Chapter 276: He's Not a Thief, He's the Saint of Thieves!

Hearing Li Hao's domineering voice, the Buddha's expression remained unchanged, and he still smiled and said:

"Although General Haotian is a noble duke, my Buddhist sect resides outside the halls of power and is not bound by the court's red tape. Moreover, hundreds of years ago, I made great contributions to subduing demons and received the Yu Emperor's 'Demon Subduing Medal of Honor'. Even when facing the emperor, I am exempt from kneeling and bowing."

Li Hao narrowed his eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips as he said:

"Quite an impressive medal, and quite a feat, subduing demons."

"General Haotian, it seems you have some misunderstandings about me," the Buddha said, his eyes gentle and his voice soft. "Why have you come here in such anger? Could it be that you wish to plead for that little thief?"

Li Hao's eyes suddenly flashed with murderous intent as he said coldly:

"He's not a little thief, he's the Saint of Thieves!"

"A thief is a thief," the Buddha smiled. "Bestowing a sacred title upon one is an insult to the saints."

"General Haotian, you should consider your words carefully," the Buddha continued. "Defending a notorious evil thief, even with your illustrious achievements of saving Liangzhou and Qingzhou, will likely bring you infamy. While it may not lead to the loss of your title and rank, the people of the world have sharp eyes. Associating with thieves will bring no good end."

"I thought you would at least be honest, but I never expected your hypocrisy to reach such depths," Li Hao took a step forward, his aura intensifying as his gaze turned icy. "When you captured him, did you not know of our connection? If he wasn't guarding the Tianmen Pass for me, how could you have possibly caught him?"

"You must have anticipated my arrival when you decided on this public execution," Li Hao continued. "There's no need for these pretenses now. Just say it—is this action directed at me, or do you have another motive? If it's about glory and titles, I can give them up. Even without my rank and position, do you think it would be your turn? If you want them, then go and fight for them!"

At this moment, Lin Wuji and the other three Bodhisattvas, who had been pursuing them, finally caught up. Hearing Li Hao's interrogation of the Buddha in the Buddhist hall, their faces turned pale.

Lin Wuji couldn't help but speak up, "General Haotian, mind your words. The Buddha has limitless merit and virtue, and our Buddhist sect has saved countless people. How can you compare that to saving two states? Don't be too arrogan..."

"Get out!"

Li Hao interrupted him with a low, angry rebuke, not even turning his head as he took another step forward.

A powerful force suddenly burst out from behind him, like a heavy punch, knocking the three pursuing Bodhisattvas backwards. They flew out and spat blood once again.

Seeing the three Bodhisattvas injured before him, the Buddha's expression finally lost some of its gentleness, and he said calmly:

"I thought you were just using this thief, but now I see that you are in league with him. You are now cloaked in glory, yet you forget the emperor's grace. You come here to accuse my Buddhist sect for the sake of a thief, trespassing into my Buddhist hall. How can you repay the emperor's grace, and live up to the admiration and trust the people have for you?"

"If I didn't come, I would be betraying the emperor's trust," Li Hao replied. "If I turn a blind eye to a friend's life and death, how could I protect the people?"

"There's no one here besides a few monks from your Buddhist sect. What's the point of putting on a show for me?" Li Hao said coldly. "Don't your Bodhisattvas know what's going on? Are you performing for them?"

"General Haotian, your insults to my Buddhist sect are too much. Even as a duke, you cannot escape blame. I will personally report your transgressions to the emperor!" The Buddha said in a solemn tone.

"Go ahead if you must," Li Hao said. "I came here today to see my friend. Where is he?"

Li Hao stared at him, only holding back because he was concerned about Feng Lao, who was still in the other party's hands.

The Buddha remained calm and said, "It seems you are truly stubborn and refuse to see reason. Are you truly willing to side with a thief and make an enemy of my Buddhist sect, and of the people of the world?"

"Don't bring up the people at every turn as if your Buddhist sect deserves to be mentioned in the same breath," Li Hao said. "In a state with hundreds of cities, there's a Buddhist hall in every city, but how many temples do you have in the towns and villages beyond? If you truly had limitless merit, I wouldn't say a word. But you sit atop this high platform, observing the world's suffering, yet where were you when Liangzhou was under attack? And where were you when Qingzhou was invaded?"

"Yes, where were you when Liangzhou was under attack, and where were you when Qingzhou was invaded?" Li Hao continued, his anger rising. "You say Liangzhou is too far, but Qingzhou is right before your eyes. Where were you then?"

"If, as you say, Liangzhou was under attack and the emperor was nowhere to be found, and Qingzhou was invaded and the emperor was absent, what does that tell you?" the Buddha asked calmly. "We sit atop this platform, observing the world and engaging in a grand game with the demons lurking in the shadows. If a state's border is in danger, and the soldiers from ten other states rush to its aid, is that bravery? We each have our responsibilities. Mount Wuliangshan protects a radius of five hundred li, keeping the demons at bay. Isn't that because I sit here?"

Li Hao scoffed, "No need to make excuses. What you say may sound reasonable, but only you know if you've truly fulfilled your duties. Words can deceive others, but they cannot deceive your own heart! You are the revered Great Harmony Realm Master, even touted as the strongest beneath enlightenment. Yet you couldn't deter those two great demon forces?"

