Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 118

In that moment, both sides unleashed their full power to collide, but the Hanging Temple’s three saints ultimately couldn’t hold on and were forced to disband.

Now, they were in a grim state, heavily injured. Although they could achieve a blood rebirth in the Tribulation Stage, the consumed magical power was no trivial matter, and on top of that, they had hit a dead end with no tricks left up their sleeves.

Just as Ye Junlin said, they had lost, and lost utterly!

Xuyun felt a deep sorrow, as if he was in a different world.

How could there be such terrifying tribulation masters in this world?

To think.

They were still fighting on their home turf, utilizing all sorts of clever tricks, and their strength had stacked to an unfathomable level, far exceeding the limits of what the Tribulation Stage should be capable of.

Yet, before this demon, they were still soundly defeated!!

This man was so powerful that it filled him with despair!

“You demon, don’t get too smug! With the contributions of the Hanging Temple, there will be fellow cultivators who stand up to uphold justice and eliminate you!” Elder Longxiang spoke with agitation.

“Ah, who would’ve thought, the once-sacred Buddhist Sect that saved living beings would face such disaster. We have let down the expectations of our predecessors; it’s our failure for not protecting this pure land, betraying their hard work,” Elder Qingjing lamented.

The three Ye Junlin exchanged glances.

Why did it feel like they were the real villains here?

“Hey, hey, hey, you two, don’t get too dramatic. Considering the shady stuff the Hanging Temple has done in the past, it’s simply inexcusable. How many innocent people have suffered and died because of you? If we were to tally that up, you both deserve to go to hell and repent!”

“You demon! Don’t spout nonsense!”

Elder Longxiang’s emotions nearly spiraled out of control, feeling deeply insulted. “All this time, the Hanging Temple has taken it upon itself to save all living beings. Every disciple must descend the mountain to travel, eliminate evil, and do good deeds!”

“We understand the victors write history, but before you kill us, you shouldn’t slander the Hanging Temple like this. I find this behavior shameful from the bottom of my heart! Bah! Disgusting!”

Ye Junlin scoffed, “Heh, you make it sound like you mean it.”

“What’s with that expression of yours? Back in the day, the three of us descended to slay demons and protect the weak. Apart from that, countless other disciples from the Hanging Temple have done good deeds, and even now there’s evidence that not even a demon like you can tarnish!” Elder Qingjing said, full of indignation, looking as if he could be killed but not insulted.

Ye Junlin’s smile gradually faded.

His gaze shifted to the current Abbot, who sat in silence, not uttering a word.

“Old bald donkey, it seems your two companions are still kept in the dark. Would you care to tell them what the Hanging Temple has been up to these days?”

Realizing the implications of what was being said, Ye Junlin suddenly understood that something had changed within the Hanging Temple.

After all, if they had really been so wretched from the start, how could they have received recognition from the world of cultivation and the love of the common folk?

This was the leading Buddhist holy ground in the Eastern Domain!

At the core, it was just that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will tilt, and the turning point lay with the current Abbot!

“Xuyun, what does this guy mean?” The others sensed something and looked over.

Xuyun lowered his head, tortured within, lips muttering, “Don’t… don’t ask.”

“Don’t want to say? Or just too ashamed to? Let me help you with that!” Ye Junlin coldly extended his hand, fingers glowing mysteriously.

“No, don’t!”

Xuyun sensed fragments of memory in his mind being intercepted and copied, screaming in terror.

He desperately wanted to resist, but at this moment, he had no standing to do so.

“Both of you, take a good look,” Ye Junlin flicked his fingers, and light globes sank into their foreheads.

In an instant.

All the shady dealings of the Hanging Temple and the entire backstory had become crystal clear to them.

Elder Longxiang’s eyes turned red, lips trembling, “How could this… how could this happen…”

This was completely different from the past memory of the Hanging Temple he had always held!

“Xuyun! You old bastard!!”

“How many innocent lives have you ruined to death over the years! Is this what a person of the Buddhist Sect should be doing? Do you live up to the expectations of the previous Abbot? If I had known earlier, I, Longxiang, would have definitely cleaned house for the sake of countless fellow cultivators!”

Elder Qingjing was heartbroken, tears streaming down his face, “What a sin! Every time our Hanging Temple faced danger, our predecessors stepped forward, and over time we gained the recognition of the world. Now, because of your actions, the reputation of the Hanging Temple is completely ruined!”

“Xuyun, how can you face them?!”

“Have you forgotten the grand vow you made before the Abbot back in the day?”

Hearing their furious accusations, Xuyun began to show signs of agitation; the pent-up resentment exploded as he roared at them: “Enough!!!”

Slap!

Ye Junlin delivered a fierce slap, “Old bald donkey, why are you shouting so loud?”

Xuyun’s head spun from the blow, one side of his face swelling ungracefully.

Inside, he was filled with frustration, gritting his teeth, “Back when the three of us entered the sect, despite my hard work training, the Master had high expectations for you two while treating me coldly. Later, all I did was try to do better, competing for everything, wanting to be the best. Even that joint technique, I rushed to learn first because I wanted to be the most praised among us three!”

Speaking of that technique, the corners of Xuyun’s eyes twitched, “I remember back when we were out and about, I just wanted to get by and put on a show, but you two always stirred up trouble. Each enemy we faced was stronger and more skilled than us, so I had no choice but to use that technique. Did you know? Every time you forced your way into my body, I was in excruciating pain!”

“Who understands that kind of feeling!??”

Xuyun’s face was filled with righteous indignation; just thinking about that kind of searing pain made him shudder.

The two looked at each other, both in shock.

Xuyun’s expression darkened as he continued, “Fortunately, my efforts paid off. I eventually became the most brilliant among you, to the point I was hailed as the head saint of the Hanging Temple. From that moment on, I became even more cautious in hiding my true self, packaging myself as a virtuous monk. But, who would’ve guessed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is; the Master saw through my disguise and denied my proposal to become the next Abbot in the council!”

“I was furious; I really wanted to kill that old dog! I tried to calm down and tentatively asked him in the back yard, and he accused me of having impure intentions! I was undeserving of the position!!”

Recalling this, Xuyun’s expression twisted like a demonic figure, sneering, “But heaven has eyes; he failed in his attempt to break through to True Immortal and was struck by divine tribulation, scattering his soul! Good, he truly deserved it!”