The planet was enormous. Most of the Gold Soul Clan members were scattered across its lands, managing other tribes. Following Qi Tian's instructions, they guided the tribespeople in establishing city-states and spreading civilization and faith.
After decades of development, nearly all adult members of the Gold Soul Clan, apart from the children, had condensed a "Six-sided Golden Crystal" and gained the ability to fly.
Even so, it still took quite some time to fly back to the Gold Soul Clan Sacred Land from the far reaches of the planet.
While they waited, Qi Tian also thought about what names or nicknames to give the three of them. After all, they were now his top men, and the names they used were far too casual.
"Jin Shi, Iron Hand, Mulberry Leaf," Qi Tian said.
"Buddha Lord." Hearing Qi Tian speak, the three tensed up and promptly answered in unison.
"As the bloodline responsible for carrying on an entire race, we need to settle on a surname," Qi Tian continued. "I named myself Qi Tian. You all share the bloodline of my Gold Soul Clan, so you should take the surname Qi."
The three exchanged glances. They didn't understand the word "surname," so Jin Shi asked on their behalf.
"Buddha Lord, what does 'surname' mean? Is it a name?"
Qi Tian shook his head. "A surname is a sign and symbol that identifies a person's family lineage. For example, we of the Gold Soul Clan can choose our own given names, but we need a shared character to serve as our marker. That's our surname."
"And I chose the character Qi. So the Gold Soul Clan will use Qi as its marker, or surname. You should be called Qi Jin Shi, Qi Iron Hand, and Qi Mulberry Leaf."
The three understood. It was just like a tribe's totem, a symbol of the tribe and its people.
"We will follow the Buddha Lord's wishes. From now on, our surname will be Qi."
Jin Shi spoke first, and Iron Hand and Mulberry Leaf quickly voiced their agreement as well.
Seeing that all three agreed, Qi Tian nodded and continued, "The names I gave you back then were too casual. How about I give you new names?"
He had been worried that they might object. They had used those names for decades, and a sudden change could take some getting used to. Besides, their fathers had chosen their names.
But as soon as he finished speaking, the three respectfully standing before him dropped to their knees again, their faces filled with excitement, as if they'd just received the greatest blessing.
"Jin Shi (Iron Hand) (Mulberry Leaf) thanks the Buddha Lord for bestowing a name."
Qi Tian was the one left baffled. Why were they reacting so strongly to a name change?
"Get up. I haven't even thought of the names yet."
At Qi Tian's words, the three hurried back to their feet, their faces alight with joy.
The Buddha Lord was giving them names. Since receiving the Gold Peach's blessing decades ago, this was the first time the three had once again earned his favor.
Within a tribe, it was the elders who chose names. Now that the Buddha Lord was willing to give them new names and a surname, it meant he regarded them as elders would. At least, that was how the three saw it.
After a moment's thought, Qi Tian came up with their new names. "First, Jin Shi. How about changing yours to Jingshi—Qi Jingshi—meaning 'purify the world'?"
"Jingshi, Qi Jingshi..."
Jin Shi repeated it twice, delight showing in his eyes. He hurriedly thanked Qi Tian. "Thank you, Buddha Lord, for bestowing a name."
Under Qi Tian's guidance, civilization on this planet had only just begun to take root. They had not yet created a written language, so this was the first time Jin Shi had learned what a name meant.
Qi Tian had considered bringing Chinese characters into this world, but in the end, he decided against it.
A civilization needed its own thinkers. He could guide them, but he could not take their place.
No matter how difficult the process might be, Qi Tian firmly believed the people of this planet could make something of themselves.
Next was Iron Hand. Qi Tian didn't take long to rename him Tian Shou. Finally, he changed Mulberry Leaf's name to Shang Xie.
With their new names, the three felt their attitude toward Qi Tian shift a little.
At first, they had thought Qi Tian was a god! The Buddha Lord!
He had saved them from suffering and become the guiding light leading their race forward.
But after decades of interacting with him, they had learned that Qi Tian had emotions too. Sometimes, just like an ordinary person, he would talk with them about family.
Now, after Qi Tian had given them new names, they felt he was an elder who watched over them as they grew.
While Qi Tian waited for the Gold Soul Clan members to gather, something strange happened again in a distant stretch of space far from Gold Soul Planet, in the same region where Zuoshanke had first appeared.
The once-silent space began rippling like waves on water. At the same time, a bright black, flying-saucer-shaped spacecraft appeared out of nowhere.
The wave-like spatial ripples then vanished. The spacecraft hovered in space, with only a few indicator lights blinking incessantly.
In the spacecraft's main control room, a human sat in the captain's chair, dressed in a black combat suit. His exposed skin was green, and two soft antennae sprouted from his head.
Four crew members stood by the control panels below him. All five looked very similar, as though they belonged to the same race.
"Captain, the spacecraft has reached the vicinity of our destination. Please issue new orders."
The captain gave a slight nod and took a stone-disc-shaped object from his Space Ring. Its back was uneven, like rock, while its front was smooth as a mirror.
After the captain channeled a great deal of Origin Force into the disc, a star map appeared on its smooth face, marking the spacecraft's location and another point in red.
"Coordinates XXX.XXX.XXX. Continue forward. Space is locked down here, so we'll have to fly normally for the rest of the journey. We must arrive within 121 days."
"Yes, sir."
The crew acknowledged the captain's new orders. The spacecraft's engines started again, and it sped toward the designated coordinates at near-light speed.
That route would take it past Gold Soul Planet.
Inside the Gold Soul Clan Sacred Hall.
After several hours of waiting, all ten thousand or so members of the Gold Soul Clan had arrived at the Sacred Hall, including many babies held in their parents' arms.
They all stood below the altar. At their head stood Stone, the current leader of the Gold Soul Clan. Everyone waited for the Buddha Lord, Qi Tian, to appear.
On the altar, Qi Tian walked a few steps forward and stood at its edge. Looking at the Gold Soul Clan members he had created, who carried on his bloodline, he smiled.
When a figure appeared on the altar, everyone gazed up at the four figures with excitement. But all eyes focused on Qi Tian, who stood at the front.
Then Qi Jingshi, Qi Tian Shou, and Qi Shang Xie flew down from the altar and hovered before the crowd. They led the ten thousand members of the clan in bowing to Qi Tian.
"Greetings, Buddha Lord."
"Greetings, Buddha Lord."
The ten thousand Gold Soul Clan members bowed in heartfelt reverence. Their voices resounded throughout the entire Gold Soul Clan Sacred Land, and their faith reached its peak.
Before you continue