I changed the world.

Thinking about it this way, this Supervisor Li might actually be a deity with extraordinary skills, after all, he has such a master...

Hmm… Once things are settled here, I'll probably have to make a trip to Dinghai Yunxiao Mountain to obtain a statue of the Celestial Venerable and bring it home to ward off evil spirits. It's a pity I didn't think to ask for a talisman or a letter of instruction when the old master was still alive a few years ago. I really was negligent…

I wonder how much of his master's skill this Abbot Li's handwriting possesses? I imagine it's at least two or three tenths...

Many thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, and Dean Yu was about to speak again when Supervisor Li stopped him with a gesture.

"This is not the place to talk. Do not disturb the remains of our late master..." Then he made a gesture to go outside to talk.

"Exactly, exactly..."

Dean Yu was not annoyed. He cupped his hands in an apologetic gesture and then walked out with Li Jingxin.

The two arrived outside the door. Li Jingxin first instructed his junior brother Zhou Jingyuan, who was guarding the door, to arrange for the disciples to take turns chanting sutras and keeping vigil in front of the old abbot's spirit. Then he gestured to Dean Yu to invite him. The two walked down the corridor to a more distant location before stopping to talk.

“Dean Li, there are a large number of reporters and believers gathered outside the inpatient building. They saw what happened just now clearly, and there are even video recordings… I estimate that related news will start to spread soon. You see… we need to have a unified statement afterward,” Dean Yu said thoughtfully.

Li Jingxin was also feeling a bit of a headache. Seeing things spiraling out of control, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. In truth, despite being considered the most authoritative "professional" here, with the authority to interpret what had just happened, he himself was completely baffled.

What could he say?! He really wanted to ask someone too!

Master! If you were to ascend to immortality, couldn't you have informed your disciple beforehand? It would have been better to be prepared! I'm over sixty! My heart can't take it…

Chapter 202 Is the Supervisor Suffering from Delusions?!

However, as the abbot of one of the empire's largest temples and Xiao Daoguang's eldest disciple, Li Jingxin was a seasoned veteran. He knew that since a conclusion had already been reached, he could only insist that this was the only explanation and not waver.

Ultimately, at this point, neither Li Jingxin nor Yunxiao Temple has any other choice.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "From the hospital's perspective, how long can this situation be maintained?"

Dean Yu thought for a moment, glanced at his watch, and said, "It's 3:09 now. Normally, the hospital opens at 8:00 AM. At that time, it will be difficult for us to have a legitimate reason to prevent reporters from entering. Of course, if necessary, we can continue to limit the number of people entering for a certain period of time under other pretexts. However, if tonight's events are leaked, I'm afraid the commotion tomorrow might be beyond our control..."

Li Jingxin nodded. Dean Yu's words were very straightforward and sincere. However, they were just a hospital after all, with at most a dozen security guards. If something big were to happen, it might be beyond their control.

"I understand the hospital's concerns, but this is a very important matter. Here's what we'll do: I'll give Dean Yu a reply in an hour."

"Supervisor Li is truly mature and prudent, as one would expect, as one would expect... Then I will not linger any longer, I will come back later." Dean Yu also knew that time was of the essence, so he did not say much, exchanged a few polite words, and then took his leave.

After seeing Dean Yu into the elevator, Li Jingxin hurriedly returned to the mourning hall. At this time, his junior brother Zhou Jingyuan had already arranged for three disciples to recite classics in the mourning hall, while he himself sat there quietly praying.

Li Jingxin came to Zhou Jingyuan's side, patted him gently on the shoulder, and gestured for him to come outside to talk. Zhou Jingyuan then got up and followed his senior brother out of the mourning hall. The two walked to a quiet corner in the corridor, where Li Jingxin described what Dean Yu had just said.

In terms of personality, Li Jingxin was not a dictatorial person. In the past, when there were important matters in the temple, even though his teacher had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, he would still convene the three chief monks and five masters to discuss and decide on matters before making a decision. This made him, as the abbot, always praised by everyone and regarded as the only suitable candidate to lead Yunxiao Temple after Xiao Daoguang.

Although Zhou Jingyuan was not one of the Three Capitals and Five Masters, as the Old Master's personal attendant and Xiao Daoguang's direct disciple, his status within the temple was not low.

However, the matter was serious, and after discussing it for a while, the two were still undecided. Clearly, such a matter could not be decided by simply holding a small meeting on the spot.

Fortunately, communication is advanced these days, so I simply called back to the temple and then used my mobile phone to convene a simple online meeting in a nearby conference room.

If an outsider were present, they would have noticed that the web conferencing software used by the monks of Yunxiao Temple was not one of the more popular commercial software options on the market, but rather a niche software known for its confidentiality: "Password." This secure communication software, developed by a company in the neutral Alemanni Federation that started as a security software company, is a paid service. It is known for its peer-to-peer service, leaving no backups on servers, and offering real-time voice chat in addition to text, essentially creating a large, instant chat room. This voice chat is not archived and therefore cannot be reviewed afterward. Because of these characteristics, the software has long been used by many criminal groups and money laundering organizations.

