Why?
All Ksitigarbha wanted to ask now was one question: why?
Why had his Reincarnation Pagoda somehow become the site where the Dao Sect held its Three Teachings Assembly? They had not even so much as greeted him, the Reincarnation Pagoda Master!
So casually, so naturally, so without a second thought!
Ksitigarbha had been waiting, waiting for the immortals of the Chan and Jie Teachings to all arrive. Then he would step forward and bark at them:
'Get out of my Reincarnation Pagoda!'
Of course, that was only what he thought in his heart. Shouting it aloud would be beneath his dignity.
When the time came, he would merely say, 'Those who are not Orthodox Gods of the Heavenly Dao Sequence may not enter the Reincarnation Pagoda.' It would be logical and well-founded, convincing to all, while also giving the Dao Sect immortals a measured slap in the face.
Just thinking about it was delightful.
And so, Ksitigarbha kept enduring, kept waiting, until the Dao Sect immortals had divided the Reincarnation Pagoda into their respective territories. The Chan Teaching had exerted all its strength and summoned several hundred disciples, while the Jie Teaching, after being urged not to bring too many, had still gathered several thousand immortals...
Li Changshou had not appeared for a long while, supposedly having gone into the Blood Sea to seek the whereabouts of the Red Lotus.
With the most crucial 'lubricant' absent, the atmosphere between the two sides gradually stiffened...
Finally.
Everyone had quieted down? No more immortals were coming?
Very good. Now was the time!
Ksitigarbha narrowed his eyes. Taking advantage of Truth Listener's inattention, he lightly tapped a finger against Truth Listener's forehead, temporarily sealing its mouth.
"Everyone!"
Ksitigarbha slowly rose to his feet. A few traces of a confident smile appeared at