From the Buddhist Sect's perspective, what Shi Feiyang had done this time was an immense kindness to them.
From the standpoint of transmitting the Dharma, as Master Fentuo, Master Youtan, and the others saw it, Shi Feiyang had preserved the Orthodox Buddhist Sect's lineage and delayed the arrival of the Dharma Extinction Age. In a certain sense, he had preserved this world's Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
From an ordinary Buddhist's perspective, he had kept the true Buddhist Dharma from dying out in this world. Future Buddhist disciples would still have a chance to dispel delusion and attain enlightenment, rather than sink into darkness forever.
Had Shi Feiyang not intervened, the countless beings of this world would have had to wait untold years, until Maitreya Bodhisattva descended into the mortal world and became Maitreya Buddha, before they had another chance to encounter the Dharma.
When future Buddhist disciples preached and compiled books, they would have to give him the title of "Great Dharma Protector of Buddhism," ranking him above Emperor Wu of Liang and Wu Zetian, on a par with Great Brahma.
"Long ago, an immortal of another faith fell into the animal realm through a single foolish thought and acquired the body of a dragon king... later, he protected the true Buddhist Dharma, and after several more kalpas, ascended into the heavenly realm. Thus was he known as 'Feiyang Heaven.'"
Of course, Shi Feiyang did not care about this. He would even have considered it a disgrace. He had no desire to become some Buddhist Dharma Protector; he simply wanted Buddhism to surrender the Bodhi-Leaf Spirit Talisman.
Master Fentuo and Master Youtan knew his intentions, but neither was willing to step forward and shoulder that responsibility.
Who had the authority to give away a supreme