Elder Bai stepped forward, and the Xuan Qing Sect disciples, however unwilling, could only quiet down, returning to their rooms and ending the verbal spat.
Xu Yi's snacks were also confiscated.
The reason given was that they were unsightly.
Xu Yi was very unconvinced, but she ultimately compromised under the threat of Elder Bai's golden needle.
Even after arriving at the Myriad Buddhas Mountain Gate and disembarking from the Flowing Light Boat, Xu Yi's spirits remained low.
"Sister Yang Mei, have you been resting well these past few days?"
Chen Tao, with sharp eyes, spotted Xu Yi and the other girl and quickly approached them, standing obsequiously beside Yang Mei and inquiring about her well-being.
Yang Mei held no ill will towards Chen Tao and usually enjoyed chatting with him, but at this moment, she was not in the mood. Her attention was captivated by the scene before them.
"This is the Myriad Buddhas Sect." Yang Mei's face was filled with awe.
Even Xu Yi was affected, her eyes showing reverence.
Outside the Myriad Buddhas Sect lay a Sky Staircase that vanished into the clouds.
On either side of the Sky Staircase stood numerous statues of gods and buddhas, each with a different demeanor, some with hair bristling in anger, others with solemn and dignified appearances.
Surrounded by buddhas, with incense smoke coiling upwards, the low chanting of Buddhist mantras seemed to echo in their ears.
Xu Yi felt as if the fatigue of recent days had been swept away, her mind and body undergoing a purification.
"Yo, why are the Xuan Qing Sect people only arriving now? Our Great Artifact Sect arrived yesterday. Your boat really needs an upgrade!"
"That's right. If you can't manage it, you can come to the Great Artifact Sect and ask us for help."
"Hahaha!"
Harsh, clamorous voices suddenly erupted. Xu Yi's brow furrowed slightly, and for the first time, she found the people from the Great Artifact Sect to be so noisy.
The disciples of the Xuan Qing Sect, being openly mocked by those from the Great Artifact Sect, glared back with defiance. A few impulsive disciples even lifted their robes, preparing to fight.
*Bong—*
A simple, ancient bell tone rang out, like a gentle breeze, suppressing all the clamor.
Xu Yi looked up and saw a Buddhist cultivator with a round face, large ears, gentle eyes, and an ageless appearance walking barefoot.
"Sect Leader Qinglian, the Abbot has been waiting in the temple for a long time."
He walked directly to the Flowing Light Boat, cupped his hands together, and called out loudly.
Upon hearing that the leader of the Xuan Qing Sect was their Sect Leader, the disciples of the Great Artifact Sect blushed and covered their faces as they retreated.
True Person Qinglian slowly emerged, his gaze falling on the Buddhist cultivator, and he said in a deep voice, "Are you the Myriad Buddhas Sect's Buddha Son, Hong Jing?"
Buddha Son!
Xu Yi and the others' hearts tightened, and their gaze towards Hong Jing became more scrutinizing.
"This humble monk is ashamed."
Hong Jing performed another Buddhist salutation, his voice devoid of emotion.
Sect Leader Qinglian seemed to have lost interest after ascertaining his identity and said indifferently, "Lead the way."
"Please follow me."
Hong Jing bowed slightly and led the group into the Myriad Buddhas Sect's territory.
Xu Yi mingled with the Xuan Qing Sect disciples, walking step by step until she stepped onto the Sky Staircase.
*Boom!*
As Xu Yi's foot touched the first step, a vast amount of information surged into her sea of consciousness.
In an instant, she was pulled into another scene.
Below the Sky Staircase outside the Myriad Buddhas Sect, stood a man and a woman.
The woman had skin like ice and bones like jade, possessing a captivating beauty and radiating an air of disdain for all under heaven.
Beside her was a tall, slender Buddhist cultivator with a face like a painting.
Xu Yi was startled.
This woman was her junior sister, Liu Jinghong!
The Buddhist cultivator's lips moved, seemingly speaking to Liu Jinghong, and a trace of emotion, almost imperceptible, was hidden in his previously indifferent eyes.
