On Duty at the Scripture Repository! Unexpected Guests!

Su Haoran's heart surged with ambition, but he also knew it wasn't the time to get complacent.

He composed himself, deeply suppressing the exhilaration brought by his perfected movement technique, and his figure flickered as he silently returned to his wood shed.

After a night of quiet cultivation, the next day, he continued his duty at the Scripture Repository.

Life seemed to return to its previous state of tranquil indifference.

During the day, Su Haoran stood like a stone statue outside the repository; at night, he poured all his energy into cultivation in his small courtyard.

With the Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art perfected, he shifted his focus back to the Iron Cloth Shirt and Arhat Fist.

Especially the Iron Cloth Shirt, this hard body technique had reached 45% completion, drawing closer to the next bottleneck.

He could feel a layer of tough keratin slowly forming beneath his skin, and the density of his muscles and bones was also subtly increasing daily under the nourishment of the Meditation Scripture.

This feeling of clearly growing stronger every day made him incredibly immersed.

The night was as dark as ink, with the moon hidden and stars sparse.

In the open space in front of the Scripture Repository, Su Haoran stood with his eyes closed, his posture as stable as a mountain. With each breath, his Blood Essence surged, and a faint bronze sheen appeared on his skin.

He was circulating the mental incantations of the Iron Cloth Shirt through his internal breathing technique, while simultaneously dedicating a wisp of his consciousness to maintaining the clear and empty state of the Meditation Scripture, making his perception of the surroundings unprecedentedly sharp.

Just then!

"Hoo—!"

A sharp whistling sound tore through the air from above without any warning!

Su Haoran looked up abruptly, his pupils constricting.

He saw a figure as dark as a ghost, descending from the very top of the nine-story Scripture Repository, climbing down like a gecko, using both hands and feet at incredible speed!

The person's movements were extremely swift, and each time they used the eaves and brackets for leverage, it was utterly silent. If Su Haoran hadn't been in a state of mental clarity and possessed keen perception, he would have barely noticed!

Someone had broken into the Scripture Repository at night! And they had infiltrated from the rooftop!

Su Haoran's heart trembled violently, and just as he was about to sound the alarm, a thunderous roar exploded from deep within the Scripture Repository!

"Halt, thief!!"

The roar was like a great bell, containing a strange power that shook the mind, like an invisible hammer striking the soul!

It was the Lion's Roar Skill!

The black-clad figure, who was rapidly descending, suddenly stiffened as if the roar had caused his Blood Essence to churn, momentarily slowing his speed.

And in front of the black-clad figure, a Martial Monk specializing in Skin Tempering, who was on duty with Su Haoran, happened to be blocking the intruder's escape route.

Seeing this, the Skin Tempering Martial Monk also let out an angry shout, lowered his stance, twisted his waist, and threw a punch!

But the black-clad figure didn't even look. He casually extended a palm and lightly pressed it against the monk's fist!

Puff—

This collision, devoid of any visible force, seemed to transmit a great power from the black-clad figure's palm. The monk, as if hit by a charging bull, instantly turned pale!

His rooted stance could no longer hold.

Stomp, stomp, stomp—

He staggered back three steps, blood trickling from his mouth, clearly having sustained a serious injury!

The black-clad figure, however, appeared unharmed. His momentum did not falter, and he soared into the air like a great crane, using the momentum to glide away!

"Prajna Temple, is this all you've got? You brat, come back after a few more years of training!"

Loud laughter erupted from the black-clad figure. This person clearly intended to establish his dominance, making no mention of being pursued, His tone was filled with disdain!

The elder monk who had unleashed the Lion's Roar Skill was clearly angered by this. He took a deep breath, his face flushing, and unleashed the Lion's Roar Skill again!

Roar—

A long cry echoed, causing the leaves on the ancient temple's trees to rustle and even the rocks to tremble.

The black-clad figure clearly hadn't expected this move, but his movement technique was exceptionally refined. After a slight pause, he quickly widened the distance from the Lion's Roar elder and charged towards Su Haoran's direction!

In his eyes, Su Haoran was no different from the monk he had just repelled with a palm strike!

Now!

Seeing the figure approaching, Su Haoran didn't have time to think. He stomped his foot, and his perfected Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art movement technique instantly activated!

His figure turned into a faint wisp of green smoke, hugging the ground, and he dashed towards the spot where the black-clad figure was about to land.

The black-clad figure was clearly startled, seemingly surprised that someone could match his speed at such a moment.

He glanced at Su Haoran from the corner of his eye through his black mask, saw his ordinary monk's robe, and a deep disdain immediately appeared in his eyes.

"Hmph, is Prajna Temple truly out of capable people, sending these brats to their deaths?"

His voice was hoarse and low, filled with mockery. He extended a palm again!

"Iron Cloth Shirt! Arhat Fist!"

