The Buddhist Sect arrived in grand procession, golden lotuses blooming without end, rosy light and bright clouds stretching into the distance.
As the Buddhist light and auspicious clouds drew near, they slowly dispersed. Beyond several layers of formations, arhats and novice monks cleared the path. Auspicious clouds billowed outward, and Runan's precious canopy gradually revealed its true form.
On either side of Runan's canopy, the Buddha canopies — much smaller in size and splendor — also slowly came into view.
Outside the canopies, arhats stood and personally reached up to lift the canopy covers, revealing Runan's stern expression within.
The other Buddha canopies were also all lifted, and each Buddha revealed their true form.
Their gazes all turned together toward the figure on the main seat — Yuankong.
Runan looked and looked again, then sent out his divine sense to probe.
Although the formation had the effect of blocking divine sense, this was not the protective great formation of the Eighteen Immortal Sects.
Naturally, it could not completely block the divine sense of a top-tier Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.
Runan's divine sense pushed through, heading straight for Yuankong — but it was not that easy.
Huang Miao's gaze lifted and stared straight at Runan. A thread of sword intent flowed forth, cleanly severing Runan's probing divine sense.
Having done this, he coldly demanded,
"Junior, have you forgotten even basic manners?"
Runan's eyes lifted slightly. He temporarily ceased his futile efforts and asked in a calm tone,
"The appearance is a mix of true and false."
Yuankong formed a Buddhist seal with his hands and gazed calmly at Runan.
The formation blocked the oppressive pressure — without the sheer pressure of a top-tier cultivator, the lofty, condescending Runan now seemed rather ordinary.
The unease in his heart faded quickly. He quietly observed this Honored Buddha, the highest authority in the Buddhist Sect.
Chu Xingchen stood at Yuankong's side, watching Yuankong's expression gradually calm. It seemed Yuankong no longer needed his quips to ease his nerves.
Runan's gaze also rested on Yuankong, then swept to Chu Xingchen beside him.
He did not press Chu Xingchen about the promise at Pudu River — that he would not involve himself with the Evil Buddha — only to go back on his word and take in the Evil Buddha now.
If it really came down to it, anyone could find justification, anyone could find a suitable excuse.
But that solved nothing.
Runan's gaze settled on Chu Xingchen, calm and gentle, as if waiting for Chu Xingchen to name his price.
From ancient times to the present, what has always driven people to make choices is profit, not principle.
Some desire reputation, so they sacrifice everything but reputation. Some pursue wealth, so they abandon the fairness in their hearts.
Watching Runan's expression, no matter how noble his bearing, the calculating look in his eyes was unmistakably clear. Yuankong turned his head to look at Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen noticed the gaze and looked back, sending a voice transmission to ask,
"What's wrong?"
Yuankong honestly transmitted back, "Can I freestyle a bit? I have a question I want to ask him."
Chu Xingchen chuckled and nodded.
Yuankong hadn't expected Chu Xingchen to actually agree.
Although his suggestion had its merits — Runan was, after all, the Buddhist Sect's Honored Buddha, and Buddhist mind cultivation was naturally at its peak with him.
If he merely followed Chu Xingchen's lead, even if the appearance was perfect and the aura matched, the heart within would be different.
He had, after all, truly studied the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings and pondered its principles deeply.
Yuankong took a deep breath. Although he wanted to ask, he would try not to disappoint Chu Xingchen's trust. He turned his gaze to Runan and said,
"Honored Buddha Runan."
Hearing the address, Runan looked at Yuankong. He stared at the aged face of the Radiant Buddha, listening to that calm title of Honored Buddha. For a long while, he said nothing.
Yuankong performed a Buddhist salute and asked softly,
"Even if I am false, I have a few questions I don't understand and wish to ask you. Not about whether the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings are right or wrong — only about what is unclear in my mind. Think of it as answering the questions of a novice monk sincerely seeking truth. Would that be alright?"
Runan half-closed his eyes. "Ask."
"The world itself is calculating, and all people weigh gains and losses." Yuankong's tone carried a hint of confusion as he asked, "If one seeks only one's own liberation, can that be called calculating in the heart? And if so, is such liberation truly liberation?"
