Chapter 383: Under the disciplinary ruler, all are equal—even Dizang is punished!

It's Elder Dizang!

Someone, voice trembling uncontrollably, let out a low cry.

That person is the supreme being who walks the netherworld within our Buddhist sect—could it be Elder Dizang?!

This aura… is so strong!

A disciple instinctively stepped back half a pace, then realized his loss of composure, hurriedly steadied his mind, but the shock in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

He is another monument among Buddhist disciples, a true supreme power who has stepped out of the sect's protection and stands alone guarding a realm!

Such divine might, such bearing—truly… overbearing!

The exclamations were like a lit fuse, instantly exploding among the crowd, yet everyone deliberately lowered them into a humming murmur.

This is Dizang.

In the vast Buddhist sect, beneath Chen Ku, he is the most dazzling presence among the disciples.

He is not a legend, but real.

He is not merely a Buddhist disciple, but the supreme being who holds the highest rank in the netherworld.

This achievement is the ultimate goal that all Buddhist disciples yearn for day and night, yet dare not even hope for.

Today, they beheld the true appearance of that legendary elder brother for the first time.

That impact force directly pierced their souls.

However, Dizang, standing amid the gaze of myriad onlookers, his aura capable of shaking a Great Luo, retreated like a tide the instant he touched that figure atop Mount Sumeru, gathering himself cleanly.

His face showed no arrogance, nor any posture of looking down upon all beings.

He stepped step by step onto Mount Sumeru, facing the seated figure, and performed a respectful Buddhist salute.

If one says that ordinary disciples gazing up at Dizang are like a frog in a well glimpsing the moon overhead, already sensing its boundless vastness.

Then Dizang looking up at Chen Ku is like a mayfly, born in the morning and dead by evening, daring to face the endless ancient sky.

The frog in the well still does not know how high the heavens are, while the mayfly deeply knows the brevity of its own life.

Precisely because Dizang stands higher and goes farther, he alone understands how lofty and unimaginable it is to achieve what Chen Ku has.

That is an unprecedented path.

It might even be a path without successor!

This realization made him, from the depths of his soul, dare not be the slightest bit lax.

Dizang's face remained calm, without a ripple.

After the salute, he spoke no superfluous words, went straight to a mat below Chen Ku, and sat upon it.

His seated posture was a natural looking up.

By this point, the listeners had all gathered.

Little Chen Ku's gaze fell upon Dizang; in his calm eyes, it seemed as if billions of stars were being born and dying.

Hehe, Junior Brother Dizang, you have become even more extraordinary.

He nodded slightly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of every being present.

With just a glance, he comprehended everything about Dizang.

Primordial Golden Immortal Peak.

His cultivation was perfect and rounded, his foundation mighty and vast; his aura subtly harmonized with the earthly Dao, his pressure vast and overwhelming, seizing hearts and souls.

Such cultivation, looking across the primordial wilderness, is already not inferior to those ancient innate great beings who have long been renowned.

Moreover, Dizang bears the duty of suppressing the netherworld; in the dark, he also receives aid from the earthly Dao's divine might—with a single thought, boundless power arises.

This makes him ever more lofty, surpassing the present while honoring the past; among his peers, few can hope to catch up to him.

In the past, when Dizang made the great vow in the netherworld—'I will not become a Buddha until the hells are empty'—Chen Ku already had a presentiment.

This junior brother, given time, might perhaps catch up to my footsteps.

Upon seeing him today, that judgment is being confirmed step by step.

Hearing Little Chen Ku's praise, Dizang's expression remained unchanged, unmoved by favor or disgrace.

Yet the countless disciples and beings behind him could no longer restrain themselves.

Everyone's faces flushed with excitement, their breathing grew heavy.

You must know that since the altar opened for teaching, in these past few days, Dizang is the first whom Chen Ku has actively praised!

What an honor!

This also instantly raised everyone's anticipation to its peak.

One is the Buddhist sect's unique legend through the ages.

One is the supreme power who has gone the farthest among the disciples.

These two, seated together today, their dialogue and discussion of the Dao will surely spark light brilliant to the utmost.

Even if they merely grasp a speck from that light, for them it is an unfathomable opportunity and fortune.

