New Era, present node.
The various Other Shore Practitioners had crossed the Final Tribulation aboard the Doomsday Ark and arrived in the future, continuing the framework of the previous era. The great trend of Heaven and Earth had not changed much: the Heavenly Court still ruled the age, Buddhism and Daoism contended with one another, and the human and demon races fought without breaking apart.
The only variable worth mentioning was that Sun Wukong and Yang Jian had both attained the Other Shore, stepping ahead of Burning Lamp, Zhen Yuanzi, and the others.
"Heavenly Venerable moved quickly."
Lin Xian sat cross-legged beneath the Heavenly Court's Flat Peach Tree. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the monkey in Jade Void Palace, draped in seventy-two colors and crowned with a perfect halo of light, then could not help but laugh. "I had originally intended to pass the Emperor Throne on to that Monkey."
"A monkey in a crown, nothing more." Heavenly Emperor Fuxi sneered from across from him. "If he truly became the Heavenly Emperor, who knew how much trouble he would cause? In my view, Black Emperor True Martial is far more suitable.
"I have other uses for True Martial."
Lin Xian said unhurriedly, "The Dao Sect has been making considerable moves, but the Buddhist Sect has been quiet lately. Other than the Buddha's reincarnation and return, there has been nothing else."
"The Buddha is ultimately a Half-Step Transcendence figure."
Heavenly Emperor Fuxi fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "He cannot be underestimated. Perhaps he may attain the Other Shore before Yuanshi Tianzun."
"And what of Wa Sovereign?" Lin Xian asked with a faint smile. "The Final Tribulation has passed. The Demon Saint has likely already become an Ancient One, with only that final step remaining."