Following the Buddha's Will

Chu Xingchen picked up a spirit fruit from the table and tossed it backhand to the Bright Buddha, asking with a smile:

"They were causing trouble for you before, but now they are coming after me. If you think about it carefully, I've actually shielded you from a disaster."

The Bright Buddha raised his hand to catch the fruit, gently rubbing it with his fingers. "That is indeed true. So, what does the benefactor have in mind? You might as well speak frankly."

"Regardless of shielding or not, Runan naturally wouldn't truly risk his life fighting me. However, regarding the matter of demons existing within the Buddhist sect, I'm afraid Runan won't let it go so easily." Chu Xingchen sighed softly.

"The dispute over Buddhist dharma is inherently an internal affair of your Buddhist sect. But if it delays the paramount matters of the mortal realm..."

"You also know that I have important matters to attend to, and I cannot waste my energy on this."

The Bright Buddha gazed over. "Are you hoping that I will completely implement Mahayana Buddhism and stand as an equal rival against the current Buddhist sect?"

"What couldn't be achieved back then will likely be even harder to accomplish now, given the multitude of Worldly Buddhas in the sect. Not to mention, I have worn the title of the Evil Buddha for a long time."

"Yes and no," Chu Xingchen pondered for a moment. "Although external reports say we've lost track of the Heavenly Demons, that's actually just false information we spread. We haven't completely lost them; we still have a general idea of the direction they headed."

The Bright Buddha naturally asked astutely, "Have they come to the Western Niuhe Continent?"

"Pretty much. At least two Heavenly Demons fled in this direction." Chu Xingchen tossed two command tokens to the Bright Buddha. "I don't know if their purpose in coming to the Western Niuhe Continent is to seek the protection of the Heavenly Demons within the Buddhist sect... or if they've decided to stir up more trouble."

Chu Xingchen pointed at the tokens now in the Bright Buddha's hands. "Besides our Three Sects, three other immortal sects have expressed their willingness to support the demon-extermination cause, and they can directly strike at the Buddhist sect for this."

"However, I feel that taking direct action against the Buddhist sect is by no means a good idea. After all, among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, each one hides some lethal trump cards."

"Furthermore, my speculation regarding the Heavenly Demons coming to the Western Niuhe Continent... is that they aren't here to gather intelligence, but to make some major moves."

"Naturally, this is an unverified guess, and the Three Sects cannot deploy troops to the Western Niuhe Continent based merely on a guess."

"My goal is very simple: to stall for some time so we can determine exactly what the Heavenly Demons are planning to do."

"If the Runan you hadn't seen for a long time was willing to let you off the hook once, then the Runan you just met will definitely be willing to let you off a second time."

After listening to all this, the Bright Buddha stared straight at Chu Xingchen.

Although Chu Xingchen didn't spell it out completely, saying this much was naturally enough.

Chu Xingchen's objective wasn't to establish another Buddhist sect to rival the current one, because he felt such a move might completely force the Buddhist sect to defect to the Heavenly Demons.

After all, there were so many Worldly Buddhas. If they truly tore all face and had a complete falling out, it was inevitable that some Tribulation Transcendence cultivators would choose to side with the Heavenly Demons.

Therefore, the meaning behind the so-called stalling was obvious. To sum it up: you go act as bait.

Facing the slightly silent Bright Buddha, Chu Xingchen spread his hands with a helpless expression:

"Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance, you wouldn't want the Buddhist sect to truly fall into eternal damnation, would you?"

Hearing these somewhat familiar words, Daoist Yuyang quickly turned his head to look at the pillar to the side.

He didn't even need to look at the Bright Buddha's expression; he could guess it just by thinking about it.

Once Chu Xingchen found the leverage to say such words, probably no one could truly refuse.

In the past, when Daoist Yuyang was drinking with Xu Jin, Xu Jin had thoroughly complained to Daoist Yuyang about this—Chu Xingchen, who never speaks like a normal human.

This phrase "you wouldn't want" sounded like persuasion, but it would actually be more comfortable if he just outright threatened someone.

The Bright Buddha's expression was a half-smile. Finally, he nodded gently in agreement and said:

"Since you are prepared... then so be it."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen immediately clapped his hands and said:

"Excellent. As expected of the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, you directly saved me from saying a sentence."

