The prayer bead Storage Magical Artifact contained a fair number of items: Spiritual Objects and Elixirs, as well as many materials needed for the Cultivation of the Jade Kagyu Vajra Body. The only thing missing was the subsequent Dust.

The gold, Jade, Frost, Vermilion, silver, Ink, and Shang Seven-Colored Dust were indispensable for the seven physical transformations—or rather, seven levels—of the Jade Kala Vajra Body.

Yang An had originally planned to use the Joyful Shrine Association as an opportunity to openly seize all of the Dust. To his surprise, however, Great Virtue Temple had already anticipated this and taken everything from the Grand View Cave Zen in advance.

He could tell that the contents of this Storage Magical Artifact were nothing important. Compared to the resources of the Grand View Cave Zen, they likely weren’t even a drop in the ocean.

’So this is the "portion of the resources" Hai Si mentioned?’

A disdainful sneer spread across Yang An’s face as he clenched the string of Prayer Beads tightly in his hand.

Hai Si had appeared out of thin air to forcibly save those Zen Masters who were about to die by his hand. Before leaving, he had even struck Yang An, knocking him back. And this paltry offering was the so-called compensation.

’The Three Prohibitions say you’re not supposed to initiate an attack against someone with a weaker Cultivation Level. He must have found some way to get around that.’

’This is hardly something a high and mighty Bodhisattva should be doing.’

’No one cared when others were slaughtering indiscriminately, but the moment I kill someone, he comes running.’

Whatever the reason, Yang An had committed this grudge to memory.

After transferring the items from the Prayer Beads to a new storage space, he clenched his fist. With a slight exertion of force, the beads in his hand crumbled to dust and scattered across the ground.

Yang An looked up at the sky. It was now broad daylight; the night had passed completely.

When night fell again, the Joyful Shrine Association would come to an end.

’There’s no time to waste. I should go do something befitting my status.’

Before, Yang An had been ambivalent about Elder Zhuan Yu’s mission to destroy Great Virtue Temple’s Round Gate Four Pavilions. He could take it or leave it, especially since Elder Zhuan Yu himself had said to just do his best if the task proved impossible.

Now, however, Yang An felt it was imperative. Whether it was to vent the anger in his heart, or because he had once again realized he was not a part of Great Virtue Temple—these bald-headed bastards were so detestable—he now had the motivation to do it.

Most importantly, he wanted to see how the upper echelons of Great Virtue Temple, people like Hai Si, would react when the Round Gate Four Pavilions were destroyed.

’Of course, I can’t be too obvious about it.’

’If people figured out I had deliberately destroyed the Round Gate Four Pavilions, I would certainly face great risks. I’ll have to find a way to cover my tracks.’

Elder Zhuan Yu had said the Round Gate Four Pavilions were four stele pavilions located in the four cardinal directions of Great Virtue Temple. His current location was closer to the south, which was also near his Zen Room.

After a moment’s thought, Yang An headed for Mingxin Zen Courtyard, intending to find Guang’an first.

’That old fox Zhuan Yu is no pushover. He obviously has other spies within Great Virtue Temple. When doing something like this, it’s best to keep Guang’an close.’

When Yang An returned to Mingxin Zen Courtyard, the Zen Masters who usually lived there had vanished, their whereabouts unknown. In their place, many Gami and Protectors were active in the area.

As Yang An approached, some of the men nearby scattered like frightened animals. Of course, many others showed no fear at his arrival. The Three Prohibitions gave them a good deal of courage.

"Guang’an, you were chosen by His Highness the Buddha Prince to be his Attendant Monk. I bet His Highness treats you well and has given you plenty of good things, eh? Hand them over now, and we’ll spare you. How about it?"

As Yang An approached his Zen Courtyard, he found that "robbers" had broken into his home.

Voices were coming from the courtyard of his Zen Room. Someone was pressuring Guang’an. Five Protectors had him surrounded, leaving him with no hope of escape.

’The fellow is obedient, at least. I told him to stay and guard this place, and he did so without running off.’ Yang An was pleased. With a single leap, he landed on the courtyard wall of the Zen Room and looked down on the Protectors below.

Five Protectors at the Visceral Stone Cultivation Level against a single Gami who was only at the Origin-Nourishing Cultivation Level. ’These guys obviously know how to get around the Three Prohibitions.’

When they saw Yang An, the men’s faces immediately filled with panic.

"B-Buddha’s Son!"

Guang’an’s face lit up with joy upon seeing Yang An, as if he had seen his savior.

’There was just one thing the fellow did wrong,’ Yang An thought. ’When I left, I told him to call for me if he encountered any danger, but he hadn’t.’

Yang An couldn’t be bothered to hold it against him. His gaze swept nonchalantly over the Protectors before landing on Guang’an.

"Kill them all."

"Huh? Me?"

A stunned look immediately appeared on Guang’an’s face.

He had thought that with His Highness the Buddha Prince here, these men wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him. He never expected the Buddha’s Son to order *him* to kill them.

’How am I supposed to kill them?’

’How could someone at my level kill five Visceral Stone cultivators? I might not be able to kill them even if I fought for a whole day.’

"Useless. Now you finally see how weak you are, don’t you?"

Yang An said, his face filled with disappointment. Guang’an gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, but he had no way to retort.

Yang An no longer looked at him, turning his gaze to the Protectors instead.

"His Highness the Buddha Prince, according to the Three Prohibitions, you can’t make the first move against us. We overstepped today, we’ll leave right now."

The men were flustered. The Buddha’s Son’s Cultivation Level was unfathomable; he was certainly not someone they dared to have any ideas about.