True Buddha Hua Wu's gaze was calm and unwavering as he looked back.
Buddha Ru Nan neither agreed nor allowed the others to continue voicing their opinions.
But from this response alone, it was clear that Ru Nan's decision was leaning toward True Buddha Hua Wu's position.
As the Present Buddha of the Buddhist sect, once Ru Nan made his decision, the Western Ox Continent would likely be truly and completely abandoned.
At the very least, the Karma Buddhas would no longer involve themselves in the Western Ox Continent because of this.
Before their ideals, letting go was truly just a single thought for them.
The Worldly Affairs Buddhas, however, would never agree so easily.
The Western Ox Continent might not be the Buddhist sect's interest, but it absolutely had to be their interest.
They had joined the Buddhist sect for the sake of benefits in the first place, taking their so-called golden lotus seats. Now to abandon the profit-rich Western Ox Continent would be like carving flesh from their bones.
After a moment of silence, a Buddha still spoke up.
"If the three great sects are truly only going to save the disaster victims, then I too agree with True Buddha Hua Wu's words."
To the right of Buddha Ru Nan, True Buddha Tian Ying spoke in a sorrowful tone:
"True Buddha Hua Wu has been away from the mortal world for a long time, and inevitably has some blind spots."
"The three great sects saved the disaster victims—that much is true. But along the way, the temples they destroyed and the monks they drove away are also numerous."
"The abbot of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple was slain by Yan Yun with a single sword strike."
"Saving the people is a great virtue, but even if the Buddhist sect's rescue efforts were lacking, they should not have been killed like this."
"Furthermore, even if the Buddhist sect was slow to act initially, now that we are ready to extend a helping hand, is that also wrong? Should we also be blocked at the Pudu River?"
"The three sects are already in the Western Ox Continent. Even if the Buddhist sect reenters, they would still hold the advantage, yet they still want to block us."
"I fear that saving the people is a pretense, and their true aim is the Buddhist sect."
"Who can say whether today's concession might not become the prelude to a bloodbath tomorrow?"
"The Buddhist sect has performed good deeds in the Western Ox Continent for a long time, with believers as numerous as the sands. To simply retreat now—what a blow would that be to those who sincerely follow the Buddha and seek great liberation?"
"In my view, whether the three sects are truly rescuing the people or harboring other designs, we must prepare early."
"At the very least, so hastily abandoning the Western Ox Continent is not the right course of action."
"We must cross the Pudu River, and our mistakes must also be remedied. Guarding against the three sects' hidden moves is equally crucial."
"No amount of calculation and reasoning can replace seeing for ourselves."
True Buddha Tian Ying finished speaking and immediately bowed to True Buddha Hua Wu, his expression full of humility.
"That is proper reasoning."
"It should be so."
Within the great hall, voices of agreement rose one after another.
Buddha Ru Nan gently fingered the prayer beads in his hand, his gaze shifting to True Buddha Hua Wu as he asked softly:
"How should we go and see?"
True Buddha Hua Wu's expression was calm, but he had already noted everyone who spoke in agreement. The current momentum was clear—abandoning the Western Ox Continent was already difficult for many Worldly Affairs Buddhas to accept.
Pushing it through would face heavy resistance.
Gauging the attitudes of the assembled Buddhas on this matter allowed him to draw a rough outline of where everyone stood.
If he pushed further, it would easily arouse suspicion.
"That is also acceptable." True Buddha Hua Wu gave a gentle nod.
"However, Huang Miao's cultivation is profound and his strikes are heavy. Using force to overpower others is not the right path."
"Do any of you have good ideas?"
True Buddha Tian Ying spoke again:
"If the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect truly refuses to let the Buddhist sect cross the river, then it wouldn't be just Huang Miao alone stationed at the Pudu River."
"They're simply worried that we old fellows have deep cultivation and might disrupt their plans."
"Let the Buddhist Sons go first. Although the world says the Buddhist Sons belong to the Buddhist sect, the righteous and benevolent hearts of the Buddhist Sons cannot be ignored by anyone."
"If their conscience is clear, they should let them pass. If they truly harbor greed and still refuse to let the Buddhist Sons through, then we should question their reasoning."
