Since It Must Come, Better Early Than Late

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanling's face also revealed a smile.

She naturally understood the idea Chu Xingchen wanted to express.

The so-called Mahayana Buddhism's real lethality was only targeted at the Karma Buddhas who had cultivated ascetically since childhood.

They truly pursued the ultimate principle.

Whereas the Worldly Buddhas themselves joined the Buddhist sect due to their own bottlenecks or other reasons.

The so-called Buddhist doctrines wouldn't sound much better than the buzzing of mosquitoes by their ears.

Profiting from it was possible, but they wouldn't risk their lives for so-called Buddhist principles.

Runan might know this reasoning, but to concede would seem too guilty.

Back then, the disputes over Mahayana and all the inside stories within the Buddhist sect were almost completely suppressed, with not a single detail circulating.

The news of the Bright Buddha being suppressed beneath the True Sound Dharma Temple didn't leak out either.

If one were truly with a clear conscience, why would there be a need to conceal the news almost entirely?

This time, the Bright Buddha's rise from the Western Ox Continent made the news impossible to conceal.

For Runan, handling the matter openly and flawlessly was equally important.

Bai Xuanling nodded gently and said:

"As long as you are confident, it's fine. I just agreed because Runan seemed overly confident."

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled:

"The current situation is unclear. Runan won't go directly to find the Bright Buddha. He will surely seek out Ruzhong of the True Sound Dharma Temple first, as it was he who personally detained the Buddhist cultivators following Wukong."

"Ruzhong of the True Sound Dharma Temple appears to obey the Great Thunderclap Monastery, but if that were truly the case, he wouldn't have left the relics for Yuan Kong."

"I don't know the reasons behind it, but surely Ruzhong will also cause quite some delay."

"Furthermore, I only promised not to hinder Runan's actions. But since Runan made such a grand entrance, occasionally leaking some information is only normal, isn't it?"

Bai Xuanling clicked her tongue lightly:

"These days, the younger you are, the more unscrupulous you become."

"In that case, Senior Bai's principles aren't very high either."

"I've never had many principles, so I remain quite young."

"Looks like it, appearing eighteen!"

Bai Xuanling nodded with great satisfaction, then returned to the main topic:

"So, how do you plan to find that demon within the Buddhist sect?"

"Not find, but force him out," Chu Xingchen said calmly. "I've never liked being led by the nose. Xu Linglong wants to divert my attention elsewhere."

"But I refuse. I will pursue her instead."

"Of course, this isn't me being petty. It's to avenge my second disciple."

Bai Xuanling, curious upon hearing this, asked:

"How does your second disciple have a grudge against her?"

"A heart-plucking grudge."

"That certainly deserves vengeance. Call me if you need help."

Western Ox Continent, Gilded Sand.

This place no longer had its initial desolate scenery. The power of the great calamity, besides moving mountains and filling seas, could also employ methods to sow hope in this barren land.

The essence of power is not solely for destruction; it's merely that humans use it to obtain what they need.

The green of vitality returned to this land, and the fountain of life healed the parched, cracked earth.

Wukong stood outside a somewhat dilapidated wall, and within the wall was a monastery built from piled earth.

Calling it a monastery was a bit of a stretch; the earthen temple could only block the wind. If it rained, it would collapse at any moment.

Thus, rain-blocking curtains were hung over the temple.

The temple was built by the initial believers. Currently, only a roughly carved, humanoid Buddha figure was enshrined inside.

Although called an enshrinement, no incense altar was set up.

The Bright Buddha had the power to erect temples far more magnificent than this from flat ground.

But he needed neither temples nor offerings.

These temples were built voluntarily by refugees who had drifted here, grateful for the salvation brought by the light.

The Bright Buddha did not refuse excessively and also moved into this extremely shabby temple.

The refugees simply didn't know what kind of top-tier cultivator the Bright Buddha was.

They didn't understand that a Tribulation Transcension cultivator was an immortal among immortals in their words.

