In the Central Continent, at the Great Thunderclap Temple — the Great Hero Hall.
The Buddhas once again gathered together.
Only this time, the atmosphere was far less mild than at first.
A wordless pressure filled this magnificent hall, and Ru Nan, seated on the main throne, also wore a solemn expression.
Ru Nan's gaze swept across the assembled Buddhas, and he spoke softly:
"Let us begin the council."
The words had barely fallen when the Eight-Turn True Buddha spoke:
"How long has Buddhist Son Wukong been out of contact?"
The Eight-Turn True Buddha continued, his tone grief-stricken:
"I had thought Huang Miao's letting the Buddhist Son cross the Pudu River was a gesture of goodwill. We waited several months for this."
"Even when the Buddhist Son first lost contact, we only made inquiries. And now?"
"Letting the Buddhist Son cross the river was our gesture of goodwill, yet this is the result."
"The Buddhist sect yields at every turn, and in the end will only be manipulated."
"One step slow, every step slow. To wait any longer is to wait in vain."
"Even clay statues have three parts fire in them. On the Pudu River, there was only Huang Miao. Though he is a top Tribulation Transcending cultivator, if we act together, the ones who should fear are them!"
The Eight-Turn True Buddha's voice was firm and resonant, his expression extremely impassioned.
The Liupeng True Buddha shook his head slightly and spoke:
"Eight-Turn, do not be so anxious. Buddhist Son Wukong's spiritual light still remains in the temple, and shows no abnormality."
"Perhaps Buddhist Son Wukong is simply unable to contact us for the moment. The Three Sects' arrival in the Western Ox Continent itself shows displeasure with us, so they naturally would offer the Buddhist Son no help."
"You must understand — once we act, the room for maneuver becomes extremely narrow."
"Better to first send a letter demanding a reply within two days. If no response comes, then we may discuss whether to act."
"After all, Buddhist Son Wukong is still within the bounds of the Western Ox Continent."
The Eight-Turn True Buddha's expression turned stern:
"Yield again?"
The Liupeng True Buddha shook his head: "Not yielding, but rather — when matters ease, they may yet turn out well. To completely alienate the Three Sects brings us no benefit."
The Eight-Turn True Buddha's face was heavy.
To his right.
A faint smile, seemingly mocking, appeared on the face of Shi Yun Buddha:
"All of you in council seem to like hiding things, never speaking plainly."
"When the Buddhist Son crossed the Pudu River, the words Huang Miao spoke — you must all know them, yes? Why has no one mentioned them?"
Shi Yun's gaze fell directly upon Ru Nan:
"Does Venerable Buddha Ru Nan know?"
"That Huang Miao said even the Venerable Buddha could not have crossed the river that day, while the Buddhist Son could — because he had given face to Chu Xingchen."
"Wukong has trained long in the Buddhist sect, and his trials have mostly been in the Western Ox Continent."
"Chu Xingchen has only recently risen to prominence. Whether he is a hidden genius of the Heavenly Derivation Sect, we do not even know."
"When did Chu Xingchen come to know the Buddhist Son, and when did their relationship become close enough that Chu Xingchen would specifically grant him face?"
"If you ask me, it may not be that Wukong cannot send out word, but rather that he simply does not wish to send out word."
These words fell, and everyone turned their gaze to Shi Yun.
These words carried the sting of an indictment.
Who did not know that the Buddhist Son was the Buddhist Son of the Buddhist sect?
If he were to defect to the Daoist sect, it would be a considerable blow to the Buddhist sect's prestige.
Most critically, this analysis was not without reason.
Hua Wu no longer remained silent, speaking calmly:
"The Buddhist Son has grown up in the Great Thunderclap Temple since childhood. He chants Buddhist sutras, is bathed in Buddhist light, and all that he has comprehended is Buddhist principle."
"For him to defect thus would mean the problem lies with all of us seated here."
"Eight-Turn True Buddha, do you not agree?"
Wukong had been recommended by Eight-Turn, and so regardless, there was a connection.
Eight-Turn's face showed slight displeasure as he nodded.
No matter his emotions, on this question he could only accept it.
