Perform a Magic Trick

Buddha Wenliu's gaze swept over the mocking smile on Chu Xingchen's face, then looked at True Buddha Huawu's expression. In just a moment, he had a plan in mind:

"Since we have news, we naturally need to rush to help. However, if True Buddha Huawu intends to stay here just in case, that is also fine. I can go with him to provide reinforcements."

The Golden Armor Buddha looked at Buddha Wenliu with a puzzled gaze.

True Buddha Huawu's problematic attitude was practically overflowing; how could they trust him right now?

Buddha Wenliu ignored the Golden Armor Buddha's gaze and instead looked at Chu Xingchen again:

"As for Fellow Daoist Chu, this poor monk still advises you to return and rest early."

Chu Xingchen said with a flippant tone:

"Are you a real monk? Even calling yourself 'this poor monk'."

Buddha Wenliu smiled without saying a word. When dealing with someone sharp-tongued, the most important thing was not to take their words seriously.

Being articulate was an extraordinary ability in itself, but in a face-to-face encounter, as long as one didn't take things too seriously, the effect of this ability wouldn't be that great.

Buddha Wenliu tugged at the Golden Armor Buddha. The next moment, Buddhist golden light surfaced. He deliberately stood in place for a moment, as if answering Chu Xingchen's question, before transforming into a streak of rainbow light and leaving.

The Golden Armor Buddha cast a resentful glare at Chu Xingchen but still followed Buddha Wenliu's suggestion and kept up with his figure.

True Buddha Huawu stood in place, calmly watching the two depart.

Chu Xingchen's expression returned to normal, and he said calmly:

"The Buddhist Sect truly has an abundance of talent. The level of the Worldly Buddhas isn't bad either; they figured it out in a few strokes and threw the blame back onto you."

Seeing that Buddha Wenliu chose to take the other Buddha away, leaving only True Buddha Huawu, who was a Karma Buddha, it was obvious that he had grasped the crux of the matter.

The essence of keeping the Bright Buddha was actually the Buddhist Sect's concession to the Worldly Buddhas and their interests.

What was truly terrifying was not Mahayana Buddhism. After all, Mahayana Buddhism couldn't brainwash Tribulation Transcendence cultivators like them. What was terrifying were the Karma Buddhas who would take it as a creed and actually sever ties.

What would harm the interests of the Worldly Buddhas was not Mahayana Buddhism, but those Karma Buddhas.

Now, Runan's attitude was obvious.

Being able to kill the Bright Buddha and settle the matter once and for all would be good.

However, using this opportunity to strike at the Karma Buddhas was also acceptable to them.

Therefore, whether the news about the Bright Buddha was true or false wasn't crucial.

If True Buddha Huawu chose to let the Bright Buddha go, then Runan couldn't possibly let True Buddha Huawu off lightly from any angle.

If another purge operation were to be launched, it would also be a considerable blow to the Karma Buddhas.

Even if the Bright Buddha lived, the Worldly Buddhas were not something he could shake.

The most critical point among all this was that when letting the Bright Buddha go, no Worldly Buddha was present. Under such circumstances, the effect of opposition would be at its peak.

True Buddha Huawu naturally understood these circumstances as well. He just chuckled lightly:

"The one who should have a headache isn't me. In my eyes, this Buddhist Sect can no longer be considered the original Buddhist Sect. Let's leave everything for Runan to handle. You've achieved your goal, so let him go. I won't stop you."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen crushed a jade token at his waist.

In just a moment, Wukong arrived speeding over with Donggua.

True Buddha Huawu first nodded lightly to Wukong in greeting. After his gaze swept over Donggua, he didn't say much.

Wukong bowed in response.

Chu Xingchen said directly, "Take Donggua and go find Daoist Yuyang."

Wukong naturally understood that now was not a good time to talk. With a wave of his hand, he took Donggua and quickly headed in the direction of Daoist Yuyang.

Once out of this realm, without Tribulation Transcendence cultivators standing guard, it meant escaping the encirclement for Wukong.

Huawu glanced at Wukong, waited for a moment, but found that the Bright Buddha didn't show up. He said with a confused expression:

"Where is he?"

