Zenith Heaven.
The Hall of Discussion of Dao.
Everyone remained quiet.
Even though Xuan Xin himself admitted that he lost, but there were still questions in his mind. If Changsheng couldn't solve them, then Xuan Xin's cultivation was very likely to be completely ruined by the Heart Demon within him.
"Esteemed Daoist, I don't understand; Buddhism leads people to be kind, so does Daoism. Why can't they be compatible with each other? Why do they have to be like water and fire? Don't the both of them have upright beliefs?" Xuan Xin asked.
This was the unsolved question that kept lingering in his mind.
Even though the question looked simple, it was in fact, dangerous.
The incompatibility between the two religions actually didn't derive from different beliefs. Instead, it was because of the desires that were involved in them. It was similar to people living and working in peace and contentment, this was a lovely prospect shared by many states. However, those states could never join together and become a single unitary whole.
What was the main reason for this?
It was because there were selfish desires involved.
If Lu Changsheng replied honestly, then the dignity of Daoism would be harmed. The answer wouldn't be accepted by the world too.
Xuan Xin was rather brave when he asked this question. However, deep in his eyes, there was no desire for power, fame, or wealth. His obsessiveness for Buddhism was just too deep.
The red maple leaves scattered all over the sky.
Everyone remained very quiet as silence prevailed at the venue.
Lu Changsheng looked up at the blue sky outside of the hall. His extremely handsome demeanor made countless ladies swoon over him.
"The beliefs of the two religions are different," this was Lu Changsheng's answer.
"How?" Xuan Xin's sincere tone could be clearly heard.
"Buddhism has eighty-four thousand sutras to save people in the world regardless of who they are. As long as they are truly devoted, then they'll be saved. This is immeasurable kindness.
"However, despite the infinite power of Daoism, Dao is only for those in the right.
"According to Buddhism, when a man lays down his cleaver, he instantly turns into a Buddha.
"But according to Daoism, a man with a cleaver is extremely sinful and should be severely punished by Heaven and Earth.
"Buddhism believes in the world to come and karma.
"Whereas, Daoism believes in this world and destiny.
"This is the root cause of why they aren't compatible."
Lu Changsheng answered the question using the different philosophies possessed by Buddhism and Daoism.
Buddhism pursued gains in the world to come, believing that all kind intentions in this life would bring good fortune in one's next life.
However, Daoism focused on one's experience in this world. It didn't believe in the world to come or the previous world.
"What is destiny?" Xuan Xin continued to ask.
"It's in one's mind," Lu Changsheng answered. It was extremely simple: Destiny existed in one's mind. Its existence depended on one's own judgement. This was in conformity to the philosophy of Daoism, which was to let nature take its course.
"What is destiny?" Xuan Xin asked once more, still feeling quite confused.
"Destiny comes and goes! Destiny gathers and disperses! Destiny arises! Destiny falls! Destiny gives birth to everything! Everything is destiny! Heaven decides the arrival of destiny! People can do nothing when destiny leaves. What a person gains is the result of what he does! A person's heart decides what he sees." Lu Changsheng's words were filled with profound philosophy.
Xuan Xin's brows tightly frowned, he still looked very confused.
"I still don't understand," Xuan Xin's tone sounded bitter.
"It's not that you don't want to, but that you're unwilling to." Lu Changsheng sighed.
"I really don't understand. Please enlighten me. Why can't Buddhism be promoted in the entire world? Is it because of selfish desires? Because of the pursuit of power?"
At this moment, even though Xuan Xin was covered in a bright halo. But in his eyes, there was obsessiveness, insanity, and confusion. It was the sign of someone degenerating into demonic cultivation.
The symbol of Buddhism now looked dark.
This formidable power turned into terrifying-looking Buddhas as they rushed for Lu Changsheng.
However.
'Bang!'
Endless purple air surged. The Innate Qi of Yin and Yang flowed around. The statues of the saint scholars gave off a bright light. Together with the three vague figures behind, they were all protecting Lu Changsheng.
This joint-power completely suppressed the demonized Buddhas. Upon seeing this, the audience released a sigh of relief.
When Lu Changsheng noticed it, he couldn't help but also sigh.
He stood up and looked into the distance. As he faced Xuan Xin, who was degenerating into the world of darkness, Lu Changsheng didn't show any signs of fear.
However, maybe because it was out of mercy, Lu Changsheng opened his mouth to ask him, "Xuan Xin, you really want to know why Buddhism and Daoism are incompatible?"
"I do. Please tell me, Esteemed Daoist." Xuan Xin knelt down on the ground to show his sincerity.
"It's because what you learned is the
His answer immediately caused a great stir!
"This isn't good!"
"Stop this nonsense!"
"Don't say it!"
"This is too much!"
Many senior cultivators blurted out at the same time.
In a debate, opinions and sutras could be questioned and attacked. However, the core content of a belief should be untouched.
Lu Changsheng could say that a Buddhist sutra was wrong, but not Buddhism itself. However, Lu Changsheng actually told Xuan Xin that what he learned was inadequate.
That was pervasive criticism!
Buddhism was the second biggest religion in this world, they were very formidable.
If Lu Changsheng touched Xuan Xin's bottom line, he would be in great trouble. He should never have said this.
In the western desert.
Angry voices started to arise.
"Ridiculous!"
"The boy's too crazy! He just called what we learned is Hinayana Buddhism, that we're defective and unreliable!"
"Ridiculous! How unbelievably ridiculous! A disciple who's been cultivating for only three years called what we learned all this time is Hinayana Buddhism?!"
Many senior monks were furious.
Calling their belief Hinayana Buddhism was an extremely serious matter.
It was like a contest between two countries. If the stronger country won the contest and called the other country weak, it would infuriate hundreds of thousands of people, this was a matter of the dignity of the entire country.
Lu Changsheng's statement was extremely humiliating to them.
Xuan Xin wasn't the only one who felt shamed from this, but it was also the entire Buddhism community.
The small Leiyin Temple.
In the Mahavira Hall; the thirty-three thousand, three hundred and thirty-three monks were indignantly denouncing Lu Changsheng's arrogance.
Even as he stared at what was happening, Master Pu Zhi simply remained silent.
Zenith Heaven.
Perfected Qing Yun frowned.
Lu Changsheng's words were indeed too shocking. If he didn't give a perfect answer, great trouble would ensue.
"Sect Master!" The head of Penalty Hall looked at Perfected Qing Yun, waiting for his command.
"Listen! Turn on all the incantation circles. Zenith Heaven is now in the stage of war. Anyone who acts rashly shall be executed! Pass down my orders! Go all-out to protect Changsheng!" Perfected Qing Yun's face looked extremely cold.
"Yes, Sect Master!" The head of Penalty Hall left.
The rest of the senior leaders who remained in the hall were still speechless.
They really didn't understand why Lu Changsheng chose to make such a statement.
He had already won the debate. Why would he even care if Xuan Xin would degenerate into demonic cultivation?
Even as they thought of this, they were also curious.
They wondered why Lu Changsheng was so confident in calling what Xuan Xin learned Hinayana Buddhism.
However, they were all aware that this debate would shock the entire world.
In the Hall of Discussion of Dao.
Xuan Xin, who was still kneeling on the ground, sincerely asked, "What is Mahayana Buddhism?"
Lu Changsheng looked at Xuan Xin in silence.
He spent some time contemplating on what his response would be.
All of a sudden, he opened his mouth, "This is destiny! Today, I'll teach you Mahayana Buddhism."
After saying this, Lu Changsheng looked towards the west.
And then, he started to talk.