Weird...

Chu Xingchen smiled warmly, his gaze towards Runan looking incredibly sincere.

At least judging from his expression alone, even Runan couldn't spot anything amiss.

Chu Xingchen then added,

"Everyone present has heard my words. When I say there are no conditions, there are no conditions. I naturally won't go back on my word later, nor will I add any additional terms."

"If the Venerable Buddha is truly worried, how about you record this, or I can give you a signed and thumb-printed pledge?"

As he spoke, Chu Xingchen took out a piece of paper from his spatial ring. His earnest demeanor was flawless, truly the picture of utmost sincerity.

"That won't be necessary. Since you have given your word, Daoist Friend, it is naturally trustworthy." Hearing this, Runan nodded lightly and added, "Thank you for your understanding, Daoist Friend."

Since Chu Xingchen had said so, he naturally had to believe it. This was the most basic level of trust; otherwise, what was the point of coming here to negotiate?

Runan just hadn't expected that Chu Xingchen wouldn't take the opportunity to make threats and extort benefits.

Actually, that might not be entirely true. Perhaps this major concession right now was to gain a better advantage for the next condition.

After all, with such a huge concession made upfront, if Runan refused to yield regarding the matter of the Bright Buddha, the outside world would naturally think that Runan lacked sincerity.

Perhaps to Chu Xingchen, compared to a so-called clarification, the Bright Buddha was a better leverage against the Buddhist Sect.

The accompanying Buddhas also remained silent at this moment. After all, Chu Xingchen had agreed so decisively and straightforwardly, without any conditions, as if he were the Buddhist envoy sent from above to beg for a clarification.

Runan's expression turned serious as he said, "Next is the matter of the evil Buddha. Now that the evil Buddha has bewitched a Buddha of our sect, his power of corruption is enough to bring disaster to the common people. We cannot allow him to run rampant in the mortal realm, otherwise it will inevitably lead to widespread devastation."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen looked a bit strange and said,

"When it comes down to it, this matter can be considered an internal affair of the Buddhist Sect. It doesn't seem like it's my place to interfere, does it?"

Runan continued to press, "Does Daoist Friend mean that our Buddhist Sect can apprehend the evil Buddha on our own?"

"Of course." Chu Xingchen nodded lightly, then added, "However, let me make it clear first that I do not know where the Bright Buddha is. If by chance he is in another immortal sect or within the territory of another immortal sect, you should negotiate with them as needed. Do not come looking for me again; I don't have the energy to deal with these things."

"I haven't asked them to shelter the Bright Buddha, and I don't want to get involved in the internal affairs of the Buddhist Sect. I won't stop you from apprehending the Bright Buddha, but I won't help you apprehend him either."

"Since I said earlier that I wouldn't beat around the bush, I will speak my mind directly."

"After all, strictly speaking, this is a dispute over doctrine between you. In this kind of thing, whoever wins is the orthodox lineage."

"I don't want to offend the Buddhist Sect, whether it's the evil Buddha the Venerable Buddha speaks of, or the Mahayana Buddha spoken of by other Buddhas."

"Time flies, and the years are merciless. As for winning or losing... no one can say for sure."

After Chu Xingchen finished speaking, he looked calmly at Runan.

After hearing these words, Runan fell into a slight silence.

There was naturally nothing wrong with what Chu Xingchen said, but the crux of the problem was that what Chu Xingchen said wasn't the truth.

It was a case of speaking beautifully, but in reality, it was a pure statement of passing the buck.

The Bright Buddha was definitely hiding in another immortal sect, perhaps even within the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect.

As for negotiating with other immortal sects, with Chu Xingchen intentionally sheltering him, there was naturally nothing to talk about.

After Chu Xingchen finished speaking, his gaze turned to Ruzhong.

It had been a long time since he had seen this old monk. According to his information, he had been locked up by Runan for quite some time.

Coming this time, he was dressed quite presentably. His previous tattered clothes had been replaced with magnificent, glittering golden robes.

Chu Xingchen didn't say much; he just nodded lightly at Ruzhong as a greeting.

Ruzhong also responded with a slight nod and a face full of smiles.

An Eighth-Turn Buddha of the Mortal World watched the two exchanging glances, listened to Chu Xingchen's previous rogue-like words, and looked at the silent Venerable Buddha who found it hard to answer.

There were some things the Venerable Buddha couldn't probe to the very bottom; after all, saying them would lower his status.

