The young monk entered Mount Tai and came to a stop directly before Lu Yuan, speaking in a measured voice.
A gentle, benevolent smile graced his face, and he looked thoroughly sincere. Yet that single sentence sent a shock wave through everyone present, leaving them momentarily speechless.
At this moment, everyone could be certain that the monk before them did not belong to this world, but had come from beyond the stars.
The aura radiating from him was extraordinarily formidable, reaching at least the Great Saint Realm.
"Who are you, and what did you mean by that?" the Golden-Winged Great Peng stepped forward just then.
Having assumed human form, he appeared as a burly man clad in golden robes, fiercely intimidating. Now standing in front of the young monk, he unleashed his aura without the slightest reservation.
He had no intention of starting trouble right away; there was simply something wrong with that statement. What did he mean by having a destiny with the Buddha? Put another way, did he want his master to join the Buddhist sect?
"This humble monk's Dharma name is Xuan Ci, and I hail from the Bliss Star Sector. What I said earlier is meant in the most literal sense," the young monk replied, directly declaring his origins. His voice was warm and gentle, entirely unprovoked by the hostile display. Instead, he looked toward the Golden-Winged Great Peng and smiled again. "You, too, share a destiny with our Buddhist sect."
These words left the crowd stunned once more, though upon closer thought, it seemed reasonable enough.
Many knew that the Golden-Winged Great Peng was an exotic beast of myth and legend with an extraordinarily powerful bloodline. And in Buddhist lore, the Buddha Mother was the Great Peacock Wisdom King, who had given birth to the great peng. Saying there was a destiny between them was not far-fetched at all. Yet after realizing this, everyone could not help but glance toward the Peacock King.
"So you come from the Bliss Star Sector," Lu Yuan spoke before anyone else could say a word. Looking at the monk who called himself Xuan Ci, he remarked placidly, "Have you come this time for that supreme divine ability, the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm?"
Jiang Ningxian had only just discussed this with him a few days ago, and now the rightful claimants had already arrived at his doorstep?
Lu Yuan had never been one to mince words, so he went straight to the point. The Buddha Kingdom in the Palm was indeed an immensely powerful divine ability. He had even estimated in his heart that once he grew strong enough, it truly might be possible to manifest an entire Buddha kingdom.
The sheer might of this divine ability was even more terrifying than imagined, so it was hardly surprising that it had drawn the attention of the Bliss Star Sector.
Of course, he had no fear of it. If conflict was unavoidable, then they would simply fight.
"Yes, and yet no," Monk Xuan Ci replied with a smile, looking toward Lu Yuan. "Compared to that divine ability, Almsgiver is the person our Bliss Buddhist Sect truly values. As I stated earlier, Almsgiver shares a destiny with our Buddhist sect.
"If you are willing to renounce worldly life and take refuge in our Buddha, you will surely attain the Great Dao."
As he said this, his eyes were earnest, showing he was not joking in the least.
"Oh?" Lu Yuan chuckled as well, replying serenely, "And what if I am unwilling?"
There was no coldness in his tone, only calm composure. He sensed no hostility whatsoever from Monk Xuan Ci. Lu Yuan was not someone who enjoyed stirring up trouble and making enemies everywhere; without confirming the other party's true intentions, he naturally would not treat him rudely. As the saying went, respect me a foot, and I will respect you ten.
"There is no need for Almsgiver to make a decision so hastily. You may listen to what I have to say first," Monk Xuan Ci bowed slightly before continuing. "If Almsgiver is willing to take refuge in our Buddha:
"First, our Buddhist sect will not only impart everything to you without holding anything back, but we will also ask no questions regarding the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm divine ability.
"Second, you will directly enjoy the status and treatment of a Buddhist Son of our Bliss Star Sector. Furthermore, we will mediate between you, the Eternal Clan, and the Ji clan to resolve this feud. Lastly, we will choose to protect this world. How does that sound?"
He did not say much, but every single point was of momentous significance, concerning the fate of this world and even the entire cosmic landscape.
A Buddhist Son—Lu Yuan had heard Jiang Ningxian mention the term before. It was essentially equivalent to the Divine Sons of the major clans across the star sectors.
In other words, if he converted to the Buddhist sect, he would receive the highest level of treatment. This came somewhat as a surprise to Lu Yuan, though he felt no great stir in his heart.
Moreover, they offered to resolve his enmity with those two great clans. One had to realize that whether it was the Eternal Clan or the Ji lineage, both stood at the absolute pinnacle beneath this starry sky. Yet now, the Bliss Star Sector had the boldness to claim it could settle this feud.
This alone demonstrated just how powerful the Bliss Star Sector was.
However, Lu Yuan simply shook his head and said, "I have little interest in the Buddhist sect."
There was a price for everything; he understood this better than anyone. Taking refuge in the Buddhist sect and becoming a Buddhist Son would come with corresponding burdens to shoulder thereafter.
Lu Yuan had always preferred to remain unfettered. Even establishing the Heavenly Court had merely been to better protect the living beings of this world.
He felt that as he grew stronger, he was bound to do more. But aside from that, Lu Yuan had no desire to meddle in the Heavenly Court's other affairs.
Thus, converting to Buddhism or becoming a so-called Buddhist Son held zero appeal for him.
"Alas, in truth, this humble monk had already guessed as much," Monk Xuan Ci could not help shaking his head upon hearing this. Then, a subtle shift appeared in his gaze as he continued, "Since Almsgiver is unwilling to convert, this humble monk has one more request, which I hope Almsgiver will grant."
"If it concerns that divine ability, the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm, say no more," Lu Yuan shook his head. It was not out of pettiness.
Since it was a fortune he had obtained, why should he hand it over to someone else? Simply because the other person was also from the Buddhist sect?
If that were the case, why shouldn't he directly pass the technique to Monk Huikong? At the very least, Huikong was one of his own.
"If that is the case..." Xuan Ci seemed to have anticipated this as well.
The moment his words fell, golden lotuses blossomed across his body one after another, and he said, "Then allow this humble monk to debate the Dharma with Almsgiver once. If I win, I ask that Almsgiver grant me some face."
With that, he took a step forward, and an immensely potent aura erupted from his body.
Under this vast power, the entire firmament was dyed in dazzling gold. Golden divine radiance surged around Monk Xuan Ci.
He stood like a monk who had already attained Arhatship—towering, mighty, and domineering.
"Debate the Dharma?" Lu Yuan let out a light laugh upon hearing those words. "Just what I had in mind."
He could sense that Monk Xuan Ci was extraordinarily strong. Why not loosen his limbs before the major battle against those two Divine Sons? The person before him happened to be a fine opponent.
With hands clasped behind his back, Lu Yuan released a surging sea of golden vitality that surged and roiled into the heavens.
Chapter 339