Bai Xuanling's face lit up with a smile upon hearing those words.
She naturally understood what Chu Xingchen was trying to express.
The so-called Mahayana Buddhist Dharma—its true destructive power only worked against Karmic Buddhas who had cultivated diligently since childhood.
Those practitioners genuinely pursued the ultimate truth.
Whereas worldly Buddhists themselves had joined the Buddhist path because of personal bottlenecks or other reasons.
Their so-called Buddhist principles sounded no better than the buzzing of mosquitoes by one's ear.
Profiting from the situation was acceptable, but they would not risk their lives for supposed Buddhist doctrine.
Ru Nan perhaps understood this reasoning, but retreating would only make him appear too lacking in confidence.
Back during the Mahayana Conflict, nearly none of the Buddhist Sect's inner secrets had leaked out.
The news that Guangming Fotuo was suppressed beneath Zhengyin Dharma Temple had not spread at all.
If they truly had clear consciences, why would they need to conceal information to such an extreme degree?
This time, as Guangming Fotuo rose to power from West Niu He Continent, the news could no longer be hidden.
For Ru Nan, handling matters openly and properly without revealing any cracks remained equally important.
Bai Xuanling nodded gently and said:
"If you're confident, then very well. I only agreed because Ru Nan seemed too assured of himself."
Chu Xingchen's eyes lifted slightly as he smiled:
"The situation remains unclear. Ru Nan won't seek out Guangming Fotuo directly—he'll first find Ruzhong of Zhengyin Dharma Temple, who personally detained Wukong's Buddhist cultivator."
"Ruzhong of Zhengyin Dharma Temple ostensibly obeys Da Lei Yin Temple, but if that were truly the case, he wouldn't have left behind a sarira for Yuan Kong."
"I don't know the exact reasons, but Ruzhong will certainly delay matters considerably."
"Besides, I only promised not to obstruct Ru Nan's actions. Given how grand his display is, occasionally leaking some information seems perfectly normal."
Bai Xuanling clicked her tongue lightly:
"These days, the younger generation truly has no bottom line."
"In that case, Elder Bai's standards aren't particularly high either."
"I've never had much of a bottom line, which is why I remain quite young."
"It shows—you look eighteen!"
Bai Xuanling nodded with great satisfaction, then returned to the main topic:
"How do you plan to find the Demon within the Buddhist Sect?"
"I won't seek him out—I'll force him to reveal himself." Chu Xingchen's expression remained calm. "I've never liked following others' lead. Xu Linglong wants to divert my attention elsewhere."
"But I refuse. I'll pursue her instead."
"Naturally, this isn't pettiness on my part—it's about avenging my second disciple."
Bai Xuanling asked curiously:
"What grudge does your second disciple hold against her?"
"A heart-extracting grudge."
"That certainly warrants revenge. Call me if you need assistance."
————————
West Niu He Continent. Liusha Sands.
This place no longer resembled its original desolate landscape. The Great Calamity's power could do more than move mountains and fill seas—it could also employ methods to plant hope upon this barren land.
The essence of power lay not merely in destruction, but in what people needed to obtain.
Vibrant green returned to this earth. The fountain of life healed the cracked soil.
Wukong stood outside a somewhat dilapidated wall. Within the walls stood a temple built from piled mud.
Calling it a temple was somewhat generous—a mud-brick shrine could only block wind, and would collapse at the slightest rain.
Thus, a rain curtain had been erected above the temple.
The temple had been constructed by the earliest believers. Currently, the only object of worship within was a crudely human-like Buddha statue.
They called it worship, yet no incense altar had been established.
Guangming Fotuo possessed the ability to erect temples far more magnificent than these from nothing.
But he required neither temples nor offerings.
These shrines had been voluntarily built by refugees who had fled here, grateful for Guangming's salvation.
Guangming had not declined excessively. He had also taken up residence in this utterly ramshackle temple.
The refugees would never understand what kind of supreme cultivator Guangming truly was.
To them, Tribulation Transcendence cultivators were immortals among immortals.
