[Buddha-Heart Lamp Transmission] Wu Song Imbued with Spiritual Power; [Emergency Circlet] Successfully Developed! (Continued)

"Why are there five hundred and one statues when we count them?"

Lin Chen smiled slightly and explained:

"That extra one naturally represents the Living Buddha Ji Gong standing beside us."

Everyone smiled knowingly at that.

Yet Ji Gong, standing at the very front, had lost all trace of a smile.

The face that usually wore a roguish grin was now tightly furrowed.

"Something's wrong..."

Ji Gong murmured to himself. He strode into the midst of the arhat statues, his gaze sweeping across them one by one.

"There's... no fallen arhat statue of mine here! Where is this monk's Dragon Subduing Arhat statue?"

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere froze.

That was right. According to legend, when Ji Gong was born, the Dragon Subduing Arhat statue that belonged to him should have toppled over.

Yet now, all five hundred and one divine statues sat upright and straight. Where was there any sign of one having fallen?

Could someone have helped the statue back up?

Zhang Shun scratched his head and asked tentatively:

"Master Ji Gong, could it be that some devout believer in later generations couldn't bear to see a Buddhist statue lying on the ground and losing its dignity?"

"So they took it upon themselves to help it up and set it straight again?"

"Impossible!" Ji Gong shook his head without hesitation, his voice utterly certain.

"Before the Buddha nature returns to its proper place, when a divine statue has lost its master, even if it lies fallen on the ground, it cannot simply be helped back up. The Buddhist path places the greatest emphasis on karma and destined affinities. Only when this monk returns in person can it be restored to its rightful place."

Ji Gong's expression became more serious and anxious than ever before. He clenched