On the top of the mountain, the morning is shining.

The ancient trees in the mountains and forests are verdant, towering into the clouds, and the old vines are bent, like a giant python.

In the forest in the morning, it is cold and damp, and everything is silent.

After Luo Qingfeng and the others hiked up the mountain, they raised their vigilance, watched the six roads, listened to all directions, and did not dare to be careless.

The Big Buddha Temple is located on the top of Cangshan Mountain.

At this moment, it has disappeared into the clouds and the canopy of trees, and it is impossible to see clearly.

The ancient morning bell rang in the temple just now, and at this time it seemed to be still echoing in the silent mountain forest, with a distant sense of desolation.

The group discussed in a low voice as they climbed up the rugged path.

When he reached the halfway point of the mountain, Xu Can, who was walking in the front, suddenly stopped, and grasped the handle of the knife at his waist with one hand.

Luo Qingfeng and Lin Yun were in a group, passed through the round gate, and went to the backyard of the temple.

At this time, the other disciples had already finished exploring.

Lian Sheng said in a deep voice: "There must be demons in the temple, and there are quite a few of them. The question is, how do we get in? Is it to go in with such fanfare to find someone, or to send a few people to pretend to be pilgrims to go in and make incense and quietly investigate. ”

Xu Can and Lian Sheng turned their heads to look behind them and gave the others a look, and Luo Qingfeng and the others immediately dispersed in pairs and went to explore all parts of the temple.

Xu Can still held the hilt of the knife in his hand and asked, "Senior Brother Lian from the Southern Courtyard?" ”

Xu Can asked.

"Let's go, go up the mountain!"

The two discussed in a low voice for a while before deciding.

"Have you ever probed the demonic energy?"

At this time, in the woods in front of him, a figure suddenly walked out and said in a low voice: "Are you disciples of the North Courtyard?" ”

Lian Sheng recruited the members of the Southern Courtyard, and with him, there were a total of six team members, two members of the Star Transformation Realm, and four members of the Open Heaven Realm.

The other party is a disciple of the Southern Courtyard Ground Order, named Lian Sheng, who is the captain of the disciples of the Southern Courtyard on this mission.

After each and the team members agreed, they gathered together and walked towards the mountain.

A group of thirteen people quickly crossed the rugged mountain path and came to the top of the mountain.

In the main hall not far away, the solemn chanting of the monks was heard.

The temple gate was open, and there were no monks guarding the door.

After the two finished greetings, Xu Can asked about the situation on the mountain.

Lian Sheng nodded: "I think so too." ”

Xu Can then let go of the handle of the knife and stepped forward to salute.

Looking inside from the door, there was a four-legged bronze incense burner in the courtyard facing the door, with sandalwood sticking in the furnace and cigarette smoke curling inside.

The two converged, reported the situation in a low voice, and walked to the front yard together.

The monks all gathered in the front courtyard hall to chant sutras, and only a few monks were doing chores, and after seeing these disciples, they were all accustomed to it and did not ask.

The few people who followed behind him were also immediately on guard.

He turned and went into the temple.

Lian Sheng glanced at a few people behind him, and then said, "I sent two junior disciples to investigate, and according to what they said, everything seems to be normal." After the monks in the temple got up and finished breakfast, they recited the scriptures in the main hall, and they did not see anything unusual, nor did they find any trace of those missing disciples. ”

As soon as the group arrived at the gate of the main hall, a young monk walked out, clasped his palms together, bowed his head and said, "Do you want to offer incense, or do you ask for a sign?" If you just worship the Buddha, please go to the main hall on the left, and if you want to worship the Buddha and ask for a lot, please wait for a while. The abbot is taking all the uncles and brothers to chant in the hall. ”

Luo Qingfeng also passed through the back door, came to the back mountain, and carefully searched around.

For the Big Buddha Temple, Luo Qingfeng is still relatively familiar, after all, he has been here at the beginning, and he has secretly explored.

In the temple, looking calm, as usual.

The two came to the courtyard at the back and inspected the kitchen, firewood room, vegetable garden, wooden house and other places one by one.

The man immediately stepped out of the hazy mist, dressed in a blue power suit, with a tall figure, a dark face, and piercing eyes.

Several people glanced at each other, Xu Can and Lian Sheng took the lead and walked into the main hall, and the other disciples immediately followed.

The relationship between the South Courtyard and the North Courtyard is competitive internally, but the external and demonic courts are naturally united.

Xu Can thought for a moment and said, "I think it's better to go in together." The disciples who had quietly gone in to investigate before had all disappeared, and no trace could be found until now. If we disperse again today, I am afraid that something will happen again. If there are a lot of people, those demons should not dare to mess around, even if the other party makes trouble, so many of us are not afraid. ”

Lian Sheng nodded and said: "I have quietly explored outside, but I haven't found it, and as for the inside, the two of them don't dare to go in for the time being." ”

Xu Can opened his mouth and said: "Then let's wait outside, I have been waiting for a long time to hear the name of the abbot, and I want to come and see him." ”

Xu Can frowned and said, "Those disciples before can't have disappeared for no reason, they should still be in the temple, we must find a way to go in and find them." ”

The young monk bowed his head: "Donor, wait a minute. ”

"Sure enough, it's Senior Brother Lian!"

