Chapter 327: Demons and Humans Cannot Coexist; Chen Ku's Compromise!

All living beings fell silent, staring at one another.

They knew that with Laozi and Yuanshi's departure, this great battle had truly come to an end.

Yet such an outcome truly left all beings with complex thoughts.

"This time, the Three Pure Ones truly tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it!"

"Exactly. Not only did the Ren Sect lose the human race's karmic fortune, but in the end they also lost as many as five top-grade innate spiritual treasures."

"Truly a loss that cuts to the bone."

"Who would have thought Chen Ku could prove the Dao and become a Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal so quickly?!"

"Had Chen Ku not returned with overwhelming force, the outcome of this battle might still have changed."

All beings chattered excitedly, seven mouths, eight tongues.

As for the side of the Three Pure Ones, they showed little sympathy.

After all, had the Three Pure Ones not insistently blocked the Buddhist sect, perhaps the countless human beings would not have shed blood and died in hatred.

This was all their own doing.

And many more great powers gazed upon Chen Ku's figure with faces full of astonishment and envy.

Some primordial innate great powers felt this even more deeply.

This is truly the later surpassing the former!

Though Chen Ku is a junior, his Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation now allows him to stand where all look up to him.

It is truly inconceivable!

Thus, the Buddhist sect's victory in this battle is chiefly due to Chen Ku, and all beings agree without dissent.

Now, speaking of the battlefield.

Jieyin and Zhunti, among others, likewise wore expressions of excitement and relief.

"Haha, my disciple dominates the ages!"

"In this battle, we utterly broke the Executioner's Sword Formation and overwhelmed the two sages, Taishang and Yuanshi."

"Truly, we have displayed the supreme majesty of our Buddhist sect."

Jieyin spoke, saying thus.

The praise and admiration in his words were evident beyond words.

Meanwhile, Nüwa moved her lotus steps lightly, approaching Chen Ku's side.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with alternating colors as she observed Chen Ku for a moment.

"In this battle, we sages have also broadened our horizons!"

"This palace congratulates Daoist Chen Ku on proving the Dao!"

"The might of a Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal is indeed unparalleled through the ages!"

Upon hearing this, all beings erupted in an uproar once more!

Daoist?!

Countless beings clearly noticed the change in Nüwa's address in her words.

Know that before this, Nüwa, as the senior martial sister of Jieyin and Zhunti, addressed Chen Ku as "junior nephew" when facing him.

After all, the status of a teacher and elder must not be violated.

Yet now, Nüwa speaks in such a startling manner.

This shows that in Nüwa's heart, she already regards Chen Ku as a peer.

Upon reflection, this is actually understandable!

After all, respecting teachers and valuing the Dao is important.

But no matter when, strength as the basis of respect remains an eternal truth in the wilderness of heaven and earth.

Chen Ku's strength is evident to all.

Not only is he on par with sages, but he even faintly surpasses them.

The present Chen Ku is indeed worthy of Nüwa's solemn treatment.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ku immediately responded with "honored beyond expectation":

"Nüwa, you overpraise me, Uncle!"

"I am ultimately a junior; how dare I address Uncle as a Daoist peer?!"

Chen Ku did not become arrogant or complacent, remaining neither proud nor impatient.

Upon hearing this, Nüwa merely smiled faintly, neither affirming nor denying.

"Now that the great battle has ended, this palace needs no further delay."

"I bid farewell to all!"

Nüwa spoke thus.

This time, the human race suffered a great calamity, causing its karmic fortune to fall into chaos.

As the Holy Mother of the human race, Nüwa should also return to the Palace of Nüwa, using her sage's power to reorganize the human race's karmic fortune once more.

Upon hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti, among others, also nodded.

Afterward, Nüwa gave Chen Ku a deep look, said nothing more to the human race, and then departed gracefully, vanishing into the high heavens.

Nüwa knows full well that in protecting the human race this time, she herself did not actually exert much influence.

Therefore, the human race's gratitude should be given to Chen Ku and others, making them more worthy to bear it.

No need for many words.

Jieyin, Zhunti, Chen Ku, Hong Yun, and others likewise immediately returned to the wilderness of heaven and earth, to the location of Mount Wan Shou.

At this moment, within the vast Mount Wan Shou, not a single demon race being remained.

After all, even Laozi and Yuanshi had already withdrawn on their own initiative.

If the Demon Race still fails to grasp the situation, they will likely face the reckoning of Chen Ku and his allies.

Thus, Di Jun Taiyi and the others earlier didn't even have the luxury to utter harsh words, leading countless Demon Race members in a disheveled retreat.

Above Mount Wanshou, Zhenyuanzi sat cross-legged in the void, his aura fluctuating.

