"What's he planning to do?" Abbot Yanlong Shi's brow furrowed in confusion as he watched Ethan Lin approach the bronze bell.
With a single punch—
Clang!
The massive bell, taller than a man, flew back a full ten meters, crashing into the stage and leaving it partially collapsed.
"This…" Abbot Yanlong Shi's pupils contracted, his gaze locked on the bell. Right in the center of its surface was a deep, unmistakable fist-shaped imprint, the result of Ethan's single strike.
"To leave a mark like that with just a punch… what kind of strength is this?"
Abbot Yanlong Shi knew very well this was no trick. This bell was genuine, brought straight from Shaolin Temple itself. Weighing several tons, it usually took a dozen warrior monks to lift it, yet Ethan had sent it flying with a single blow.
If that kind of force were unleashed on a person, they'd be shattered instantly.
"A human with such terrifying power…" Yanlong Shi couldn't believe his eyes, nor could the other monks. Shaolin techniques emphasized strengthening the body, but even their most advanced skills couldn't turn someone into a superhuman with this kind of monstrous power.
A hush fell over the crowd. Mouths gaped and eyes went wide with disbelief, while viewers online flooded the screen with comments:
"Holy crap! He sent that bell flying! From the sound alone and the way it smashed the platform, that bell must weigh several tons. It's definitely real!"
"He's like a superhero! Punching a bronze bell like that and leaving a fist mark—it's unreal! No wonder he's fearless about challenging Shaolin!"
"There are really people this strong in the world? Are myths and legends true after all?"
"I want to be his apprentice! Teach me, Master!"
Step by step, Ethan walked toward Abbot Yanlong Shi. "So, Abbot, can I enter the Sutra Pavilion now?"
"Y-yes, of course!" Yanlong Shi nodded quickly, rattled by Ethan's power.
With strength like that, Ethan was no ordinary person. Refusing him might mean having the temple torn down around them. Besides, his only request was to view the Sutra Pavilion. The texts inside were mostly printed copies anyway, with the true ancient volumes stored in secret. Even if he saw something, it wouldn't harm Shaolin.
As for embarrassment? Letting someone with superhuman strength into the Sutra Pavilion wasn't shameful; it could even boost Shaolin's reputation—after all, if a superhuman sought Shaolin's secrets, it only spoke to the greatness of their arts.
"Thank you, Abbot," Ethan replied with a slight smile.
Outside the Sutra Pavilion at North Shaolin
"Mr. Lin, please go in," Abbot Yanlong Shi said politely. "Feel free to browse, but you may not take anything out."
"Of course, Abbot. I assure you, I'll leave empty-handed," Ethan promised.
Under the watchful eyes of the abbot and several monks, Ethan entered the Sutra Pavilion, closing the door behind him.
Once Ethan was inside, a senior monk approached Yanlong Shi and whispered, "Abbot, are we really going to allow him unrestricted access to our texts? Perhaps we should alert the police, or even request the army. Surely his strength can't withstand bullets."
"And then what?" Yanlong Shi replied, frowning. "He hasn't harmed anyone, nor has he demanded anything unreasonable. If he's detained, he'll just be released, and if he seeks revenge, could you stop him?"
The senior monk fell silent, realizing that neither he nor Shaolin as a whole could oppose such a force.
Inside the Sutra Pavilion
"So many texts!" Ethan murmured, glancing around at the countless shelves lined with Shaolin scriptures, martial techniques, and Buddhist sutras. Buddhist sutras dominated the collection, but techniques were plentiful too.
"Looks like these are all printed copies," he noted, picking up a new-looking book, clearly a modern reproduction.
To Ethan, the value lay in the techniques themselves, not the physical copies. He wasn't a collector but a seeker of knowledge, and as long as the content was accurate, he didn't care whether the books were reprints.
After a brief search, he finally found the full version of The Indestructible Vajra Body, complete with detailed illustrations and descriptions. The comprehensive text was lengthy, but Ethan's enhanced memory allowed him to absorb it in a single pass.
"And here's Vajra Palm," he continued, diving back into his search.
Over the next few days, Ethan immersed himself in the ocean of Shaolin's martial knowledge, memorizing techniques from all the available texts. His entire aura began to shift subtly, a testament to his newfound mastery.
Shaolin monks brought him vegetarian meals each day, allowing him uninterrupted study.
Three days later, Ethan emerged from the Sutra Pavilion, his mission complete.
Every single martial text was now ingrained in his mind, and he had achieved exactly what he had come for.
The trip was a success!
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