Chapter 321: Approved

Before long, the outline of Longhu Mountain appeared at the far edge of his view.

Unlike the usual atmosphere, Longhu Mountain at this moment could be described as a gathering of stormy omens.

Beyond the mountain gate, on the plaza, disciples of the Daoist Sect dressed in various Dao robes, representing different lineages, could be seen everywhere.

Some gathered in groups of three to five, murmuring about the Dao; others sat quietly meditating to nurture their vital energy, while the air was thick with incense and an invisible, untriggered Dao Rhythm fluctuation.

In addition to members of the Daoist Sect, a large number of people from various quarters had come to observe the ceremony.

Yu Lin gave a casual glance and, from a prime platform midway up the mountain, saw several acquaintances from the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Su Qu and others were seated in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau's exclusive guesthouse corridor, apparently discussing something.

In front of the civilian organization, Ning Ya idly scrolled her phone, occasionally flashing a strange grin, as if up to some mischief.

Hmm, Yu Lin selectively ignored the attractive video she had forwarded.

Additionally, there were some overseas presences.

Near the main hall of the Tianshi Residence, outside a side hall, he saw the contemporary Zhang Tianshi chatting with the Pope Francis of Christianity.

Both wore smiles, as if some future collaboration was forthcoming.

Beside Francis, the nun An Yu stood quietly.

Seemingly moved, An Yu, who had been listening to the Pope and Tianshi's conversation, suddenly turned her head; her clear gaze pierced the crowd and landed precisely on Yu Lin, who had just leapt from a flying sword.

A smile appeared on her face; after a slight bow toward the Pope and Zhang Tianshi, she walked straight toward Yu Lin.

Daoists and onlookers along the way, whether familiar with her or not, were drawn to the nun heading toward Yu Lin, and also noticed the young man she was approaching.

Those who knew her began chatting with their companions; those who didn't recognized her after a single glance.

An Yu came before Yu Lin:

"Saint, the guest room is already prepared."

"Hmm." Yu Lin nodded, smiling, "Thank you."

"How's your charitable work lately? Want me to help?"

Because of the earlier Israel incident, An Yu set up a charity in the Middle East, vowing to reform the local atmosphere, so she hadn't stayed by Yu Lin's side.

He had no objections, still saying the same thing: stay busy, stay busy with good deeds.

When he eventually becomes an immortal, he'll be so busy that he can't even find anything to occupy himself with.

Hearing that, An Yu shook her head and said, "No need to trouble you, I can manage on my own."

"The Pope sent two Round Table Knights to help me,"

Two Round Table Knights.

That indeed meant I didn't need his help.

"That's good," Yu Lin nodded, then his gaze fell on the approaching Zhang Tianshi and the Pope.

After a round of polite small talk, they took their seats.

The Luotian Grand Ritual usually lasts more than 3–7 days, each day divided into three altars: morning, noon, and evening.

The altar area is divided into the "Inner Altar": offering to the Three Purities, the Jade Emperor, and other principal deities;

"Outer Altar": encircling the Inner Altar, with over a thousand Divine Seats, covering the three realms of heaven, earth, and water, the sun, moon, stars, and the spirits of mountains and rivers, etc.

The core Ritual essentially begins by opening the altar and respectfully inviting the Three Purities, the Jade Emperor, the Four Sovereigns, and other supreme deities to descend upon the altar, thereby commencing the ceremony.

Then, by reciting classics such as the Jade Emperor Sutra, the Salvation Sutra, and the Tao Te Ching, together with a repentance ceremony, sins of all beings are washed away and merit accumulated.

Next, worldly prayers—such as national peace, favorable weather, personal disaster relief—are formally presented to the deities via a "petition document."

Finally come the stepping‑strong and fighting movements, ritual performances, and rites for the departed.

The closing ceremony first recites the "Sending Saint Mantra" to send the immortals back, then recites the "Dedication Text" to dedicate the ceremony's merit to all beings, including participants, non‑participants, and all sentient beings.

Therefore.

The morning bell rang, and the Dharma drums sounded thrice.

