What's going on?
This isn't clarity, this is having your mind crushed by being suppressed for a thousand years!
The young monk quickly turned to look at Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin. Although Chu Xingchen had just been spouting nonsense and threats, it wasn't certain he'd keep any promises, especially since he hadn't actually made one.
But what if Chu Xingchen's mind had also been damaged along with the evil Buddha and insisted on saving him?
In the young monk's line of sight, Chu Xingchen's expression remained calm and unruffled, while Xu Jin beside him looked similarly concerned.
Though Chu Xingchen remained calm, he was inwardly surprised and uncertain—could problems really be solved with words alone?
Previously, his verbal tactics were meant to attack the enemy's mind first, while claiming the moral high ground for some intangible bonus of righteousness. He never expected to resolve matters with words alone; it usually required actual strength and winning fights.
This kind of tricking someone purely through words... was a first for Chu Xingchen.
After all, Chu Xingchen had his limits. With someone like Sandong who had the intelligence of a mascot, he'd at most use gentle coaxing, rarely resorting to advanced verbal tactics, as they might start tearing up after just a few sentences.
Feeling a special gaze beside him, Chu Xingchen glanced over to see Xu Jin with an indescribable expression, though his eyes conveyed a clear message—this is the power of a favored of destiny? Even that works?!
Chu Xingchen wasn't in the mood for banter now. Ignoring Xu Jin's gaze, he locked his spiritual sense onto Yuan Kong, ensuring there were no remaining tricks.
Moments later, Yuan Kong, who had been trembling with eyes closed, suddenly opened them, forcing out a voice:
"You actually fed me three?! Save me! Save me quickly!"
Chu Xingchen didn't rush, instead quickly scanning Yuan Kong with his spiritual sense while also checking him with the system panel.
[Target: Yuan Kong]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage]
[Golden Entry: Tiantian Buddha Child]
[Purple Entry: See Through Illusions]
[Blue Entry: Intelligent]
[Blue Entry: Heart Reader]
[Temporary Black Entry: Spiritual Sense Weakened]
[Mentorship conditions met]
[Notice: Only one spot remaining for direct disciple in the first phase.]
Chu Xingchen withdrew his gaze, confirming Yuan Kong was fine before looking back at the faceless great Buddha.
Since entering the main quest, the system hadn't issued any further main quests about accepting disciples. This sudden notice was somewhat expected; presumably the disciples the system could support weren't infinite.
After all, something that could enhance entries seemed rather overpowered, even Li Yingling's intangible luck could be improved.
Chen Baiqing's orange entry should be able to advance to a golden one. Chu Xingchen had seen with Li Yingling's [Cultivation Genius] entry just how overpowered such a leap could be.
If disciples could be accepted infinitely, what kind of catastrophe could withstand the system's infinite support methods and entry upgrades for all members?
Without even needing to stack his own cultivation advancements, Chu Xingchen could overwhelm any catastrophe just by outnumbering them.
The cultivation world could directly enter a new era with this.
What main quests should be called—they should have been split into side quests long ago.
But with the first phase ending, there must be a second phase.
Whether this second phase would allow him to continue accepting disciples or have his disciples accept disciples remained unknown.
Based on current speculation, the probability of accepting second-generation disciples was actually higher.
However, the treatment for those second-generation disciples probably wouldn't include complete mental cultivation techniques, divine abilities, and treasures like direct disciples.
But those were matters for the future.
"I have done as you said. I hope you can save me from this suffering."
"I am not what you call an evil Buddha; I merely... wish to save the world from suffering."
"The golden lotus can be sat upon by all, not that all beings must read Buddhist scriptures beneath it to find liberation."
The Buddha's voice was soft but carried the force of a great roar. It seemed that without Yuan Kong's spiritual control, the great Buddha was gradually losing its ability to control itself.
"I have a great vow! I should not be trapped here."
"A thousand years, ten thousand years—it matters not. My great vow shall not be swayed by wish power, nor clouded by worldly dust."
"Venerable sir, I see with a Buddha's heart that you are a good person."
"I offer myself as proof of my sincerity, and I hope you will trust me in return."
"As for that Buddha's son... even in hell, he cannot employ hellish means. This is what I've realized after being suppressed for a thousand years."
"But my heart remains bright, and I hope you understand, Venerable sir."
The young monk stood silently to the side, his expression constantly suppressed, only his tightly gripped Nine Dragon Dharma Vessel revealing his inner tension.
His eyes locked onto Chu Xingchen, the only one currently controlling the situation here.
After all, Xu Jin's apparent deference to him couldn't be feigned.
"I hate it most when people call me a good person," Chu Xingchen said calmly.
The young monk breathed a silent sigh of relief at his words.
But the very next moment.
The myriad treasures in Chu Xingchen's hands instantly vanished like flowing water, followed by a faint tremor of spiritual energy.
A few streaks of dazzling azure flashed past.
Then—with a tremendous boom.
Dozens of golden Dharma chains firmly binding the faceless Great Buddha began to shatter, turning into golden fluorescence that dissipated.
The young monk's eyes widened... countless thoughts raced through his mind, as if time had been infinitely stretched.
Why?
How could this be?
"But my heart is also bright."
The young monk was jolted back to awareness by Chu Xingchen's next words.
He watched as the faceless Great Buddha was shattered in an instant, as brilliant Buddhist light erupted beneath it.
A compassionate yet heavy voice emanated from the earth:
"Venerable sir's grace... Liu..." The voice paused slightly before continuing, "This humble monk, Brightness, shall never forget!"
The young monk gripped his Nine Dragon Dharma Vessel tightly, struggling internally with whether to do whatever it took to keep the evil Buddha here. But after glancing at Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin, he could only suppress this unwavering thought.
Pointless casualties and allowing emotions to dictate actions were grave taboos.
The Buddhist light from below grew brighter, and in a moment, a gaunt, emaciated old monk wearing a tattered kasaya but surrounded by countless Buddhist lotuses rose up, his eyes fixed directly on Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen also looked directly at the Brightness Buddha before him, remarking with a smile: "That's a bit too bright."
Upon hearing this, the Brightness Buddha gently raised a hand, and much of the Buddha light behind him subsided:
"Thank you, Venerable sir. However, I cannot linger here long. We are destined to meet again, and this karmic connection will surely bear good fruit."
Chu Xingchen waved dismissively: "Just remember to repay the favor."
The Brightness Buddha placed his palms together in a Buddhist salute, and without even looking at the young monk beside him, swiftly transformed into a rainbow of light and fled.
Xu Jin remained silent, only speaking after the rainbow light had completely vanished:
"How were you so sure he was a good person? Your heavenly intuition?"
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen quickly translated the words—How did you know he was good? Your protagonist's natural sense?
"Of course not," Chu Xingchen said arrogantly, tapping lightly beside his eye. "I'm always right about people. That Buddha looked like a genuinely good person."
Xu Jin looked somewhat disgusted; this was no better than claiming heavenly intuition.
"Hey... how about saving me first before we chat..."
Yuan Kong, seeing that the crisis was completely resolved, couldn't help but speak up.
He had endured speaking while the crisis was ongoing, and now that it was over, they were still chatting. Couldn't they have saved him first before talking?
I'd be happy to chat with you all after saving me!
[
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