Jin Chi flew toward Daluo Temple. From a distance, just as the spies had reported, the entire Daluo Temple, an area of about a thirty-mile radius, was swallowed up by black clouds.
In the vast sunny sky, this extraneous black wall seemed so out of place and unusual.
Lin Jin hadn't thoroughly learned what these black clouds were so they shouldn't fly straight into it. They couldn't either. Not only did the black clouds seal off all aura, but it was also sturdy enough like a wall, blocking everything from passing through.
Lin Jin could feel the resistance. And the harder he pushed his palm forward, the greater the resistance.
An average person would be stuck on the outside of these black clouds as if they were facing a wall. Lin Jin could actually force his way in but would be thrown back out shortly.
It was Jin Chi's first time seeing such a strange substance. After giving it some thought, he swiped a wind blade at the black clouds.
Like throwing pebbles into water, the black cloud wall rippled and the wind blade dived in before disappearing without a trace.
"I got it!"
Jin Chi explained, "This black fog has a unique characteristic, but if we're quick enough, we can pass through like stepping into haze. But if we do it slowly, we'll be blocked instead."
Inspired by the idea, Lin Jin picked up a rock and shot it forward. Just as Jin Chi deduced, if the speed was fast enough, they could pass through. Any slower and they would be repelled.
The black clouds only blocked the Grassy Continent troops from leaving previously because in terms of human strength, even on horseback, they were considered too slow.
"I'll take the lead." Jin Chi was confident. Before Lin Jin could say anything, Jin Chi sprinted into the black clouds.
Jin Chi was the first immortal monster in Arid Continent. Strong as he was, he had never met any challenging foes, thus the reason for his self-esteem.
However, the enemies they were facing this time weren't normal. Lin Jin was afraid something might happen to Jin Chi, so after seeing Jin Chi pass through the wall successfully, he beckoned Shang'er to charge in with him.
To be safe, Lin Jin coated himself and Shang'er with a layer of blood. After rushing into the black clouds, he could feel the strong resistance. Based on his understanding, the clouds were too dense but they weren't exactly solid. If Lin Jin had to describe it, it felt like diving into very fine sand.
It had enough resistance and recovery abilities that even launching attacks at it wouldn't hack out an opening.
Shortly after, light returned to their vision.
They got in.
Jin Chi was already on the stone steps in front, staring up at the mountaintop where Daluo Temple sat.
"I've long heard of Daluo Temple's magnificence throughout all continents. Now that I'm seeing it with my own eyes, it truly is impressive," Jin Chi complimented. On the mountain's summit, one could see many monasteries layered and scattered everywhere. This was considered quite a huge scale for Buddhist temples.
As Lin Jin was revisiting, he frowned hard.
The last time he came here, he could hear the bell chimes and mantra chanting all the way down here at the foot of the mountain. Yet, the summit was now eerily quiet.
Something must have happened.
"Let's go!"
Lin Jin didn't want to waste time. He had a brief history with Daluo Temple where he only befriended the monks here after certain conflicts. He later learned that the monks of Daluo Temple were righteous people with great personalities.
Also, when he was at the extraterritorial land, Lin Jin previously mentioned Daluo Temple to Inferno Monk. To his surprise, Inferno Monk had some history with the temple too.
Strictly speaking, Inferno Monk was like a grandmaster figure for Daluo Temple.
Lin Jin even promised Inferno Monk he would try to bring Daluo Temple into the extraterritorial land and help it prosper.
However, the temple was clearly in huge trouble right now.
Riding on clouds, they soon arrived at the temple's main gates.
There would usually be monks on duty here to guard the place, but right now, the gates were wide open with no monks in sight.
Lin Jin's heart sank.
"Let's go in!"
He led the way inside, scrutinizing the place as he went. Soon, he found the corpses of Daluo Temple's monks all piled up in front of the main hall.
Among them included a few of the rectors Lin Jin had been acquainted with.
Lin Jin wasn't surprised.
The high monks of Daluo Temple may be powerful against mortals, but they were far too weak when compared to immortals.
Even the Four Cardinal Guardian Beasts Master Abbot could summon were only Rank 5.
Immortals could easily overwhelm him.
When Lin Jin looked around and didn't see Master Abbot's body, he felt a tinge of hope.
The black clouds remained, proving that the Beast Deity Cult still occupied Daluo Temple.
"Found them!"
Jin Chi's eyes glinted and he darted over to the back mountain. Lin Jin and Shang'er followed closely.
The trio swiftly sped through the courtyard where more corpses of monks could be seen strewn around. They also saw destroyed buildings and large pits resulting from vicious battles.
Then, Lin Jin saw a massive Grassy Continent tiger tearing flesh from a monk's body in front of a dilapidated hall while two people stood aside, engaged in cheerful conversation.
The expressions on their faces starkly contrasted with the bloody scene around them.
These people clearly weren't Daluo Temple monks but immortals of the Beast Deity Cult.
The instant Lin Jin noticed them, they, too, noticed him.
"It's Lin Jin!"
"Quick, report this to the leader!"
The immortals easily recognized Lin Jin, but thankfully, Lin Jin wasn't alone. Jin Chi had instantly blocked off these immortals' retreat route. Lin Jin didn't hold back and showered the immortals with bloody rain, drenching the two immortals and that Grassy Continent tiger.
"Death is too benevolent for a tiger that eats humans. It's enough to leave just one of the immortals alive for questioning," Lin Jin narrated as if things would turn out just as he said.
In fact, it did.
He didn't require Jin Chi's help, nor did Shang'er get a chance to attack. Lin Jin managed to seize control over the situation by himself.
The ghost worms inside the blood ghost immediately devoured the Rank 6 Grassy Continent tiger and one unlucky immortal, turning them into puddles of blood.
The remaining immortal couldn't move. He was experiencing unbearable pain throughout his entire body and yet, he couldn't so much as twitch or make a sound. Fear came surging like water rushing out of a broken dam.
And now, Lin Jin had arrived in front of him.
"Since you know my name, you should know what I'm capable of. You will answer my questions or you'll be wishing you were dead instead."
Lin Jin looked utterly menacing.
The immortal probably never dreamed that a day would come where a mortal could threaten him while he had no means of fighting back.