Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 240 First Place on the God Ranking

Mo Baichan exclaimed in shock, "You snatched a page of the Book of Destiny from the hands of a god! How—is this possible?"

Mo Baisi said, "I also find it hard to believe, but that's what Saintess Qi told me back then. I've also seen the page of the Book of Destiny in Wang Jingtian's hand. Although I didn't touch it, it certainly doesn't seem like something that could exist in the human world."

Mo Baichan quickly asked, "And then what happened? Did you see Saintess Qi again after that?"

"No," Mobais said, "but when Saintess Qi left for the last time, she told me that she would take Wang Jingtian to the land abandoned by the gods."

"The land abandoned by the gods? What kind of place is that?" Mo Baichan asked.

"The Northern Frontier!" Mo Baisi said, "Don't ask me why the Northern Frontier is a land abandoned by the gods. I don't know either, and neither does the Holy Maiden Qi. All she knows is what Wang Jingtian told her."

She didn't care about those things; she only cared about whether Wang Jingtian would lose control. Because Wang Jingtian was too powerful, and his mind was shattered, he believed the world was an illusion. He might suddenly have a moment of despair and develop thoughts of destroying the world. Therefore, she had to stay by Wang Jingtian's side at all times.

"Saintess Qi is great, truly great!" Mo Baichan exclaimed, then asked with a hint of doubt, "But I'm curious, how was Saintess Qi able to calm Wang Jingtian down? Does Saintess Qi possess some special method to help people stabilize their emotions?"

"No," Mo Bais shook his head, a helpless look on his face, then smiled and said, "Holy Maiden, you should understand that this world has never been fair. From the moment of birth, some people already possess abilities that ordinary people could never achieve."

Something that one can never attain even in life.

Mo Baichan asked, "What does Saintess Qi possess?"

"She's very beautiful," Mobes said.

"Huh?" Mo Baichan asked, puzzled, "Just... that simple? Just because she's beautiful, she was able to calm down the world's number one cultivator, whose Dao heart is shattered and who could fall into demonic possession at any moment?"

Mo Baisi chuckled and said, "If the Holy Maiden finds this hard to understand, why not try a different perspective? If one day you fall into a state of delusion, and Mr. Gu comes to comfort and accompany you at all costs, wouldn't you calm down?"

"This—" Mo Baichan said, "How can this be the same?"

"What's the difference?" Mo Baisi said, "Fifty years ago, Wang Jingtian was only in his thirties, still very young, unmarried, and without a family. Qi Shengnu was in her twenties, in the prime of her life. Although Wang Jingtian suffered a blow and went mad, he hadn't lost the most basic human logic."

Mo Baichan thought for a moment and said, "That's true. However, did Saintess Qi tell you exactly where they would be in the northern frontier?"

Mo Baisi said, "No, that's not true. However, the Holy Maiden Qi gave me a jade pendant back then. She said that if there was really no other way, I could send someone with that jade pendant to the northern frontier to find her. As long as we find someone who has the same jade pendant, we can find her and Wang Jingtian."

However, now that fifty years have passed, I'm not sure if they're still around. But one thing is certain: even if...

"Since Wang Jingtian and Saintess Qi are gone, that page of the Book of Destiny will surely remain."

Mo Baichan asked, "Great Shaman, can we give that jade pendant to Brother Gu?"

Mo Baisi said, "I won't give it to Mr. Gu, I'll only give it to you. As for what you do with it, that's your business."

Mo Baichan was slightly taken aback, but immediately understood what Mo Baisi meant, and quickly said, "Thank you, Great Shaman!"

"Ugh!"

Mo Baisi sighed and said, "I was young once too, and I met someone who dazzled me throughout my life!"

Mo Baichan asked curiously, "Who was it? And what happened to you later—"

"There was no 'later'," Mo Baisi waved his hand, turned around, and said, "Tell Mr. Gu that if he really manages to see Saintess Qi, please ask him to tell her that I'm still alive and doing quite well!"

