At this moment.
The thugs in the restaurant were threatening everyone inside to gather together. Those who disobeyed were shot and killed, sending the patrons into a state of utter panic.
However, compared to the chaos in the restaurant, the table where Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin were seated remained remarkably quiet, as if they were completely out of sync with the atmosphere.
At this moment, two thugs walked menacingly towards Ning Beichen and them. Ning Beichen said to Liu Yilin with a hint of helplessness.
"Let me handle it."
"Alright, what a disappointment."
Liu Yilin said resignedly.
Ning Beichen stood up. Without any visible movement, the two thugs who were approaching him collapsed.
Following this, a blinding whirlwind swept through the restaurant. The thugs, armed with weapons, fell to the ground as if possessed, and no one understood what had happened.
Approximately one hour later.
Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin left the restaurant safely with the other patrons.
They were briefly questioned, primarily about what had happened in the restaurant and why the thugs had suddenly fainted.
Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin naturally feigned ignorance, claiming they had seen nothing, and were eventually allowed to leave after a bit of skillful evasion.
Outside the restaurant, Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin exchanged a knowing smile.
"Beichen, your abilities are getting more incredible. I didn't even see you make a move just now. No wonder you didn't care about the surveillance."
Liu Yilin said to Ning Beichen in an admiring tone, like a young woman.
"It's just a minor dimensional attack. The human eye can't see it, and surveillance naturally can't capture it."
Ning Beichen replied.
"Beichen, how powerful are you now?"
"To be honest, I could still understand your techniques before, but now I can't even follow them. And you always talk about being jealous of my talent. I think you're the one who's truly hiding your strength."
Liu Yilin rolled her eyes at Ning Beichen.
Although Ning Beichen spoke so casually, as if it were trivial and not worth mentioning, Liu Yilin knew that such inscrutable methods were likely possessed only by Ning Beichen in the entire world.
"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure myself. My attack just now involved some form of dimensional manipulation. From what I've gathered, such dimensional attacks are rarely documented even among transcendents."
Ning Beichen answered.
However, Ning Beichen didn't believe he was the only one capable of such dimensional attacks, as the cultivation method for traversing the sea of suffering came from a piece of bronze.
Since it was something recorded, others must know about it.
But whether the method of traversing the sea of suffering belonged to the transcendent realm was something Ning Beichen was unsure of.
"Beichen, I think... the method you discovered for ascending to Unity of Heaven and Man is highly unusual. I've consulted most of the ancient texts available in this world, and none of them mention anything like it."
"Most ancient texts describe methods of achieving Unity of Heaven and Man as being related to heaven and environment, borrowing the power of nature to break through limitations."
"But you rely on yourself, by stepping through the gate of life and death and traversing the heavenly cycle to break through limitations, thus escaping the restrictions of laws. I believe your method might involve something at a higher level."
"A higher level?"
Ning Beichen asked with some confusion.
"Yes, I think it might be a level beyond the transcendent realm. Shall I conduct another physical examination for you?"
Liu Yilin asked him.
"Remember, you want to? Have you made any new discoveries?"
Ning Beichen nodded and asked.
"Your cell vitality is still continuously increasing, and its depth is unfathomable. The ultimate extent of this enhancement is still unknown. I don't believe this is an ability possessed by a transcendent."
"Of course, this is just my speculation. If I had the cells of another transcendent to study, I might be able to find more answers."
Liu Yilin said to Ning Beichen.
"Alright, if there's an opportunity, I'll catch a transcendent for you to study."
Ning Beichen nodded.
Little did they know, Ning Beichen's actions at the restaurant had made the local police highly suspicious. They meticulously reviewed the surveillance footage from the restaurant but could not find the reason why the thugs had fainted simultaneously. In the end, they could only classify it as an X-file.
"By the way, Yilin, you're a Grandmaster now. Next time, explore with me. Cultivation is one thing, but strength must be put into practice."
Ning Beichen said to Liu Yilin after some thought.
"Sure, I've been wanting to do that for a while."
Liu Yilin nodded. Even if Ning Beichen hadn't suggested it, she had intended to accompany him on his next outing.
After leaving the restaurant, the two didn't immediately leave the city. Instead, they went shopping and sightseeing with Liu Yilin for a few days before returning.
Half a month later.
As Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin appeared in Haizhou New City, they were approached by several monks.
These monks were peculiar: each was powerfully built, with bronze skin, wearing bamboo hats, and bearing Arhat tattoos on their arms.
"Amitabha, Benefactor Ning, our abbot wishes to invite Benefactor Ning to be our guest at our humble monastery."
"Which monastery are you from? Who is your abbot?"
Ning Beichen asked with a frown, displeased.
"Our monastery is Guangwen Temple, and our abbot is Master Tianwu. Benefactor Ning, please."
These monks were not polite at all, showing no signs of invitation.
"If I refuse, will you resort to force?"
Ning Beichen's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Amitabha, Benefactor Ning, do you know what a demon is?"
The monks said to Ning Beichen.
"I don't know, and I don't want to know."
Ning Beichen replied curtly.
"There is only a thin line between man and demon. Benefactor Ning truly should not have broken through to Unity of Heaven and Man."
The monks surrounded Ning Beichen. Judging by their formation, they were employing a surrounding formation.
"Are you implying I am a demon?"
Ning Beichen suddenly laughed in extreme anger.
"Amitabha, whether the Benefactor is a demon or not will be revealed when we return to the temple."
One of the monks said.
"I thought I disliked Taoists, but now I realize I was wrong. Compared to Taoists, you bald donkeys are the ones I hate the most."
Ning Beichen said in a sharp tone.
"You monks are too unreasonable! Whether someone is human or a demon is decided by your words alone. If they refuse, you call them demons. Who gave you the right to do this?"
Liu Yilin was also thoroughly angered by the monks' demeanor and rebuked them.
"Amitabha, Benefactor Ning, please."
The monks completely ignored Liu Yilin and made a gesture of invitation to Ning Beichen.
"Hahaha, Arhat tattoos, I see. So you are the Dharma Protectors of Guangwen Temple?"
Ning Beichen suddenly burst into loud laughter upon seeing the tattoos on their arms.