Chapter 630 - 631: By the Honored Buddha’s Decree
Chu Xingchen picked up a spirit fruit from the table and tossed it over to the Radiant Buddha, asking with a smile.
"Before, they were after you. Now they’re after me. Thinking about it carefully, I’ve basically been taking a disaster on your behalf."
The Radiant Buddha caught the fruit and gently felt it with his hand. "The logic holds. So does our guest have any ideas? Feel free to speak plainly."
"Whether or not I’m taking a disaster for you, Runan certainly wouldn’t truly risk his life against me. But the matter of the Buddhist sect harboring a demon — Runan won’t budge on that." Chu Xingchen sighed lightly. "The dispute over Buddhist teachings is your sect’s internal affair. But if it delays something far more important in the mortal world..."
"You know I have important matters to attend to. I can’t spend my energy on this."
The Radiant Buddha looked over. "You want me to fully promote the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings and stand as a rival to the current Buddhist sect?"
"What I couldn’t accomplish back then, with so many Secular Buddhas now, would be even harder to achieve. Besides, I’ve been carrying the name Evil Buddha for a long time already."
"Yes and no." Chu Xingchen pondered for a moment. "Although the outside word is that we’ve lost track of the Celestial Demons, that’s just a false message we spread. We haven’t truly lost them. We at least know what general direction they went."
The Radiant Buddha asked sharply, "They’ve come to the Western Niu Continent?"
"More or less. At least two of the Celestial Demons’ escape routes lead here." Chu Xingchen tossed two communication tokens to the Radiant Buddha. "I don’t know whether they came to the Western Niu Continent to seek the Buddhist sect’s protection for demons... or whether they’ve decided to stir up more trouble."
Chu Xingchen pointed to the tokens now in the Radiant Buddha’s hand. "Beyond our Three Sects, three more immortal sects have expressed willingness to support the demon-suppression effort, and are prepared to strike directly at the Buddhist sect for that cause."
"However, I think directly attacking the Buddhist sect is far from a good plan. After all, among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, each one hides a few tricks that could cost lives."
"And my speculation about why the Celestial Demons came to the Western Niu Continent... I’m afraid it’s not to gather intelligence, but to make some major move."
"Naturally, this is an unverified hypothesis. The Three Sects wouldn’t march an army to the Western Niu Continent over a mere guess."
"My purpose is simple — buy some time for us to determine what the Celestial Demons actually intend to do."
"Runan, whom you haven’t seen in a long time, was willing to let you off once. Then the Runan you meet in person will surely let you off a second time."
The Radiant Buddha listened to everything, his gaze fixed squarely on Chu Xingchen.
Although Chu Xingchen hadn’t stated his meaning outright, the words said so far were more than enough.
Chu Xingchen’s goal wasn’t to build a new Buddhist sect and create a rival faction — because he believed that move might completely force the Buddhist sect to side with the Celestial Demons.
After all, there were so many Secular Buddhas. If they truly tore faces completely, it wouldn’t be surprising if some Tribulation Transcendence cultivators chose to defect to the Celestial Demons.
So the so-called delay was obvious. To summarize — go sell yourself out.
Facing the somewhat silent Radiant Buddha, Chu Xingchen spread his hands with a helpless expression.
"Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, you don’t truly want the Buddhist sect to be utterly destroyed, do you?"
Daoist Yuyang, hearing the rather familiar tone, quickly turned his head to look at a pillar to the side.
He didn’t even need to see the Radiant Buddha’s expression. He could guess well enough.
Once Chu Xingchen maneuvered someone into hearing words like that, I’m afraid no one could truly refuse.
Back when Daoist Yuyang drank with Xu Jin, Xu Jin had complained to him at length — "Chu Xingchen speaks like something inhuman."
This "you don’t want to either" sounds like persuasion, but it’s less comfortable than an outright threat.
The Radiant Buddha’s expression was somewhere between a smile and a frown. Finally, he nodded gently in agreement.
"Since there are preparations... then so be it."
Chu Xingchen immediately clapped his hands.
"Excellent. Worthy of the founder of the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings — you’ve saved me a sentence outright."