Watching Mo Baisi's departing figure, Mo Baichan murmured, "So the portrait in the Great Shaman's room was of the Holy Maiden Qi!"

As evening fell, the sun began to set.

A splash of red adorned the sacred mountain, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene.

In the village, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, and the occasional bark of a dog and the voice of a child added to the tranquility.

Mo Baichan was busy in the kitchen, and every now and then she would look up at Gu Guanqi, who was drinking tea in the courtyard, and a smile would involuntarily appear on her face.

The setting sun cast a faint red glow, and a cool breeze rustled through the air.

Gu Guanqi sat at the table, his thoughts somewhat jumbled.

After a long while, Mo Baichan came out carrying the food.

Although Mo Baichan had tried very hard to imitate the practices of the Central Plains, the differences were still very obvious.

"Brother Gu," Mo Baichan said, "I've never been to the Central Plains. My understanding of the Central Plains comes from the people I've consulted there. I also learned how to cook the food from them. If you do something wrong, just tell me and I'll pay attention next time."

Gu Guanqi took the chopsticks and said, "That's good. However, if you want to learn our Central Plains cuisine, I'll teach you tomorrow."

Mo Baichan asked in surprise, "Brother Gu, can you cook?"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I lived alone for many years after my parents passed away, so naturally I know how to cook."

"That's great," Mo Baichan said. "Then I'll learn from you."

"Um."

Gu Guanqi responded and began to eat.

Mo Baichan picked up her chopsticks and said, "By the way, Brother Gu, have you ever heard of Wang Jingtian?"

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "I've heard of him. He was the number one in the world in the previous generation, but he mysteriously disappeared fifty years ago and there has been no news of him since."

Mo Baichan said, "He has a page of the Book of Destiny in his hand—"

Immediately afterwards, Mo Baichan recounted to Gu Guanqi everything that Mo Baisi had told her about Wang Jingtian and Saintess Qi.

After listening, Gu Guanqi frowned slightly and said, "The Northern Frontier? Why would it be a land abandoned by the gods?"

Mo Baichan shook her head slightly and said, "I don't know."

"However, this is good news," Gu Guanqi said. "Since Wang Jingtian was able to challenge a god and tear a page of the Book of Destiny from the god's hand, it means that, whether it's true or not, we are not actually in despair when facing a god!"

At this point, Gu Guanqi frowned again and said, "But if it wasn't that desperate, why would Wang Jingtian, as the number one in the world, an absolutely invincible person, go to such despair and go mad after taking another step forward?"

Mo Baichan said, "The only way is to find Wang Jingtian. If he is still alive, perhaps we can learn more about the Book of Destiny from him."

"Hmm." Gu Guanqi nodded slightly.

Mo Baichan added, "The Great Shaman will give me the jade pendant. Then, Brother Gu, you can take the jade pendant to the northern frontier to find Saintess Qi and Wang Jingtian!"

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "Miss Mo Bai, thank you!"

"You're welcome," Mo Baichan smiled sweetly and said, "I really hope I can help Brother Gu, but my abilities are limited, and there's not much I can do to help."

"You've already helped me a lot," Gu Guanqi said. "Really."

Mo Baichan looked at Gu Guanqi, her eyes full of anticipation, and asked, "Brother Gu, will you always remember me?"

"I definitely will," Gu Guanqi said. "Didn't I promise you that if you ever have the chance to go to the Central Plains, I'll be your guide and take you to see the famous mountains and rivers of the Central Plains?"

"Okay." Mo Baichan nodded seriously.

Gu Guanqi then said, "However, I may have to bother you for a while longer. I want to see the bloodline of the gods."

"It won't bother you at all," Mo Baichan said. "I was just about to tell you that the Great Shaman said your state of mind is somewhat affected. In your case, besides letting you see the Book of Destiny and understand it, he also needs to help you step out and embrace the world."

