Chapter 492

Chapter 492: Inquiry

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly grew heavy with tension.

The observant maidservant discreetly left the room to avoid overhearing anything she shouldn’t.

Kou Shihai waved his hand, casting a magical barrier around them to ensure their conversation remained private.

After all, even within the Seven Star Pavilion, one could never be too careful—walls have ears, as the saying goes.

Once the barrier was in place, the Grand Commander fixed his gaze on Wang Chen and asked in a deep voice, “Wang Shidi, have you been practicing the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method from Tianlong Temple in the Western Region?”

Kou Shihai had been among the few who witnessed Wang Chen’s fight to the death with Tuqi, which had been “live-streamed” for all to see.

He was one of the rare individuals who could discern the underlying issue.

“Yes,” Wang Chen replied calmly. “I began practicing this technique before joining the sect.”

Kou Shihai took a deep breath and pressed further, “To what level have you cultivated it?”

Inquiring about another’s technique was a serious breach of etiquette, but Kou Shihai’s intentions were far from malicious.

In fact, the Grand Commander sought to help Wang Chen.

“The sixth level,” Wang Chen answered.

“Invulnerable Vajra!”

Kou Shihai’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You’ve actually reached such an advanced stage!”

His shock was not without reason.

As the Grand Commander of the Sand Guard, Kou Shihai stood on the front lines against the Western Buddhist Sect.

The Sand Tribe was merely a pawn of the Western Buddhist Sect, and Kou Shihai had extensive knowledge of Buddhist techniques, having clashed with their disciples in the past.

He knew all too well how arduous it was to cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method to the sixth level.

And yet, Wang Chen was a true disciple of the Daoist sect!

“It was a fated chance,” Wang Chen explained. “Before joining the sect, I consumed an unknown Tongtong fruit, which greatly accelerated my cultivation of this technique, leading to my current level.”

In truth, Wang Chen had deliberately showcased the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Palm during his fight to the death with the Sand Tribe Sorcerer, ultimately delivering a fatal blow with a single palm strike. His aim was to reveal his mastery of the technique on his own terms.

He knew that with his Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method cultivated to such a high level, exposure was inevitable unless he abandoned his cultivation entirely.

It was far better to take control of the situation than to risk being exposed by others.

After all, Wang Chen was currently responsible for the rotation at the Sand Guard. If someone with ill intentions discovered his deep cultivation of Buddhist techniques and reported it to the sect, the consequences would be dire.

As a disciple of the West Sea Sect, Wang Chen was, strictly speaking, an outsider who had brought his skills to the sect. Loose cultivators like him could never measure up to the established disciples with solid backgrounds.

This invisible discrimination was a reality in every sect.

Without a prestigious identity or lineage, and lacking direct ties to the sect’s core, Wang Chen faced immense challenges in advancing to become a Meridian Disciple or even a core disciple.

His cultivation of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method would undoubtedly become a target for criticism.

Now, revealing it proactively makes a difference.

Wang Chen had killed a powerful Sand Tribe Sorcerer, and if his technique faced suppression or even persecution from the sect’s higher-ups, it would surely dishearten the lower-level cultivators.

The West Sea Sect is the leading immortal sect in the Mountain-Sea Realm and should have a broad mind that can embrace all.

Therefore, even if Kou Shihai did not ask, Wang Chen needed to bring up this topic.

With the Grand Commander now inquiring, it was exactly what Wang Chen wanted!

Of course, the secret of the Cultivation Panel must not be revealed at all; he had already thought of a strong reason.

Fated chance!

Kou Shihai was indeed speechless.

Fated chance has no basis in reason.

Some cultivators struggle their whole lives with incredible effort and diligence yet cannot break through to open a house.

Others, however, attain a fated chance and ascend to the Golden Core overnight.

Some fall off cliffs with no place to be buried, while others land in senior’s caves and gain abundant benefits.

As Wang Chen mentioned, unexpectedly consuming a Tongtong fruit enabled him to cultivate this technique much more easily than others.

This was not unreasonable at all.

There are too many precedents!

“No wonder…”

Kou Shihai finally understood why Wang Chen, at such a young age, had such a high cultivation level.

He had received a great opportunity!

“Then I will ask one more question.”

After a moment of thought, Kou Shihai asked again, “Where did your technique come from?”

“I purchased the first third level at the Four Seas Trading Association.”

Wang Chen answered honestly, “The middle third level was gifted to me by an old monk named Formless.”

He concealed what needed to be concealed and spoke the truth about what did not.

Reality and falsehood are part of the path.

“Lanta Temple’s Formless monk!”

Kou Shihai’s eyes suddenly widened: “You actually know him!”

Wang Chen was taken aback: “Shixiong, you know him?”

Back then, when Wang Chen met Formless at the graveyard, the old monk left a very deep impression on him.

However, at that time, Wang Chen’s cultivation level was not high enough to see the other’s actual strength.

He only felt it was profound and unfathomable.

He did not expect Kou Shihai to know the monk’s Dharma name.

“Hmm.”

Kou Shihai nodded, smiling wryly: “He is truly a great monk.”

The Buddhist sect is considered an avenue of heresy in the Mountain-Sea Realm and is not respected by the mainstream immortal sects, with most of its influence concentrated in the Western Region.

Disciples of the Dao Sect have always looked down on the bald monks of the Buddhist sect, which is part of the discrimination chain in cultivation.

But within the Buddhist sect, there are also many admirable figures.

The Formless monk is one of them.

Lanta Temple is separate from the Western Buddhist Sect, and no one knows where the temple is, not even those within the Buddhist sect.

Every hundred years, a monk from Lanta Temple appears, traveling the world to subdue demons and eliminate evil.

He seeks neither fame nor profit, avoids entanglements, and does not meddle in worldly affairs, representing purity and righteousness in all his actions.

Such Buddhist disciples truly deserve the title of “great monk.”

Although Kou Shihai had never met the Formless monk, he had heard stories about him and was quite impressed.

“Then there is no problem.”

Kou Shihai felt completely at ease and said to Wang Chen: “Since your technique comes from the Formless monk, there is absolutely no issue. You need not worry about others’ inquiries.”

Wang Chen was moved: “The sect will send someone, right?”

“Exactly.”

Kou Shihai explained: “Your status is different now, and the sect will definitely investigate this matter. But being upright means that one need not fear shadows. You walk the righteous path, so naturally, you will face no disaster.”

“I will testify for you!”

Wang Chen bowed and said, “Thank you, Shixiong.”

“You don’t need to be so polite.”

Kou Shihai said: “I am also doing this to be cautious. You know, there are always some people who are not capable, but they cannot stand to see others succeed and like to resort to underhanded methods.”

“I believe in Shidi’s character!”

Wang Chen felt that encountering Kou Shihai was indeed a stroke of luck for him.

Kou Shihai finally said: “There’s no time to lose. I must report to the sect immediately.”

“Shidi, rest assured and wait for your reward!”