The World-Honored One's Chan Assembly!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

As the morning light of the third day pierced the last wisp of night mist that shrouded the Southern Yin Buddha Kingdom and the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm.

This vast territory, which had already transformed into a Buddhist kingdom on earth, was in complete uproar.

It was a profound and almost fanatical jubilation of faith.

From the most remote border villages to the secondary capital city guarding the Spirit Mountain, countless temple bells rang at the same time.

The majestic and solemn sound of the bells, like ripples, layer upon layer, converged into a torrent of sound that shook mountains and rivers.

The Buddhist shrines in front of every household were polished to a shine, and the incense that burned day and night was burning especially brightly at this moment, with wisps of smoke rising straight up as if to connect heaven and earth.

In the streets and alleys, on the ridges of fields and in the mountains, countless believers dressed in plain clothes or ochre-yellow monks' robes, regardless of age or gender, all faced the direction of the Spirit Mountain, prostrated themselves, and devoutly worshipped, chanting praises to the "World-Honored One".

Their willpower was purer and more concentrated than ever before, transforming into a pale golden stream of light that was invisible to the naked eye yet truly real, flowing like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, converging from all directions toward that majestic golden mountain.

The entire Southern Yin Buddha Kingdom was immersed in a solemn and dignified atmosphere, yet also filled with an irrepressible sense of joy and celebration.

The Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm itself is a place of ever-changing beauty.

The boundless Buddha light that enveloped the mountain was no longer as gentle and all-encompassing as before, but had become brilliant and intense, as if billions of suns had been condensed here, illuminating the sky as an eternal golden glaze.

Auspicious clouds surged, displaying seven precious colors, layer upon layer, supporting countless ethereal figures of celestial maidens, flying apsaras, and Vajra warriors.

Holding flower baskets, treasure vases, and musical instruments, they showered down "heavenly flowers" and "Dharma rain" formed from pure vows.

The air echoed with mysterious celestial sounds, sounds that could not be found in the mortal world and that reached directly to the Divine Soul.

The hundreds of golden staircases leading to the "Little Thunderclap Temple" at the mountain's summit are now all connected and open to the public.

Each staircase is hundreds of feet wide and paved with seven treasures, including lapis lazuli, white jade, agate, and broken clam shells.

The steps were as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the strange phenomena in the sky and the figures of the climbers.

On both sides of the steps, every hundred steps there stands a huge guardian deity statue, some are wrathful Vajras, some are compassionate Bodhisattvas, and some are majestic Kings, all of them shining with Baoguang light, exuding a powerful aura of protection and purification.

At this moment, the steps to the heavens were filled with countless figures.

They were all dressed in various colored robes and monastic garments, with emanations of varying sizes and shapes, some solid and some hazy, floating behind their heads —the Arhat!

They come from various Buddhist lineages overseas, and a few, like "Fahai," are successors of ancient schools and outstanding local figures.

The number of people was nearly five hundred.

These Arhat, who are usually scattered throughout the sacred realm, all held the crucial [Spirit Mountain Dharma Invitation] in their hands today, their expressions solemn, and their steps steady.

Following the seven-jeweled heavenly staircase that seemed to lead to the sky, we ascended towards the Little Thunderclap Temple, located above the sea of clouds where the golden light was most intense.

The auras of hundreds of Foundation Establishment True Person converged in one place, climbing together. The invisible interweaving, resonance, and rising energy had already formed a powerful force field capable of altering the celestial phenomena and shaking the earth's veins!

From the mountainside upwards, the already dense and auspicious Buddhist light and clouds of the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm began to spontaneously transform!

Countless Sanskrit characters emerged from the void, converging into long, golden rivers of scripture that stretched across the sky, flowing slowly, each character radiating brilliant light;

Golden lotuses, udumbara flowers, and salvia blossoms suddenly appeared out of nowhere, their petals unfurling and filling the air with a unique fragrance;

The phantom of a celestial dragon meandered and murmured amidst the sea of clouds, the Kalavinka flapped its wings and sang clearly, and the shadows of the eight guardian deities appeared and disappeared.

A series of magnificent, sacred, and unimaginable Buddhist phenomena unfolded like a scroll, covering half of the Spirit Mountain and illuminating the land below with a sacred and glorious light!