I've been thinking about how to let you embrace this world. After much thought, I realized you're standing too high, your cultivation is too profound. So profound that you've transcended the real world; you're looking down upon it from the clouds.

That's why your state of mind is affected by truth and falsehood. For example, I'm at a low level, just an ordinary person. Even a great shaman is just an ordinary person. So, even if we hear theories about whether the world is true or false, we won't be affected. To us, it's just like a story.

We live in this world, and everything we see, touch, and grow in is real. We don't doubt that the world is fake, even if there are illogical aspects as you mentioned. In our eyes, the illogical is the most logical. If everything in the world had perfect logic, that would be abnormal.

Gu Guanqi was silent for a while, then said, "Perhaps you are right, but once the seed of doubt is planted, it is difficult to prevent it from taking root and sprouting."

Mo Baichan nodded and said, "I know, because you are at a very high level. You know a lot that we don't know and can't understand. But if you try to accept our understanding of the world, perhaps it will give you other ideas? It doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with my superficial understanding, but something else."

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "What do you think I should do?"

Mo Baichan's eyes lit up, and she said, "Then you'll listen to me for the rest of your time on the Holy Mountain. I'll show you how to embrace this world."

"it is good."

Mo Baichan smiled happily and said, "Then now we just eat, eat our fill, and then go to sleep. Yes, sleep. No meditation, no cultivation, just a peaceful and restful sleep."

"OK."

The meal was finished quickly.

The last rays of the setting sun were swallowed by darkness.

The Mo Bai tribe fell silent; even the birds in the forest had stopped to rest. Only the faint chirping of insects continued, which only made the night seem even quieter.

Mo Baichan lit sandalwood in Gu Guanqi's room, left an oil lamp and a tinderbox, and then slowly left the room.

She held an oil lamp, the light of which faintly illuminated her face. She looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Brother Gu, remember, it's just sleeping, don't think about anything else."

Gu Guanqi looked at Mo Baichan.

The flickering lights made Mo Baichan's eyes appear even brighter.

Her appearance was ordinary, and her clothes were very simple, but at this moment, she truly gave Gu Guanqi a sense of peace.

sense.

Ever since he heard about the Book of Destiny from Duanmu Xian, his state of mind has been somewhat unstable, and a hazy void has been shrouding his heart.

But at this moment, Mo Baichan seemed quite real to him.

"Okay, good night!" Gu Guanqi said.

"Good night?" Mo Baichan asked curiously, "Is this a custom unique to the Central Plains?"

"It's a method unique to my hometown," Gu Guanqi said.

"I see!"

Mo Baichan nodded and said softly, "Then—goodnight, Brother Gu!"

"Good night!"

That night, Gu Guanqi deliberately withdrew his spiritual senses, neither meditating nor sitting in meditation, and slept soundly for a whole night, a very long sleep.

He didn't wake up until the next morning when he heard Mo Baichan chopping vegetables in the kitchen.

After a quick wash, he headed to the kitchen.

"Brother Gu, did I make too much noise and disturb you?" Mo Baichan asked.

"No," Gu Guanqi said, "it's time for him to wake up."

"Then sit in the yard for a while, I'll start cooking," Mo Baichan said.

Gu Guanqi rolled up his sleeves and said, "Have you forgotten? I said yesterday that I'd teach you how we Central Plains people cook today."

"Okay." Mo Baichan stopped.

Immediately, Gu Guanqi washed his hands, walked over and took the kitchen knife from Mo Baichan, saying, "People in the Central Plains have many rules about cooking, but ordinary families don't have so many rules. I'll start by talking about cutting vegetables—"

As the sun gradually rose, it slowly dispelled the thick fog on the mountain.

Gu Guanqi was in the kitchen demonstrating the Central Plains cooking methods to Mo Baichan.

He really can cook; whether in his past life or this one, he has lived alone for a long time.

When he was a doctor in Qingyang City, he cooked all his own meals.

