"Clang, clang, clang——"

On Ling Tai Mountain, the bell tolled continuously.

Though Taibai True Monarch was turned away this time, the great upheaval caused by his visit did not cease with the disappearance of the two individuals involved.

Even though Sun Wukong's identity remained unknown, seeing him stand equal with Taibai True Monarch was enough for people to assume he was of the third grade. And a third grade, at any time or place, stands as a pivotal figure, capable of stirring quite a wave.

Taibai True Monarch's visit and the appearance of an unknown third grade caused movement throughout Ling Tai Mountain.

It was curious, however, that the area around No Buddha Temple, which should have drawn the most attention, remained silent. Clearly, the unknown third grade entered No Buddha Temple last. Even the monks on Ling Tai Mountain were tacitly avoiding No Buddha Temple.

This led to a situation where, despite other places being filled with people, the area around No Buddha Temple was completely deserted.

Even the fourth-rank monks from Buddha Country guarding Ling Tai Mountain did not appear near No Buddha Temple.

Yet within a realm not easily perceived by ordinary people, Divine Thought was moving stealthily, circling the Golden Circle outside No Buddha Temple, observing in secret.

"To cultivate a third grade without us noticing at all, Chief, haven't you been in closed-door cultivation all these years...

On a peak of Ling Tai Mountain, a tall and robust monk clad in a red robe stood before the cliff, his marble-carved face showing a bit of gloom as he gazed at the glistening Golden Circle in the distance, murmuring.

Behind this monk was a large complex of palaces covering most of the mountain peak, arranged in the shape of a mandala, representing its affiliation with the Esoteric Sect, one of the eight veins of Buddha Country.

The only group able to hold such a place on Ling Tai Mountain was the Ancestor Court of the Esoteric Sect, Ling Gan Temple.

The monk observing the distant Buddhist temple held a gloomy mental state that extended a palpable heaviness in the surrounding, weighing down the spirit, even causing the approaching young man nearby to feel oppressed.

"Vajrapani Bodhisattva."

The young man clad in the Fierce Mountain Robe uttered, sensing the invisible heaviness slightly dissipate before approaching, saying, "There are no signs of movement from any other veins, at Jiuhua Temple, Brothers Hui Lun and Hui Neng are still listening to the teachings at the seat of Revolving Wheel Bodhisattva."

The red-robed monk was none other than one of the Six Great Bodhisattvas of Buddha Country, in charge of the Esoteric Sect Vein, Vajrapani Bodhisattva, and this youth was Jiang Zhuliu, the second son of the former master of the Jiang family, who once stood before Manjusri and Guanyin representing the Jiang family.

Of course, that meeting was just a formality, as the Jiang Family had long established its roots within Buddha Country. After that, Jiang Zhuliu entered Buddha Country and became a part of Manjusri's retinue, also responsible for leading the Jiang Clan within Buddha Country.

Meanwhile, Vajrapani Bodhisattva was not a member of the Jiang family, but a direct descendant of Manjusri, most trusted by him, serving as Manjusri's backup to stabilize the rear.

But now it appears that the rear of Buddha Country is not as stable with Vajrapani.

"Zhuanlun was once the most favored Buddha Child by the Chief. A hundred years ago, we even thought he might become the Chief's direct disciple, until Ye Ru emerged..." Vajrapani said.

To this day, many in Buddha Country still believe that Ye Ru was secretly taken as a disciple by the Awakened. Especially since Vajrapani learned from Manjusri that the cultivation techniques of Ye Ru and the Awakened can be said to be of the same origin, further confirming this matter.

This led to Vajrapani being somewhat uncertain about the stance of Zhuanlun Bodhisattva.

In truth, Zhuanlun Bodhisattva should be referred to as King Zhuanlun, for he embodies not the Bodhisattva Dao Fruit but the Dao Fruit of King Zhuanlun from the Ten Halls of Yama.

Originally believed to be the future direct disciple of the Awakened, Ye Ru emerged unexpectedly. Even the battle between Ye Ru and the Awakened led to the death and injury of over two hundred thousand living creatures in Buddha Country. To resolve resentment, King Zhuanlun gave up his future, destroyed his physical body, switched to Ghost Path, and ascended to Yama Dao Fruit.

Hence, what could have been a bright future, even becoming the Chief's disciple, was lost for King Zhuanlun. Buddha Country did not have a suitable Dao Fruit for him to further advance, nor did it have appropriate cultivation techniques for Ghost Cultivation, as King Zhuanlun switched paths halfway and needs to explore cultivation methods on his new path.

If not for this switch, with Zhuanlun King's talent, after a hundred years, he might have already become third grade by now.

Once thought to be the Awakened's direct disciple, and now bypassed by Ye Ru, the future path blocked, Vajrapani thought empathetically that King Zhuanlun might inevitably harbor resentment.

However, the Awakened seemed to continue trusting King Zhuanlun. The two disciples later accepted, the eldest disciple Hui Lun received cultivation technique transmissions on behalf of King Zhuanlun, and the second disciple Hui Neng often listened to teachings from King Zhuanlun.

Judging by the current situation, King Zhuanlun seems to be positioned between Manjusri and the Awakened, being neutral.

As for the implication of Vajrapani—

"Does the Bodhisattva believe King Zhuanlun can be won over?" Jiang Zhuliu, as the son of the Jiang Family Master, naturally lacked no political acumen, immediately grasping what Vajrapani meant.

"It's a chance to probe him."

Vajrapani said in a deep voice, "Today's matter must promptly be made known to Manjusri Bodhisattva, requesting King Zhuanlun to open the Netherworld Channel, which is the quickest and most covert method of sending messages."

The elder of the Jiang family was once a power-holder in the Yin Law Department, thus the Jiang Family also possessed Ghost Attribute Dao Fruits, and brought many Ghost Attribute Dao Fruits when leaving the Divine Capital.

The Jiang Family preserving some Essence Qi was also thanks to the Ghost Attribute Dao Fruits.

Under current circumstances, the quickest and most covert way to send messages is through opening the Netherworld Channel, allowing ghost cultivators to use the Yin World as a hub, swiftly proceeding to Manjusri's side to deliver messages. Simultaneously, this could offer a glimpse into King Zhuanlun's specific stance through this matter.

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