Chapter 955: Bodhisattva Intervenes

Jiang Fan listened in quiet surprise.

So the Bodhi Tree was so crucial to the Buddhist faith!

He had only heard Venerable Six Paths and Venerable Green Crane mention that the Bodhi Tree was the Tree of Wisdom for Buddhism, a sacred tree of the Buddhist path. But he never expected it to possess such extraordinary, heaven-defying abilities.

No wonder Venerable Six Paths had once warned Jiang Fan never to let White Horse Temple know he possessed the Bodhi Tree. Otherwise, he would inevitably be targeted by them. If Jiang Fan were White Horse Temple, he would probably covet the Bodhi Tree even more than they did.

Then again, with clues about the Bodhi Tree, his bargaining power was now much stronger.

At this moment, Abbot Puguang listened to the foreign guests' discussions, his brow deeply furrowed. If the existence of the Bodhi Tree were to spread, it would likely cause great trouble.

Venerable Qiyin also started in surprise, seemingly realizing something, and calmly cupped his hands, saying: "Since matters here have concluded, I shall take my leave." He immediately withdrew and departed.

Wei Wuji and others also exchanged glances and took their leave one after another. Their gazes, almost simultaneously, lingered deeply on Jiang Fan. Evidently, they also intended to get involved in the matter of the Bodhi Tree. Whether it was to prevent White Horse Temple from finding the Bodhi Tree, or to find it themselves before the Buddhists and then demand magical artifacts, Jiang Fan was an indispensable figure. They would stop at nothing, resorting to threats and inducements to discover the Bodhi Tree's location.

Jiang Fan smiled faintly. Since he dared to reveal it, he naturally wasn't afraid of being targeted. At worst, he could reveal the Bodhi Tree and let them fight over it.

However, White Horse Temple's actions deeply shocked Jiang Fan.

Abbot Puguang turned and bowed deeply towards the grand hall deep within White Horse Temple: "Bodhisattva! We need your intervention."

From that mysterious grand hall, a faint, serene glow emerged. A magnetic, slow, and melodious voice slowly emanated.

"The Buddha said, 'Past events turn to emptiness, like a dream.'"

The ethereal voice, like clear flowing water, washed over their hearts, cleansing worries and forgetting sorrows.

Venerable Qiyin's expression changed, and he whispered, "Bodhisattva, you cannot..."

The next moment, his eyes were slightly dazed, and he looked at himself standing at the main gate with confusion. "When... when did I get to the gate?"

Wei Wuji and the other foreign guests at the Nascent Soul stage were equally bewildered.

Jiang Fan was horrified! He understood what had just happened!

With a single sentence, the Bodhisattva erased a segment of memory from the foreign guests present! This included the most crucial information about the Bodhi Tree!

No, not just the foreign guests. Apart from Abbot Puguang, all the senior monks of White Horse Temple had also forgotten, including Vajra Fayin. He slightly furrowed his brow, looking meaningfully at Jiang Fan, then at the grand hall deep within the temple. Clearly, he realized that a part of his memory was missing, likely erased by the Bodhisattva. But what kind of memory would require the Bodhisattva to personally erase it?

Abbot Puguang smiled as he looked at Jiang Fan and said, "Benefactor Jiang, this Buddhist karma cannot be revealed to outsiders; please forgive us."

Jiang Fan felt an inexplicable chill. The Bodhisattva's methods were truly unsettling. To be able to forcefully erase people's memories! Could he not also erase his? Realizing this, he became extremely cautious, gazing intently at the towering grand hall before saying: "Abbot, just tell me if you want the clues to that person."

Abbot Puguang did not reply, but instead smiled at Venerable Qiyin and the others: "Distinguished benefactors, we have made a spectacle of ourselves. Please move to the tea room and rest with some tea."

This was an eviction notice. Who would want to stay at White Horse Temple? They all took their leave. Only a few, like Venerable Qiyin, realized they might have had their memories erased. They looked at Jiang Fan with some confusion before bidding farewell.

Once there were no outsiders left, Abbot Puguang smiled and said, "Benefactor Jiang, please tell this humble monk the whereabouts of that disciple."

Disciple? Jiang Fan didn't believe that the enlightened monk who had secluded himself in the ancient capital of the Nine Dynasties of the Demon Race was from White Horse Temple. If he truly was, why wouldn't he return to White Horse Temple, and instead establish a hidden underground meditation hall? Of course, Jiang Fan couldn't simply tell them. He had to question White Horse Temple's credibility. They said Buddhists don't lie. The Demon Emperor of the Sky had received Vajra Fayin's promise to enter Buddhism, yet wasn't he still driven out? When he aggressively demanded an explanation, Vajra Fayin merely replied that the Buddha was testing him. In any case, the people of White Horse Temple always had irrefutable reasons. Their promises couldn't be trusted. He had to keep the initiative in his own hands.

Jiang Fan said, "Abbot, you haven't heard all my conditions yet. Since this is about fostering a connection, it can't be a one-sided giving on my part without your esteemed temple contributing, can it?"

Abbot Puguang smiled: "Please speak, Benefactor Jiang."

Jiang Fan said, "My first condition is that the Heaven-Reaching Black Pillar remains at your White Horse Temple, and I will take it away after three months. This is to ensure that you won't attempt to kill me after I take the Heaven-Reaching Black Pillar."

The smile on Abbot Puguang's face diminished significantly. The monks' expressions changed. Who would dare to stay near the Heaven-Reaching Black Pillar? Heaven knows when an ancient giant might descend along it.

The Demon-Subduing Guardian angrily retorted, "Young man, you are going back on your word! We have expelled the Demon Emperor of the Sky as you wished, yet you are not keeping your promise!"

Jiang Fan replied, "I never promised to immediately remove the Heaven-Reaching Black Pillar, so it's not a breach of contract. Abbot, consider it."

Abbot Puguang pondered for a long time, then slowly said, "Very well, let it remain here for now. But the deadline is only three months." In any case, Jiang Fan had a known origin; if he didn't return after three months, White Horse Temple would certainly come seeking answers. They weren't worried about Jiang Fan reneging.

"Now, state your second condition."

Jiang Fan's eyes gleamed slightly, and he said: "My second condition is that I will not give you all the clues about that person at once. I will provide them in parts, a little each month, but I guarantee that you will find that person within one year."

The smile completely vanished from Abbot Puguang's face, and he said resolutely: "I cannot agree to the second condition, and I believe the Bodhisattva would not consent either." The Bodhi Tree was far too important to White Horse Temple to allow any mishap. What if Jiang Fan were to unexpectedly die or disappear within the next year? Wouldn't the clues be lost?

Jiang Fan said calmly, "You have no choice but to agree. If you intend to use force, you would have to torture me for information or convert me to extract it. My people will spread the news. By then, whether it's destroyed or falls into someone else's hands, I cannot say."

Abbot Puguang remained expressionless. He had indeed considered forcefully seizing Jiang Fan. After converting him, Jiang Fan would naturally obediently reveal the Bodhi Tree's information. It was even possible the Bodhi Tree was on him. But what if this person truly had a contingency plan? Was it safer to wait a long year, or take some risks and act now? He looked towards the grand hall behind him. As it concerned the Bodhi Tree, only the Bodhisattva could make the decision.