Not far from where Qing Yu and others met, there was a barren mountain.

The whole mountain was devoid of grass, a rarity even in the desolate Northwest.

Vajra Temple was located on this grassless mountain, consisting only of rocks.

Nearly a thousand years ago, a high monk from the Great Zen Temple felt that Zen Sect lacked strong hard skills, so he came to this harsh and cold land in the Northwest to refine his body, attempting to comprehend the Body Refining Divine Skill.

He did not use True Qi, instead relying solely on his physical strength to carve steps into this barren mountain. It took him five full years to roughly shape the tens of thousands of steps from the base to the peak of the mountain.

Afterward, he spent another thirty years carving three thousand Buddha statues on the mountain walls beside the circumferential steps.

He comprehended the Buddha-nature with his heart and acted with his physical strength. After a total of fifty years, just when the small temple of Vajra Temple was completed, the high monk had an epiphany about his past and created a unique hard skill for Zen Sect, the "Unbreakable Vajra Skill."

The "Unbreakable Vajra Skill" was different from the Esoteric Sect's "Vajra Unconquerable," as it was not merely a body refining technique, but also incorporated the unique Heart Zen Training Method of Zen Sect.

The body is like Vajra, unbreakably firm, the nature is like Vajra, neither dirty nor clean, neither arising nor ceasing.

The "Heart Zen Immortal Skill" of the Great Zen Temple was also established based on the foundations of "Unbreakable Vajra Skill."

It was also because of the creation of this unique hard skill of Zen Sect that the Zen Sect was able to hold its ground in the centuries-old struggle between Zen and Esoteric. It can be said that with the "Unbreakable Vajra Skill," Zen Sect was able to make up for its shortcomings and contend with the Esoteric Sect.

Although the main reason for victory was not the "Unbreakable Vajra Skill," without it, even if Zen Sect had won, it would have been a bitter victory.

"Having heard that in the past, the three thousand Buddha statues in Vajra Temple contained great Buddha-nature, forming a Buddhist Law Domain by themselves, it truly is a pity to see such a sight nowadays..." Qing Yu looked at the first Buddha statue at the foot of the mountain, seemingly reflective but also perhaps mocking.

These three thousand Buddha statues were all personally sculpted by that high monk, each containing the same origin of Buddha-nature. Linked together, they naturally formed a Great Formation, rumored to possess the power of a thousand Buddhas when activated.

But now...

Seeing that the face of the Buddha statue was blurred and missing a hand, it was clear to say that not even half the power of a thousand Buddhas remained.

Vajra Temple had long been in decline, and now even the monks within the temple were inclined towards the Great Zen Temple, thinking of moving from this bitter and cold land to the Ancestral Court of Zen Sect.

"Hehe, sir, what you don't know is that the decline of Vajra Temple isn't just because the monks lack motivation, but because a powerful enemy attacked them, forcefully killing the high-ranking monks at that time, thereby causing it to weaken continuously," Gongshan Xiao chuckled sinisterly.

"Oh? There's more to it? Do you know who this so-called powerful enemy was?" Qing Yu asked with some curiosity.

After all, the Vajra Temple was one of the cornerstones of the rise of Zen Sect, a major contributor to the sect.

Since defeating the Esoteric Sect, Zen Sect had risen uncontrollably and had never been weak over the centuries. Who would dare to attack Vajra Temple to such an extent that it never recovered?

"Hey, Vajra Temple was strong enough, and Zen Sect even stronger, but their opponents were not weak either. This Northwest land is just too close to that place..."

Gongshan Xiao glanced towards the west several times.

Qing Yu also looked in the direction of the west, realization dawning in his eyes.

Yes, this Northwestern land was very close to the Western Regions.

In the sandy lands of the Western Regions, there was the ancestral home of Buddhism.

Nalanda Temple, the Buddhist ancestral court, originates from the destroyed Peacock Dynasty. The Western Regions have always been the stronghold of the descendants of the Peacock Dynasty, and Nalanda Temple was mainly occupied by monks of Peacock descent.

At the time, Zen Sect had already defeated the Esoteric Sect and become the mainstream within Central Plains Buddhism. In this context, Vajra Temple continued to grow in the Northwest, making it hard not to think that Zen Sect harbored intentions to unify Buddhism.

The slaughter of the high monks of Vajra Temple was a warning. Leaving the other monks alive was to leave room for both sides, avoiding a complete fallout. Although, such actions were already too aggressive.

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If it hadn't been for the recent great battle between the Zen Sect and the Esoteric Sect, the Zen Sect might well have taken complete control over Buddhism in the Western Regions.

"But the strength of Nalanda Temple is also profoundly deep," Qing Yu reflected deeply.

Otherwise, it couldn't have remained so undisturbed.

The Zen Sect wasn't constantly in a state of post-war weakness. Hundreds of years had passed, and if recovery was needed, it shouldn't have taken that long.

Then there was the matter of Vajra Temple moving back. The revival of Vajra Temple was simple, as long as the Zen Sect was willing to support it. So, would the Zen Sect support it?

The answer was definite.

But Vajra Temple had declined. Up to this generation, a Divinity Realm monk, Ban Xiang had emerged, but instead of thinking about revitalizing Vajra Temple, he stayed in the Great Zen Temple indefinitely.

The Divinity Realm relics of Vajra Temple were also all sent to be preserved in the Great Zen Temple.

This was because the Zen Sect wanted to show they had no intentions of moving into the Western Regions. Otherwise, Ban Xiang might have been suddenly killed one of those nights.

Thinking this way, Qing Yu drew an easy conclusion about the terrifying strength of Nalanda Temple.

Having understood the reasons before and after, a feeling of gratitude arose in Qing Yu's heart. He was thankful for Nalanda Temple, without them, it wouldn't have been Qing Yu's turn to pick up the pieces.

"Since Vajra Temple is ultimately going to disappear, let's give it a proper send-off," Qing Yu said, taking the lead in stepping onto the mountain stairs.

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Inside the Great Zen Temple.

A monk, sitting cross-legged and forming a Vajra Seal with his hands, suddenly opened his eyes.

"What's the matter? Why do I suddenly feel an ill omen?" Ban Xiang muttered softly, brow furrowed.

The sudden impulses of a warrior from the Divinity Realm were not illusions. Often, their premonitions would successfully manifest in reality.

However, this premonition was extremely faint, just a slight uneasy feeling that quickly disappeared.

"It's best to seek advice from Xinyuan Abbot."

Ban Xiang made a decisive decision and left the quiet room where he had been meditating.

Outside the door, a few dozen steps ahead, lay a vast square. This square would be the training ground for the warriors of Vajra Court in the future.

The expansive space foreshadowed the future prosperity of the Vajra Lineage.

Having left the Northwest, away from the threat of Nalanda Temple, the Vajra Lineage would rise again.

Staring at the square in front of him, Ban Xiang was certain of this.

The hope that rose in his heart dispersed the uneasy mood brought by the earlier omen, and Ban Xiang slowly approached the abbot's room where Xinyuan resided.

However, just as he arrived outside the abbot's room, Ban Xiang overheard the monks outside saying that Xinyuan Abbot had left the temple with Shi Jue the previous day.

"Is that so? That's good," Ban Xiang felt no disappointment but, rather, a sigh of relief.

Since Xinyuan Abbot had left the temple last night without leaving any instructions, it meant that the recent faint omen was nothing serious.

If it had been something significant, Xinyuan Abbot would have noticed. After all, he was the "Master of Life and Death."

With this thought, Ban Xiang was at ease.

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