Later, Shen Qingqiu also said that what truly made her fall for Gu Guanqi was not the time he saved her, but the day she gave him the sword. Gu Guanqi was cooking in his room, and then they ate together. That strong sense of belonging they shared made her fall in love.

However, as Gu Guanqi's level rose and his cultivation became stronger, he rarely cooked anymore. The last time he cooked was during the month or so that he lived in seclusion with Jiang Baili in Wangchen Mountain's Forget-Worry Valley in Qingzhou. Because Jiang Baili was in seclusion, he cooked for himself during those days.

Since leaving the Valley of Forgetfulness, he has never stepped into the kitchen again.

Stepping into the kitchen again today evoked a mix of emotions in him, and a sense of disorientation.

Mo Baichan studied very diligently, and Gu Guanqi also did very seriously.

Gu Guanqi's cooking skills weren't particularly good, but for Mo Baichan, who had never tasted authentic Central Plains cuisine before, it was already quite amazing.

After finishing their meal, Gu Guanqi washed the dishes with Mo Baichan.

"Miss Mo Bai, what are your plans for today?" Gu Guanqi asked.

While washing the dishes, Mo Baichan replied, "Yes, it's rice harvesting time in the tribe these days. Brother Gu, why don't you come with me to harvest the rice later? Hmm, do you know how?"

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback, then said, "I should be able to learn it quickly."

"So you don't know how," Mo Baichan chuckled. "Then I'll teach you in a bit. You can learn from me; I'm really good at harvesting rice!"

"Aren't you a saintess?" Gu Guanqi said, "Why are you doing these things?"

"Why don't you do it?" Mo Baichan said, "I grow my own, what else would we eat?"

Gu Guanqi asked, puzzled, "You are a saintess; shouldn't you be receiving offerings from your people?"

Mo Baichan shook her head and said, "What are we offering? Nobody has any extra food. Our Mo Bai tribe is a little better off; we don't need to offer tribute to the royal court, so we're relatively well-off. But it's just enough to eat. Why would we offer tribute to me?"

Gu Guanqi smiled, unsure how to answer the question.

Soon, the two finished washing the dishes and went out together to harvest rice.

For the next period of time, Gu Guanqi followed Mo Baichan to harvest rice, dig soil, cut down trees on the mountain, and help the elders of the tribe repair their houses, etc.

At Mo Baichan's request, Gu Guanqi did not use his internal energy and did these things as normally as possible.

Because he could speak Xianbei, he had no problem communicating with the people of the Mobai tribe. In just a few days, he became familiar with the villagers. Every evening, many children would come to listen to him tell stories. Later, even adults came.

However, during this process, Gu Guanqi captured an eagle and used the Heavenly Demon Secret Technique to control the eagle's consciousness, making the eagle send a letter back to Tianshan. In the letter, he also asked Leng Lingxi to arrange for several more letters to be sent to the martial arts alliances of Qingyun, Hong, and Sanzhou, the Tianyi Sect, and the Six Doors in the capital. The main purpose was to let them know that he was safe and sound, and at the same time, to explain the situation with the Xianbei and that he might not be able to return for a while.

The headquarters of the Six Doors in the capital.

In a study, Shen Qingqiu was discussing matters with Yan Wangchuan.

Since Shen Qingqiu transferred Yan Wangchuan from Qingzhou to the capital, Yan Wangchuan quickly became Shen Qingqiu's most trusted confidant. Yan Wangchuan had been navigating between officialdom and the martial arts world for many years, making him a seasoned veteran. Although his martial arts skills were insignificant in the capital, a place rife with powerful figures, his experience was of great help to Shen Qingqiu.

Just then, Shen Qingqiu's personal maid, Meng Shu, came to the door with a letter in her hand and said, "Governor Shen, there is a letter for you from the Tianshan Sect."

Shen Qingqiu was puzzled and muttered, "Why would the Tianshan Sect send me a letter?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "Let's take a look first. As a sacred place in the martial arts world, and now one of the six top sects in the Qian Kingdom, the fact that the Tianshan Sect sent you a letter must mean something important."

