What Did Senior Brother Say?

"That's not what I meant."

Liu Qingfeng burst into tears and hurriedly explained.

"Senior Brother, you've been in seclusion cultivating, so you may not know what's been happening outside."

"Little Thunderclap Temple's Dharma Master Xuanxin came to our Central Province some days ago. Though he claimed to be discussing the Dao through Buddhism, he was actually using debates on doctrine to spread the Buddhist teachings."

"You must know that since ancient times, Buddhism has had no foothold in Central Province and could only flourish in the Western Desert. After all, Central Province is the domain of our Dao Gate."

"But this Dharma Master Xuanxin is truly formidable. He has practically swept through everyone in his path. Whether in duels of techniques or debates on doctrine, he is the number one among his generation."

"Among the Ten Great Holy Lands of Central Province, he has already challenged five of the Five Great Holy Lands in succession and won every time. Quite a few saintly Aristocratic Clans have debated doctrine with him as well, only to suffer utterly miserable defeats."

"Today, there were even rumors that Dharma Master Xuanxin debated doctrine with a Supreme Elder of Azure Cloud Holy Land, arguing until the latter vomited blood and retreated in crushing defeat. He became famous in one stroke, and all of Central Province has exploded over it."

Liu Qingfeng spoke slowly, yet both his tone and expression were exceedingly animated and exaggerated.

At the same time, Liu Qingfeng could not help looking at Lu Changsheng. Seeing Lu Changsheng's calm expression, he inwardly praised his Eldest Senior Brother's mental fortitude.

"The person you speak of is indeed impressive, but what does that have to do with me?"

Lu Changsheng asked directly, without beating around the bush.

Uh...

Little Junior Brother Qingfeng fell silent.

Then he sank into thought.

It really did seem to have nothing to do with Lu Changsheng.

But Little Junior Brother Qingfeng quickly spoke again. "It does matter, Senior Brother! He has already defeated five Great Holy Lands in a row. If nothing unexpected happens, he will continue debating doctrine at the other holy lands over the next few days. At the soonest, ten days; at the latest, one month—Dharma Master Xuanxin will come to our Great Luo Holy Land."

"When he comes here, he will naturally seek out cultivators of his generation. In our Great Luo Holy Land, only you can debate doctrine with him."

"Senior Brother, forgive me for saying something improper, but if you lose, our Great Luo Holy Land's reputation will be swept into the dust, and I fear you will lose all face as well."

"And actually, the main issue is not merely one of pride."

"According to my father, Dharma Master Xuanxin wishes to spread Buddhism throughout Central Province. If he defeats all Ten Great Holy Lands in succession and no one can do anything about him, there will certainly be an incomparably fierce conflict between Buddhism and the Dao."

"Once conflict breaks out, the demonic sects will slip in through the cracks. That would not be a good thing for the common people of the world."

Little Junior Brother Qingfeng explained the gravity of the situation in meticulous detail.

But Lu Changsheng's concern was neither the common people nor the demonic sects taking advantage of the chaos. It was that Dharma Master Xuanxin wanted to challenge him in a duel of techniques?

"Why does he have to find me? Can't Senior Sister Ziyun do it? Does our Great Luo Holy Land have no outstanding disciples? Jin Yang is pretty good too."

Lu Changsheng hurriedly asked.

A duel of techniques?

What techniques were they supposed to duel with?

Competing to see who cultivated more slowly? He could do that.

If that did not work, they could compete to see who could eat five steamed buns in one breath. That was not impossible either.

Why compete in techniques?

As disciples of Buddhism, why were they always fighting and killing? What kind of decorum was that?

"Duels of techniques are secondary. The key is debating doctrine. Besides, Senior Brother Jin Yang once fought Dharma Master Xuanxin. According to others, Senior Brother Jin Yang was defeated in a single move."

Little Junior Brother Qingfeng said this.

"Defeated in one move?"

Lu Changsheng could not help being astonished.

Jin Yang was a True Disciple. Lu Changsheng had seen him once, and his strength was formidable. Whenever he wielded Daoist arts, a blazing golden sun appeared behind his head, making him seem extraordinarily remarkable. His swordsmanship stood above the rest as well. Yet even he had lost?

"Yes! Who could have imagined it?"

