The prosperity of the Three Realms can conquer the heart of anyone who beholds it.

The monk progressed on his journey, the more he saw, the more astonished he felt in his heart.

"This place seems to be even better than Pure Land..."

After passing by some temples, the monk even began to doubt his own faith.

As the replacement for the White Robed Venerate, he knew that Pure Land had many flaws.

Although the Three Realms couldn't grant all wishes immediately, their prosperity was not less than that of Pure Land, and the coexistence between the Buddhist sects and the ordinary people of this world was very harmonious, even more so free.

The monk's faith was somewhat shaken.

He continued on his way and came to the foot of Kunlun Mountain.

Here, Taoist sects were prominent, with fewer temples, and Taoist disciples were practicing swordsmanship among the trees.

An elder Taoist saw the monk, his eyes lit up, and he stepped forward to ask: "Elder, where do you hail from?"

"Southern Continent."

The monk brought his hands together in a gesture of respect.

The elder Taoist immediately invited the monk warmly to sit down under the pine trees and share tea and philosophy.

This was not the first time the monk had been invited; with each invitation, he would remark on the goodness of the Three Realms' hearts, not much less than that of Pure Land.

From the elder Taoist's mouth, the monk learned that he was the Temple Master of a nearby Daoist Temple, leading his disciples here to appreciate the scenery and practice swordsmanship.

"Although my disciples are young, each and every one of them is extraordinary," proudly claimed the elder Taoist.

The monk looked up just in time to see a young girl landing on top of the bamboo grove, swiftly flying away on her sword.

"What kind of demon is that?"

He noticed that the girl had a tail behind her.

"Fox Demon."

The elder Taoist stroked his beard and smiled: "Among my disciples, there are seven humans and seven demons."

The monk was filled with deep sentiment; the equality between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan within the Three Realms was something rarely seen in other Star Palaces.

While the two were casually chatting, suddenly a sword light streaked across the sky, heading towards a nearby waterfall.

"Not good!"

The elder Taoist's expression changed dramatically, and he leapt up, turning into a rainbow light chasing after that sword light.

"What's happening?"

The monk was curious and went over to take a look.

He saw that at the base of the waterfall, there was a stone effigy of the Heavenly Emperor standing amidst the waters, surrounded by an angry troop of monkeys.

The elder Taoist was reprimanding a boy, making him apologize to the troop.

"You unruly child, lacking in propriety, how dare you disrespect the Heavenly Emperor."

The elder Taoist said: "Apologize to them at once!"

"Yes..."

The boy bowed and apologized to the surrounding monkeys.

The troop of monkeys bustled around for a while before gradually dispersing.

"So that's how it is."

The monk looked towards the stone effigy.

All the effigies he had seen on his way were unviolated by anyone.

The elder Taoist's and the monkeys' reactions were quite normal and not surprising, but the stone effigy beneath the waterfall had captured the monk's attention.

"Why are there so many offerings?"

He asked.

At the base of the stone effigy, offerings were plentiful, and the effigy itself also emitted a stream of Immortal Energy, as if on the verge of becoming sentient.

"These offerings are all meant for the Heavenly Emperor."

The elder Taoist shook his head, explaining: "Those monkeys have listened to the rumours about the music notes, believing that the Heavenly Emperor has perished, hence they are even more irascible."

"Musical note rumors?"

The monk was puzzled; he also had seen these musical notes, weren't they meant for educating all beings? How could there be rumors?

He asked and learned that there was an Immortal named Qing Yuanzi who wrote a controversial book called "Heavenly Emperor's Biography," which became popular across the Three Realms, leading many to mistakenly believe that the Heavenly Emperor ultimately perished together with the Buddha Beads.

"The Heavenly Emperor left along with the Buddha Beads, his fate unknown, and as time passed, more and more people believed he had fallen."

This is what the elder Taoist said.

The monk immediately became curious: "Temple Master, do you have a copy of the 'Heavenly Emperor's Biography' that I could take a look at?"

"That has become a banned book."

The elder Taoist chuckled: "Now it's forbidden to be traded."

