Sect Recruitment: I Can See Attribute Entries

Chapter 703: Chapter 704: Can Call Out Again

Central Continent, Great Thunder Temple.

Within the vast main hall, silence reigned, but a tense atmosphere permeated everything.

Over a dozen Buddhas each had their seats. The two clearly divided factions were all silent, but the contempt and disdain in their eyes had reached the point of not even bothering to hide it.

Runan’s gaze swept across them. He knew in his heart, but at this moment, he couldn’t say anything.

”Honored Buddha, Chu Xingchen has confirmed the appointment. He can come to Tianyan Sect for a meeting in two days.”

Outside the Dharma gate, a young novice monk’s loud voice broke the tense and heavy atmosphere.

As his words fell, the gazes of over a dozen Buddhas all turned to Runan simultaneously.

Both the Karma Buddhas and Secular Buddhas present knew clearly that today’s great Dharma assembly, where Runan had specially invited many Buddhas to gather, was not a simple gathering and heart-to-heart, nor would there be any Dharma discussion.

It was just that no one expected Runan to have such boldness.

Inviting Chu Xingchen at this moment was equivalent to exposing the most vulnerable side to Chu Xingchen.

Don’t forget that Radiant Buddha wasn’t still promoting the so-called Mahayana Buddhist Teachings and even attracting a Karma Buddha’s defection just because of Chu Xingchen’s unspoken protection.

Inviting at this moment...

Life and death, all depended on others’ mercy.

Everyone looked at Runan, watching how he intended to approach this struggle.

Runan’s expression was solemn. Golden light continuously flowed in his eyes, and his hands kept manipulating the Buddhist sect’s supreme treasure—the Nirvana Relic.

This was both a deterrent and a declaration—Runan was the most pure orthodox Buddhist sect.

”Celestial Demons run rampant, a great tribulation faces the mortal realm.” Runan’s voice was calm. ”With compassion as our heart, how can we bear to see the mortal realm become a living hell?”

”When the Great Thunder Temple was established on the divine mountain, we had a covenant. From heart and from word, we should face the great tribulation together.”

”Since Chu Xingchen has accepted heaven’s mandate, meeting with him is both principle and inevitability.”

After Runan finished speaking, his gaze swept around.

A moment passed.

One of the Secular Buddhas spoke:

”Whether Chu Xingchen truly accepted heaven’s mandate or used other means to deceive heaven, let’s put that aside for now. But from the very beginning, he has treated the Buddhist sect differently.”

”Second blockade of the Pudu River, sweeping through the Western Niu Continent, tearing down Zhengyin Dharma Temple, and even saving the Evil Buddha.”

”One incident after another. Meeting at this moment—can we truly have a heart-to-heart with Chu Xingchen?”

”Or will Chu Xingchen take advantage of this tribulation to plunder and harm our Buddhist compassion?”

”Honored Buddha, compassion and universal salvation also require us to be secure ourselves. If we become fish on a chopping board, even with willing hearts, we can only stand by with folded sleeves.”

”Since its establishment, the Buddhist sect has followed not heaven’s mandate, but the compassion in our hearts.”

Runan nodded gently but didn’t respond, instead turning his gaze to the Karma Buddhas who hadn’t spoken.

But...

After waiting for a long time.

The Karma Buddhas present still hadn’t spoken, as if this matter didn’t concern them at all.

Sometimes, silence was the harshest pressure.

Runan’s expression didn’t change. He simply turned his gaze toward the doorway again.

Through the open door, a slightly elderly figure—an old novice monk—walked in with somewhat unsteady steps.

The next moment.

The previously calm Karma Buddhas could no longer maintain their composure.

Ruzhong walked in from outside.

This Karma Buddha, stationed in the Western Niu Continent, who had been guarding Radiant Buddha at Zhengyin Dharma Temple, stepped inside.

