Chapter 852: I Don’t Buy It

Chapter 852: Chapter 852: I Don’t Buy It

Lizhi trailed at Chu Xingchen’s side, her pace slower, a smile lingering on her face.

This smile was not entirely genuine. The debt of gratitude was real, but Chu Xingchen’s station had long since risen to a height she couldn’t see even by craning her neck.

The natural chasm between their statuses — even though Lizhi knew Chu Xingchen was a good person — left her instinctively reserved.

Xie Lingyu observed Lizhi with some curiosity — a Golden Core cultivator who seemed quite at ease around strangers.

"Senior Chu, what important matter brings you to Western Jambudvipa this time?" Lizhi lowered her voice. "Don’t worry — I promise I won’t run away halfway through. I’ll see whatever task you assign me through to the end, even if it kills me."

Chu Xingchen waved his hand: "What are you thinking — a little Golden Core cultivator wanting to handle life-threatening missions? It’s not even your turn."

"Oh..." Lizhi’s expression deflated slightly, then turned resolute. "Then coming to find me means there’s definitely something I can do, right? I’d be glad to help."

Chu Xingchen asked: "Some time ago, demonic entities emerged in Western Jambudvipa. Runan then returned to Great Thunder Temple to oversee the response. Do you know about this?"

Lizhi thought for a moment, then nodded:

"This was a big deal. Many people feared it would be like last time, but the Buddhist Sect moved quickly. Rumor has it two Tribulation Transcendence Buddhas are now stationed here."

"But I don’t have the accurate details. Only people of your caliber get the real information. We just pass along rumors — guesses, not facts."

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded, then asked:

"Then you remember what we tracked regarding wish-power? Has the Buddhist Sect been continuing to collect it here in Western Jambudvipa?"

Lizhi paused in thought, then said: "After the last incident, the Buddhist Sect’s credibility took a real hit. The three sects also left certain measures in place when they entered Western Jambudvipa. As for collecting wish-power — they’re still doing it, as far as I can tell. The usual activities are all running."

"To put it bluntly — no fool leaves money lying on the ground. And I don’t think the Buddhist Sect are fools."

"Though they’ve reined in considerably — that much is true."

Xie Lingyu, walking alongside Chu Xingchen, naturally heard the entire exchange. She now understood why Chu Xingchen had sought out Lizhi specifically.

Intelligence from Tianyan Sect and Xuanqing Heavenly Sect was certainly precise — they could detail exactly what Runan had done after returning to Western Jambudvipa, who carried out each arrangement, and how.

That information was valuable, but Lizhi’s imprecise, ground-level perspective often better captured how ordinary people first reacted to shifts in affairs.

After the Buddhist Sect’s clash with the three sects — whether to restore Western Jambudvipa’s public confidence or out of genuine recognition of their errors — they had made efforts, and their propaganda had apparently landed well. The people of Western Jambudvipa’s faith in the Buddhist Sect had begun to recover.

Sometimes, this kind of casual inquiry served as a better barometer of the Buddhist Sect’s true intentions.

Xie Lingyu said softly: "So it seems the Buddhist Sect has indeed taken steps toward reform."

Chu Xingchen looked at Xie Lingyu, considered for a moment, and said:

"Western Jambudvipa is vast, and far too distant from Great Thunder Temple. The Buddhist Sect may not truly care about Western Jambudvipa. Perhaps they’re simply calculating whether they can afford to lose it — whether something even more uncontrollable might happen if they do."

"The present Buddhist Sect is straining to accomplish only one thing — maintaining the status quo."

"Sometimes, making no changes at all is the key decision that allows a colossus like the Buddhist Sect to continue surviving."

"So even though the Buddhist Sect lost considerable face in Southern Zhanbu Continent, when trouble erupted in Western Jambudvipa, they dropped everything and rushed here."

Xie Lingyu let out a soft sigh.

As expected, the position of sect master was not something just anyone could fill.

