Chapter 706 - 707: Strange…

Chapter 706: Chapter 707: Strange...

Chu Xingchen’s smile was gentle, his gaze toward Runan extremely sincere.

At least looking at his expression alone, even Runan couldn’t see anything wrong.

Chu Xingchen added:

"Everyone present has also heard what I said. No conditions means no conditions. Naturally, I won’t go back on my word afterward, nor will I add conditions."

"If the Honored Buddha is truly worried, how about you record a video, or I press a fingerprint for you?"

As Chu Xingchen spoke, he took out paper from his spatial ring, his serious manner leaving no room for criticism—truly extremely sincere.

"That won’t be necessary. Since Fellow Daoist has spoken, it is naturally trustworthy." Runan nodded gently and added: "Thank you for your understanding."

Since Chu Xingchen said so, he naturally had to believe it. This was the most basic trust—otherwise, what was the point of coming here to talk.

Runan just hadn’t expected that Chu Xingchen wouldn’t take the opportunity to threaten and extract benefits.

Actually, it wasn’t entirely so. Perhaps this major step back now was to gain better advantage for the next condition.

After all, having already made such a major concession, if Runan didn’t yield on the Radiant Buddha matter, the outside world would naturally think Runan lacked sincerity.

Perhaps for Chu Xingchen, compared to the so-called clarification, Radiant Buddha was more effective at controlling the Buddhist sect.

The accompanying Buddhas also didn’t speak at this moment. After all, Chu Xingchen had agreed decisively and cleanly, without any conditions, as if he were the Buddhist sect envoy begging for clarification above.

Runan’s expression grew serious: "Next is the matter of the Evil Buddha. Now the Evil Buddha has already bewitched a Buddha of our sect. His bewitching ability is enough to harm all living beings. We cannot let him run rampant in the mortal realm, or it will surely cause devastation."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen’s expression grew somewhat strange:

"This matter, when it comes down to it, can also be considered an internal affair of the Buddhist sect. It doesn’t seem like something I should manage, right?"

Runan continued to press: "Does Fellow Daoist mean that our Buddhist sect can apprehend the Evil Buddha on our own?"

"Naturally you can." Chu Xingchen nodded gently, then added: "But let me state clearly first—I don’t know where Radiant Buddha is. If he’s in other immortal sects or within other immortal sects’ territories, you should negotiate with those sects. Don’t come looking for me again. I don’t have the energy to handle these things."

"I haven’t asked them to shelter Radiant Buddha, and I don’t want to get involved in the Buddhist sect’s internal affairs. I won’t stop you from apprehending Radiant Buddha, but I also won’t assist you in apprehending him."

"Since I said earlier not to beat around the bush, I’ll speak my true thoughts directly."

"After all, strictly speaking, this is a doctrinal dispute. Whoever wins the dispute is the orthodox faction."

"I don’t want to offend the Buddhist sect—neither the Evil Buddha in the Honored Buddha’s words, nor the Mahayana Buddha in other Buddhas’ words."

"Time flies, years are merciless. Winning or losing... no one can say for certain."

After Chu Xingchen finished speaking, his gaze calmly looked at Runan.

Runan fell into slight silence after hearing these words.

What Chu Xingchen said was naturally without any problem, but the key issue was that what Chu Xingchen said wasn’t the truth.

The words were beautiful, but in reality it was purely a buck-passing statement.

Radiant Buddha was definitely hidden within other immortal sects, possibly even within Xuanqing Heavenly Sect.

As for negotiating with other immortal sects, with Chu Xingchen intentionally protecting him, naturally there would be nothing good to negotiate.

After finishing his words, Chu Xingchen turned his gaze to Ruzhong.

This old monk—he hadn’t seen him in a while. According to reports, Runan had confined him for quite some time.

This time he came, dressed quite presentably. His previous ragged clothes had been replaced with rich and magnificent golden ones.

Chu Xingchen didn’t say much, but nodded lightly to Ruzhong as a greeting.

Ruzhong also responded with a full smile and a light nod.

The Secular Buddha Bazhuan watched the two exchanging glances, heard Chu Xingchen’s shameless words just now, and looked at the Honored Buddha who was silent and unable to answer.

There were some things the Honored Buddha couldn’t dig to the bottom of. After all, saying it would put him at a disadvantage.

