The Thirty-Six Heavens, where the dharma fields of various Buddhas and Heavenly Venerates seemed to be stirring with turbulence.

Lingjiu Mountain.

Song Lin observed everything.

Indeed, after Lord Lao-zi departed, another calamity was brewing. The rivalry between the Buddhist Sect and Taoist School involved the myriad beings of the Three Realms; war was likely inevitable in the future.

"First, I'll join the Heavenly Court, and later handle matters with the Buddhist Sect."

Song Lin thought to himself. The Heavenly Court was currently in dire need of personnel; by showcasing some talent and loyalty, it would be easy to secure his footing there. Afterward, he could freely expand his power.

As for the Buddhist Sect, the Jade Emperor himself served as a safeguard. Though the Jade Emperor might be wary of Song Lin's growth and expansion, he wouldn't act against him at this moment.

He would also sow seeds early within the Buddhist Sect.

...

Western Sollo Capital.

The palace was heavily guarded. The sentries wore stern expressions, determined not to let even a fly slip past.

In the harem, a burly Great Han with a thick beard paced nervously. The anguished cries from the rear courtyard occasionally made their way through, causing cold sweat to run down his forehead.

As a king who had fought ferociously on the battlefield, no matter how mighty his enemies were, they couldn't make him flinch. Yet now, the prospect of the queen giving birth left him utterly panicked.

It was no wonder he was tense. At over forty years old, with hundreds of wives and no children born, how could he not be on edge now that one was finally on the way?

Waaaah! Waaaah!

With the cry of a newborn baby, the door cracked open. The midwife beamed with joy like a blossoming chrysanthemum: "Congratulations, my lord! Congratulations! A young prince has been born!"

The king hurried inside and held the child. After weeping a few times, the baby fell silent and stared at the king with its big, shiny eyes.

"Haha, this child's eyebrows are exactly like mine!" said the king, grinning proudly while a maid nearby wore an amused but speechless expression.

"Letian (Jin Naluo in Sanskrit), let this child be named Letian, hoping he would live as carefree as a Heavenly God!"

The king adored the child immensely. He intended to pass the throne to him, enlist hundreds of maids, build him a house of gold, and give him everything within his power!

The prince's birth ignited nationwide jubilation.

The king decreed an amnesty across the realm. Each prefecture and county celebrated for three days and nights, sharing joy with millions of subjects.

As one of the great states in the West, Solo Country could certainly bear such expenses.

Seventeen years later.

Letian grew up smoothly. The king indeed recruited hundreds of maids, as well as scores of court physicians from East and West standing by constantly. Moreover, he invited Western monks, Eastern great scholars, and eminent Taoists to educate him.

Everything from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, to falconry, hounds, daggers, and swords – Letian was granted anything he wished for.

The king wasn't secretive about his plan either and often declared to his ministers that Letian was to succeed him.

Thus, Letian grew up in this environment, possessing everything the world had to offer.

In the back garden.

One day, a handsome young man stared blankly at the void.

Attended by guards and maids, with two children fanning him, they couldn't understand why Letian, who seemed to have everything as the Little King, was still melancholic. If it were them, wouldn't they find endless delight in such luxury?

Even Letian himself didn't know. He couldn't understand why he wasn't happy. Despite his treasure vault being unable to contain all the riches, something felt missing.

Another year passed.

At eighteen, Letian underwent his crowning ceremony. The king arranged a peer-selection event, recruiting hundreds of beauties to fill Letian's harem and sent a minister to another great nation to propose marriage and betroth the king's daughter to his son.

Princess Jialuo, celebrated as the greatest beauty of the Western Region, with her noble status and exquisite appearance, was the one deemed worthy of being Letian's main consort.

The king thought everything was going smoothly, yet an unforeseen incident occurred.

On the night of the wedding, Letian fled the marriage.

Thereafter, despite the king searching the entire nation, Letian's whereabouts remained unknown.

Some claimed Letian had become an ascetic monk. A person once saw a ragged figure passing by, resembling Prince Letian.

Others speculated Letian had enjoyed too much worldly fortune, prompting Heaven to whisk him away. Unable to accept this, the king used disappearance as a pretext.

