"Your Holiness, something has happened at the Golden Buddha Temple."
Hmm?
An incident?
The Sacred Buddha was currently toying with the Sacred Buddha Relic in his hand when he heard this, his expression darkening instantly.
"What did you say?"
"An incident?"
"What kind of incident?" the Sacred Buddha asked with a grim face.
"The Buddhist disciples sent to oversee the Golden Buddha project… their Longevity Lamps… have gone out."
"All of them!"
All extinguished?
The extinguishing of the Longevity Lamps meant these individuals had perished.
Hearing this, the Sacred Buddha's expression grew increasingly severe.
Who?
Who dares to provoke me?
Seeing the Sacred Buddha's current demeanor, the elderly monk trembled in fear, his heart filled with panic.
"Hmph!"
The Sacred Buddha snorted coldly, and the old monk felt as if he had been struck internally, nearly vomiting blood on the spot.
He quickly dropped to his knees, pleading in terror, "Your Holiness, spare me!"
"Spare you?"
"If anything happens to the Golden Buddha, I will hold you accountable!"
"Send people to investigate immediately."
"Whoever dares to sabotage the Golden Buddha—kill them!"
The usually dignified and benevolent Sacred Buddha now resembled a demon.
"Disaster! Disaster!"
"Your Holiness, a great calamity has befallen us!"
Another elderly monk rushed in frantically, causing the Sacred Buddha's expression to shift once more.
Another disaster?
"Your Holiness, the Longevity Lamps in the Hall of Longevity… so many have gone out, far too many!"
"Those not currently at the Heavenly Sound Temple… they must be…"
So many extinguished?
"Damn it!"
"What are you all waiting for?"
"Send people to investigate at once."
"Now!" the Sacred Buddha roared.
"Yes, yes, we will dispatch men immediately—"
"No need!"
"They're here!"
The Sacred Buddha's face darkened as he sensed two unfamiliar auras approaching the vicinity of the Heavenly Sound Temple.
"Pass down my order—enemies approach."
"All monks of the Heavenly Sound Temple, assemble! Let me see who has the audacity to cause trouble in my domain," the Sacred Buddha said coldly.
"Yes!"
At this moment, Chen Chang'an and Da Huang had arrived near the Heavenly Sound Temple.
Gazing at the majestic temple in the distance, an uninformed observer might mistake it for a sacred Buddhist sanctuary.
Outwardly resplendent, yet inside, it had long rotted to the core.
"Da Huang, go rescue the surviving infants."
"I'll handle the monks of the Heavenly Sound Temple alone."
Hearing Chen Chang'an's words, Da Huang nodded before vanishing in a flash.
Chen Chang'an smirked, and in the next instant, he appeared within the temple grounds.
When the Sacred Buddha laid eyes on Chen Chang'an, his brow furrowed.
First-level Supreme Realm?
A mere First-level Supreme dares to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Sound Temple?
Sheer recklessness.
"Was it you who slaughtered our monks?"
"Those who follow the Buddhist path are merciful. How could you be so ruthless?"
"A wicked fiend like you is beyond redemption."
"Seize this villain!" the Sacred Buddha commanded coldly.
"As you command, Your Holiness!"
At his order, the monks surged toward Chen Chang'an.
Unfazed by their assault, Chen Chang'an's attention was fixed on the Sacred Buddha's hand—specifically, the fetal pearl he held.
That’s definitely my fetal pearl!
"Scram!"
With a flick of his hand, Chen Chang'an unleashed several sword energies that instantly slaughtered the attacking monks.
The sight left the Sacred Buddha and the others stunned.
This man… his strength is terrifying!
He’s no ordinary First-level Supreme.
"Who are you?" the Sacred Buddha demanded, his voice tense.
"I came only to reclaim what is mine."
"But after arriving in these Western Lands, I realized—you people are truly despicable."
"Under the guise of Buddhism, you act like demons."
"Even true demons might not be as vile as you."
"Outrageous!"
"You dare insult Buddhism and slander the Sacred Buddha?"
"Insult?"
"It is you who disgrace Buddhism!"
The Sacred Buddha glared icily at Chen Chang'an and sneered, "Bold words, boy. But you’ve come to the wrong place."
"Do you think a bit of strength grants you the right to act with impunity?"
"The Western Lands belong to the Buddhist Order."
"Reaching the Heavenly Sound Temple proves your skill."
"But today, you won’t leave here alive."
"You two—kill him."
The Sacred Buddha gestured to his two right-hand men, both Emperor-level powerers.
The two monks nodded, their eyes cold as they flanked Chen Chang'an.
Emperors?
You think Emperors can kill me?
Pathetic.
"These two clowns? You send them to embarrass themselves?"
Chen Chang'an flicked his fingers, and two pebbles levitated from the ground. With another motion, they shot toward the monks.
The onlookers scoffed—what harm could mere pebbles do?
Bang!
Bang!
What followed left everyone, including the Sacred Buddha, aghast.
The pebbles pierced the monks' bodies and, upon entry, triggered violent energy explosions that obliterated them.
The self-detonation of two Emperor-level experts unleashed catastrophic force, reducing half the Heavenly Sound Temple to rubble.
Countless monks perished in the blast. Had the Sacred Buddha not intervened, the entire temple would have been annihilated, along with its weaker disciples.
Chen Chang'an, however, stood unscathed—not even a speck of dust marred his robes.
Now, the Sacred Buddha felt genuine fear.
How is he this powerful?
Two pebbles annihilated Emperor-level experts?
How?
How is this possible?
"Curious?"
"Want to know why?"
The Sacred Buddha was stunned—Chen Chang'an had read his thoughts.
This man is monstrous!
"How… did you do it?"
Chen Chang'an grinned. "Return the pearl, and I’ll tell you."
Pearl?
What pearl?
The Sacred Buddha paused before realizing—he was after the Sacred Buddha Relic in his hand!
"Dream on. This relic is a treasure of the Buddhist Order. I will never surrender it."
Buddhist treasure?
"You shameless fool."
"That thing is mine. It was merely picked up by one of your monks."
"And you had the gall to call it a Sacred Buddha Relic?"
"If it’s a relic, then who am I?"
"I must be the Sacred Buddha himself!" Chen Chang'an sneered.
His?
The Sacred Buddha Relic… belongs to him?