Arrival in Longzhou, the Brocade Cassock

"It seems... the Fourth Seat is missing?"

Atop the white jade steps, the Buddhist disciple looked around. Although everyone was shrouded in a dim, gloomy light, making their specific features unclear,

However, based on factors such as body shape, it is still possible to distinguish who is in which seat.

At this moment, there is clearly an extra person whom no one has ever seen before, yet the Fourth Seat is missing.

All eyes fell on the newlyweds who were gazing intently at the Eight Sceneries Palace.

Kong Shentong sensed something, suppressed the shock in his heart, and bowed to the several shadowy, unfathomable figures:

"Greetings, fellow Daoists."

The All Seats exchanged glances; it was indeed a newcomer, not the Fourth Seat who had simply changed his appearance.

A look of worry appeared on Chen Nuanyu's face. This was only the second time a member had been absent since they entered the Above High Heaven.

Last time, it was the Seventh Seat, and the opponent encountered a great calamity and almost perished!

Could it be the Fourth Seat?

Did it encounter danger, or has it already perished?

All Seats fell silent.

Before the gates of the Dao Palace were even fully opened, the Fifth Seat Buddhist disciple exhaled a soft breath and looked at the newcomer:

"Now that we have a newcomer, let me introduce them."

He briefly explained the general origins of the All Seats: First Seat from the Western Sect, two seats from the Mandala System, and Third Seat from the East Cult.

"I also come from the Mandala lineage."

The Buddhist disciple spoke softly:

"The Sixth Seat, eighth, and Ninth Seat do not come from any particular sect, but the Seventh Seat comes from the Ancient Sage Faction."

"The Ancient Sage Faction?"

Kong Shentong was visibly taken aback, All Seats noticed. Shen Baobao, the seventh attendant, asked curiously:

"Newcomer, are you also from the Ancient Sage Faction?"

Kong Shentong stroked his chin and nodded with a strange expression:

"Nature."

Shen Baobao smiled and said:

"That's quite a coincidence. I never expected to gain another fellow believer in the Above High Heaven. I am currently unknown within the Ancient Sage Faction. May I ask who you are, newcomer?"

Kong Shentong pondered, considering whether to keep the secret completely or not.

Although he was the pope of the Ancient Sage Faction, no one Daoism was—except himself.

Thinking of this, Kong Shentong spoke frankly:

"My status in the Ancient Sage Faction is rather special. Since you are also a member of the Ancient Sage Faction, you can pray to me if you encounter any trouble."

All Seats was taken aback.

Little friend? Pray?

They initially frowned at the newcomer's arrogant tone, addressing the Seventh Seat as a "young friend," but then they all became serious.

The word "prayer" is usually used in relation to deities.

So, another deity has arrived from the Above High Heaven?

The All Seats subconsciously glanced at the mysterious Eighth Seat.

Shen Baobao was visibly taken aback for a moment, when she heard the newcomer continue:

"Of course, when you pray, you should add the words 'heaven' to it, and I will be aware of it."

Shen Baobao licked her lips. Had a high-ranking figure from a religious sect arrived?

An Elder Venerable?

After thinking for a moment, she said frankly:

"Since you've just arrived in the Above High Heaven, you probably don't understand the specifics yet. Neither of us has ever met in reality with our true faces."

After pausing for a moment, Shen Baobao continued:

"If I really encounter trouble and need to ask you for help or pray to you, I would need to know your divine name, otherwise I would expose your true identity."

She was reminding this high-ranking member of the same sect that it was best not to easily reveal his true identity.

After all, he had already been through a major ordeal, being arrested by the Federation —if something like that happened again,

If anyone succumbs to interrogation and also knows the true identities of the other members...

Shen Baobao then emphasized this point, and then said softly:

"To avoid being pursued by the Federation, we must keep each other's identities secret. It's not that we don't trust each other, but just in case."

