Chapter 40: They’ll Have To Thank Us Too
The venue instantly fell silent, with not even heavy breathing audible, a deathly stillness.
Not only were the White Talismans speechless, even Xiao Lin was somewhat baffled.
Where did he get so much Spiritual Energy from?
But just as no one dared challenge Jiang Ce anymore and the venue fell into a stalemate, three people stepped out from the crowd. Everyone who saw them showed surprise on their faces, stepping aside to make way, then looking at Jiang Ce as if he were a corpse.
Jiang Ce narrowed his eyes, becoming wary.
These three were not in casual clothes, but wearing the training uniforms provided by the Gatekeepers. They looked not only neat and capable, but their demeanor was also completely different from others.
One of them always wore a frivolous smile, staring at Jiang Ce with narrowed eyes: “One-on-one, pick whoever you want.”
Jiang Ce also showed a smile: “What rank are you?”
“Sixth Rank.” The man provocatively raised his brow.
“Not fighting.” Jiang Ce decisively shook his head.
The man’s smile froze: “You didn’t restrict realms though.”
“Still depends on whether I’m willing. All interpretation rights belong to me.” Jiang Ce shrugged.
The man’s expression darkened instantly: “You accepted Liang Zhi Zhou and their challenges earlier, so are you afraid of us?”
Jiang Ce didn’t take this crude provocation seriously at all and couldn’t help laughing: “Hilarious, did you cultivate your brains out? Instead of picking soft persimmons, you go pick ones you can’t beat?”
Hearing this, the venue boiled over with anger once again.
“Bastard! What do you take us for?” Someone couldn’t help shouting in fury.
“Leeks who proactively come to me for trouble.” Jiang Ce didn’t hide it, answering seriously.
With that, Jiang Ce clapped his hands and continued: “One more thing, Sixth Rank and above don’t come to me, I won’t accept, so is there anyone else who wants to duel? Group buys are fine too, hurry up, if not, I’m leaving.”
“You’ve changed the rules multiple times, don’t you think that’s too unreasonable? Moreover, this doesn’t align with the enterprising spirit of cultivators who press forward relentlessly.”
The man with a straight face beside the frivolous man was very displeased with Jiang Ce’s style and couldn’t help speaking up.
Jiang Ce spread his hands like a little bear: “Don’t bring up all that nonsense. Just treat this as a transaction. You go to a mall to buy something, if you think the price is too high you don’t buy it. Are you going to accuse the seller of pricing too high? If you don’t like it, don’t buy.
It’s always one willing to beat and one willing to be beaten. I’ve never forced anyone from start to finish. If you’re not convinced, don’t come provoke me. Oh, you’ve taken all the cheap deals, I get beaten for free, I’m not stupid.”
The third Sixth Rank was a Buddhist Cultivator, hands clasped together, chanting a Buddhist Chant, his face full of compassion: “Amitabha, in your view, are the others fools then?”
“Someone has to be the fool, someone has to take the loss, why should that person be me?”
Jiang Ce sized up the Buddhist Cultivator, and a mischievous idea suddenly popped up, so he also performed a Buddhist salute:
“I wonder if this fellow disciple cultivates Mahayana Buddhist Dharma or Hinayana Buddhist Dharma?”
“Naturally, it’s the Mahayana Buddhist Dharma advocated by the Buddha. I didn’t expect someone with such conduct to also know about Buddhism.”
The Buddhist Cultivator seemed to mock.
Jiang Ce pretended not to understand and continued on his own: “In that case, you should know that Hinayana Buddhist Dharma teaches ‘self empty, phenomena existent,’ seeking only personal liberation, while Mahayana Buddhist Dharma teaches ‘person and phenomena both empty,’ seeking liberation for all, everyone can become a Buddha.”
“What are you trying to say?” The Buddhist Cultivator saw that Jiang Ce truly spoke eloquently about the Buddhist Dharma, so he became serious, realizing Jiang Ce not only knew about Buddhism but had specifically cultivated it.
“What I want to say is—” Jiang Ce clasped his hands together, Buddhist Charm emanating greatly from his body, actually making all the Buddhist Cultivator Gatekeepers, including that Sixth Rank Buddhist Cultivator who had immersed in this path for many years, tremble.
“Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once said, ‘If I do not enter hell, who will?’ But today I say, everyone can enter hell, everyone can be a Bodhisattva! Have you… comprehended?”
This statement landed in the hearts of the Buddhist Cultivators, feeling half-understood yet enlightened, but in the heart of that Sixth Rank Buddhist Cultivator, it was like a staff blow to the head, struck by lightning.
