"Protector Celestial Venerable? Bei Chen, what is a Protector Celestial Venerable?" Liu Yilin asked, full of curiosity.
She didn't worry that Ning Bei Chen wouldn't be able to defeat these so-called Protector Celestial Venerables, unless they were all Mortals.
"It's just a name. In other words, they are monks who specialize in doing bad, dirty deeds for Buddhism. On the surface, they are monks, but in reality, they are rakshasas," Ning Bei Chen explained.
"Nonsense! Since you refuse to return with us, we will have to take action."
These Protector Celestial Venerables felt insulted by Ning Bei Chen's scolding and lost their previous amiability. They glared at Ning Bei Chen with murderous intent, adopting a moralistic stance as if to slay demons.
"Idiot, knowing I'm at the Heaven-Man Unity realm, you send these trash to deal with me. What, does Guang Wen Temple look down on me that much?" Ning Bei Chen said with disdain, glancing at them.
"Who knows? Maybe their heads are messed up," Liu Yilin shrugged.
"Demon Subduing Array!"
The Protector Celestial Venerables, each holding a long staff, surrounded Ning Bei Chen, completely ignoring Liu Yilin.
Liu Yilin felt a bit helpless and whispered, "Do you all look down on me, a mere woman, so much? I am a Grandmaster, after all!"
As these Protector Celestial Venerables were attacking Ning Bei Chen, Liu Yilin suddenly appeared behind one of the monks and sent him flying with a palm strike.
Although Liu Yilin had only been cultivating for about two years at most, Ning Bei Chen had not been stingy with his guidance and training for her during this time.
She might not be invincible in the world, but there weren't many people who could defeat her. All Liu Yilin lacked was combat experience.
Seeing Liu Yilin make a move, Ning Bei Chen didn't stop her, only guarded against other monks attacking her.
Since Liu Yilin had decided to walk this path, there would be no shortage of fights in the future.
Rather than letting her suffer losses later, it was better for her to gain more combat experience now.
Although Ning Bei Chen and Liu Yilin sparred regularly, Liu Yilin had never experienced the fear of a life-or-death situation. Therefore, Ning Bei Chen planned to use these monks to train her.
These Protector Celestial Venerables had no idea that this delicate and heavenly beautiful woman before them was actually a Grandmaster and was advancing towards becoming a powerhouse under Ning Bei Chen's tutelage.
The Protector Celestial Venerables, who initially intended to surround Ning Bei Chen, were now being dealt with by a young girl, much to their shock. They were forced to fight Liu Yilin.
However, with Ning Bei Chen present, they had no chance to surround Liu Yilin. If they tried, Ning Bei Chen would intervene, separating them and driving the Protector Celestial Venerables to madness.
Nevertheless, these monks, as Protector Celestial Venerables, were not weak. While not Grandmasters, they possessed strength close to that of a Grandmaster. Coupled with their encirclement formation, they could easily handle even a Grandmaster.
But unfortunately, they had underestimated Ning Bei Chen and Liu Yilin.
One was invincible in the mortal world, and the other was a Grandmaster protected by the invincible, a heavenly gifted woman who had become a Grandmaster in just two years.
In the beginning, Liu Yilin's fighting style was still clumsy. She struggled to deal with a single Protector Celestial Venerable and was hit several times, causing her to wince in pain.
However, as time passed.
Gradually, Liu Yilin's combat experience grew stronger.
After all, she was an extremely intelligent woman, not bound by convention. She often drew inferences from one instance to another, even gaining deeper insights, and began to overpower the Protector Celestial Venerables.
"Subdue—Demon!"
Unable to achieve a swift victory, the Protector Celestial Venerable roared. A tattoo on his arm suddenly erupted with a burst of green light, which enveloped his arm.
At this moment.
The Protector Celestial Venerable's arm blazed with brilliant light, and a massive Buddha statue appeared out of thin air. The statue sat cross-legged in the void, with three heads and six arms. As the Buddha's eyes opened, it glared furiously at Ning Bei Chen.
"Yilin, get back!"
Seeing the wrathful Vajra, Ning Bei Chen's pupils constricted. He shouted, and with a flash of his figure, he landed beside Liu Yilin and pulled her behind him.
At this moment.
"My Buddha is merciful!"
The wrathful Vajra struck Ning Bei Chen head-on with one palm.
With another hand, it formed a Vajra mudra, and a golden "卍" symbol descended upon Ning Bei Chen from above.
And with its third hand, it transformed into a fist and lunged towards Ning Bei Chen.
With these three simultaneous attacks, if Ning Bei Chen hadn't intervened, Liu Yilin would surely have perished.
Ning Bei Chen, angered by the Protector Celestial Venerable's ruthlessness, stopped holding back. With a wave of his arm, his fist, as if shattering space-time, struck the wrathful Vajra.
With a resounding boom!
Like thunder from a clear sky.
Under Ning Bei Chen's attack, the wrathful Vajra melted away like spring snow, unable to withstand Ning Bei Chen's power.
However, this was not the end, but the beginning. After his fist shattered the Buddha statue, it struck the Protector Celestial Venerable.
The Protector Celestial Venerable had no chance to even scream before his body exploded into a bloody mess.
The other Protector Celestial Venerables, seeing this, were nearly scared out of their wits. They quickly released the tattoos on their arms, awakening the Vajras sealed within.
But Ning Bei Chen gave them no opportunity. Before they could unleash the Vajras, a flash of sword light appeared, and all these Protector Celestial Venerables fell, irrevocably dead.
"Yilin, let's go."
Without another word, Ning Bei Chen grabbed Liu Yilin's hand and quickly left the scene.
The deaths of so many monks would cause trouble if discovered. Fortunately, the monks had been considerate when they arrived and chose a secluded location for the confrontation.
Although the monks had initiated the conflict, such matters were difficult to explain, and explaining would only attract more trouble.
After moving far away from the monks, Liu Yilin angrily said, "These monks are truly unreasonable."
"There's no need to be angry. Whether they are monks or Taoists, these outsiders are the most heartless. If you encounter them again, never believe their nonsensical words," Ning Bei Chen consoled Liu Yilin.
Liu Yilin nodded, deeply disappointed in monks and Taoists by this incident.
Previously, in television dramas, movies, or novels, monks and Taoists were always portrayed as righteous, but reality had been a stark disappointment.
"These enlightened beings have long abandoned worldly emotions. They forsake their own family, love, and friendship. Monks, in particular, have shed all desires, spending their days chanting scriptures on the mountain. Do you think they would be kind people?" Ning Bei Chen said disdainfully.