An Offer You Can't Refuse

Runan changed his stance extremely quickly. He didn't say much, nor did he even discuss it with the Buddhas beside him before making a decision.

The auspicious clouds turned around, and Runan was the first to leave.

At this moment, no matter how displeased and astonished the other Buddhas were, they had no choice but to follow Runan and leave.

At the very least, any dissatisfaction should not be shown in front of outsiders. Furthermore, Runan was an Exalted Buddha of the Buddhist Sect, holding a transcendent status.

Naturally, the Buddhas of the Buddhist Sect were not the only ones who felt astonished.

Huang Miao and the others also tried their best to maintain their expressions. Only when the auspicious light of the Buddhist Sect had completely faded away did they look at Yuan Kong with doubtful expressions.

Yuan Kong was also quite stunned. He had long prepared his excuses, but he never expected that he wouldn't even have the chance to use them.

Cui Hao took a couple of glances at Yuan Kong, as if he understood something, and looked at his master with a smile on his face.

Chu Xingchen shrugged his shoulders. Although he had made a lot of preparations beforehand, he really didn't have to say a word at the crucial moment. He turned around, smiled, and patted Yuan Kong's shoulder:

"Good job. I'll treat you to something delicious."

Yuan Kong shook his head and said, "There's no need for that. I've gained quite a lot myself. Compared to what I've done, I still feel like I owe you instead."

"Treating you to a meal is me giving you face, it's not about owing favors." Chu Xingchen patted Yuan Kong's shoulder forcefully again and said, "Are you not giving me face?"

The force behind Chu Xingchen's hand was not light.

Yuan Kong bared his teeth in pain and hurriedly nodded:

"I'll eat, I'll eat."

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction. Then, he looked at the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, who all had different expressions on their faces, and cupped his hands:

"I invite everyone to the main hall to discuss matters."

The crowd nodded in agreement.

Together, they headed towards the main hall.

As soon as the group entered the hall, Huang Miao looked at Yuan Kong and his attire with great curiosity:

"This thing on his face isn't considered rare. Could it really deceive Runan?"

Chu Xingchen followed up and said:

"Naturally, it couldn't deceive him."

Huang Miao crossed his arms, his tone full of doubt:

"If it couldn't deceive him, then why did he leave?"

As soon as this question was asked, everyone's gaze turned to Chu Xingchen.

Chu Xingchen smiled and replied, "Naturally, it's because he was willing to be deceived."

Once this answer came out, many people revealed expressions of sudden realization.

After all, among those who could reach the Tribulation Transcendence realm, how many were simpletons?

Yuan Kong raised his eyes, watching as everyone nodded in agreement while casting admiring glances at Chu Xingchen. Then, he said no more.

Among those present, Yuan Kong was the one who knew the least. His best understanding of Runan came from what he had witnessed with his own eyes today.

As for the internal structure and situation of the Buddhist Sect, he was completely in the dark—he had never seen it before.

He had grown up in the Chanlin Temple since he was young, and later traveled in all directions.

Being a monk was his identity, but the Buddhist Sect was not his home.

The Buddha he prayed to also had nothing to do with the Buddhist Sect of the Central State.

He didn't know anything before he came, and after he arrived, he was put to work without knowing anything either.

Today, by inquiring and learning from Runan, Yuan Kong naturally gained a lot. After all, Runan was once a Buddhist Son and was now a Karma Buddha. Aside from his cultivation, his knowledge of Buddhism was profound. Yuan Kong indeed found answers to many questions he hadn't understood in the past.

He even felt that he hadn't had enough and was left wanting more.

Yuan Kong knew he had no right to ask these questions, but his heart was itching with curiosity. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"Can I know why?"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen looked at him, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Naturally. This isn't really a secret."

"The reason Runan doesn't promote Mahayana Buddhism is inevitably due to the resistance mostly coming from the Worldly Buddhas. If he doesn't promote Mahayana Buddhism, then naturally he can only suppress the Karma Buddhas."

