Chengtian Hall.
On the plaza.
All was silent at that moment.
Buddhist light and Dao resonance flowed.
Just then.
The gaunt old monk softly intoned the Buddha's name, his voice like an ancient bell, cleansing the hearts of all who heard it.
"Amitabha. I am Kuhai, and I have come with my disciples, Jin Chan and Burning Lamp, to congratulate Great Xia's new sovereign on his accession and the emperor and empress on their wedding. May Your Majesty receive Heaven's glorious mandate and your dynasty endure. May the emperor and empress sing in harmony like phoenixes, their hearts united for a thousand autumns."
As his words fell, he gently raised his right hand, and the phantom of a golden lotus appeared in his palm.
At its heart rested a glazed sarira the size of a pigeon's egg, its seven colors holding their radiance within.
"This is a Seven-Treasure Glazed Sarira left behind by one of Vajra Temple's eminent monks upon his passing. It can calm the heart, focus the spirit, dispel evil, and drive out demons, offering great benefits to cultivation. On behalf of Vajra Temple, I humbly present it to Your Majesty as a token of our congratulations."
The golden lotus then carried the sarira slowly toward the front of Chengtian Hall. With a solemn expression, Ji Minghao rose and reached out to receive it, and the lotus gently settled into his hand.
As the golden lotus dissolved into specks of golden light, the Seven-Treasure Glazed Sarira fell into his palm.
Its seven-colored radiance withdrew, leaving it looking entirely unremarkable.
But Ji Minghao could feel a gentle, soothing aura spreading from the sarira in his hand. It instantly suffused his entire body, refreshing his spirit.
"Thank you for your generous gift, Master Kuhai," Ji Minghao said, cupping his hands.