Xuanming and Kunhe Expound Scripture and Dharma, Sichen Crosses the Void on the Great Sun

"Rise and fall of tribulations are changes in the Heavenly Dao."

"Its patterns are chaos itself; few understand them, yet all lie within the Dao."

"Therefore, those of scant virtue yet lofty station, of little wisdom yet grand designs, are rarely spared; calamity is sure to follow."

Above Yanzhou, within that hazy, boundless chaos, a handsome and noble young master wore a smile. The jade-faced folding fan in his hand swayed idly, as though he were laughing, and yet as though he regretted something.

Opposite this noble young master, a young and refined Daoist frowned at him.

The Daoist wore a bamboo crown and a robe of blue hemp. He looked plain and delicate, as though he lacked even the strength to truss a chicken.

"Your Excellency came to Yanzhou without so much as a word. Now that this breach of etiquette has occurred, I truly do not know how I am meant to explain it to my senior brother upon returning."

The handsome young master looked at the refined Daoist before him, who appeared frail and whose every word and gesture carried a certain softness. A trace of mockery flashed through his eyes.

In his eyes, the bamboo crown atop this seemingly weak and powerless Daoist's head was in fact the radiant, gold-inlaid and jade-set Heaven-and-Earth Kun Virtue Crown. The blue hemp robe upon him was likewise the immortal-light-dazzling Yangtai Brocade Garment, embroidered with great sun and dragon patterns.

Above the Daoist's head, where the Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown should have been, hovered an acre-wide celebratory cloud, hung with golden lamps and silver chalices, as well as the Floating Azure Sword Fayin. Behind his head, three layers of Dao wheels—azure, gold, and violet—turned in endless succession. The light of creation, the radiance of merit, and the gleam