Shen Qingqiu reached out and took the letter, opened it, and began to read. His expression gradually relaxed as he said, "It's a letter from Guanqi sent by Tianshan to let me know he's safe. Some time ago, he went to Xianbei alone."

The letter stated that he had wreaked havoc among the Xianbei, killing their king, decimating their elite troops, and installing a puppet king. Now, the threat posed by the Xianbei to our Great Qian Dynasty has been completely eliminated.

Yan Wangchuan took a deep breath and slowly said, "I really didn't expect that a young man from Qingyang City would grow to this level in just a few years. It's more legendary than any storybook!"

Shen Qingqiu smiled slightly and said, "I never expected him to reach this level."

Yan Wangchuan said, "When you left Qingyang City for the capital, I tried to dissuade you, fearing you would miss out on him. I never expected that you two would have such a deep connection and rekindle your relationship in the capital."

Shen Qingqiu said, "My entire life is destined to be lived for him." As she spoke, she continued browsing the remaining text...

He said, "In addition, he said he discovered the whereabouts of Wang Jingtian, the number one cultivator in the world fifty years ago. He's going to find Wang Jingtian to ask him some questions about cultivation. He might not be back for a long time, so he wanted to let me know he's safe and sound so I can rest assured."

"Wang Jingtian!" Yan Wangchuan exclaimed in shock, "He's still alive! If word gets out, the martial world will be in an uproar. If he returns, the entire landscape of the martial world will be drastically altered!"

Shen Qingqiu asked, "Does Elder Yan know Wang Jingtian?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "At my age, in the martial arts world, there shouldn't be many people who don't know Wang Jingtian. He's just as legendary as Gu Guanqi."

Before the age of twenty-five, Wang Jingtian was unknown, but after the age of twenty-five, he appeared in the martial arts world and began to challenge masters everywhere. He challenged almost all the top masters in the world for five consecutive years without a single defeat.

He was also the only one in the more than three hundred years since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty to be truly recognized by the entire martial arts world as the number one in the world. At that time, everyone in the world thought that he would do something great, or at the very least, create a sacred place in the martial arts world.

But no one expected that he would suddenly disappear. Fifty years have passed, and apart from the older generation, few young people in the martial arts world have heard of him. Everyone thought he was dead, that he had fled to the Xianbei, and that there had been no news of him since. It's truly strange!

Shen Qingqiu asked nervously, "Then, won't it be dangerous for Guanqi to go find him?"

"No," Yan Wangchuan said. "Back then, Wang Jingtian challenged all the masters in the world, and he didn't kill a single righteous person. He was just a martial arts fanatic, not bloodthirsty. I think he was probably too invincible, and the higher he climbed, the lonelier he became, which is why he went into seclusion and was able to meet Gu Guan."

He would be very happy if a master like Chess came to him.

"That's good," Shen Qingqiu said. "As long as there's no danger, it's fine. That's actually quite good. If Guanqi were to return to the capital now, given his personality, he might cause trouble."

Yan Wangchuan nodded and said, "Indeed, these days, various countries are coming to the capital under the guise of celebrating His Majesty's birthday, but in reality, they are trying to find out the true strength of our Great Qian Dynasty."

Gu Guanqi is now the most representative figure in our Qian Kingdom. If he were in the capital, there would definitely be people coming to challenge him. Those people are not afraid of death and would definitely provoke and anger Gu Guanqi on purpose.

Given Gu Guanqi's personality, he definitely wouldn't tolerate it and would directly resort to killing. At that point, things would easily escalate to a point where they're difficult to manage.

Shen Qingqiu said, "Those things don't matter yet, the main problem is that they will disrupt His Majesty's plans."

Yan Wangchuan nodded and said, "However, I'm actually quite curious about His Majesty's specific plan?"