As he exhaled streams of calamitous qi, his previously somewhat withered blood and mana recovered to peak condition at a visible speed.

Clearly, he too had suffered immense consumption in the previous battle.

Had Chen Ku not arrived at the critical moment, he too would have been severely wounded by the Demon Court.

At this moment, Zhenyuanzi had completed his breath regulation and slowly awakened.

Gazing upon Chen Ku descending from above, Zhenyuanzi's expression shifted, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.

"Daoist Chen Ku... you have truly proven the Dao!"

"No... now, perhaps it is more fitting to call you Sage Chen Ku!"

Zhenyuanzi gave a bitter laugh and spoke thus.

Although he had witnessed and felt Chen Ku's overwhelming pressure from afar during the earlier battle,

now, face to face, experiencing it firsthand, Zhenyuanzi remained overwhelmed by an indescribable shock.

Admiration, envy, reverence, and other emotions accumulated in Zhenyuanzi's heart.

Since he had moved his Dao field to this western heaven and earth, Zhenyuanzi could say he had personally witnessed Chen Ku's step-by-step growth.

Precisely for this reason, he understood even more clearly how monstrous Chen Ku's pace of advancement was.

Such talent simply leaves people in the dust!

Upon hearing Zhenyuanzi's words, Chen Ku strolled forward with a heartfelt smile.

The so-called sage's dignity, he frankly did not care for.

"In this human race catastrophe, we Buddhists have been restrained by the Three Pure Ones."

"Without Daoist Zhenyuanzi's intervention, the human race's losses would likely have been even more severe."

"I, in this place, offer my thanks to you, Daoist!"

Chen Ku thanked Zhenyuanzi.

Know that Zhenyuanzi differs from Hongyun; the former never truly joined the Buddhist fold.

In other words, he also bears no responsibility to protect the human race.

Thus, this bond of affection is indeed worthy of Chen Ku's gratitude.

Upon hearing his words, Zhenyuanzi hurriedly replied:

"These words truly flatter this humble one."

"To be able to contribute to protecting the human race is, in fact, my fortune."

If such words were heard by other great beings, they would surely stare in stunned silence.

After all, what kind of existence is Zhenyuanzi, and when has he ever displayed such humility?!

But in truth, Zhenyuanzi's heart is indeed filled with deep gratitude.

Times have changed; Chen Ku is now undoubtedly a great support.

Combined with the might of the entire Buddhist fold, it can truly be called unparalleled prestige in the present age.

And by intervening to save the human race from peril, thereby earning Chen Ku's and the Buddhist faction's favor,

this is precisely the great opportunity countless great beings dream of.

In a certain sense, I too can be said to have truly clung to this great support of the Buddhist fold.

The two exchanged pleasantries.

Meanwhile, within Mount Wanshou, countless humans at this moment wore fervent expressions, kneeling in worship.

"We, the human race, offer thanks for the Holy Father's grace!"

"We, the human race, offer thanks for the Holy Father's grace!"

Compared to the observing beings, the human race's living spirits now displayed even greater joy of having survived the catastrophe.

Only they themselves truly understand how difficult it is to have "survived the great calamity without dying."

Chen Ku's forceful confrontation with the Three Pure Ones, for the human race, is again a grace that shakes ancient and modern times.

Yet, regarding this, Chen Ku glanced once over the human race's living beings and then spoke rather solemnly:

"In this human race survival, the one most deserving of thanks is none other than Daoist Zhenyuanzi!"

"Had he not righteously intervened, I perhaps would not have had time to intervene in this matter."

Upon these words being spoken,

the human race deeply agreed, nodding repeatedly.

For the human race's living beings, they already firmly believed Chen Ku's words, with no doubt whatsoever.

Moreover, what Zhenyuanzi had done earlier, the human race had indeed witnessed with their own eyes.

Therefore, countless humans again offered thanks to Zhenyuanzi—needless to say.

As the human race's voices of gratitude echoed between heaven and earth,

in the dark and mysterious, the immensely vast human race fortune also rose and surged, converging toward Chen Ku and Zhenyuanzi.

But Zhenyuanzi's expression shifted, and he immediately looked at Chen Ku with astonishment.

"This.... the human race fortune entirely returns to me alone?!"

"This... this... how could I possibly deserve such a thing?!"

Indeed!

Zhenyuanzi clearly sensed that, at this moment, the human race fortune merging into himself had reached an extremely intense degree.

That was Chen Ku sending his own fortune, without hesitation, to Zhenyuanzi.

This greatly surprised Zhenyuanzi.

Seeing Zhenyuanzi's astonished expression, Chen Ku merely smiled faintly.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, no need for courtesy!"

