The high monks of the Zen temple all looked at Abbot Ben Guang.

Abbot Ben Guang watched Chen Tang's departing silhouette, feeling increasingly unsure.

Time was already tight, and this young man still had his mind on eating?

At this point, Abbot Ben Guang gave a light cough, and could only brace himself and say, "You all haven't eaten yet either, right? Let's go have something to eat together..."

The high monks of the Zen temple had been blocked at their doorstep by Esoteric monks, who had beaten up their most outstanding young disciples one by one, leaving them in no mood to eat.

However, the high monks still followed Abbot Ben Guang to leave.

Zen temple mess hall.

Chen Tang arrived there, quite familiar with the place, greeting many monks as he passed by.

"You little brat, scrounging for meals is one thing, but bringing others to scrounge too?"

The cook-monk glared at Chen Tang as he approached, asking.

"Master, what are you talking about?"

Chen Tang replied, "I was invited by Abbot Ben Guang to handle the Esoteric monk, what's the harm in letting me eat a few more bowls of rice."

"What nonsense, you?"

The cook-monk didn't believe it and laughed, "If it were a contest for eating, you might actually beat them."

The two of them had become quite familiar in these past few days and spoke with little restraint.

Some monks in the mess hall overheard and burst into laughter, all thinking Chen Tang was spouting nonsense.

Chen Tang served bowls of rice to Ming Yuan, the Du Clan, and the elderly man, asking, "Isn't Xinping Zen Temple reputed to be the finest monastery in Qian Country? Are there no capable young disciples?"

"Hey!"

The cook-monk said, "It's not that our temple's young disciples are weak, but that the Esoteric monk is too strong. Don't you know that the supreme Buddhist secret technique, the 'Bone Marrow Cleansing Scripture,' is in the hands of the Xiling Esoteric Sect?"

Chen Tang nodded while eating.

Master Le Kong had mentioned this matter once.

The cook-monk continued, "That Esoteric monk is an Ascetic Monk, refining their mind through harsh discipline, tempering their physical body. Through the Bone Marrow Cleansing Scripture, they've reached the Extreme Blood Transformation realm. Every move they make is overwhelming, ordinary Sixth Grade Martial Artists can't even withstand them."

Another monk said, "There are also the Six-Character Mantra and Esoteric Great Hand Seal, which are considered unrivaled at the same level."

"I've heard that the fifth-generation young disciples from all the temple's halls were completely defeated, completely unable to fight back, it was tragic."

"I heard some third-generation and fourth-generation senior brothers say that actually, in the first round of the literary contest, although we tied with the Esoteric Sect, the abbot actually lost."

"That's true. After all, the abbot set the topic, having prepared long beforehand, practicing numerous times! The opponent, coming from afar and accepting the challenge on the spot, could still argue to a draw, showing the depth of their Buddhist knowledge."

The monks became animated discussing this matter, eagerly chiming in.

Just then, the cook-monk looked up.

He saw Abbot Ben Guang and several high-ranked monks standing at the mess hall entrance, all looking displeased.

"Greetings, Abbot."

The cook-monk immediately sobered up, quickly offering a greeting, also signaling to the other monks to shut up.

Abbot Ben Guang had originally wanted to just eat a little, but upon overhearing the monks' chatter, he lost his appetite.

"Ming Jing, hurry up and eat, then come with me to the Scripture Pavilion!"

Abbot Ben Guang said somewhat irritably to Chen Tang.

Chen Tang paid it no mind and continued eating several large bowls of rice before stopping.

Ming Yuan, the Du Clan, and the elderly man went with the other monks to the square in front of the Great Heroic Hall.

Chen Tang followed Abbot Ben Guang to the outside of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Wait here for me; I'll go inside to fetch a martial arts text."

Abbot Ben Guang said and then entered the Scripture Pavilion first.

"Can't I go in and choose for myself?"

Chen Tang asked.

"What are you thinking?"

The head of the Precepts Hall's face darkened.

The Scripture Pavilion is sacred ground in the Zen temple; forget about Chen Tang as a lay disciple, even he had to inform the abbot brother if he wanted to enter.

Chen Tang had hoped to go in and pick out some legendary Buddhist Seventy-Two Techniques, but it seemed impossible.

Rethinking it, he realized it was understandable.

A place like the Scripture Pavilion, if lay disciples could come and go freely, wouldn't likely have anything valuable.

But there would be opportunities in the future.

Soon after, Abbot Ben Guang emerged with a small booklet, handing it to Chen Tang.

As soon as Chen Tang took a look at it, he lost interest immediately.

"Arhat Fist."

Abbot Ben Guang said solemnly, "Arhat Fist is the most fundamental fist technique in the Zen temple and the only one you can barely grasp within half a day."

Having said that, Abbot Ben Guang led Chen Tang to the Arhat Hall.

This was the place where temple monks practiced martial arts. It was already past noon, and many young monks were there practicing punches and kicks.

"Practice here."

Abbot Ben Guang said, "Every disciple in the temple knows Arhat Fist; if you have any questions, you can ask any monk."

With that, he left with the high monks.

"Isn't that the freeloading pilgrim?"

"What's he doing here?"

"I heard he's been invited by the abbot to deal with that Esoteric monk."

"Him? He doesn't even know Arhat Fist; is he going to learn it on the spot?"

The monks in the Arhat Hall whispered among themselves as they looked at Chen Tang.

In such a scene, this was inevitable. Chen Tang paid no mind, opened the "Arhat Fist," and began to practice according to the techniques outlined.

He appeared nonchalant outwardly, but inwardly he was cautious.

He could only use Buddhist martial arts. He couldn't use the Tiger Subduing Fist or the Dragon-Subduing Hand, which he was most adept at.

Additionally, among the overseeing high monks, there could very well be Grandmaster-level experts.

Mountain Guest had previously warned him to conceal his Entering the Divine State abilities from other Grandmaster-level experts to avoid unnecessary trouble.

In such conditions, his combat strength was halved!

Using only brute force might not match the Esoteric monk.

Though the "Arhat Fist" was a basic Buddhist martial art, it comprised fist techniques that, when combined with the Great Strength Vajra Hand, could offer a chance to surpass the opponent.

"Arhat Fist" starts with the 'Child Worshipping Buddha' form and ends with the 'Mountain-Sitting Form' for a total of sixty-one forms.

After practicing once, Chen Tang remembered more than half.

By the second practice, he had memorized all sixty-one forms.

On the third round, just as Chen Tang executed the 'Child Worshipping Buddha' form, the Vajra Relic in his dantian slightly trembled.

The original form of 'Child Worshipping Buddha' should have been both hands clasped in prayer.

As if by intuition, Chen Tang inexplicably parted his hands slightly, as if holding an offering bowl within his palms.

This subtle change triggered a ripple of popping sounds throughout his muscles and bones.

Several muscles in Chen Tang's body seemed to swell, and a warm sensation spread, altering the way he exerted force!

"Arhat Demon-Subduing Fist, Bowl-Raising Form!"

Simultaneously, a Sanskrit chant echoed in Chen Tang's mind, as if from the far reaches of the void.

What on earth?

Chen Tang suddenly shuddered, waking up!

He had just practiced one form, yet he felt an intense heat all over, breaking into a slight sweat, indicating high energy consumption!

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