Just after Qing Yu left the Vajra Temple, the fog enveloping the karma began to dissipate.

Inside the Great Zen Temple, Ban Xiang, who was about to return to the quiet room to continue his meditation, clutched his suddenly aching chest and cried out, "Brother!"

The bad omen came so swiftly, so unexpectedly.

Such a strong premonition could only mean one thing, that something had happened to the Vajra Temple. After all, apart from his fellow sect members at the Vajra Temple, Ban Xiang had no other significant people in his life.

"Alas, the arising and ceasing of causes, fate mocks us..."

In the midst of a peaceful sigh, a figure appeared behind Ban Xiang.

"Abbot?" Ban Xiang turned around in disbelief to look at the old monk behind him.

The current Xinyuan appeared in the guise of an old monk.

He heard him say, "This old monk has just discovered that the Vajra Temple... has been destroyed."

"It's gone, it's gone..." Ban Xiang collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself.

Although the pain he had felt had already hinted at the calamity that had befallen the Vajra Temple, receiving the actual news was still heartrending.

True sorrow knows no distinction between the Divinity Realm and mortals.

Just like Ban Xiang now, he felt that all his pursuits had vanished along with the smoke and clouds. The square he had just passed seemed to mock Ban Xiang's failure.

After struggling to bring the Vajra Temple back to the Great Zen, in the end, only he himself returned. It was an absolute jest.

"Alas, what can be done..." As Xinyuan watched Ban Xiang's dejected state, he also sighed repeatedly.

Whether it was the monks of the Great Zen Temple or Ban Xiang himself, they had all placed too much faith in Xinyuan. They believed in the power of "Controlling Life and Death," forgetting that Xinyuan was not omniscient.

In this world, there are still those who can escape from Xinyuan's karma line.

Like Xin Wen, who had previously been assassinated in Northern Zhou, his death was outside Xinyuan's control.

The same was true now for the downfall of the Vajra Temple. Xinyuan was not omniscient.

However, past experiences had indeed shaped Xinyuan into appearing omniscient. From when Xinyuan began practicing Buddhism, he had always been successful, with all things under his control.

The Zen Sect had long spread its branches throughout the Central Plains, boasting countless sub-sects. Over time, these sub-sects developed their own minds. They were all members of the Zen Sect, but who decreed that the Great Zen Temple must be the leader?

Before Xinyuan became the abbot of the Great Zen Temple, the power of the Zen Sect was immense but scattered like sand. But once Xinyuan took charge, that scattered sand was bound into a single rope.

During the Divine Capital battle, when the Esoteric Sect reentered the Central Plains, if not for Xinyuan, they might have succeeded.

Or rather, had it not been for Xinyuan blocking the Sun God of the Extreme East in advance, the Esoteric Sect surely would have succeeded.

Xin Wen's death did not diminish people's adoration for Xinyuan.

"Abbot!" Ban Xiang suddenly shifted from sitting to kneeling, and he bowed deeply, "I beseech you to tell Ban Xiang, who destroyed our Vajra Temple? Who killed my brothers and nephews? Please have mercy, Abbot!"

Ban Xiang fiercely knocked his forehead on the ground three times.

Three loud knocks resounded as Xinyuan's elderly monk guise slowly vanished, and his figure became taller, transforming into a stern middle-aged monk.

"Before the destruction of the Vajra Temple, this poor monk noticed nothing. Given the deep connection and karma between the Vajra Temple and the Great Zen Temple, this shouldn't be."

Xinyuan bent down to help Ban Xiang up, then continued, "In this world, if someone were to deceive me so thoroughly, there are only three possibilities.

One, someone of strength not inferior to this monk has done this. Since he was dealing with people much weaker than him, he could fully seal any leakage of karma.

Two, someone with a greater understanding of the Heavenly Mechanism than this monk covered it up. There is only one such person in this world, Elder Shiming.

Three, it involved an extraordinary treasure capable of hiding the Heavenly Mechanism."

"The first possibility is extremely slim; no fellow would act in such a manner."

Supreme warriors also have their pride, asking them to stealthily kill a group of the highest-level Martial Artists, wouldn't they lose face?

Moreover, Xinyuan is ranked fourth on the Heavenly List, with only three people above him. It's unthinkable that these three would act so covertly.

This, Ban Xiang agreed with completely.

"The second point, regarding Elder Shiming, is somewhat possible."

"That..." Ban Xiang opened his mouth in surprise, "Abbot, would Elder Shiming really do this?"

That was the highly respected Elder Shiming. How could he possibly act like this? The possibility of Elder Shiming being involved in annihilating the Vajra Temple completely blindsided Ban Xiang.

Initially, after hearing the three possibilities, Ban Xiang immediately assumed the third was a certainty. The first two were entirely unlikely.

"As you are a member of the Great Zen Temple, I shall not keep this from you. Elder Shiming, although residing in the Fate Altar for the past twenty years, seemed to be hiding something suspicious. The possibility exists, and it's not minuscule," said Xinyuan solemnly.

If it had been anyone else of equal status to Elder Shiming, they might not have taken such action. But when it comes to Elder Shiming, it was possible. The Heavenly Mechanism is mysterious and unpredictable. Who knows if this is Elder Shiming making his moves?

Furthermore, Xinyuan had already confirmed that the matter was related to the Demon Path. After Qing Yu left and the fog gradually lifted, Xinyuan also managed to discern using the Law of Cause and Effect who was involved.

And according to what Xinyuan knew, Elder Shiming was vaguely involved with the Demon Path.

"And the third party, this possibility is very likely. I have already come to know that Purgatory Peak, Demon Sword Dao, and Doomed Hall were all involved.

Besides these three parties, there seems to be a fourth, but I have not yet discovered any trace of this fourth party..." At this point, Xinyuan slightly frowned.

"I beseech the abbot to reveal the whereabouts of those who wiped out the sect," Ban Xiang immediately said.

Ban Xiang didn't dare dream of annihilating these three sects immediately, but he was eager to pulverize the executor into dust.

Xinyuan made no move to stop Ban Xiang. Three colorful threads, faint yet perceivable, gently merged into the three fingers of Ban Xiang.

"First head to the Vajra Temple, search for the residual Qi Mechanism of the perpetrator to enhance the karma sensing. Do not hesitate, the perpetrator committed heinous crimes, even Buddha has fire for such as these. This matter, the Buddhist community will wholeheartedly assist," Xinyuan stated.

The Vajra Temple had been a great contributor to the Zen Sect; even the former Nalanda Temple wouldn't dare to really annihilate it completely. Given such a tragic fate, the Buddhist community could not sit idly by.

"Yes, thank you, Abbot."

Ban Xiang immediately got up, burst forth, and soared away.

He couldn't wait another moment; he wanted the perpetrator to pay.

On the spot, Xinyuan's expression slowly turned into a murderous look typical of a battlefield general, "Let this poor monk see who is lurking in the shadows."

Ban Xiang would be a fierce dragon overturning rivers, fiercely disturbing all the hidden currents below. Regardless of who jumped out to stop him, they would all fall into Xinyuan's view.

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