Forcing Back a Powerful Enemy! Blood Strengthening Pill!

"Amitabha!"

At this moment, Elder Hui Jue and the others finally arrived. They looked at Su Haoran, then at the direction the black-clothed man had disappeared, their faces turning extremely grim.

"Haoran! Are you alright?"

Elder Hui Jue was the first to rush over. His gaze fell on Su Haoran's arm, his face filled with worry and solemnity.

"This disciple is unharmed." Su Haoran shook his head and tossed the arrowhead onto the ground!

The arrowhead was an abnormal, dark black color.

At this time, the other elders and Martial Monks also gathered around. When they saw that Su Haoran was unharmed, having actually withstood that venomous arrow, many of them showed expressions of astonishment.

"To withstand a poisoned armor-piercing arrow and be unharmed... This... what kind of formidable physique is this!"

"Has this Hardening technique perhaps reached the Major Accomplishment, or even Perfection, realm?"

"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!"

The crowd murmured, their gazes towards Su Haoran filled with disbelief.

They were all discerning individuals and understood what kind of terrifying talent and perseverance it meant to cultivate a Hardening technique to such a degree at this age.

Even in the austere training grounds of Buddhism, few could achieve this level!

And those who did were invariably old monks with years of dedicated practice!

Elder Hui Jue, however, ignored the crowd's exclamations. His gaze was fixed intently on something Su Haoran was clutching in his other hand.

"Haoran, what is that in your hand?"

Su Haoran opened his palm, presenting the torn piece of black cloth and the striking clump of long red hair to everyone.

Upon seeing the clump of red hair gently fluttering in the night wind, all the elders present, including Hui Jue, instantly became extremely solemn, their eyes even showing a hint of deep apprehension.

"Red Hair..." one elder said slowly, as if seeing something troublesome.

"No doubt about it," Elder Hui Jue nodded slowly, his voice cold. "Besides that lawless band of mountain bandits, no one would keep such conspicuous red hair."

He took a deep breath and said word by word, "Crimson Hair Stronghold!"

Crimson Hair Stronghold!

Although Su Haoran had not been in this world for long, he had heard his senior brothers at the temple mention it.

Prajna Temple was located in the Qingyun Mountain Range, and on the other side of the range, a notorious group of mountain bandits resided. Their three leaders were said to have been born with red hair, possessing unparalleled ferocity. They had gathered a large number of desperadoes under them, known as the "Crimson Hair Stronghold."

This Crimson Hair Stronghold was different from ordinary mountain bandits. They were well-organized and powerful. Not only did they not plunder ordinary people, but they often opened their granaries to distribute grain, gaining considerable reputation in the lands below the mountains.

However, they had a long-standing feud with the surrounding renowned sects, especially Prajna Temple, and friction was constant.

The strength of both sides was almost evenly matched, neither able to overcome the other, forming a peculiar equilibrium.

"This person's Qinggong is extraordinary, and his cultivation is profound. To infiltrate the top floor of the Scripture Repository is by no means an ordinary person," Elder Hui Jue said, his gaze on the clump of red hair growing more solemn. "Within the Crimson Hair Stronghold, there are likely only a handful of people with such skill and status."

This was no longer a simple case of petty thieves or night raiders, but a blatant provocation and probe against Prajna Temple!

"Quickly go and inventory the scriptures in the repository to see if anything is missing!" the Elder of the Scripture Repository immediately ordered.

Soon, the news came back. Fortunately, due to the timely discovery and Su Haoran's desperate interception, no important scriptures were stolen from the Scripture Repository.

However, this outcome did not bring relief to the elders; instead, it made their expressions even more grim.

They didn't steal anything?

This meant that the purpose of their visit was likely to test Prajna Temple's strength, or perhaps even... to humiliate them!

That night, Prajna Temple was brightly lit.

All the monks at the elder level were summoned to the Abbot's Zen courtyard, where they deliberated throughout the night.

Su Haoran, as the key figure in this incident, was naturally included.

He stood quietly to the side, listening to the elders' arguments.

"Outrageous! The Crimson Hair Stronghold has gone too far! To dare to trespass into our temple's sacred grounds at night!"

"This matter cannot be let go! They must give us an explanation!"

"But the perpetrators came and went like the wind. We don't even know who they are, how can we demand an explanation?"

"That clump of red hair is evidence! There are only a few high-ranking members in the Crimson Hair Stronghold!"

The debate continued for the entire night. As dawn broke, the Abbot's aged and authoritative voice finally rang out, setting the tone for the meeting.

"Although the thief did not succeed, the dignity of our Prajna Temple must not be challenged."

"Issue my decree: Elder Hui Jue, as the head of the Martial Monk Courtyard, will lead a team, select elite disciples from the temple, and prepare immediately. Three days from now, we will personally go to the Crimson Hair Stronghold to demand a clear explanation!"

"We shall see how the Crimson Hair Stronghold intends to explain this matter to our Prajna Temple!"

