Gloom and Oppression

Tathagata lowered his head. Even the last glimmer of light in the depths of his eyes seemed to have dimmed, leaving behind nothing but boundless gloom and oppression.

He took a deep breath, suppressed all his surging emotions, and his voice became hollow and obedient.

"This disciple... accepts the Dharma decree. I will certainly do my utmost to restore the progress of the Journey to the West as soon as possible."

At that moment, hurried footsteps and panicked shouts suddenly came from outside the hall.

An Arhat responsible for clearing the outer perimeter stumbled and crawled inside, his face white as paper. With a sobbing tremor in his voice, he dropped to his knees before the Great Powers in the hall and delivered his report in incoherent panic.

"R-report to the Buddha Ancestor! Ancient Buddha! This is bad! The Eight Thousand Zhang... the Eight Thousand Zhang Wish-Fulfilling Corridor... something terrible has happened!"

"What are you panicking for? Speak slowly!"

Ancient Buddha Ran Deng furrowed his brows tightly, the ominous premonition in his heart growing stronger.

Though the Wish-Fulfilling Corridor was not a core combat zone, it was still an important landmark and symbol of Spirit Mountain, gathering the vow power of countless believers and precious materials.

The Arhat gasped for breath, his face full of terror.

"The corridor... the corridor was... was stolen!"

"Stolen? What do you mean?"

Ancient Buddha Ran Deng did not understand at first.

"I mean... the entire corridor, from entrance to exit. All the Seven-Colored Glazed Crystal Bricks laid across the ground, the Star Purple Gold Pillars and Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade Pillars supporting it, the Agarwood Jade Buddha Statues, the Cold Ice Marrow Bodhisattva Statues, those ornamental mountains and spirit stones, the streams of spirit liquid, the Glass Lamps on the roof, the pearls and gemstones