Although the Western Regions and the Buddhist Sect had been mutual allies for the past five hundred years, there was no shortage of overt and covert struggles between them. Especially regarding their treatment of Confucian scholars, the Buddhist Sect had actively promoted widespread hatred. Every single Buddhist follower, without exception, harbored hostility toward scholars from the Central Plains.

This grudge originated from the Yunlu Academy’s campaign to suppress Buddhism. As everyone knew, the Central Plains imperial court was the domain of scholars, with the entire court filled with these learned individuals. Therefore, Mahayana Buddhist disciples couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

That said, the Central Plains climate was indeed different—the air was more humid, with every breath carrying a sweet fragrance. The sunlight was brilliant but not harsh, and these followers from the Western Regions had gradually removed their sun-protective headwear and robes during their journey.

Moreover, the scenery along the way featured verdant mountains and clear waters. The wild grass by the roadside displayed a pleasing greenness, and wildflowers released their fragrance. This wasn’t to say the Western Regions lacked flower fields or green mountains, but rather that the Central Plains gave these Westerners an ineffable sense of “gentleness” and “delicacy.” Western Region landscapes tended to be more rugged and vast.

“Brother Zhulai, if we had lived in the Central Plains before, we wouldn’t have needed to beg. There are fruits to pick everywhere in the mountains,” a young man said, pointing to the wild fruits hanging heavily from nearby tree branches.

Zhulai pressed his palms together: “Amitabha, life flourishes everywhere here.”

After a pause, he looked around and addressed the Mahayana Buddhist followers beside him: “Xu Yinluo’s word carries absolute authority in the Central Plains. As he is the Supreme Buddha of the Three Thousand Realms and the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, he surely won’t mistreat us. Fellow disciples, please rest assured.”

After months of Buddhist doctrinal immersion, he had shed his former slyness and furtiveness as a street beggar, sincerely converting to Mahayana Buddhism.

Just then, hoofbeats thundered along the official road ahead, raising dust as a squad of light-armored cavalry galloped toward them. The Mahayana Buddhist disciples instinctively grew alert, their expressions tense.

Jingsi lowered his hand to calm the disciples before stepping forward to meet them.

“Halt!” The cavalry reined in their horses before him, and the leading officer said in a deep voice: “Master, are you Jingsi?”

Jingsi nodded, pressing his palms together: “Indeed I am. Is this Pan Mountain County?”

The leading officer smiled: “By order of the Leizhou Administrative Commission, we’ve come specially to welcome Master Jingsi and the Mahayana Buddhist disciples.”

As he spoke, he stretched his neck on horseback, gazing into the distance. The dense crowd of people stretched along the official road as far as the eye could see.

The young officer immediately concluded that this group of Mahayana Buddhist disciples numbered over twenty thousand.

Hearing they had come to welcome them, the Mahayana Buddhist disciples behind Jingsi felt somewhat relieved.

Monk Jingsi said: “Thank you for leading the way, officer.”

The young officer nodded, turned his horse around, and walked slowly at the front of the procession to guide them.

Continuing along the official road, they passed orderly divided fields on both sides, with golden waves of wheat rising and falling. Farmers wielded sickles to harvest crops, laboring under the sun, drenched in sweat, but the vibrant vitality and joy of harvest made the passing Mahayana Buddhist disciples envious.

It was said that the Central Plains soil was rich and fertile, and this proved true indeed. They gained some confidence in their future and the future of Mahayana Buddhism. After all, leaving their homeland far behind and coming to an unfamiliar environment to face an unknown future, anxiety, and unease were natural responses.

Half an hour later, a somewhat dilapidated city wall appeared in view. Jingsi asked: “Is this Pan Mountain County? Will our temple be within the city?”

The young officer shook his head: “You don’t have a temple yet, and you won’t be living in the city.”

The Leizhou Administrative Commission had never intended to let Westerners and Central Plains people live together, as this would inevitably lead to frequent conflicts and create problems.

Jingsi frowned. The Mahayana Buddhist disciples had traveled thousands of miles to reach the Central Plains, enduring wind and rain. What they needed most now was rest and food. Yet this officer seemingly had no intention of letting them enter the city.

Where would his disciples stay?

Trusting in MasterDue and Xu Yinluo, he didn’t protest, following the officer’s lead past the county town and continuing forward.

Less than half an hour later, a beautiful mountain range appeared ahead.

Though not tall, these mountains were exceptionally beautiful, brimming with vigorous life. At the foot of the mountains lay stretching fields and a meandering river.

Connected tents had been set up along the riverside, and on the road leading to the mountain foot, countless laborers pushed flatbed carts, transporting bricks and timber up the mountain.

Jingsi’s gaze followed the working laborers upward, and amid the mountain forests, he saw a massive temple taking shape.

The Mahayana Buddhist disciples had seen it too. They muttered in Western Region languages, barely containing their joy and anticipation.

Jingsi looked toward the officer and asked: “Is this the place?”

The young officer nodded: “From now on, this Pan Mountain will be your dwelling place. The fields at the mountain’s foot and further south are gifts from the imperial court. Before you’re fully settled, you can communicate any needs through the Pan Mountain County Magistrate. However, until the temple is completed, you’ll have to stay in the tents at the mountain’s foot.”

He paused, then smiled: “Pan Mountain County doesn’t have many residents, and building this temple requires enormous manpower and resources. We’re quite short-handed. Master Jingsi, you’ve come at just the right time.”