But nothing came of it.

There are a total of seven people on the north side of the courtyard.

Such a calm was beyond the expectations of all the disciples.

Could it be that the courtyard guessed wrong? There are no demons in this temple, and those disciples are missing somewhere else? Or, the demons have already left.

At this time, this thought unconsciously appeared in everyone's hearts.

Coming to the front yard, Yun Hai, the abbot of the Big Buddha Temple, had already come out of the main hall and was talking to Xu Can and Lian Sheng in the corridor.

For the other disciples of the Demon Suppression Courtyard who came from all over the temple, Yun Hai just glanced at them and did not ask.

Luo Qingfeng looked at the abbot master and saw that he didn't seem to have changed much, just like he did at the beginning.

Of course, Yunhai definitely didn't know him, after all, he was wearing a mask when he first came here.

The disciples who came back from the investigation all shook their heads at Xu Can and Lian Sheng, indicating that they had not detected any trace of the missing disciples, nor had they detected any demonic energy.

The two frowned slightly.

Yun Hai sighed and said: "During this period of time, something has indeed happened in the temple, and the poor monk also knows what you are suspicious of. However, those missing disciples of the Demon Suppression Academy, the poor monks have indeed not seen them, and you say that they have gone up the mountain to enter the temple, and the poor monks cannot explain it. Although you are searching the temple, if necessary, we and the whole temple are willing to cooperate. ”

It turned out that Xu Can and Lian Sheng discussed it and directly expressed their intentions to the abbot.

Even if they don't say it, this abbot master who has lived for so many years will definitely be able to guess something.

Xu Can and Lian Sheng glanced at each other, and Xu Can arched his hand and said: "Master forgive me, I have already sent someone to check, it seems that those disciples are indeed not in your temple." Recently, some monsters have appeared in the mountains and forests, and I think those disciples may have disappeared in the mountains and forests, so we won't bother. ”

Lian Sheng also gave his leave.

Yunhai bowed his head and saluted.

"Let's go."

Xu Can and Lian Sheng glanced behind them and left directly with everyone.

In the main hall, the monks are still sitting there, reciting scriptures.

After the group left the temple, a female disciple of the South Courtyard couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother Lian, do we really want to leave?" Now that the courtyard has determined that there are strange things in the temple, we should check them carefully, and we should also check those monks one by one. ”

The other disciples also nodded.

Lian Sheng glanced back at the temple, did not speak, and continued to walk down the mountain.

When the group walked halfway up the mountain, Lian Shengfang said: "There must be something strange in the temple, when we went in to investigate, those monks happened to gather in the main hall to chant sutras, how could it be such a coincidence." When Senior Brother Xu and I were about to enter the main hall to check, the abbot also happened to come out. ”

"Senior Brother Lian means that there is something strange in that hall?"

The female disciple's face changed.

Lian Sheng said with a solemn expression: "You have already checked the rest of the temple, but only the main hall has not been inspected. Those monks are all gathered together, and the breath is mixed, if we go in to check, we may not be able to check anything, and if the demonic qi is checked out, we can't confirm it quickly......"

Xu Can continued: "Maybe this was originally their trick, if there are many monsters inside, traps and tricks are laid in the palace, etc., once I go in, I'm afraid I won't be able to get out." ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone's faces changed.

Lian Sheng nodded and said, "So we have to go down the mountain for the time being and pretend to look elsewhere." Wait until it's dark, and then quietly return. As long as the monks don't get together, we have the opportunity to visit the hall again. ”

Only then did the crowd come to their senses.

"Let's go, continue to go down the mountain, go to the mountain forest on the right to look for monsters, the other party may follow us quietly."

Lian Sheng walked to the right.

The crowd didn't dare to say more, and immediately followed.

The mountains and forests are deep and foggy.

Several people did not dare to be careless, they all took out their weapons and were ready at any time.

"It is said that many monsters have appeared in this mountain forest recently, so everyone should be careful."

Xu Can said seriously.

However, the group searched the mountains and forests for a whole day, but found nothing.

Not to mention monsters, not even a single beast has been found.

Not even birds.

This situation made several people feel more and more strange.

With such a large mountain forest, it is impossible to be free of wild beasts and birds.

There is only one possibility, there is something terrible hidden in the forest.

Seeing that the twilight was shrouded, several people did not dare to wander around anymore and immediately returned.

By the time I arrived at the mountain behind the Big Buddha Temple, it was already dark.

"Wait."

Everyone sat down in the forest to rest, while Xu Can and Lian Sheng walked up to sentry and discussed things in a low voice.

"Chirp—"

A nightbird flew overhead, skimmed over the canopy, and disappeared into the night in the distance.

I waited another hour.

The night is getting darker.

Only then did Lian Sheng speak: "Go up the mountain!" ”

The disciples immediately followed behind and climbed up the steep mountain wall.

Soon came to the back gate of the Big Buddha Temple.

