The Daoist was surprised when he heard the announcement.
Why had members of the Buddhist Sect come?
Since ancient times, Buddhism and Daoism had been distinct. Moreover, conflicts over sacred mountains, blessed lands, and worshippers were inevitable, so on the whole, relations between the two were not particularly good.
Throughout history, even measured in tens of thousands of years, their best relationship had amounted to well water not intruding upon river water, with both standing on the same side in matters of fundamental right and wrong, such as subduing demons. Beyond that, conflict and disputes were common, harmony and friendship rare. Even when Daoists and monks became friends, those were exceptional cases, purely personal relationships. And the higher the standing of those involved, the more carefully they generally had to avoid suspicion. Coming from an Immortal Sect himself, True Lord Cheng had been particularly cautious about this throughout his journey. He had only one attitude toward the Buddhist Sect: treat them with respect, but keep his distance.
From his earliest cooperation in the Eastern Sea with Kuaiji's Buddhist temples, the Temple of Mount Putuo and Hidden Dragon Temple, to receiving Fanjing Mountain's thanks after reclaiming the Miao Borderlands, and now receiving the thanks of Mount Maiji and the Temple of Compassion and Grace here in Longdong, the Daoist's attitude had remained the same: courteous, but not close. And as his standing rose, he grew more cautious in this regard, having to consider the effect of every action on both Buddhism and Daoism.
Besides, the two traditions shared a tacit understanding. When the Daoist Sect flourished and upheld the fortunes of the Divine Land, Buddhist and Chan sects everywhere tended to keep a low profile. They might not seal their mountains outright, but they certainly would not venture far beyond their