The giant bird let out a shrill cry and returned to the sky, but its pair of eerie pupils remained fixed on them.
S-so...
W-what in the world was going on?!
"Don't worry, benefactor. With this Vajra Barrier protecting you, the Mystic Bird won't harm you for now."
He Zhizhou followed the voice and spotted a young monk meditating not far away.
The monk looked no older than sixteen or seventeen. Though he was bald, even He Zhizhou, a straight man, had to admit that his face was exceptionally handsome. Bright eyes and pearly teeth, skin like white porcelain—not to mention the sacred aura radiating from him, as if daring anyone to profane him. It was impossible to look away.
And gathered around the young monk were five unfamiliar cultivators, also inside the Vajra Barrier.
"That's a man-eating Mystic Bird. It's guarding this place."
The monk smiled faintly at him, his youthful voice as clear as a mountain spring. "We can't do anything about it, so we can only hide here."
He Zhizhou hurriedly thanked him. "Many thanks. May I ask who you are...?"
"This is Little Master Mingkong of Fanyin Temple. You don't know him, fellow cultivator?"
The young monk hadn't spoken, but a Music Cultivator beside him cut in first. Seeing He Zhizhou shake his head blankly, he asked in surprise, "Do you know that Fanyin Temple has three peerless divine arts?"
He Zhizhou fell silent for a moment, then ventured, "Um... Great Might Heavenly Dragon, World Honored Ksitigarbha, Prajna Buddhas Prajna Bama Hum?"
"It's Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage, Formless Tribulation, and Vajra Body Protection Divine Skill."
The Music Cultivator shot him a sidelong glance, then chuckled at Mingkong, his manner rather ingratiating. "Of the three, Vajra Body Protection Divine Skill is the hardest to master. An ordinary