After Modi finished speaking, the Buddhist attendees present were enlightened and their gazes towards Asan changed.
They shared Modi's thoughts, believing Asan had lied.
This was because Modi's reasoning was sound. As a Buddhist Son, no one in the sect except the Sect Master had the authority to command Asan, and this was a fact.
Furthermore, even if Asan were telling the truth, that an elder wished to meet Li Xiaotian, given Li Xiaotian's current influence in Buddhist Prefecture, that elder would surely have considered the conflicts Li Xiaotian's presence in the Buddhist sect would trigger.
To avoid misunderstandings, that elder would have definitely notified their Outer Sect.
Under normal circumstances, when a powerful figure in the sect wished to meet an outsider, it was the responsibility of the Outer Sect to make arrangements, and they would never fail to inform the Outer Sect, allowing the Buddhist Son to handle it personally.
Asan's words had too many loopholes!
"Buddhist Son, please state the identity of that elder! Otherwise, do not blame us for taking action!"
An elder spoke sternly, his tone threatening.
"Buddhist Son, you need to clarify this matter for us. Li Xiaotian's identity is sensitive, and we need to know the truth."
The Buddhist powerhouses present all spoke up, pressing Asan, as they all believed Asan was lying!
"Senior Brother, who exactly is that elder? Just say it, Senior Brother. We only need to send people to confirm, it's such a simple matter, why is Senior Brother stalling? Unless the elder you mentioned doesn't exist at all!"
Modi spoke unhurriedly, filled with excitement. He was certain that Asan had some unspeakable secret with Li Xiaotian, and now that he had stumbled upon it, his opportunity to make a great contribution had arrived.
"Esteemed Elders, please believe this humble monk. I am willing to guarantee with my identity as Buddhist Son that what I say is true, but the identity of that elder truly cannot be revealed."
Asan spoke with sincerity, hoping everyone would believe him.
However, upon hearing his words, the expressions of the dozen or so Buddhist powerhouses present darkened. If Asan wouldn't speak, could it be, as Modi suspected, that none of this was real!
"Senior Brother! You have disappointed this junior brother greatly. For the sake of the sect's rules, this junior brother can only offend you!"
Modi said coldly, then looked at the surrounding Buddhist powerhouses and spoke again.
"Elders, please apprehend Buddhist Son Asan and Li Xiaotian. I suspect Asan has colluded with Li Xiaotian to betray the sect's interests. I will invite the Sect Master to come out of seclusion to personally interrogate this matter! Elders, please proceed. If any elders in the sect blame me for this, I will bear full responsibility!"
When he said the word "elder," Modi deliberately emphasized it, because he knew there was no such elder as Asan had mentioned!
At this moment, he was filled with excitement, feeling that his chance to rise had come. He would soar to great heights, and because of this merit, everyone in the Buddhist sect would know what he had done in this matter, and would also see his wisdom and excellence. At that time, the position of Buddhist Son would surely be his!
And Asan would be trampled under his feet, becoming a stepping stone on his path to success.
"Elder Modi, you are too polite. We act with righteous obligation."
The dozen or so Buddhist powerhouses present spoke in unison, their tones extremely courteous, their gazes filled with admiration for Modi. This undoubtedly boosted Modi's confidence and brought him immense satisfaction.
"Apprehend them!"
Modi waved his hand, with a commanding air.
Boom boom boom!!!
The dozen or so powerhouses each unleashed their auras, joining forces to form a formation. They didn't need to fight Li Xiaotian to the death, as they knew they were no match for him.
However, they only needed to trap him and wait for experts of the second heaven and above to descend. With matters having progressed to this point, there would surely be many experts of the second heaven and above paying attention to this place.
"Li Xiaotian, Asan, if you are sensible, then kneel and confess. Don't think about resisting. This is the Buddhist sect, you two cannot stir up any trouble here!"
Modi shouted loudly, his demeanor imposing and righteous. He then secretly provoked Li Xiaotian with a glance, as if daring him to resist.
As the Buddhist powerhouses approached him, and he could feel a sense of sealing, Li Xiaotian smiled, glancing at Modi. This fellow was quite something.
Unfortunately, from the very beginning of this matter, the opponent had already lost.
"Li Xiaoti, please do not harm them."
Asan said from the side, sighing inwardly, feeling powerless to change the outcome.
Li Xiaotian smiled, allowing the Buddhist powerhouses to set up their formation to trap him. Instead, he looked at Modi and said mockingly.
"You idiot, you know Asan's character very well. Do you think he would betray the Buddhist sect? Would he lie?"
Modi's heart skipped a beat at this. Li Xiaotian had a point here; he did understand Asan quite well, and the latter wouldn't do anything to betray the Buddhist sect.
Could it be that Asan was telling the truth? Modi pondered this, but then quickly dismissed it. Impossible, Asan must have some unspeakable difficulty and deliberately lied, but there was definitely no such elder in the sect to meet Li Xiaotian; he was very sure of this.