After gathering the three chief priests and five masters of the temple, along with some high-ranking priests, Li Jingxin began a remote meeting.

In this world's Xuanmen (Taoist sects), the so-called "Three Capitals" refer to the Chief Steward, the Chief Lecturer, and the Chief Chef; the "Five Masters" refer to the Hall Master, the Palace Master, the Scripture Master, the Transformation Master, and the Tranquility Master. These are the most powerful figures within the sect, and together with some senior elders and high-ranking priests, they essentially represent the mainstream opinion within the sect.

News of the old master's passing had already reached the temple, so although it was already past midnight, apart from a few elderly people who couldn't stay awake any longer and took a short rest, everyone else was busy making arrangements. When they received the abbot's video call, they quickly gathered everyone together.

However, the news that came back from the abbot surprised everyone in the temple.

The former abbot has ascended to heaven?!

And in full view of everyone?!

And it was witnessed by many reporters and believers?!

………………

Is this for real?!

Could it be that the abbot is so heartbroken that he has developed delusions?

Faced with the skeptical crowd, whose questions were clearly inquisitive, Li Jingxin had no choice but to have Zhou Jingyuan describe the scene. To convince everyone in the temple, he also summoned two other quick-witted disciples to recount the story.

In this way, although the people in the temple were still somewhat surprised and uncertain, it couldn't be that so many of them were all suffering from delusions at the same time...

So... the old abbot really did manifest his divine power and ascend to heaven?!

After all, these people were religious figures, so they were quite capable of accepting this fact. Once they accepted it, they all became excited.

Ascension to immortality! This is true ascension to immortality!

Although according to the Xuanmen school, the old abbot's ascension should be considered as a corpse liberation, it is not the highest level.

However, the problem isn't there; the problem is that this is still ascension! Since humanity entered modern society and technology has advanced, let alone the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), which religion in this world has actually experienced such an event?

What's wrong with autopsy?

Even corpse dissolution is a form of ascension!

I haven't seen it. The recently unearthed tomb containing the body of Master Song suggests that Master Song may very well have ascended to immortality through corpse liberation!

The mindset of the crowd in Yunxiao at this moment could be summed up in one sentence: "I'm going to take on ten of them all!"

Some of the younger Taoist practitioners were already considering how to subtly boast about themselves the next time they met fellow practitioners from other lineages of the Xuanmen sect…

I have connections in heaven!

My master has ascended to heaven!

Are you capable?

If you're so capable, why don't you all ascend to immortality too!

Even the previous generations of Celestial Masters from Dan Ding Mountain didn't ascend to immortality!

Doesn't this just prove that my Yunxiao Mountain lineage is authentic and inherits the Way of Heaven?

The only regret is that, how exactly did Master Xiao achieve his cultivation?

It seems that he didn't pass it down either.

No, maybe it was passed down, but some people keep it a secret. After all, it's obvious that this is a closely guarded secret skill, and it's impossible for them to flaunt it all over the world.

Hmm... Speaking of which, I should ask Jing Yuan privately later. That guy with the thick eyebrows and big eyes is usually closest to the old master. Maybe he's learned some secret techniques...

The excitement and curiosity that erupted in an instant even overshadowed the sadness brought about by the passing of the old abbot. It wasn't until quite some time later, after asking all sorts of questions, that their curiosity was finally calmed down, and everyone began to seriously discuss how to handle the aftermath.

Undoubtedly, the memorial hall where the former abbot "ascended" has, in a sense, become a "sacred place." Afterwards, this memorial hall will definitely not be used; even after the abbot's remains are moved, the room will need to be vacated and sealed off. Therefore, communication with the temple administration is necessary. Presumably, if Yunxiao Temple is willing to provide some financial compensation, the temple administration will have no reason not to comply.

Besides this, the question of what to do with the abbot's physical body became the focus of discussion. Most Taoist practitioners believed that this opportunity should be used to promote the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), especially the Yunxiao Mountain lineage.

Originally, everyone in the temple was quite uneasy about the passing of the old abbot.

After all, the abbot was ninety-six years old. As the oldest and most senior True Person among all the sects of the Imperial Xuanmen, he was like a pillar of strength for Yunxiao Mountain. As long as the abbot was alive, Yunxiao Temple held a transcendent position in the Xuanmen. Even the old Celestial Master of Danding Mountain would not dare to be disrespectful in front of the abbot. Although the Celestial Master lineage held a high position in the Xuanmen, they were both True Persons, but there was a difference in seniority, so they could not put on airs.

With the old abbot gone, although Li Jingxin, as his eldest disciple, was quite famous, he was still no match for the old abbot. The decline of Yunxiao Temple for a considerable period of time to come was foreseeable.

