldly, then suddenly his words faltered. His pupils constricted, and he looked towards the outside of the hall with utter shock.
The martial monks who had just formed the great formation were now falling like cut wheat, one after another, completely losing consciousness.
The area outside the hall fell silent.
In that instant, everyone had been acupoint-struck by Ye Ling!
"This..." Fayun stared blankly at the martial monks lying on the ground outside the hall, his heart churning with immense shock.
He had resolved all of Tianyin Temple's experts in an instant?
He hadn't even seen Ye Ling's movements clearly!
When had such a master appeared in the martial world?
Fayun's gaze towards Ye Ling completely changed.
So, Ye Ling's ambition to be "number one in the world" was not arrogance, but genuine capability!
Fayun recalled all the masters he had encountered in his life. Perhaps only Bai Xiaosheng possessed speed like Ye Ling's.
Shifting form like a ghost, swift as a phantom!
"Husband, you..." Wu Mei also looked at Ye Ling with disbelief, not understanding how Ye Ling had done it.
Ye Ling did not answer Wu Mei. He simply smiled at Fayun, waiting for his response.
Fayun looked into Ye Ling's eyes, sighed heavily, and then said, "The benefactor's movement technique is far superior to this old monk's. There is no longer any need for a spar. This old monk concedes."
Fayun couldn't even keep up with Ye Ling's speed. Even if he possessed a hundred skills, if he couldn't hit Ye Ling, it would be meaningless.
"Abbot, we still need to spar." Ye Ling chuckled. "If you fear your speed is not enough to match mine, I can stand still and simply compete with you in strength."
Fayun's eyes narrowed slightly. "Benefactor, do you perhaps underestimate this old monk too much?"
He believed that in terms of speed, he was far inferior to Ye Ling.
However, in terms of pure strength, with his perfected "Wrathful Eye Vajra Technique," there was no one in the entire Martial Dynasty whose strength surpassed his.
Ye Ling chuckled. "Abbot, there's no need to be angry. I'm not targeting you specifically. After all, what I want is... the number one position in the Extreme Martial Domain. You, Abbot, are just the first."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, a sharp light flashed in Fayun's eyes, and killing intent instantly permeated the entire Tianyin Temple, like a sea of blood.
The killing intent that the Wrathful Sea Mad Monk had hidden for twenty years erupted, as if a wrathful Vajra Buddha had emerged from an endless sea of blood.
Dark clouds gathered above Tianyin Temple, and muffled thunder rumbled!
*Boom!!!*
Fayun clasped his hands together, a faint blood lotus manifesting between his brows.
He looked at Ye Ling and said in a deep voice, "Benefactor, state your name."
His voice boomed throughout Tianyin Temple.
Wu Mei looked at Fayun in horror, her body trembling involuntarily, and murmured, "The Wrathful Sea Mad Monk... has truly returned."
Sensing Fayun's serious aura, Ye Ling's lips curled up. He casually drew a branch into his hand, twirled it like a sword flower, and said with a smile, "The Azure Demon Swordsman Wang Liren, challenges you!"