Zhang Tianshi, clad in a purple ceremonial robe, wearing a lotus crown, holding a jade tablet, led the senior Dharma Masters, performing the rites according to their respective sections.

For a moment, within the altar, celestial music drifted, Runes fluttered, and the stepping‑strong and fighting postures were ineffably wondrous.

The ceremony proceeded step by step, from opening the altar, requesting water, raising banners, announcing proclamations, reciting the meticulously written "Petition to the Saint," respectfully inviting the heavenly deities to descend upon the altar, inspecting merit, and receiving prayers.

Zhang Tianshi stood at the core of the Inner Altar, his voice like gold and jade, loudly reciting that green‑script petition which gathered myriad faithful energies and the essence of the Daoist Sect.

Its diction was archaic and its meaning profound, reaching the Three Purities and Four Sovereigns, and reporting to the mountain‑river spirits, praying for national peace, favorable weather, the elimination of sins, and the happiness of all beings.

As the final syllable imbued with Dao Rhythm fell from Zhang Tianshi's mouth, the entire petition seemed to be infused with a soul, turning into a visible azure‑black qi that rose gracefully, soaring straight into the heavens!

And in that instant—

On the viewing platform, while quietly talking with Ling Dongxuan, a sudden anomaly erupted before the relaxed Yu Lin.

Without any warning, a dazzling golden radiance flared before his eyes, quickly coalescing and contracting, eventually becoming a scroll of neither silk nor paper but shimmering with flowing light, which drifted lightly and landed precisely in his hand.

On the scroll, Dao Rhythm swirled, Runes faintly appeared, and it was precisely the "Petition to the Saint" that Zhang Tianshi had just recited!

In an instant!

The entire Longhu Mountain seemed to have been muted.

Both inside and outside the altar, all chanting, celestial music, and discussion fell silent.

Whether it was Zhang Tianshi and the senior Dharma Masters presiding on the altar, or the Taixu elites like Ling Dongxuan and Civil Affairs Bureau members such as Su Qu watching below, or Pope Francis and his entourage, or the tens of thousands of Daoist Sect disciples and ordinary believers… everyone's gaze was drawn to the golden petition that landed in Yu Lin's hand, all eyes converging on him alone!

Shock, bewilderment, disbelief, contemplation… countless complex emotions interwove and shifted across those faces.

Zhang Tianshi, holding the jade tablet, froze mid‑air, his eyes filled with a restrained terror.

Ling Dongxuan's hand, which had been stroking his mustache, paused briefly, a flash of sharp light flickering in his eyes before vanishing.

Bai Xiaoxia and Ning Ya were so startled they covered their mouths, eyes wide and round.

Seated upright beside them, Pope Francis made a cross on his chest and whispered:

"Saint, this is…"

Yu Lin, pinned to the spot by countless gazes, first froze, then felt the weight of the document in his hand—heavy, as if bearing countless prayers and the Heavenly Path's response—then lifted his eyes to scan the deathly silence of the crowd, and the look on Zhang Tianshi's face on the high altar, which seemed shocked but hid a hint of 'as I expected' deep in his eyes……

His mind instantly became like a clear mirror, a thought flashing through:

"When the time comes, I'll know........ turns out you were waiting for me here?"

He thought so, but Yu Lin's face remained calm, even showing a hint of having expected it.

Under the gaze of all, he slowly rose, brushed off nonexistent dust from his robes, then faced the deathly silence of the crowd and gave a calm, light cough:

"Cough."

Immediately, he picked up the gold document under everyone's gaze, as if merely reviewing a routine file, and casually uttered two words:

"Approved."

The moment his words fell, the gold document in his hand ignited without flame, turning into a pure, warm golden fire; in an instant it burned out, becoming specks of golden dust that drifted into the air, leaving no trace.

Everyone: "…………"

The whole venue remained deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Only the sound of the mountain wind and the golden dust not yet fully dissipated flickered faintly in the air, illuminating every face filled with huge question marks and bewilderment.

Zhang Tianshi was the first to come to his senses, showing a hint of realization:

"Supreme Manifested Saint, it turns out to be like this........"