Chapter 204 - I Am Quite Experienced In Creating Cultivation Methods (1/2)

“Acolytes refer to Shaolin monks who are under twenty. Shouldn’t the young ones of Tantra be called junior lamas?”

But even as Cheng Dongfeng turned to find an unfriendly look on Jiang He’s face, he promptly changed his tune, “Of course, I’ve always thought that since both Shaolin and Tantra are Buddhist temples, lamas or acolytes or whatnot are all the same. Why bother with the distinctions?”

He lowered his voice then, saying, “Jiang He, the Tantra Sect is one of the five Holy Grounds and holds great depth and boasts many elites. Let’s be subtler.”

“That’s right.”

Fearful that Jiang He would start trouble here, Chen Jingzhou quickly added, “How precious are the Secret Realms? It’s said that disciples had to meet strict requirements even if they want to enter, and the Tantra Sect is already upset with Minister Wang’s demand of six entrants, so it’s understandable that they are acting arrogant.”

Even so, Jiang He ignored both Cheng Dongfeng and Chen Jingzhou’s words, putting a step forward as he looked up quietly at the mists above.

His spirit had already reached divine-tier two days ago, and since then, he had munched on several catties worth of purple-golden sunflower seeds—a treasure that improved spirit.

And that was not counting up to five bottles of rank-nine Origin Fluid that improved spirit as well.

Basically, Jiang He’s spirit was slowly growing with every second and minute.

As such, Jiang He could see through the mist even if the others couldn’t, to view the many grand buildings on the peak, his spirit slowly extending….

***

At the same time, within a majestic temple on top of the peak.

The bone-dry lama who was sitting cross-legged in meditation abruptly opened his eyes the moment Jiang He’s spirit extended. His murky eyes seemed able to see through everything, and despite the many obstructions, he glanced at Jiang He’ direction from the distance.

The old lama laughed and said, “Corban, Minister Wang’s people are here. Go down the mountain to lead them up.”

Outside, a burly lama holding an iron staff bowed reverently at the temple before turning to head down the mountain.

At the gates of the Diamond realm of Tantra, a monk stopped him, saying, “Elder Sangha’s orders—no disciples are to leave the mountain.”

Corban maintained a serene face and replied, “I am the Iron Staff Lama. The elder monk cannot lift a finger against me. Moreover, I am going down the mountain under orders! Make way!”

Sangha was a title and scholarly position at Tantra, usually charged with instructing disciples in sutra studies and martial arts practice… Of course, Sangha Lama had high-ranks, which was while most sutra studies and martial arts practice were carried out by the senior monks in the temple.

On the other hand, an Iron Staff Lama like Corban was not ranked lower than the Sangha Lama, in charge of maintaining the discipline within the temple. They were also known as prefect and disciplinarian, and because they would often carry a disciplinary iron staff around with him, they were often addressed as the Iron Staff Lama.

Unlike the Shaolin Temple, the Tantra Sect’s were not fixed. It would always change with knowledge and the martial world, just as seniority in the Tantra Sect follows the policy of monk officers) used in older times.

For example, the head of the Tantra Sect was called head monk.

The elders directly beneath him were also known as the sangha.

The Iron Staff Lama were the sojo, or equivalent to bishops.

“Living Buddha!”

The monk who had been obstructing Iron Staff Lama promptly made way.

Watching as Corban went down the moment, the monk promptly informed the higher-ups about Corban’s stepping out of the mountain… and soon, many of the Tantra Sect’s hierarchs were astonished.

One of them turned towards the sealed but majestic temple in confusion.

“Even the best amongst the six people under the mountain is rank-nine advanced. Why would Corban, our temple’s sojo and a divine-tempest elite need to personally receive him?”

One of the monks sought out the head monk then.

The head monk of the Tantra Sect was an equivalent to Shaolin Temple’s abbot, although he was the highest-ranked monk bar the Living Buddha. He had a beard, and all his hair was white—he had a monk’s tunic, red lama robes, and a cockscomb hat, smiling, “The Living Buddha naturally has his intention since he had spoken. The new age has come, ushering in a great future, and those chosen by Wang Hou would certainly be extraordinary.”

The head monk hence strode out of the temple, looking out into the distance with a smile, “The Old Martial Era is long gone, and the New Martial Era is the future. After the five Holy Grounds accomplished our duty, we would certainly assimilate into the new era.”

“Come!”

“Follow me to receive these new martial artists.”

How great an honor for the guests was it to have the head monk personally receive them?

After all, not even the head monk received Wang Hou when he climbed the mountain—of course, Wang Hou was already fighting even before he went up the mountain, after which he headed straight into the great temple where the Living Buddha secluded himself.

***

At the foot of the mountain.

Chen Jingzhou, Cheng Dongfeng, and the others were trying to persuade Jiang He to go up the mountain.

Nonetheless, Jiang He’s gaze twitched then and he smiled. “Someone’s coming.”

And in the instant that he spoke those words, the mist halfway up the mountain parted abruptly, with Corban coming down the steps in his iron staff, monk tunic, and red lama robes.

He smiled as he arrived before Jiang He and the others, saying, “I’m Corban, an Iron Staff Lama of Tantra Sect have come under the Living Buddha’s orders, to receive and escort your company up the mountain.”

Chen Jingzhou, Cheng Dongfeng, and the others promptly responded with fist-palm salutes.

They had done their homework before coming, and knew who the Iron Staff Lama of the Tantra Sect was. Moreover, the overflowing aura extending from Corban’s body showed that he was not much weaker than Three Blades Lin.

In fact, they could not help doubting inwardly even as they offered their salutes…

Was their group that impressive?

The Living Buddha of the Tantra Sect actually spoke out, even sending a high-ranked and powerful Iron Staff Lama to receive them…

“Corban?”