Chapter 1349: Chapter 678: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

He carefully observed the surroundings; this small front hall had limited space, and everything inside was clear at a glance, hardly worth such a prolonged inspection.

However, Lin Beichen stood motionless; urging him wasn’t easy due to his unpleasant expression, making others even more reluctant to rush him, so they held their breath and waited for him to speak.

"What’s the matter? Is there a problem with it?"

The person in charge cautiously stepped forward to ask. The pride from earlier had dissipated; suddenly, he sensed something amiss.

Lin Beichen shook his head, whispered, "It’s nothing, let’s go inside."

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, thinking Lin Beichen was merely awestruck by the sight.

Yet, none of them noticed that Lin Beichen’s furrowed brow hadn’t relaxed at all. As they walked further, his complexion grew increasingly grim.

Since entering Xuanzhen Temple, Lin Beichen had felt uncomfortable; he experienced this feeling in the front hall but couldn’t articulate it.

In the courtyard, the sensation grew stronger, his stomach churned, and he felt the urge to vomit.

He initially believed the issue was with the front hall; now it seemed the problem lay in the courtyard.

Lin Beichen discreetly observed the courtyard’s situation. But surrounded by a crowd, his every move was under watch, making it hard to act.

"What do you think? Isn’t this Xuanzhen Temple well-built?" Someone asked.

At some point, a stranger quietly stood beside Lin Beichen. He glanced sideways; it was a new face, so he had no interest in conversing.

He softly snorted, offering some response, then continued seeking an opportunity to scrutinize the courtyard, pondering how to unearth some clues here.

"It’s beautifully constructed; when it’s finished, the incense offerings will be abundant."

"Naturally, moreover, Master Lin will personally host the completion ceremony."

The incessant chatter buzzed in Lin Beichen’s ears, but he paid no mind.

Luckily, the person in charge had already gone to prepare the necessary items for the completion, and other idlers were dispatched to the courtyard gate, leaving the surroundings much emptier.

"This is a good opportunity," Lin Beichen murmured, then glanced around, noticing objects placed in each of the courtyard’s four corners. He took a closer look and identified them.

It turned out to be four bronze cauldrons; this setup was previously used to store water for preventing fires.

But even the most ordinary households rarely placed more than one, and surely wouldn’t position them at all four corners!

This was clearly odd; Lin Beichen kept on observing, his gaze finally landing on the large censer at the center.

"Who arranged that censer?" Lin Beichen scrutinized for a while, then sneered. When the person in charge looked up, Lin Beichen had already resumed his usual stern demeanor.

Perplexed, the person scratched his head and said, "I don’t remember. Is it important? I’ll call to inquire now."

"No need," Lin Beichen raised his hand to stop him, keeping his eyes on the censer.

The censer was sizable, sealed below with a layer of mud; the first incense had to be lit by him.

However, what truly caught his attention was the objects next to the censer.

They looked like tortoises, but upon closer inspection, they differed slightly. Nevertheless, Lin Beichen recognized them.

They were "Bixi," one of the nine sons of the dragon, known in legends for carrying pillars and guarding an area.

Yet here, there were unexpectedly two, coupled with those four bronze cauldrons at the corners, forming a stance akin to tripods.

This evidently constituted an array; Lin Beichen had encountered it in an ancient book, named Hidden Soul Array.

Once part of such an array, the central person would lose consciousness briefly and soon become dazed.

Arranging the courtyard into a Hidden Soul Array—what purpose did it serve? Moreover, Xuanzhen Temple wasn’t fully completed—such haste seemed excessive.

Lin Beichen silently speculated; meanwhile, the person in charge had prepared everything and stood by in silence.

"Shall we continue?" the person in charge softly asked.

Thinking there was a real problem with Xuanzhen Temple and Lin Beichen wouldn’t preside, his earlier question caused unease.

"No need, let’s proceed. How far are we now?" Lin Beichen snapped back, unaware he had frightened the person in charge, inquiring softly.

The person in charge chuckled bitterly and honestly replied.

Lin Beichen nodded, took the incense and candles from him, and proceeded with the next step of the completion ceremony.

Those behind only saw a brief pause, then they returned to normal, so they didn’t pay much heed.

The completion ceremony proceeded smoothly; Xuanzhen Temple, as Daoism’s latest temple, attracted many believers from all around.

They gathered at the plaza outside, with dedicated reception services, eliminating worries.

Lin Beichen briefly glanced and noticed no one’s urging, so his actions grew steadier.

Under his presiding, the completion ceremony finished successfully, media capturing every moment.

"Thank you for your effort." Seeing the ceremony concluded, the person in charge sycophantically approached, offering a towel, then tried to support him.

Disliking contact with strangers, Lin Beichen subtly evaded the person’s hand, took the towel, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

While presiding, he felt an inexplicable sensation, likely influenced by the array.