It was worth it!

This trip was truly not in vain!

Everyone held their breath, focusing their divine sense to the utmost, fearing to miss any of the coming words.

But.

Yet what happened next instantly froze all the boiling anticipation atop this mountain peak.

A word of praise, still ringing in the ears.

Yet Little Chen Ku's gaze suddenly turned deep; that hint of praise vanished without a trace, replaced by an indifferent scrutiny.

His tone shifted abruptly.

In that plain tone, a hint of unquestionable severity was introduced.

"However, your handling back then in the Netherworld was nothing short of foolish."

As soon as these words were spoken.

The surroundings fell dead silent.

The commotion that had just arisen because of Chen Ku's appearance was now utterly crushed by those two words, leaving not a trace of echo.

Everyone's breath halted in that instant.

Countless gazes converged on Chen Ku, shifting instantly from awe and excitement to an indescribable astonishment and stupor.

Foolish?!

Those two words were like two invisible heavenly hammers, smashing hard into everyone's hearts.

Good fellow!

Truly a good fellow!

This junior brother Chen Ku, when he rebukes people, actually leaves no room for mercy.

You must know, what stature does Earth Store Senior Brother hold? He presides over the Netherworld, bears immeasurable merit, and in terms of status, he is among the few most eminent beings in the entire Buddhist fold.

Yet coming from Chen Ku's mouth, he received only the evaluation "foolish".

This is far more direct and sharper than anything he has faced before!

Meanwhile, the Buddhist disciples present mostly knew only one side of that shocking upheaval deep in the Netherworld, unaware of the other.

They only knew that Earth Store Senior Brother, by his own strength, confronted the overwhelming ferocity of several primordial Wu, ultimately forcing them to retreat and thereby exalted the Buddhist sect's divine might.

Upon hearing Chen Ku's words now, it is clear there is definitely some hidden truth.

For a moment, everyone unconsciously held their breath, focused their minds to the utmost, pricked up their ears, and awaited Chen Ku's continuation.

"Let me ask you!"

Chen Ku's voice rang out again, devoid of any warmth; each word struck like solid ice into the depths of every person's soul.

His gaze pierced the void, locking directly onto Earth Store.

"Back then, Zhurong, Gonggong and the other primordial Wu, bearing the Wu Clan's supreme killing aura, rashly invaded the Netherworld—did you ever step forward voluntarily, using your lone body to face them all?!"

This question thundered, shaking the deaf and making the mute hear.

Obviously, although Chen Ku was in seclusion and detached from worldly affairs, his eyes that could see through the past had already, via supreme temporal divine ability, traced back every scene of that day in the Netherworld, seeing them clearly.

He saw clearly that, had Earth Store not chosen to step out of the protection of the eighteen layers of hell, those few reckless primordial Wu, Zhurong and Gonggong, even if they intended to provoke, could never have so easily escalated the situation.

Earth Store did not speak.

He merely met Chen Ku's gaze calmly, then slowly nodded.

That action was the most direct acknowledgment.

Yet it was precisely this acknowledgment that plunged the surrounding Buddhist crowd, and even the mighty primordial beings far away in the void who had turned their attention here, into deeper bewilderment.

Isn't that so?!

This… this also counts as a mistake?

What noble integrity Earth Store Senior Brother possesses!

He alone presided over the Sea of Blood in the Netherworld, facing Zhurong and Gonggong—those primordial Wu whose fearsome reputation dates back to the ancient Dragon-Han calamity—and though they came in numbers, side by side, he remained calm and fearless, stepped forward, and confronted the great foe!

Is this not a display of the Buddhist sect's might and vigor to the entire primordial world?!

Is this not a supreme honor?!

Why, when it comes to Senior Brother Chen Ku's mouth, does it turn into a fault that must be publicly blamed?

Not only could the Buddhist disciples not understand it, but even those observers lurking in the shadows furrowed their brows, unable to figure it out.

It seemed to pierce the lingering doubt in everyone's hearts; Chen Ku curled his lip and let out a cold snort, soft yet clear enough for all to hear.

"This is mere bravado of a petty man!"

Having spoken those words, there was no further speech.