Elder Hui Jue clasped his hands together and bowed, accepting the order: "I respectfully obey the Abbot's decree."

With the Abbot's decree issued, this emergency meeting concerning Prajna Temple's honor finally concluded.

The elders and stewards dispersed with solemn expressions. Soon, only the Abbot Daoming, Elder Hui Jue, and Su Haoran remained in the vast Zen courtyard.

The night breeze was cool, rustling the Bodhi trees in the courtyard.

"Su Haoran, you've done very well!" Abbot Daoming turned around, his usually stern face now showing a complex mix of relief and admiration.

He had already heard the details of what happened from Elder Hui Jue.

If it weren't for Su Haoran's intervention, which delayed the Crimson Hair intruder for a moment and even nearly led to their capture, Prajna Temple would have suffered an even greater loss of face.

Abbot Daoming took out an ancient wooden box from his robes and handed it over.

"Your composure in the face of danger, confronting a powerful enemy with only Skin Tempering cultivation, and protecting the Scripture Repository, is a great achievement. This is the temple's reward for you."

Su Haoran respectfully accepted the wooden box and opened it. Inside, three blood-red pills, the size of dragon's eyes, lay quietly on a silk cushion. A rich scent of blood essence and medicine wafted out, and just a single whiff made his own Blood Essence feel like it was subtly boiling.

"Are these... Blood Strengthening Pills?" Su Haoran's heart stirred.

"Indeed, they are Blood Strengthening Pills," Abbot Daoming nodded, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. "These pills are refined using dozens of rare medicinal ingredients and the essence blood of fierce beasts. They have a miraculous effect on a martial artist's Blood Essence. Each one can be sold for a hundred taels of silver in Qingshi City at the foot of the mountain. Ordinary Martial Monks might not even earn one in a year of arduous training. Your foundation is solid, and your Blood Essence is abundant. These three pills are enough to advance your cultivation further."

A hundred taels of silver each!

Su Haoran was inwardly shaken.

He knew all too well what dozens of taels of silver meant in this chaotic world; it was enough to allow an ordinary family to live comfortably for several years.

And Prajna Temple had rewarded him with three pills at once!

"Thank you, Elder, thank you, Abbot!" Su Haoran solemnly put away the wooden box and bowed.

Abbot Daoming waved his hand. Then, Elder Hui Jue led Su Haoran out of the Abbot's Zen room and onto the training grounds of the Martial Monk Courtyard.

The sky had just begun to brighten, and many diligent Martial Monks were already starting their morning practice. Seeing Elder Hui Jue personally bring Su Haoran, they all stopped their movements and cast curious glances.

Elder Hui Jue surveyed the area and his voice, like a bell, echoed across the grounds: "Disciples, you have likely heard about what happened last night. When an intruder broke into the Scripture Repository, it was our Martial Monk Su Haoran who, disregarding his own safety, stepped forward and, with his own strength, repelled the powerful enemy, ensuring that the temple's scriptures remained unharmed!"

A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd!

Although there had been considerable commotion last night, the ordinary disciples didn't know the specifics. Hearing Elder Hui Jue state it directly now, they realized how thrilling it had been!

A newly initiated disciple facing a powerful intruder in the Scripture Repository alone? And he actually drove them away?

How was that possible!

Elder Hui Jue saw the shock on everyone's faces. He pointed to Su Haoran beside him and his voice suddenly rose: "The path of cultivation has two main aspects: diligent practice and willpower! Su Haoran has only been initiated for a short time, but his unremitting diligence and firm resolve have led to his achievements today! You are all Martial Monks of Prajna Temple, and you should take Su Haoran as an example. Avoid arrogance and impatience, and focus on your cultivation, so as not to fail the temple's nurturing!"

His words, powerful and resonant, stirred the hearts of all the Martial Monks present.

Their gazes towards Su Haoran shifted from initial curiosity to a subtle sense of admiration.

To receive such high praise from the usually strict Elder Hui Jue was extremely rare in the history of the Martial Monk Courtyard!

Immediately after, Elder Hui Jue's tone shifted, becoming chilling: "Crimson Hair Stronghold has gone too far in bullying our temple. This matter absolutely cannot be let go! The Abbot has issued a decree that in three days, I will personally lead an elite force to demand an explanation from Crimson Hair Stronghold!"

His gaze fell on Su Haoran again, his tone filled with anticipation: "Haoran, for now, we haven't completely broken ties with Crimson Hair Stronghold, and this expedition is primarily to seek an explanation. However, if you can help us regain this honor and make Crimson Hair Stronghold bow their heads and admit their mistake, I will personally grant you permission to enter the Scripture Repository once more and choose any cultivation technique or secret manual!"

Boom!

If the previous rewards and praise had been shocking, then this promise was like dropping a bombshell in the hearts of all the Martial Monks!

To enter the Scripture Repository again and choose any secret manual!

This was not comparable to the one-time opportunity when they became Martial Monks. The crucial part was the phrase "choose any"!

It meant they could freely select from Prajna Temple's many secret techniques!