But on second thought, these monks had indeed all died for the Buddha Child. If the Western Paradise really existed, he felt Ancient Buddha Kasyapa ought to make arrangements for them.
Let's just call it a well-intentioned lie. Besides, Venerable Jiaye, you've tricked me so many times. It isn't too much for me to trick you once, is it?
With that thought, Xu Taiping immediately felt much more at ease.
What Xu Taiping had not expected, however, was this.
The effect of this decree somewhat exceeded his expectations.
Upon hearing that they could "be reborn in paradise," the monks, whose spirits had flagged after several months under siege, all perked up at once.
Some warrior monks even raised their Precepts Staffs and Precepts Knives in excitement, shouting impassioned declarations such as, "We are willing to die for the Buddha Child!"
The atmosphere throughout Vairocana Temple was utterly transformed.
"The Chan School certainly lives up to its name. A promise of rebirth in paradise alone can make people willingly go to their deaths. If the Chan School hadn't suffered a catastrophe ten thousand years ago, causing its Ancient Buddhas to fall and plunging it straight into the Age of the Decline of the Dharma, the Three Realms would probably look entirely different."
Sensing the change in the atmosphere within Vairocana Temple, even Fairy Lingyue could not help voicing her feelings.
"What catastrophe?"
Xu Taiping was somewhat curious.
"I'm not too clear on the exact cause either. It seems the Buddhist Kingdom suffered a backlash from the Heavens while contending for a piece of the Outer Heaven Divine Meteorite Land. A Sword Cultivator from that shattered land unleashed a single sword strike with ten thousand years of fortune and destroyed more than half the Buddhist Kingdom."
Fairy Lingyue recalled.
"One sword strike?"