The Bright Buddha looked at Chu Xingchen with a calm and composed expression, not bothering to ask what sentence was saved.

In any case, the saved sentence was definitely something he wouldn't like to hear.

It was just a pity...

Daoist Yuyang pursed his lips, looked at Chu Xingchen, and chimed in without hesitation:

"What sentence was saved?"

Chu Xingchen directly and quickly replied, and then the two exchanged a knowing smile:

"You wouldn't want the common people of the world to be destroyed by your hands, would you?"

Watching the two echo each other, the Bright Buddha also shook his head helplessly.

"That's all for now. You've worked hard traveling all this way." Chu Xingchen raised his hand to summon a cultivator from the Grand Dao Sect. "Wukong said he has something to discuss with you. In addition, the healing cultivators and medicinal pills have been prepared, just in time for you to treat your injuries."

The Bright Buddha nodded gently. Without saying much, he followed the disciple of the Grand Dao Sect and left.

The fact that Chu Xingchen personally went into the encirclement to save him was, in itself, enough for the Bright Buddha to trust him this once.

Not to mention, although what Chu Xingchen said had some elements of exaggeration, if the situation kept heading in the worst direction... it might actually come true.

After watching the Bright Buddha completely leave, Daoist Yuyang spoke up:

"This monk is quite interesting."

"The heroes of the world all possess their own courage and resolve," Chu Xingchen said with a calm expression. "For example, if I asked you to go, with your courage, you would go too."

"Heh," Daoist Yuyang sneered.

Chu Xingchen looked at him with sincere eyes. "You don't believe me? Then you are underestimating yourself."

Looking at Chu Xingchen's sincere gaze, Daoist Yuyang suddenly felt vigilant and waved his hands repeatedly:

"Go say these words to Xu Jin. He loves hearing you say things like this."

Outside the True Sound Dharma Temple, inside the Putuo Temple.

The Putuo Temple here had already been renovated to be magnificent and majestic, with golden glazed tiles, red brick-paved paths, and the radiant glow of Buddhism shining upon it.

Outside, there were Arhats and Bodhisattvas standing guard.

Wearing a plain kasaya, Bore stepped into this bustling Buddhist temple. With a light tap of his hand, he pushed open the vermilion doors.

Inside the temple, several Worldly Buddhas were already sitting high on their lotus thrones.

As the temple doors were pushed open, the gazes of the Buddhas inside also turned toward the opened doors.

Facing numerous scrutinizing gazes, Bore stepped into the hall. His eyes swept over the Buddhas and also looked at the Putuo Temple, which was far more grandiose than the True Sound Dharma Temple.

One Worldly Buddha looked at Bore:

"I heard you arrived two days ago. Why are you only willing to come here today? Could it be that you obtained supreme Buddhist dharma from Runan?"

A smile appeared on Bore's face, ignoring the sarcasm in those words. "I have come to convey the Honored Buddha's decree."

"Decree? Has the Honored Buddha made up his mind?" A Worldly Buddha looked over with a sharp gaze.

Bore nodded calmly and raised his hand to close the doors behind him. He looked at the Buddhas and said:

"I will only say the following words once. After I finish, I will deny ever saying them."

"The Honored Buddha will march upon the Zhenghua Hall the day after tomorrow to purge the Evil Buddha."

As his voice fell, silence filled the hall, and the Buddhas looked at each other.

Then, a Buddha asked, "Regarding the word 'purge', does it mean to kill or to imprison?"

Bore responded decisively: "Naturally, it means to ensure there are no more future troubles and to resolve it once and for all."

The Buddha asked again, "If that is the case, why did he retreat that day?"

Bore answered calmly, "Firstly, it was to give an explanation to the True Buddhas. After all, the Karma Buddha remains a pillar of the Buddhist sect. Could the Honored Buddha really afford to sour relations with them again?"

"Secondly, everyone here should know that the Evil Buddha that day was not the real one. The next time they meet, it will naturally be the real one."

"The Three Sects will undoubtedly protect the Evil Buddha. By going to purge him, are we declaring war on the Three Sects?"

"Do none of you possess the courage? Since you lack the courage, why harbor grievances and invite ridicule?"

Bore's expression was calm, yet his tone dripped with sarcasm. He cast a disdainful gaze at the Buddhas seated high upon their thrones.