“…Since the Buddhist confrontation, Xu Yinluo established Mahayana Buddhism, and its principles have spread throughout the Western Regions, enlightening the people’s wisdom with remarkable effectiveness. Millions in the Western Regions now follow Mahayana Buddhism, which greatly pleases Us.

“Mahayana Buddhism originated from the Central Plains; how can the Central Plains abandon it? We wish to welcome back Mahayana Buddhism to educate all people. Du’e Arhat, who was enlightened by Xu Yinluo’s Buddhism, possesses profound Buddhist wisdom. His willingness to pledge allegiance to the court is a blessing for the Central Plains people.

“We hereby bestow upon Du’e Arhat the title of Imperial Preceptor and establish Mahayana Buddhism as the state religion…

“By Imperial Decree!”

The Hall of Supreme Harmony fell into complete silence.

The middle-aged palace eunuch looked toward the hall’s entrance and announced loudly:

“Du’e Arhat, come forth and receive the imperial edict.”

Outside the hall, Du’e Arhat, wearing a red and yellow kasaya, slowly entered. He walked across the crimson carpet between the assembled officials.

The officials exchanged glances, communicating silently. Some appeared confused, others bewildered, and some frowned, but none stepped forward to object.

Their first realization was that His Majesty intended to win over Du’e Arhat.

Establishing Mahayana Buddhism as the state religion and appointing him as Imperial Preceptor was such generous treatment that it essentially helped Du’e Arhat break away from the Western Regions’ Buddhism, establishing his own sect and becoming the “Buddha” of Central Plains Buddhism.

The officials then began contemplating the potential consequences of establishing Mahayana Buddhism as the state religion and the resulting changes in court dynamics.

Yet still, no one stepped forward to object.

First, Buddhist monks had no right to interfere in politics, which eliminated the most important conflict of interest.

Second, the defection of a second-rank Arhat would significantly weaken the Buddhist sect’s fighting power, which was all benefit and no harm to the current Great Feng dynasty.

The strategy was to win him over first; suppressing him would come later.

As scholars who navigated the imperial court, they were most adept at such schemes.

Du’e came before the imperial throne, pressed his palms together, and said:

“I thank Your Majesty!”

He calmly accepted the imperial edict.

The moment he received it, the fruit of attainment appeared behind his head, radiating boundless Buddhist light. Sacred chants echoed through the void, resonating throughout the great hall and in the officials’ ears.

Du’e’s entire being seemed as if cast in gold, radiating brilliant light.

In Huaiqing’s eyes, powerful streams of fortune circled Du’e, clinging to his fruit of attainment, yet not entering his body!

…

In the Western Regions!

Waves of “vitalization” surged forward like the sea, advancing layer by layer. Wherever they passed, the earth was given life, mountains, and rivers were given life, and city walls were given life, while living beings dissolved away, merging into the rules of nature.

The Buddha’s body had transformed into mountains and earth. His consciousness extended and expanded along with his physical form, merging into the laws of heaven and earth, becoming part of those laws while retaining his memories.

In a sense, He had indeed refined the entire Western Region, incorporating all its fortune into the Buddhist sect, using this as a foundation to absorb the laws of heaven and earth in this part of the Western Region.

Without interference, He would continue to spread and expand until He had transformed the entire Western Region into Himself.

But at this moment, massive streams of fortune departed from Him, forcibly extracted from His body, floating toward the Central Plains in the east.

The Buddha’s rate of expansion instantly slowed, then gradually stopped. He could no longer assimilate heaven and earth, replacing its laws.

His expanding momentum halted as if He had lost His strength.

Of course, given His rank, He could still forcibly devour the laws of heaven and earth and continue, but without the protection of fortune, or rather, without fortune as a credential, the only outcome of continuing would be to follow in the Dao Ancestor’s footsteps.

To be assimilated by the laws of heaven and earth, losing oneself.

After a brief silence, the Western Regions’ earth began to shake violently, like an earthquake spanning ten thousand li.

Cracks hundreds of zhang wide split open, lined with dense rows of bone-white teeth.

The earth had grown mouths.

These mouths issued the same roar:

“Mahayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism…”

Alantuo, this sacred city, split open its giant mouth and released a roar that shook heaven and earth:

“Mahayana Buddhism…”

The monks on the sacred mountain prostrated themselves in terror, trembling.

Mahayana Buddhism… The three Bodhisattvas—Jialuo Tree, Guangxian, and Liuli—felt their hearts tighten. They each closed their eyes, seemingly sensing something or communicating with someone.

Shortly after, the three opened their eyes, understanding the cause. Their expressions instantly darkened as they gnashed their teeth:

“Du’e has established Mahayana Buddhism in the Central Plains!”