In an instant, Xu Yi also recognized the Buddhist cultivator's identity.
Ci Zhou, one of Liu Jinghong's admirers and the former Buddha Son of the Myriad Buddhas Sect.
Xu Yi was filled with shock.
Why was she suddenly witnessing a scene from two thousand years ago?
Before she could understand the reason, Liu Jinghong, like her just moments before, stepped onto the Sky Staircase.
Then, she saw a faint golden light point float from the steps and merge into Liu Jinghong's body.
Ci Zhou, standing beside her, also witnessed the scene, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Liu Jinghong exhaled gently and slowly ascended to the second step.
Then another faint golden light point entered her body.
Subsequently, the third, fourth, and fifth steps…
One by one, the light points, as if summoned, surged into her body.
Soon, her skin began to emit a golden radiance, her eyes seemed to contain the brilliance of the rising sun, and with every movement, a boundless power was subtly revealed.
Even the incorporeal Xu Yi seemed to feel a righteous aura emanating from her, capable of warding off all evil.
By the time Liu Jinghong completed all ninety-nine hundred and ninety-nine steps of the Sky Staircase, her skin had returned to normal, but a faint Buddha light lingered behind her, making her appear like a celestial maiden, transcendent and refined.
However, neither the Buddha Son Ci Zhou nor Liu Jinghong showed much joy after completing the Sky Staircase.
Xu Yi even saw a flicker of dissatisfaction in Liu Jinghong's eyes.
Xu Yi felt a pang of envy.
Although she didn't know the specific function of those golden light points, she knew they were undeniably beneficial.
Liu Jinghong had obtained those light points effortlessly yet remained dissatisfied, which was truly enviable.
But Xu Yi was already accustomed to it.
She felt it was perfectly normal for anything incredible to happen to Liu Jinghong.
Just then, Liu Jinghong and Ci Zhou vanished on the Sky Staircase, and a blinding golden light suddenly appeared, shattering the scene before Xu Yi's eyes and engulfing her consciousness.
Before Xu Yi could react, her consciousness plunged into an endless expanse of golden light.
Myriad Buddhas Sect Sky Staircase.
Long Haotian took two steps forward and suddenly felt the figure beside him not following. He frowned and looked back, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Senior Sister Xu is glowing!"
A disciple suddenly exclaimed.
Attracted by the voice, the disciples looked towards Xu Yi and gaped.
Senior Sister Xu was indeed glowing!
Xu Yi's eyes were tightly closed, a smile on her lips, and her entire body was enveloped in a faint golden light that flickered intermittently.
The Buddha Son Hong Jing, hearing the voices behind him, stopped and turned. The next moment, his calm and composed expression vanished.
This is…
"Silence!"
Sect Leader Qinglian seemed to realize something. He flicked his sleeve, and a barrier appeared, blocking everyone outside of Xu Yi.
He glanced at Bei Xinghan, who wore an impassive expression, and sighed inwardly, lamenting that the opportunity hadn't fallen to a disciple of his own Xuan Qing Sect, considering it a great advantage for Xu Yi.
Although the Xuan Qing Sect disciples didn't know what had happened to Xu Yi, seeing their Sect Leader's expression, they had already formed their own thoughts and looked at Xu Yi with envious eyes.
Senior Sister Xu is truly amazing.
Meanwhile, Hong Jing also used a voice transmission disc to report the matter to the elders of his sect.
Before long, several streams of light appeared on the Sky Staircase, like a whirlwind, and in the blink of an eye, they descended beside Xu Yi, not even sparing a glance for the Xuan Qing Sect Leader or the Buddha Son Hong Jing.
Hong Jing was unconcerned and smiled faintly, "Sect Leader Qinglian, please."
Sect Leader Qinglian glanced once more at Xu Yi, who was surrounded by several Buddhist cultivators, shook his head, and led his disciples onward towards the Myriad Buddhas Sect.
What a pity, what a pity.