Above the Netherworld Sea of Blood, Jieyin and Zhunti sat cross-legged on lotus pedestals, majestic, precious light surrounding them and compassion filling their aged faces.
Boundless Buddhist light shone down. The skies above the Netherworld Sea of Blood seemed to have become a Buddha Kingdom, suffused with a sacred aura.
Wronged souls and vicious ghosts flew out of the depths of the Sea of Blood, all ferocity fading from their faces. They became novice monks, chanting Buddhist verses as they emerged into the Buddha Kingdom behind the pair.
"Whoosh..."
A breeze blew past, and both men found it increasingly difficult to maintain their composure.
They had converted plenty of wronged souls and vicious ghosts, but they had not seen so much as a hair of Ancestor Minghe.
He had not even bothered to acknowledge them.
The Sea of Blood churned as before, but in Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes, it seemed to be mocking them in silence.
That made it even harder for the two fellow disciples to save face.
We've already become fucking Sages.
Ancestor Minghe, couldn't you at least come out and see us?
How about showing us a little respect?
If you won't give us any face, how are the two of us supposed to back down gracefully?
"Senior brother."
"Junior brother."
"Mm!"
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance.
In an instant, boundless Buddhist light surged from their bodies, and chanting shook the heavens. The Eight Classes of Celestial Dragons could faintly be seen circling them, Sangharama sang hymns, and countless novice monks chanted Buddhist verses.
Empowered by Jieyin and Zhunti's cultivation as Sages, those countless Buddhist chants became like the chanting of the Great Dao, penetrating the Netherworld Sea of Blood and reaching its deepest depths.
"Om."
"Ma."
"Ni."
"Pad."
"Me."
"Hum."
The Buddhist syllables of