Zhixin clasped his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, then said, “Shichan, before we came here, we received an instruction from the abbot. The abbot said that no matter what, we must give you a chance. So we are giving you this chance to leave. If you leave now, then the mistake you made today can still be redeemed, and the Buddhist disciples will not hold it against you. But if you insist on not leaving and want to protect this evil fox, then no one can protect you!”

Shi Chan remained silent, his expression one of great difficulty, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

He was not afraid of making an enemy of the entire Buddhist community in the Central Plains, but he was afraid of disappointing his most respected senior brother.

Shi Chan remained silent, and Liu Li also kept quiet. She simply stared intently at his expression, waiting to see what he would choose.

Zhi Shang waited for a long time but received no reply from Shi Chan. His face grew increasingly grim. He sternly rebuked, "Shi Chan, how can your behavior be worthy of your master's earnest teachings?! And your senior brother Shi Ning, before coming here, repeatedly instructed me to persuade you to turn back, to wake up and not be bewitched by this evil fox! Shi Chan, how can you live up to your senior brother's high expectations?!"

Shi Chan's expression changed again, and his gaze became even more sorrowful.

Looking at his expression, Liuli felt a pang of heartache. She recalled what she had seen in the memory illusion: the entire process of Bailing growing up after being taken away by Zen Master Daming. She had witnessed Shi Ning's doting affection and patient guidance of Shi Chan, and she could roughly understand Shi Chan's feelings for Shi Ning—it must have been like that of a brother and a father.

How could she bear to see him in such a predicament? She knew he wouldn't give up on her, but she also knew he certainly didn't want to disappoint his most respected senior brother.

Liuli lowered her eyes, and tried to pull her hand away from his, but he suddenly tightened his grip on her small hand.

Liuli looked up instantly and saw his profile, where his expression was resolute.

Shi Chan gripped Liuli's small hand tightly, his voice firm, and said in a deep voice, "Please forgive me, my two senior uncles, Shi Chan will not leave!"

Liuli suddenly smiled. She looked at his profile and smiled, her eyes widening with joy.

Yu Xin and Ge Yiyuan, standing to the side, exchanged surprised glances as they looked at Liu Li's smiling face.

Zhi Shang, however, was furious. He shouted in a deep voice, "Shi Chan, this is your own choice. Don't regret it! From this day forward, even if you manage to escape this formation, the entire Buddhist community of the Central Plains will regard you as an enemy. My disciples of Bodhi Temple will spare no effort and disregard all consequences to take back your cultivation and expel you from the Buddhist community completely! Our Buddhist community will no longer tolerate you!"

Shi Chan's body trembled slightly, and he lowered his head deeply, his face filled with extreme sorrow.

Liuli felt deeply sorry for his sorrow. She held his hand tightly and looked at him with tenderness and affection.

When Shi Chan turned to look at her, most of the sorrow in his heart dissipated. If she could return to her former self, that would be the greatest comfort and joy for him; what else mattered?

Shi Chan smiled gently at Liuli, then stepped forward to protect her behind him, his gaze fixed firmly on all the Buddhist disciples, including Zhixin and Zhishang.

Seeing his actions, Zhi Shang grew even angrier. He roared, "All Buddhist disciples, listen to my command! Kill this vile fox! Anyone who dares to stop you, kill them all!"

"Yes!" The more than a thousand Buddhist disciples all had angry expressions, and their voices, filled with righteous indignation, were exceptionally unified.

Looking at the numerous Buddhist disciples who had drawn their weapons, including the two Bodhi Temple elders whose cultivation was in the late stage of Nirvana, Shi Chan showed no fear whatsoever.