Sect Recruitment: I Can See Attribute Entries

Runan turned against them with startling speed. He said little more, didn’t even consult with the Buddhas at his side, and made his decision outright.

The auspicious clouds turned, and Runan departed first.

Even the Buddhas who felt displeased or astonished could only follow Runan’s lead and leave.

At the very least, no dissatisfaction should be displayed in front of outsiders — especially since Runan was the Buddhist Sect’s Honored Buddha, his status supreme.

Naturally, those who were surprised were not limited to the Buddhist Sect’s Buddhas.

Huang Miao and the others also did their best to maintain their composure. Only after the Buddhist Sect’s auspicious light had completely departed did they turn to Yuankong with puzzled expressions.

Yuankong was also quite dazed. He had long prepared his clever arguments, but never expected he wouldn’t need to use them at all.

Cui Hao glanced at Yuankong a couple of times, seeming to understand something. A smile appeared on his face as he looked toward his own master.

Chu Xingchen shrugged. Although they had made quite a lot of preparations, at the critical moment he really hadn’t needed to open his mouth. He turned and smiled, patting Yuankong’s shoulder.

"Good job. Let me treat you to something delicious."

Yuankong shook his head. "That’s not necessary. I’ve gained quite a lot from this. Compared to what I’ve done, I feel like I still owe you more."

"Treating you is about giving you face, not about favors owed." Chu Xingchen patted Yuankong’s shoulder harder. "Are you refusing to give me face?"

The force behind Chu Xingchen’s pat was not light.

Yuankong winced in pain and quickly nodded.

"I’ll eat, I’ll eat."

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, each with different expressions, and cupped his fists.

"Please, let us all go into the hall to discuss matters."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

They headed together toward the main hall.

No sooner had they entered the hall than Huang Miao began examining Yuankong and his outfit with considerable curiosity.

"What’s on his face isn’t anything special. Can it really fool Runan?"

Chu Xingchen picked up the conversation smoothly.

"Of course it can’t fool him."

Huang Miao crossed his arms and asked in confusion,

"If it can’t fool him, then why did he leave?"

At this question, everyone’s gaze turned to Chu Xingchen.

Chu Xingchen answered with a smile, "Naturally, because he was willing to be fooled."

Once the explanation came out, many people showed a look of realization.

After all, how many who reached Tribulation Transcendence were simple folk?

Yuankong raised his eyes. As everyone nodded one after another, they also cast appreciative glances at Chu Xingchen. He said nothing more.

Among those present, only Yuankong knew the least information. His best understanding of Runan came from seeing him in person today.

As for the Buddhist Sect’s internal structure and situation, he was truly in the dark — he had never seen any of it.

He had grown up at Chanlin Temple since childhood, then traveled far and wide.

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

The Buddhism he practiced had nothing to do with the Central Continent’s Buddhist Sect.

He came knowing nothing, and after arriving, he went straight to work still knowing nothing.

Today, questioning Runan on Buddhist learning, Yuankong had naturally gained a great deal. Runan had, after all, once been a Buddha Son himself, and a Karma Buddha at that.

Apart from his cultivation, his Buddhist scholarship was profoundly deep. Many questions he had never understood before were truly clarified today.

There was also a lingering feeling of having barely scratched the surface.

Yuankong knew he wasn’t really qualified to ask these questions, but his heart was itching. He couldn’t help asking in a low voice,

"Can I know why?"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen turned to look at him. After a moment’s thought, he spoke,

"Of course you can. This isn’t much of a secret.

The reason Runan doesn’t promote the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings is that the resistance must mostly come from the Secular Buddhas. If he doesn’t promote the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings, then naturally he can only suppress the Karma Buddhas.

But Runan himself is a Karma Buddha. Suppressing the Karma Buddhas means damaging his own foundation. The Buddhist Sect’s foundation is actually composed of Karma Buddhas, yet the situation forces him to do it anyway.

So Runan and the Karma Buddhas will inevitably grow apart. Mending that relationship is impossible without the right opportunity.

Runan wants to balance the Buddhist Sect’s power — at least get the Karma Buddhas to look at him differently, and rein in the ever-expanding Secular Buddhas. That also requires an opportunity.

What I did was hand him that opportunity.

He knows you’re fake. Buddhist golden light can’t deceive people, especially not your little Golden Core golden light — it’s far too immature.

Similarly, those legitimate Karma Buddhas can naturally tell you’re fake too.

Runan accepted your identity, which means he has in fact chosen to let the Radiant Buddha go — that the real one has already escaped. So what’s the point of tightening the cordon?

The Karma Buddhas will naturally appreciate the favor, and it also shows his true stance.

The Secular Buddhas may know this is an excuse, but a way out is also face.

Runan naturally practices the art of balance. For someone like him, playing games is less practical than making a deal.

Some deals can’t be calculated in the open. They can only be done through this kind of unspoken understanding — a test of rapport, if you will.

Besides, there will be times in the future when he offends me. Selling him a favor now means he’ll remember the goodwill later, won’t he?

Now, we just wait for good news."

Chen Xiao looked at Chu Xingchen’s warm, calm smile and suddenly recalled Bai Xuanling’s assessment of him — "A black-hearted brat, but at least easy on the eyes. Very sharp."

Truly black-hearted, and truly sharp.

And if he’s on your side, he’s genuinely worth looking at.

Sure enough, anyone praised by Bai Xuanling was no simple character.

Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

Runan took his seat in the main position. His gaze swept over the Buddhas who had just settled into their seats below. Without pleasantries or preamble, he spoke directly,

"Attendants, relay the order — the Evil Buddha has escaped. Recall them all to discuss countermeasures. There is no need to maintain the siege."

The arhat received the order and withdrew.

Wenliu Buddha hastily spoke to stop him,

"Honored Buddha, please be cautious. I observed that wisp of essence was exceedingly immature — it cannot be the Evil Buddha’s aura. It is nothing but a deception cast by Chu Xingchen."

The arhat naturally heard Wenliu’s words, but his pace did not hesitate in the slightest.

Only after the arhat had gone out the door did Runan slowly speak,

"That Evil Buddha’s aura — I know it better than anyone. Whether it is real or false, I am the clearest on that."

"I will not bury my head in the sand. Rather than waste effort here and let the Evil Buddha truly form a concrete connection with the Three Sects — it would be far harder to deal with later."

Wenliu Buddha did not reply. He sat in his place, head bowed, looking at the ground.

"That aura, I judge it to be real." Chizhu True Buddha turned his gaze to Wenliu Buddha. "That Buddhist essence, I recognized it clearly. It cannot be faked."

Hearing this, Wenliu Buddha simply nodded lightly in agreement.

Runan’s gaze swept across and, seeing that no one else had anything more to say, he waved his hand.

"Rest for today. Tomorrow, when all the Buddhas have arrived, we will discuss the specific matters."

As his words fell, several Buddhas immediately rose and took their leave.

Every one who left was a Secular Buddha.

Runan said nothing more. He turned and entered the rear hall.

The dungeon that had once held the Radiant Buddha now held Ruzhong.

Runan’s figure descended through the layers. His gaze fell on Ruzhong within the formation, who held a scripture in his hands with a lazy expression.

Ruzhong sensed the visitor. He set down his scripture and looked at Runan, saying with a light smile,

"See? Chu Xingchen always gives you conditions you can’t refuse."

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