She had barely finished speaking when she saw the newlyweds smile:

"I see. But it doesn't matter to me. The Federation has been hunting me for tens of thousands of years."

Ha?

How many years?

Even Miss Mingyue was surprised.

Then, they saw the newlyweds bow again:

"As for my prayer name, since you are a member of my faith, when you encounter a life-or-death crisis, you only need to call upon the word '[Pope],' and I will be able to sense it."

All Seats widened their eyes in unison.

Religion???

Shen Baobao's mind went blank for a moment, then she suddenly came to her senses, feeling a tingling sensation on the back of her head, and said in a trembling voice:

"You mean, you are."

Kong Shentong nodded peacefully.

"The leader of the Ancient Sage Faction."

The white jade steps in front of the Dao Palace were deathly silent.

The Buddhist disciple unconsciously rubbed his nose. Chen Nuanyu, Du Mingsheng, and Huang Qiuxian, who had joined the group Above High Heaven, were all in a daze, feeling a sense of unreality.

Six months ago, the sky was just beginning to open.

Six months later, a legendary pope came to the Above High Heaven and stood shoulder to shoulder with them.

Chen Nuanyu's heart pounded violently, and she felt increasingly that everything around her was unreal, as if she were in a dream.

That's a pope!

That terrifying elder of the Western Sect was nothing in front of a pope-level figure.

In dead silence.

The gates of the Dao Palace slowly opened, All Seats snapped out of their daze, remaining silent for a moment. They simply walked side by side into Entering the Dao palace, each shouting in a state of utter confusion:

"Homage to the Boundless Heavenly Venerate!"

Kong Shentong followed suit, quietly observing the figure sitting in the mist, and felt a chill run down his spine.

Merely peering at Him gave me a sense of infinite height and grandeur, as if the person sitting before me was not a person.

It is the Dao, the boundless and vast Dao!

In respectful voice,

The great celestial being, seated in the mist, raised his eyelids, his gaze icy, still trying to discern Shi Zhengyuan's situation.

But He only vaguely saw a radiant robe, nothing more.

The robe blocked all insightful gazes.

Brocade Cassock.

Why did the legendary Brocade Cassock, said to grant immunity from reincarnation, appear beside Shi Zhengyuan?

Zhang Fusheng's mind was racing; was it just a coincidence?

It's such a coincidence!

The Nine-Ringed Zen Staff was in the Old Shi's hand, and now Brocade Cassock had appeared beside him!

Although we don't know exactly what happened, someone has to go on a dragon boat trip.

As thoughts raced,

Zhang Fusheng was multitasking; one part of his mind was controlling the True Person, reciting to Kong Shentong the profound principle of Heaven: "The Way of Heaven is to give to those who lack what is in abundance."

Another part of their mind quietly returned to reality itself.

When He opened His eyes, He realized that this world had become incredibly clear in His mind, and that the many fundamental powers in the world were now completely open to Him, which He could use at will!

Wind, rain, clouds, fog, earthquakes, and mountains moving.

All of this can be contained in a single Imperial Edict. One can even summon the Three Tribulations of wind, fire, and thunder with a single word, Imperial Edict to destroy a small world!

This is the [spiritual Ascension to Divinity].

God is in harmony with Heaven, and uses one's own heart to represent the heart of Heaven.

Zhang Fusheng didn't pay much attention to the changes after breaking through the second mental Great Limit. With a slight thought, Lin Changle's figure appeared out of thin air before his eyes.

The latter was initially bewildered and looked around, then suddenly realized what was happening and quickly bowed.

"Chang Le greets the World Honored One."

Zhang Fusheng nodded, stepped forward, touched Lin Changle's forehead with his hand, and chanted a solemn incantation:

"By my Imperial Edict, you are permitted to travel ten thousand miles in a single step, to be accompanied by Buddha Light as vast as the sea, to possess a majestic and dignified appearance, and to be surrounded by Brahma Chant without fear."

Every word spoken is Imperial Edict from heaven and earth.