This kind of tangled, layered maneuvering was simply not in her nature. Perhaps that had something to do with her master protecting her too well.

Xie Lingyu’s gaze drifted sideways to Chu Xingchen, still wearing that look of effortless composure.

Still, the ability to see through such tangles at a glance — there was a certain elegance to it.

Lizhi trailed alongside, not daring to look too directly at Xie Lingyu, but stealing the occasional glance at her refined, somewhat aloof features.

She had to admit — Central Continent’s female cultivators truly carried themselves with distinction. Their bearing was elegant, they spoke little, and their expressions were composed. Not like her — despite being a Golden Core cultivator, she still preferred gathering her subordinates at ordinary tea stalls, ready to plant her foot on the table at the slightest provocation.

Xie Lingyu noticed Lizhi’s gaze and turned toward her with a questioning look.

Lizhi quickly flashed a dazzling smile and gave a small nod.

Xie Lingyu didn’t quite understand but returned the nod politely.

Lizhi looked up at Chu Xingchen and asked:

"So, Senior, this time you’re still tracking the Buddhist Sect’s wish-power operations? But the Buddhist Sect has been claiming in Western Jambudvipa that they’ve not only reconciled with you but are now on intimate terms — even that you and the Venerable Buddha Runan are sworn friends who will stand together against all the world’s great affairs."

"Though thinking it over, it’s probably just the Buddhist Sect puffing themselves up for face. As if Senior would bother with that ugly mug of the Venerable Buddha Runan."

Chu Xingchen paused briefly, then seemed to recall something. His gaze drifted leisurely toward Lizhi.

Lizhi felt the weight of that look and immediately sensed something was wrong with her spiritual sense.

She instinctively felt she had... no, was certain she had misspoken.

Chu Xingchen’s tone turned notably gentler:

"Lizhi, I happen to have a job with excellent pay. Would you like to work for me for a while?"

"That... wouldn’t that be inappropriate? People would say I got the position through connections!"

"So what if it’s through connections? You need a relationship to have connections, and those relationships are built on effort."

Lizhi knew this wasn’t going to be any easy task, but refusing further felt wrong on a gut level. Finally, steeling herself, she asked quietly:

"What kind of work?"

"Pick out a few temples that you find particularly outrageous and offensive. Make their lives difficult, then demand to know where they’ve stashed their wish-power. As long as it’s within Western Jambudvipa’s borders, it’s fair game."

"Just... just me alone?"

"Mm-hm. If you want to bring a few extra people along, go ahead. All expenses will be reimbursed."

"Senior... I’m with the Patrol Heaven Department, but those monks don’t recognize Patrol Heaven Department authority. Let alone make trouble for them — say the wrong word and those Yuanming-level old monks will throw me right out the door..."

Lizhi stopped halfway through her sentence, her eyes shifting, and extended her small hand.

She was being foolish. Those monks might not give her, little Lizhi, the time of day — but would they dare refuse Chu Xingchen’s face?

Chu Xingchen glanced at Lizhi’s outstretched hand, understood her meaning immediately, and said:

"If you use my token, you’ll probably attract trouble. Western Jambudvipa is run by the Secular Buddhas, and they don’t exactly hold me in high regard."

"I’ll take you to meet someone. His face carries weight."

"Someone whose face carries more weight than yours? I don’t believe that."

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Western Jambudvipa. Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

Buddhist auspicious clouds rose tier upon tier toward the sky. Five-colored Dharma lotuses circulated around the temple.

Bodhisattvas sat outside the temple gates. Arhats stood guard with their Dharma implements, their stances firm.

A flood dragon coiled nearby in silence. Buddhist Dharma chants sounded without cease.

Outside the temple gate.

Lizhi’s eyes were wide, her feet rooted to the spot, gazing at the scene before her — a formation so grand it made her bones ache.

Now she believed that the person they were about to meet carried a face of terrifying weight.