Chapter 306: How did Su Nian realize it?

City of the End, Arcadia headquarters.

In the sky where the scorching sun hung, a series of bright golden lights suddenly shone.

A hundred-meter-tall golden Great Buddha manifested in the air, hands forming the flower-pinching mudra, face wearing a smile, looking down at the Arcadia headquarters below.

"Patron Su Nian, would you care to come out for a meeting?"

The voice boomed like muffled thunder, exploding in the ears of everyone in the City of the End.

Many people even collapsed in pain, their faces contorted, a chorus of screams erupting.

"Hmph, is this the attitude with which the people of Buddhism come to see me?"

Su Nian let out a cold snort, and before the hundred-meter-tall golden giant Buddha, Su Nian's figure was projected, appearing at the same height as the giant Buddha.

No, it should be said that Su Nian was slightly higher; he had projected himself sitting on a sofa, receiving the visitor from Buddhism with the posture of a superior.

His figure was subtly much larger than the visitor's, and his aura was naturally more imposing.

Seeing Su Nian, the golden giant Buddha pressed his palms together and said with a gentle expression.

"Little Monk Diguang Huanxi Buddha, greets the Patron."

Diguang Huanxi Buddha? Su Nian raised an eyebrow, his expression a bit strange.

"The Long-Eared Diguang Immortal from Investiture of the Gods?"

The giant Buddha before him paused, his brows and eyes seemingly transforming into lightning.

With a *pop*, the air exploded.

Su Nian ignored the scene of lightning manifesting from the void, looking at Diguang Buddha with disdain.

Buddha? How is it that this guy's demonic nature is so profound?

At a glance, he is good material for practicing magic. Hmm, good material, the kind that is suitable as a resource.

And that sound of Buddha just now, plus this lightning from the void, no matter how you look at it, he's here to pick a fight, right?

Su Nian frowned, his tone carrying a hint of interrogation.

"I wonder what business Diguang Buddha has with me?"

Diguang Buddha pressed his palms together, silently recited 'Amitabha', and then said.

"Little Monk wishes to ask the Patron to disclose the whereabouts of a certain person."

"Who?"

Su Nian's mouth twitched; he could only say that Algol's guess was truly accurate.

Even though she had been sealed by Athena for thousands of years, she could still predict the actions of Buddhism so accurately.

Su Nian didn't even know what to say.

He had clearly made a bet with Algol just last night.

Upon hearing this, Diguang Buddha immediately said in a solemn voice.

"Magic Star Algol."

"Are you sure?"

Su Nian retorted, while silently sighing in his heart.

As expected, his expectations for Buddhism were too high.

His relationship with Algol was good, which was already common knowledge; after all, not long ago, he had been playing around with Algol at a banquet and had even set Athena up.

But the Diguang Buddha before him clearly knew this, so he had deliberately come to his door to demand he hand over Algol's whereabouts.

From the moment he arrived in the City of the End, this guy had used a high-and-mighty attitude.

It was as if Su Nian were the Sami preparing to be converted, and he were the True Buddha sitting on a lotus throne.

However, please do not forget, Su Nian had only just received news from Indra not long ago.

Buddhism intended to support him to the position of Lord of the Heavenly Army, and also wanted him to become the Last King.

So? This is the attitude Buddhism uses to face him?

Sure enough, holding expectations for Buddhism was his mistake; he had misjudged Buddhism.

He had thought Buddhism's idea was to bestow the yellow robe upon him.

But now that he saw it, this was clearly wanting to make him a puppet on the imperial throne.

As for whether it was possible that this was a misunderstanding? That was certainly impossible.

He did not believe that Diguang Buddha came here without the nod of those big shots in Buddhism behind him; even if it were a private action, it was likely tacitly approved.

They were testing whether Su Nian was willing to kneel down and beg for food.

But unfortunately, he had a weak stomach and could only eat the soft rice of beautiful girls, and it had to be while lying on their plump thighs, fed by their own hands.

As for anything else, he would rather pass.

Although Su Nian never had any intention of following the path of Buddhism from the beginning to the end, being treated as a soft persimmon for others to pinch at will was still annoying.

Thinking of this, Su Nian's gaze toward Diguang Buddha became increasingly unkind.

However, before that, he still had to extort them for a sum.

"Patron Su, let us speak plainly; the Magic Star is in your hands now, right?"

Diguang Buddha's expression was gentle, but his eyes were exceptionally cold; clearly, he was certain that Su Nian would inevitably accept this condition.

"We only need to seal her for a period of time; once the God Slayer War ends, we will naturally return her to you along with the seal."

To be fair, Algol's beauty could indeed be called the best in Little Garden; even he, with his profound knowledge of Buddhist law, had the urge to teach her Buddhist law and convert her upon seeing Algol's appearance.

Naturally, it was understandable that Su Nian would fall for her.

It was just that now that Algol's seal had been undone by Athena, an unsealed Algol would not be so obedient and continue to play along.

As long as Su Nian was willing to hand over the Magic Star, they could use this to divine Algol's trail and then seal her again.

In the end, the ownership of Algol would still belong to Su Nian; they were merely keeping her in custody for a while.

Given this, a win-win cooperation, why not do it?

This is also the reason he sought him out; as long as Su Nian is sensible, he will lose nothing.

Su Nian's expression was strange, his eyes glancing at Diguang Buddha off and on, making Diguang Buddha feel baffled.

