There were no other options. However, if the person who took the Fox Wolf Wood Heart hadn’t used it in the last two weeks—or at least hadn’t used it all up—he might have a chance to get some.

It was a last resort, but Yang An didn’t want to risk complications from further delays. He had to at least try asking.

"This..."

A hesitant look appeared on the Supervisor Monk’s face.

"Just speak freely. If there are any problems, I will take full responsibility."

Yang An saw his apprehension and reassured him.

As the Buddha’s Son of Great Virtue Temple, his status was equivalent to that of a Zen Master, so his words carried significant weight.

"Please wait a moment, Your Highness the Buddha Prince."

The Supervisor Monk hesitated for a moment before asking Yang An to wait. He left and returned quickly with an answer.

"The person who took the Fox Wolf Wood Heart two weeks ago was Zen Master Qing Kong."

Everyone who took resources was meticulously recorded in a ledger, so there were never any errors or omissions.

’Zen Master Qing Kong?’

Yang An nodded, mulling over the name. He’d never heard of this person before.

’It’s good that he’s only a Zen Master. If it were a Bodhisattva, I wouldn’t have the guts to go asking questions.’

"Do you know where Zen Master Qing Kong’s Zen Room is located?"

"It should be in the Mingli Zen Courtyard," the Supervisor Monk replied.

"Excellent!"

Yang An thanked him and immediately left Grand View Cave Zen, heading for the Mingli Zen Courtyard in search of Zen Master Qing Kong.

The Mingli Zen Courtyard was similar to the Mingxin Zen Courtyard, but it was exclusively for the Inner Zen Masters of Great Virtue Temple. It served as both their residence and their daily place of cultivation.

The two Zen Courtyards, Mingli and Mingxin, were also located right next to each other.

He soon arrived at the Mingli Zen Courtyard and found a monk on patrol.

Anyone patrolling here was at least a guardian of the Visceral Stone level.

After asking for the location of Zen Master Qing Kong’s Zen Room, Yang An followed the guardian to a Zen Room.

"This humble monk, Yuan Ji, has come to pay his respects to Zen Master Qing Kong!"

Yang An stood outside the courtyard, his palms pressed together, his posture full of sincere respect.

But in the moments that followed, no response came from within the Zen Room.

"Excuse me, is Zen Master Qing Kong present? This humble monk, Yuan Ji, has come to pay his respects."

Yang An asked again.

The Zen Master inside was in the Zombie God Realm. To be safe, Yang An didn’t extend his senses to probe the room, lest he be discovered.

Doing so would have been highly disrespectful. When asking for a favor, one should not be so presumptuous.

’Could it be that he isn’t in his Zen Room?’

’If he’s not here, I’ll just have to leave and come back another time,’ Yang An thought.

A flicker of disappointment crossed his mind as he prepared to return to his own Zen Room.

But just as he was about to turn and leave, a man’s voice suddenly came from within the Zen Room.

"The Buddha’s Son has graced me with his presence. Forgive me for not coming out to greet you."

As the voice spoke, the door to the Zen Room slowly opened.

Standing just inside the doorway of the Zen Room...

...was a monk in a black Monk’s Robe and a red Kasaya. He pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist chant.

The monk had handsome features and looked to be a young man of about thirty.

But the Kasaya he wore gave him an air of maturity.

Both young and mature at once.

This was Yang An’s first impression of Zen Master Qing Kong.

But as soon as the door opened, Yang An’s keen nose detected the faint scent of blood.

The smell came from within the Zen Room. Had Yang An not been so frequently exposed to such scents, he might not have noticed it at all.

Yang An’s expression remained unchanged. He lowered his head slightly, recited a Buddhist chant in return, and then, under Zen Master Qing Kong’s gaze, stepped into the Zen Room’s courtyard.

The courtyard gate to the Zen Room slowly closed behind him.

"Buddha’s Son, please, come inside to talk."

Zen Master Qing Kong’s attitude seemed very easygoing as he gestured with a slight raise of his hand.

Yang An hesitated for a moment, then followed Qing Kong into the room.

"Please have a seat, Buddha’s Son."

Yang An sat down on a wooden chair, while Zen Master Qing Kong took the main seat.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yang An observed the room’s furnishings. They were very simple and ordinary, yet they gave him a strange, oppressive feeling.

Looking at Zen Master Qing Kong in the main seat, Yang An felt an inexplicable sense of resistance rise within him.

It was as if his subconscious was screaming at him to get away from this man.

This was the first time he’d felt such a strong aversion to someone since arriving in the Outer Continent.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Buddha’s Son?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Zen Master Qing Kong seemed a little surprised by Yang An’s arrival, but he didn’t show any major reaction.

The monks of Great Virtue Temple all seemed to be the same, always maintaining a peaceful facade.

"Reporting to Zen Master Qing Kong, this humble monk has come for..."

Yang An didn’t intend to waste any time and decided to get straight to the point.

But before he could finish his sentence, he stopped abruptly, his gaze shooting toward the upper floor of the Zen Room.

Both the Mingxin and Mingli Zen Courtyards had Zen Rooms built in the style of multi-story attics.

Just as Yang An had started to speak, a very faint sound had suddenly come from the floor above.

It sounded like the wind blowing something over. Though quiet, both of them noticed it.

If that had been all, Yang An wouldn’t have paid it much mind.

But along with the sound, the scent of blood that had been lingering in the Zen Room suddenly billowed out, becoming overwhelmingly thick.

Zen Master Qing Kong, who had appeared so peaceful just a moment ago, saw his expression change instantly.

The next moment, a large amount of Mana erupted from Zen Master Qing Kong’s body, swirling around him like black smoke.