The Jade Emperor smiled faintly. "Flooding has indeed occurred in the mortal realm, but it is not severe. Whether Journey to the West will be completed ahead of schedule depends on your attitude."
The Buddhas were somewhat startled. The flooding in the mortal realm was not severe? They had all heard the roaring waters. The sound had even reached Spirit Mountain. How could it possibly be insignificant?
"Great Heavenly Venerate, could there be some misunderstanding regarding the situation in the mortal realm? With the Sea-Stabilizing Needle damaged, flooding should be breaking out everywhere," Dipankara Buddha asked on Tathagata Buddha's behalf.
"See for yourselves."
After speaking, the Jade Emperor flicked a mirror from his wide sleeve. It hovered above the Hall of Divine Mists.
That mirror was the treasure he used to observe the heavens—the Haotian Mirror.
Images flowed across the mirror. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas fell into a daze. The scene of seawater flooding back onto the land that they had imagined did not appear. Although some places had suffered damage, it was ultimately still within tolerable limits.
Countless long, surging figures weaved through the waters. They were the ones safeguarding the mortal realm.
"The Dragon Clan? The Dragon Clan is controlling the floods?"
Bodhisattva Guanyin looked stunned. The Dragon Clan had taken action—something she had never expected.
"Merit! That merit is merging into the Dragon Clan! That merit belongs to our Buddhist Sect! Damn it, how dare they steal our merit?"
Dipankara Ancient Buddha glared furiously. He saw the immense merit from flood control pouring into the Dragon Clan's destiny. The Dragon Clan's destiny, which had already declined, gradually began to revive under the blessing of that merit. As the flood control continued, their destiny continued to rise.
"Great Heavenly Venerate, why did you issue an edict ordering the