Deathless Temple.
The many wondrous, colored lights that had once shrouded the temple had grown considerably sparser, and most of the regularly tended Clarified Butter Lamps had gone out.
The place looked rather like a house whose visitors had all deserted it.
"The Kitchen God Cult, the Iron Clan, and the other Dao Foundation powers are expanding so quickly..."
"By now, they've occupied ninety percent of Xituo Commandery and surrounded our order..."
Miao Shan held a scroll, his face full of worry. "Since the Zeng Clan was destroyed, our order hasn't had a single outside ally..."
He crossed the courtyard, where the monks had visibly dwindled in number, and arrived at the underground palace where Sangji was in seclusion.
Miaofeng Bright Son had aged considerably again. He stared blankly at the black earth gathering on the ground.
Miao Shan's breathing caught.
"He's failed... he's going to fail..."
"Master is going to pass away..."
Miao Feng's face seemed caught between tears and laughter. Curled up in a corner like a dog, he began to whimper. "He... he's going to die..."
"It's been more than twenty years..."
The scripture in Miao Shan's hand fell to the floor. He could not hide his utter desolation. "Miao Feng... Deathless Temple still needs you to hold it up!"
"Haha... once Master passes away, we'll be nothing but discarded pawns! Just discarded pawns!"
"What White Bone Way? What million believers, what ten million people... we're all nothing but dishes on someone else's table! Just waiting for the entire temple to be wiped out!" Miao Feng's eyes were bloodshot. Bulges scurried beneath his monk's robe as though little mice were running everywhere.
"Hah!"
Wisdom Consort Miao Shui came over and was horrified by the sight. Together with Miao Shan, he recited secret incantations, barely managing to suppress