Dead Brain, Hurry Up and Turn!

"The Xuanmen Dao Discussion Convention officially begins."

"Discuss Dao with Dao, prove the heart with reason."

"You may question each other regarding cultivation difficulties and the fundamentals of the Great Dao. Those who cannot answer or are proven wrong shall be considered defeated."

"The one who ultimately stands on the field shall be the victor of this literary contest."

Seeing that his disciples were already eager and impatient, Taiqing Laozi immediately announced the start.

As soon as Taiqing Laozi finished speaking, Jieyin's disciple, Ksitigarbha, stepped forward impatiently.

He wore a simple Mysterious Yellow Daoist Robe, was plump and well-rounded, with a full, smooth face and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that held a gentle yet penetrating wisdom.

He walked steadily into the center of the field, his gaze slowly sweeping over the disciples of the Three Sects, finally settling on the Chan Sect's side. He clasped his hands in salutation:

"This humble monk has a question that has long been in my heart. I implore a talented disciple of the Chan Sect to resolve it for me."

Guangchengzi, seeing Li Qingxu's rapid advancement in cultivation, which had reached a level comparable to his own, felt a sense of urgency, as he desperately wanted to become the foremost disciple of the Chan Sect.

Coupled with the temptation of five High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, he immediately stepped forward, wishing to impress Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

"What is your question?"

Guangchengzi took a step forward, his robes fluttering, a gentle and confident smile on his face.

"I have heard that the Chan Sect's teachings emphasize acting in accordance with Heaven and expounding upon the Heavenly Dao."

"What I am curious about is, if one day a calamity were to descend upon the Chan Sect, and fellow disciples were in mortal danger, would you, according to the teachings, 'act in accordance with Heaven' and watch your fellow disciples face their tribulation, or would you, for the sake of camaraderie, defy the Heavenly Dao and act against Heaven?"

Upon these words, the entire arena fell silent.

This was not a simple cultivation doubt, but a question that directly targeted the core tenets of the Chan Sect's teachings. It also implied a sharp contradiction between Dao and emotion, between the will of Heaven and the human heart. It was exceedingly tricky, like an invisible sword of wisdom hanging over Guangchengzi's head.

"Acting in accordance with Heaven..."

"Acting against Heaven..."

Upon hearing Ksitigarbha's question, the confident smile on Guangchengzi's face gradually disappeared, and he was immediately thrown into a dilemma.

If he acted in accordance with Heaven and refused to save them, where would "camaraderie" lie? Where would righteousness exist? He would be branded as cold and unfeeling.

If he acted against Heaven and forcibly saved his fellow disciples, where would the "Chan Sect's teachings" lie? Wouldn't he be destroying his own Dao Foundation and deviating from the very basis of the sect's establishment?

No matter which choice he made, it would be wrong. He seemed to have fallen into a dead end.

Not only Guangchengzi, but Jade Cauldron True Man, True Person Huang Long, and other Chan Sect disciples also frowned, unsure how to respond.

At this moment, the gazes of the Three Pure Ones, the Two Sages of the West, and all the disciples of the Human, Chan, Jie, and Western Sects were fixed on Guangchengzi.

"Brain, hurry up and think!"

Guangchengzi felt tens of thousands of eyes on him, making him feel like an ant on a hot pan. His mind raced, desperately trying to find a perfect conclusion.

The countless Daoist scriptures and clever retorts he had studied for years now felt like a tangled mess. He couldn't find a "perfect" answer that would uphold the righteousness of his fellow disciples without violating the Chan Sect's teachings.

Cold sweat silently beaded on his forehead, sliding down his tense cheeks.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely, each breath feeling like an ordeal.

Finally, after a suffocatingly long silence, Guangchengzi's complexion shifted from red to white, then from white to green. Ultimately, as if he had exhausted all his strength, his lips moved a few times, and he uttered a few words with difficulty:

"This humble monk... concedes defeat."