"I don't know," Shen Qingqiu said. "His Majesty was going to tell me, but my role is to observe the game. Sometimes, understanding something means adopting a different attitude. So, I told His Majesty directly that I wouldn't listen."

Yan Wangchuan smiled helplessly and said, "Having a powerful backer really makes a difference; you can be so willful!"

Shen Qingqiu chuckled and said, "Actually, it's probably easy to guess. Nowadays, various countries are coming to the capital one after another. His Majesty has not invited any of the major families or sects, only the Great Bright Temple and the Taiyi Sect."

This reveals a significant message: His Majesty likely intends to wage war, and a major war at that. Therefore, he distrusts the various powerful families and sects, relying solely on the Taoist and Buddhist sects, and has invited them to the capital to oversee operations. He—maybe intends to personally lead the army!

Yan Wangchuan frowned and said, "This—this is a bit too big a gamble. Isn't this taking too big a step?"

Shen Qingqiu shook his head and said, "I don't know either, but in the few times I've seen His Majesty, I've definitely felt that he's very anxious, as if something is weighing on him."

"Alas," Yan Wangchuan sighed, "we are not capable enough to share His Majesty's burdens."

"It's alright," Shen Qingqiu said. "If we can't, others can. The Holy Monk Lianchi of the Great Bright Temple and Zhang Daoji, the leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect, have already arrived in the capital. They can naturally share His Majesty's burdens."

Yan Wangchuan nodded and said, "These two are indeed enough. One is the leader of the Taoist sect, and the other is the leader of the Buddhist sect. They can keep things in order."

Shen Qingqiu said, "Yesterday, Fuke Gyatso, who is known as the Living Buddha of the ancient kingdom of Tanyue, came to the capital. After meeting His Majesty, he went to visit the Holy Monk Lianchi. He is still at the Holy Monk Lianchi's place today."

The Daoist fanatic from the Nanjiang Daoist sect, who claims to be a reincarnation of an immortal, has been seeking out Zhang Tianshi for two days to discuss Daoist principles. Until these two reach a conclusion, the people from the other countries dare not cause any trouble.

Yan Wangchuan said solemnly, "I'm worried that the Holy Monk Lianchi and Zhang Tianshi will lose, that would be troublesome. Daoist Liu Qingming is fourth on the God Ranking, one place higher than Gu Guanqi, and the Living Buddha Fuke Jiacuo is even number one on the God Ranking, and is even known as the number one in the world."

Shen Qingqiu said, "Don't worry, it's not a martial arts competition. Liu Qingming and Fuke Jiacuo want to challenge for the positions of leaders of the Taoist and Buddhist sects. These positions are based on one's understanding of Taoism and Buddhism, not martial arts."

Yan Wangchuan said, "But the Holy Monk Lianchi and Zhang Tianshi are human, while Liu Qingming and Fuke Gyatso are not!"

Shen Qingqiu shrugged and said, "We don't have any other options, do we?"

"That's true, we can only wait and see!"

Beijing, White Horse Temple.

Inside a grand hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

In the center is a Buddha statue, ten feet tall, with a serene golden body, its eyes lowered and looking down into the hall, full of compassion.

Inside the main hall, only two monks sat facing each other on the floor.

The person with his back to the Buddha statue was an elderly monk with white hair and beard, silver hair at his temples, and a kind and gentle face. Although his face was full of wrinkles, his eyebrows and eyes were relaxed and gentle. He looked like an ordinary old monk, with no special features whatsoever.

However, this person is none other than the spiritual leader of Buddhism in all countries of the world today—the Holy Monk Lianchi.

Opposite the Lotus Pond Monk sat a monk who looked very young. He had handsome features, a refined and beautiful appearance, clear and bright eyes, and a gentle gaze like the autumn moon. His expression was peaceful and serene. Even as a monk, he was still a rare and handsome man in the world.

This person is none other than Fuke Gyatso, the living Buddha of the ancient kingdom of Tanyue, who is ranked first on the list of gods by the Tianji Pavilion.

