Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

They were trying to accumulate some "good karma" in this last-minute effort, fearing that one day the infamous Three Realms Enforcement Team would come knocking on their door and "enforce" them too.

This battle, which took place far away in the netherworld, had such a deterrent effect that countless demon groups in the Southern Continent truly felt what it meant to have "the might of Heaven and the strictness of the law"!
While it's impossible to turn all monsters into law-abiding citizens immediately, the laws and regulations in the human world have indeed been improved!
Those once arrogant and domineering demon groups that dared to commit crimes across states and counties no longer dared to defy the wind and became extremely low-key, fearing that they would become the next targets to be "killed as a warning to others".

……

The Western Paradise and the Pure Land of Spirit Mountain were the most severely impacted.

This battle not only severely damaged Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a crucial pillar of the Western Paradise in the netherworld and a key element in its future plans, but the resulting backlash and karmic entanglements directly impacted the very foundation of the Western Paradise!
"Rumble..."

The sacred Lingshan Mountain, a Buddhist land that should have been filled with endless chanting and eternal golden light, was now inexplicably trembling slightly!
Some exquisite stupas swayed incessantly, the water in the lotus pond became turbid, and even the golden bells on the eaves of the majestic Great Thunder Temple rang out in a disorderly manner.

A faint premonition, carrying an aura of decay and corruption, lingered in the minds of many highly accomplished Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, causing them inexplicable palpitations and unease.

Inside the Great Thunder Temple, three thousand Buddhas and countless Bodhisattvas and Arhats gathered together, but the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

The Buddhas seated on the lotus thrones all had faces as dark as the bottom of a pot, and the Buddha light around them appeared somewhat disordered due to their restless minds, with a hint of anger gathering.

The Buddha, seated in the center, had a round face that was usually kind and peaceful, but now it was as black as charcoal, as if a layer of frost could be scraped off!
The oppressive aura emanating from him made the entire Great Thunderclap Temple seem to be plunged into the dead of winter.

"An anomaly! Truly the greatest anomaly in the Three Realms!"

The Buddha's voice, like muffled thunder, echoed in the hall, carrying an uncontrollable rage.

"The two great messengers under Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva have actually... actually fallen at the hands of that hell god Lin Zhu! If this fiend is not eliminated, our Western Paradise will never have peace!"

His gaze, like a cold knife, swept sharply down onto the figure trembling in the crowd below—Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King!
"Li Jing!"

The Buddha's angry roar startled Li Jing so much that he nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Didn't you previously swear that the Buddha Ksitigarbha's Dharma was boundless and invincible?! And now?! The two great envoys have perished, Ksitigarbha's power has been weakened, and the fate of our Western Heaven has been shaken! What else do you have to say?!"

Li Jing turned pale and knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Buddha, please calm your anger! Buddha, please calm your anger! This humble god... this humble god was only making a deduction based on common sense, but who knew... who knew that Lin Zhu could not be judged by common sense at all!"
He...he's a monster!

"Hmph! Waste!"

The Buddha was in a fit of anger and didn't want to listen to his explanation. He just needed someone to vent his anger on, so he immediately said sternly.

"Guards! Drag Li Jing away and give him a hundred... no, two hundred lashes! Let him wake up properly!"

Immediately, guardian deities stepped forward and, ignoring Li Jing's cries and pleas for mercy, dragged him out of the Great Thunderclap Temple. Soon, muffled thuds and Li Jing's pig-like screams could be heard outside.

After venting his anger by beating Li Jing, the Buddha's expression remained grim.

He knew that it was pointless to take his anger out on Li Jing; the real culprit was that anomaly named Lin Zhu.

This boy's actions are completely unpredictable by common sense. He always manages to stir up trouble in desperate situations and ruin his grand plan to reach the Western Paradise.

However, the only thing that gave him a sliver of relief was that the desperate resistance of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's forces, and the subsequent intervention of the saints, ultimately delayed Lin Zhu for two whole days!

"Fortunately... the Water and Land Assembly..."

The Buddha thought to himself, his divine thoughts involuntarily turning to the human realm of Jambudvipa, sensing the Water and Land Dharma Assembly that had been successfully convened and personally promoted by Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

As long as this crucial step in the eastward transmission of Buddhism proceeds as expected and the pilgrim is selected, then the journey to the West will be half successful, and the Western Paradise will be able to flourish. The losses suffered by Ksitigarbha's forces today may not be impossible to make up for in the future.

However, as his divine sense swept across Jambudvipa, especially the area where the Water and Land Assembly was held, his brows involuntarily furrowed slightly.

"Um?

This aura...something seems off?"

The Southern Continent, within the capital city of the Great Tang Dynasty, Chang'an.

