Chapter 853: The One Who Lost Lizhi’s Lizhi

Chapter 853: Chapter 853: The One Who Lost Lizhi’s Lizhi

Inside Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

Venerable Buddha Runan sat in quiet repose at the center of the Dharma Lotus, eyes half-closed, the Nirvana Relic held lightly between his fingers.

After returning to Great Thunder Temple to deliver his report, Runan had dismissed every attempt at persuasion and crossed the Pudu River on his own, personally taking up residence at Zhengyin Dharma Temple in Western Jambudvipa.

Lizhi’s report that two Tribulation Transcendence Buddhas had arrived in Western Jambudvipa was not entirely accurate. Counting Runan himself, a total of five Tribulation Transcendence Buddhas now stood in Western Jambudvipa.

Even by the Buddhist Sect’s standards, deploying five Tribulation Transcendence cultivators was a staggering commitment.

But sometimes, one had no choice.

The Buddhist Sect’s current predicament lay open for all to see. The last time, before the Pudu River, they had been intercepted twice. The matter of the East Sea wish-power — Chu Xingchen had never asked, but everyone knew.

Some things went unmentioned, yet that did not mean they went unheeded.

The devastation in Western Jambudvipa during the last incident had been real. It had taught Runan that if he did not come to see for himself, the information reaching him would be stale eighty percent of the time.

The Buddhist Sect could no longer afford further turbulence. Western Jambudvipa could not be allowed to repeat its past mistakes.

Personal presence here would make the truth unmistakable.

The Buddhist Sect remained what the people had once hoped it to be.

"Venerable Buddha, Chu Xingchen has arrived as agreed. He is currently outside Zhengyin Dharma Temple, accompanied by Xie Lingyu and one early Golden Core cultivator whose aura is somewhat unstable. We cannot determine her background."

Outside the Great Hero Hall, an Arhat delivered the message.

Runan raised his gaze: "Show them all in."

Demonic entities had emerged in Western Jambudvipa, and a Heavenly Demon had previously infiltrated the Buddhist Sect. In this moment, beyond demonstrating their effort, what mattered more was finding someone who could vouch for the Buddhist Sect’s innocence — someone who would not serve as cover for demons.

Ten thousand temple bells could not outweigh a few whispered slanders.

Only Chu Xingchen could fill this role — and besides, this matter was one he naturally needed to understand.

Runan turned his gaze toward the temple’s main gate. In but a moment, he saw an Arhat leading Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu toward him, followed by a Golden Core cultivator who appeared to be...

Slightly wobbly in the legs.

Runan held the Nirvana Relic and smiled softly:

"Fellow Daoist Chu, it has been too long. Your bearing remains as ever."

Chu Xingchen clasped his hands in return with a smile:

"The same to you, Fellow Daoist. And this extraordinary commitment — personally stationing yourself here — was beyond my expectation."

Runan sighed gently: "Mending the pen after the sheep are lost. Simply remembering the mistakes of the past."

Chu Xingchen did not pursue the subject. Instead, he stepped aside and gestured toward Lizhi:

"This is Lizhi — my trusted agent in Western Jambudvipa."

Lizhi flashed a smile, deciding that stammering now would be embarrassingly inevitable, so she gave a rather fatalistic nod.

Though she didn’t know who stood before her, the sight of Buddha-light cascading like a rainbow, Dharma lotuses rotating in endless streams of color, told her this was at minimum a Tribulation Transcendence Buddha.

Only such a being could warrant the ranks of Bodhisattvas and Arhats guarding the gates — and a flood dragon coiled in attendance.

Runan looked over and gave a slight nod.

This child was not being rude — she was simply a bit nervous. Nothing worth reproach.

"Please be seated," Runan said.

Chu Xingchen inclined his head in thanks and led Xie Lingyu and Lizhi to the chairs below.

