I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 260: Chapter 261: You have been clearly arranged by this old monk

"However, precisely because of this, this old monk was able to suppress him with irrefutable evidence."

"What is the state of the King of the Thousand Buddha Kingdom now?"

"He has gone to meet the Buddha."

Xuan Bei said indifferently.

Wu Hou's expression changed several times, wanting to flee, but suddenly she realized that several unfamiliar old monks had appeared around her. Their aura was profound, their strength immeasurable, and her heart suddenly turned cold.

"Amitabha, does Benefactor Wu wish to flee? Avoidance is not the solution to the problem. The Buddha once said that the best way to overcome fear is to face it courageously!"

"Only by doing so can the benefactor embrace a better tomorrow!"

Xuan Bei said with a smile.

"All this is your strategy, you, as a monk, how can you scheme against us cultivators!"

Wu Hou was truly panicked at this moment. She originally thought that with the support of Wan Buddha's son, this trip would be extremely smooth, but she did not expect that their actions had been under the surveillance of these old monks from the beginning. Laughably, she had thought everything was under her control.

It seems that today she might indeed face downfall.

"This old monk has never schemed anything. All this is but a manifestation of one's nature. Liaowang's performance was good, being able to manifest a clone and awaken oneself with one's own Buddhist nature several times in times of crisis, which is indeed a commendable quality."

Master Xuan Ku looked at Liaowang and nodded approvingly.

"Thank you for your enlightenment, Master. This disciple is immensely grateful."

Liaowang brought his hands together and spoke respectfully. The arrangement of this Illusionary Realm was not an intentional difficulty created by Cangtian Sect, but was set up early on by these old monks with the purpose of tempering his nature, to help his understanding of Buddhist law become more integrated.

Although he has not yet completely integrated it, it is, after all, much more profound than before.

"As for you all, this old monk does not wish to easily create karma of killing. I will check the nature and cultivation level of all of you with the Golden Light Mirror. If everything is normal, you are naturally people of the right path; if you have strayed, this old monk will have to deal with you according to the temple's rules!"

"Are you satisfied with such an arrangement, Benefactor Ling?"

Xuan Ku asked.

"Not to wrongly kill nor to overlook, it is indeed a perfect solution. I'll follow your lead."

Ling Xue'er leaned against the back of her chair with an air of someone enjoying the show.

Killing them directly would indeed be too hasty, at the very least these hypocrites should taste the same level of torment.

Upon hearing these words, the cultivators present all showed great changes in their expressions. They had just witnessed the use of the Golden Light Mirror to test the nature and cultivation level, and they were all too aware of what kind of people they were.

If they were really tested, they would all reveal their true forms.

Above the Thousand Buddha Temple, the golden Buddha dissipated, and a streak of light soared into the sky, attempting to escape from the Thousand Buddha Temple.

"Wan Buddha's son, sit down!"

Master Xuan Ku let out a cold snort, stretched out a hand, and grasped forcefully at the Thousand Buddha Temple, ignoring the Formation around Wan Buddha's son, and pulled him right out of the temple hall.

This caused all the cultivators present to be terror-stricken.

Wan Buddha's son fell to the ground, covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled.

This was a skinny man in a kasaya that was bright and adorned with many pearls and jewels, clearly a luxurious item.

Xuan Ku shook his head: "Wan Buddha's son, I have once said that things that are superficial are the most useless. You have made this kasaya so extravagant that it has forgotten its original purpose. Just by this kasaya, I can assert that you have fallen into delusion."

"Uncle-Master's teachings are correct. This disciple will now return to the Hall of Reflection, face the wall, and reflect for a hundred years. May the Buddha bear witness!"

Tension filled the air as the disciple from the Thousand Buddha Sect appeared extremely flustered, his body seized and pulled out like a chicken by his captor. The gap in strength between them was not just immense, if the other party had wished to kill him, a mere glance would have sufficed.

"Let us set aside the matter of reflection for the moment. This old monk would like to ask you today," this old monk continued, "how many of the Buddhist precepts have you broken?"

Master Xuan Ku inquired.

"I have violated the precept of greed!"

Hoping to lighten the severity of his violation, the disciple tried to appeal to the fact that they both belonged to the Buddhist Sect, hoping the other party would spare him out of camaraderie. Clearly, however, Master Xuan Ku had other considerations in mind.

"Greed is something everyone experiences, even this old monk cannot assure to be consistent at all times; this can be understood to some extent,"

Master Xuan Ku nodded.

"Then, great-uncle master..."

A look of joyful relief crossed the face of the disciple as he thought he might be spared, but the following words from Master Xuan Ku plunged him into the depths of despair.

"Let us start with you undergoing a test within the Golden Light Mirror, setting an example for everyone."

Without waiting for the disciple to respond, Master Xuan Ku formed a Seal Spell with his hands. In front of the temple, the Golden Light Mirror expanded rapidly in the wind, its chaotic energy manifesting and enveloping the disciple.

"Great-uncle master, this disciple is not yet prepared..."

Panic set in for no particular reason. Given his disposition, he could hardly withstand painstaking scrutiny. There wasn't a single precept within the Buddhist Sect that he hadn't touched, it's just that he'd been able to suppress these unsightly deeds by leveraging his formidable cultivation level and the status of being the abbot of the temple.

If the dark side of his heart were to be exposed for all to see today, not even ten of him would be enough to face the consequences.

"What more preparation do you need for your nature and cultivation level? These are not things you can possess overnight. It's the accumulation over years that is the truest. It's the perfect occasion for your great-uncle master to see how much progress you have made over the years,"

Master Xuan Ku narrowed his eyes, a faint smile on his lips as he spoke.

The disciple wanted to say more, but the chaotic energy surged and completely engulfed him, casting his Primordial Spirit into the Golden Light Mirror as the Illusionary Realm slowly took shape.

"Everyone, this old monk treats all equally today and will not make it difficult for you. The test inside the Golden Light Mirror is of moderate difficulty, equivalent to the most routine of tests and will not be as challenging as the one Liaowang faced. Please proceed with peace of mind and gain insight."

Master Xuan Ku announced loudly.

Nonetheless, the faces of those present soured considerably. Accustomed to wrongdoing, they could hardly contain themselves upon encountering a female cultivator with even a hint of beauty. Entering this Illusionary Realm was sure to spell their doom.

"Hmph, serve them right to be treated with the very tactics they use on others. Let these pretentious scums have their turn in the Golden Light Mirror too to see who truly is the demon!"

Su Mei'er was visibly excited, relishing the sight of these deflated paragons of virtue.

"Indeed, they dared to bully my darling disciple. They all deserve to be tormented to death. This monk's methods are still too merciful,"

Hehuan Zi sidled closer, nodding in approval.

Liaowang and Yu Sanbian discreetly kept their distance, not wanting to over-engage with the cross-dressing boss.

"Rest assured, Master Xuan Ku will surely satisfy you."

Monk Bai Mei spoke with a chuckle, giving Yu Sanbian a suggestive eyebrow raise. Yu Sanbian turned away as if to ignore him, for he had been infuriated by the Closed-eye Meditation earlier. If possible, he would prefer not to speak to the old monk again.

But Li Xiaobai looked somewhat worried, feeling like he was at a loss.

He had been using the name Liu Jinshui to stir up trouble, all to avoid being hunted down later for stealing Space Rings. However, looking at it now, these people seemed mentally unsound and likely incapable of passing the Golden Light Mirror's test.

If all of them were to be suppressed, then wouldn't that mean no one would be left to hunt him down in the future?

For whom had he performed his earlier charade?

All that earned enmity was for naught!