They naturally did not comprehend this, yet out of gratitude, they had built this Buddhist temple and hand-sculpted the Buddha image.
The refugees who could reach Liusha Sands—a place desolate for so long—had almost never left their homes before. They could not read, likely couldn't distinguish east from west, and didn't understand this place's long-standing reputation for barrenness.
These seemingly crude objects represented their entire lifeblood—especially when food was scarce.
Guangming Fotuo lived simply as well. Within the small Buddhist temple, aside from the Buddha statue, there was only his resting place.
A dilapidated mud hut, seemingly imprisoning a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.
As the Mahayana Buddhist Dharma spread, West Niu He Continent—land where Buddhist teachings had long taken root—naturally accepted the Mahayana Dharma as well.
Stripped of layer upon layer of riddle-like Buddhist discourse, presenting answers and methods directly before one's eyes—the Mahayana Dharma was accepted at a speed far exceeding Wukong's imagination.
Yet what truly exceeded Wukong's expectations remained—the Mahayana Buddhist Dharma itself.
Wukong maintained his wariness toward the Mahayana Dharma.
This stemmed from warnings and cautions instilled since childhood.
Within Da Lei Yin Temple, the Mahayana Dharma approached taboo status—a heresy among heresies.
Wukong had kept his distance since youth. Now living in such proximity, even deliberately avoiding knowledge of it, he would still overhear things unintentionally.
And then...
He would subconsciously begin to ponder.
Wukong was forced to admit... the Mahayana Dharma's words truly captivated the heart.
At least this Buddhist cultivator felt its allure acutely.
Wukong had been struggling to resist this temptation.
Whether from fear that it might truly be heresy, or because it overturned the path he had walked since childhood—and how he should then face Da Lei Yin Temple.
This was... a conflict of doctrines.
Wukong sighed lightly and complained:
"It's all Chu Xingchen's fault. Before even reaching West Niu He Continent, he'd already calculated everything."
No sooner had his complaint begun than a concealed golden light streaked from the east at extreme speed, heading straight for Wukong.
Wukong looked up and recognized it at a glance—a highest-grade emergency jade slip.
This was the most precious type of jade slip, capable of silent passage with almost no spiritual fluctuation, making it nearly impossible to intercept.
Most critical was its confidentiality capability. The sender's spiritual seal could identify souls—if incorrect, the slip would immediately self-destruct, dispersing into pure spiritual energy.
Wukong frowned slightly. He understood who had most likely sent this message.
After all, those who could afford such items were without exception major sects of Central Plains.
However...
When Chu Xingchen sent messages, the probability of bad news far exceeded good news—and by several-fold at that.
Yet not reading it was impossible.
Wukong extended his hand and received the jade slip. The moment it touched his palm, a sense of resonance confirmed it.
This message was indeed meant for him.
Wukong's spiritual consciousness probed within, rapidly grasping the contents. Then he spoke through gritted teeth:
"Chu Xengchen! You certainly know how to create work for others."
"What matter could cause such loss of composure from a Buddhist Son?"
A gentle voice rang out from within the temple.
Then Guangming Fotuo emerged, dressed in simple hemp cloth garments, his gaze carrying amusement as he regarded Wukong.
Wukong took a deep breath and said:
"Elder Buddha Ru Nan has already crossed Pudu River. He brings Karmic Buddhas Hua Wu, Shi Yun, and Su Pu to eliminate the Evil Buddha."
"Four Tribulation Transcendence powers surge toward us. Chu Xingchen offers no resistance—do you expect you alone, a single Tribulation Transcendence, to face four?"
Guangming's expression remained calm. After listening, he smiled:
"Chu Xingchen is indeed an exceptionally astute individual."
"If these three weren't coming, I might not have been able to escape unscathed."
"This outcome is actually far better than their not coming at all."
"The enlightenment I've achieved must ultimately return to the masses. If it can save sentient beings..."
"Would that not constitute the fulfillment of a Great Vow?"
Wukong glanced sideways.
Guangming Fotuo's expression remained natural, showing not the slightest trace of fear or timidity.
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