In the stands, Tian Yongle asked Xiao Lin suspiciously: “What is he saying? Why does it feel off somewhere, yet also quite reasonable?”
Xiao Lin also drew in a cold breath: “Jie Tan didn’t lie to me. His profound understanding of the Buddhist Dharma is indeed astonishing. Though he switched concepts, it’s no wonder Jie Tan treats him like his own, but his use of his strengths is really bizarre. I don’t know how to evaluate it.”
Similarly uncomprehending were the other Great Dao Gatekeepers in the venue. They looked left and right, and when they saw their usually friendly Buddhist Cultivator friends all deep in contemplation, they were extremely shocked.
They knew best that these Buddhist Cultivators usually loved brainwashing others, preaching the essence of the Buddhist Dharma, yet today they unexpectedly met someone even more ruthless, who instead brainwashed them.
This situation was evidently more shocking than Jiang Ce previously defeating Liang Zhi Zhou or single-handedly triumphing over ten people.
Finally, the Sixth Rank Buddhist Cultivator sighed: “I have comprehended. What I previously discarded like worn shoes is precisely what I lacked. Laughable that I daily cultivated Mahayana, yet nearly fell into loving the dragon in legend while fearing the Sea of Suffering without crossing it.”
The frivolous man was immediately greatly surprised, somewhat anxious: “What do you mean? Isn’t he just switching concepts?”
The Buddhist Cultivator shook his head: “No, you don’t understand. Suffering is suffering, regardless of whose it is or what kind. All are obstacles to overcome on the path to liberation. You only see him transferring his suffering to others, but not that he gave his opportunity for liberation to others. Cutting flesh to feed eagles—this is the realm we Buddhist Cultivators yearn for most. Though he is only Seventh Rank, in terms of devotion to the Buddha, even I feel ashamed.”
With this statement, which even Jiang Ce felt was somewhat overinterpreted, those Buddhist Cultivators who had been half-understanding suddenly grasped that spark of insight, instantly achieving great enlightenment.
Seeing this, the frivolous man wanted to say something, but opened his mouth and ultimately made no sound.
Are Buddhist Cultivators all this otherworldly?!
The Buddhist Cultivator then looked at the “majestically dignified” Jiang Ce and actually performed a disciple’s salute: “Dare I ask, with your profound knowledge of the Buddhist Dharma, do you have a Dharma Name?”
Jiang Ce nodded, adjusting his tone and speaking: “This Monk once had the Dharma Name Yuan Ce. Realizing that under the Buddha’s protection I could not maximally endure all kinds of suffering, I returned to secular life and grew hair, only seeking to achieve Buddhahood the day I shave my head again.”
“I am far inferior!”
The Buddhist Cultivator sighed, turned to face all the Buddhist Cultivator Gatekeepers, and said loudly:
“Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, I, Ling Xun, have focused solely on Cultivation, unintentionally losing sight of the main goal and forgetting my original heart, nearly abandoning the truly important cultivation—that of a pure devotion to the Buddha.
Today, if not for Master Jiang Ce’s guidance, I would have nearly strayed into a fork with no return. I hope all fellow disciples take me as a warning.
Additionally, I ask all fellow disciples, no matter the reason, not to give Master Jiang Ce unnecessary trouble in the future. Amitabha.”
The Buddhist Cultivators all clasped hands together, gratefully looking at Jiang Ce: “Amitabha, thank you Master for the guidance.”
Jiang Ce waved his hand satisfactorily: “It’s best if you fellow disciples understand me. In the future, come ask me about anything you don’t understand.”
Though I may not necessarily understand, I’ll definitely satisfy you.
In just a few words, all the White Talisman Buddhist Cultivators in the You Sha Branch had their view of Jiang Ce completely reversed.
From madman suddenly turned benefactor.
Then, those spectators expecting the Sixth Ranks to rub Jiang Ce into the ground and waiting for a joke were utterly bewildered to find that all these Buddhist Cultivators had defected!
Jiang Ce knew these stubborn fanatics of the Buddhist Sect all too well—not only were they stubborn themselves, their adherence to ideals was even more so. Once convinced, not even the king of heaven could change it.
So not only were they subdued by Jiang Ce in strength, even their faith was twisted by him.
This was not just a victory in realm, but also a crushing in systems.
At least after this smokeless war, no one could shake his status among the Buddhist Cultivators.
Though they were pitted, they still had to thank him.
Buddhist Cultivators are so cute, Jiang Ce thought blissfully.
