The eyes of the crowd turned toward Fang Chen, their expressions strange. They were well aware that the Haiye Temple was extremely angry this time. Otherwise, the Haiye Temple wouldn't have sent people to kill demonic cultivators in their lairs, slaughtering countless demons over the course of a month.

"I subdued this demonic cultivator some time ago, and it now serves as my mount. It is not from the same group of demons you slaughtered," Fang Chen said, cupping his hands.

"Benefactor, purging demons and eliminating evil is not something everyone can do. You should leave this demon here and go," another monk said flatly.

Fang Chen paused for a moment, then he asked, "You can subdue demons, but I can't?"

The monk narrowed his eyes slightly. "Of course."

Fang Chen noticed that many of the monks were looking at the green-headed sea turtle with a subtle greed that was hard to conceal. Though they tried to hide it, the greed in their eyes was still quite obvious.

The sea turtle suddenly surfaced fully and stared at the monks with a mocking expression. "Master, these Haiye Temple monks speak nicely about purging demons and eliminating evil, but I suspect they are eyeing the bounty on my head."

"You have a bounty over your head?" asked Fang Chen nonchalantly.

"I am a subordinate of the Falling Whale King, who has many enemies. Naturally, many have placed bounties on my head, including some demonic cultivators," the sea turtle explained.

The young monk replied flatly, "It has nothing to do with the bounty. It's simply about purging demons and eliminating evil."

"Nonsense!" the sea turtle retorted. "You monks are on good terms with the Night Fork King and have business dealings with him. Why don't you go and purge him and his fellow cultivators? Is the Night Fork King not a demonic cultivator?"

The young monk chanted a Buddhist mantra. "Amitabha, I say you are a demon, and so you are. Will you choose to die willingly, or do you want me to take action?"

The sea turtle quickly turned to Fang Chen for help. "Master, I am your mount, and I still need to guide you. You cannot let them harm me. These monks from the Haiye Temple are unreasonable and not good people."

Fang Chen remained silent, quietly observing the young monk.

When he subdued the green-headed sea turtle in the past, there had been no onlookers around. Even if the black and white paper figures appeared, they wouldn't draw attention. However, this situation was different. Aside from the Haiye Temple monks, there were countless other cultivators nearby. It was unclear whether any of them were from the Central Continent Empire. If they saw the black and white paper figures, news would likely leak.

"As I've said, monk, this demon is under my control. You have already gained enough from this matter, so don't be greedy," Fang Chen said indifferently.

The cultivators from various factions were uncertain. The man in front of them seemed completely unafraid of the Haiye Temple monks. Among the monks, there were five Enlightenment Realm cultivators and many other Nascent Soul, Golden Core, and Foundation Building Realm cultivators. If they joined forces, their strength would be formidable. Furthermore, the Haiye Temple had Dao Union Realm cultivators backing them.

One of the Enlightenment Realm monks' gaze narrowed, and he coldly remarked, "You've got guts."

The young monk remained silent. He seemed to be considering something.

After a few moments, he finally said, "You may leave."

The Haiye Temple monks were momentarily stunned. Several of the Enlightenment Realm monks quickly asked why they were letting the sea turtle go, but they received no response from the young monk. They could only watch helplessly as Fang Chen and the green-headed sea turtle gradually departed.

Eventually, they understood why.

As they watched Fang Chen and the sea turtle go, they suddenly realized that the Turtle Demonic Wanderer was also an Enlightenment Realm demonic cultivator. Moreover, it was likely at the later stages of the Enlightenment Realm, indicating it was one of the stronger cultivators at the Enlightenment Realm.

Since Fang Chen could subdue such a demon and take it as his mount, that meant he had to be far stronger than it.

"Hey, why are they coming back again?!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone looked up and saw that Fang Chen and the sea turtle were returning.

Fang Chen and the sea turtle stopped before a ship.

On the ship stood dozens of cultivators, all looking surprised.

Fang Chen pointed at one of the cultivators. "Get down here."

The cultivator was dumbfounded. "Is there something you need?"

This person was the one who had shouted earlier to alert the Haiye Temple monks of Fang Chen and the sea turtle's presence.

The cultivator realized why they had come to find him and could only pretend to be unaware, playing dumb in hopes of escaping the situation.

The Haiye Temple monks stood expressionless, but there was a hint of contemplation in their eyes.

The sea turtle wore a malicious smile. It said, "Master, this person harbors ill intentions. We have no enmity with him, yet he seeks to harm us. He cannot be left alive."

Fang Chen smiled. "Then eat him."

Seeing that the cultivator had not yet disembarked, the sea turtle opened its mouth wide. A surge of spiritual energy formed into a vortex, sucking the cultivator straight into its mouth.

The cultivator was a lower-level Nascent Soul Realm cultivator and had no chance of resisting an Enlightenment Realm demon. He only managed to let out a scream before being chewed and swallowed by the sea turtle.

Fang Chen glanced at the young monk and then continued forward with the green-headed sea turtle, gradually disappearing from the sight of the crowd. His fearless demeanor made many of the Haiye Temple monks show signs of wariness.

One of the Enlightenment Realm monks frowned, staring at the direction in which Fang Chen had left. "It seems he truly isn't afraid of us."

The young monk smiled slightly. "You, bring everything here back."

An Enlightenment Realm monk seemed to have some sort of premonition and reminded him, "Be careful."

***

"Master, I must tell you, the people from the Haiye Temple aren't easy to deal with. Although it is a place of Buddhism, the lives they've taken are no fewer than ours, demons," the sea turtle said as it swam. "The Haiye Temple has close ties with the Night Fork King. They often help him deal with troublesome human cultivators to avoid leaving any traces of involvement that could be used against him."

Fang Chen smiled. "You want me to go back and kill him?"

Realizing it had inadvertently revealed its thoughts, the green-headed sea turtle chuckled awkwardly. "Not exactly, it's just that the Haiye Temple holds grudges. I'm worried that since you didn't give them face, they might secretly seek revenge."

Fang Chen's smile widened. "You guessed right."

The green-headed sea turtle was taken aback. "I did?"

At that moment, a figure dressed in a moon-white monk robe appeared not far in front of them.

"Amitabha, we meet again, benefactor," the young monk said with a warm smile.

Seeing the young monk, the green-headed sea turtle mocked coldly, "You Haiye Temple people are truly shameless. When there are many of you, you dare not take action, afraid that someone will spread the word?"

The young monk ignored it and instead quietly stared at Fang Chen.

"Benefactor, your eyes are quite remarkable. Would you consider leaving them behind for me to take back and admire?" he asked.

The green-headed sea turtle realized,

This monk is after my master, not me!

"Come and take them if you can," Fang Chen said with a faint smile.

The black and white paper figures immediately appeared, flanking the young monk.

The young monk was not surprised. "A Dao technique?"

He let out a light laugh, and the Buddhist beads in his hand suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light. Like holy flames, they swept toward the black and white paper figures.

They barely had time to retreat before they were engulfed by the flames.

The young monk smiled lightly. "If my Buddhist beads are used against evil or sinister beings, they are even more effective. Even an ordinary peak Enlightenment Realm cultivator would find it hard to resist it. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?"

"No need for other tricks," Fang Chen replied indifferently.

The young monk was taken aback and looked up, only to see the black and white paper figures, completely unharmed, gazing back at him.