Chapter 566

Chapter 566: War of Words

"This…" A Buddhist Semi-Immortal frowned and said, "Sect Leader Mo, though Great Thunder Sound Temple’s use of the Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword was excessive, they had their reasons. They lost their treasure, and even Abbot Master Bai Quan was forced to resign. As they say, better to resolve enmities than prolong them. Why not show mercy and return their treasure?"

"Indeed," another added. "The Mo Sect has always upheld righteousness, and the Fang Family is known for integrity. Why quibble over trivial matters?"

"By prior agreement, both sides were to cease hostilities after this battle. Yet this incident occurred—how can Great Thunder Sound Temple accept such humiliation?"

Other Buddhist masters joined the chorus. As sect-leading Semi-Immortals, even Mo Qianxun couldn’t ignore their collective pressure.

Mo Qianxun turned helplessly to Fang Lie, silently conveying his inability to shield him further.

Fang Lie merely smiled. "Honored elders, your bias has limits. Great Thunder Sound Temple tried to murder me with enhanced treasures and the Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword. Yet you excuse their shamelessness while accusing me of stirring trouble? How just is that?"

"Exactly! Don’t flaunt seniority to bully the young!"

"These Buddhist scoundrels clearly favor their bald devils! Great Thunder Sound Temple’s at fault, yet they blame Fang Lie? What brazen hypocrisy!"

"Even I blush for these so-called Righteous Cultivators!"

Demonic Path members eagerly fanned the flames, feigning support for Fang Lie to fuel internal strife. Their hatred for him remained, but exploiting him to weaken the righteous suited their purposes.

The Buddhist masters reddened under the mockery. One snapped, "Great Thunder Sound Temple erred, but Fang Lie, your theft is equally wrong!"

"Amitābha," another intoned. "Good, good. The Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword is a Buddhist treasure you cannot wield. Return it to forge goodwill. We Buddhists would remember this grace."

"Benefactor Fang lacks no treasures. Why provoke conflict among righteous sects, empowering the Demonic Path?"

Fang Lie scoffed. "Stop twisting truths with your good-cop-bad-cop act. Since Great Thunder Sound Temple wronged me first, they must provide proper compensation. That’s true justice! Why should I return anything without redress? Should Mo Sect meekly endure Buddhist bullying?"

Mo Qianxun seized the opening. "Though young, Elder Fang speaks reason. The instigator must answer first—this is fair. What say you, Buddhist dao brothers?"

The masters exchanged helpless glances. Fang Lie’s logic was unassailable—victims deserved explanations from aggressors. Reluctantly, they turned to Master Tianlong, silently urging concession.

Master Tianlong suppressed his wrath. "Great Thunder Sound Temple acted improperly in the Competition Method. We… apologize."

"That’s it?" Fang Lie gaped. "Your temple’s scheming nearly destroyed me, yet a half-hearted apology suffices? Do you deem me some inconsequential insect?"

"You—" Master Tianlong’s face purpled. "I, a Semi-Immortal, have humbled myself! What more do you demand?"

"Your title means nothing to me," Fang Lie retorted. "I’m Mo Sect’s Elder. You won’t erase your Ambush with empty words."

Gritting his teeth, Master Tianlong growled, "State your terms."

"Simple." Fang Lie shrugged. "Keep the Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword as my compensation gift."

Truthfully, Fang Lie cared little for treasures—even Eighth-rank Buddhist Treasures infused with primordial purple energy held scant appeal. But the Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword threatened his undying nature itself. This first true threat since gaining immortality chilled him—he’d defy Great Thunder Sound Temple itself to keep it.

"Outrageous!" Master Tianlong roared. "You blatantly covet our treasured item!"

"Call it what you will," Fang Lie said lightly. "I act by the rules. None can dispute my right."

"Preposterous!" Master Tianlong appealed to the others. "You witness this—Fang Lie tramples upon us!"

"Benefactor Fang~" a Semi-Immortal monk frowned and said, "The Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword is a Buddhist treasure. It’s truly improper for you to possess it!"

"Ah~" Mo Qianxun suddenly interjected, "Master’s words confuse me. If I recall correctly, that giant robe you wear once belonged to the Tao Sect’s West Kunlun. Yet you’ve remade it into Buddhist treasure. Since Buddhists can keep Taoist treasures, why can’t Taoists keep Buddhist ones?"

"You—" The old monk’s wrinkled face flushed crimson, rendered speechless.

Though Buddhist and Tao sects both claimed righteousness, they secretly schemed against each other. Unless outright stealing, neither would return treasures acquired through indirect means.

Take this Semi-Immortal’s robe – originally a Seventh-rank Taoist garment from West Kunlun, woven from hundred-thousand-year ice silkworm silk. When its Taoist owner fell to a demon, and Buddhist monks later slew that demon, the treasure passed to Buddhist disciples.

Coveting its materials, they used great magic to convert it into Buddhist treasure. After millennia of refinement, it became an Eighth-rank precious robe now worn daily by the Semi-Immortal abbot.

Such cases abounded. Thus if Fang Lie obtained Buddhist treasure through legitimate means, established custom granted him ownership regardless of protests.

Yet Buddhist monks excelled at twisting words. Lacking justification, they persisted: "That applies to common items! How can we allow Bodhisattva-bestowed treasures like Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword to remain outside? Were your Mo Sect’s five great tokens to fall into Buddhist hands, we’d return them!"

"Indeed! Sect inheritance treasures must never remain with outsiders!" other high monks chorused.

"Is that so?" Fang Lie smiled faintly. "Truthfully, returning the sword isn’t impossible. But who can swear it won’t be used to kill me? Should I gift lethal weapons to those wanting me dead?"

"I vow it!" Master Tianlong stepped forward urgently. "Return the sword and I swear it won’t harm you!"

"What worth your vow?" Fang Lie scoffed. "You could lend it to others to murder me!"

"Never!" Master Tianlong declared coldly. "If you die by this blade, I’ll forfeit my life!"

"You’d relish dying by this sword!" Fang Lie retorted. "Then you’d ascend to Buddha Kingdom, wouldn’t you?"

"Fang Lie, we’ll personally guarantee the sword won’t strike you!"

"I too pledge this!"

"And I!" Several Buddhist elders echoed.

Fang Lie shrugged. "Even without the sword, Great Thunder Sound Temple burns with hatred. They’ll retaliate against me – perhaps even Mo Sect. Believe this?"

"Surely not…"

"Master Tianlong’s word is ironclad!"

"Great Thunder Sound Temple values its reputation!"

"Hahaha!" Fang Lie roared with laughter. "Their reputation? After I traded Eighteen Arhats for that sabotaged Central World, that temple’s credibility died!"

"Ahem…" The monks reddened, glaring at Master Tianlong.

"Not my doing!" Master Tianlong muttered. "I was in closed-door training then!"

"Still your temple’s deed!" Fang Lie snapped. "I’ll never trust your honeyed words again!"

"Fang Lie," an elderly monk implored, "won’t our guarantees suffice?"

"Distrust the temple, but trust us!"

"We honor our vows!"

"Very well," Fang Lie said gravely. "Swear by heart demons: After I return the sword, should any Great Thunder Sound Temple member ambush me or Mo Sect disciples, you’ll all commit suicide in atonement!"