Xu Can took a step ahead and listened carefully to the wall at the back door for a while, and suddenly his figure flashed and passed through the wall.

"Piercing the wall!"

All the disciples were a little surprised when they saw this supernatural power.

A moment later, the back door quietly opened from the inside.

Xu Can appeared in the door, beckoned to the disciples, and signaled that they could enter.

The disciples immediately followed Lian Sheng and entered the temple silently.

Xu Can looked at the five disciples in the North Courtyard and commanded in a low voice: "Senior Sister Huoman, you stay outside the door, if there is an emergency in the temple, don't worry about us, leave immediately and go to inform the courtyard." ”

In this case, everyone must not be allowed to enter, in case of an accident, they are all missing, and no one will go back to report the news.

Huoman was a little reluctant: "Let other people guard, I like to fight, I don't like to take the wind." ”

Xu Can frowned slightly.

Wu Lan hurriedly whispered: "Senior Sister Huo, you are fast, if there is an emergency, you can go to ask for reinforcements in time, listen to Senior Brother Xu, right?" ”

The fire vine snorted, didn't speak again, and looked at someone.

Lian Sheng also ordered a female disciple named Xu Hui to stay.

Then, the others followed behind Xu Can and Lian Sheng, and quietly walked towards the main hall in the front yard.

In the temple, it was dark and silent.

The monks seemed to be asleep, and there were no lights in the houses.

There was no one all the way.

Xu Can and Lian Sheng took all the disciples and came to the front yard hall unimpeded.

Just about to enter the door, Lin Yun suddenly spoke: "Isn't it too quiet?" ”

Everyone already felt that something was not right, and as soon as these words came out, their hearts became more vigilant and nervous.

"Wait at the door first, I'll go first."

Xu Can commanded, passed directly through the wall, and entered the main hall.

Others waited silently at the walls of the hallway.

Who knew that after a long time, there was no sound in the hall, and Xu Can did not come out again.

Ning Yifeng, who was also in the Star Transformation Realm of the North Courtyard, felt that something was wrong, and hurriedly shouted to the window: "Senior Brother Xu! ”

However, there was no response.

Everyone's faces changed.

Lian Sheng immediately decided: "Let's go, let's go in from the main gate together!" ”

He directly drew the sword in his hand.

All the disciples also immediately took out their respective treasures, followed behind with nervous expressions, and entered the main hall together.

In the main hall, there was silence.

The huge golden Buddha statue sat on a high platform in the center like a living thing, and was silently watching the people who broke into the Buddha hall with their eyes open.

On the table, one on the left and the other on the right, there were two oil lamps, with small wicks and faint bean-like flames burning above them, which could almost only illuminate a small area.

And the rest of the hall was still dark.

There was no one in the front hall.

Lian Sheng clenched the sword in his hand, and immediately led everyone through the right side of the Buddha statue and went to the apse.

In the apse, there are several stone statues of Bodhisattvas, and there is no one inside.

"Senior Brother Xu!"

Wu Lan's voice trembled a little.

When everyone saw this strange scene, they also felt a little chill down their spines.

A master of the Star Transformation Realm disappeared silently like this?

When everyone was at a loss, a strange sound of beating the wooden fish suddenly came from the front hall: "Bang...... Boom...... Knock ......"

The voice was slow, dull, weird, and gloomy, as if one by one, it was striking on the hearts of all the disciples.

The faces of the crowd changed dramatically.

They had just come from the front hall, and there was no one there!

It is also impossible for a monk to get up in the middle of the night and come over to knock on the wooden fish.

The sword in Lian Sheng's hand suddenly lit up, and he immediately turned around and walked to the front hall, and said in a deep voice: "Go, go and see!" ”

When everyone hurried to the front hall, the sound of the wooden fish beating stopped abruptly.

The wooden fish was quietly placed on the table, and there was no figure next to it.

The hearts of the people were furious.

Lian Sheng walked to the wooden fish, observed it carefully, and when he was thinking, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the golden Buddha statue above.

"Lian...... Senior Brother Lian, what's wrong? ”

A male disciple in the North Courtyard trembled in fright when he suddenly raised his head.

Lian Sheng's eyes flashed with the light of tax profits, staring at the huge golden Buddha above, and said in a deep voice: "When you came in just now, did you see anything in the hand of this Buddha statue?" ”

As soon as these words came out, the disciples immediately looked at the hands of the Buddha statue.

The Buddha statue rests one hand on the chest, the other hand rests flat on the abdomen, and several fingers are bent like handprints. The golden palm on the abdomen seemed to hold something, a black mass.

Everyone has a strong eyesight, but they can't see clearly at the moment.

"Tick ...... Tick ......"

At this moment, suddenly there was a sound of dripping water.

In the palm of the Buddha's hand, something seemed to be dripping from between the fingers and landing on the table below.

When everyone looked at it, it was blood!

Lian Sheng's figure flashed, and he had already jumped up, and the shuriken slashed, and the black shadow that was held by the Buddha statue in the palm of his hand suddenly rolled down, and with a "snap", it fell on the table in front of everyone.

Bloody, it was Xu Can's head!

(End of chapter)