Western Ox-Continent, the Orthodox Sound Dharma Temple.
The situation had already changed drastically, so Xu Jin naturally rejected the young monk's proposal.
He didn't believe a single word of the Buddhist sect's claims to begin with. Whether it was true or false, he needed to see for himself.
If they joined forces to first suppress the so-called "Evil Buddha," and it turned out there were still hidden tricks up their sleeve — turning hostile afterward — not only would they fail to get any information, but they'd also be handing Yuan Kong over for nothing.
Even Chu Xingchen wouldn't be able to stomach that, let alone Xu Jin himself.
It was just an Evil Buddha. Let it out, and at worst, the Mystic Clarity Heavenly Sect, the Heavenly Derivation Sect, and the Buddhist sect could join forces to hunt it down.
But if what was hidden inside was a demon — that represented an entirely different situation.
Since Xu Jin had risen to become a core disciple of the Mystic Clarity Heavenly Sect, he naturally understood how to weigh the stakes. He wouldn't be easily swayed by anyone's words.
Thus, even knowing that the Faceless Buddha Statue's condition was wrong, Xu Jin still chose to first suppress the Buddhist monk.
However...
The Evil Buddha that the young monk had spoken of began struggling wildly against its shackles the moment it recovered.
The young monk ignored Xu Jin entirely and threw everything into suppressing the Faceless Buddha Statue.
Xu Jin had intended to continue pinning down the young monk and hadn't planned on attacking the Evil Buddha.
But the Arhats and Bodhisattvas pouring out from the Evil Buddha's Buddha Realm launched indiscriminate attacks.
It was as if the Evil Buddha had determined that Xu Jin and the young monk were about to join forces to exterminate it. It wasted no more words — its towering vow power surged upward, launching a frenzied assault against both of them.
It sought to drive them back and buy itself room to break free of the chains.
"Told you so! This Buddha's methods are utterly twisted."
"Let it get free and the trouble will be endless. You — whatever you are — you just fight with your eyes shut. Now what?"
The young monk's tone was furious. He watched the towering vow power surging into the sky, the densely packed golden chains swaying precariously, and the bloodthirsty Arhats from the Buddha Realm were even more outrageous.
Relying on second-rate vow power, it had actually achieved this much.
Xu Jin slashed apart an incoming Arhat with a single sword strike, his gaze shifting toward the Arhats and Bodhisattvas leaping from the Faceless Buddha Realm to guard the Great Hero Hall.
"The Buddhist sect — what kind of brains do you have? You know this Evil Buddha can control vow power, yet you still use vow power to suppress it."
Xu Jin's voice was calm. "How to deal with this is your Buddhist sect's problem to solve."
The young monk was momentarily so exasperated he could barely breathe. Was this person even speaking human language?
He immediately called out, "Send word to Bai Xuanling! Tell her to stop blocking people!"
Xu Jin acted as if he hadn't heard, only protecting himself.
The young monk watched Xu Jin feigning deafness and muteness. Who said the Buddhist sect liked to play deaf and dumb? This core disciple of the Mystic Clarity Heavenly Sect was doing an even more outrageous job of it!
"As long as we suppress this Evil Buddha, I'll allow you and Bai Xuanling to see together — will that suffice?" The young monk helplessly offered a condition.
Xu Jin smiled at this but didn't engage.
The young monk naturally understood that Xu Jin didn't trust his promise, so he spoke again:
"I am a Buddha. Those who have left the worldly life do not speak falsehoods!"
But the response the young monk received was still Xu Jin's disdainful laughter.
The young monk's tone shifted, his voice rising in anger. "The facts are right before your eyes! Must you wait until calamity befalls all living beings before you're satisfied?"
"We bring calamity to living beings?" Xu Jin finally spoke.
"Did I create this Evil Buddha? If your Buddhist sect truly had a clear conscience, why all the concealment?"
"You know what you've done, and I know too. That's precisely why I'm here."
Since Chu Xingchen could confirm that the Buddhist sect had used vow power to nurture a demon, then the Buddhist sect must have known it was a demon — and willingly chose to nurture it. It was only a matter of degree.
The Buddhist sect also knew the full truth of the Great Tribulation back then.
How many died? How many cultivators perished? The mortal realm was nearly overturned.
Even the Heavenly Dao had to intervene to provide aid.
Under those circumstances, they still deliberately nurtured a demon — did they think not enough of the human race had died back then?
And now they spoke of calamity befalling living beings. It was truly laughable.
The young monk's gaze turned to Xu Jin. He saw that Xu Jin's expression was ice-cold, and the mockery in his eyes was entirely unhidden.
"Since you refuse everything, then don't drag me down either." All trace of sorrow and joy faded from the young monk's face. "I'll suppress this Evil Buddha alone."
Xu Jin said nothing, standing with sword in hand.
The young monk cast a sidelong glance, then raised the Nine Dragon Dharma Staff and pressed down.
His Buddha Realm opened behind him, crashing down toward the Great Hero Hall below.
Golden light blazed around the young monk as he descended alone. This Evil Buddha was already proficient in Buddhist supernatural arts, so additional methods would inevitably be constrained.
The only reliable person who could suppress it — Xu Jin — would probably do nothing but stand by and watch no matter what was said.
Only the Buddhist sect's Golden Body, cultivated from within, remained wholly intact.
The young monk gave a thunderous shout. Golden Sanskrit script flowed across his body, and he swung the Nine Dragon Dharma Staff straight at those twisted Arhats and Bodhisattvas.
Xu Jin stood with sword in hand, his expression calm, watching the Buddha's light pressing down against that towering vow power.
What to do and how to do it — he knew. As for what the young monk assumed, that had nothing to do with him.
But in the next moment, Xu Jin sensed something. He frowned slightly and drew out a talisman.
The talisman transformed into a glow of light and merged into Xu Jin's body.
A moment later, Xu Jin let out a soft sigh.
I really owe him.
——
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