The Karma Buddhas brought by Runan naturally couldn't completely exterminate their former eldest senior brother.

Especially this Ruzhong, who was clearly siding with Chu Xingchen—there was a mole in the team!

At this moment, it naturally depended on Mortal World Buddhas like him to break the ice.

The Eighth-Turn True Buddha cast a sideways glance at Chu Xingchen and said,

"Daoist Friend, your words might be washing your hands a bit too clean."

"In the Western Bovine Continent, that evil Buddha was already within our encirclement. Wasn't it because of you, Daoist Friend, that the evil Buddha managed to escape? Later, it was you who protected the evil Buddha and had a grand debate with us in the Western Bovine Continent."

"Now, with just a single phrase of not interfering and letting us handle it ourselves, you want to completely sever all ties. Isn't that a bit too easy? It doesn't quite make sense, does it?"

"If, as you say, Daoist Friend, this is truly an internal affair of the Buddhist Sect, shouldn't you also publicly declare that the various immortal sects must not harbor the evil Buddha? Our Buddhist Sect can also guarantee that we will only apprehend the evil Buddha."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen chuckled lightly, his gaze leisurely turning to the Eighth-Turn Buddha as he said,

"The interests of your Buddhist Sect are interests, but the interests of other immortal sects are not? If I were to speak on behalf of the Buddhist Sect, how would the other immortal sects view me?"

At this point, Chu Xingchen's gaze turned back to Runan as he said,

"Furthermore, I just said it, this is a doctrinal dispute between you. Can a Buddha undergoing tribulation be corrupted by a Buddha of the same realm who has been imprisoned for a thousand years, using means from a hundred and eight thousand miles away?"

"For some matters, I have already considered the Buddhist Sect's perspective. Since the Buddhist Sect says I cannot so easily wash my hands of this, then I will give you an idea."

"The Great Thunderclap Temple is still recognized by the world as the orthodox Buddhist Sect. You can very well propagate the dangers of the evil Buddha and criticize his ideology."

"I absolutely will not say a single extra word on behalf of the Bright Buddha."

"Since things have come to this, Venerable Buddha, I have shown you understanding. Shouldn't you also show me some understanding?"

Runan looked at Chu Xingchen and finally nodded lightly:

"Naturally."

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction, and finally pressed further,

"Then we can consider these two matters settled. Does the Venerable Buddha have any other matters to discuss?"

Runan's voice was calm as he said, "Yes. The Buddhist Sect is willing to abide by the agreement to purge demons and eradicate evil. If Daoist Friend has any news or needs, the Buddhist Sect is willing to lend its strength."

Chu Xingchen naturally nodded in agreement, then asked again,

"Is there anything else?"

Runan smiled warmly and said, "That's all. We can handle the remaining matters ourselves."

Chu Xingchen also revealed the same warm smile on his face and said,

"Very well then. Now it's my turn. I also have a matter I need to discuss with the Venerable Buddha."

The gazes of all the Buddhas instantly turned toward him.

Runan's smile remained unchanged as he looked at Chu Xingchen:

"Daoist Friend, feel free to speak directly."

"It's not a big deal. For the Venerable Buddha, it's probably just a matter of a single sentence." Chu Xingchen gestured with his hand, lightly pinching his thumb and index finger together to indicate that it really was a small matter, and then continued,

"Now that the Heavenly Demons have escaped, the Central Province has immortal sects standing guard, but the same cannot be said for the other great continents."

"I fear that the countless billions of commoners will be corrupted by the Heavenly Demons and lose their true hearts."

"Looking across the five continents and all directions, only the Buddhist Sect has an outstanding reputation in the mortal realm, renowned for its teachings of performing good deeds and accumulating merit."

"I wish to promote the Great Dharma across the Four Continents to completely eradicate this issue."

"Naturally, the Dharma to be promoted is the current Dharma of the Buddhist sect."

Runan looked at Chu Xingchen's incredibly sincere expression, feeling only that there must be a trap...

But upon careful consideration, there didn't seem to be any drawbacks to this matter.

Chu Xingchen called it a discussion, but it was more like he was presenting another great gift. If the Hinayana Dharma was promoted... then the Mahayana Dharma naturally could no longer be the mainstream.

How bizarre...

Looking into Chu Xingchen's eyes, Runan felt an incomparable sense of weirdness in his heart.

This Chu Xingchen... could he have been replaced by someone else?