"It's already difficult to prohibit the Summoning Technique, let alone prohibit faith?"

The Awakened gently shook his head and said, "People need something to cling to, and the need for faith is hard to extinguish. Directly prohibiting faith does more harm than good."

"Faith is like a highland. If you don't occupy it, others will. Prohibiting true faith only to let heresies become mainstream is worse than not prohibiting at all."

The Awakened's response did not seem extreme, but his intention was quite extreme for those practicing the Summoning Technique.

He was serious about restricting faith.

The reason he didn't act directly was because prohibiting faith was just an ideal, impractical in reality. If prohibiting faith was achievable and without great harm, the Awakened would certainly have acted directly.

"I understand," said the monk in red, bowing, "Thank you, Chief, for the enlightenment."

Receiving such a response, the three had no further desire to continue the conversation for a moment.

Hui Lun and the red monk's inquiry was originally motivated by matters of the Summoning Technique and faith. Having received an answer, their minds were stirred, and they no longer wanted to ask further questions.

Even though Hui Neng did not practice the Summoning Technique, he was aware of the upcoming changes in the Buddha Country and began to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of the future, refraining from further speech.

Thus, the three bid their farewells and left the place.

After their figures disappeared outside the No Buddha Temple, two birds that had been listening to the exchange flew down from the eaves and transformed into human form.

The Awakened showed no surprise, maintaining a gentle demeanor as he asked the two, "What do you two think of them?"

"Them" naturally referred to the three who had just left.

"The pale monk only talks about doing good, failing to mention that Buddhist cultivation lies in one's character—quite average. The sallow monk, however, gets to the point, deeply understanding the essence of cultivation, but is considerate of his senior and junior brothers, lacking some sharpness, which is just passable. As for the remaining one, although his Bodhisattva Dharma Image is decent, he is overwhelmed by too much incense, making the image stronger than himself, which, despite some Daoism, will lead to backlash sooner or later."

In his words, Sun Wukong fully embraced aggressiveness, only sparing a bit of face for Hui Neng.

Jiang Li, too, matched the appearances of the three with the two disciples of the Awakened, as for the third...

The one dressed in red monk robes, with yang natured qi and a Bodhisattva Dharma Image, is presumably the Sunlight Bodhisattva among the fourth-rank of the Buddha Country.

While practicing the Summoning Technique, this person also focuses intently on ascetic cultivation, having once hosted the Dao Fruit of an ascetic and served as a walker of the Buddha Country, always walking on foot, doing good wherever encountered, punishing evil met with, even after reaching the fourth rank, remaining unchanged.

This is why the Sunlight Bodhisattva, with a profound foundation, accumulates a massive amount of Incense Fire Thought Power, continuously strengthening his External Dharma Form.

Among the former six Bodhisattvas, besides the White Lotus Saint Mother Bodhisattva, Sunlight Bodhisattva had the strongest Dharma Image. Now that the White Lotus Saint Mother Bodhisattva has become the Lifeless Old Mother, Sunlight Bodhisattva's Dharma Image has become the foremost among Bodhisattvas.

As for strength, it's hard to say.

After listening to Sun Wukong, Jiang Li, combining with information he had previously acquired, deduced the personalities of the three, then replied, "Great Sage has said it all, truly leaving me at a loss for words."

In other words, I agree with the Great Sage's views—in short, me too.

Sun Wukong immediately grimaced, "You kid, you're definitely different from that three-eyed one, different!"

In his impression, that three-eyed person is proud and would never lose face like this.

Thinking this, Sun Wukong's hands itched a bit.

He recalled the first meeting when Jiang, knowing his identity, still called him "Horses' Fortune."

Originally, pleased by Jiang Li's flattery, he almost forgot, but now he remembered again.

"Jiang Tanyue's response is indeed somewhat lazy," said the Awakened with a smile, then shook his head, "Hui Lun sees through but is considerate of his followers. His heart is good but ultimately blinded by obsession. Hui Neng can see through and persevere, thus he's a step stronger. As for Sunshine..."

His eyes reflected stars, as if deducing something with the Star Constellation Tribulation Method for the future, but ultimately, he didn't give a judgment on Sunlight Bodhisattva.

Eventually, the Awakened merely shook his head, ending the topic, then turned to matters of faith and Buddhist Law.

"The Mazer's true intent is to teach the method of existence, remove faith, preserve Buddhist Law, making Buddhist Law as a knowledge to spread, similar to Great Zhou Confucianism, rather than altering it into doctrines to mislead the ignorant. Sadly, this is just a beautiful vision."

After all, Buddhist Law and faith have existed for so many years; it is not something that can be easily separated.

Even for the Awakened, it is not feasible, unless he cleanses the memory of the entire Buddha Country with his supreme mind.

Restriction of faith is also difficult to achieve.

This matter requires gradual planning, but now there's no time for the Awakened to do so gradually.

It seems that the previous words, apart from revealing the determination of the Awakened, are of no practical use.

The key lies in showing determination.

Jiang Li speculated based on this, "Is the layman trying to make those obsessed with the Summoning Technique come forward voluntarily?"

Regardless, Hui Lun will surely give his followers some hints. As Sunlight Bodhisattva is a Bodhisattva, proficient in the Summoning Technique, he also has subordinates and will leak the news to others.

Thus, the Awakened's determination will be known to all. Then next—

"The Mazer will hold a Dharma assembly, inviting all Buddhist friends," said the Awakened.

Jiang Li added, "And Guanyin and Tan Wuwei will surely attend, those obsessed with the Summoning Technique will connect with them, hoping to oppose the layman's impending orders."

What orders?

Of course, the orders to prohibit the Summoning Technique and restrict faith.

After revealing his determination and then holding a Dharma assembly, it is hard not to think of this.

And this is not a decoy; the Awakened does intend to announce it. If they don't come, they will only see the orders issued and executed.

Even though he stayed in retreat for a hundred years, with his power undermined by Manjusri and Guanyin, the Awakened remains the supreme leader of Buddha Country, and upon his emergence, he definitely holds the greatest authority.

Because he is the Supreme.

Jiang Li can rally the officials with his strength, and so can the Awakened.

The culture of worship in Buddha Country determines the authority of the Awakened. One of the main reasons people worship gods and Buddhas is that they are stronger than mortals, and the Awakened is the strongest in Buddha Country.

So, the Awakened's opponents will undoubtedly attend.

And with the opponents coming, the Fire House Buddha Hell will also have a hand.

If the Awakened were to eliminate the opponents and begin cleansing the Buddha Country, wouldn't that clear the path for him?

This cannot happen, so the Fire House Buddha Hell must come as well.

The original undercurrents will, because of this, be laid bare on the surface.

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