Deep within the imperial palace, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, sat on his dragon throne, a deep and unyielding melancholy shrouding his brow. Ever since the day he returned from the underworld to the world of the living and learned that his resurrection was the result of a secret operation by the Western Paradise, a combination of kindness and coercion, a thorn had always been in his heart.

He was an emperor of the mortal realm, ruling over thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. How could he willingly become a pawn in the game between immortals and Buddhas, and be manipulated by others?
His original plan for the upcoming Water and Land Assembly, which was to be led by the Western Paradise and personally promoted by Guanyin Bodhisattva, was that if the "Big Boss Lin Zhu," who had been kind to him and was extremely powerful, did not appear for a long time...

He could only swallow his frustration and cooperate with the Western Paradise to continue this grand drama of "the eastward transmission of Buddhism" in order to ensure the stability of the country.

But now, as the date of the conference approaches, he feels increasingly uncertain, sensing that beneath the calm surface, turbulent undercurrents are brewing.

Just then, Prime Minister Xiao Xing, holding a jade tablet, quickly stepped forward, bowed, and presented his report.

"Your Majesty, the auspicious time is approaching. All preparations for the Water and Land Ceremony are complete. Eminent monks from all directions have gathered at Huasheng Temple, and the people are eagerly awaiting its arrival. This is a grand event that will demonstrate the power of our Great Tang Dynasty and benefit all people. It must not be delayed! If we miss this auspicious day, we fear we will incur the displeasure of the Bodhisattvas and be ridiculed by the world as a faithless nation!"

Upon hearing this, the Tang King's icy gaze slowly turned to Xiao Xing. The imperial majesty and subtle indifference in his eyes made Xiao Xing's heart tighten, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

But when he thought of the huge "offerings" he had secretly received from the Buddhist kingdom of India, and the promise that the other party would guarantee his Xiao family's wealth and honor for ten lifetimes after Buddhism officially entered Jambudvipa, he forcibly suppressed his fear and braced himself to continue persuading them.

"Your Majesty! This matter concerns the well-being of all people. If Buddhism can be spread eastward, it will surely enlighten the masses and bring peace and prosperity to our Great Tang Dynasty. This would be a great achievement for all ages! If we miss this opportunity due to hesitation, wouldn't our Great Tang Dynasty bear the name of betrayal? Your subject is sincere and devoted to the well-being of the nation!"

His words, though seemingly righteous, were actually paving the way for his own future, even subtly implying that he had already made connections with the Western Paradise forces.

Emperor Taizong of Tang stared at Xiao Xing's seemingly loyal yet undeniably greedy face, a cold smile playing on his lips. With his imperial cunning, how could he not see that Xiao Xing had already been bribed by the Western Paradise? Under normal circumstances, these words alone would have been enough to convict him of colluding with foreign powers and disrupting the court!
However, just as the atmosphere was tense and Xiao Xing thought he was about to succumb to the emperor's pressure, the Tang King suddenly changed his tone, revealing a smile that was hard to decipher, and said loudly.

"What Minister Xiao says is exactly what I think. The grand water and land ceremony is related to the well-being of the people and showcases the grandeur of our Tang Dynasty. How can it be delayed because of my concerns? Your suggestion is approved. The ceremony shall be held as scheduled! The Ministry of Rites, the Court of State Ceremonies, and the monks of Huasheng Temple are hereby ordered to make proper arrangements and there must be no mistakes!"

Xiao Xing was stunned at first, then overjoyed, he could hardly believe his ears!

He originally thought he would have to use his words and might even anger the emperor, but he didn't expect His Majesty to agree so readily!
He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, shouting loudly.

"Your Majesty is wise! This is truly a blessing for the people and a boon for the Tang Dynasty!"

Then he scurried away, hurrying to arrange the relevant matters, his mind already filled with fantasies of wealth and glory for ten lifetimes to come. Watching Xiao Xing's retreating figure, the smile on Emperor Taizong of Tang's lips gradually widened, eventually transforming into an irrepressible excitement and certainty.

How dare you be so arrogant in front of me, you little Western Paradise? Do you really think I'm a fish on a chopping board, to be manipulated at your mercy?
He slowly leaned back on the dragon throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrests, thinking to himself.

Because... my lord has arrived!

Just as Xiao Xing was rambling on, a clear, yet seemingly soul-stirring voice transmission, like a stabilizing force, dispelled all the unease and gloom in his heart—

"Brother Tang King, focus on your conference."

Those noisy bald monks in the underworld have already been dealt with by me.

This little Western Paradise can't cause any waves.

It's Lin Zhu! It's that big shot's voice!

He really did come! And judging from his tone, it seems he's done something earth-shattering in the underworld again?! He even dared to "deal with" the people of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?!

