Chu Xingchen finished speaking.
After meeting Ru Nan's gaze directly, his eyes naturally turned to the many Buddhas behind Ru Nan.
As expected, among the attribute tags of the Buddhas present, he did not see the [Heavenly Demon] tag.
After all, even Xu Linglong had been lured out completely. Without a critical moment, the demon hidden within the Buddhist gates would not easily reveal itself.
The situation was murky and uncertain.
If Chu Xingchen truly possessed a method to identify demons, then all would truly be lost for them.
Beyond the absence of the [Heavenly Demon] tag, none of the other tags on the Buddhas present appeared to have any connection to [Demon].
However, the absence of such a tag did not necessarily mean there was no connection to demons.
Attribute tags were certainly useful for quickly understanding a person's general character, but they had their limits.
To some extent, unspoken conspiracies could not be discerned through attribute tags alone.
Before coming to the Western Ox Continent, Chu Xingchen had naturally made extensive preparations.
At the very least, he had a thorough understanding of the Buddhist gates' structure and key figures.
The system of Worldly Buddhas had, to some extent, compensated for the Buddhist gates' slightly weaker strength amid the encirclement of the Mystic Gates.
Yet it had also cost the Buddhist gates their purity.
It had also left an opening for infiltration.
The other immortal sects did not have such a system.
Their high-ranking disciples were all raised from childhood, with no high-ranking members dropped in from outside.
Such a practice could not be simply judged as right or wrong.
Had the situation not been dire all those years ago, the Buddhist gates might not have taken such a path.
One could only say that circumstances had forced their hand.
Things having come to this, one could only say it was time for the Buddhist gates to taste their bitter fruit.
"Thank you for your kind intentions, but there is no need."
Ru Nan refused outright.
Whether what Chu Xingchen said was true or false, the affairs within their own teachings should be left for the Buddhist gates to manage themselves.
Otherwise, the grand facade the Buddhist gates had built up would become nothing but a joke.
Ru Nan spoke sternly.
"The matter of the wicked Buddha, the Buddhist gates cannot turn a blind eye to. Today I ask: how do you intend to let this seat cross this river?"
"Then I will also speak plainly."
Chu Xingchen's expression was sincere.
"The Venerable Buddha should also understand that I have pursued the demon race's remnants all the way from the Southern Jambu Continent, tracked them through the Central Plains, and eliminated them in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent."
"Senior Bai also nearly slew two top-tier demons. This information would indeed not be easy for an ordinary sect to learn, but for you, it should not be difficult."
"I already have crucial intelligence concerning the Western Ox Continent. The alliance of the three sects is also built upon this matter."
"The matter of the wicked Buddha is no great matter in my eyes. At the very least, before the great calamity of the demon race, it is no great matter."
"I do not target the Buddhist gates. I only target those I wish to target."
Chu Xingchen raised his hand slightly, pointing toward the lands of the Western Ox Continent.
"I naturally understand that this Pudu River cannot stop a Venerable Buddha whose heart is set on crossing."
"But I too have a question. You wish to deal with the wicked Buddha—but what of the demons that ravage the world and have dyed it in calamity? Will you deal with them or not?"
"The Heirloom Myriad Buddha Golden Lotus Revolving Glaze that the Venerable Buddha holds in his hand—does it carry compassion within, or does it carry profit?"
Hearing this, Ru Nan did not answer immediately.
Instead, he gently lifted the supreme dharma treasure of the Buddhist gates that he pinched in his right hand.
Seven-colored rays of light from the golden lotus spilled forth, softly wreathing around Ru Nan's eyes.
After a moment, he finally asked in a slow voice.
"What do you intend to do?"
"The Karma Buddhas may enter the Western Ox Continent to seek out the wicked Buddha, and the three sects will not stop them. After all, the Pudu River is easy to cross, but the wicked Buddha is hard to eliminate."
Chu Xingchen cupped his hands slightly and continued.
"Only, in the future, when the question arises of whether the Great Thunder Sound Temple has built another Little Thunder Sound Temple, I hope the Venerable Buddha will extend us a courtesy."
"What is true cannot be faked; what is false cannot be made true."
"What does the Venerable Ru Nan think?"
Ru Nan's gaze swept over Bai Xuanling, whose face was brimming with provocation.
Judging from the expression Bai Xuanling wore, she showed not the slightest intention of crossing peacefully.
Rather, she had the look of someone thinking: what is the use of so much talk? A fight would be far cleaner.
Huang Miao's expression was calm and unruffled, though the sword intent in his long sword was still being compressed.
He too gave the impression of having no hope for negotiation.
These two... one was the true culprit, the other was truly risking their life.