The king searched for Letian for four years, eventually ceasing his search only after a second son was born. Letian's disappearance became an enduring mystery.

Amidst the remote Ten Thousand Great Mountains, beneath cascading waterfalls within dense foliage, stood a shirtless man, letting the rushing falls cleanse his scarred body while entering an unfathomable mystical state.

This man was none other than Letian.

Simultaneously, this was the reincarnated form of Song Lin.

Though this incarnation lacked memories and information from his previous existence.

The current Letian sought the Great Dao based solely on remnants of insights left behind by Song Lin, his pursuit intertwining Buddhist and Taoist teachings.

This hidden seed followed an orthodox Buddhist path of cultivation, poised for activation when necessary in the future.

Another twenty years passed.

The old king passed away, and the new king ascended the throne.

During the king's funeral ceremony, a ragged monk suddenly appeared before the king's shrine, meticulously offering incense. Before the guards could seize him, the monk dissipated into golden light in full view of the crowd.

Within the golden radiance faint traces of the old king's silhouette could be discerned.

Court elders later identified the monk as Letian, who had vanished years ago.

This incident evolved into legend, immortalized across countless generations.

Letian ascended to the Western Pure Land, continuing cultivation for a century before attaining the Bodhisattva Fruit. The Buddha anointed Letian as Jin Naluo Bodhisattva.

The old king was reincarnated as a Heavenly Human, blessed with boundless lifespan.

...

Heavenly Court.

The Jade Emperor issued a decree summoning his ministers once again, with Song Lin now occupying a new seat among them.

Over the years, Song Lin frequently contributed pills, fostering numerous capable followers for the Jade Emperor, thus naturally earning his place within the Heavenly Emperor's council.

The Jade Emperor's brow bore a trace of weariness.

As speculated by Heavenly Lord Luo, the initial efforts to eradicate Buddhism proceeded relatively smoothly, but later the Buddhist Sect mounted its counterattack, reducing the six Taoist traditions of Central Plains to the Demon Sect.

In dealing with such tactics, the Heavenly Court was clearly inferior to the eloquence and rhetoric of the monks.

"Do my beloved ministers have any suggestions?"

"Your Majesty, I have a proposal. However, I'm unsure whether I should voice it or not," the Emperor Supreme began.

"Speak."

"Rather than fighting endlessly, why not set clear boundaries, dividing East and West, so neither interferes with the other?"

The title of Lord of the Three Realms constrained the Heavenly Court's maneuvers.

The Three Realms saw Buddhism spread within them, but there was no sign of Taoist influences being propagated into the Buddhist Realm.

The Buddhist Sect held the moral high ground. If the Heavenly Court attempted to propagate Taoist teachings in the Buddha Realm, they'd be accused of coveting the assets of smaller households; conversely, banning the Buddhist Sect from spreading within the Three Realms would invite claims of oppression as members of the same realm.

It might be better to formally demarcate boundaries, forcing the Buddhist Sect to retreat of its own volition, thus avoiding the current scenario of infiltration.

"Nonsense! This solution is absolutely unacceptable."

The Jade Emperor sharply rejected the suggestion, his Dharma Eye glaring at the Emperor Supreme, thunder rumbling from the void.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan."

Song Lin abruptly spoke.

"Speak, my loyal subject."

"The Heavenly Court has many factions – Buddhist, demon, and Netherworld powerhouses alike. Many divine beings outwardly obey but secretly collaborate with outsiders. Why not establish a dedicated department responsible for meting out punishment and thoroughly reforming internal affairs?

"As for personnel, we can train our own, preventing interference from other forces."

"This suggestion is excellent."

The Jade Emperor scanned the room before setting his gaze on Song Lin: "Why not have my loyal subject oversee this operation?"

...

Real World.

Song Lin's secluded void turbulence.

At this moment, golden lights shot towards him from all directions – within each, monks were faintly visible.

At the forefront stood a Buddha with a bronze-colored dharma body.

If Song Lin were here, he would undoubtedly recognize this as Lingwei Buddha.

Behind Lingwei was an immense assembly of Buddha soldiers, seemingly in search of something. This commotion stirred Song Lin from his secluded state.

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