With this formidable figure backing him up, King Tang suddenly felt a thousand times more confident. His original fear and resentment towards the Western Paradise vanished instantly, replaced by an excitement and anticipation of watching the show unfold.

……

Meanwhile, Lin Zhu, who had just torn through space and brought Jiu Feng from the Netherworld Battlefield to the skies above the Southern Continent, dusted off non-existent dust and was pondering whether he should first go and give the representative sent by the Western Heaven a warning, or go directly to the Tang King for a cup of tea to discuss the "sponsorship fee" issue.

He originally thought that although things had calmed down in the underworld for the time being, there would definitely be a lot of trouble to deal with afterward, such as the Asura Annihilation Mirror that the Styx Patriarch had not yet obtained, and the karma involved in the inexplicable life-saving grace of the Sage Houtu.

And then there's the possibility of retaliation from the Western Church... Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine; they're practically model workers in the three realms.

However, before he could catch his breath, the familiar and comforting system notification sounded in his mind like a gentle rain from heaven.

"Ding! Host detected to have arrived in Jambudvipa on time!"

"Congratulations, host, on completing the 'Southern Jambudvipa Check-in' mission!"

"Task rewards are being calculated... Given the host's outstanding performance in the Underworld, which caused a commotion in the Three Realms, an additional critical hit reward has been triggered!"

"Final reward."

Merit points of vow merit—100,000 points! Already credited to the host's account!

"How...how much?! Ten thousand merits?!"

Lin Zhu almost thought he had misheard, and quickly checked his internal organs. When he saw the long string of zeros that had actually appeared in the account balance, even with his current state of mind, he couldn't help but be so surprised that he almost jumped up!
Ten thousand merits!
What does this mean?! As far as he knew, this was roughly equivalent to one-third of the total merit that beings like the Buddha of the Western Paradise could freely dispose of on a daily basis! For him, who was now a half-step quasi-saint, every step forward in his cultivation was extremely difficult, requiring a massive amount of resources and opportunities to accumulate.

This sum of 100,000 merits is undoubtedly an unimaginable fortune, enough to raise his cultivation to a new level in a short period of time, and even lay a solid foundation for his future breakthrough to the true Quasi-Saint realm!

"System...you really...are amazing this time! You've treated me like royalty!"

Lin Zhu was overjoyed, feeling that all the life-and-death struggles in the underworld and the risk of being killed by a saint were worth it!

He is now a half-step Quasi-Saint, a realm that can be considered a key stepping stone to becoming a true Quasi-Saint, usually divided into two stages: the initial stage and the perfect stage.

Advancing from a Great Luo Golden Immortal to a Half-Step Quasi-Saint means that he has already possessed that mysterious and profound "saintly nature," and his life essence has undergone a leap.

To advance from a half-step Quasi-Saint to a true Quasi-Saint, one needs more than just resources and arduous cultivation; one also needs great opportunities, great perseverance, and great wisdom!

Lin Zhu stroked his chin, thinking to himself with a touch of smugness.

"Great perseverance? I've fought my way in and out of the Underworld, and I dare to give the middle finger to even saints. My perseverance is absolutely top-notch! Great effort? I'm either causing trouble or on my way to cause trouble. I'm constantly busy with merit and missions, making me the number one workaholic in the Three Realms! As for great wisdom..."

He chuckled.

"To be able to manipulate the system and all the big shots so easily, isn't that a great deal of wisdom enough?"

Just as Lin Zhu was still immersed in the joy of sudden wealth and the wonderful anticipation of the future, the system notification sounded again, but this time, it was a new task.

"Ding! New task issued."

I traveled to the site of the Tang Dynasty's Water and Land Dharma Assembly as a special guest to 'watch' a Buddhist performance.

"Task requirements."

Ensure your presence on-site and, at critical moments, take initiative based on the situation.

Basic rewards.

May my vows and merits amount to 50,000 points!

Additional note.

The Water and Land Tournament is fraught with unpredictable events. If the host can handle them appropriately, there will be a chance to win generous extra rewards!

"Another mission? Can't a person even get a break?"

Lin Zhu subconsciously complained, feeling that this system was a heartless boss, immediately assigning new "high-intensity work" after just giving out "bonuses".

But despite his complaints, his brain was already racing. The Water and Land Assembly… wasn't this the crucial moment when the Western Paradise was promoting the eastward transmission of Buddhism and selecting the pilgrims? Go "watch" the performance? And even have to "take initiative"? The system's hint couldn't be clearer!

Lin Zhu made his decision after only a second of thought.

"So be it. Who told me to care about the peace of the Three Realms and not stand those bald monks causing trouble on our Eastern Land?"

A righteous and stern expression appeared on his face, as if he were truly upholding the purity of the Eastern Daoist tradition. (End of Chapter)