"Both propriety and righteousness would be on our side. No one in the world could say the Buddhist sect is in the wrong."
Faced with this concrete and feasible plan—at the very least, one with no obvious flaws—the great hall once again filled with voices of agreement.
Buddha Ru Nan glanced again at True Buddha Hua Wu, observing his current attitude and mood.
Seeing that True Buddha Hua Wu's expression was calm and showed no obvious objections, he slowly nodded:
"A good proposal. Do any others have thoughts?"
The main hall fell silent.
Buddha Ru Nan waited a moment longer before finally making his decision:
"Since that is the case, we shall proceed with True Buddha Tian Ying's approach first. If anyone has further thoughts after dispersing, you may come find me privately to discuss."
"If any of you have Buddhist Sons to recommend for this mission, you may also speak up."
The Eightfold True Buddha quickly clasped his hands and said:
"I have one Buddhist Son to recommend."
Buddha Ru Nan's gaze turned toward him. "Who?"
"Buddhist Son Wu Kong." The Eightfold True Buddha spoke.
"He possesses an innate divine ability, his cultivation is not low, and his heart is righteous and benevolent."
"He should be suitable for this task."
Hua Wu's gaze naturally turned toward the Eightfold True Buddha, his eyes calm and unruffled, as if he didn't know Buddhist Son Wu Kong at all.
Buddha Ru Nan gave a gentle nod. "Agreed."
The most important matters of this assembly were essentially settled thus. The rest was mostly pleasantries.
The Present Buddha Ru Nan took charge of the arrangements, while the other Buddhas helped where they could.
After some discussion, the doors were opened and the attending Buddhas gradually departed—but not from the Great Thunder Sound Temple. Until this matter was resolved, those without pressing business would have to wait until the dust settled before they could leave.
An assembly of this scale was only convened during truly urgent times.
However, not everyone left the main hall.
True Buddha Hua Wu was asked to stay by Buddha Ru Nan.
Whether it was because of their long separation or because there were important matters to discuss, no one besides the two Buddhas would ever know.
———————
"Not bad, Second Junior Brother! I heard you spoke righteously and drove that abbot to take his own life."
"I thought with that dumbfounded look of yours, you'd get torn apart by those monks."
"Didn't expect my junior sister would underestimate you."
Li Yingling wore an expression of newfound respect as she reached out and patted Li Xingtian's shoulder, simultaneously looking him up and down as if afraid she might have recognized the wrong person.
Li Xingtian once again felt the urge to snark back, but when he looked at his Eldest Senior Sister, he swallowed the words.
He had at least learned one or two tenths of his master's skills. He might not necessarily lose a verbal sparring match with outsiders.
But his Eldest Senior Sister had learned at least fifty percent of their master's prowess. If he really tried to argue with her, calling it self-humiliation would be putting it kindly.
Furthermore, according to Cui Hao, his Eldest Senior Sister apparently possessed legendary embarrassing material that could be used against him.
Li Xingtian had no idea what embarrassing material of his could have ended up in his Eldest Senior Sister's hands, but it wouldn't be strange for her to produce it at any moment.
After all, when pushed to the brink, his Eldest Senior Sister would even dare to tease their master.
He pressed his lips together and sighed.
"Eldest Senior Sister... where did you hear this rumor? That abbot was killed by Martial Uncle Yan Yun with a single sword strike."
A smile hung on Li Yingling's face.
"Don't be modest. My second junior brother is full of righteous energy."
"That abbot must have had filthy thoughts in his heart, and when your righteousness shone upon him, he suddenly found life meaningless and did himself in."
"Eldest Senior Sister... I can get angry too, you know." Li Xingtian put on a stern face.
Li Yingling smiled and motioned with her lips for Li Xingtian to look to the side.
Li Xingtian followed her gaze and saw Lin Luoyu approaching on her flying sword.
Li Yingling said with a perfectly serious expression:
"Your Fourth Junior Sister also righteously talked a guilt-ridden monk to death."
Li Xingtian froze in shock:
"That actually happened?"
"Hahahaha... you actually believed that?"
[
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