Chapter 833: The Gaze of Chu Xingchen!

Chapter 833: Chapter 833: The Gaze of Chu Xingchen!

Southern Zhanbu Continent. Xuanwu Kingdom.

Inside the Great Assembly Hall of the Yishizheng Dian, the current monarch of Xuanwu Kingdom, Emperor Zhao Xuan, sat not on the throne but in a lower seat — his aged face, already showing flecks of weariness, arranged in an expression of extreme humility.

There was no other reason. The identities of his visitors were enough to make anyone’s scalp tingle.

One was someone he vaguely recognized — Xie Lingyu.

Xie Lingyu wore white robes and held a jade token that shimmered with flowing light.

The rest were monks. Zhao Xuan didn’t know any of them.

But what truly set Zhao Xuan’s nerves on edge was one of the monks — behind his head, a halo of the众生背光 (Sentient Beings Back-Light) hung suspended in the air. The incredibly detailed nimbus rotated gently, radiating pale white energy that periodically soothed the anxious flutter in Zhao Xuan’s chest.

Zhao Xuan understood immediately. Only a Karma Buddha of the Buddhist Sect could manifest a Nirvana nimbus like that.

This meant the young-looking, mild-mannered novice before him was a genuine Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.

A cultivator at this realm — forget Zhao Xuan, even seven or eight generations of his ancestors might never have seen one.

Zhao Xuan hadn’t forgotten that back when the New Policy was being implemented, Xuanwu Kingdom had once dealt with the Buddhist establishment in a rather heavy-handed manner.

If this Tribulation Transcendence Karma Buddha casually asked about what had happened back then, Zhao Xuan felt that the only honest response would be to draw his sword and take his own life.

As a person of high standing, Zhao Xuan understood these celestial-level figures better than most.

The reason they were reasoning with you today was almost certainly because they were in a good mood — not because your argument had merit.

The other monk, a darker-skinned fellow, was more straightforward.

He’d arrived, helped himself to some fruit, and was munching on it with great contentment, paying no mind to the Tribulation Transcendence Buddha beside him. Once he started eating, his eyes didn’t wander — as though he’d come here purely for the fruit.

Xie Lingyu withdrew the jade token and looked toward Runan:

"I’m afraid I’ve troubled you greatly, Honored Buddha. This is merely a personal matter — I could have come alone."

Runan sat nearby, a warm smile on his face at these words. He didn’t respond directly. Instead, he raised one hand and used spiritual energy to lift Zhao Xuan — chair and all — back to where he belonged.

Zhao Xuan and his chair hovered in midair, both caught by spiritual energy. His eyes were wide with shock and dread as he looked at the Buddha before him — that face carrying a hint of perfect equanimity.

The only person who could be called "Honored Buddha" was Runan, the one who presided over the entirety of Great Thunder Temple and the Buddhist Sect.

This was a figure so far above Zhao Xuan that no matter how many generations he counted back, he would never have encountered one.

The shock of a racing heart had sent him toppling right off his chair.

But if this Honored Buddha wished, it was effortless to catch him and set him right back.

"This Seat gave Fellow Daoist Chu my word — I would ensure your safety. I have no pressing matters of my own; this visit was simply to honor Fellow Daoist Chu’s request."

Runan lowered his right hand gently. Zhao Xuan was returned to his seat exactly as he’d fallen from it.

Only then did Runan turn his gaze to Zhao Xuan and speak in a level tone:

"Great Thunder Temple is no den of malice, Your Majesty. Please, do not be alarmed. If this is about the New Policy from years past, Fellow Daoist Chu has already explained everything to me. It was Great Thunder Temple that acted insufficiently — please rest assured, Great Thunder Temple will take no retaliatory measures."

"The peace of all beings is Great Thunder Temple’s lifelong aspiration. If anyone uses our name to trouble you, Your Majesty may send word directly to Great Thunder Temple, and we will handle it ourselves."

Zhao Xuan exhaled heavily, then immediately rose and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Honored Buddha."

Runan chuckled and nodded. Then his gaze drifted toward the entrance — and his perpetually calm eyes brightened almost imperceptibly.

Li Junzi entered the hall, wearing the long robes of a Confucian scholar, her steps measured and unhurried.

Li Junzi swept her gaze over the assembled figures and locked onto Zhao Xuan first. Seeing the lingering panic on his face, she bowed to him before speaking:

"Guoxue Zheng Li Junzi greets the Emperor in audience."

Zhao Xuan nodded gently and gestured toward Xie Lingyu:

"Today we have these honored guests — old acquaintances, they say, who wished to see you."

Li Junzi straightened and turned to Xie Lingyu. A faint smile touched her lips:

"Lingyu, it’s been so long. You still look so young. I must look so much more worn than I did back then."

Xie Lingyu regarded Li Junzi’s nearly white hair and the fatigue that couldn’t be hidden at the corners of her eyes.

Lin Luoyu was Chu Xingchen’s disciple. As her master’s wife, if Xie Lingyu happened to pass through Xuanwu Kingdom, she had to pay a visit regardless.

More importantly, she was here to back Li Junzi up.

Even if the New Policy succeeded and Li Junzi never became a Sub-Sage, they still considered her one of their own.

"You should take better rest." Xie Lingyu drew a bottle of pills from her space ring and placed it personally in Li Junzi’s hands. "One per month. It will replenish your blood-qi."

Li Junzi didn’t refuse. She accepted it with a natural ease and a soft smile:

"Your kindness — I won’t decline it."

Xie Lingyu replied quickly: "We’re family. There’s no need to be polite."

From the moment Li Junzi walked into the hall, Runan had been quietly observing this woman who kept her aura so tightly restrained.

He reached his judgment swiftly.

Runan spoke suddenly: "Hearing of someone is never quite the same as meeting them. Li Junzi, your bearing far surpasses what I had imagined."

Li Junzi turned toward the voice, saw the Nirvana nimbus behind Runan’s head, and understood that this speaker was a Tribulation Transcendence Karma Buddha.

But unlike Zhao Xuan, who had panicked and trembled, Li Junzi remained calm — her eyes as steady as ever.

She offered a slight bow: "You flatter me. I’m just an ordinary scholar who reads books. May I ask who you are?"

"This Seat is Runan." Runan answered, then smiled gently. "If Miss Li is an ordinary scholar, the world would have to be turned upside down."

Li Junzi laughed despite herself, then said with casual ease:

"Well, perhaps it’s time the world was turned upside down."

Runan nodded slightly: "Perhaps it is."

Li Junzi faced Runan squarely and performed a formal bow:

"Guoxue Zheng of Xuanwu Kingdom, Li Junzi, greets the Honored Buddha of Great Thunder Temple."

Runan rose to return the greeting, offering a warm smile and a gentle nod — that was his reply.

Li Junzi straightened and turned her gaze to Xie Lingyu:

"Is Sect Master Chu well? I’ve heard quite a few rumors during my time in Xuanwu Kingdom."

"Busier than before, but otherwise fine."

"That’s good. And Luoyu?"

"Her cultivation has been advancing rapidly. But Miss Li, you really should rest more. If Luoyu comes to visit and sees you like this, she’ll only be heartbroken."

"I’m an old bag of bones now. If I don’t push harder in these final years, there won’t be many chances left. But with Lingyu’s pills, I should be able to rest more. That should give me more time."

Runan watched the easy, domestic exchange between Xie Lingyu and Li Junzi with a calm gaze.

One thought echoed in his mind.

Chu Xingchen’s eye for people was truly extraordinary — it made even him envious.