Ru Nan's gaze fell upon Hua Wu. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment of this view, and spoke:
"Regarding Buddhist Son Wukong, we must still have some trust."
"Yet to continue without action is also unwise. I propose we first follow the Liupeng True Buddha's suggestion and send a letter. Two days only — we will have done all we can to show goodwill."
Shi Yun's smile still seemed mocking, though he did not say more, instead nodding lightly.
The other Buddhas also agreed.
Just as this great council was concluding.
The tightly closed, heavy gilded jade doors were slowly knocked upon with spiritual force.
The sound was soft, almost silent, but all present were Tribulation Transcending cultivators — how could they not hear clearly?
In such a great council, so long as the doors were not opened, unless the Great Thunderclap Temple was under siege and facing imminent destruction, no obscure reminder could come.
This meant a matter of utmost urgency.
Ru Nan's face turned instantly serious. He pinched a hand seal and raised his hand.
The great doors were swiftly opened.
An Arhat bent low, holding a jade slip, and hurried forward.
Ru Nan raised his eyes, and the jade slip appeared before him.
The Buddhas all looked on together.
Ru Nan did not view it alone, but instead closed the doors once more before triggering the jade slip in his hand.
Several lines of elegant characters formed from spiritual power appeared.
[An Evil Buddha has emerged in the Western Ox Continent]
[He preaches what is called the Great Vehicle Buddhist Dharma]
[He has split the Western Ox Continent, his followers deceived, a great trend already formed]
[The Evil Buddha is named — Brightness Buddha]
[The Three Sects have virtually acquiesced to the Evil Buddha's actions, and even show signs of abetting him.]
[There is an unconfirmed report — Buddhist Son Wukong may be involved.]
The faces of all the Buddhas changed, and so did Ru Nan's.
Eight-Turn's gaze fell upon the Arhat below, and he demanded in a loud voice:
"This so-called Evil Buddha — is it the one Zhengyin Dharma Temple suppressed?!"
The Arhat immediately replied:
"It is."
Eight-Turn rose from his golden lotus, his gaze fixed on Ru Nan:
"We extend goodwill, yet they scheme against the very root of the Buddhist sect. Venerable Buddha Ru Nan, must we still wait two days for a letter?"
The smile on Shi Yun's face also faded, his expression turning grave:
"And let us not forget the Ruzhong Buddha of Zhengyin Dharma Temple. Though he once wavered and ultimately took personal charge of the suppression, this time if he has believed that evil Buddha..."
"Venerable Buddha Ru Nan, this matter is of immense importance and brooks no hesitation. To attack or otherwise — this must be decided today!"
For a moment, voices of agreement rose one after another.
Hua Wu's face also showed shock, as if he had not expected matters to develop to such a pass.
Ru Nan's expression was stern, as if he had not heard, his gaze fixed on those few lines for a long time.
Finally, he made his decision.
Ru Nan's voice was firm. He was the first to rise and issue the order:
"Cross the river! Endless tribulations shall not stay us!"
The Buddhas rose together, and even Hua Wu stood, all bowing together:
"By the Venerable Buddha's command."
Dong!
The All-Buddha Grand Bell, silent atop the Great Thunderclap Temple for centuries, rang out once more.
An immensely heavy bell tone resonated from the Great Thunderclap Temple.
Radiant light was shaken into dizziness, flowing clouds were scattered.
The Buddhist sounds paused in silence, only the long bell toll enduring.
All Buddhist cultivators stopped their actions and headed to their respective courtyards.
The Arhats were the first to move, transforming into streaks of golden light and flowing clouds toward the Pudu River.
Next, the Buddhas themselves set out.
Blossoms of golden lotuses leapt forth, radiant with iridescent colors, ten thousand jeweled canopies like morning clouds.
Ru Nan sat upon a golden lotus, leading the Buddhas, his gaze fixed far upon the Pudu River.
His Buddha-eye faintly glowed, as if, separated by ten thousand li, he could already see the Pudu River.
The Buddhist sect — the Great Thunderclap Temple.
Ru Nan personally issued the edict.
Cross the river, and let no tribulation stay you.
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