"So the hopes of Great Luo rest on you now! No, the hopes of the entire Central Continent Dao Gate rest on you!"

Little Junior Brother Qingfeng spoke with utmost seriousness.

"They rest on me?"

Lu Changsheng was bewildered again.

I didn't even say anything. Why were they resting on me?

"Senior Brother, you may not know this, but those cultivators of the same generation who lost to Dharma Master Xuanxin all said after their defeat: 'Though I have lost, it is not because you are strong, but because I am too weak. Should you encounter our Daoist Eldest Senior Brother, Lu Changsheng, you will learn what it means that beyond the heavens are still heavens, and beyond men are still greater men.'"

"So Dharma Master Xuanxin will certainly come looking for you. But Senior Brother, I believe in you. The entire Great Luo Holy Land, even the whole Central Continent Dao Gate, believes that you can defeat Dharma Master Xuanxin."

When Qingfeng said this, he was brimming with heroic spirit and swagger, yet he failed to notice that Lu Changsheng's face had darkened a little.

"Would losing be very troublesome?"

Lu Changsheng then asked seriously.

"Very troublesome! And very miserable! The worst part is, if Dharma Master Xuanxin chooses Great Luo Holy Land as the final holy land he challenges, then once you lose, many people will heap their resentment upon our Great Luo Holy Land. The impact would be enormous—perhaps a stain that lasts a lifetime."

Qingfeng answered with utmost seriousness.

"Then since he has made the Dao Gate lose so much face, why has no one intercepted and killed him along the way?"

An idea surfaced in Lu Changsheng's mind.

But the moment he said it, Qingfeng pulled a long face. "That Dharma Master Xuanxin is the reincarnation of a Buddhist Buddha. He was born with destiny's favor. Though he cannot compare to you, Senior Brother, he is still someone blessed by immense fortune. Who would dare kill him? Even the demonic sects dare not make a move."

"Besides, there must certainly be Buddhist experts protecting him. Even if we took ten thousand steps back and something really happened to him, Buddhism would definitely put that debt on our Dao Gate's head."

"Our Dao Gate certainly does not fear Buddhism. But if the situation worsens, it will ignite a conflict between Buddhism and the Dao. At that point, living beings would be plunged into misery, and we would all become sinners condemned for eternity. Our Dao Gate holds the common people in its heart; we would absolutely never do such a thing. Furthermore, we are the orthodox Dao Gate, so we cannot possibly do that sort of thing."

Qingfeng spoke with a face full of righteous conviction.

Phew!

Lu Changsheng let out a breath.

Lu Changsheng nodded. His face was expressionless, and he remained silent without saying a word.

At this moment, it was not that he was putting on airs. He truly did not know what to say.

"Senior Brother, what do you mean?"

Qingfeng continued to ask.

"Since it has come, let it be."

What else could he say?

Could he say he wanted to surrender?

Could he admit defeat?

Could he run away?

The other side had not arrived yet. For now, he could only take one step at a time.

"I understand!" Liu Qingfeng nodded thoughtfully, then withdrew. "Then I'll be leaving first, Senior Brother. Rest well. What does a mere Xuanxin amount to? We believe in you."

Liu Qingfeng left.

Inside the great hall.

Only one worthless Eldest Senior Brother remained, his heart full of anxiety.

Sigh!

At this moment, Lu Changsheng no longer had the mood to refine pills.

His good mood had vanished just like that.

That damned bald donkey.

Lu Changsheng grumbled inwardly.

And at this very moment.

After leaving the great hall.

Following Lu Changsheng's instructions, Liu Qingfeng waited until everyone had finished their hard labor, then gave each person a Vajra Glazed Pill.

They were all curious, unsure what it was.

But suddenly, Liu Qingfeng gathered everyone close, looking exceedingly mysterious.

"I have something to tell you, but you must keep it a secret, understand?"

The words rang out, and in an instant, everyone became curious.

"What is it?"

"Quick, tell us!"

Liu Qingfeng glanced around. Finding no outsiders nearby, he immediately lowered his voice.

"Isn't Dharma Master Xuanxin debating doctrine throughout Central Province? I just told Senior Brother about it. Guess what Senior Brother said?"

Liu Qingfeng deliberately played up the mystery.

In an instant, every disciple perked up. The exhaustion of an entire day was swept away, and each of them looked incomparably curious.