Yet these six words seemed to contain some kind of power where speech brings about its effect, instantly suppressing the rising doubts and confusion in the crowd.

People's hearts shook violently, and they began to ponder the deep meaning of these six words.

"Have you ever considered that, at the moment you stepped forward voluntarily, if Zhurong, Gonggong and the others harbored not just a desire to provoke but a murderous intent, what would you have done?!"

"With your lone strength, how could you possibly contend head‑on with several primordial Wu who have cultivated their flesh to sanctity and command the laws?!"

Chen Ku's voice suddenly rose, like the evening drum and morning bell, hammering hard into Earth Store and into the heart of everyone present.

"In the end, besides seeking your own death, is there any second possibility?!"

The final question already carried the solemnity of a judgment.

Boom!

In everyone's minds, it seemed as if a thunderclap exploded.

That's right!

Indeed it is!

We ourselves ultimately thought everything too simple, too taken for granted.

Everyone only saw Earth Store Senior Brother confronting a powerful foe, displaying the Buddhist sect's divine might in a glorious moment, yet unconsciously overlooked the immense danger lurking behind that glory, capable of overturning everything.

Zhurong, Gonggong—what manner of beings are they?

They are primordial Wu who slaughtered their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood! They are fierce gods who dare to challenge the Heavenly Dao sages!

When they first forcefully broke into the Netherworld, they indeed did not harbor the intention to kill Earth Store.

But what if… what if they had?

Once Earth Store appeared, several primordial Wu would erupt in unison, unleashing all their divine abilities, the laws descending together, each move a lethal killing strike.

Just imagining such a scene sends chills down one's spine.

Even then, even if Earth Store Senior Brother possessed heavenly‑great abilities, he would likely only have to swallow his hatred on the spot, meeting death and disappearance.

In other words, the reason that seemingly splendid dispute back then could end peacefully was that it actually contained tremendous luck.

And to place the future of Buddhism, and even one's own life, upon the two words "luck"……

This in itself is the greatest foolishness!

Dizang also fully understood Chen Ku's meaning.

In his still, waveless eyes, a ripple finally appeared, then slowly drooped, and his long lashes cast a shadow beneath his eyelids.

He slightly nodded and bowed.

"This... back then I really did not consider things thoroughly."

His voice remained as steady as ever, yet carried an added sense of heartfelt admiration and guilt.

"I am willing to accept punishment from senior brother!"

The moment his words fell, Dizang openly extended his right hand.

That hand, white as jade, slender and strong, had once stirred the cycle of rebirth and once saved wandering souls.

At that moment, it hung silently in the air, awaiting the destined punishment.

Smack!

An extremely crisp explosive sound!

The Primordial Chaos Measuring Heaven Ruler, wrapped in a strand of mysterious yellow qi, showed no mercy and landed solidly on Dizang's palm.

As the ruler fell, it stirred no magical waves, yet it made everyone present's heart twitch violently.

Everyone couldn't help but draw a cold breath, secretly grimacing, feeling as if their own palms were faintly aching.

Well then!

Truly, he gives no face to anyone!

No matter who you are, no matter how high your status or how great your merit, before Senior Brother Chen Ku, if you make a mistake you must obediently extend your hand, stand at attention, and take the blow.

Even as strong as Dizang is no exception.

After the ruler's punishment ended, Chen Ku's expression remained unchanged; he then began to teach the true method of disposal, his voice returning to plainness yet still bearing an unquestionable authority.

"Since you preside over the Netherworld, you should know that everything in the Netherworld is your greatest trump card, not that you are alone."

"If you encounter powerful enemies again, the first thing you must do is to send a mental message at once, summoning Master Jieyin, Uncle Zhunti, and even Daoist Fellow Hongyun and others to come to your aid."

"At the same time, you can also rely on the Eighteen Layers of Hell, the Hou Tu Reincarnation Platform, the River of Forgetfulness, to mobilize the power of the Netherworld's laws and lay down layer upon layer of supreme formations!"

"Thus, with internal and external forces combined, even if you cannot defeat the enemy, you can still trap the powerful foe within the formation, buying enough time for our Buddhist sages to rush to your aid."

Chen Ku's words were clear and logically tight.

But to some listeners, it seemed… overly cautious, even verging on excessive worry.