The two faced each other in silence.

After a long silence, Fuke Gyatso clasped his hands together and said, "Holy Monk, I have lost, and I am completely convinced."

"Amitabha," said the Holy Monk Lianchi, "Our discussion is merely a debate on Buddhist principles; how can there be a winner or loser?"

Fuke Gyatso said, "The Holy Monk's realm is far superior to mine. I have been competing with the Holy Monk to win, but the Holy Monk has long since lost the will to win. Moreover, I even cheated, but I am still no match for the Holy Monk."

"Cheating?" asked the Holy Monk Lianchi, puzzled.

Fuke Gyatso said, "Some of the Buddhist scriptures we discussed today with the Holy Monk were actually written by me in a previous life. But even so, when discussing those scriptures, I, the original author, still did not understand them as deeply as you, the Holy Monk."

The Holy Monk of Lotus Pond said, "It seems I, this humble monk, have been showing off my limited skills before an expert!"

"Not so," said Fuke Gyatso. "Works and theories, once created, are meant to be interpreted by others. The same sentence doesn't mean that the person who said it has the most profound understanding."

The Venerable Monk Lianchi said, "I admire your level of attainment, Venerable Monk. However, may I ask if you truly remember your past life? If it is inconvenient to answer, then you need not."

Fuke Gyatso thought for a moment and said, "There's nothing inconvenient about it. However, I don't know if it's correct to explain it using the concept of past and present lives, because I didn't pass away in my previous life."

"Hmm?" asked the Lotus Pond Monk, puzzled.

Fuke Gyatso said, "In my previous life, I was the thirty-second Buddha of Buddhism, Qianzhang Huaihai of Lotus Temple four hundred years ago."

The Holy Monk of Lotus Pond was startled and exclaimed, "It's actually Buddha Huaihai!"

Fuke Gyatso said, "But I—but he is still here. Now in the Buddhist Kingdom of Kunxu, I had a sudden feeling that a great calamity was about to occur in the human world, so I was reborn as him and came to this human world to experience the calamity."

However, the Buddha Huaihai had already attained enlightenment and was immortal. Therefore, the Buddha Huaihai still resides in the Buddha-land, while I am only Fuke Gyatso, and merely Fuke Gyatso. I have not attained Buddhahood, therefore, there are many things I do not understand, and I cannot explain my past and present lives.

"Amitabha," said the Holy Monk Lianchi, "this humble monk understands."

"Please enlighten me, Holy Monk," said Fuke Gyatso.

The Holy Monk of Lotus Pond said, "Buddha Huaihai is Buddha Huaihai, Thousand-Zhang Huaihai is Thousand-Zhang Huaihai, and the reincarnation is Thousand-Zhang Huaihai."

The Buddha Huaihai is the embodiment of a thousand-foot-deep ocean, but the thousand-foot-deep ocean is not the Buddha Huaihai.

After a moment of silence, Fuke Gyatso said, "Thank you for your guidance, Holy Monk. I think I understand now!"

The Holy Monk of Lotus Pond smiled slightly.

Fuke Gyatso continued, "Holy Monk, I have come here to undergo a tribulation, with my own mission. I have nothing to say about losing to you this time, but I still wish to discuss Buddhist principles one last time, to apply them to practical cultivation. If I lose again, even if I fail in my tribulation, I will never set foot in the Central Plains again!"

"Amitabha," said the Venerable Monk Lianchi, "Monks should not have a competitive spirit, but as the Venerable Monk said, everyone has a mission. Therefore, this humble monk can only break the precepts and accompany the Venerable Monk."

"Very well," Fuke Gyatso stood up and said, "There is a Heavenly Gate in the human world, and there lives a powerful being called the Divine Mother at the Heavenly Gate. She is neither human nor god, nor even a living being. Now she has come to the capital of the Qian Kingdom, and her murderous intent has been aroused. I want to go with the Holy Monk to see the Divine Mother and see which of us can appease her murderous intent!"