"However, Runan himself is a Karma Buddha. Suppressing karma is equivalent to damaging his own foundation. The foundation of the Buddhist Sect is actually made up of Karma Buddhas as well, but the situation forces him to do so."

"As a result, Runan and the Karma Buddhas will inevitably become estranged. Without an opportunity, it would be difficult to mend this relationship."

"If Runan wants to balance the factions within the Buddhist Sect, or at least make the Karma Buddhas change their view of him while suppressing the gradually expanding Worldly Buddhas, he also needs an opportunity."

"What I did was hand him this opportunity."

"He knew you were fake. The Buddhist golden light cannot deceive people, let alone the weak golden light of a Golden Core cultivator like you, which is exceptionally immature."

"Similarly, those genuine Karma Buddhas could naturally recognize that you were fake too."

"By acknowledging your identity, Runan practically chose to let the Bright Buddha go. Since the real one has already escaped, what's the point of narrowing the encirclement?"

"The Karma Buddhas will naturally appreciate this favor, and it also shows his own attitude."

"The Worldly Buddhas might know this is an excuse, but it's a way to step down gracefully and also a matter of face."

"Runan is naturally adept at playing the game of balance. With a figure like him, playing tricks is not as practical as making a deal."

"Some deals cannot be calculated openly; they can only be done in this manner of mutual understanding, which also serves as a test of tacit agreement."

"Furthermore, there will be matters that will offend him in the future. By doing him a favor now, he will remember this sentiment later, won't he?"

"Next, we just need to wait for the good news."

Looking at Chu Xingchen's gentle and calm smile, Chen Xiao suddenly remembered Bai Xuanling's evaluation of Chu Xingchen—a black-hearted brat, but somewhat pleasing to the eye and very clever.

He was indeed very black-hearted, and indeed very clever.

If he was on their side, he was indeed very pleasing to the eye.

As expected, anyone who could be praised by Bai Xuanling was not to be trifled with.

Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

Runan sat in the main seat. His gaze swept over the Buddhas who had just taken their seats below. Without any pleasantries or opening remarks, he spoke directly:

"Attendants, pass down the order. The Evil Buddha has escaped. Tell them all to return and discuss countermeasures. There's no need to surround the area anymore."

An Arhat received the order and retreated.

Seeing this, Buddha Wenliu hurriedly spoke up to stop him:

"Exalted Buddha, please be careful. I observed that the wisp of aura was incredibly immature. It couldn't possibly be the Evil Buddha's aura. It's just a blinding trick cast by Chu Xingchen."

The Arhat naturally heard Buddha Wenliu's words, but his movements did not falter in the slightest.

Runan waited until the Arhat had left the door before slowly speaking:

"I am the most familiar with the Evil Buddha's aura. Whether it is real or fake, I know best."

"I cannot do something as foolish as deceiving myself. If we waste our time here and allow the Evil Buddha to truly form an actual connection with the Three Sects, dealing with him later will be no easy task."

Buddha Wenliu did not reply to this. Instead, he sat in his seat and looked down at the ground.

"I judge that aura to be real," True Buddha Chizhu said, looking at Buddha Wenliu. "I recognize that Buddhist aura clearly. It cannot be faked."

Hearing this, Buddha Wenliu simply nodded gently in agreement.

Runan swept his gaze across the room. Seeing that no one else had anything to say, he waved his hand and said:

"Let us rest for today. We will discuss the specific matters tomorrow when all the Buddhas have arrived."

As soon as his voice fell, several Buddhas immediately stood up to take their leave.

Those who left were all Worldly Buddhas.

Runan didn't say much either. He turned around and entered the rear hall.

At this moment, the dungeon that had previously held the Bright Buddha was now holding Ruzhong.

Runan's figure shuttled downwards. His gaze fell upon Ruzhong, who was holding a scripture with a lazy expression inside the formation.

Sensing someone's arrival, Ruzhong put down the scripture, looked at Runan, and chuckled lightly:

"I was right, wasn't I? Chu Xingchen can always offer you conditions that you simply cannot refuse."