After all, who is Dizang?

That is truly one of the supreme beings who truly stands at the pinnacle of the primordial wilderness; even though he has not yet proven the Dao, he is not far from it.

To say he can stand alone is beyond doubt.

Even when facing the ancestral witches, he certainly is not lacking the strength for a battle.

Moreover, as a top powerhouse who dominates a region, if his first reaction to any situation is to summon sage elders for protection, what talk is there of his own cultivation or tempering of his mind?

Little did they know, Chen Ku's teaching carried his own deep meaning.

As the saying goes, "The tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind!"

Dizang's position as the ruler of the Netherworld is of what importance? There he draws endless merit from the cycle of rebirth and bears the fortune of Buddhism's eastern transmission.

This piece of fat meat, in the dark, is being stared at by who knows how many hostile eyes.

Those ancient monsters lurking since antiquity, those forces hostile to Buddhism—who would not want to replace Dizang?

And precisely for this reason, Dizang's safety has long been more than just his own concern.

Should he ever suffer a loss, it would not be as simple as his own eternal damnation.

For the entire Buddhist community, it would be an unbearable huge loss, possibly even shaking the foundations of Buddhism.

Therefore, Chen Ku's intention is clear to the extreme.

That is, no matter what, Dizang must not suffer any loss.

On the other side.

The Netherworld death qi swirling around Dizang actually showed a subtle stagnation at this moment.

In his eyes, which perceive the cycle of rebirth and are accustomed to life and death, there was first bewilderment, then struggle, and finally all gloom faded away, turning into an unprecedented clarity.

An invisible shackle quietly shattered deep within his heart and mind.

"Dizang has received your teaching, thank you, Senior Brother Chen Ku!"

He pressed his palms together and bowed deeply to Junior Brother Chen Ku, his voice trembling slightly—that was the excitement of the Great Dao being pierced.

This bow was reverence from the depths of his heart.

Before this, he relied on his near-saint peak cultivation, arrogant by nature.

Presiding over the Netherworld for countless eons, when had he ever shown the slightest waver?

But today, Junior Brother Chen Ku's few words overturned his entrenched beliefs.

His greatest reliance had never been his earth-shaking cultivation power.

It is the Netherworld.

It is the boundless Sea of Blood of the Netherworld, the endlessly turning six paths of rebirth, and the Eighteen Layers of Hell that suppress myriad evil spirits!

With all this, he can beforehand perceive karma and set up killing traps; any powerful foe who steps into the Netherworld's domain has already fallen into his grasp.

This is his true foundation, the supreme authority of his status as Dizang, Bodhisattva of the Netherworld.

Drawing on the Netherworld's power is none other than the duty and power granted to him by the Heavenly Dao.

This is what Chen Ku truly wanted to awaken him to.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Chen Ku merely nodded calmly, without saying more.

In his eyes, Dizang's legs were extraordinary, his comprehension supreme.

For such a person, a single point makes everything clear; there's no need to repeatedly hammer away as one would with a simple-minded Great Peng.

Having spoken this far, it is already enough.

In an instant, that indifferent yet profound gaze shifted from Xiao Chen Ku's eye sockets to another figure not far away.

Mile.

Hum!

Mile felt an intangible gaze fall upon him, as if that gaze possessed substantive weight, instantly tightening the muscles beneath his monk's robe on his back.

The signature smile on his face, seemingly never to disappear, at this moment showed a stiff stagnation.

Here it comes!

After all, it's finally my turn!

An indescribable feeling of restless heat rose from his heart, quickly spreading to his limbs and bones.

This was not fear, but a complex emotion mixed with astonishment, unease, and a hint of panic.

He differed from Dizang.

Dizang had long guarded the Nine Netherworlds, and had little contact with this Senior Brother Chen Ku.

Therefore, receiving instruction today was, for Dizang, a longed-for great opportunity; his heart held only cherishment and gratitude.

But Mile, who constantly resides on Sumeru Mountain, has personally witnessed how Chen Ku, starting as a Western disciple, step by step reached today's terrifying height where even the masters Jieyin and Zhunti must regard him as an equal.

Such awe, accumulated day by day, had long been etched into his marrow.