In this vast, star-studded, and solemnly Buddhist mountain torrent.

Qi Yun, an avatar of Fahai, dressed in a dark blue monk's robe, walked with composure and had a calm expression.

He was neither as excited and restless as some young Arhat, nor as tense and preoccupied as some mature ones.

He simply walked forward calmly, his aura harmonious and restrained, blending seamlessly with the pure Buddhist atmosphere around him.

The clear, gentle light emanating from behind his head was neither dazzling nor dim, perfectly showcasing the profound knowledge and demeanor befitting a "successor of an ancient lineage."

Among these Arhat, each with their unique form and imposing presence, he appeared so "unremarkable."

Like an ordinary drop of water in a golden ocean, it blends into the grand crowd and the extraordinary scene, going unnoticed.

However, only he himself knew what astonishing transformation was hidden within this seemingly ordinary [Great Radiance Mahasthamaprapta Dharma Body].

The successful condensation of the [Primordial Spirit], though only in its initial stage, has already brought about a tremendous change in the essence of this Dharma Body.

If measured by the orthodox system of enlightenment in the Xuanhuang Realm, the current avatar of Fahai, with its profound foundation, pure Daoist charm, and high level of life, is already comparable to Great True Person who has attained the Two Samadhis!

However, all of this was perfectly concealed by the mystery of the [Primordial True Body] and the unique introverted nature of the [Primordial Spirit], revealing no sharpness whatsoever.

Qi Yun slowly walked upwards, his mind like the most precise compass, calmly sensing everything around him.

Just as he reached a relatively gentle section of the steps flanked by huge stone statues of the Mingwang (myo-o) deity, he was walking towards the top of the steps.

A figure, like a drop of water flowing into a stream, naturally came to his side.

He maintained an almost synchronized climbing pace.

This person was also dressed in an inconspicuous gray monk's robe, with an ordinary face, a peaceful aura, and a dim, hazy halo behind his head. He was the type of person who was easily overlooked among the Arhat.

But the moment he approached, a slight ripple appeared in Qi Yun's calm, still heart.

It was a subtle yet so familiar that it was impossible to mistake it for something else—a sense of origin.

Qi Yun's steps were perfectly steady, without even a glance to the side. He remained facing forward, his gaze calm, as if he were only focused on the steps beneath his feet and the distant Buddha's light.

However, a calm voice, tinged with a sigh of relief as if reuniting after a long separation, clearly rang in his ears. "That year we parted, the smoke of war cleared, and the land changed hands—today, we are reunited here, in this way."

The voice paused, seemingly carrying a faint, almost imperceptible, complex emotion. "Fellow Daoist—how have you been all these years?"

Qi Yun's lips curved upwards in a barely perceptible, extremely faint arc.

He did not turn his head immediately; his gaze remained fixed on the surging auspicious clouds of seven treasures in front of him, as if admiring the magnificent spectacle.

He then responded with equally exquisite telepathic communication, his voice calm yet carrying an undisguised hint of sarcasm. "Thanks to Your Highness, I am still able to survive and have made occasional progress."

But Your Highness—"

He paused slightly, his tone becoming more sarcastic. "Over the years, you seem to have become much thinner and more lonely."

He spoke the words "lonely and widowed" lightly, yet every word was like a needle.

How spirited and confident this Crown Prince was when they clashed back then!

And what about now?

The Southern Yin Dynasty collapsed and transformed into a Buddhist kingdom on earth.

This former crown prince, having lost his country and his family, his once glorious power vanished like smoke. He was forced to live in anonymity, disguising his identity, and hiding in this sacred and perilous Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm. Compared to his former life, his current situation is far more than just "desolate and lonely."

It's like night and day; he's utterly dejected and embarrassed!

Qi Yun's words, seemingly a casual greeting, actually pinpointed the most embarrassing and core pain point of the Crown Prince of Southern Yin's current predicament with unparalleled precision.

Above the celestial steps, the Buddha's light still shone brightly, the extraordinary phenomena remained dazzling, Arhat silently climbed, converging into a golden torrent.

Faced with Qi Yun's undisguised and pointed mockery of his impoverished situation, the Crown Prince of Southern Yin showed no anger or embarrassment on his ordinary face.