The critical issue was, if anything were to happen to either of them...
Moreover, the conditions Chu Xingchen had laid out were reasonably sincere.
He had not sought to swallow up the Western Ox Continent in this matter.
In the end, Ru Nan gave a slight nod.
"Very well. But you will have only one chance."
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen let out a quiet breath of relief.
Facing more than a dozen tribulation-crossing cultivators directly—among them Karma Buddhas of Ru Nan's caliber—the pressure was still considerable.
Especially since every time Ru Nan spoke, he seemed to instinctively use the Buddha's voice.
Chu Xingchen's gaze first went to Huang Miao at his side.
"Senior, you have worked hard these past days. You may rest a little now."
Huang Miao gave a slight nod.
Then, with what seemed a hint of regret, he raised his hand.
The spirit sword in his grasp slowly dissolved into spirit light and vanished—no one knew where the sword had been hidden away.
Next, Chu Xingchen looked at Bai Xuanling, who still stood in place with sword in hand.
Bai Xuanling's eyes were fixed on Ru Nan with ill intent.
Ru Nan's gaze, however, remained on Chu Xingchen.
In any case, Ru Nan did not believe effective communication with Bai Xuanling was possible.
Chu Xingchen coughed lightly and decisively reached out to tug at Bai Xuanling's sleeve.
"Understood."
Bai Xuanling withdrew her long sword into her spatial ring.
"He must have checked the almanac before leaving home today. I will spare him a good beating."
Hearing this, Ru Nan could not help but glance at Bai Xuanling.
In the end, he chose not to take her words seriously.
"Huawu True Buddha, Shiyun True Buddha, Supu True Buddha—you three will accompany me. The rest of the Buddhas will remain here for now."
Ru Nan did not turn his head.
He simply recited the names.
Three Buddhas behind him bowed and stepped forward.
Bai Xuanling's gaze swept over them.
She then gave a small nod, signaling to Chu Xingchen that these people were indeed all Karma Buddhas.
At the very least, these three had once been renowned Buddhist disciples.
They could not be faked.
Chu Xingchen cupped his hands slightly and stepped aside.
Ru Nan returned the gesture.
At the very least, Chu Xingchen was, in some ways, far easier to converse with than the two at his side.
Then, borne upon a treasure canopy, Ru Nan crossed the Pudu River with three Karma Buddhas trailing behind him.
Chu Xingchen watched them go.
Then his gaze turned to Bai Xuanling: was the matter with the item taken back earlier settled?
Bai Xuanling gave a small nod, then raised an eyebrow: are you really planning to sell out the Radiant Buddha?
Huang Miao watched the two of them with a strange expression as their micro-expressions shifted back and forth.
It was as if they could communicate through expressions alone.
Chu Xingchen did not answer directly.
Instead, he cupped his hands toward Huang Miao.
"This place still relies heavily on Senior. There are many matters in the Western Ox Continent yet to be settled, so I will not stay to chat with you in detail."
"Go on."
Huang Miao nodded.
Since Ru Nan had crossed the river, a storm was surely coming.
He simply offered a smiling reminder.
"The Spring Warmth is quite nice..."
But before Huang Miao could finish his hint, Bai Xuanling raised her brow and cut in.
"Quite nice? Can you even taste what you are drinking, you old Huang?"
Huang Miao frowned.
"You..."
Chu Xingchen decisively cut in once more.
"I understand. Once this is done, there will surely be more."
"Sister Bai, I have an urgent matter to entrust to you. Time is short; we will talk on the way."
Huang Miao gave a cold snort and turned away.
Bai Xuanling wore the look of a victor.
With a raised brow, she departed with Chu Xingchen toward the depths of the Western Ox Continent.
The two traveled onward for a moment.
Bai Xuanling's expression returned to calm.
She spoke up to ask.
"On the Pudu River, you agreed that the three sects would not interfere in the matter of the wicked Buddha. After this, you cannot go back on your word."
"This is not some promise casually made by a child. That Buddha has only just emerged from the True Sound Dharma Temple, and that is before even considering the recovery of his cultivation."
"Just the supreme treasure of the Buddhist gates in Ru Nan's hands alone is enough to give him serious trouble. He may not be able to endure it."
"Are you really planning to sell him out just like that?"
Chu Xingchen gave a light laugh.
"Of course not. I have studied a great deal of news concerning the Buddhist gates. Do you know when the number of Worldly Buddhas surpassed the Karma Buddhas?"
"It was during the Great Vehicle Debate. Moreover, during the Great Vehicle Debate, internal disputes within the Buddhist gates were intense, and no Worldly Buddhas had yet joined the Buddhist gates."
"Take a guess—why were there fewer Karma Buddhas?"
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