Just as countless thoughts surged in Mile's mind, trying to guess any possible questioning that might arise next, Chen Ku's flat, unperturbed voice already sounded in the hall.

"Junior Brother Mile."

Those three words made Mile's heartbeat suddenly quicken.

"Suppose Guanyin and Yaoshi are outside, trapped by a powerful enemy's lethal formation, in imminent danger."

"Only by risking death on the medicine side to escape back to the Buddhist gate and seek your aid."

"You, how will you handle this?!"

As the words fell, Mile's whole person froze.

He had imagined countless possibilities, but never expected it to be such a soul‑piercing dilemma.

This problem was far more complex and dangerous than anyone's before.

What it involved was not merely personal cultivation, but the safety and choices of the entire Buddhist gate.

This damn...

Should we seek stability, or should we go reckless?!

One thought madly shouted: Hold steady! Senior Brother's question must have deep meaning! To garrison Sumeru Mountain and plot slowly is the supreme strategy!

Another voice roared from the depths: How can we sit idly by when our fellow disciples are in trouble? If we cannot even protect them, what Buddhism do we cultivate, what Dao do we prove?

These two utterly different choices tore wildly in his mind, leaving him unable to decide for a moment.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, his lips twitched slightly, yet he could not utter a sound.

After a moment of dead silence, the entanglement and struggle in Mile's eyes faded away, turning into resolute determination.

He no longer tried to guess Chen Ku's intentions.

He chose to follow his true heart.

"Reporting to Senior Brother!"

"Such a crisis admits no delay!"

He lifted his head, met Chen Ku's gaze, and spoke word by word.

"I will personally lead the team, taking Longshu, the Great Peng, and all my junior brothers, mobilizing everyone, rushing forward at full speed to carry out the rescue!"

His voice rang out, full of unquestionable resolve.

Protecting fellow disciples is the bottom line of his identity as a Buddhist disciple.

Xiao Chen Ku quietly watched him, seeing sincerity in Mile's gaze, and seeing an all‑out fellowship among brothers.

That originally indifferent gaze thus softened by one ten‑thousandth.

But praise does not equal approval.

"Reckless!"

Those two words, like a thunderclap from the ninth heaven, exploded in Mile's ears.

"As the chief disciple of the second generation of the Buddhist gate, while we remain aloof from worldly affairs, you must shoulder the responsibility of garrisoning Sumeru Mountain!"

Xiao Chen Ku's voice suddenly turned stern, full of reproach.

"To personally mobilize and endanger oneself is a great taboo for commanders! By placing yourself in peril, you push the entire Buddhist gate toward an abyss of eternal ruin!"

"Then, when Sumeru Mountain lies empty, if an outside enemy takes advantage, what will you do?!"

These words, like heavy hammers, struck Mile's heart one after another.

Everyone understood clearly that when Chen Ku spoke of the "chief disciple of the second generation," he naturally excluded himself and Dizang.

Chen Ku's status had long transcended the mundane, standing on equal footing with Jieyin, Zhunti, and Red Cloud Patriarch, having left the realm of disciples.

While Dizang bore the heavy duty of suppressing the netherworld, he had no spare attention.

Thus calculated, Mile is rightly the chief disciple of the second generation of the Buddhist gate.

This identity is both honor and responsibility.

At the critical moment, he must bear the responsibility of standing in for Jieyin and Zhunti to garrison Sumeru Mountain and stabilize the foundation of the Buddhist gate.

"Pa!"

A soft sound.

The Primordial Chaos Heaven-measuring Ruler that made everyone's heart tremble finally fell.

The force wasn't heavy, yet it seemed to contain an immense power, making his whole body tremble.

A scorching surge surged from his chest straight to the top of his head, Mile's face instantly flushed crimson, even the roots of his ears turning bloody.

He opened his mouth, but found all his defensive words blocked in his throat, unable to utter a single syllable.

As expected…

Having exhausted his own scheming, prepared in advance, and guessed at the so-called "steady" and "bold," it was utterly useless before Senior Brother Chen Ku's true calculation.

Embarrassing!

It's truly too embarrassing!

Mile could even feel the gazes from not far away, where Jinchi Dapeng and others looked on, their eyes full of undisguised teasing and schadenfreude.

