Wu Shattered Star River

Two Buddha-sons were born. Although the enlightenment phase hadn't ended, the others had already given up hope.

As expected, after the two-month period ended, no more Buddha-sons were born. Jiang Han and the others returned early, waiting for the second phase to begin.

Under the guidance of the monks, Jiang Han and the others entered a temple. After entering the temple, they found themselves teleported away.

A flash of white light, and they appeared on a large lake, with countless huge lotus flowers in the lake. They were standing on a lotus flower.

The monk pointed to the lotus flowers in the distance and said, "Benefactor Jiang, you can choose any lotus flower you like. The debate on Buddhism will begin later."

Jiang Han and the others soared into the air and chose a lotus flower in a corner. A group of people sat cross-legged on the lotus, waiting to watch the show.

That's right.

Jiang Han and the others didn't plan to participate in this phase. They weren't proficient in Buddhist principles and doctrines, so what Buddhism were they going to discuss? They simply came here to watch the excitement and the show.

Successively, cultivators were teleported in, and each race gathered together. After Lu Xingyu, Fairy Nine Xuan, and the others came in, they flew to a lotus flower near Jiang Han.

There were hundreds of lotus flowers, and soon they were all filled with cultivators. On some lotus flowers to the north sat some monks, as well as some young lay disciples from the Myriad Buddha Hall, all with good cultivation levels.

After the cultivators were almost all there, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra entered with a group of monks and nuns. They flew onto the largest lotus flower to the north.

"Many big shots from Buddhism have come today!"

Jiang Jiuchen had a lively personality and extensive social connections, knowing many eminent monks of Buddhism.

He introduced them to everyone, saying, "Sitting to Bodhisattva Samantabhadra's left is Bodhisattva Ekavajra, who is Master Xuanji's teacher. The one on the right is Bodhisattva Maitreya."

"Sitting behind are Vajra Yellow Water-Seeking, Vajra White Pure Water, Vajra Red Sound Fire, Vajra Fixed Disaster, and also…"

Jiang Han glanced at them. She was very interested in the three Bodhisattvas, all of whom were Emperor-level, with Samantabhadra being the strongest. Ekavajra Bodhisattva, Xuanji's master, was said to have the battle power of a Heavenly Emperor. The Myriad Buddha Hall had sent three Emperor-level experts, showing how much importance they attached to the Buddha-son Assembly.

"Amitabha!"

Samantabhadra put his palms together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, and the noisy lake immediately quieted down.

Samantabhadra said with a friendly smile, "As the Buddha said: A lamp will not shine if it is not trimmed, and a principle will not be clear if it is not debated. Today, many virtuous people gather, truly a grand event of the ages."

"Today, we will discuss Zen and explain principles here, which will surely be recorded in history. All benefactors can speak freely, and this old monk will listen to your insightful views."

"Today's theme for the Zen debate is—Good and Evil!"

As soon as Samantabhadra's words fell, countless discussions buzzed throughout the entire place.

This theme was too broad, and no one knew how to discuss it, or how to speak in a way that would be more outstanding.

This debate on Buddhism could produce one or two Buddha-sons. If someone spoke reasonably and outstandingly, it might directly touch the Buddha-lotus, scattering Buddha-light and becoming a Buddha-son.

No one dared to speak rashly or express their views. They were all discussing in low voices or communicating through sound transmission, considering how to express their views.

After a full incense stick of time, a martial artist from a small clan finally stood up, cupped his hands towards Samantabhadra, and said, "I am Qiu Ning from the Qiu Shan Clan. I am willing to offer a humble opinion for others to build upon. If I speak incorrectly, please correct me."

"The Buddha said: If you ask about the cause of your previous life, the suffering you endure in this life is the result; if you ask about the fruit of your next life, what you do in this life is the cause. In the cycle of life, what kind of cause you plant, you will reap what kind of fruit. As the saying goes, good will be rewarded with good, and evil will be rewarded with evil. If the time has not come, it does not mean it will not come."

"People are doing things, and Heaven is watching. Heaven is fair to everyone. Those who accumulated virtue in their previous lives will surely enjoy happiness in this life; but if they do not know how to cultivate virtue in this life, Heaven will secretly diminish their blessings and prosperity."

