The Esoteric Sect Leader said: "The 'Great Strength Vajra Hand' has indeed been lost for many years, but this cultivation technique is not possessed by your temple either. However, our Esoteric Sect at least has the complete 'Vajra Unbreakable Technique' lineage."

"Both emotionally and rationally, the Vajra Relic should be safeguarded by our Esoteric Sect. If, in the next hundred years, your temple has any rising talents, they are welcome to come to Xiling to retrieve it. If the Esoteric Sect is not their match, we will hand over the Vajra Relic with both hands."

Abbot Ben Guang looked troubled.

Strictly speaking, the Vajra Relic does not belong to Xinping Zen Temple; it is Master Le Kong's possession.

Over the years, as the Profound Celestial Sect rose to power and the Buddhist Sect in Qian Country gradually weakened, Xinping Zen Temple relied on the name of the Vajra Relic to perpetuate Buddhist traditions and recruit many disciples.

Master Le Kong, who came from Xinping Zen Temple, has been meditating and worshiping Buddha at Martial General Mountain ever since the fall of the Wu Dynasty and has said nothing about this matter.

Xinping Zen Temple claims to be the foremost temple in Qian Country, largely because of this sacred Buddhist relic!

"Abbot, since they've put it that way, you should hand over the Vajra Relic to them."

"Indeed, the literary duel ended in a draw, and we couldn't win in the martial arts duel. Could we, as monks, go back on our word?"

"Qian Country's leading temple, yet the younger generation has no successors—how truly pitiful and lamentable."

Many Jianghu followers watched the drama unfold without regard for the aftermath, heckling from the sidelines.

As the situation grew more embarrassing, Abbot Ben Guang noticed Chen Tang was already there, merely standing by and watching the show, and he couldn't help but frown.

"Ming Jing!"

Abbot Ben Guang called Chen Tang to his side with a slight tone of reproach, furrowing his brow as he asked: "How have you prepared?"

"So-so."

Chen Tang gave an ambiguous response.

"Hmph!"

The head of Arhat Hall frowned and said: "I heard that in an entire afternoon, he didn't even learn a single Arhat Fist properly."

Abbot Ben Guang asked sternly: "Is this true?"

"None of that matters; just winning is enough."

Chen Tang waved his hand nonchalantly.

Abbot Ben Guang's eyes lit up as he asked: "What are your chances of winning?"

Chen Tang replied: "Ten percent."

The senior monks nearly coughed up blood in anger and were tempted to come over and hit him.

Abbot Ben Guang saw the slyness in Chen Tang's eyes, took a deep breath, and asked: "So, how do you plan to increase the odds?"

This abbot isn't bad and seems to know the ropes.

With a slight cough, Chen Tang said: "If I win this martial duel, I hope the abbot will agree to let me choose a martial art from the Scripture Pavilion."

The head of Arhat Hall snorted, saying: "What wishful thinking. You haven't even started the fight, and you're already making demands of us?"

So this kid has his eyes on the Scripture Pavilion!

Abbot Ben Guang thought to himself, but aloud he asked: "If I agree to your condition, what are your chances of winning?"

"Ninety percent!"

Chen Tang spoke with conviction.

"Alright!"

Abbot Ben Guang solemnly declared: "As long as you can win against the Esoteric Sect in the martial duel, I'll agree to your terms."

"Abbot…"

Several senior monks wanted to object.

Abbot Ben Guang waved them off and said: "If he can defeat the Esoteric Sect, it's not only the sacred Buddhist relic that remains ours but also the reputation of our temple. Thus, letting him cultivate a technique won't be an issue."

Having gained the advantage, Chen Tang proceeded towards the plaza decisively.

He looked over at the Esoteric Sect monks, clasped his hands, and said: "I am Ming Jing, a lay disciple of the Buddhist Sect, here to have a bout with Brother Zhaba."

"Abbot Ben Guang, why bother with this?"

The Esoteric Sect Leader scrutinized Chen Tang, frowning as he asked: "Bringing a lay disciple to fob us off, how long do you plan to delay?"

Ming Yuan spoke loudly: "What you said isn't quite right, Sect Leader. Qian Country is vast and abundant, with many talents. There could well be experts among the Buddhist lay disciples."

