Chapter 2641

"Immortal Emperor, Yan Emperor, Yan Empress, Buddha… what is all this?" Lu Huoyan stood frozen, his mind blank with confusion.

Inside the barrier, the Buddha did not reveal his true form. He remained as he had been upon arrival: a middle-aged man with a kind, gentle face.

Except for Lu Huoyan, who dared not move and stood respectfully to the side, the other four sat down.

Zhu Yanyi casually produced a set of tea ware and began to brew tea on the spot. She used water from the Spirit Spring. As soon as the tea was ready, a faint, refreshing lotus fragrance drifted into the air.

"I haven't seen you brew this tea before," the Immortal Emperor said with curiosity.

Zhu Yanyi smiled. "This is Buddha Tea. I stir-fried it using Buddha Lotus flowers. You rarely drink Buddha Tea, but since the Buddha is here today, I thought we could calm our minds and share a cup. Don't worry, drinking it won't make you go to the West to become a monk."

The Immortal Emperor did not hesitate. Once Zhu Yanyi finished brewing, she took a sip and nodded slightly. "It is very light, but it carries a sense of Zen."

"It is called Buddha Tea," Zhu Yanyi laughed softly. "Why are you surprised?"

She then turned to the Buddha. "The Buddha is our honored guest from afar. Please, taste it."

The Buddha did not stand on ceremony. He picked up the teacup, tasted it, and sighed. "Good tea. It would be wonderful if one could drink this often."

"All things in the world grow naturally. If the Buddha wishes to find this lotus tea, it is not difficult," Zhu Yanyi said, still smiling. She then took out a small porcelain jar. "There is only half a jin here. I give it to the Buddha as a gift."

The Buddha accepted it without hesitation. "Since I have taken your tea, I cannot take it for nothing."

The Buddha swept his hand across the stone table. A Buddha bead, the size of a fist, appeared on the table. "This bead has accompanied me for many years and carries some of my aura. It will be useful for the Yan Empress. Perhaps it can help convert a few souls."

Zhu Yanyi did not reach for it immediately. Instead, Yan Aohan spoke up. "Buddha, you are always compassionate. Why are you playing tricks today? It is better to speak directly so that we do not misunderstand."

Hearing Yan Aohan’s words, the Buddha paused briefly before speaking. "Since you insist, I will say it plainly. It is a simple matter. The Yan Empress is recognized as the 'Medical Buddha Woman.' 'Medical' represents your Eastern Daoist cultivation, while 'Buddha' represents our Western Buddhist cultivation. Furthermore, as the Empress of the Underworld, she represents three factions alone."

The Immortal Emperor and the Yan Emperor and Empress watched the Buddha, listening intently.

The Buddha looked at Zhu Yanyi and continued. "As the Empress of the Underworld, she cultivates medicinal herbs, improves Meng Po’s Soup, and uses acupuncture to treat souls in the Underworld. She is doing her duty very well." She glanced at the modern world. "As a Daoist cultivator, her medical skills have spread rapidly. From the mortal realm to the Immortal Realm, she gained karmic merit by mending the sky and ascended smoothly. She has achieved rare feats in the Immortal Realm. However, in the Buddhist Realm, she only did a little bit of work in the Tibetan regions of the mortal world. She has done nothing else. This does not fit the title of 'Medical Buddha Woman.'"

"So, you want to take back the 'Buddha' part of her title? That is fine," Yan Aohan said with a playful smile.

A trace of helplessness flashed in the Buddha’s kind eyes. "Yan Emperor, you know I do not mean that. The Buddha says all beings are equal. I came because the Yan Empress is already handling matters in the Immortal Realm and the Underworld. I hope she can also help with some matters in the Buddhist Realm."

"So…" A knowing smile appeared on Yan Aohan’s lips.

The Buddha remained calm. "The Evil Buddha of the Evil Buddha Realm was originally a Bodhi tree I planted at my door. This tree could have been born normally in the Buddhist Realm. However, due to a novice monk’s carelessness, a blood-stained axe chopped into the tree, affecting its nature. It was born with too much killing intent. I exiled it, hoping it would purify that killing intent and return. Instead, it could not let go and created the Evil Buddha Realm on its own. This is a karmic debt owed by the Buddhist Realm. We cannot simply destroy it. Although its actions are irregular, it has not committed great evil, so I cannot suppress it by force. Therefore, I hope the Yan Empress can convert this Evil Buddha and help him return to his true nature."

Hearing this, Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "Buddha, you must have other reasons for coming to me. Otherwise, with your three thousand disciples, sending someone to deal with the Evil Buddha would not be a difficult task."

The Buddha replied, "The Yan Empress is correct. Although I have many disciples, none possess the ability to purify. Therefore, only the Yan Empress can do this. She has the power of purification. She can even purify souls, let alone a person. For the Yan Empress, this is a small matter."

"I say, Buddha," the Immortal Emperor said, taking a sip of tea. "You cannot calculate the Yan Empress like this. Besides, using just one Buddha bead as payment for her help seems inappropriate."

The Buddha smiled. "The Yan Empress herself carries the heritage of both Daoism and Buddhism. Doing this is her duty."

"That may be true. But in the Underworld, she is the Yan Empress. In the Immortal Realm, she is an Immortal Venerable and the Sect Master of the Azure Sovereign Sect. I wonder what her status is in the Buddhist Realm? What use is the title of 'Buddha Woman'?" the Immortal Emperor asked, looking at the Buddha.

The Buddha looked at the Immortal Emperor. "What is the Immortal Emperor’s suggestion?"

"This matter depends on the Yan Emperor," the Immortal Emperor said, not giving a direct answer. He was merely offering an opportunity.

Yan Aohan had known the Immortal Emperor for many years and understood the meaning behind his words. He smiled. "It is simple. I remember there is a small secret realm in the Buddhist Realm called the Amituo Realm. How about letting my wife go there?"

The Buddha looked at the Yan Emperor and the Immortal Emperor, closed his eyes slightly, and seemed to be thinking. Time passed second by second. After about two minutes, he said, "Yan Emperor, you are very calculating."

Hearing this, Yan Aohan knew the deal was done. However, she still needed to speak elegantly. "Buddha, my wife is a Buddha Woman, but this is the lowest rank in your Buddhist Realm. Based on her karmic merit from past and present lives, she could easily become a Bodhisattva or at least a Messenger. I have not even asked you for this status or position. Why not let the Amituo Realm test her?"

The Buddha smiled. "Although I know these are polite words, they are also true. Very well, let us do as you say. I promise to let the Yan Empress enter the Amituo Realm."