"If one did many evil deeds in their previous life, they will surely encounter difficulties in this life, and undesirable things will often befall them; but if they can often read sacred books and Buddhist scriptures in this life, and practice them consistently, Heaven will secretly reduce the sins of their previous life, thereby eliminating disasters, resolving grievances, and bestowing blessings and auspiciousness."

Qiu Ning's words aroused the approval of many people, and some Buddhist disciples nodded slightly.

Bodhisattva Samantabhadra had a face full of smiles and nodded slightly, saying, "Benefactor Qiu's words are good!"

Samantabhadra's words made Qiu Ning's face reveal ecstasy. Samantabhadra's evaluation of "good" was considered a very high evaluation.

"Heh heh!"

On a lotus flower near Jiang Han, Xu Lu, the youngest son of the Southern Heavenly Emperor, sneered and said, "Is directly reciting a passage from a Buddhist scripture considered a debate on Buddhism? And he even got a 'good' evaluation?"

For today's debate on Buddhism, many cultivators had diligently studied Buddhist scriptures for a period of time.

The passage that Qiu Ning said was all from Buddhist scriptures. He almost copied it verbatim. Was this debating Buddhism or helping Buddhism propagate its teachings?

Not only Xu Lu, but many cultivators had read Buddhist scriptures and knew that what Qiu Ning said was all taken from Buddhist scriptures.

Since Qiu Ning could get a "good" evaluation, many cultivators stood up one after another, following suit by taking out some allusions and Buddhist principles from Buddhist scriptures to explain.

"I am Mo Yan from the Demon Clan. I believe that anything that benefits others is good, and anything that only benefits oneself is evil."

"As long as it is to benefit others and benefit society, even if you beat or scold people, it is good; if it is only for selfishness, even if you respect and love people, it is flattery and ingratiation, which is also evil."

"No matter what, everything depends on the intention. A true intention to benefit others is good, and pretending to do good but benefiting oneself is false good. Doing good without seeking anything in return is true good, and doing good with something in mind is false good."

"I am Yun Feiyang from the Human Clan. I believe that good has yin and yang aspects. Doing good deeds to let people know and praise is called yang good; doing good deeds without anyone knowing, and not telling others yourself, is called yin virtue. Yin virtue often brings unexpected good luck and blessings."

"Yang good can get good rewards and enjoy the praise of the world, but it must be worthy of the name. If it is only a name without substance, there will often be great disasters. Conversely, if a person does good and accumulates virtue, but is wronged and framed, suffering injustice, their descendants will often prosper in the future."

"I am Qu Yang from the God Clan. I believe that good and evil cannot be generalized…"

One cultivator after another quoted scriptures and extracted some Zen principles from Buddhist scriptures to talk eloquently.

If you didn't know, you would really think they were eminent monks of Buddhism, proficient in Buddhist principles.

Each time the cultivators finished explaining their views, Samantabhadra would give comments, mostly "good", or some would get a "great good" comment.

Time passed quickly, and soon half a day had passed. Nearly a hundred cultivators had explained their views.

However, most of the cultivators borrowed views from Buddhist scriptures, at most integrating them.

Although they all received Samantabhadra's approval, none of the cultivators touched the Buddha-lotus, causing Buddha-light to scatter. Not a single Buddha-son was born.

Jiang Han, Jiang Li, and Hua Xun'er were getting sleepy. They originally thought they were coming to see a lively scene and listen to fierce debates, but they didn't expect it to be a group of sycophants, all indirectly praising Buddhism…

Soon it was night, and a faint light lit up on the Buddha-lotus, reflecting the lake water with shimmering light, which was quite beautiful.

Just as Jiang Han was wondering if he could find an opportunity to sneak away, Samantabhadra suddenly glanced over and said, "Benefactor Jiang Han, you are the first non-Buddhist disciple to enter under the Bodhi tree in ten thousand years. What is your judgment on good and evil?"

"Me?"

Jiang Han saw countless gazes sweeping over, and he was a little dazed.

He was simply here to watch the excitement. What did Samantabhadra mean by this? He had always been listening to others speak, and had never actively asked anyone.

Was Samantabhadra deliberately targeting him?