The Compassion of the Buddha

Central Continent, Wanhua Ridge.

"You certainly have a lot of free time on your hands." Bai Xuanling crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings. "Aren't you afraid your tracks will be discovered? Those Heavenly Demons are quite fond of you. If they knew you weren't in the Tianyan Sect, they would probably do whatever it takes to kill you first."

Chu Xingchen sat down in the chair Chen Baiqing usually occupied, his eyes gently taking in every visible corner of the sect.

Under the protection of the array formations, not even a speck of dust had fallen here.

Everything remained unchanged, exactly as it was when they left.

Calculating carefully, it had been over twenty years since their emergency relocation from Wanhua Ridge to the Tianyan Sect.

Over these past twenty-plus years, the cultivation within Chu Xingchen's body had recovered to the peak of the Body Integration Realm, not far from the Mahayana Realm.

The progress of his cultivation was naturally extremely fast. After all, the cultivation levels of his disciples were no longer low, and the feedback they provided was incredibly potent.

Moreover, the system seemed to have slightly enhanced this feedback.

Chu Xingchen took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a sense of relief, and then chuckled lightly:

"That's just how it is when you're popular. But in reality, I'm not in that much danger. Setting aside how fierce you are, just the possibility of those Heavenly Demons regrouping and launching a surprise attack on me is highly unlikely."

"If they could really pull that off, the worst-case scenario is that I trade my life to take them all down with me."

"Furthermore, their ultimate goal isn't actually to kill me."

"This is also why I allowed my disciples to go out and gain some worldly experience, provided they remain safe."

"If we truly have to fight against the Heavenly Demons in the future, the real main force won't be me, but my disciples."

Hearing this, Bai Xuanling looked at him sideways, her tone making it hard to tell if she was praising him or not:

"You certainly see things clearly. You specifically called me here to Wanhua Ridge; it can't just be to enjoy the scenery and reminisce about the past, can it?"

Chu Xingchen tilted his head and asked curiously:

"What if I said yes?"

Bai Xuanling initially wanted to say that she would hang Chu Xingchen from a tree so he could get a really good look, but she held the words back.

Regardless of whether Chu Xingchen truly wanted to save the world from the great calamity in his heart, his actions and sacrifices were unquestionable.

He had also paid a sufficient price for it; there was no need to be too harsh on him.

Moreover, Bai Xuanling owed Chu Xingchen a massive debt of gratitude.

Not hearing an answer from Bai Xuanling, Chu Xingchen put on an indifferent, playful smile:

"Naturally, it's not just that. Hinayana Buddhism has already begun to be promoted in Southern Jambudvipa. The relationship between my disciples and Li Junzi is hardly a top-secret matter; the Buddhist Sect can easily find out about it."

"What's more, the majority of my sect's disciples are currently in Southern Jambudvipa. Runan is no fool. If he feels something is off halfway through and realizes he's being used, he might just decide to make things miserable for everyone."

Bai Xuanling understood upon hearing this: "You invited Runan here?"

"Yes." Chu Xingchen gazed outside the sect. "I'm taking a huge risk coming here to talk with Runan. Doesn't that show utmost sincerity? Won't Runan be incredibly moved when he hears this?"

Bai Xuanling said dismissively:

"It's just superficial posturing. What difference does it make whether you talk in Wanhua Ridge or the Tianyan Sect?"

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled:

"The perception is naturally different. Talking in the Tianyan Sect is about interests; talking with him in Wanhua Ridge is about trust and showing my hand."

Bai Xuanling didn't reply, simply because a streak of golden light stealthily arrived.

Chu Xingchen raised his hand slightly, opening the gateway of the sect's grand array. The golden light darted through, and Runan's figure landed on the ground.

"A single day apart feels like three autumns; I've missed you dearly." Chu Xingchen stood up, cupped his hands, and smiled. "Fellow Daoist, I trust you have been well lately?"

Hearing these mushy words, Runan still felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart, experiencing an extremely strange sensation.

However, he first returned the greeting to Chu Xingchen, then bowed to Bai Xuanling beside him. Bai Xuanling lowered her eyes slightly, which seemed to count as her returning the gesture.