Mahayana Buddhism had taken away part of the Buddhist sect’s fortune.

At this critical moment, Mahayana Buddhism had become a stumbling block preventing the Buddha from becoming the Western Regions.

“I should have crushed his unrealistic dreams back then, or let Guangxian send him to reincarnation.”

Jialuo Tree assumed the wrathful Vajra pose, the Vajra dharma body of killing manifesting behind him.

They hadn’t taken Du’e Arhat seriously, never expecting this minor second-rank Arhat to pull the rug out from under them.

Guangxian sighed, suppressing all surging thoughts of anger, and spoke in a voice that made gender indistinguishable:

“For now, we can only stop and use the method of divine paths through incense and fire to refine the remaining Western Regions territory into a Mountains and Rivers Seal, keeping it under our control.”

This way, the Buddha wouldn’t risk being assimilated by the laws of heaven and earth, while still firmly controlling the remaining territory, waiting until they could plunder more fortune before absorbing the Mountains and Rivers Seal.

This move was originally intended for use against the Central Plains.

…

Jing Mountain City.

Salun Agu stood on the barren main peak of Jing Mountain, gazing westward.

He suddenly frowned, moving his fingers to divine with hexagrams for a moment, then let out a laugh:

“What a brilliant move, using Mahayana Buddhism to divide the Buddha’s fortune, hindering His assimilation of the Western Regions. Though it doesn’t address the root cause, it at least buys time.”

His form flickered, and he appeared at the altar, looking at the statue wearing a crown of thorns. He listened for a moment, then bowed and said:

“I agree as well.”

Salun Agu pulled out the shepherd’s whip hanging at his waist and lightly struck the ground at his feet.

“Snap!”

With the crisp sound of the whip, black light surged, and Yierbu’s figure materialized, appearing on the altar.

“Great Shaman…”

Yierbu thought to himself, it’s me again!

Salun Agu said flatly:

“Bring the imperial seals of the Yan, Kang, and Jing kingdoms.”

Yierbu bowed deeply, then transformed into a streak of black light, shooting toward distant Jing Mountain City.

Shortly after, he returned riding the black light, presenting three palm-sized imperial seals with both hands.

Salun Agu stared at the three seals, his voice old and deep, speaking slowly:

“Among the three kingdoms, Jing’s cavalry has been fighting in the north for half a year, suffering over fifty percent casualties, slightly weakening their national power. Kang borders the sea, and during Wei Yuan’s attack on Jing Mountain City, his forces passed through Yan territory, leaving Kang unaffected and its national power well preserved.

“As for Yan, they’ve successively endured the trampling of Wei Yuan’s cavalry and the battle for Yuyang Pass, depleting seven or eight-tenths of their national power.

“This one will do.”

The Great Shaman pointed at Yan’s imperial seal, instructing painfully:

“Go deliver it to the Buddhist sect.”

This… Yierbu was stunned, asking incredulously:

“Great Shaman, why give it to the Buddhist sect?”

The imperial seals stored the fortune of the three kingdoms.

Salun Agu replied irritably:

“Du’e’s betrayal, Great Feng appointing him Imperial Preceptor, and establishing of Mahayana Buddhism as the state religion has divided the Buddha’s fortune. If He wants to transform into the Western Regions, it will take some effort now.”

Yierbu was overjoyed:

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

He already knew the secret about the great calamity. Recently, the Great Shaman had gathered Rain Master Nalan Tianlu, Spirit Wisdom Master Yierbu, and Udabaota to inform them of the transcendent’s plans.

For supernatural beings of their system, once the Shaman God became the Heavenly Dao, even chickens and dogs would ascend to heaven. Not only would they become immortal and indestructible, but they could also rule the Nine Provinces on behalf of the Shaman God, becoming earthly deities.

Among practitioners of various systems, the higher their rank, the more detached their emotions became.

In Yierbu’s view, mortals were like wild grass—even if completely exterminated, new growth would always emerge before long.

In comparison, the Shaman God replacing the Heavenly Dao and the shamans achieving eternal immortality was the true great undertaking.

Salun Agu shook his head:

“It’s both good and bad. Figure it out yourself.

“I’ll send you on your way.”

The shepherd’s whip wrapped around Yierbu and whipped forcefully, sending a streak of black light shooting across the sky like a meteor, disappearing into the western horizon.

…

Capital City.

Du’e Arhat stood on a nine-petaled lotus platform, pressing his palms together toward those behind him, saying:

“Thank you all for your assistance.”

Master Hengyuan, his body painted with “gold lacquer” like a golden statue, pressed his palms together and returned the gesture:

“This concerns the world’s common people; it’s our duty. Master need not thank us.”

