For Abbott Hui Wen, a pinnacle martial artist at the Pre-Natal Peak, few things could stir his emotions. Buddhist practices inherently induced a serene calmness. Having immersed himself in Buddhism for seventy to eighty years, even the collapsing of Mount Tai would likely not perturb his demeanor.
However, at this moment, waves of shock surged within Abbott Hui Wen.
"This is the Arhat Fist? No, this isn't the Arhat Fist!"
Carefully observing the young novice demonstrating the martial arts technique, Abbott Hui Wen was astounded. Compared to the surging vigor emanating from hundreds of adult martial monks practicing the Arhat Fist, this young novice's movements were calm and quiet, yet carried a subtle and innate quality.
It was a seamless and innate proficiency that seemed almost supernatural.
"How is this possible?!"
"A mere stubborn child, how could he master such a profound martial art?"
Abbott Hui Wen found it unbelievable. Any martial art, including those within the Buddhist tradition, required a considerable amount of time for comprehension and mastery.
The Arhat Fist wasn't particularly profound, yet it demanded six or seven years of dedicated practice for an ordinary person to achieve some level of skill. However, the technique being displayed by the young novice seemed several levels above the Arhat Fist in complexity, and yet, it appeared to be effortlessly mastered.
What puzzled Abbott Hui Wen the most was that although the young novice's movements bore traces of the Arhat Fist, they were far superior, almost reaching the level of the seventy-two Supreme Techniques of the Grand Zen Temple.
The fact that such an exceptional martial art within the Buddhist tradition existed without his knowledge left Abbott Hui Wen in disbelief.
"Head Monk."
The other young novices noticed Abbott Hui Wen's gaze, their faces paling as they stood obediently in their places. Meanwhile, Lin Yuan continued to practice the recently comprehended 'Grand Arhat Buddha Fist'.
"Um."
Abbott Hui Wen, disinterested in the wayward novices, waved his hand, signaling for them to leave. His unwavering focus was on Lin Yuan, who diligently practiced the newly discovered martial art.
"Grand Arhat Buddha Fist!!"
As Lin Yuan practiced this newfound martial arts technique, he felt a soothing sensation spreading through his limbs and body, akin to bathing in a warm spring.
It was hard to say how much time had passed.
Lin Yuan quietly condensed a breath of energy within his lower abdomen's dantian.
"This should be internal energy?"
"Is it the pre-natal internal energy that only pre-natal martial experts can master?"
Lin Yuan speculated, being just a three or four-year-old novice with limited knowledge. He knew that pre-natal internal energy belonged to a league of power wielded by pre-natal martial experts.
As Lin Yuan reached a fraction of internal energy, a sudden hunger sensation swept over him. It compelled him to instinctively cease practicing the martial art.
Continuing further would likely leave him famished.
However, as Lin Yuan looked around, he noticed the disappearance of the hundreds of martial monks and the dozen novices. In their place stood seven older monks.
The monk with elongated eyebrows in the middle gave Lin Yuan an intense gaze, making him feel a little uneasy.
"Abbott? Head monk?"
Lin Yuan tentatively inquired. Among the seven monks, he recognized three: the head of the Martial Monk Academy, the head of the Disciplinary Academy, and the current abbot of the Grand Zen Temple.
The identities of the other four were unknown, but standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the abbot and head monk signified their high status.
"Little one."
The current abbot of the Grand Zen Temple, Abbess Hui Jue, smiled gently and asked, "The martial arts you were just practicing, where did you learn them?"
Abbott Hui Wen, after instructing the other novices to leave, immediately contacted the Grand Zen Temple's abbess and other head monks. True martial experts of the Grand Zen Temple understood the gravity of the situation and hurried over.
Everyone shared Abbott Hui Wen's judgment—Lin Yuan's practiced martial art was as profound as superior martial arts. Moreover, this martial art was an unheard-of Buddhist martial art.
"If not seen with our own eyes, none of us would believe that such a superior Buddhist martial art exists, unheard of in our world."
"Where did you learn it from?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan felt a slight relief. By demonstrating the 'Grand Arhat Buddha Fist' on the spot, he intended to reveal his innate talents.
Through the three recent attempts, Lin Yuan understood that to exploit the effect of the extraordinary insight, he needed to expose himself to the world's profound martial arts.
Observing the sparrow and the earthworm, he could only comprehend ordinary martial arts—'Divine Sparrow Sky Crossing Technique' and 'Earth Dragon Rolling Technique'. But witnessing the martial monks practicing the Arhat Fist enabled him to instantly comprehend a superior martial art—the 'Grand Arhat Buddha Fist'.
Lin Yuan was unaware of the status of superior martial arts, but recognizing its significance in generating pre-natal internal energy, he knew it wasn't simple.
To access such superior martial arts within the Grand Zen Temple, or even more profound ones, being just a novice was impossible.
"Reporting to Abbess, I saw senior brothers practicing their fist techniques. I also wanted to join in. While practicing, I comprehended this martial art. I'm not sure if I should have or not."
Lin Yuan showed a hint of apprehension, speaking truthfully. In the cosmic human alliance, this transparency might lead to scrutiny or research. Yet, in this feudal martial world, especially within a religiously charged place like the Grand Zen Temple, even if Lin Yuan revealed extraordinary talent, it might be regarded as a reincarnated Buddha or a chosen one.
"By observing martial monks practicing the Arhat Fist, I gained insights into a superior martial art that far surpasses the Arhat Fist."
The abbot of the Grand Zen Temple and the other head monks fell into silence.
Even if someone else dared to say such a thing, they wouldn't believe it.
"What a joke. Do they really think superior martial arts are so easily obtainable?"
Most superior martial arts in the world were the result of the painstaking efforts of martial masters in the realm of grandmasters.
The Grand Zen Temple, being a sacred place of Buddhism and a major hub of martial arts, primarily relied on the cultivation of pre-natal martial experts through the Seventy-Two Masteries—seventy-two superior martial arts.
For a child of three or four years to claim comprehension of a superior martial art?
However, upon deeper contemplation, the abbot and others astonishingly found that Lin Yuan's words might hold some truth.
Firstly, the 'Grand Arhat Buddha Fist' was indeed a superior Buddhist martial art. Presently, aside from the Grand Zen Temple, there were a few other Buddhist sects, but they all acknowledged the Grand Zen Temple's leadership in this regard.
Secondly, while there were other superior Buddhist martial arts beyond the Seventy-Two Masteries, the abbot and head monks were familiar with them. However, Lin Yuan's practiced martial art was something they were witnessing for the first time.
Moreover, the close resemblance between the 'Grand Arhat Buddha Fist' and the 'Arhat Fist' supported Lin Yuan's claim of having gained insight into the former by observing the latter.
In a split second, the abbot and head monks exchanged glances, and a mutual thought emerged in their minds.
Could it be that among the new disciples recently accepted into the Grand Zen Temple, there truly emerged an unprecedented martial prodigy of the millennium?
87