"Heh…"

The Esoteric Sect Leader chuckled softly and glanced sideways at his disciple, saying: "Zhaba, take care of him within three moves."

"Yes, Master."

Zhaba stepped forward from among the Esoteric Sect monks.

Chen Tang cast an appraising eye over him.

Zhaba was a head shorter, with his arms exposed, wearing a string of crimson Buddhist beads around his neck. His sunken eyes gleamed with intelligence.

He approached the opposite side of the plaza, slightly bowing, ready to make his move!

"Hold on!"

Chen Tang hastily called him to a stop.

"What now?"

The Esoteric Sect Leader sounded a bit impatient.

Chen Tang said: "I've heard that the Esoteric Sect possesses the 'Bone Marrow Cleansing Scripture'. Why don't we make a wager? If I win, you'll teach me the 'Bone Marrow Cleansing Scripture'."

"If I lose, the Vajra Relic will be yours."

This proposal stirred up an uproar in the plaza.

"What an abomination!"

"Although he's a lay disciple, he's still one of us Buddhists, wagering in public like this."

Numerous senior monks found it hard to bear.

Ming Yuan shook his head with a smile and said: "This Ming Jing Junior Brother, taking advantage of the Zen Temple, and now he wants to take advantage of the Esoteric Sect."

Amidst the growing chatter, Chen Tang remained unflustered.

A bargain should never be missed.

Moreover, it was such an opportunity sent to his doorstep.

"Don't pay him any mind."

The Esoteric Sect Leader instructed Zhaba casually: "Even without the wager, defeating him means the Vajra Relic is ours."

"The Esoteric Sect is not foolish…"

Chen Tang mused to himself.

Zhaba nodded in understanding, and with a move, he strode rapidly towards Chen Tang.

In the blink of an eye, he was upon him!

Whoosh!

Zhaba launched a straightforward punch aimed directly at Chen Tang's face!

With his strength, any movement echoed with divine power that martial artists of the same level couldn't withstand.

Chen Tang seemed unprepared, looking a bit panicked, raising his palm instinctively to block Zhaba's fist.

Boom!

The collision between fist and palm produced a muffled sound.

Between fist and palm, sparks of golden light erupted!

Chen Tang staggered back several steps, his face pale, seemingly unable to withstand the blow.

"Hmm?"

"Oh?"

The Esoteric Sect Leader, Abbot Ben Guang, and the other senior monks' expressions changed, and they stood up collectively.

"Stop!"

The Esoteric Sect Leader hurriedly ordered.

Zhaba withdrew his momentum upon hearing the command.

"Great Strength Vajra Hand?"

Abbot Ben Guang fixated on Chen Tang's palm and whispered softly.

This Buddhist technique had been lost for decades; it was said that not even the Nanxia Buddhist Sect had it.

No one expected it to reappear in the Jianghu today.

The Esoteric Sect Leader asked gravely: "Boy, was that the Great Strength Vajra Hand you just used?"

"What if it was?"

Chen Tang counter-questioned.

The Esoteric Sect Leader was overjoyed internally, though his expression remained unchanged as he replied solemnly: "I can agree to your earlier wager, but with this condition: if you lose, you only need to hand over the Great Strength Vajra Hand technique."

"We'll both use a cultivation technique as collateral; this way it's fair."

Chen Tang hesitated.

The Esoteric Sect Leader thought to himself upon observing this: "It seems Zhaba's punch must have intimidated him."

The Esoteric Sect Leader then pondered aloud: "How about this: if you can withstand Zhaba's full ten strikes, you'll be considered the winner!"

"How about three strikes?" Chen Tang bargained.

"Seven strikes."

"Three strikes."

"Five strikes!"

"Fine."

Chen Tang readily agreed, then turned to look around and proclaimed loudly: "I ask everyone present, Jianghu heroes, to bear witness: A promise made is a promise kept…"

"There's no backing out!"

The Esoteric Sect Leader quickly completed the phrase, letting out a soft breath of relief, secretly delighted.

This kid is young and ignorant of the depths.

If Zhaba exerted his full strength, needing five moves to beat him would be too much—one would suffice.

The thought of reclaiming the long-lost 'Great Strength Vajra Hand', completing the Esoteric Sect's Vajra Lineage, made the Esoteric Sect Leader's heart burn with anticipation.

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