At Li Qingxu's words, not only Ksitigarbha but also Maitreya, Bhaisajyaguru, and the others in the Western Sect's ranks all stiffened.
His meaning was clear.
Why did good people have to endure countless hardships before they might become Buddhas, while bad people only had to lay down their butcher's knives for all their past misdeeds to be forgiven and for them to become Buddhas on the spot?
Was it simply because good people had no "knives" in their hands?
What was this talk of Buddhist compassion and equality for all beings? Wasn't this just picking on honest people?
This was no longer a simple inquiry into scripture. It went straight to the "compassion" and "fairness" of Buddhist Dharma, and its cutting edge was no less sharp than Ksitigarbha's earlier question.
"This..."
The tables had turned. Ksitigarbha began to stammer, unsure how to answer.
Seeing this, the Chan Sect disciples felt a long-overdue sense of vindication, and a trace of admiration for Li Qingxu arose in their hearts.
Zhunti and Jieyin, meanwhile, furrowed their brows, feeling somewhat uneasy.
The Western Sect's doctrines were built on Buddhist Dharma's compassion and fairness. If Ksitigarbha couldn't answer, this Xuanmen Dao Discussion Conference would not only fail to promote the Western Sect, but might even have the opposite effect.
They wanted to secretly send Ksitigarbha a message to "cheat," but then they met Primordial Heavenly Venerate's meaningful gaze and had no choice but to abandon the idea.
"Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist."
Seeing Ksitigarbha stammer and fail to get a word out, Li Qingxu immediately pressed him.
"Alas..."
"This humble monk concedes."
Ksitigarbha knew he couldn't answer. Though unwilling, he could only bow his head and admit defeat, then slink back to the Merit Golden Lotus.
"Fellow Daoists of the Western Sect, your Buddhist Dharma