Diguang Buddha frowned, lowered his head to examine himself, confirming his appearance—this was indeed a top-tier Golden Body image of Buddhism—and said with some surprise.

"Patron Su, what is the meaning of this?"

"The Demon Star is indeed still in my hands, but how much do you, Diguang Buddha, intend to offer? If the price is right, it is not impossible."

Su Nian's expression was very subtle now.

He discovered that Diguang Buddha was truly suitable for being a scapegoat; his background could be big or small, and he appeared to be the face of Buddhism.

But upon closer inspection, he was a marginal figure that no one paid attention to.

Huanxi Dinguang Buddha, belonging to the Artificial Buddha Lineage.

The so-called Artificial Buddha refers to a monk with some reputation during the ancient Buddha-making movements in Tianchao who, upon death, would be taken and worshipped as a Buddha.

And how many such Buddhas are there in Buddhism? At the very least, hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

Heaven knows how much Merit they have consumed in the past; these were all his!! His Merit!!

And Huanxi Dinguang Buddha is a relatively famous lineage within Buddhism, before becoming a Buddha.

In the Taoist Sect, he symbolizes the offering given to Taiyin Star Lord, which is the Rabbit Master in folk tradition.

As for the Long-Eared Diguang Immortal in Investiture of the Gods, there is no need to even mention him.

He is a typical representative of someone who bites the hand that feeds them.

Su Nian felt absolutely no psychological pressure when setting him up.

Moreover, the other party had even taken the initiative to deliver himself to his door to be scammed.

If he didn't act now, wouldn't it make him seem ignorant of the situation?

Thinking of this, Su Nian's eyes gradually grew heated as he looked at the flower-pinching hand gesture Diguang Buddha had made.

He lowered his head, added some water to his eyes, then raised his head with red-rimmed eyes, his emotions fluctuating as if he had seen a relative, and said to Diguang Buddha.

"Diguang Great Scholar, are you certain it is this amount?"

"Has the Patron realized something?"

Diguang Buddha pinched a flower and smiled, his expression gentle and kind.

"Hiss~"

Su Nian gasped, unable to help but say loudly.

"Three portions of Authority? This price... how generous!!"

Wait? Was there something wrong? Diguang Buddha froze for a moment, looking at the Demon Star that had suddenly appeared in his palm, his eyes filled with confusion.

In mid-air, the hundred-meter-tall golden Buddha had blank eyes, as if he were dreaming.

In fact, he suspected he was dreaming.

Otherwise, when exactly did he talk to Su Nian about Authority? And three portions at that?

And when did this Demon Star end up in his hand?

Damn it! Even the Demon Star that sealed Algol back then might not be able to sell for the price of three portions of Authority.

You open your little mouth, and it's three portions of Authority?

How did your little head associate this with three portions of Authority?

Damn!

Diguang Buddha lowered his head, looked at his flower-pinching fingers, his face slightly twisted.

He seemed to know how Su Nian had "realized" it.

"Alright, when exactly will you pay?"

Su Nian's expression carried a hint of nervousness, and his gaze toward Diguang Buddha became a bit more affectionate.

"And this Authority, can it be specified?"

How did he start specifying the Authority? I haven't said anything yet... Diguang Buddha's face turned green.

"Patron Su, is there some misunderstanding here?"

"Misunderstanding?"

Su Nian's expression changed, becoming somewhat dangerous.

"Was this not your intention, Great Scholar? I have already placed the Demon Star into your hands."

"Payment upon delivery, Great Scholar, you wouldn't be thinking of..."

Tch, poor ghost; looking at this Golden Body and this appearance of Buddha Light shining everywhere, I thought you were very rich.

"Patron Su, how could that be?"

Diguang Buddha dissipated his Buddhist dharma body, revealing his true appearance.

A middle-aged man with combed hair, a square face, and extra-long earlobes.

"It's just... Patron Su, this price... isn't it a little bit off?"

Diguang Buddha forced a smile, nervously rubbing his hands together while taking quick steps to arrive in front of Su Nian.

"How is it off? This price is very correct, isn't it?"

"This intelligence has been at this price for so many years, hasn't it? Diguang Great Scholar, don't talk nonsense."

Su Nian widened his eyes instantly, staring at Diguang Buddha.

"Besides, betraying Algol carries a very high risk for me, you know."

But I can't afford it... Diguang Buddha's expression was one of despair.

He regretted it now; he regretted why he had to be so cheap and make that flower-pinching gesture.

He finally understood why people in ancient Tianchao wore wide robes and large sleeves when discussing serious matters.

Dark, it was truly too dark.

Although it wasn't as if he had no one backing him, the point was that the people behind him were really not as useful as the people behind Su Nian.

If the people behind him knew that he had set the price like this before even opening his mouth.

He could consider returning to the Taoist Sect, but the point was that this Taoist Sect was no longer in Little Garden.

"Benefactor Su... no, Su Nian Majesty, can this price be lowered a little?"

Diguang Buddha held Su Nian's hand with a bitter expression, held up one finger, and looked at Su Nian with eager anticipation.

Hearing this, Su Nian frowned; so you are still clear about my identity, then what is with this attitude of yours?

Heh, so it really is the case that everyone wants to step on my head.

Su Nian sneered in his heart, but his expression did indeed become much gentler.

"Forget it, we are all people trying to make a living in the lower levels, I don't want to make things difficult for you; as long as you help me do a few things, you can cut the price a bit."

(End of this chapter)