After a while, Su Yi said, “Demon Venerate Five Desires chose to stay out of it because he didn’t want to get swept into the storm. If I go see him now, I’ll only put him in a tight spot.” Yan Chizhen sighed. “We were once dear friends. Just take it for visiting an old friend. None of those enmities and benevolences matter right now.” Su Yi nodded. “Very well. After meeting with Five Desires, follow me back to Sunset Perch Island. I’ll arrange for your son and granddaughter to come too.” “Alright.” Yan Chizhen. He was looking forward to reuniting with his family! The Western Paradise Spirit Mountains. The banks of a lotus pond, beneath a Bodhi tree. “Over the years, I’ve warned you more than once that you shouldn’t go out prior to the Dark Days of Legend,” said the Dipankara Buddha, seated cross-legged with a calm look on his face. “But you obviously didn’t take my warnings to heart.” Gu Huaxian frowned. “Did you know that my disciple had given birth to Yi Daoxuan’s bastard?” The Dipankara Buddha remained silent. This development was outside of his expectations, too. He’d never even considered the possibility that Lu Qingmei might do something so absurd. “I took action personally precisely because I know how important that kid is,” said Gu Huaxian. “I thought that if I captured him, I’d have a killer weapon to use against Yi Daoxuan. But the way the situation developed was entirely outside of my expectations.” Her eyes blazed with dense, deep-seated hatred, and she gnashed her teeth. “I lost today because that bastard hunchback sold me out!” That’s right. The way she saw it, the old hunchback was to blame for today’s defeat. He was the one who’d revealed the hiding places of her Grand Dao Clones, as well as the one who’d shared several other secrets only a handful of people were privy to. Like... Yu Xun’s identity. This was why she’d suffered such a grievous defeat in her standoff with Su Yi. “This tribulation wasn’t necessarily a bad thing,” said.the Dipankara Buddha. “Think of it. If not for what happened today, how could you have known that the old hunchback sold you out? “If not for today’s tribulation, given Su Yi’s methods, he could surely have used the information the old hunchback leaked to plunge you into inescapable peril. When that happened, you would surely have perished, unlike today, when you at least managed to hold onto a single clone.” Gu Huaxian narrowed her eyes. She knew that the Dipankara Buddha was right, but she found it hard to quell her frustration and fury. “So you still don’t plan to take action?” Gu Huaxian said coldly. The Dipankara Buddha looked at her. “We can cooperate because you strive for the Grand Dao of Supreme Heartlessness, while I seek a Flawless Mahayana Chan Heart. Neither of us lets our emotions guide our behavior. “Losing four of your five clones is one thing, but now, it seems problems have arisen with your mentality, too.” Gu Huaxian looked down, then said, “Heartlessness doesn’t mean I can’t get angry. As the old saying goes, even a clay bodhisattva has a temper. How could I remain unmoved after suffering such unbearable losses?” The Dipankara Buddha fell briefly silent. “If I agree to help Yu Xun rebuild his body, will it calm you down?” Gu Huaxian said coldly, “You’re wrong. Yu Xun isn’t my weakness, and he certainly couldn’t create problems with my mental state!” She paused, then glared coldly at the Dipankara Buddha. “And what about you? I’ve always been curious why a Buddhist cultivator like you would...” The Dipankara Buddha’s gaze silently grew deep and imposing. Formless majesty billowed around him. Gu Huaxian’s heart shook, and her question came to an abrupt halt. The Dipankara Buddha said calmly, “The moment Yu Xun’s identity was revealed, he lost any value he once had. That said, he does have a special relationship to us both, so I’ll naturally lend him a hand.” He paused, then said, “In the Bamboo Mountain Hidden Realm, Su Yi didn’t exchange Yu Xun for his own son. Instead, he asked for Yan Chizhen. That’s truly interesting.” Gu Huaxian frowned. “Is there a problem with him doing that?” “He had an absolute advantage. He could easily have forced you to give up Yan Chizhen. There was no need for him to offer you Yu Xun,” said the Dipankara Buddha. “Furthermore, he knows Yu Xun’s identity, but he didn’t keep him as leverage.” “What exactly are you trying to say?” asked Gu Huaxian. “You still don’t understand?” The Dipankara Buddha sighed. “Su Yi disdains to act like you and threaten another’s flesh and blood. Letting Yu Xun go also proves that he’s confident he has other means of defeating you; he doesn’t need to resort to threatening a hostage to achieve his goals.” Gu Huaxian laughed coldly. “Are you praising his breadth of spirit, and saying that his magnanimity far exceeds mine?” The Dipankara Buddha’s gaze was clear. “Acknowledge this, and you’ll understand yourself clearly. Only then can you truly understand your opponent.” Gu Huaxian frowned. “All that talk, but in the end, you’re just saying that you won’t do anything until the Dark Days of Legend.” She got up. “In that case, I came all this way for nothing.” But just as she was about to leave, the Dipankara Buddha said, “Leave the old hunchback’s remnant soul behind, and I’ll do three things for you.” “What three things?” asked Gu Huaxian, a bit stunned. “All of them have to do with Su Yi,” said the Dipakara Buddha. Her eyes lit up. “Very well!” She undid the seal on the lamp containing the old hunchback’s soul, then gave it to the Dipankara Buddha. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁 She couldn’t help but ask, “How do you plan to punish the old bastard?” “Punish him?” The Dipankara Buddha shook his head. “I just want to figure out exactly how much he told Su Yi, and while I’m at it, what he experienced after that rusted sword sheath of Su Yi’s suppressed him.” Gu Huaxian blinked. “Is that important?” “It’s of the utmost importance,” said the Dipankara Buddha. “If Su Yi exploits the information the old hunchback revealed, we’ll find ourselves in a passive position. Given Su Yi’s methods, who knows how he’ll use these secrets, or what kind of disturbance he’ll create?” He paused, then said, “As for the rusted sword sheath, it displayed utterly terrifying power at Skybright Mountain. I don’t even need to think to know that it’s one of Su Yi’s hidden cards. If I figure out what exactly it is, I can come up with a countermeasure.” Gu Huaxian sighed deeply. “Sometimes, I cannot help but suspect that you severed your humanity completely, that you’ve long since been capable of achieving eternity, and that you’ve simply been hiding your true abilities all this time.” The Dipankara Buddha didn’t respond to that. Instead, he said warmly, “Hide for now.” Gu Huaxian was blinked, then vanished in place. “Come in, Treasure Leaf,” said the Dipankara Buddha. Shortly after, a figure appeared. He was a monk with unearthly, beautiful features and skin as smooth as jade. He had a golden lotus imprint on the center of his forehead, and he looked young, but when his eyes moved, they shone with the vicissitudes of the years, proof that his youth was far behind him. This was Buddhist Master Treasure Leaf, one of the Nine Temple Guardian Buddhas of the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains, but a long, long time ago, he’d had a different identity altogether——Demon Ancestor Treasure Leaf, one of the eight rulers of the Endless Ocean! “How long has it been since you joined the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains?” asked the Dipankara Buddha. Treasure Leaf clasped his fists. “Buddha, it’s been so long that I’ve long since lost track.” The Dipankara Buddha slowly rose from his seat beneath the bodhi tree, then said, “You might have forgotten the time, but... I’m afraid no number of years could wash away your obsession for revenge.” Treasure Leaf’s pupils constricted, and he lowered his head. “Why do you say that, Buddha?” “Very well. I’ll speak directly,” said the Dipankara Buddha. “You converted to Buddhism, and have endured all this time, simply because you’re waiting for an opportune moment to avenge Yi Daoxuan. “And I chose to let you stay, simply because I’ve been waiting for an opportune moment to put you to use.” Treasure Leaf looked up and gazed at the Dipankara Buddha. “Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to do, Buddha.” The Dipankara Buddha said calmly, “Of Yi Daoxuan’s old friends, Master Golden Crane, the Divine Billows Sage Monarch, and the other traitors aren’t even worth discussing. “Only three are worthy of my attention: Yan Chizhen, Master Goddess Butterfly Cloud, and you, Demon Ancestor Treasure Leaf. “Of the three of you, Yan Chizhen was the most bold and heroic. Jin Yuanzi and Demon Master Shen Ning didn’t lose unfairly. “Master Goddess Butterfly Cloud’s thought process was the most beautiful, and she has great wisdom and strength of will, too. Even now, almost no one knows where she’s gone, but I know that she’s spent all this time quietly working on something that would make Yi Daoxuan weep tears of gratitude if he knew about it. “As for you...” The Dipankara Buddha sighed. “I could search the world and all ages without finding another of such great forbearance. “I often sigh. How fortunate Yi Daoxuan was to have friends like you!” Treasure Leaf remained silent throughout this monologue, but here, he interjected, “It seems you’ve called me here today so that we might lay everything out in the open.” “It’s time,” said the Dipankara Buddha. “I’m sure you know that Yi Daoxuan has returned through reincarnation. He’s caused an enormous disturbance throughout the God Domain. “In the past, when we suppressed and pursued him, he could only respond and fight back passively. He presented little threat to us. “But he’s different now. He’s no longer passive, and he now has means of contending with us. That means he presents an ever-greater threat. “Even I have no choice but to continuously re-evaluate his abilities and adjust my plans. I have to take him seriously.” Here, he looked at Treasure Leaf. “Thus, I’ve decided to request your help with something.” Treasure Leaf’s eyes flashed. “You want me to deal with Su Yi?” The Dipankara Buddha shook his head. “No, I want you to kill Demon Venerate Five Desires.” Treasure Leaf frowned. “What does that have to do with Su Yi?” The Dipankara Buddha’s gaze was rife with meaning. “I just want to see how Su Yi will treat you, the old friend fixated on avenging him, after you’ve killed Demon Venerate Five Desires.” Treasure Leaf’s heart sank, and he fell silent. After a while, he said, “I can’t refuse, can I?” The Dipankara Buddha’s gaze was calm. “In this world, fortune and opportunity go hand in hand. This is the price you must pay for the years you’ve spent hidden by my side.” “Go on. If I’m not mistaken, after killing Demon Venerate Five Desires, you might well have a chance to meet Su Yi face to face.” With that, he sat back down beneath the bodhi tree and slowly closed his eyes. The old monk entered meditation with the solemn countenance of a Buddhist statue. Only Treasure Leaf remained standing, as silent as a boulder.