"Mount Wuliangshan is at the border of Qingzhou, and Qingzhou also has the Divine General's Mansion," Li Hao continued. "Yet the Dragon Gate and the Saint Palace dared to launch a large-scale attack, sweeping through after breaking through the border. Why weren't they afraid of Mount Wuliangshan taking action?"

"You saw it yourself," the Buddha said indifferently. "They had the support of the Wild God, so naturally, they didn't need to worry."

"But that Wild God only intervened very reluctantly," Li Hao sneered. "They never intended to expose themselves in Qingzhou. So, are you saying you anticipated the presence of the two Wild God incarnations beforehand, and that's why you didn't take action? Did you at least warn the Li family?"

"Of course, I sent people to remind them," the Buddha replied. "But by the time I realized what was happening, Qingzhou had already fallen. The battle was complex, and the disciples I sent seemed to have been drawn into the demon's lair and have gone missing."

Li Hao said, "Spare me your preaching. Bring out Feng Laoman immediately, or I won't hesitate to make your Buddhist sect 'transcend' as well!"

"General Haotian, are you truly willing to sink into the sea of suffering and never turn back? What will the world think of you after today's events?" The Buddha stared at Li Hao.

Li Hao, however, saw a hint of hidden indifference in the other's calm eyes, an indifference that seemed to mock him, as if his actions had played right into the Buddha's hands.

He knew that by taking this step, the merits he had gained might be stained, but he didn't care.

What puzzled him was why the Buddha was so adamant, trying to smear him through Feng Lao's hand.

"The judgment of the world will only be known after hundreds of years. What does it matter to you if they see through your intentions?" Li Hao said, his eyes icy cold. "Release him now!"

The Buddha looked at him calmly and nodded slightly. Then, in a loud voice, he said, "Puji Bodhisattva, go and bring that little thief here. Let the noblemen see how General Haotian is trying to save this thief."

"Yes."

A Buddhist chant echoed from outside the hall, followed by the rapid disappearance of one of the Bodhisattvas' auras.

Hearing the Buddha's words, Li Hao's eyes turned cold. This move was clearly aimed at him, and the Buddha had even anticipated that he would rush here as soon as he received the news. He had come as fast as he could, but there were already noblemen present, indicating that they had been invited before the news was made public.

"Why go to such lengths to tarnish my reputation? What do you hope to gain?" Li Hao asked.

If the Buddha sought fame, he wouldn't stand in his way, but why go to such great lengths? Li Hao felt a twinge of curiosity.

The Buddha replied calmly, "If I had known earlier of your exceptional talent, I would have sent Pu Xian Bodhisattva to invite you to join my sect and accept you as my disciple. Unfortunately, you were too clever and hid your talents well from a young age."

Li Hao sneered, "Spare me the flattery. If you hadn't disguised your intentions better, your Buddhist sect might have sent someone to assassinate me under the pretext of paying a visit."

"Moreover," Li Hao continued, "when I was not even two years old, you gave that poisonous Waste God Blood Poison Pill to that poisonous woman. You had already chosen your target, and that foolish woman might have only had a fleeting thought, but you guided her to commit such a stupid act. Was your goal to have Li Qianfeng inherit the true dragon of the Li family and thus control the Li family?"

With his current perspective and insight, Li Hao saw more clearly the dangers lurking in Wuliang Mountain.

The poison pill had come from Wuliang Mountain, and Li Qianfeng had also become a disciple of Wuliang Mountain. The intentions of the Buddhist sect were clear as day.

"It's just about riding the coattails of the Li family's influence. Now that you have withdrawn from the family, no one can stop Li Qianfeng from becoming the true dragon anyway," the Buddha said indifferently, his face no longer bearing the previous gentleness and compassion. It seemed he no longer felt the need to hide his true nature.

A cold smile played on Li Hao's lips as he thought to himself that the Buddha had also calculated Li Qianfeng's rise to power.

"There's just one thing I don't understand," Li Hao said. "Why did you choose to poison me instead of someone else? Was it because I was an easier target, being watched by my parents? Or did you confirm that the others didn't have the God Blood in their bodies and wouldn't pose an obstacle?"

"Of course, it was because you are the only one with the God Blood," the Buddha replied. "The cultivation talents of the other children, except for those who have already perished, are inferior to their father, Li Tiangang. He hid this information, but he couldn't hide it from my eyes."

The Buddha looked down at Li Hao with a calm expression.

Li Hao immediately understood the meaning behind the Buddha's gaze—all of this had been orchestrated by the Buddha before him.

Informing Liuyue Rong that he possessed God Blood, thus posing a threat to her son.

Using the poison pill to lure her into taking action, manipulating her like a pawn.

Li Hao's eyes filled with killing intent, but he restrained himself. He stared at the Buddha, knowing that Feng Lao was bait to lure him here, and now the Buddha was deliberately provoking him to make a move.

What would be the downside of taking action? Although the Buddhist sect was a force in the martial arts world, it also had ties to the imperial court. With his current identity, if he acted without cause, he would undoubtedly face consequences.

Was the Buddha trying to use the power of the court to bring charges against him, or was he trying to create a rift between him and the Great Yu Dynasty?

If they were to split...

Demons, the Buddhist sect... Li Hao's eyes turned cold as he locked gazes with the Buddha, whose calm eyes met his without flinching.

Their eyes seemed to see through each other's thoughts.