The black-clothed assailant was clearly a powerful cultivator. Facing this seemingly gentle palm strike, Su Haoran's expression grew serious. He activated his Iron Cloth Shirt to its full potential.

He threw a punch!

Under the moonlight, the punch glowed with a faint bronze hue, as if forged from metal. It carried immense force, whistling through the air!

BOOM!

Fist met palm, unleashing a deafening roar. The ground around them seemed unable to withstand the pressure, and dust and airwaves exploded outwards!

The black-clothed assailant felt a tremendous force surge from his palm, like a prehistoric beast crushing him with all its might. He was forced to stagger backward!

His disdainful laughter abruptly ceased. An indescribable shock flickered in the only visible parts of the masked assailant's eyes!

"This is... Major Accomplishment? No! Perfection in external martial arts!"

The assailant's palm trembled slightly. It felt as if he hadn't just exchanged a punch with a person, but collided with a mountain!

He quickly tried to retreat, but Su Haoran gave him no chance to react. His right fist's momentum spent, his left fist struck again, a gust of wind rushing forward, as if intending to shatter the assailant's bones!

Facing a life-or-death crisis, the assailant's hair stood on end. In desperation, he flicked his left wrist, and a dark streak shot from his sleeve!

WHOOSH!

A sharp whistling sound pierced the eardrums. The arrow moved at extreme speed, its arrowhead flashing with a faint, eerie blue light in the dim moonlight!

Nearby, the temple elders and eminent monks watched, their pupils contracting in unison. They cried out, "Not good!"

"It's a Sleeve Dart coated in potent poison! Dodge quickly!"

Su Haoran's scalp tingled, and a fatal sense of crisis enveloped him!

He could feel that the force contained within this arrow was far beyond that of ordinary crossbows!

Dodge?

It was too late!

The arrow was too fast. He had already thrown his punch, and the distance was too close!

In that instant, the Meditation Scripture circulated rapidly. Countless thoughts flashed through Su Haoran's mind. His heart became clear and empty as he considered all his available options. Ultimately, he decided to channel the Iron Cloth Shirt with all his might!

But this vicious arrow, capable of piercing through defenses with its concentrated force... could he block it?

There was no time for hesitation!

"Block it... for me!!!"

Su Haoran roared, advancing rather than retreating!

He abruptly raised his left arm, shielding himself. The Blood Essence within him surged towards the skin, flesh, bones, and sinews of his arm with unprecedented speed!

Iron Cloth Shirt, full power!

HUMMM!

The skin of his entire left arm tensed to its absolute limit in an instant, its color turning to a bronze hue as if scorched by intense fire. His muscles bulged, veins throbbed, as if his arm had transformed into an unyielding piece of ironwood!

DING!!!

A sharp clang, as clear as metal striking metal, suddenly burst through the silent night!

The poisoned Sleeve Dart embedded itself firmly into Su Haoran's forearm!

A surge of immense power rumbled through his arm!

Su Haoran felt as if his arm had been struck by a siege hammer. The terrifying impact sent him sliding back several steps uncontrollably, his feet plowing deep grooves into the bluestone slabs!

"THUD!"

But the blue-glowing Sleeve Dart was stopped by his bronze skin, unable to advance further!

Under the incredulous gazes of the many elders, a sense of relief washed over Su Haoran, having survived a near-death experience!

Simultaneously, using the momentum from his retreat, his right hand shot out like lightning. In the instant the black-clothed man stood stunned in disbelief, he lunged for the back of his head!

"RIIIP—!"

The black-clothed man reacted with lightning speed, jerking his head back and narrowly evading the fatal grab.

However, Su Haoran's fingers, like iron pincers, still managed to tear off a corner of the black cloth covering his head!

A small piece of black cloth, and a clump of unnaturally vibrant... crimson hair, glinting in the moonlight, were firmly grasped in Su Haoran's hand!

"You!"

The black-clothed man let out a low growl, a mixture of surprise and anger. His gaze towards Su Haoran no longer held any contempt, replaced instead by a trace of disbelieving fury!

He clearly hadn't expected a young Martial Monk, who appeared to be a novice, not only to move with such incredible speed but also for his external martial arts to withstand his armor-piercing Sleeve Dart, coated with his unique potent poison!

When did Prajna Temple produce such a monster!

He dared not linger for another moment, nor did he bother to retrieve the lock of hair. He spun around and, without a sound, fled desperately towards the surrounding wall!

In a battle between masters, victory and defeat are decided in an instant.

With that brief delay, the black-clothed man's figure, like a civet cat, leaped onto the high wall. With a few more bounds, he vanished completely into the deep night.

At the same time, a voice filled with apprehension echoed from the night sky: "You brat, I come and go from this Prajna Temple as I please!"

"Don't sleep too soundly. The next time I see you, I will kill you!"