"Those who have shown kindness to humanity naturally deserve to bear humanity's fortune."

"Moreover, this is greatly beneficial to your cultivation, Fellow Daoist."

Chen Ku's words seemed to carry deep meaning.

In fact, upon returning after proving the Dao, Chen Ku himself no longer needed fortune as desperately as before.

At the same time, relying on his memories from two lives, he also knew well Zhenyuanzi's future achievements.

Ancestor of Earth Immortals!

To put it without exaggeration, he will be an existence revered by countless cultivators in the future.

Therefore, by laying plans in advance, Zhenyuanzi's advancement is accelerated.

When that time comes, it will also be a good thing for the Western Heaven and Earth, as well as for Buddhism.

Although Zhenyuanzi has not yet seen the future, he feels Chen Ku's goodwill.

For a moment, his gaze toward Chen Ku became even more grateful.

The myriad beings of humanity watched this scene, unaware of Chen Ku's intentions.

However, immediately after, Suirenshi and other human ancestors stepped forward, looking up at Chen Ku's figure.

Then, Suirenshi spoke first:

"Holy Father above, may the Heavenly Dao clearly discern!"

"The Demon Race is violent and bloodthirsty, slaughtering countless of our human beings."

"We, on behalf of countless human beings, hereby swear a Great Dao oath."

"From now on, humans and demons cannot coexist, water and fire cannot mix, we shall not die until we cease!"

Before this, the myriad beings of humanity had angrily denounced Di Jun and Taiyi, saying such words.

But this time, spoken by an existence like Suirenshi, the meaning is different and heavier.

For a moment, above the nine heavens, the sound of the Great Dao roared, deafening.

Clearly, the Great Dao has already heard humanity's oath.

Moreover,

Youchaoshi and others followed suit and spoke.

"We, humanity, kneel and beg Holy Father to impart the supreme Buddhist Dharma."

"In the future, we too may use this to protect ourselves!"

Upon these words, all beings' expressions turned strange.

"Humanity seeks to receive the Buddhist Dharma?!"

Know that before this, humanity's beings all cultivated the Golden Core Great Dao passed down by Laozi.

That is also the foundation of the Ren Sect's establishment.

Now, humanity making such a request—could it be they wish to abandon the Golden Core Great Dao and turn to cultivate the Buddhist Marvelous Dharma?!

Is this not equivalent to betraying the Sage Laozi?!

Thinking this, all beings could not help but reveal expressions of sudden realization and quiet understanding.

The reason is none other than this!

It seems the ruthless actions of the Three Pure Ones earlier have also thoroughly chilled humanity's hearts.

This battle has let them see that, in Laozi's eyes, humanity is merely a tool to be discarded at will.

At the same time, the so-called Golden Core Great Dao is also insufficient to grant humanity the power to protect itself.

Therefore, humanity's plea for the Buddhist Dharma is entirely reasonable.

Instantly, countless powerful beings looked toward Kunlun Mountain.

At this moment, what will Laozi's reaction be?!

Regardless of how the beings react.

Upon hearing humanity's plea and seeing in their eyes that unhidden look of supplication,

Chen Ku, as well as Jieyin and Zhunti, could not help but frown at this moment.

"Impart the Dharma to humanity?!"

"This... is something prohibited by the Heavenly Dao."

Jieyin spoke after pondering, these words also meant for Chen Ku to hear.

He truly had some worry, fearing Chen Ku, for humanity's sake, might act rashly, his mind heating up, and agree to humanity, making such a promise.

However, in the end, it is still because of the existence of the Ren Sect.

Therefore, in the dark, the Heavenly Dao itself has prohibitions, not allowing Buddhism to teach all humanity, thus shaking the foundation of the Ren Sect.

Even without Jieyin speaking, Chen Ku also knows the reason.

Initially, he delayed transmitting the Dao among humanity precisely because he considered the Mandate of Heaven of the Ren Sect.

However, if he refuses today, these countless humans will undoubtedly feel great disappointment.

At the same time, just as humanity said, they still cannot possess the power of self-protection.

For a moment, Chen Ku fell into silence, as if pondering a solution.

After a moment, his expression shifted slightly, and he finally thought of something.

"Although I cannot impart the Dharma to all human beings."

"But since we are preaching within the Buddhist domain, surely the Heavenly Dao will not forbid it, will it?"

Thinking of this, Chen Ku looked at the countless human beings and spoke:

"From now on, all human beings in the region west of Mount Longevity may cultivate the Buddhist Dharma!"

Upon these words.

Jieyin and Zhunti were first stunned, then looked at Chen Ku with some surprise, and then glanced toward the direction of the Heavenly Dao's void.

Can it still be done this way?!