After a few more pleasantries, Chu Xingchen steered the conversation to business:

"As you know, Fellow Daoist, I’ve been quite occupied. The Evil Spirit Sect is being purged in Northern Julu Continent, while in Eastern Divine Continent, there are whispers that I’ve been leveraging immortal authority to exploit ordinary cultivators and act as a tyrant."

"My poor third disciple in particular — so innocent and pure, with a heart utterly guileless — yet she’s been branded with the name Baiming True Lord."

"Whoever is at fault remains unclear, but the damage from these rumors, I trust, is something you understand."

Runan nodded in acknowledgment: "Indeed. How might I assist Fellow Daoist?"

"I can’t remain long in Western Jambudvipa. Yuankong, my Buddha Son, would be ideal for this — but he has his own matters to attend to, and at the moment his time is more valuable than mine." Chu Xingchen gestured toward Lizhi. "So I’m hoping you can lend me a hand and look after Lizhi."

Runan’s gaze shifted sideways, and he asked: "Your request is noted, Fellow Daoist. But when you say ’look after,’ what exactly do you mean?"

Chu Xingchen answered with a smile:

"Why, to bring her back to me in one piece — alive, kicking, and healthy."

Runan did not hesitate for long:

"Within Western Jambudvipa’s borders, this is naturally no problem."

"Then I thank you, Fellow Daoist." Chu Xingchen rose to his feet, gesturing for Lizhi to stand as well. He looked at her: "Come, let us both thank the Venerable Buddha of Great Thunder Temple."

Lizhi saw his gesture and stood instinctively. She had bent halfway through her bow before the words — *Venerable Buddha* — finally registered.

Her heart lurched. She raised her gaze to look at Runan’s remarkably amiable face.

Western Jambudvipa folk sometimes let their mouths get ahead of their brains.

"Wait — he’s the Venerable Buddha..."

Lizhi caught herself mid-sentence, clamping her mouth shut, and mentally completed what she hadn’t dared say aloud — *that legendary figure who can’t even control his own Buddhist Sect?*

Runan’s gaze settled on her, and he chuckled:

"What’s wrong? I don’t look the part?"

Lizhi forced a somewhat ingratiating smile: "No... it’s just that you seem so approachable. Not as... formidable and commanding as the stories say, with every word carrying the weight of nine cauldrons..."

Halfway through, her expression shifted as if she’d said something terribly wrong, and she hurried to add:

"Wait — I’m not saying your words don’t count! What I mean is you appear very kind and gracious..."

Lizhi’s face twisted in distress for a long moment, unable to find the right words to patch things up. Finally, with no other recourse, she turned to Chu Xingchen with a bitter expression — *Boss, I’ve embarrassed you completely.*

Chu Xingchen smiled and patted Lizhi’s shoulder, looking at Runan:

"She’s a small-time cultivator — a bit nervous seeing the Venerable Buddha. Please don’t take it to heart. Her nature is innocent, and she won’t make up wild stories. If she does say something she shouldn’t, I trust the Venerable Buddha will chalk it up to her not thinking things through."

Runan’s gaze was warm: "Those who refrain from false words are rare indeed. How could I fault her?"

Lizhi’s eyes darted toward Runan.

She had assumed that a figure of his stature — half-celestial, as they’d say — would be difficult to deal with. After all, he had cultivated his way to the absolute peak, and below him commanded a host of Tribulation Transcendence powerhouses. Without both temperament and skill, how could he hold the reins?

Lizhi understood this well enough — she, a mere Golden Core team captain, sometimes had to put up with insolence from her own Foundation Establishment subordinates.

But these great cultivators — at least from what she’d seen so far — were somewhat reasonable after all.

Whether the Venerable Buddha was being this reasonable solely to honor Chu Xingchen’s face was, of course, another matter entirely.

The matter was settled.

Runan did not know exactly what Chu Xingchen intended with Lizhi, but there was no reason to refuse. After all, a move made in plain sight was easier to contend with than one made in shadow.