The Karma Buddhas Runan brought naturally couldn’t drive their former senior brother to a dead end.

Especially this Ruzhong—his elbow was obviously turning toward Chu Xingchen’s side in plain sight. There was a traitor in the ranks!

At this moment, naturally it depended on these Secular Buddhas to break through.

True Buddha Bazhuan looked across at Chu Xingchen:

"Fellow Daoist’s words seem to be cleaning yourself too thoroughly."

"In the Western Niu Continent, that Evil Buddha was already within our encirclement. Wasn’t it precisely because of Fellow Daoist that the Evil Buddha escaped? And later, Fellow Daoist protected the Evil Buddha, having quite a debate with us in the Western Niu Continent."

"Now with just one sentence of non-involvement, asking us to handle it ourselves, Fellow Daoist wants to cut clean the connection this easily? Isn’t that too relaxed? Doesn’t it seem unreasonable?"

"If Fellow Daoist’s words are true and this is truly a Buddhist sect internal affair, shouldn’t you also make a declaration to all immortal sects not to harbor the Evil Buddha? Our Buddhist sect can also guarantee that we will only take the Evil Buddha."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen chuckled lightly, his gaze leisurely turning to Bazhuan:

"The Buddhist sect’s interests are interests, but other immortal sects’ interests aren’t interests? If I speak on behalf of the Buddhist sect, how should other immortal sects view me?"

At this point, Chu Xingchen’s gaze turned to Runan:

"Besides, I just said—this is a doctrinal dispute. How can a Tribulation Transcendence Buddha be bewitched by another Buddha of the same realm who has been confined for a thousand years, from hundreds of thousands of miles away?"

"Some matters, I’m already considering for the Buddhist sect. Since the Buddhist sect says I can’t cut clean the relationship this easily, then I’ll give you an idea."

"The Great Thunder Temple is still recognized by the world as the orthodox Buddhist sect. You can freely promote the Evil Buddha’s harm and criticize the Evil Buddha’s ideology."

"I absolutely won’t say a single word in Radiant Buddha’s favor."

"Things have come to this point, Honored Buddha. I’ve been understanding toward you—shouldn’t you also be understanding toward me?"

Runan looked at Chu Xingchen, then finally nodded gently:

"Naturally."

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction, then asked once more:

"Then the two matters are settled. Does the Honored Buddha have any other matters to discuss?"

Runan’s voice was calm: "Yes. The Buddhist sect is willing to follow the agreement—exterminating demons and eliminating evil. If Fellow Daoist has news or needs, the Buddhist sect is willing to contribute strength."

Chu Xingchen naturally nodded in agreement, then asked again:

"Any other matters?"

Runan smiled gently: "That’s all. The remaining matters we can handle ourselves."

Chu Xingchen’s face also showed the same gentle smile:

"Very well. Now it’s my turn. I also have one matter to discuss with the Honored Buddha."

The gazes of all Buddhas instantly turned toward him together.

Runan’s smile didn’t change, his eyes fixed on Chu Xingchen:

"Fellow Daoist might as well speak directly."

"The matter isn’t big. For the Honored Buddha, it’s probably just a matter of one sentence." Chu Xingchen gestured with his hand, lightly pinching his thumb and forefinger to indicate it was truly a small matter, then continued.

"Currently the Celestial Demons have fled. The Central Continent has immortal sects guarding it, but the other great continents are not like this."

"Hundreds of millions of mortal lives—I fear they will be bewitched by Celestial Demons and lose their true hearts."

"Looking at the five continents and ten thousand directions, only the Buddhist sect has outstanding reputation among mortals, with the saying of accumulating merit through good deeds."

"I wish to promote great Buddhist Dharma across the four continents to eliminate this matter."

"Naturally, the Buddhist Dharma promoted will naturally be the Buddhist sect’s current Buddhist Dharma."

Runan looked at Chu Xingchen’s extremely sincere expression, feeling in his heart that there was a trick...

But thinking carefully about this matter, there was no disadvantage.

Chu Xingchen said it was a discussion, but it was more like giving another great gift. If Small Vehicle Buddhist Teachings were promoted... then Mahayana Buddhist Teachings naturally couldn’t be mainstream.

Strange...

Runan looked at Chu Xingchen, feeling in his heart that it was extremely strange.

This Chu Xingchen... had he been replaced?

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