Silence!
A deathly silence, heavier than any that had come before!
Li Nanzhu's words were like ice picks.
She hadn't explicitly called the Mingguang Sect evil cultivators, but she had skillfully compared their behavior of snatching points to the act of killing and looting—the most wicked and bottom-line-breaking behavior recognized by the cultivation world.
Then, she threw out a fatal question: How does one distinguish the two? What is the standard?
She had placed the Mingguang Sect's actions on a precarious moral scale!
If Huixin could not provide a convincing standard that clearly separated the Mingguang Sect's actions from those of an evil cultivator, then their actions today would be logically identical to those of a villain!
This trap was far too deep! Too lethal!
The smile on Huixin's face froze completely, and fine beads of cold sweat even broke out on his forehead.
He opened his mouth, wanting to harshly rebuke Li Nanzhu for talking nonsense and desecrating the Buddhist dharma, but he suddenly realized that if he reacted that way, it would only make him look guilty! He had to refute this terrifying analogy using Buddhist logic!
But... how?
To say the evil cultivators acted with malice while the Mingguang Sect acted with good intent? But how was "good or bad intent" defined? Wasn't it just based on whatever one chose to say?
To say that evil cultivators took lives, while competing in a secret realm did not?
But competing in a secret realm was also a matter of harming another party for profit. Both were essentially acts of taking; only the degree was different.
Once this door was opened, how many evil acts could be excused by claiming they were of a lesser degree?
To say the secret realm's rules allowed it? But the rules were man-made, not the laws of heaven! Defending his actions with rules was equivalent to admitting that "might makes right," which returned to the logic Li Nanzhu had questioned earlier about the "biggest fist being right." It would contradict the compassion of the Buddhist dharma he had preached!
Huixin's mind raced frantically, only to find himself trapped in an inescapable logical infinite loop!
"I..."
Right then—
The spark on that final segment of the incense stick flared and then died out completely.
The last wisp of blue smoke drifted away and vanished.
The incense had finished.
Time was up.
The entire field was silent as a tomb.
Master Huixin, who had looked so dignified and spoke so eloquently just moments ago, was now trembling slightly.
Li Nanzhu, meanwhile, was only breathing slightly harder, her large, pure, and confused eyes watching Huixin quietly, as if waiting for an answer that would finally grant her an epiphany.
The winner was already obvious!
"Junior Sister... you're amazing!" Duan Xianxing used all his strength to suppress the cheer that almost burst from his lips, his body shaking with excitement.
Liu Qingyang was dazed, only able to mutter, "My goodness..."
Jiang Yifan, Rong Yuying, and the others had brilliant light shining in their eyes. The shock in their hearts was beyond words!
They knew Li Nanzhu was full of clever tricks, but they hadn't expected her to be so sharp, piercing right to the core and delivering such a killing blow!
Everyone's gaze focused on Huixin, whose aura was unstable, waiting for his reaction—or rather, waiting for Ji Yanzhi's reaction.
Ji Yanzhi's face had darkened. He never imagined Huixin would actually lose. However, as long as Huixin didn't personally admit it, it didn't count. Just as he was about to raise his hand—
"Amitabha..."
A Buddhist chant rang out, weary yet exceptionally clear.
Huixin took a long, deep breath and exhaled slowly. The frozen expression on his face gradually smoothed out, replaced by an unprecedented calm, even a hint of relief.
He rose slowly, adjusted his slightly messy monk robes, and pressed his palms together. He gave a solemn, deep bow to Li Nanzhu, who was still sitting cross-legged and breathing softly.
This move was beyond everyone's expectations!
"Benefactor Li," Huixin's voice no longer held its previous air of pity or profundity. Instead, it carried a strange sincerity. "In today's debate, it is this poor monk who... lost."
He admitted it candidly, his tone devoid of any resentment or unwillingness. Instead, there was a peculiar sense of respect. "Though you are young, your mind is transparent and your wisdom is like a torch. Your words were like an empowerment technique, making this poor monk feel ashamed."
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before landing back on Li Nanzhu with a newfound gravity. "Your analogy of the evil cultivator was sharp, but it was like a direct blow! It served as a warning to me that if one cannot maintain a righteous heart, even a thousand reasons can become a facade for evil! Distinguishing good from evil does not lie in clever words, but in one's intent and true heart! Today, I was too attached to appearances, and I have... lost my state of mind."
He spoke with extreme sincerity.
"Today's defeat is not a defeat of the Buddhist dharma, but a defeat caused by my own insufficient cultivation and flawed state of mind." Huixin pressed his palms together and bowed again. "Thank you for your guidance, Benefactor. Since this matter is concluded, I shall return to my mountain for secluded meditation to reflect on my errors and recast my Buddha-heart."
Watching the suddenly peaceful Huixin, Li Nanzhu was also slightly surprised.
She had thought the other party would be unreasonable to the end. She hadn't expected him to have such breadth of mind.
However, she could feel his genuine sincerity, with no trace of resentment.
She didn't dare be disrespectful and quickly stood up to return the bow politely. "Master, you are being too modest. This junior is young and ignorant. If my words caused any offense, I hope you can be magnanimous enough to forgive me. A debate is meant for the exchange of ideas. I admire your broad-mindedness, Master."
Between these two, one admitted defeat candidly and reflected with sincerity, while the other was humble and respectful.
The scene suddenly felt somewhat harmonious.
However, the most uncomfortable person was undoubtedly Ji Yanzhi!
His raised hand froze in mid-air. The words he was about to say were choked back by Huixin's candid admission of defeat and profound self-reflection!
He was so stifled he nearly lost his breath!
"Huixin! You..." Ji Yanzhi squeezed out a few words through his teeth, his voice hoarse.
Huixin acted as if he hadn't heard Ji Yanzhi's fury. He turned around to face Ji Yanzhi, still maintaining that sincere and peaceful demeanor as he bowed again. "Benefactor Ji, everything that happened today was due to my own insufficient cultivation, which has troubled your noble sect. I am deeply ashamed. Since the bet was made and the winner decided, my Mingguang Sect will naturally abide by the agreement."
He stopped looking at Ji Yanzhi's ugly expression and turned to the Mingguang Sect disciples he had brought. His voice was calm but carried an unquestionable authority. "Huineng, take your junior brothers. We are leaving."
"Senior Brother!" Huineng said anxiously, wanting to say more.
"Go!" Huixin's tone sharpened, carrying the pressure of a nascent soul cultivator.
Seeing this, the Mingguang Sect disciples, though unwilling, did not dare to disobey their eldest senior brother's command. They could only glare fiercely at the members of the Five Elements Dao Sect before gathering around Huixin.
Huixin nodded slightly to Li Nanzhu, Jiang Yifan, and the others once more. Then, he led the Mingguang Sect disciples away without looking back, his pace steady and without hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, the Mingguang Sect group vanished from everyone's sight.
Ji Yanzhi could only watch them leave, his heart sinking bit by bit.
When he turned around again, the look in his eyes as he watched Li Nanzhu had shifted into one of extreme complexity.
He was no fool. After his brief flash of anger, his reasoning quickly returned. He knew that taking action now would be beneath him, and he also knew that Huixin had truly given his all. Even if an elder from the Mingguang Sect were here, they might not have been able to out-debate Li Nanzhu.
This was not Huixin's fault.
But he was unwilling.
He was unwilling to give up the chance to seize more points. As one of the few nascent soul cultivators present, he had set his mind on securing the greatest benefits for his sect.
He closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, the complexity had faded.
"Wuji Sect disciples..."
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