The Radiant Buddha looked at Chu Xingchen with a steady expression, not bothering to ask what sentence had been saved.
Whatever was saved was certainly something he wouldn’t have wanted to hear.
If only...
Daoist Yuyang pursed his lips and looked at Chu Xingchen, immediately picking up the thread.
"What sentence was saved?"
Chu Xingchen answered quickly and directly, and the two looked at each other and smiled.
"You don’t want all living beings under heaven to be destroyed by your hand, do you?"
The Radiant Buddha watched the two of them playing off each other and shook his head helplessly.
"That’s all for now. You’ve had a hard journey." Chu Xingchen waved his hand and summoned a Taidao Sect cultivator. "Wukong said he had matters to discuss with you. Additionally, healing cultivators and pills have been prepared — you may treat your injuries."
The Radiant Buddha nodded gently and left with the Taidao Sect disciple without another word.
That Chu Xingchen had personally gone into the encirclement to save him — that alone was worth trusting him this once.
Moreover, what Chu Xingchen said, while somewhat exaggerated, if the situation kept heading in the worst direction... it might not be untrue.
After watching the Radiant Buddha leave completely, Daoist Yuyang spoke.
"This monk is rather interesting."
"The world’s heroes all have their own resolve." Chu Xingchen’s expression was calm. "For instance, if I asked you to go, with your resolve, you would go too."
"Hmph." Daoist Yuyang scoffed coldly.
Chu Xingchen looked at him sincerely. "You don’t believe it? Then you’re underestimating yourself."
Daoist Yuyang met Chu Xingchen’s earnest gaze and immediately felt wary. He waved his hands repeatedly.
"Take that to Xu Jin. He’s the one who likes hearing you say things like that."
Outside the Zhengyin Dharma Temple, within Putuo Temple.
Putuo Temple had been renovated into magnificent splendor. Golden glazed tiles, red brick paths, and Buddhist radiance illuminated everything.
Outside, Arhats and Bodhisattvas stood guard.
Boruo, wearing a simple kasaya, stepped into the lavish Buddhist temple. He reached out and touched the door lightly, pushing open the vermillion gates.
Inside, several Secular Buddhas already sat in the high Buddha seats.
As the temple doors were pushed open, the gazes of the assembled Buddhas turned toward the entrance.
Boruo faced the many scrutinizing looks and stepped into the hall. His gaze swept across the Buddhas, then took in Putuo Temple, far more grand than the Zhengyin Dharma Temple.
A Secular Buddha looked at Boruo.
"I heard you arrived two days ago. Why did you only deign to come today? Did you receive some supreme Buddhist teaching from Runan?"
Boruo smiled, ignoring the sarcasm in the words. "I’m here to deliver the Honored Buddha’s decree."
"A decree? Has the Honored Buddha made up his mind then?" A Secular Buddha’s gaze sharpened.
Boruo nodded calmly and raised his hand to close the great doors behind him, then looked at the assembled Buddhas.
"I’ll only say what follows once. After that, I deny everything."
"The Honored Buddha will be brought to Zhenghua Hall the day after tomorrow. The Evil Buddha will be eliminated."
The words fell. The hall went silent. The Buddhas exchanged glances.
Then one Buddha asked, "The word ’eliminate’ — does it mean kill or imprison?"
Boruo answered crisply. "Naturally, it demands no remaining disaster. Resolved in one stroke."
Another Buddha asked, "If that’s the case, why did you retreat that day?"
Boruo answered calmly. "First, to give the True Buddha an explanation. After all, the Karma Buddha remains a pillar of the Buddhist sect. Can the Honored Buddha truly make enemies of them again?"
"Second, you all should know that the Evil Buddha encountered that day was not the true one. The next meeting, naturally, will be with the real one."
"The Three Sects will surely protect the Evil Buddha. This purge — does it mean war with the Three Sects?"
"Do you lack the nerve for it? If you lack the nerve, then why complain and invite ridicule?"
Boruo’s expression was calm, but his tone was dripping with scorn. His disdainful gaze looked down upon the Buddhas seated in their high positions.
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