Sect Recruitment: I Can See Attribute Entries

Chapter 622: Chapter 623: A Condition He Cannot Refuse

Runan turned against them with startling speed. He said nothing more, didn’t even consult with the Buddhas at his side, and made his decision on the spot.

The auspicious clouds pivoted, and Runan departed first.

Even the Buddhas who felt displeased or surprised could only follow Runan’s lead and leave.

At the very least, no dissatisfaction should be displayed in front of outsiders — especially since Runan was the Buddhist sect’s Honored Buddha, holding a position above all others.

Naturally, those who were surprised weren’t only the Buddhist Buddhas.

Huang Miao and the others also did their best to maintain composure. Only after the Buddhist auspicious light had completely departed did they turn to Yuankong with puzzled expressions.

Yuankong was also rather dazed. He had long prepared his cunning excuses, but he never expected there wouldn’t be a moment to use them.

Cui Hao glanced at Yuankong a couple of times, seeming to understand something. He smiled and looked toward his own master.

Chu Xingchen shrugged. Although they had done quite a bit of preparation beforehand, at the crucial moment he hadn’t actually needed to open his mouth. He turned and smiled, patting Yuankong’s shoulder.

”Well done. I’ll treat you to something good.”

Yuankong shook his head. ”That’s not necessary. I gained quite a lot from this. Compared to everything I’ve done for you, I feel like I still owe you more.”

”Treating you is me giving you face, not about favors owed.” Chu Xingchen patted Yuankong’s shoulder harder. ”Are you refusing to give me face?”

Chu Xingchen’s pat wasn’t exactly gentle.

Yuankong winced in pain and quickly nodded.

”I’ll eat. I’ll eat.”

Chu Xingchen nodded satisfactorily, then turned his gaze to the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, each with their own expression, and cupped his fists.

”I invite everyone to proceed into the hall for discussion.”

The group nodded in agreement.

They all headed toward the main hall together.

No sooner had they entered the hall than Huang Miao began examining Yuankong and his attire with considerable curiosity:

”The things on his face aren’t exactly remarkable. Could they really fool Runan?”

Chu Xingchen picked up the thread:

”Naturally, they couldn’t fool him.”

Huang Miao crossed his arms and asked in a puzzled tone:

”If they couldn’t fool him, then why did he leave?”

At this question, everyone’s gaze turned to Chu Xingchen.

Chu Xingchen smiled and answered, ”Naturally, because he was willing to be fooled.”

Once the explanation came out, many people showed dawning understanding.

After all, how many people who reached Tribulation Transcendence were simple folk?

Yuankong raised his eyes. As everyone nodded along while casting approving glances at Chu Xingchen, he said nothing more.

Among those present, only Yuankong had the least information. His best understanding of Runan came from seeing him in person today.

As for the internal structure and situation of the Buddhist sect — he was truly in the dark. He had never seen any of it.

He had grown up at Chanlin Temple since childhood, then traveled the four directions.

Being a monk was his identity, but the Buddhist sect was not his home.

The Buddhism he practiced had nothing to do with the Central Continent’s Buddhist sect.

He’d come in knowing nothing, and after arriving, he still knew nothing — yet he’d been thrown straight into the work.

Today’s scholarly exchange with Runan had been genuinely fruitful for Yuankong. Runan had, after all, once been a Buddhist Son and a Karma Buddha. Apart from his cultivation, his Buddhist learning was profoundly deep. Many questions Yuankong had never understood were answered today, and he had indeed gained a great deal.

There was even a lingering sense of wanting more.

Yuankong knew he wasn’t really qualified to ask these questions, but his heart was itching. He couldn’t help asking in a low voice:

”Can I know why?”

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen glanced over. After a moment’s thought, he spoke:

”Naturally. This isn’t much of a secret.”

”The reason Runan doesn’t promote the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings is that the resistance would mostly come from the Secular Buddhas. Not promoting the Mahayana Teachings means he can only suppress the Karma Buddhas.”