After Asura’s long period of guidance, Master Hengyuan had now initially accommodated the Arhat’s fruit of attainment and could briefly borrow the power to kill bandits, meaning that though he appeared to be a fourth-rank warrior monk on the surface, he was a second-rank Arhat in secret.

Although only temporarily.

Du’e Arhat examined Hengyuan with some complexity. This free-spirited monk was a natural Mahayana Buddhist devotee. If not for his shallow cultivation, or if given a few more decades, perhaps the founder of Mahayana Buddhism would not have been him, Du’e.

But rather Hengyuan of the Azure Dragon Temple.

Chu Yuanzhen’s expression was serious:

“This concerns the great calamity; we should go take a look.”

The Taoist Master Orange Cat, Asura, Li Miaozhen, and other members of the Heaven and Earth Society were also present, along with the white-robed Sun Xuanji, who had been dispatched by the newly appointed Supervisor.

There was also Night Princess with her fox-like alluring face.

The Western Regions were dangerous and the situation unclear, so naturally they couldn’t let Du’e Arhat risk himself alone, hence the Heaven and Earth Society’s bodyguard team.

Du’e said solemnly:

“When approaching the Western Regions, you need not enter its territory to prevent mishaps.”

Everyone nodded.

Li Lingsu cupped his hands and said:

“Take care, everyone. At the first sign of trouble, flee immediately.

“Sigh, I think we should wait for Xu Ningyan to return. That crude warrior rarely dies, but I feel something will go wrong if you go to the Western Regions.”

Li Miaozhen’s willow eyebrows stood on end:

“Shut your mouth!”

Lina was quite obedient, knowing she couldn’t help, just waving without speaking.

The group rose into the wind, transforming into streaks of light, flying toward the Western Regions.

Watching them leave, Li Lingsu looked at Night Princess and said:

“Miss Night Princess, shall I accompany you to the Southern Frontier?”

He felt he should do something, and this wasn’t to give Jill a break.

Night Princess thought for a moment, then looked at Lina and said:

“Come with us.”

Can we eat dinner first… Lina helplessly nodded:

“Alright.”

Night Princess then pulled out three transmission jade tokens from her bosom and handed them to Li Lingsu and Lina.

They were going to the Southern Frontier to see Shenshu, asking him to come out of seclusion to oversee the situation. Although this journey was primarily for reconnaissance, not to fight the Buddhist sect, the situation could change in an instant, and they needed to add an extra layer of insurance for their side.

A half-step Martial God who had recovered to peak condition was undoubtedly the best choice.

From the capital to the Southern Frontier, there were twelve transmission arrays along the way.

Xu Qi’an had laid out this “post road” long ago, and now it came in handy.

Under Sun Xuanji’s transmission array guidance, the mountains and earth flashed beneath the supernatural experts. By dusk, they had arrived at the Western Regions’ territory.

Clear light rose, and everyone stopped. Sun Xuanji didn’t rashly lead them closer.

Du’e Arhat pressed his palms together, bowed to everyone, and then shot toward the Western Regions.

He didn’t fly too far, keeping himself within the sight of the supernatural experts.

After focusing his senses for a moment, Du’e turned back and said:

“Nothing unusual.”

The gaunt old monk frowned slightly; this wasn’t quite what he had expected.

Asura and Hengyuan were the first to ride the wind, flying to Du’e’s side. After each probed with their divine sense, they confirmed there was nothing unusual in this area.

The Heaven and Earth Society members harbored doubts as they continued forward. Half a quarter-hour later, they came to a small city where wisps of cooking smoke rose from houses built in a style vastly different from Central Plains architecture.

The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard, full of the atmosphere of daily life.

Du’e Arhat pondered:

“Perhaps it hasn’t spread here, let’s try going deeper…”

They continued at their previous pace, with Du’e Arhat taking the lead, pressing deeper into the Western Regions.

After traveling for an hour, Du’e Arhat suddenly stopped.

By now it was the second quarter of the dog hour. In Great Feng, the sun would have already sunk below the horizon and night fell, but in the Western Regions, it had barely begun to show signs of dusk.

Ahead lay an endless plain, with a mountain range at its end.

River water flowed quietly, with no sign of human habitation.

Du’e Arhat dared not go forward. Every cell in his body was screaming to flee, every nerve sending signals of danger.

He was a member of the Buddhist sect, not cultivating a warrior’s danger sense.

This was a fortune-giving warning!

“Is there danger?”

Nine chi tall, handsome in an ugly way, Asura flew over to stand alongside Du’e.

He hadn’t sensed any crisis; a warrior’s danger warning hadn’t been activated.

At this moment, Asura saw the distant mountain range and opened a pair of giant eyes.