Runan answered calmly, "Relying on nothing external, seeking neither honor nor disgrace — where is the calculation, where is the falsehood?"
Yuankong pressed on, "If the heart holds compassion and desires external things, if the heart feels shame and seeks honor and disgrace — then what?"
Runan pondered for a moment, then answered again.
Chu Xingchen was no Buddhist cultivator. He could roughly grasp the meaning of this idealist philosophy, but he found little to agree with.
The two monks' conversation quickly seemed to reach its stride.
Yuankong had accumulated many unresolved questions on his journey. Now, facing a true heavyweight of the Buddhist Sect, he poured out all his doubts and frustrations, genuinely putting on the appearance of a sincere student.
Sometimes he would ask the most basic questions. Through this back and forth, the earlier tense atmosphere gradually dissolved.
In Yuankong's eyes, it seemed there was no longer an Honored Buddha before him — he had simply met a senior who had walked the path before him.
Runan's answers were not careless either. He answered earnestly, sometimes posing counter-questions of his own.
For a time, the scene felt like an internal Buddhist dialogue on mind cultivation. Runan's expression shifted from its initial coldness to warmth, but the wariness in his eyes gradually deepened.
Time passed, and the sun climbed higher. No one knew how long this conversation had lasted.
Yuankong had just received a satisfactory answer from Runan, a hint of contentment on his face, and was about to ask another question when Wenliu Buddha, seated within his canopy beside Runan, interrupted,
"Your questions are like a child seeking learning — how could you truly be the Evil Buddha?"
The sudden words broke the flow of their conversation. Runan's expression remained unchanged, showing no additional reaction. Yuankong, interrupted, looked somewhat regretful. He turned his gaze to Wenliu Buddha, who had spoken.
"You want to know if I'm real or fake?"
Wenliu raised his brows and said coldly, "You are false to begin with. Nothing but a petty trick."
Chu Xingchen glanced at Yuankong — the time had come.
Yuankong caught Chu Xingchen's look, then chuckled softly and shook his head. He pressed his palms together, and Buddhist light appeared around him. The flowing Buddhist light on his body then drifted outward, past the barrier.
A wisp of faint Buddhist golden light, carrying the essence of Buddhist principle, drifted out. That nearly intangible breath was instantly detected by the many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators of the Buddhist Sect at the entrance.
Various expressions appeared among the assembled Buddhas. Some were secretly pleased, some glared in fury, but the next moment, everyone's gaze turned to Runan.
Runan stared intently at Yuankong. After a long silence, he slowly spoke,
"Senior Brother, your skills are far inferior to what they were back then."
The moment these words fell, everyone's expressions shifted again. Wenliu's look went from secret pleasure to astonishment.
He secretly recalled that wisp of Buddhist essence, and felt that there was indeed something of the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings within it… He stared at Yuankong with suspicion, and cast a covert glance at Runan as well.
Huawu True Buddha turned to look at Runan, something stirring in his eyes. Reading the expression on Runan's face, Wenliu True Buddha made his decision and coldly rebuked,
"Evil Buddha, if you truly understand the Buddhist heart of principle, then you should submit now. If you sincerely repent, there are ten thousand true scriptures for you to read, and the Honored Buddha will also be willing to accept your great dharma!"
Yuankong heard this and simply smiled,
"The principles my junior brother and I discussed — they weren't said for me to hear, nor for me to understand. They were said for all of you."
"After listening to so much, you haven't gained a single insight."
"Truly a Buddha?"
Yuankong turned his gaze to Runan and said,
"Junior Brother, since you understand the principles — right or wrong, do you truly not understand?"
Runan stared at Yuankong and said coldly,
"I called you Senior Brother only out of regard for old times. It's a pity you have already entered the path of demons."
"With demons in your heart, how can you be right? This formation protects you, but how is this place any different from beneath Zhengyin Dharma Temple?"
"In the past, the Buddhist Sect's grace kept you safe. Today, your body and mind are both demon."
"Do not blame me any longer. It is time to subdue demons and vanquish evil!"
Runan turned his gaze to Chu Xingchen,
"Three days. Return the Evil Buddha."
With that, the canopy descended and the auspicious clouds churned. Chu Xingchen wore a smile, as if the threat had never been directed at him at all.
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