He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

However, when his peripheral vision caught the solemn expression of Dizang senior brother beside him, seemingly sharing his feeling, that intense sense of shame inexplicably lessened a bit.

Even someone like Dizang senior brother, wasn't he punished too?

Thinking that, his heart felt much better at once.

The mountain breeze gently swayed, moving the immortal bodhi leaves atop Mount Sumeru, producing a soft rustling.

Mile's body leaned forward slightly, his posture extremely low, on that face usually wearing a gentle smile now written with solemnity and earnestness.

His voice carried a hint of tension he himself hadn't noticed.

"Please, Senior Brother Chen Ku, guide me—what should I do?!"

This question already meant entrusting his own response, and even the entire Buddhist sect's response, fully to him.

Xiao Chen Ku's gaze was calm as an ancient well, as if he had already perceived myriad futures; this situation was merely the most inconspicuous of them.

His response came without the slightest delay, his words clear as gold and stone striking the ground.

"You can dispatch Longshu, Jinchi Dapeng, and other disciples to go rescue."

Each name that left his mouth carried an undeniable weight.

"At the same time, please have strong ones like Du'e Zhenren and Yinglong lurk in the shadows, ever vigilant, to strike at the crucial moment."

His words paused slightly, his gaze penetrating Mile before him, as if looking toward deeper karma.

"As for you yourself, you shall hold the fort in Mount Sumeru, responding to any anomaly."

Finally, he gave his conclusion, settling the matter with a single statement.

"Only thus can we rescue our fellow sect brothers and sisters while securing the rear, achieving both goals flawlessly!"

One word, one formation.

One utterance, one strategy.

These words were not lengthy, yet they stirred up a tremendous wave in Mile's heart.

The doubt in his eyes was instantly replaced by a beam of light piercing the darkness.

So that's how it is.

So this is how it is!

Dispatching Longshu and Jinchi Dapeng is a yang move, a thunderous means the Buddhist sect puts forth openly, enough to deter petty foes and handle the vast majority of crises.

While inviting Du'e Zhenren and Yinglong, these ancient primordial titans of fame, to lurk in the shadows, is a countermove, the true killing blow, the ultimate guarantee of flawless safety.

As for him himself holding the fort in Mount Sumeru…

Mile's breath hitched slightly.

He understood.

Senior Brother Chen Ku was warning him that, as the de facto leader of the Buddhist sect, he was that divine needle calming the sea, the focus of all Buddhist disciples' faith.

As long as he remains still, Mount Sumeru will stay stable.

As long as Mount Sumeru stays stable, the Buddhist sect's fortune will not waver.

This is not merely a rescue plan; it is a perfect sorting and mobilization of the entire Buddhist sect's strength!

Dizang's power, rooted in the Netherworld underworld, is his dojo, his foundation.

And Mile's power is this vast Western Paradise Buddhist sect, the bodhisattvas, vajras, and arhats filling the mountain, and these countless devout believers!

As Chen Ku said, the Buddhist sect today is no longer an ignorant novice.

Longshu Bodhisattva, wisdom reaching the heavens, combat power unmatched.

Jinchi Dapeng, extreme speed leaving no trace, fierce reputation renowned.

Moreover there are Yinglong, Heilong, and even Du'e Zhenren, who already were hegemons of heaven and earth before the Investiture of the Gods catastrophe, willingly serving the Buddhist sect.

Twisting all this strength into a single rope, what is there to fear?

Enlightened!

All vital apertures, at this moment fully opened!

Mile only felt his vision suddenly clear, the anxiety and agitation born from his fellow sect members being trapped instantly dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented calm and composure.

He bowed deeply, deeply, toward Xiao Chen Ku, performing a great salute that almost touched the ground.

This bow was not for fellowship among sect members.

It was gratitude for the teaching.

……

However, this scene taking place on the summit of Mount Sumeru, appearing mundane, when seen by the primordial cultivators outside who constantly watch this place, provoked a completely different reaction.

In the void, countless threads of clear and obscure divine thoughts intertwined, conveying a feeling of disappointment.

"Huh……"

A ripple of divine sense passed, carrying a hint of waning interest.