Previously in the Western Niu Continent, Runan had placed Ruzhong in confinement using the excuse that he had been bewitched by an Evil Buddha.

But the actual situation was probably that he had made certain agreements with Chu Xingchen.

”Heaven’s mandate... compassion in the heart...” Ruzhong’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was extremely firm. ”It’s not that things beneficial to us are right. Sometimes, it’s that doing the right thing is right.”

Ruzhong’s steps were slow. Golden Buddhist light surged around him.

Step by step, the golden light gradually transformed Ruzhong’s originally worn monk robes into a splendid golden kasaya.

His face was still elderly, but his gaze held compassion as he looked at the Karma Buddhas:

”So what are you waiting for now? Are you also planning to avoid disaster when you see it?”

”Greed, resentment, anger, hatred—these should not obscure what you and I cultivate.”

”I dare not speak for others, but you and I as Buddhist cultivators should understand—not doing what you can do... makes you an accomplice.”

Ruzhong’s gaze swept across the people before him, past memories surfacing.

Perhaps even the purest person in heart, in this mud-like dyeing vat, would put on a layer of protective coloration.

The current Buddhist sect was perhaps no longer the original Buddhist sect.

What Runan maintained in his heart was only the form of the Buddhist sect, not its meaning.

But...

Ruzhong sighed lightly.

The Karma Buddhas finally stopped being silent and began to speak.

”Our Buddha is compassionate, willing to face the mortal realm’s great tribulation.”

”Only by seeing heaven’s mandate can we know the beginning and end of great matters.”

Seeing this, the Secular Buddhas naturally understood Runan’s choice and didn’t speak further.

Or rather, from the moment they saw Ruzhong, they already knew Runan’s decision.

This time, Runan wasn’t negotiating—it was a simple and clear notification.

Runan held the Nirvana Relic in his hand. His gaze toward Ruzhong was emotionally complex, but the matter was finally settled. He didn’t pay attention to the Secular Buddhas’ previous objections and declared:

”In that case, we will attend the appointment two days from now.”

”I will go personally. Ruzhong, Huawu, Duci.”

Runan paused. The three names he’d just spoken were all Karma Buddhas. Then he continued slowly:

”Wenliu, Bazhuan, Jinhuan will also accompany me.”

The latter three were Secular Buddhas.

The next moment.

The Buddhas whose names were called responded together:

”We accept the Dharma decree.”

The confrontation hadn’t even begun, and the outcome was already determined.

More arguments now were useless. The meeting was in two days—this was actually Runan giving them preparation time.

The real confrontation would begin after stepping out of this door.

Runan reversed the Nirvana Relic in his hand and closed his eyes.

This was the default action for dismissing the assembly.

No one spoke. The Secular Buddhas left first.

The Karma Buddhas also didn’t say much. They first bowed to Ruzhong, then departed.

Ruzhong returned the bow but remained standing in place without moving.

Only when all Buddhas except Runan and Ruzhong had left and the door was slowly closed again.

Runan then reopened his eyes, his gaze fixed on Ruzhong.

Ruzhong chuckled lightly:

”Long time no see.”

Runan asked calmly: ”Is Senior Brother blaming me?”

Ruzhong didn’t take that bait. His gaze looked at the magnificent hall. After a moment, he slowly spoke:

”I also never expected that I would have a day returning to the Great Thunder Temple.”

”Time is fleeting light. Clearly I’ve missed it countless times in my heart, but on this day of truly returning, it seems familiar yet strangely foreign.”

After sighing for a while, Ruzhong finally responded:

”Naturally I blame—but not you. I blame Master and the Great Sutra for seeing too accurately.”

”But these matters can wait for the future. Let’s talk about something good.”

”Now, Senior Brother can fight alongside you again.”

”For what you want to do in your heart, and for what I want to do in mine.”

Hearing this, Runan also smiled lightly, no longer maintaining his previous majesty:

”Then can I... call out again...”

”Second Senior Brother, save me?”

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