”But Runan himself is a Karma Buddha. Suppressing the Karma Buddhas is equivalent to undermining his own foundation. The Buddhist sect’s foundation is, in fact, built on the Karma Buddhas — yet the situation forced him to do exactly that.”

”So Runan and the Karma Buddhas would inevitably grow apart. Mending that relationship would be difficult without the right opportunity.”

”Runan wants to balance the Buddhist sect’s power — at least get the Karma Buddhas to look at him more favorably, and suppress the increasingly expanding Secular Buddhas. That also requires an opportunity.”

”What I did was hand him that opportunity.”

”He knows you’re fake. Buddhist golden light can’t deceive people — especially not your puny little Golden Core golden light, so immature it’s laughable.”

”Similarly, the genuine Karma Buddhas would naturally be able to tell you’re fake as well.”

”Runan accepting your identity means he’s effectively chosen to let the Radiant Buddha go — that the real one has already fled. What’s the point of tightening the encirclement any further?”

”The Karma Buddhas would naturally appreciate the gesture, and it also signals his true attitude.”

”The Secular Buddhas might know it’s an excuse, but a stepping stone is also face.”

”Runan is naturally skilled at the art of balance. With someone like him, playing tricks is less practical than making a deal.”

”Some deals can’t be calculated openly. They can only be conducted through this kind of ’you understand, I understand’ approach. It’s also a test of tacit understanding.”

”Besides, we’ll be offending him in the future. Selling him a favor now means he’ll remember the goodwill later, won’t he?”

”Now, let’s wait for good news.”

Chen Xiao gazed at Chu Xingchen’s warm, calm smile and suddenly recalled Bai Xuanling’s assessment of him — ”A black-hearted brat, but at least he’s passable. Very sharp.”

Truly black-hearted, and truly sharp.

If he’s on your side, he really is quite passable.

As expected, anyone who could earn Bai Xuanling’s praise was no pushover.

Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

Runan took the main seat. His gaze swept over the Buddhas who had just settled into their seats below. Without pleasantries or opening remarks, he spoke directly:

”Attendants, issue the order. The Evil Buddha has escaped. Recall everyone to discuss countermeasures. There’s no need to maintain the encirclement.”

An Arhat received the order and withdrew.

Wenliu Buddha hurriedly spoke to stop him:

”Honored Buddha, please be cautious. I observed that wisp of aura to be extremely immature — it cannot possibly be the Evil Buddha’s aura. It’s merely a smokescreen conjured by Chu Xingchen.”

The Arhat naturally heard Wenliu’s words, but his pace didn’t falter in the slightest.

Only after the Arhat had left the room did Runan slowly speak:

”That Evil Buddha’s aura — I know it better than anyone. Whether it’s real or fake, I know best.”

”I won’t deceive myself. Rather than wasting effort here while the Evil Buddha truly forms a substantive connection with the Three Sects, it would be far harder to deal with later.”

Wenliu Buddha didn’t respond. He sat in his place, head bowed, staring at the floor.

”That aura — I judge it to be real.” Chizhu True Buddha turned his gaze to Wenliu Buddha. ”I recognized that Buddhist aura clearly. It cannot be faked.”

Wenliu Buddha merely nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

Runan’s gaze swept across the room. Seeing that no one else had anything more to say, he waved his hand.

”Rest for today. Tomorrow, when all the Buddhas have arrived, we’ll discuss the specifics.”

As soon as the words fell, several Buddhas immediately rose and took their leave.

Every one of them was a Secular Buddha.

Runan said nothing more and turned to enter the rear hall.

The dungeon where the Radiant Buddha had once been imprisoned now held Ruzhong.

Runan’s figure descended through the levels. His gaze fell on Ruzhong within the formation, holding a scripture, his expression lazy and relaxed.

Ruzhong sensed the arrival, set down his scripture, and looked at Runan with a light smile:

”See? Chu Xingchen always gives you conditions you can’t refuse.”

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