Chu Xingchen replied calmly:

"The news they received is true. A group of Tribulation Transcendence cultivators can understand everything with a sweep of their divine sense. The probability of deceiving them is too low."

Huawu frowned: "You sent him to his death? Without him, without Mahayana Buddhism, will the Buddhist Sect still pay attention to you?"

"The Buddhist Sect is not some third-rate sect, nor is it an immortal sect that would easily expose its flaws," Chu Xingchen exhaled and said. "If the Bright Buddha really wants to jump out of the encirclement, he must have a bit of a gambling spirit."

"You call this a gamble?" True Buddha Huawu looked at Chu Xingchen with disbelief. "With so many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators around, how can he run?"

Chu Xingchen glanced at True Buddha Huawu and said:

"Something with a probability of success is naturally called a gamble. Something with zero probability is called a waste of effort."

"I only need him to make a brief appearance. First, to let them confirm that what they see is the real deal."

"In short, there really wasn't a Bright Buddha passing by you today."

"If anyone asks you, just tell the truth."

"You don't need to do anything extra. If you do, trust me, the probability of you being a hindrance is higher."

"The reason I can gain the trust of the three sects, apart from being handsome and easily gaining people's favor, is that I have never messed up anything I set out to do."

"And I also believe that after this matter is settled, you won't react like this the next time I make an outrageous proposal."

After Chu Xingchen finished speaking, he cupped his hands slightly and immediately planned to leave.

True Buddha Huawu listened for a moment but really didn't understand what Chu Xingchen was trying to do. Seeing that he was really about to turn and leave, he immediately chased after him and asked:

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Of course, it's to perform a magic trick for the Buddhist Sect."

Chu Xingchen didn't turn his head. After dropping this sentence, he transformed into a streak of rainbow light and left.

True Buddha Huawu looked at Chu Xingchen's back, sighed softly, and then looked in the direction of the Bright Buddha.

At this moment...

He could only trust him for now.

He hoped Wukong hadn't misjudged the person, and neither had he.

"Mmm... you guys really know how to enjoy yourselves."

Yuankong happily gnawed on a steamed bun and a strange-looking but extremely delicious immortal fruit that contained incredibly strong spiritual energy.

Although he had already abstained from worldly food, Yuankong still wouldn't refuse a free meal from Chu Xingchen.

Not to mention, the spiritual energy of this immortal fruit was extremely strong. Eating one was equivalent to a month or so of bitter cultivation.

Who knew how many spirit stones this thing was worth? He had to eat until Chu Xingchen's heart ached!

Lin Luoyu sat opposite Yuankong and reached out to pour him a cup of tea:

"Eat slowly. You must be tired from rushing all the way here."

Yuankong swallowed the fruit, licked the immortal fruit juice that had flowed onto his hand because he ate too fast, and nodded in satisfaction:

"It's alright, it's just that the people escorting me didn't like to talk much. I don't even know what I'm doing here."

Daoist Yuyang looked with disgust at Yuankong, who was dressed like a beggar and looked somewhat dirty. He was at least a Golden Core cultivator, couldn't he wear cleaner clothes?

A Golden Core Perfected Being possessed an immaculate body. Even without paying special attention, their body wouldn't get dirty.

But clothes were a different matter.

Especially when Daoist Yuyang saw Yuankong lick his palm, he seemed to have conveniently licked that dirty sleeve as well...

Daoist Yuyang looked at Yuankong with a somewhat uncertain tone and said:

"Is he really up to the task?"

Hearing this, Yuankong looked at Daoist Yuyang, decisively gave a thumbs-up, and said:

"This senior truly has a good eye to know that I'm not up to it. Sorry for the intrusion, I'll take my leave now."

Watching Yuankong about to stand up, Daoist Yuyang decisively raised his hand and used spiritual energy to press him back down:

"Such shamelessness, to eat and run, he has indeed grasped a bit of the essence of a certain someone."

Daoist Yuyang looked at Yuan Kong's disappointed expression after his failed escape, and his impression of the monk quietly improved a little.

Who knows... it was entirely possible that this Golden Core monk had dressed like this specifically to play the pig to eat the tiger.

However, what use could a monk at the Golden Core stage possibly be?