Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 673: Chapter 672 [I Only Believe in Myself, Not in Heaven and Earth]

[PS: The second update of the day is here. I’d like to express my gratitude for all the monthly tickets from readers and the rewards from friends, your enthusiasm and generosity are overwhelming. Thank you, everyone!]

Two distinct sounds clashed together as Ye Tianchen battled the old monk. Even after using the ”Thunder Sky Fist” and the ”Golden Divine Shield,” his superpower killing skills did not so much as make the old monk’s feet shiftpositions, which greatly startled Ye Tianchen. Despite his surprise, he did not become discouraged. Quite the contrary, his spirits were lifted, for his journey to the Ancient Martial World had not been in vain. The impact of Shaolin Temple on him was immense, and it made his resolution to meet Master Fang Zheng all the more firm.

With a loud shout, Ye Tianchen deployed the ancient martial absolute skill he had learned - the ”Eight Diagrams Seal.” A true divine art handed down from ancient times, which Ye Tianchen had acquired by chance and utilized many times in battle, defeating many powerful foes. He hoped that with such an inheritance of divine arts, he could at least force the old monk back a couple of steps, even if he could not defeat him. If successful, according to the agreement between them, it would mean his victory, and he would be able to enter the Buddhist Hall with Dongfang Meng.

Who could have known that just as Ye Tianchen summoned a formidable power and let out a ”Taoist” shout, the old monk’s face showed some shock but he too bellowed loudly. When the two powerful voices collided, there was no earth-shattering explosion, only a burst of intense white light, dazzling Dongfang Meng and the other two young monks to the point they couldn’t open their eyes.

When everything had settled down, Dongfang Meng and the two young monks were astonished to see before them both Ye Tianchen and the old monk standing at their original positions, unharmed. However, the ground where they stood was riddled with holes, and the centuries-old, incredibly solid rocks had all been pulverized.

”Amazing, so amazing...”

”This guy is actually that powerful... What was that sound just now that could withstand the elder’s Buddhist Lion Roar Skill?”

Dongfang Meng was also shocked and hurried over to Ye Tianchen, ”Are you alright?” she asked anxiously.

”I’m fine, thanks to the master for showing mercy!” Ye Tianchen replied earnestly to the old monk.

”The young benefactor has profound cultivation and exceptional talent, with great fortune to have acquired the inheritance of the Eight Diagrams Seal, truly remarkable!” the old monk said, giving a respectful bow to Ye Tianchen.

Ye Tianchen smiled slightly and nodded, then turned to Dongfang Meng and said, ”Let’s go down the mountain. I’ve lost.”

Dongfang Meng glanced at the Buddhist Hall. Although there was a hint of reluctance and unwillingness in her eyes, after all the effort of reaching this place and climbing the stairs for several hours with sincerity to seek Master Fang Zheng, she did not expect such an outcome. The profound depth of the Shaolin Temple was truly staggering, with the two young monks not only being deeply cultivated and powerful in battle, but the old monk was inscrutably profound, embodying multiple absolute skills of Shaolin, giving one the sense of being unbeatable.

”Alright!” Dongfang Meng gave Ye Tianchen a smile and nodded her head in response. She knew that he had also tried his best.

The two young monks looked coldly at Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng, their gaze filled with a hint of disdain, probably because they felt the old monk had won. Whereas the old monk himself looked at Ye Tianchen with a strange expression, his thoughts unreadable.

”Let them in, Wuzhi, you’ve lost!” Just as Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng were turning to leave, suddenly a voice of an elder resounded from within the Buddhist Hall. The voice was not very loud, yet it echoed throughout Shaolin Temple, carrying a deep power that shook one’s soul.

Hearing this, the old monk named Wuzhi glanced at his feet only to see that his left heel had sunk an inch into the ground, indicating a slight retreat from his original position. He nodded in acknowledgment, having not noticed his own defeat, and then approached Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng, saying, ”Please, benefactors, come inside!”

”Thank you, master!” Ye Tianchen replied, returning the gesture.

Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng entered the Buddhist Hall, one after the other. Upon entering, they did not see Master Fang Zheng, and when they turned around, the two young monks had already disappeared, leaving only the monk named Wuzhi following behind them.

”Senior, do you know where Master Fang Zheng is?” Dongfang Meng entered the Buddhist Hall but did not see Master Fang Zheng, and thus couldn’t help but ask.

”Brother Fang Zheng usually does not meet with outsiders. He is devoted to Buddha, and this time, our Shaolin Temple has even suffered an attack from an evil man. Master Fang Zheng does not wish to cause any strife; that’s why we are not seeing any visitors!” Master Wuzhi spoke.

