CHAPTER 1161: CHAPTER 1157: ANCIENT TEMPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS

The two of them walked along this stone road for more than twenty minutes, unaware of how many meters they had ascended.

Finally, in the distance, they saw the end of the road, where stood an ancient temple made of stacked stones and wooden planks.

This ancient temple was truly aged and simple.

Its entire appearance resembled an antique, completely devoid of any modern elements.

"This must really be quite old."

Chen Yang said.

Annie walked in front, nodded, and explained to Chen Yang, "This temple is indeed very old. I remember it looking like this when I was a child. Twenty years have passed, and it still hasn’t changed!"

Hearing Annie’s explanation, Chen Yang had only two words in his heart.

Rare indeed.

In this world, any slightly ancient or mysterious place would be vigorously developed into a tourist attraction by the locals.

Aggressively marketed to attract tourists from afar.

In such a large environment, it’s truly rare for this ancient temple to remain unchanged for twenty years.

From afar, the two were already not far from the ancient temple.

After walking for another five to six minutes, they finally arrived at the entrance of the ancient temple.

From a distance, the ancient temple appeared to be a very small temple.

But upon getting closer, they discovered that the temple’s scale was quite large, with the main structure comprising three large wooden halls.

Flanking the large halls were many houses made of stone and wood, presumably for living in or storing things.

After observing the external structure of the temple, Chen Yang followed Annie into the temple.

Upon entering the temple gate, they immediately saw monks coming and going within the temple.

All those monks stood solemnly and with poise, exuding extraordinary demeanor.

It was clear at first glance that these were genuine monks, unlike those somewhat commercialized ones in other temples.

"Chen Yang, come in with me. This temple is rather big, and I don’t want you waiting too long." While Chen Yang was surveying his surroundings, Annie suddenly spoke up and said.

Chen Yang also wanted to take a look inside.

This temple was indeed quite special.

"Alright, I’ll go in with you."

Chen Yang nodded and then entered the temple.

After entering, Chen Yang constantly observed every corner of the temple and its monks.

After a round of observation, Chen Yang felt astounded.

Most of the monks in this temple were actually cultivators!

Just like him, they had special abilities.

And each of them was not weak, most were in the Body Refining Realm!

A few middle-aged monks of master level were even in the advanced Body Refining stage! Just a step away from becoming experts in the Mysterious Force!

"A small ancient temple, yet it’s full of hidden talents,"

Chen Yang silently marveled in his heart.

If this many cultivators were outside, they would surely make incredible bodyguards or form an assassin’s guild.

They would undoubtedly be a very powerful force!

"Master Jing Kong, hello, today is the day to receive the peace blessings. I came specifically to get them!" While Chen Yang was marveling in his heart.

Annie found the master who had given her peace blessings in previous years at the central grand hall of the temple.

He was an elderly master with a kindly face, wearing an old kasaya, yet it did not diminish his aura as a high monk at all.

Chen Yang glanced over!

He was also an advanced Body Refining expert, just a step away from attaining the Mysterious Force.

As Chen Yang glanced at this master, the master’s gaze likewise swept over Chen Yang.

But it seemed he didn’t discern much, after a brief glance, he did not focus on Chen Yang any further, and his gaze returned once more to Annie.

"Ah, it’s Miss Dai. Please, come in,"

The master laughed and made a specific Buddhist gesture as he spoke.

"Mm, mm, thank you, Master." Annie smiled and nodded, then followed the guidance of Master Jing Kong into the rear hall.

After arriving here, Chen Yang couldn’t continue to follow Annie, because she needed to go into a room alone to do something with the peace blessings.

So, Chen Yang could only stay behind in the rear hall on his own.

"Alright, you go ahead. I’m okay here by myself."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang didn’t say much more and directly agreed.

"Mm, mm, I’ll be done soon, just wait for me." Annie also smiled, nodded, and then followed Master Jing Kong into a meditation room.

Chen Yang waited alone in the rear hall.

While waiting, Chen Yang naturally felt very bored, so his eyes naturally began to scan the surrounding architecture.

After a round of scanning observation, Chen Yang was again surprised to discover that the architectural style of this grand hall, along with the materials used, were all very aged.

Looking at the degree of weathering of the wooden structure, these things were at least a hundred years old.

This suggests the temple has existed for at least several hundred years.

And throughout these hundreds of years, it has never been renovated. From the time it was built, it appears the same way as it does now.

"It’s really remarkable, for so many hundreds of years to maintain such a fine condition, the entire ancient temple should be considered a first-class cultural relic, shouldn’t it?"

With his hands behind his back, Chen Yang paced back and forth in the rear hall, appreciating the beauty of the ancient architecture.

Simultaneously, he couldn’t help but express admiration.

Just as he was full of admiration, a sudden ring from his phone interrupted his thoughts.

He looked down, took out his phone from his pocket, and answered the call.

The call was from Wu Kexin. After saying two sentences, Wu Kexin spoke about why she had called.

"Chen Yang, I just had a phone call with that Mage Dao Hong. He said the ceremony for our village is quite difficult and of significant importance, and it has to be at least 150,000 to perform the ritual."

Wu Kexin spoke somewhat disgruntledly about the situation.

And upon hearing this news, Chen Yang also got angry at the time.

That guy was really greedy. Last time for a ritual, 50,000 was already quite high.

And now he directly tripled it, he really had no shame.

He wants to ask for such outrageous sums just because he knows a trick or two. Does he really think he can just extort them?

"Well, forget it. He dares to ask for such an exorbitant price. Just call him back and ask him if he would do it for 20,000. If not, there are plenty of others who would. Otherwise, just find another." Chen Yang said angrily.

"Okay, I’ll call him back now."

Wu Kexin was also angry, sharing the same thought as Chen Yang. She thought that Dao Hong was asking for too much, shouting out 150,000, really taking them for idiots?

Having agreed, Chen Yang hung up the phone.

As it happened, Annie came out from the meditation room with the master at this moment.

Annie was all smiles, walked to Chen Yang, and said, "All done, Chen Yang, let’s go."

"It’s done so fast."

Chen Yang said.

Annie took out the jade Buddha pendant from around her neck and dangled it in front of Chen Yang, "Yes, it’s simple, just take out the old one and put in the new one, no other steps."

"Haha, that really is quite simple."

Chen Yang smiled and nodded, then prepared to leave with Annie.

But as soon as he turned around, he remembered the phone call from Wu Kexin earlier.

With Dao Hong flaunting what he knew and asking for so much, they certainly couldn’t let him perform the ritual at Liuhua Village.

This means they definitely needed to find a new mage.

And now that they were in a temple, why not inquire about how much it would cost to conduct a ritual?

Thinking of this, Chen Yang paused his steps.

"What’s wrong, Chen Yang, why aren’t you leaving?"

Annie noticed Chen Yang’s pause and lifted her head in curiosity to ask him.

"Annie, wait for me a moment, I have something to ask the master."

Chen Yang said to Annie, then immediately turned back and returned to Master Jing Kong.