Every Imperial Edict from Heaven and Earth came true!

A sea of Buddha Light appeared behind Lin Changle, and the sound of chanting Buddhist Brahma Chant echoed around him.

Although she did not possess a true celestial position, the Guanyin position bestowed upon her by Zhang Fusheng's Imperial Edict was imbued with a halo of Buddha Light.

It actually does resemble the image of the Great Compassion Guanyin Bodhisattva!

"Guanyin," the Buddha spoke, his voice like the morning bell and evening drum.

Lin Changle officiated:

"Chang Le Guanyin is here, listening to the Buddha's Imperial Decree."

Her expression was extremely solemn. Having worked in the Public Security Bureau for several years, she knew that when a "leader" was referred to by their "position" rather than their name, it meant that she had important business to attend to.

Then,

She heard the Buddha say in a low voice:

"I hereby command you to take the Bodhi tree of ten thousand feet, personally travel to the Golden Province, go to Longzhou City, and retrieve the Brocade Cassock and the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff."

Lin Changle nodded in agreement at first, and then cautiously asked:

"Where in Longzhou City should we look for it?"

Zhang Fusheng pondered for a moment and then slowly spoke:

"Go and find the governor of the dragon boat. My boundless Bodhi tree will accompany you. At that time, you will understand what to do."

"Yes, Venerable One."

Lin Changle carefully withdrew from the thatched hut, turned around, and tentatively took a step forward.

With a single step, one finds oneself outside the Other Shore World, having already traversed ten thousand miles.

One after another, divine gazes descended from the heavens.

But from the ocean of Buddha's Buddha Light behind the girl, a Bodhi tree grew tall and majestic, its canopy like a canopy, driving away all gazes that looked down upon it!

"I really travel ten thousand miles in one step," Lin Changle murmured. With another step, he arrived at Jincheng, and with yet another step, he returned to the Golden Province.

Longzhou City.

"What's this?"

In the governor's spacious office, an old man, who appeared only as a silhouette, spoke gently, toying with an ancient-looking token in his hand.

It exudes Immortal Dao Rhyme and is engraved with the two characters [High Heaven].

Before him, Shi Zhengyuan sat in a chair, completely unable to move, staring intently at the illusory figure:

"Put it in."

Shi Zhengyuan spoke with difficulty.

"Do you care about it a lot?"

The old man's illusory figure smiled peacefully, glanced at the calendar, and said calmly:

"It's January 10th. There's only one month left until the appointed time."

Shi Zhengyuan was breathing heavily.

Who exactly are you?

The illusory figure smiled, toying with the High Heaven Token, gazing down at this unremarkable Great Grandmaster with an air of superiority.

"Who am I? I come from the old world, from a time of unparalleled brilliance. I am the ancient one, the destined returnee."

He murmured in a low voice, as loud as a bell, and with a wave of his hand, the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff slowly floated into his grasp.

Shi Zhengyuan struggled desperately, trying to communicate with the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff and the Dragon Boat Buddhist Kingdom.

But it's simply impossible to do that.

This phantom that emerged from the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff so easily stole everything from him.

The Buddha's staff, the Buddha's kingdom, and even the High Heaven Token.

Shi Zhengyuan asked again:

Who exactly are you?

The phantom image maintained an aria-like tone, its voice rising higher:

"In the ancient past, I was the supreme being who roamed the heavens, I was the savior who walked on the earth, I was a person born by divine mandate."

"I once presided over an ancient temple, and I also forged a golden body in the fire."

A bright smile appeared on his face.

Seemingly intoxicated by the joy of returning to the human world, he casually tossed aside the token of unknown origin and carefully stroked the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff.

"The Nine-Ringed Zen Staff bestowed by Buddha Ancestor."

The old man muttered to himself, his eyes practically brimming with excitement!

He didn't actually know why it had to be him.

But Upper Heaven played a cruel joke on him; the old man, who had a general understanding of the current state of affairs, was the one who...

