The State Preceptor sneered, "Your words are excessive, Divine Physician. According to your logic, how can I be considered a Buddha?"
Zhu Yanyi pointed to the sky. "I cultivate the Dao, but I know a little about Buddhist cultivation. Since you claim to be a Buddhist cultivator, why not first purify this sky full of black fog?"
The State Preceptor looked at Zhu Yanyi. "Your words are interesting. This black fog is the will of the Heavenly Dao."
"That’s wrong. Shouldn’t you Buddhists call this the will of the Buddha or the Sage?" Zhu Yanyi countered.
The State Preceptor was not angry. He said calmly, "Whether Buddha or Dao, compassion is the same. Whether Heavenly Dao or Buddha, their minds are connected. Naturally, such innate black fog can be resolved by them."
Zhu Yanyi looked at her. "What beautiful words, State Preceptor. But why do you think so?"
"What do you mean?" The State Preceptor frowned slightly, not understanding her point.
Zhu Yanyi said calmly, "You say this black fog is innate. If you have the ability, why can’t you see that this fog is nurturing evil demons? It’s fine if you don’t explain it clearly, because I already understand. You yourself are a demon."
"You lie! Do you know how grave the crime of slandering the State Preceptor is?" The State Preceptor stood up.
The people below looked at Zhu Yanyi with anger in their eyes.
Zhu Yanyi smiled faintly. "Am I slandering you? State Preceptor, others might say this, but you cannot. Although I don’t know what your true form is, I am certain you are not human, but a demon. You are surrounded by black qi. Others cannot see it, but I can see through it. This proves you are an evil demon.
Besides, I am a Daoist cultivator. What benefit would I gain from slandering a mortal State Preceptor? We are from different worlds; there is no such thing as slander. Of course, if you refuse to admit it, that’s fine. I can make you spit out the national fortune you have swallowed."
The State Preceptor still looked compassionate. "Divine Physician, have you made a mistake? I work hard for this country. How could I swallow its national fortune?"
"Demon cultivation involves all sorts of messy tricks. Some swallow human souls, some swallow human luck, and some swallow national fortune. Among these, swallowing national fortune increases cultivation fastest. But the country suffers greatly—endless war, suffering people, and devastation."
Zhu Yanyi clicked her tongue repeatedly, her eyes fixed on the State Preceptor. "You look increasingly upright on the surface. It seems you have swallowed enough human luck to gain the ability to disguise yourself. But human luck is no longer effective enough, so you turned to swallowing national fortune."
Few people believed Zhu Yanyi’s words. After all, the State Preceptor had established her presence in Dayu for many years.
Fu Huai, standing beside the Emperor, suddenly spoke up. "Divine Physician, if you say so, you must have evidence?"
"Evidence?" Zhu Yanyi laughed loudly. "It’s too simple. Just make her reveal her true form."
She flicked her finger, and a powder appeared, falling around the State Preceptor.
"Yao-Inducing Powder?" The State Preceptor was startled and quickly sat in meditation to resist.
The Yao-Inducing Powder forces those affected to reveal their true forms.
"Don’t bother resisting. This powder is specifically prepared for demons like you. Since I am called the Divine Physician, my medical skills are naturally high. Creating high-effect Yao-Inducing Powder is easy. Even if you were at the Void Transformation stage, you couldn’t withstand it, let alone your current Golden Core stage," Zhu Yanyi said insincerely to the meditating State Preceptor.
Sweat poured from the State Preceptor’s forehead. His face kept changing. Although he hadn’t revealed his true form yet, the constant shifting of his facial features terrified the crowd, causing them to flee.
The State Preceptor seemed unable to break free. She opened her eyes, which had turned yellowish-brown, no longer black. She glared at Zhu Yanyi. "I will fight you to the death!"
She waved her kasaya and attacked Zhu Yanyi directly.
Zhu Yanyi shook her head slightly. "A mere Golden Core demon wants to fight me? Are you worthy?"
She flicked her finger, and the State Preceptor was sent flying far away.
However, the State Preceptor seemed to know what was happening. He used the opportunity to perform a Golden Cicada Shell escape. By the time others noticed, only a golden kasaya remained on the ground. The State Preceptor was gone.
"She just slipped away. How boring," Zhu Yanyi raised an eyebrow, though she was not surprised.
Besides, she wanted to know who was behind this State Preceptor.
Zhu Yanyi looked at the sky, deep in thought, when she heard someone gasp. Someone had collapsed on the ground.
Zhu Yanyi frowned slightly, floated down gently, and took the person’s pulse. She sighed. "Listening to this State Preceptor’s teachings gave her your faith, but also took your luck."
She waved her hand, and the collapsed person stopped struggling.
"Divine Physician, what should we do? We can’t just watch everyone suffer," the Emperor said hurriedly.
Zhu Yanyi looked at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, does Dayu believe in Buddhism or Daoism?"
"Both. But in the last twenty years, since the State Preceptor’s appearance, people lean more toward Buddhism," the Emperor admitted honestly. It was Dayu’s faith. As Emperor, he also believed, though he trusted Dao more.
Zhu Yanyi nodded. "Whether Buddha or Dao, they are external religions. Their existence is only to teach people to be kind."
She thought for a moment, then lightly stepped into the air. She formed lotus seals with her hands. A lotus fragrance spread, and the people who had collapsed began to recover slowly.
"What a technique! So powerful," Fu Huai admired from the side.
Xuan Yu Cheng said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the Divine Physician is not a mortal."
"Yes," the Emperor nodded. "The Divine Physician is a visitor from beyond the heavens." she did not specify where she came from.
Zhu Yanyi simply used the lotus seal to save those present. She did not touch the black sky for now. Some people had not been found yet. If she acted, they might hide.
Zhu Yanyi realized she had become somewhat skilled in using schemes. At least this time, she used a scheme.
She did not say Buddhism was better, nor did she say Daoism was better. She was a Heart Cultivator, belonging to the Dao, but she also carried the mission of Buddhism to save the world.