This Is Not Unwillingness

"We in Western Heaven... may wish to satisfy your demands, Benefactor, but we truly cannot directly hand the territory and faith of the Tianzhu Buddha Kingdom over to you or the Heavenly Court. This is not unwillingness, but inability."

His words were half true, half false. The Heavenly Dao did indeed impose many restrictions and backlash upon Immortals directly intervening in the mortal world on a large scale, especially when it involved forcibly replacing matters as fundamental as national fortune and faith. The Karmic Bond involved would be immense.

But it was not as though there were no room for maneuver. They could secretly cultivate agents, guide matters indirectly through "Divine Decrees," or contend through Secular Power. Western Heaven was, in truth, quite adept at such things.

He said this chiefly because he could not bear to truly cede such a core territory of faith. At the same time, it was a bargaining tactic.

Lin Zhu showed no surprise upon hearing this. Instead, a trace of knowing understanding appeared on his face, as though he had expected it all along.

He had never held much hope of directly obtaining the Tianzhu Buddha Kingdom's territory in the first place. That had merely been an outrageously high opening demand. Now that Amitabha had invoked the Rules of the Heavenly Dao, he smoothly followed up by presenting a more practical request, one he had long prepared and that would be easier to carry out.

"So that is how it is. It seems Lin had not considered matters thoroughly enough."

Lin Zhu nodded in sudden "realization," then abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening.

"Since directly transferring territory and faith violates the Heavenly Dao, then let us change the demand—it is very simple. I want Western Heaven to promise that from this day onward,