Taiyi Dao Fruit

"Hahahahaha······"

Jiang Li laughed heartily and said, "The senior sure loves to joke."

Overall, the initial exchange was friendly, harmonious, and smooth, so the greeting phase can be concluded now.

Jiang Li effortlessly changed the topic, staring at the Dao Primordial Spirit, and said frankly, "I wonder why the senior invited me here?"

"The second eastward transmission of Buddhist teachings from the Buddha Country, how could the old Daoist not come."

The Daoist Lord's face still carried a smile, yet a pressure, inexplicable and indescribable, arose out of thin air, "Are you aware that when the old Daoist journeyed westward back then, it was not to hinder the spreading of Buddhist teachings eastward, but to prevent that Buddhist Zhen Ru from altering the Buddha Country."

"Change?" Jiang Li heard this and slightly raised his eyebrows.

This notion was something he had never considered before.

According to current records, the changes in the Buddha Country a hundred years ago should be like this——

The Awakener Dao Fruit reached perfection, with Manjusri being a third grade, the momentum of the Buddha Country was already perfected, hence they desired to spread Buddhist teachings eastward. At that time, the fourth-rank Buddhists carried the third grade Dao Artifact, that is, the Dragon Flower Treasure Tree bearing the Maitreya Dao Fruit, into Yong Province to establish the Mahayana Sect as a vanguard, and then the Buddha Country would advance eastward with national effort.

However, at that time, the Daoist Lord ventured west, entered the Buddha Country to discuss Dao with the Awakened, enlightening Karma Tathagata, causing this Awakened's great enemy to emerge out of nowhere, with many third grade Sixth Brothers fueling the flames, leading to the Awakened eventually battling Karma Tathagata, both manifesting and setting the agreement "The Awakened will not emerge, and Tathagata will not leave seclusion."

Thus, the first plan for the eastward spreading of Buddhist teachings by the Buddha Country ended in complete failure.

Yet now, the Daoist Lord who personally pushed all this says, he was not here to stop the eastward spreading of Buddhist teachings, but to prevent the Awakened from altering the Buddha Country.

In other words, the spreading of Buddhist teachings eastward, to some extent, was something the Daoist Lord was pleased to see.

"Change."

Li Boyang repeated those two words, saying, "Ninety percent of cultivators in the Buddha Country practice the Summoning Technique, utilizing incense to aid cultivation, allowing them to surpass other cultivators of the same grade, but it also contradicts the philosophy of Buddha Country's Chief Zhen Ru. Buddha is an Awakened one, becoming Buddha through self-enlightenment, not through incense. The prevalence of the Summoning Technique has led the Buddha Country astray from the Buddha path they acknowledged. Hence, he aims to rectify the source, returning the cultivation of Buddhist teachings to its rightful appearance."

"This is also his last concern regarding the Buddha Country; only in this way can he ascend in the most complete state."

"Under the guise of spreading Buddhist teachings eastward, rectifying the source······" Jiang Li mumbled, "So that's it, he wants to clean up the Buddha Country."

The essence of spreading Buddhist teachings eastward is to enlighten more people, to gather more incense; the type of people willing to undertake such actions need not be stated. Buddhist Zhen Ru uses this as bait to fish out the Buddha Country cultivators willing to pay any price for incense, and then proceed with cleansing.

The first eastward spreading of Buddhist teachings was destined to fail, but it shouldn't have failed at the hands of the Daoist Lord, rather it should have failed at the hands of the Awakened.

The Daoist Lord's westward journey indeed led to the failure of the first eastward spreading of Buddhist teachings, but also caused the Awakened's cleansing plan to fail. The batch of cultivators who first entered Yong Province to establish the Mahayana Sect died, but only they died; more proponents of the eastward spreading of Buddhist teachings had not yet set out and were halted at the Buddha Country due to Karma Tathagata's emergence.

Afterwards, the Awakened did not emerge, and Tathagata did not leave seclusion; thus, the Awakened retreated for a hundred years, and the cultivation of the Summoning Technique did not get curbed, instead it further thrived after the Awakened's retreat. Now, there are few in the Buddha Country who do not practice the Summoning Technique.

Hence, the Awakened couldn't resolve his concerns about the Buddha Country, his mental state remained blocked, preventing ascension.

Even as Jiang Li knows, the Awakened might need to resolve Karma Tathagata now to attain perfection and seek ascension.

And now, the opportunity has come.

The second eastward spreading of Buddhist teachings will be the second cleansing.

Return the Dao of Buddhism to how the Awakened envisions it, dispel concerns, or rather obsessions, so he can ascend to the Second Grade.

Indeed, when discussing matters concerning cultivators, ultimately it boils down to ascension, especially for those already at the pinnacle.

Simultaneously, Jiang Li also witnessed the insidious nature of those third grade Sixth Brothers.

"The senior intends for me to relent?" Jiang Li inquired.

"Not at all," the Daoist Lord shook his head, "Buddhist teachings are a path of benevolence, but the incense path is not a path of promoting virtue. The faith in incense, it's a pervasive poison, and the old Daoist is unwilling to let this poison wreak havoc on the residents of the Nine Provinces. Little friend does not need to relent, just hold back, repel the Buddha Country monks, and send them back to the Western Land."

Not letting this poison harm the residents of the Nine Provinces, but it doesn't matter over at the Buddha Country?

Jiang Li felt as though he was getting a renewed understanding of the Daoist Lord, it seemed this Taoist was not as neutral as rumored.

The Daoist Lord also seemed to see through Jiang Li's thoughts, saying: "Dao De is the Righteous Path, not the path of benevolence. The old Daoist has the Dao De but lacks the Dao De. Even if there is goodwill, it doesn't extend to the folk beyond those lands."

The first Dao De refers to the Righteous Path, while the second Dao De is the Confucian understanding of virtue.

The Daoist Lord was also candid, not shying away from such private thoughts and spoke them openly. He is a Taoist, not a compassionate immortal or Buddha.

Thus, the topic was plainly laid bare, leaving Jiang Li to make his choice.

"The old Daoist observes that little friend also understands Yin-Yang practices, if little friend is willing to undertake this matter, I am willing to present the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique as a gift to aid your achievement." The Daoist remained simple and straightforward, yet pointing to the key.

"To lure with benefits, can that be the conduct of a person with a true Dao?" Jiang Li heard this, displaying an enigmatic expression.