They naturally didn't understand, but out of gratitude, they built this Buddhist temple and hand-molded the Buddha statue.

The refugees who came to the long-desolate Gilded Sand were almost all people who had never left home, were illiterate, probably couldn't tell directions, and didn't know this was a famously desolate land.

These seemingly crude things were their entire effort—especially when they didn't have enough to eat.

The Bright Buddha lived there naturally. Inside the small temple, besides the Buddha statue, there was only his resting place.

A broken mud hut, seemingly confining a Tribulation Transcension cultivator.

As the Mahayana teachings spread, the Western Ox Continent, this land long rooted in Buddhism, very naturally accepted Mahayana Buddhism.

Stripping away the layers of riddle-like Buddhist talk, the Mahayana teachings, which presented the answers and methods directly, were accepted even faster than Wukong had imagined.

However, what truly exceeded Wukong's imagination was still—Mahayana Buddhism itself.

Wukong remained wary of Mahayana Buddhism.

That stemmed from childhood reminders and warnings.

Mahayana Buddhism was almost a taboo within the Great Thunderclap Monastery, a heresy among heresies.

Wukong had also kept his distance since childhood. Now, being so close, even if he tried not to learn about it, he would inevitably overhear something unintentionally.

And then...

He would unconsciously start to ponder.

Wukong had to admit... the Mahayana teachings were indeed persuasive.

At least, he, a Buddhist cultivator, was deeply swayed.

Wukong had been struggling to resist this persuasion.

He didn't know if it was fear that it was truly heresy, or that it overturned the path he had walked since childhood, and how he should face the Great Thunderclap Monastery.

This was... a conflict of doctrine.

Wukong sighed softly and complained:

"It's all Chu Xingchen's fault. He had it all figured out even before we reached the Western Ox Continent."

As soon as the complaint left his lips, a concealed golden light shot swiftly from the east, heading straight for Wukong.

Wukong looked up and recognized it at a glance—a top-grade urgent message jade slip.

This was the most precious type of jade slip, capable of moving silently with almost no spiritual energy fluctuations, making it hard to detect.

Most crucially was its security capability. The superior seal could recognize one's soul. If it didn't match, it would immediately self-destruct, dissipating into pure spiritual energy.

Wukong frowned slightly. He knew who this message was most likely from.

After all, without exception, only major sects from the Central Continent could afford to use such things.

But...

When Chu Xingchen sent a message, the probability of bad news was far higher than good news... exponentially higher.

Yet, he couldn't not read it.

Wukong reached out and took the jade slip. The moment it touched his hand, he felt a sense of compatibility.

This message was indeed for him.

Wukong probed it with his divine sense, quickly understood the message, and then said through somewhat gritted teeth:

"Chu Xingchen! He sure knows how to create trouble."

"What matter could cause the Buddha's Son to lose his composure like this?"

Inside the temple, a gentle, kind voice sounded.

Then, the Bright Buddha, dressed in simple hemp clothes, walked out, looking at Wukong with an amused gaze.

Wukong took a deep breath and said:

"Venerable Buddha Runan has already crossed the Universal Ferry River and has brought three Karma Buddhas—Hua Wu, Shi Yun, and Su Pu—to eradicate the Heretical Buddha."

“Four Tribulation Transcension cultivators are surging forth. Chu Xingchen isn't even putting up a block. Does he expect you, a single Tribulation Transcension cultivator, to fight against four?”

The Bright Buddha's expression remained calm. After listening, he smiled slightly and said:

"Chu Xingchen is indeed an exceedingly shrewd person."

"If it weren't for these three coming, I might not have been able to withdraw unscathed."

"In that case, this outcome is still far preferable to them not coming at all."

"The enlightenment I have attained in my heart must ultimately return to the masses. If it can also serve to save all living beings..."

"How can that not be considered the perfect fulfillment of a great vow?"

Wukong glanced sideways.

He saw that the Bright Buddha's expression was natural, devoid of the slightest trace of fear or timidity.

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