Chapter 391: Three Punches

"Brother Lu Ye! Brother Lu Ye!"

The calls came again and again.

Lu Ye glanced at him but did not stop walking.

"Brother Lu Ye, our Mingfo Temple admit we wronged you, but it was the former abbot, Fa Hui, who made the call. Now, we have already seized Fa Hui and await your verdict, Brother Lu Ye!"

"Brother Lu Ye, our Mingfo Temple is willing to make amends with everything we have—name your price, and we’ll pay it!"

"Brother Lu Ye, Brother Lu Ye, please stop! I can represent the entire Mingfo Temple. Just call off the fight, our temple is willing to agree to anything!"

Lu Ye ignored him.

He kept marching toward Mingfo Temple.

Inside the temple, all the monks were sweating bullets, on edge.

This was a do or die moment.

Fa Hui had already been brought out.

By now, Fa Hui had made peace with his fate. Hands clasped together, he remained silent.

One mistake led to another.

There was no turning back for him.

Only death awaited him.

"Abbot, he won’t even look at us—what should we do?"

The monks were on the verge of panic, some with foreheads slick with sweat.

After eighty years of awaiting judgment, the moment had finally arrived—how could they not be anxious?

Fa Ming’s expression was deadly serious.

"Amitabha! Stay calm!"

"Abbot, should we attempt to contact the Upper World again?"

"Stay calm!"

"Abbot, he’s alone—let’s take him out first! It seems he has no intention of sparing us!"

"Shut it!"

Fa Ming roared.

"Stand down! We wait. We have already shown our utmost sincerity. If he insists on killing us, then we die. But so long as there remains the slightest hope of survival, we must not act!"

"Wait! All of you, wait! Follow my orders!"

Fa Ming was under immense pressure—he did not want to die!

He only wished to live!

What did he do wrong?

This was entirely Fa Hui's doing. He had always opposed taking action against Lu Ye, since Lu Ye had already been exposed as a Celestial Lord.

If Lu Ye had been an Emperor, maybe acting against him would’ve been acceptable.

But he was a Celestial Lord!

An Emperor was already a legend across the ages, while a Celestial Lord was something even an Emperor could only dream of but never attain. Was this someone they could mess with?

Yet, they had provoked him—and badly at that!

Lu Ye had risen from the First Heaven, one layer at a time. Other factions had only chased him without causing real harm, yet Lu Ye had annihilated them all.

Now, Mingfo Temple was the first to target and kill someone close to Lu Ye.

Given that, would Lu Ye really let them off?

Unlikely.

Very unlikely.

But even the smallest chance was enough for him to cling to.

Lu Ye's colossal figure appeared.

His divine form radiated crushing pressure, making the Mingfo Temple monks hold their breath.

"Amitabha, Venerable Lu Ye!"

Fa Ming loudly chanted the Buddha's name.

Lu Ye stopped, his massive form so huge he had to look down to see Mingfo Temple atop the eighty-one giant stars.

"Talk."

Lu Ye's response was terse.

"This is my senior brother, the former abbot of Mingfo Temple, Fa Hui. You must recall him—he was the one who pushed for attacking you. The victim at the Heavenly Gate was also killed by him. I now hand him over to you for judgment. Is this enough?"

Lu Ye stared at Fa Hui.

Yes, this was the one who used the mind technique.

But...

"No."

Fa Ming took a deep breath.

"These are all the treasures Mingfo Temple has gathered over seventeen thousand years—worth a fortune. They may not match the Endless Secret Treasure, but they’re worth at least a billion spirit stones. We give them all to you, asking only that our monks be spared. Is this enough?"

"No."

Fa Ming...

He fell silent for several seconds.

"These are treasures from the Sixth Heaven, all top-tier, worth at least a hundred thousand origin stones. The Sixth Heaven’s Bodhisattvas have also offered their sincerest apologies. Is this enough?"

Fa Ming was very nervous.

This was already our final offer.

If Lu Ye still said no, what else could they do?

Just wait to die?

Or fight desperately?

Lu Ye remained expressionless as he uttered two words once more.

"No."

At once, the monks' faces in Mingfo Temple turned deathly pale.

Still not good enough?

Is he really trying to wipe us out?

Fa Ming took a deep breath, steadying his slightly trembling body.

"What will it take? As long as you specify, Mingfo Temple will do whatever it takes to meet your demands!"

Lu Ye pondered for a moment before arriving at an answer.

"All your treasures."

Without hesitation, Fa Ming hurriedly flung the treasures his way.

Lu Ye caught the two strings of prayer beads; these were their storage treasures.

"Bring out Fa Hui!"

The bound Fa Hui was sent flying toward Lu Ye.

Lu Ye didn't hesitate—a sword gleam flashed, and the stone sword returned stained with blood.

The Human Emperor Banner claimed the soul.

Lu Ye's rage eased slightly.

He gazed at Mingfo Temple.

"I'll give you one chance to live."

Hearing this, the monks of Mingfo Temple rejoiced.

"Three punches!"

"You get fifteen minutes. During this time, you may prepare any defenses or call for help, but you can't leave the temple grounds. If you can withstand three punches from me, I will spare you!"

Lu Ye's voice remained calm.

These terms were generous.

Mingfo Temple could even use defensive arrays—all they had to do was survive three punches from Lu Ye.

This is our chance!

Lu Ye is actually holding back, perfect!

"Very well, we're deeply grateful, benefactor. The kindness shown by benefactor today will be eternally remembered by Mingfo Temple."

Lu Ye smiled faintly.

This wasn't about kindness at all.

It was purely because he wanted to test what he'd achieved in seclusion and gauge his current attack strength.

Next, the entire Mingfo Temple burst into frenzied activity.

Grand formations activated layer after layer.

All of them were defensive formations.

Below, eighty-one worlds emitted immense golden light, converging toward Mingfo Temple—that was the power of faith.

Fifteen minutes flew by.

Mingfo Temple had disappeared completely from sight, replaced only by a golden sphere of light, so thick that the temple within was completely obscured.

Lu Ye raised his fist!

Celestial Silkworm Nine Transformations—activated!

At this moment, countless stars dimmed noticeably.

An ocean of true essence surged forth, harnessing the power of heaven and earth as deep as the seas and abyss, along with the might of the stars.

A storm erupted across the starry expanse.

First strike!

"Boom!"

A colossal fist smashed fiercely into the golden sphere of light, obliterating eighty-one worlds below.

Yet the golden sphere only trembled violently, remaining unbroken.

The people of Mingfo Temple let out a collective sigh of relief.

Then, Lu Ye's arms suddenly thickened, and a terrifying aura swirled around his fists.

The second punch came crashing down with devastating force.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar reverberated across countless star domains.

The golden sphere flickered violently.

Immediately after, the third punch.

With a thunderous roar, Lu Ye shouted:

"Celestial Lord Fist!"