I originally thought that among the four top disciples of the Buddhist Sect, a world-shaking collision would finally erupt, revealing a dazzling brilliance.

I never expected it to be this scene.

Dizang was trapped, Mile sought instruction, yet in the end it was Chen Ku alone who took charge and made the decision.

This... is rather boring.

Another young cultivator's divine sense followed in agreement, his voice full of regret.

Yeah, I originally thought we could see a Buddhist doctrine debate, supernatural powers clashing, at the very least a heated argument, to see whose ideology could prevail over whose.

The result was just a few words from Chen Ku, and Mile bowed his head in submission?

What is this? A tiger's head and a snake's tail, too bland.

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately resonated with countless onlookers.

Not bad!

Indeed!

This is far from the script they expected!

They wanted to see a dragon-tiger struggle, a match of worthy opponents, a fierce clash of ideas and power between the Buddhist Sect's top talents.

But what did they see?

They saw only a calm question, and an even calmer answer.

The whole process was without waves, like a pool of dead water.

This made those cultivators who longed for a grand spectacle feel they had waited in vain for a long time.

However, just as the voices of disappointment spread, some true titans standing at the peak of the Primordial Wilderness—those who have existed since the dawn of heaven and earth, witnessing countless ages—fell into a deathlike silence.

Their divine sense emitted no emotion, yet that extreme silence itself represented an unparalleled gravity.

For a long time.

An ancient and imposing divine sense slowly swept over the whole scene, without earth-shaking force, yet it instantly silenced all the noisy discussion.

This, precisely, shows how flourishing the Buddhist Sect is today!

This voice seemed to contain a terrifying insight that sees through appearances and reaches the essence.

Dizang and the others, though strong, no longer have the qualification to compete with Chen Ku for glory.

As the words spread, they exploded like a thunderclap in every cultivator's heart, directly refuting all previous statements.

What?

No qualification to compete for glory?

What does this mean?

Upon hearing this, all beings were initially stunned, completely unable to grasp its deeper meaning.

Dizang, Mile— which of them is not a heaven-shaking prodigy? Which of them is not bearing great fortune, with hopes of proving the Dao and attaining the Mixed Yuan, a terrifying existence?

Saying they... have no qualification?

This is really too exaggerated!

But those who spoke these words are true titans of the Primordial Wilderness; every word they utter is far from baseless.

For a moment, all cultivators suppressed their doubts and began to force themselves to follow that statement, re-examining that plain scene just now.

They pondered carefully.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Gradually, some cultivators of high attainment and keen minds began to change expression.

First came shock.

Then disbelief.

Finally, that disbelief turned into deep horror.

They finally... detected a hint of flavor.

A hint that made them feel chills all over.

Before, everyone thought this was an 'internal meeting' among the Buddhist Sect's four great disciples.

But looking back now, that is hardly any meeting.

That is clearly a... superior's instruction to subordinates!

From beginning to end, Chen Ku never used a consultative tone.

Every word of his was a command.

And Mile, likewise hailed as a future titan of the Buddhist Sect, his response was not discussion, not debate, but... receiving orders!

It is the most instinctive, most thorough obedience of a subordinate facing a superior!

What does this show?

This shows that within the Buddhist Sect today, Chen Ku's status has surpassed all other disciples, forming an absolute, unshakeable authority!

He is no longer 'one of the four great disciples'.

He is the sole decision-maker!

He is an existence absolutely on par with Jieyin and Zhunti!

He commands Dizang, the Golden-winged Great Peng, Kong Xuan, Due, and the Responsive Dragon! Any one of these names alone would be enough to shake the Primordial Wilderness.

Yet when Chen Ku mentions them, his tone is calm, as if he were saying 'my sword, my blade'.

What terrifying control this is!

This is the true power!

It is not a clash of supernatural powers and spells, but an overwhelming crush of authority and will!

After understanding this, all cultivators no longer found that scene boring.

They only felt a chill surge from the soles of their feet straight to the crown of their heads.

Beneath that seemingly plain conversation lay the Buddhist Sect's already-formed, stern to the point of suffocating power structure.

And Chen Ku sat enthroned at the pinnacle of that power.

After all beings carefully pondered, they could not help but show a moved expression.