Nearly twenty thousand Mahayana Buddhist disciples represented a free labor force.

“As we should!” Jingsi naturally had no objections.

He turned to face the Mahayana Buddhist disciples and informed them of the Great Dao Dynasty’s arrangements and the matter of helping build the temple.

The young officer sat on horseback, and though he couldn’t understand the Western Region language, the cheers erupting from the crowd showed him these Western Buddhist disciples were very satisfied with the imperial court’s arrangements.

…

[One: I’ve selected six counties in Leizhou and central Chuzhou to settle the Mahayana Buddhist disciples. To prevent conflicts with residents, settlement locations are mostly mountain temples or expanded abandoned villages converted into temples.]

[Four: Your Majesty, have related policies been implemented?]

[One: Not yet! Brother Chu, what are your thoughts?]

Chu Yuanzhen, who had traveled in the Western Regions for several years, spoke up actively:

[Four: We can reduce Mahayana Buddhist taxes and allocate fields, but prevent disciples from donating land. Moreover, the land allocated based on population numbers cannot be altered.]

[One: If Mahayana Buddhism spreads roots in the Central Plains, those entering monkhood will increase daily. This method works short-term but is ineffective long-term.]

[Three: Create exclusive household registers for Mahayana Buddhist disciples. This can effectively prevent unauthorized monks and temples from privately accepting disciples and expanding disorderly.]

At this point, Xu Qi’an jumped in to express his opinion.

When discussing government affairs, typically numbers One, Three, and Four would chat endlessly while other members remained silent.

Those who truly wish to enter monkhood shouldn’t be restricted by so-called household registers… Master Hengyuan put down his fragment of the Earth Book, protesting silently.

But he very rationally didn’t voice his opposition.

Numbers One, Three, and Four were all sharp-tongued individuals who would argue endlessly once they started.

Usually in such situations, Master Hengyuan would press his palms together and say:

“The benefactors speak truly!”

Hengyuan tucked away the Earth Book fragment, looked up at the Qinglong Temple in White Phoenix Mountain, and silently began climbing.

He passed through the temple gates and, led by a young monk, arrived outside the meditation room of Qinglong Temple’s abbot, Monk Panshi.

“Elder Brother Hengyuan, the abbot has been waiting,” the young monk said before bowing and withdrawing.

Hengyuan stood outside the door, hesitated briefly, then gently knocked.

“Come in!” an elderly voice called from within.

Hengyuan pushed open the door, stepping over the threshold with a “creak” to see the old monk seated on a meditation cushion.

Three years had passed, and Monk Panshi had grown even more elderly, his face covered in age spots and wrinkles, though his gaze remained clear as he looked at Hengyuan warmly.

“Disciple Hengyuan pays respects to Master,” Hengyuan pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.

Monk Panshi spoke slowly: “Do you know why your temple brothers have shunned you since childhood?”

Hengyuan shook his head: “This disciple is too foolish!”

Abbot Panshi said softly: “Everyone focuses on saving themselves, while you alone wish to save others. Naturally, they shun you. I know your past confusion and bewilderment—why your brothers disliked you, why your master watched coldly from the sidelines. You loved studying Buddhist scriptures and comprehending dharma, yet your master wouldn’t let you practice meditation.”

Hengyuan remained silent. He had grown up in Qinglong Temple, but his relationship with his fellow disciples was poor. After his personally raised junior brother Henghui disappeared, he lost all attachment to the sect and chose to leave the mountain, staying away for three years.

Abbot Panshi’s coldness was a major factor in this.

Abbot Panshi sighed: “Because I couldn’t teach you.”

Hengyuan was stunned; he hadn’t expected such an answer.

Abbot Panshi said: “Your master has practiced hard all his life, yet only saves himself.”

Hengyuan said softly: “Saving others and saving oneself are both good karma.”

“Arhat Due left the Western Region Buddhist sect to create Mahayana Buddhism—this is the trend of the times. Qinglong Temple should follow this trend and support Arhat Due. Hengyuan, you are a natural Mahayana Buddhist, and you have a close relationship with Xu Yinluo,” Abbot Panshi said. “Your master has called you back today to pass the position of abbot to you.”

Hengyuan was stunned for a moment.

Before he could respond, Abbot Panshi pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, and smiled: “You have found your path. Congratulations!”

Hengyuan didn’t refuse. He pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.

When he raised his head again, Abbot Panshi had already entered nirvana.

Hengyuan silently gazed at him, like a statue.

…

Celestial Observatory.

In a spacious room on the fourth floor, nine transmission platforms were built, corresponding to different continents.

The ninth platform corresponded to overseas territories.

With enough transmission jade tokens, one could reach Merfolk Island through several consecutive transmissions.

But Merfolk Island wasn’t the endpoint—wherever the Nine-Tailed Fox led the descendants of gods and demons, transmission arrays would be built there.

This ensured she wouldn’t get lost in the vast ocean.

Suddenly, the transmission array representing the Southern Borders lit up, and a woman in a black gauze dress with a clean appearance appeared on the platform.

She had a beautiful oval face, three-dimensional features, azure eyes, and two slender small snakes hanging from her earlobes.

Chunyan, leader of the Heart Insect Sect, scanned the surroundings, left the transmission platform, pushed open the room’s door, and found a white-robed mage at the end of the corridor.

After introducing herself, she said: “Please inform Xu Yinluo that the power of the Abyss Insect God has erupted, giving birth to two Transcendent-realm Beast Insects.”