The monk felt somewhat disappointed.

"Ask him where you can find Qing Yuanzi."

At this moment, the voice of the White Robed Venerate reached his ears.

The monk nodded and asked the old Taoist, "Where is Qing Yuanzi?"

"No one knows."

The old Taoist replied, "The Heavenly Empress has issued a decree to hunt him down, and nobody knows where he has hidden."

He continued with a chuckle, "Qing Yuanzi is exceedingly clever. Many have sought his life and yet, to this date, he remains unscathed. He will surely reappear in the future."

The monk couldn't help but sigh, acknowledging that it takes a bold individual indeed to fabricate rumors about the Heavenly Emperor.

"Go find Qing Yuanzi immediately."

The White Robed Venerate spoke once again.

"Find Qing Yuanzi?"

The monk was startled, "Why seek him?"

"Do not ask further questions, I will guide you. Find him and that will be sufficient."

The White Robed Venerate instructed.

The monk had no choice but to agree, bid farewell to the old Taoist, and embarked on the journey to find Qing Yuanzi.

Possessing Supreme Divine Power, the White Robed Venerate could deduce all things in the Three Realms with absolute clarity after some time.

Following his guidance, the monk found Qing Yuanzi in less than half a day.

Qing Yuanzi was hiding in a Daoist Temple in the Eastern Divine Continent. Besides him, the monk also saw a Wanling Tree within the temple, its brilliance dazzling.

Enshrouded in a hazy Immortal Energy, the tree veiled the temple, cutting off all external perceptions.

"So that's how it is."

The monk uttered, "You have been shielded by the Heavenly Dao, allowing you to escape the pursuit of the Heavenly Empress."

"Who are you?"

Qing Yuanzi looked at the monk curiously.

It was quite strange; how could this man without mana find him?

Just as the monk was about to reply, his body suddenly became immobile, and a stream of Buddha Light rose from his lower abdomen.

"Venerable."

A chill went through the monk's heart, and he immediately allowed the Buddha Light to take over his body.

His eyes turned golden in an instant.

"I am known as White Robed."

The monk spoke again, his voice as if descending from beyond the heavens, "Qing Yuanzi, I can save your life."

"Save me?"

Qing Yuanzi stood dazed, "Why save me?"

"You claim that the Heavenly Emperor is dead and have offended the Heavenly Empress."

The monk stated, "I can resurrect the Heavenly Emperor and plead on your behalf."

Qing Yuanzi's eyes gleamed, "You can bring the Heavenly Emperor back to life?"

"Of course."

The monk nodded, and as he was about to speak further, laughter echoed once again.

"I was wondering who was playing tricks on my perception, deceiving me. And here you are, showing yourself voluntarily."

With the laughter, an illusory image of a Phoenix appeared atop the Wanling Tree.

"Qing Yuanzi, step away from that man."

The Phoenix spoke, "He intends to use the falsehoods you created to fabricate a Heavenly Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Qing Yuanzi stepped back sharply, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Why would this happen?"

He couldn't understand what was happening.

"People believe in the Heavenly Emperor, and their devotions can be materialized."

The monk's voice was calm as he explained, "Even without his falsehoods, a Heavenly Emperor would emerge."

"But by using him, you could immediately create a Heavenly Emperor."

The Phoenix asserted, "Who exactly are you, and why would you do such a thing?"

"Who I am is not important."

A trace of admiration appeared on the monk's face as he responded, "I have concealed my purpose well throughout my journey, yet you have deduced my intentions. Wanling Heavenly Dao is indeed endowed with vast Divine Skills."

"Lord of the Heavenly Dao."

He extended an invitation to the Phoenix, "Once the matter here is concluded, perhaps you would join me in carving out a path for the beings of Chaos."

The Phoenix was momentarily taken aback, then began to laugh.

"I am not the Lord of the Heavenly Dao; another holds that position."

She laughed, "Do you not even know this?"

The monk shook his head; of course, he knew.

But he was equally aware that if Sun Wukong were to die, the Phoenix would become the Lord of the Heavenly Dao.

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