The Year-Holding Bureau (Seeking Monthly Votes at Month's End)

A moment later.

A monk stepped out of the void.

His hair was cropped to only half an inch, and he wore a yellow-and-cyan monk's robe. Behind him followed a Dharma protector deity.

The protector had a blue face and fangs, wore scale armor, commanded flowing water, gripped a black python, and was draped in moonlight. It vaguely seemed to be transformed from that demonic creature from before.

"World-Honored One above, many thanks to the benefactor for delivering this Dharma protector deity to me!"

The monk pressed his palms together and smiled as he bowed. "This humble monk comes from Great Treasury Temple. My Dharma name is Shou Zangxuan—"

"Great Treasury Temple? It isn't All Beings Formless Temple? Could it be that I guessed wrong?"

Fang Wuchen could feel something beneath his belly about to burst through his body.

Yet Monk Shou Zangxuan merely smiled faintly, and a mysterious wonder descended.

That mass of flesh seemed to vanish in an instant—or rather, it had been "stored" away.

Fang Wuchen immediately let out a long breath. To a Purple Palace True Person, the fleshly body was no more than a stinking sack of skin.

So long as this grave threat did not cause trouble, no matter how badly his body was injured, it was only a minor matter.

He flipped himself up, wiped his face, and the wounds on his body swiftly healed. He bowed. "I am Dustless Master. Many thanks to the master for saving me—"

"It is nothing. The benefactor delivered a Dharma protector deity to this humble monk; that is a Buddhist affinity. And if judged by worldly ties, the benefactor and I have an even deeper affinity."

Shou Zangxuan's smile was exceedingly kind, but Fang Wuchen's entire body prickled with dread.

Even as a Purple Palace True