”I see... then what should we...” Dongfang Meng still wanted to ask something, but she was interrupted by Ye Tianchen. Ye Tianchen walked up to Master Wuzhi with a smile and said, ”Sorry to disturb you, Master. We will look around ourselves, hoping we might see Master Fang Zheng!”

”You seem to have a root of wisdom, so please, feel free to do as you wish!” After saying this, Master Wuzhi left.

In the entire Buddhist Hall, only Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng remained. Ye Tianchen observed everything around him but did not release his Superpower Perception. Here, he realized that his own strength was indeed somewhat weak. Initially, he thought about using force, but gradually comprehended that to do so in Shaolin Temple was tantamount to seeking death. As for Dongfang Meng, after looking around and finding nothing peculiar, she walked to the front of a cushion before the grand Buddha statue, knelt down, put her hands together, and begun to pray earnestly as if making a wish.

”Tianchen, come here and pay homage too!” After kowtowing three times, Dongfang Meng looked up at Ye Tianchen and said.

”Hehe, I don’t believe in these things. I only believe in myself,” Ye Tianchen said with a smile.

”You... Do you have a death wish, saying such things in the Buddhist Sacred Land?”

Dongfang Meng felt an urge to silence Ye Tianchen’s mouth. This guy had actually spoken those words in the Buddhist Sacred Land; wasn’t he trying to provoke public outrage? Dongfang Meng didn’t even know what to say to him. Frightened, she quickly looked around, for if any monk heard them, the two of them wouldn’t just be asked to leave Shaolin Temple; they would be thrown out.

”What I said is the truth. I definitely have respect for the Buddhist Sect, and I am very polite to Taoism. However, I have my own beliefs. You are a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect, a person from the Ancient Martial World; how can you believe in these illusory things, just like the ordinary people in the Mortal World?” Ye Tianchen asked, not understanding.

”You... Can the Shaolin Temple of the Ancient Martial World be compared to the one in the Mortal World? I am telling you the truth. There may be Shaolin Temples, Wudang Sects, and Huashan Sects in the Mortal World, but they are all deceptive. What power do those monks and Taoists possess? Their tricks might fool the general populace, but these Sects hidden within the Ancient Martial World are almost all powerful and profound. The Buddhist Sect, in particular, is unfathomable. You’d better not speak nonsense with me!” Dongfang Meng glared fiercely at Ye Tianchen and said.

Ye Tianchen smiled faintly. He had already considered that, just like in the Mortal World, the Ancient Martial World has its Sects, but the difference between them was like heaven and earth. The Sects of the Ancient Martial World were in a completely different league, not of the same world. If you were to compare the Mortal World’s Sects with those of the Ancient Martial World, it would be a grave mistake. Even thinking of them as comparable was wrong. After entering the Ancient Martial World of Song Mountain, Ye Tianchen felt the extraordinariness of this realm, concealed by large formations, inaccessible to the common people. Earth was no longer suitable for cultivation, but in this sealed and hidden Ancient Martial World, there were faint traces of Spiritual Energy available for cultivation, which was incredibly wondrous.

In many corners of Earth, the Ancient Martial World existed without ordinary people’s knowledge. It’s not that only Song Mountain had a sealed Ancient Martial World; such hidden realms also existed in Wudang, Mount Hua, and other places, only differing in scale.

According to Ye Tianchen’s conjecture, the formation of this Ancient Martial World must have been the work of Earth’s supreme beings, who, upon their departure, used their Great Divine Power to cast strong Formations that have lasted through the ages, sealing and concealing a piece of the world and leaving behind inheritances that persisted to this day.

”I, Ye Tianchen, always believe in myself, and not in heaven or earth. I can respect other beliefs, but I will not worship them!” Ye Tianchen still said with an easy smile.

”You...” Dongfang Meng was so frustrated she didn’t know what else to say. It was as if all her explanations had been in vain.

”Well said, believing only in oneself and not in heaven or earth. Come in, both of you!” At that moment, the sound of the elder resonated, and a cave-like entrance appeared next to the great Buddha statue.

Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng entered one after the other. Upon entering, they found themselves in a willow forest with willow leaves littered all over the ground. In the very center of the willow grove stood an immense willow tree, and beneath the tree, a monk dressed in a white robe sat cross-legged with his hands joined in prayer, his snow-white eyebrows extremely long, stretching over a meter, his eyes closed, emanating a sense of solemnity and sanctity, prompting Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng to approach cautiously and with awe. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to cast your vote of recommendation, monthly tickets at QiDian [qidian.com]. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)