Come on, brain, think!

"The Xuanmen Dao Discussion Conference is now in session."

"Discuss the Dao through the Dao, and prove your convictions through reason."

"You may challenge one another on difficulties in cultivation and the fundamentals of the Great Dao. Whoever cannot answer, or whose reasoning is unsound, will lose."

"The one left standing in the arena will be the Literary Competition Champion."

Seeing that the disciples were already eager and raring to go, Taiqing Laozi promptly announced the start.

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

He wore a simple Mysterious Yellow Daoist Robe. He was broad and round-faced, with a pair of almond-shaped eyes that were gentle yet glimmered with penetrating wisdom.

He walked steadily into the arena, slowly sweeping his gaze across the disciples of the Three Religions before settling on the Chan Sect. He clasped his hands in greeting.

"This poor Daoist has long been troubled by a question. I humbly ask the talented disciples of the Chan Sect to enlighten me."

Seeing Li Qingxu's cultivation advance by leaps and bounds until it was nearly on par with his own, Guangchengzi felt a mounting sense of urgency. He was determined to become the First Disciple of Chan Sect.

The lure of five High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures only strengthened his resolve. He immediately stepped forward, hoping to make a good impression on Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

"What is your question?"

Guangchengzi took a step forward, his sleeves fluttering. A warm, confident smile rested on his face.

"I've heard that the Chan Sect's doctrine is to act in accordance with Heaven and expound the Heavenly Dao."

"What I wonder is this: if one day calamity were to befall the Chan Sect, and your fellow disciples were trapped in mortal peril, would you follow your doctrine and 'act in accordance with Heaven,' watching them face their calamity? Or would you defy the Heavenly Dao for the sake of your fellow disciples?"

As soon as he said this, the entire arena fell silent.

This was no simple question about cultivation. It struck at the very heart of the Chan Sect's doctrine, while also hinting at the sharp conflict between the Dao and human feeling, the will of Heaven and the human heart. It was an exceptionally tricky question, like an invisible blade of wisdom suspended above Guangchengzi's head.

"Act in accordance with Heaven..."

"Defy Heaven..."

After hearing Ksitigarbha's question, the confident smile gradually vanished from Guangchengzi's face. He was immediately caught in a dilemma.

If he acted in accordance with Heaven and let his fellow disciple die, what would become of their brotherhood? Where would his sense of duty be? He would bear the name of being cold and heartless.

But if he defied Heaven and rescued his fellow disciple, what would become of the Chan Sect's doctrine? Wouldn't he be destroying his Dao Foundation and turning his back on the very reason the sect was founded?

Whatever he chose would be wrong. It was as if he had fallen into a dead end.

Guangchengzi wasn't the only one at a loss. Jade Cauldron True Man, True Person Huang Long, and the other Chan Sect disciples were all frowning, unsure how to respond.

At that moment, the eyes of the Three Pure Ones, the Two Sages of the West, and every disciple of the Human, Chan, Jie, and Western Sects fell on Guangchengzi.

Come on, brain, think!

Feeling tens of thousands of gazes land on him, Guangchengzi was like an ant on a hot griddle. His mind raced as he tried to come up with a perfect answer.

The countless Daoist scriptures and clever arguments he had studied in the past were now a tangled mess. He couldn't find a "perfect" answer that could uphold the bonds between fellow disciples without violating the Chan Sect's doctrine.

Cold sweat silently beaded on his temples and slid down his tense cheeks.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, every passing moment an ordeal.

Finally, after a long, suffocating silence, Guangchengzi's face turned from red to pale, then from pale to ashen. As if all his strength had been drained, he moved his lips a few times before managing to force out a few words.

"This poor Daoist... concedes."

After speaking, he hardly dared look at anyone. He retreated to the Chan Sect's ranks, his steps unsteady. A patch of sweat had soaked through the back of his Daoist robe.

For a moment, the cliff top was silent. Then a few quiet sighs and murmurs arose, but no one laughed at him.

The disciples asked themselves what they would have done in his place. Most likely, they wouldn't have been able to answer either.

It was an exceptionally tricky question, almost impossible to resolve.

After returning to the ranks, Guangchengzi couldn't help glancing up at his master, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, seated high on the Cloud Platform. Guilt and unease flickered in his eyes.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate's expression was as calm as ever, and he showed no sign of blaming Guangchengzi. Still, Guangchengzi saw a hint of disappointment in his master's eyes.

His heart sank, and he felt utterly miserable.

But while Primordial Heavenly Venerate was disappointed, Zhunti and Jieyin were beaming, faint smiles on their faces.

When it came to sophistry, if the Western Sect didn't come in first, no one else could.

"Are there any other talented disciples of the Chan Sect willing to enlighten this poor Daoist?"

Ksitigarbha continued, intending to use this tricky question to defeat the Chan Sect in the Literary Competition once and for all.

Jade Cauldron True Man, True Person Taiyi, and the other Chan Sect disciples could see what Ksitigarbha was up to, but there was nothing they could do. They could only avoid his gaze.

Just as everyone thought the Chan Sect had lost the Literary Competition, a calm voice rang out.

"This poor Daoist is no expert, but I have some thoughts on the matter."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw that Li Qingxu had stepped forward, a warm, confident smile on his face.

"Oh?"

Ksitigarbha raised an eyebrow. He didn't believe Li Qingxu could answer a question where every possible choice was wrong.

"Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."

"The answer is simple."

Li Qingxu smiled faintly, as refreshing as a gentle breeze. "Our Chan Sect acts in accordance with Heaven and expounds the Heavenly Dao. Since that is so, how could Heaven ever send calamity upon us?"

"So the question you posed is nothing but an illusion, like a castle in the air. Naturally, there is no need to answer it, nor any way to answer it."

Li Qingxu's words rang through the disciples' minds like a thunderclap, and everyone suddenly saw the answer.

That's right!

The Chan Sect acted in accordance with Heaven, and it had Primordial Saint protecting it. How could the Heavenly Dao possibly send calamity upon it?

The question they had racked their brains over didn't need an answer. They only had to reject its premise.

High in the sky, the Two Sages of the West looked slightly taken aback. They hadn't expected Li Qingxu to be so clever and avoid the trap Ksitigarbha had laid.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate, meanwhile, stroked his beard, his eyes full of approval and admiration.

This disciple had extraordinary comprehension, abundant fortune, and a deep understanding of the Chan Sect's doctrine. He was undoubtedly the best candidate for First Disciple of Chan Sect.

After hearing Li Qingxu's answer, Ksitigarbha was stunned for a moment. His gaze grew more serious.

"Your understanding of the Chan Sect's doctrine is truly extraordinary, fellow Daoist."

Li Qingxu smiled. "You're too kind."

"This poor Daoist also has a few questions about Buddhist Dharma. I hope you can enlighten me, fellow Daoist."

It was only polite to return a favor. Since the other side had opened with such a tricky question, Li Qingxu decided to put Ksitigarbha on the spot in turn.

"Please ask."

Ksitigarbha had mastered Buddhist Dharma and wasn't intimidated.

"Buddhist Dharma says: 'Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.'"

"What I don't understand is, why must good people endure countless hardships before they have a chance to become Buddhas, while those who have committed every sort of evil need only lay down their butcher's knives to attain Buddhahood?"