He kept his gaze level, looking at the dazzling golden light at the end of the steps that was getting closer and closer, almost piercing the sky. His voice was still steady, even carrying a hint of worldly wisdom and detachment. "Worldly clouds obscure the eyes, and the mortal world blinds the vision."

Fellow Daoist, what you see and hear may not be the whole truth.

He deftly deflected Qi Yun's sarcasm, then smoothly shifted his tone, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "Fellow Daoist, you risked everything, disguised yourself, and infiltrated this impregnable Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm. I suppose—like me, you're not here to listen to Buddhist teachings, but rather for that legendary fortuitous opportunity that even the True Lord would tacitly approve of?"

The tone was not a question, but rather a statement that was almost certain.

Qi Yun remained calm and his pace was steady, as if he were simply climbing with an ordinary fellow practitioner beside him.

He chuckled softly, responding telepathically with a hint of amusement. "Oh? Judging from Your Highness's words, could it be that Your Highness's lurking here, chanting scriptures and reciting Buddhist mantras, is not for the purpose of achieving enlightenment as soon as possible, but rather for some other purpose?"

Does Your Highness also harbor thoughts of that ethereal "above the True Lord"?

He threw the question back at him directly, neither admitting nor denying it.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince of Southern Yin's lips seemed to curve into a very slight smile.

He didn't dwell on the verbal sparring, his voice calming somewhat. "Since we share the same goal, and the road ahead is fraught with peril, right under the noses of True Lord and unpredictable dangers—"

Fellow Daoist, why don't we temporarily set aside our past grievances and cooperate?

"Cooperation?" Qi Yun turned his head this time and glanced quickly at the ordinary-looking "Gray-Robed Arhat" beside him out of the corner of his eye, his eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny.

"Has Your Highness forgotten that during the calamity of that year, you nearly caused my Dao Foundation to crumble and my life to be extinguished?"

If it weren't for some means of self-preservation I had back then, I would probably be nothing but dust by now."

His tone remained calm, but the coldness and aloofness in his words were as clear as the biting wind of December.

Between us, the blood feud remains unresolved, and the old grudges are not yet settled.

In this sacred land of Spirit Mountain, I merely wish to avoid unnecessary complications and attract the attention of the Bodhisattvas. Cooperation?

Does Your Highness believe that there is a basis for such a "joint progress" between us?

The perilous trials and the deadly enmity of those days are not easily forgotten.

If they weren't currently in the heart of Spirit Mountain, where every move they made could attract the attention of unimaginable beings, Qi Yun, with his current cultivation level and temperament, would have already taken action to kill and refine this Crown Prince.

Why waste so much time talking to him?

Faced with the chilling killing intent and blunt rejection in Qi Yun's words, the Crown Prince of Southern Yin seemed to have expected it. He remained silent for a moment, as if weighing his options or making a decision.

He spoke again immediately, his voice soft yet carrying an unprecedented solemnity. "Would you be willing to Dao Oath?"

Dao Oath!

This is a great oath made on the basis of the Dao Foundation.

Once the vow is broken, the Dao heart collapses!

After a pause, without giving Qi Yun much time to think, the Crown Prince of Southern Yin's tone suddenly became sharp. "Fellow Daoist, please believe my words first."

Without my assistance, relying solely on your own planning, you might have been able to glean some secrets from this World-Honored One's Chan Assembly.

But, you absolutely cannot obtain that most crucial benefit—"

Be certain!

Absolutely certain!

On either side of the Heavenly Steps, majestic stone statues of the King of Light stand, looking down upon the ants-like beings climbing the steps.

The auspicious clouds above surged even more violently, with a colossal Buddha figure vaguely rising and falling within them, making the extraordinary signs of the start of the meditation assembly increasingly clear.

Qi Yun's steps were almost imperceptibly slowed by half a beat.

Deep within, the consciousness of the true self is rapidly processing and deducing.

The biggest advantage—what makes him so certain?

Is it a bluff? Or a trap?

Or—did he truly possess top-secret information about the core of the Zen assembly?

A silence lingered between them for several breaths.

Only the solid feel of the seven-jeweled steps beneath my feet and the silent pressure of the vast Buddhist aura surrounding me.

Finally, Qi Yun slowly spoke, his voice revealing no emotion, only a deep, still calm.

"Then Your Highness, please speak first."