Although his heart was filled with reluctance, Jue Ming knew very well that this place had become a huge vortex, where anyone caught in it had a slim chance of survival. He did not wish for his disciple to perish in this turmoil, as that would undoubtedly mean the end of his lineage.

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, the Little Monk had packed his belongings and pushed open the great doors of the temple.

He looked back at the place where he had grown up, everything so familiar and dear, but today, he was to leave it all behind.

"Child, go, do not look back," Jue Ming stood at the entrance of the temple, watching his slightly frail little disciple, his face etched with sorrow as he spoke softly.

Tears filled the eyes of the Little Monk, he knelt on the ground and respectfully knocked his head against the floor three times towards his master before getting up.

"Master, take care of your health, your disciple is leaving!" After saying this, the Little Monk wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and left without looking back.

He dared not look back, fearing that if he did, he would not have the heart to leave.

Jue Ming stood, rooted to the spot at the temple entrance, watching his disciple slowly walk away.

If it were not for the dire circumstances, why would he have ever allowed his young disciple to travel far from home.

The old monk watched his disciple disappear from view, still not wanting to leave; the desolate autumn wind came blowing, stirring his beard and adding a touch more of emptiness.

Without realizing it, autumn had arrived, and the aura of grimness had begun to spread throughout Heaven and Earth.

"Old monk, you are afraid!" The voice of the Arhat drifted slowly over.

Although the Little Monk’s departure was very quiet, it could hardly escape the notice of these Arhats and Bhikkhus who possessed high Cultivation Levels.

Many of them showed a mocking expression, scoffing at the old monk’s cowardice.

"Yes, indeed, I am afraid," the old monk spoke softly, "In the past, I have faced ruthless bandits; I have walked through dire straits, but I have never felt fear like I do today. The enemy you face is not the high and mighty Heavenly Court, but the common people of Dongsheng Shenzhou, a terrifying power that you have never witnessed."

It was a power named humanity, with the potential to transform Heaven and Earth, to change the landscape of nations, and to bring endless disasters.

Perhaps those who came down from Mount Ling had been away from the Mortal World for far too long, having forgotten the terrifying strength of humanity, which led them to be overly optimistic in their judgment of the situation.

"I thought you were afraid of something significant, a bunch of mere mortals, yet they are worth your fear," the Arhat said with a sneer of disdain on his face.

In Xiniu Continent, humans were just objects of manipulation; just give them some vague spiritual solace, and they would devote themselves to the Buddhist Sect, even willingly sacrificing their lives without hesitation.

How could such beings ever instill fear in him?

"Amitabha Buddha! Goodness, goodness!" Jue Ming chose not to argue with him and instead softly chanted Buddhist scriptures, knowing that the prejudice of the human heart is as formidable as a mountain.

As days passed, the situation developed more smoothly than the old monk had anticipated. The Emperor was increasingly influenced by the Buddhist Sect, even occasionally expressing a desire to renounce his worldly life for monkhood.

"The time has come. Tonight, I will enlighten the Emperor and initiate the plan to establish the Earthly Buddhist Kingdom," the Arhat said eagerly to the old monk.

"Why not wait a little longer? In a few more days, I am confident that he will willingly embrace our Buddhist teachings," Jue Ming asked in surprise.

However, the Arhat just glanced at the temple and gritted his teeth, "There’s no time left. We act tonight."

In recent times, too many had rushed from Mount Ling, and even a Golden Body Arhat was about to arrive here. By then, he would not be able to take the initiative in this matter.

Having laid plans here for a long time and having waited for so long, the young Arhat was not willing to just hand over the fruits of his labor to someone else.

It was like a diligent farmer who planted, watered, fertilized, weeded, and removed pests, only to find on the day of the harvest that the crops he toiled for became someone else’s. How could he bear it?

Thus, he decided to go for broke and initiate the plan today.

However, Jue Ming was not willing to cooperate. He had been worried initially and the Arhat’s hasty actions only made him feel more uncertain about the future.

"Rest assured, today I will transform into your likeness and go myself. You just stay in the temple and wait for the merit to descend," the Arhat confidently said.

He had also noticed that Jue Ming did not want to carry out the plan, but by now, Jue Ming’s role was at its end; even without him, the plan could proceed. So, to be safe, the Arhat decided to take matters into his own hands, which would secure the enlightenment of the mortal world’s king and the initiation of the plan.

"If that is the case, this old monk will wait here in the temple for the Venerable One’s good news," Jue Ming said softly, his tone neither sad nor happy, seemingly unaffected by the external turmoil.

"Good, old monk, just wait here. I will show you the descent of the Buddha Kingdom upon this land," the Arhat laughed heartily as he left the temple.

Jue Ming walked slowly into the main hall, where the majestic and compassionate Golden Body Buddha statue sat on the Lotus Platform, as though it had always been watching over this place, unchanged throughout the ages. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Amitabha Buddha!" A chant echoed in the empty great hall.

Meanwhile, the complacently triumphant Arhat was transforming into Jue Ming’s likeness and swaggered into the Imperial Palace.

The surrounding guards and eunuchs all looked at him with reverence. During this time, the Emperor’s esteem for Master Jue Ming had grown day by day, to the point of almost taking him as a teacher. Inhabitants of the palace were especially adept at discerning the unspoken.

Although Master Jue Ming was compassionate and kind, never making life difficult for anyone, these people were still extremely cautious, fearing they might inadvertently offend this favored man in the Emperor’s eyes.

The Arhat relished in these looks; back on Mount Ling, disciples would gaze at him with similar reverence, but since arriving in Dongsheng Shenzhou, he had long been deprived of such attention.

His face, however, maintained an expression of neither joy nor sorrow; after all, he had spent a lot of time with Jue Ming and had mastered his habits and expressions. Anyone who saw him now would not doubt he was Jue Ming.

"Master, you have finally arrived!" In the Emperor’s excited voice, the Arhat slowly stepped into the palace, beginning to execute his meticulously prepared plan.

As usual, he preached Buddhist teachings; being an Arhat from Mount Ling, he was very proficient in the Buddhist Law, which is why he could answer all of the Emperor’s queries.

It was not until the teachings were over that the Arhat finally showed his true intentions, as he shouted to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, if not now, when will you convert to our Buddhism!"