The young monk entered Mount Tai and stood directly before Lu Yuan in an instant. His voice sounded calm, while a kind smile tugged at his lips. However, none of those present could speak in response to his words.

One thing they could now say for certain was that this monk was not from their world. He was from the Outer Cosmos, and the aura he radiated was powerful—he was a Great Sage.

"Who are you, and what did you mean by that?" the Golden-Winged Great Peng asked, stepping forward. It had assumed human form, taking the shape of a burly man clad in golden robes, looking fierce and imposing. He stood before the young monk and unleashed the entirety of his aura.

Of course, he wasn't planning on making a move. His decision to step up was made because of the implication behind the young monk's words. What was he talking about when he said "an affinity with Buddha."?

Was he trying to ask their master to take "refuge" in Buddha?

"This humble monk's Dharma name is Xuanci. I come from the Sukhāvatī Starfield," the young monk said plainly, revealing his origins without hesitation. His voice was warm, and he sounded unbothered by the display.

He looked at the Golden-Winged Great Peng and smiled again. "You also have an affinity with Buddha."

His remark left everyone stunned once more, but when they thought about it, it did make sense. The Golden-Winged Great Peng was a mythical mutated beast with a formidable bloodline, and in certain Buddhist stories, the Buddha Mother was the Great Peacock Wisdom King, and she had given birth to the Great Peng.

In other words, Xuanci's words were not entirely unfounded.

Once that thought crossed their minds, everyone couldn't help but glance at the Peacock King.

"So, you're from the Sukhāvatī Starfield." Before anyone else could speak, Lu Yuan cut straight in. He looked at the monk who called himself Xuanci and calmly said, "Are you here for that supreme divine ability, the Buddha's Palm Domain?"

Jiang Ningxian had just talked to him about this, and it had only been a few days since then, but there was already someone at his door. Lu Yuan was not one for idle talk, so he went straight to the point.

The Buddha's Palm Domain was a powerful divine art. He had even estimated that once he grew strong enough, he could truly manifest an entire Buddha's domain through it. Its power was far more terrifying than he had imagined. No wonder it had drawn the attention of people from the Sukhāvatī Starfield.

Of course, he was not afraid at all. If conflict was unavoidable, then so be it.

"Yes, but not entirely." Xuanci smiled and looked at Lu Yuan. "Compared to that divine ability, it is actually you, benefactor, whom my Sukhāvatī Starfield truly values. As I said, you have an affinity with Buddha.

"Should you be willing to take refuge in the Buddha, you will certainly attain enlightenment."

His earnest gaze made it clear that he was not joking at all.

"Oh?" Lu Yuan smiled as well and calmly replied, "And if I refuse?"

There was no coldness in his tone. It was just a simple question, and it was because he sensed no hostility whatsoever from this monk, Xuanci. Lu Yuan was not the type to go looking for trouble or make enemies everywhere.

Until he had determined the other party's true goal, he would not be rude toward them. Respect given was respect returned.

"You don't have to decide so quickly, Benefactor. Hear me out first," Xuanci said, bowing slightly, then continued. "If you're willing to take refuge in the Buddha, we would hold nothing back in our teachings. We would also raise no objections regarding the Buddha's Palm Domain.

"You would be granted the full standing of a Child of Buddha within our Sukhāvatī Starfield. We would also mediate between you and the Eternals as well as the Ji Clan. Lastly, we would protect this world. What do you say?"

He did not say much, but the weight behind his words was too heavy to be underestimated. The standing of a Child of Buddha and the resolution of the feud between Lu Yuan and the Eternals as well as the Ji Clan were especially significant.

Child of Buddha. Lu Yuan had heard about it before from Jiang Ningxian. It was essentially the Buddhist equivalent of a Holy Son among the great clans of other Starfields.

In other words, if he were to convert, he would receive the highest possible standing in the Sukhāvatī Starfield. Lu Yuan was caught slightly off guard, but it didn't stir much feeling in him aside from a bit of surprise.

Then there was the offer to resolve his feud with those two great clans. Whether it was the Eternals or the Ji Clan, both were among the most powerful forces in the universe, yet the Sukhāvatī Starfield had the confidence to claim that it could settle such a feud. It spoke volumes about the Sukhāvatī Starfield's true power.

Still, Lu Yuan shook his head. "I have no real interest in Buddhism."

Everything came at a price. He understood that better than anyone. If he were to convert to Buddhism and become a Child of Buddha, what would be expected of him afterward?

Lu Yuan had always preferred to live unbound and unfettered. He had established the Celestial Court only for the sake of protecting the people of this world. He had always felt that he would inevitably need to do more things for the Celestial Court as he grew stronger, but beyond that, Lu Yuan never voluntarily involved himself in the Celestial Court's affairs.

Hence, converting to Buddhism held no appeal for him whatsoever, let alone becoming a so-called Child of Buddha.

"Alas, this humble monk had already suspected as much." Xuanci shook his head after hearing the refusal. Then his expression changed subtly. "Since you are unwilling to convert, Benefactor, then this humble monk has one more request.

"I hope you will agree to it."

"If it's about the Buddha's Palm Domain, don't bother." Lu Yuan shook his head. It was not a matter of being stingy. It was something he had earned through his own fortune. Why would he hand it to someone else? Simply because the other party was a Buddhist?

If that were the case, wouldn't it be better if he just passed the divine ability to the monk Huikong? At the very least, Huikong was one of his own.

"In that case..."

Xuanci seemed to have anticipated this as well. The moment his words fell, golden lotuses bloomed from him one after another. "Then this humble monk would like to engage you, Benefactor, in a Buddhist debate. Should I win, I ask that you grant me at least that small courtesy."

He stepped forward without waiting for a reply, and a devastatingly powerful aura erupted from within him. The sky was dyed gold in an instant, and it was all coming from Xuanci's figure. He looked like a powerful Arhat.

"A debate?" Lu Yuan chuckled. "I was thinking the same thing."

He could feel that the monk Xuanci was extremely strong. Why not use this as a warm-up before the great battle with those two Holy Sons? The man before him made for a fine opponent, after all.

Lu Yuan clasped his hands behind his back, and his towering golden vital qi erupted, sweeping toward Xuanci like a tsunami.