Corpse Recovery Diver-Chapter 1200 - 217:

The old monk let out a long sigh.

He had anticipated that this day might come, but not in this manner. He was wary of Li Lan's identity. Even if his past methods were discovered and investigated, the pressure would have been official. But the current threat before him came from the Jianghu.

He would have preferred dealing with the former, for they abide by rules, whereas the latter... is the rule itself.

Li Zhiyuan: "The Corpse Ghost Soul-locking Array, was it also out of appreciation for talent?"

Hearing this, the old monk was terrified. How did the other party know about this too?

It was merely a control method he prepared back then, thinking to help dispel the Heart Demon. But since there was no Heart Demon to dispel, it became a futile effort.

Logically, it was a failed scheme, yet the other party knew so clearly.

The old monk took a deep breath and said, "Our sect has always had measures to control the spiritual child to prevent them from going astray while learning Buddhist Law. The restriction was meant to bring them back to the right path.

The reason this poor monk acted as he did was because at a glance, I identified you as a spiritual child, therefore..."

"So, I should thank you?"

"This poor monk dare not, dare not!" The old monk seemed to have made some decision. "Due to the mistake this poor monk made that day, I suffer the consequences today. Whatever the benefactor desires, I will accept calmly!"

"This could have been settled through discussion, but now, there's nothing to discuss. I gave you a chance, but you did not cherish it. Even if I decided not to pursue it, nothing good would come of it for you."

"What does the benefactor mean by this?"

Li Zhiyuan turned his head to look at the large incense burner, the smell of roasted fish already permeating: "You knew something would happen today, right?"

Raising fish to cultivate spirit for divination is not unusual; many places have this custom, not just for the spectacle.

The old monk mumbled a few words, eventually nodding, saying:

"Yes, the temple is small and the wind great. A few days ago, it began to blow fiercely; what should die, died; what should crack, cracked. These ominous signs were nearly a clear indication of disaster."

An occasional anomaly can be vaguely explained, but when signs appear collectively, it's a certainty.

With such a great catastrophe, hiding alone won't solve it; the more you hide, the more uncontrollable things become. The most rational approach is to actively face it. This has been the traditional attitude towards catastrophes in the Buddhist Sect.

Li Zhiyuan: "You didn't foresee that I would become your great calamity."

The old monk showed bitterness: "Indeed, this poor monk... lacks in cultivation."

Li Zhiyuan: "You've been deceived."

The old monk: "What..."

Li Zhiyuan opened his left hand, and a wisp of karmic fire coalesced, pushing forward.

The black karmic fire adhered to the painting. Although the old monk couldn't see it, he could sense the painting was tainted with something terrifying, and he immediately let it drop.

As the karmic fire burned, cracks appeared all over the painting, eventually looking as if someone had frantically scraped it with a knife.

The old monk's eyes widened in disbelief.

This meant that the calamity had a clear indication, but someone tampered with the painting, concealing it.

Li Zhiyuan: "You're aging; one can see that, but your voice hasn't changed. That's a flaw; as one ages, their voice changes accordingly."

The old monk's body began to tremble.

Li Zhiyuan: "Also, you speak too elegantly. At a certain age, people lose some ability to learn and are unwilling to change. Back then, you liked to cite, 'as you say in the Central Plains.' Look at you now… how well you've integrated your language habits. Did you neglect everything else all these years, focusing solely on language lessons?"

The old monk looked at Li Zhiyuan in despair.

Li Zhiyuan: "Back then, you could set up the Corpse Ghost Soul-locking Array, yet now you can't even grasp this straightforward divination. When you saw me emerge, you found me familiar, as if you'd seen me somewhere before. You were thinking, not searching your memory."

The old monk slumped, admitting:

"How many times over the years has my master pointed at this painting and lamented that failing to bring this spiritual child into the fold was his lifelong regret.

If it weren't for your mother's unique identity, my master wouldn't have dared act presumptuously. Otherwise, you would have become my junior apprentice brother, calling me senior, and I would have doted on and protected you unreservedly. The master would definitely have done the same."

Li Zhiyuan shook his head: "I hadn't noticed such a feeling here."

The old monk: "It's true."

Li Zhiyuan pointed to the old monk sitting before him: "Your master hid away, having you impersonate him to ward off calamity. Is this the love from your master?"

Li Zhiyuan pointed to the mute and the young monk: "As the senior, knowing you were pushed by your master to face the calamity, you rendered one junior mute and submerged the other. Is this the indulgence of a senior?"

The old monk opened his mouth, cold sweat streaming down.

Li Zhiyuan: "You only want to survive. Once you met me, you found my intent to kill you not that strong. So you thought to cling to anything, bringing up my mother while playing a sentimental card.

Don't act in front of me; it won't work.

In fact, since I entered the temple, your strong desire to survive was the largest flaw in your disguise."

The old monk: "I want to live, truly, I just want to live. I don't think I've done wrong!"

Li Zhiyuan: "I came to settle things directly, as you perceive, my intent to kill isn't that intense. But as things stand, it seems that even if I don't act, you won't survive."