Although it lacked politeness, considering that this person was Bai Xuanling, the only living True Immortal in the world today, Runan naturally decided not to make a fuss about it with her. With a gentle smile on his face, he said:

"Thanks to Fellow Daoist's help, things are fine. However, if there was a matter to discuss, I could have gone to the Tianyan Sect. Why come to Wanhua Ridge? It seems a bit too dangerous."

Chu Xingchen reached out, gesturing for Runan to take a seat on the stone chair at the same table:

"With Fellow Daoist here, danger is naturally out of the question. I invited the Honored Buddha here this time, firstly to apologize, and secondly, to ask for a favor."

Runan sat down. The stone table was not large, and the distance between the two sitting opposite each other was only about a meter. For cultivators, this was incredibly close, especially for Tribulation Transcendence realm cultivators.

Suppressing that somewhat strange feeling, Runan spoke with a calm expression:

"Then let us discuss them one by one."

Chu Xingchen sighed lightly and said, "First, I apologize on behalf of my eldest disciple. Her reason for choosing Southern Jambudvipa as a pilot area was because the Tianyan Sect has jurisdiction over many locations there. Starting with the Tianyan Sect would make it easier to persuade other sects."

"Actually, she wasn't wrong about this, but she also had her own motives."

"In Southern Jambudvipa, there is a Confucian cultivator named Li Junzi. He is currently trying to implement new policies, but he has met with resistance. My eldest disciple intends to use the Buddhist Sect's promotion of Hinayana Buddhism to assist Li Junzi."

Runan pondered for a moment, then grasped the crux of the issue and asked:

"What impact will this have on the promotion of Hinayana Buddhism?"

Chu Xingchen sighed slightly. "Naturally, one will rise while the other falls, thus belittling the Buddhist Sect. If Fellow Daoist has noticed, most of my disciples have actually gone to the Xuanwu Kingdom in Southern Jambudvipa, planning to help Li Junzi implement his new policies."

"My eldest disciple also felt that I had suffered a loss, so she wanted to make up for it from this angle."

"It is my failure in strictly disciplining my subordinates."

Runan thought for a while before asking again, "So, has the matter already begun?"

"Not yet," Chu Xingchen immediately replied. "I reprimanded my eldest disciple. Due to various reasons, implementing new policies is not easy. After all, if one uses coercion to oppress the people, the people will scatter, and the policies will vanish."

"Therefore, this is also the matter I wish to entrust to the Honored Buddha."

Runan's eyes were calm as he looked at Chu Xingchen and said:

"I agree."

Chu Xingchen was taken aback, not expecting Runan to agree so readily, without even asking what the favor was.

Looking at Chu Xingchen's somewhat astonished expression, Runan suddenly felt a bit more at ease in his heart. He looked up at the sky and said softly:

"It has been a long time since I had anyone accompanying me, and a long time since I had a sincere conversation with anyone. What I say today, I say it now, but once I leave Wanhua Ridge, I will not admit to it. Treat this entirely as me repaying your kindness for stabilizing my Buddhist Sect."

"Regarding your desire to promote Hinayana Buddhism, I actually found it somewhat strange. The Buddhist Sect has always been well-informed. As the Honored Buddha, I naturally do not dare to slack off a single day, and I pay extra attention to you, the Son of Heaven."

"Looking at it now, your desire to promote Hinayana Buddhism is false; your true intention is to help Li Junzi become a Sub-sage."

"As for Hinayana Buddhism, I know in my heart that it probably won't succeed."

"No matter the situation, I will overcome all objections and continue to push it forward. I only hope that this mortal world can truly gain another Sub-sage."

Having said this, Runan looked at Chu Xingchen with a gentle gaze, his voice steady:

"I attained the status of an Exalted Buddha through my journey as a Buddhist Son. The compassion in my heart is no less than yours, Son of Heaven."

Bai Xuanling frowned slightly, feeling that Runan's expression inexplicably resembled the look a certain someone had when they were planning to trick someone.

Her gaze subconsciously drifted toward Chu Xingchen beside her.

Bai Xuanling thought back for a moment.

Hmm...

She could only say it was exactly the same.