Those once-glorious immortals and Buddhas have all vanished; only I remain, only myself!

"I hold this Nine-Ringed Zen Staff, and my heart is moved."

The old man spoke in a low voice:

"It seems that some event is repeating itself, and this time, I will be the protagonist; I will replace Tang Sanzang."

'Thud!'

A soft knocking sound suddenly echoed in the air, followed by a detached, booming voice. "The heavens have opened; you are permitted to enter for an audience."

Shi Zhengyuan's eyes widened, his breathing quickened, only to see the illusory old man, merely a Soul Spirit, leisurely rise:

"Above High Heaven? What's that? Who's speaking?"

He raised an eyebrow, wearing the Supreme Treasure that had accompanied him on his return.

A robe I had always dreamed of wearing.

The robe itself is woven from ice silkworm silk and adorned with seven precious jewels, including wish-fulfilling jewels and mani jewels, reflecting the principle of the seven treasures' solemnity.

Simply wearing it protects one from all prying eyes; those who wear the robe are not subject to reincarnation, and those who carry the staff are not harmed.

In a sense, the two are one; if this blessing is bestowed upon him, he is destined to become a Buddha!

"To pay homage."

The old man scoffed and spoke coldly:

"In this world today, who can I be granted an audience with? I have returned from the cycle of reincarnation; I am the oldest being of this world. All beings should come and pay homage to me."

"I am—Buddha!"

He sighed softly:

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Shi Zhengyuan's heart pounded and he felt dizzy. He finally understood that the guy who suddenly emerged from the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff seemed to have a terrifyingly powerful background!

The oldest, the supreme being of the old world

Shi Zhengyuan wondered, could such a being be considered a friend of the Great Celestial Venerable?

He then spoke:

"Above High Heaven lies the Celestial Venerable!"

"Celestial Venerable?"

The old man chuckled again. Although he had only been awake for an hour or two, he already understood the situation of this world. He spoke calmly:

"A bunch of petty scoundrels who have usurped the throne dare to call themselves Heavenly Venerables?"

He turned his head and stared at Shi Zhengyuan:

"Now that I have returned, and have received the divine mandate to journey west—this means that Buddha Ancestor has chosen me."

"Do you know the Buddha Ancestor? Do you know the World-Honored Tathagata? No, you know nothing!"

Shi Zhengyuan was stunned again. The World-Honored Tathagata... wasn't that the Great Sound that resounded throughout the world earlier?

He blinked.

The old man was still shouting:

"I am the one chosen by Buddha Ancestor. I wield a Zen staff and wear a cassock. What can these false immortals and false Buddhas of this world do to me?"

He raised his Nine-Ringed Zen Staff high, ready to smash it down on High Heaven Token!

Shi Zhengyuan's eyes were wide with fury, yet he was powerless to do anything about it.

Outside the window, boundless light suddenly surged in like a tide, vast and mighty, blotting out the sky and the sun.

Along with this came the faint, yet continuous, Brahma Chant of Brahma.

"Um?"

The old man, surprised, holding his Nine-Ringed Zen Staff and wearing Brocade Cassock, pushed open the door and looked out through the glass curtain wall.

He saw a vast ocean of Buddha Light, Bodhi Tree reaching to the heavens and the earth, and a dignified woman whose every step brought forth lotus blossoms.

"By the Imperial Decree of the World-Honored One."

The woman, solemn and dignified, chanted Buddhist Brahma Chant:

"We came to obtain the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff and the Brocade Cassock."

The old man stared in disbelief, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, crying out:

"Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

The sea of Buddha's teachings surged, the Bodhi tree remained serene; the woman standing beneath it simply clasped her hands together and sighed:

"World-Honored Tathagata!"

I recommend a promising young book: <People in North America, Creating Urban Legends>

Traveling back to America in 2005, I obtained the "Notes on the Descent of Ghost Stories".

To write rules, create ghost stories, and judge the wicked.