With that, he could barely bear to look at anyone, and retreated with slightly unsteady steps back into the Chan Sect's ranks, a large portion of his daoist robe's back soaked with cold sweat.

The cliff top was silent for a moment, then a few low sighs and murmurs arose, but no one scoffed.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

The disciples asked themselves, if it were them, they probably wouldn't be able to answer either.

The question was so cunning that it was almost unsolvable.

As Guangchengzi returned to the formation, he couldn't help himself. With a trace of shame and apprehension, he subtly glanced up at his master, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who was seated high in the clouds.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate's expression was as usual, and he didn't seem to blame Guangchengzi. However, Guangchengzi still saw a hint of disappointment in his master's eyes.

This made Guangchengzi's heart sink, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.

Compared to Primordial Heavenly Venerate's disappointment, Zhunti and Jieyin were beaming, their faces filled with faint smiles.

When it came to sophistry, their Western Sect would rank second, and no one else would dare claim first.

"Are there any other talented disciples of the Chan Sect willing to offer guidance and resolve this doubt for this humble monk?"

Ksitigarbha continued to ask, intending to use this tricky question to decisively defeat the Chan Sect in the literary contest.

Jade Cauldron True Man, True Person Taiyi, and a host of other Chan Sect disciples saw Ksitigarbha's intention, but they were helpless and could only unconsciously avoid his gaze.

Just as everyone thought the Chan Sect would be defeated in the literary contest, a calm voice rang out:

"This humble monk is not talented, but I have some thoughts on this matter."

Everyone turned to look and saw that Li Qingxu had already stepped forward, a gentle and confident smile on his face.

"Oh?"

Ksitigarbha raised an eyebrow slightly, not believing that Li Qingxu could answer a question where any choice would be wrong.

"Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."

"The answer is simple."

Li Qingxu smiled faintly, like a gentle breeze caressing his face. "My Chan Sect acts in accordance with the Heavenly Dao, expounding upon it. Since this is the case, how could any heavenly tribulation befall us?"

"Therefore, the question posed by fellow Daoist is inherently false, like a castle in the air. Naturally, there is no need to answer it, nor is there a way to answer it."

Li Qingxu's words struck the hearts of all the disciples like thunder, causing everyone present to suddenly understand.

That's right!

The Chan Sect acted in accordance with the Heavenly Dao and had the protection of the Primordial Saint. How could the Heavenly Dao possibly send down a tribulation?

The question that had stumped them for ages required no answer; they only needed to refute it directly.

High in the sky, the faces of Saints Zhunti and Jieyin changed slightly. They hadn't expected Li Qingxu's mind to be so sharp, avoiding the trap Ksitigarbha had dug.

Meanwhile, the Primordial Heavenly Venerate stroked his beard, his eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration.

This child's comprehension was peerless, his fortune profound, and he deeply understood the teachings of the Chan Sect. He was truly the best candidate for the position of Chief Disciple of the Chan Sect.

Upon hearing Li Qingxu's answer, Ksitigarbha was also stunned for a moment, his eyes showing a newfound seriousness.

"Fellow Daoist's understanding of the Chan Sect's teachings is truly extraordinary."

Li Qingxu smiled faintly. "You flatter me."

"This humble Daoist has a few doubts regarding Buddhist teachings as well. I hope fellow Daoist can resolve them."

As the saying goes, it is impolite not to reciprocate. Since the other party had started with such a tricky question, Li Qingxu decided to challenge Ksitigarbha.

"Please speak, fellow Daoist."

Confident in his mastery of Buddhist teachings, Ksitigarbha did not falter.

"Buddhist teachings state: 'Lay down your butcher knife and become a Buddha instantly.'"

"What this humble Daoist does not understand is why good people must endure countless hardships to have a chance at Buddhahood, while those who have committed heinous acts can attain the fruit of Buddhahood simply by laying down their butcher knife?"