Thinking of this, Modi's gaze towards Li Xiaotian instantly filled with rage, and he roared.
"Presumptuous! Li Xiaotian, even now you dare to be disrespectful to this elder! Who gives you the confidence?!"
Having said this, Modi saw that the formation of the sect's powerhouses was about to be completed. His confidence surged, and he looked at Li Xiaotian provocatively, saying.
"Li Xiaotian, if you kneel and apologize to this elder now, perhaps this elder will let you suffer a little less."
"Heh heh, you, you really are an idiot. Don't cry later!"
Li Xiaotian responded with a smile. Just as Modi was about to get angry, Li Xiaotian's aura suddenly erupted, instantly destroying the great formation the Buddhist powerhouses had set up.
"Bold!!"
"Presumptuous!!!"
"Li Xiaotian, you dare to resist?!"
The Buddhist powerhouses present were all enraged. They were shocked by Li Xiaotian's strength and angry at his arrogance.
Modi's expression changed drastically, and he quickly retreated, fearing Li Xiaotian might suddenly attack him. At the same time, he shouted threateningly.
"Li Xiaotian, causing a disturbance in our Buddhist sect and challenging our Buddhist authority, do you know the consequences of doing so?!!!"
But who would have thought that Li Xiaotian would completely ignore him at this moment? Instead, his terrifying pressure once again pressed down on everyone, and he looked up at the sky, speaking.
"Bodhisattva, if you don't appear soon, I won't be able to resist killing them!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Modi and the others were first stunned, and then their minds roared like a thunderclap.
Bodhisattva! Li Xiaotian just mentioned Bodhisattva!!!
In the Buddhist sect, the only one who could be called Bodhisattva was Ananda Bodhisattva!!!
This is impossible!!! Modi looked on in disbelief. He couldn't believe that the elder Asan mentioned was Ananda Bodhisattva. How was this possible?!
Even the Buddhist powerhouses who had attacked Li Xiaotian looked unconvinced. Ananda summoning Li Xiaotian, how could this be possible? It was simply a joke!
But then, a voice rang out, causing all their hearts to sink to the bottom, especially Modi, whose face turned deathly pale, and he completely collapsed. He was finished!
"Alas!"
A sigh echoed through heaven and earth, and then Ananda appeared before everyone out of nowhere.
"Bodhisattva!"
"Greetings, Ananda Bodhisattva!"
At this moment, all the monks and believers of the Outer Sect knelt down in reverence, their faces filled with excitement. Even as members of the Buddhist sect, they rarely had the opportunity to see Ananda Bodhisattva's true appearance.
But only Modi and those elders of the Outer Sect were filled with boundless anxiety, regret, and fear.
"Asan, have you attained enlightenment?"
Ananda looked at Asan, his tone calm.
Asan was stunned for a moment, his expression first one of confusion, then he smiled brightly, clasped his hands together, and said.
"Thank you, Bodhisattva. Asan has attained enlightenment."
"That is good. From now on, the Outer Sect will be under your charge. You should observe more, do more, and think more. The Dharma is boundless, embracing all methods. If you dedicate yourself to studying the Dharma and discard all external things, you will continue on a path of asceticism and never find the true Dharma."
Ananda said, a hint of gentleness flashing in his eyes. Asan's path was misguided, and he had wanted to guide him for a long time, but had never had the opportunity.
Upon hearing Bodhisattva Ananda's words, Modi was filled with regret at this moment, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He knew that all his previous actions had been discovered by the other party.
As for the others, those elders of the Outer Sect, including Modi's followers, now hated Modi to the core. They understood that they had all been implicated by Modi this time.
"Modi, a disciple of the Buddhist sect, possesses an impure Buddha heart and, as the Law Enforcement Elder of the Outer Sect, is unworthy of his position. From today onwards, you are demoted to a menial monk!"
"This disciple accepts the decree."
Modi gritted his teeth and spoke, his face filled with despair. A menial monk, the most humble existence in the sect. He was finished! He would never be able to rise again.
"You, as the elders guarding the Outer Sect, lack the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood and are shallow in your understanding of the Dharma. From today onwards, you are demoted to ordinary monks!"
Ananda looked at the dozen or so elders of the Outer Sect and said.
"We accept the decree."
Everyone responded, their hearts filled with bitterness. Some truly accepted their fate, while others cast venomous glances at Modi.
Being demoted from elder to ordinary monk was a blow that most people could not accept.
Li Xiaotian, standing nearby, couldn't help but click his tongue. With Ananda's appointments, the Outer Sect was effectively crippled, with all its elders punished.
As expected of a supreme expert, his heart was indeed unforgiving! Li Xiaotian thought to himself. He knew that some of those Outer Sect elders were actually fine; they hadn't been instigated by Modi and had no hostility towards him, merely acting according to sect rules. Yet, they were all punished the same.
"You, follow me."
Ananda spoke to Li Xiaotian and took a step forward, a portal appearing before him.
Li Xiaotian quickly followed, his heart filled with trepidation.