However, with the blessing of the old abbot's "ascension to immortality," things are different now. After all, this is something that has never happened in the past hundred years, whether in Taoism or other religions in the world. Its significance cannot be overstated.

In this way, even though the old abbot is no longer here, the prestige of Yunxiao Mountain, as his direct lineage, will not only not diminish, but will become even more exalted than before. Within the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), it will truly have the potential to rival the Celestial Master's Mansion of Danding Mountain. After all, although the Celestial Master's lineage is transcendent, there has not been a single miracle in the past hundred years, and for religions, efficacy is the ultimate truth.

Therefore, almost all Taoist priests agree on the need to promote Yunxiao Mountain; however, the question of how to proceed becomes a point of contention.

Some impatient people thought that a press conference should be held directly, taking advantage of the event to announce the conclusion that the old abbot had "ascended to heaven" at the hospital, so as to create the greatest impact in a short period of time.

However, this view was quickly challenged by more mature and prudent voices, who argued that it contradicted the Taoist principle of "acting without contending, benefiting without harming." As the saying goes, "The wise are not learned, the learned are not wise. The good do not argue, the arguing are not good."

If Yunxiao Mountain adopts such a boastful attitude, as if it had "found a treasure," it will only lead people to accuse the staff of Yunxiao Temple of being "unfilial and immoral." After all, the abbot's body has not yet been buried, and you are already eager to "show off," which in itself is easy to give people grounds for criticism.

Chapter 203 Maintaining Mystery

Furthermore, there is another hidden concern: to this day, no one has a clear explanation of how the former abbot "ascended to heaven." In fact, another unspoken, tacit thought among them is that the "ascension to heaven" theory is, after all, only the opinion of Li Jingxin and his group, although it seems plausible. The truth, and whether there are other reasons, still need to be investigated. After all, the former abbot left no words before his death, nor did he make any indication of wanting to ascend.

Under such circumstances, if Yunxiao Mountain were to make a grand announcement, only to later reveal a more scientific explanation proving otherwise, then the more tumultuous the eventual fall, the harder it would be, potentially resulting in complete disgrace. Such events have occurred throughout history, both ancient and modern, both in China and abroad, leaving many with lingering fears.

Based on the above considerations, this faction proposed maintaining a mysterious stance. After all, as one of the most prominent figures in the Xuanmen sect, the death of Master Xiao was something that could not be suppressed. The events that occurred on the night of Master Xiao's death were documented with pictures and evidence, and there were numerous eyewitnesses. It would be impossible not to spread such information widely, and Yunxiao Mountain would not even need to actively publicize it.

So what Yunxiao Mountain needs to do here is to maintain its mystery, maintain its impeccable moral high ground, and make appropriate hints. However, it must be careful to maintain the right balance and attitude. As the saying goes, "The way of Heaven is to win without striving, to respond without speaking, and to come without being summoned..."

Meanwhile, the remains of the former abbot, which are the most significant "evidence" and also considered a "sacred object" here, should be transported back to Yunxiao Mountain as soon as possible. With the protection of his disciples, the remains will surely be safe and sound.

Otherwise, if they end up using it for scientific research by relevant authorities, that would be a real disaster...

After some discussion, Abbot Li Jingxin finally decided that it was best to be prudent and cautious. Therefore, the most urgent task now is to arrange for the old abbot's remains to be returned to Yunxiao Mountain as soon as possible.

However, since the reporters had waited outside the hospital all night, it was necessary to appease these "uncrowned kings." They couldn't just leave without saying anything; that would offend a large number of media outlets and make Yunxiao Temple seem arrogant. Therefore, some people needed to stay behind to handle this matter.

Immediately after the discussion ended, Li Jingxin went straight to Dean Yu's office without hesitation and explained his attitude to the hospital directly.

The Taoist priests will split into two groups. Some will stay behind, mainly Zhou Jingyuan and a few of his usually clever and quick-witted disciples. Their main duties, besides guarding the "holy place" of the mourning hall, are to meet with reporters and representatives of believers later to announce the news of the abbot's passing.

Li Jingxin and his other disciples will escort the abbot's remains back to Yunxiao Mountain. The hospital will need to provide a vehicle and professional caregivers to transport the remains.

Regarding the coordination of the narrative for the foreseeable interviews with reporters, Li Jingxin stated that Dean Yu should simply provide the facts. Apart from a few particularly private details, all other matters, especially everything concerning Master Xiao's "ascension to immortality," can be explained truthfully.

In this way, Dean Yu breathed a sigh of relief. After all, for him, the fact that the renowned Master Xiao Daoguang died in Yongji Hall in Linzhou after a failed surgery was not a glorious thing for the hospital.

If Yunxiao Mountain harbors any dissatisfaction, given its influence within the Xuanmen General Association, and if a conflict were to erupt, aiming to remove him as the dean, no board member would dare to directly confront the wrath of the Yunxiao Mountain lineage simply because he is the dean of a branch academy. At that point, even if he has done nothing wrong, he would likely become a casualty.

Therefore, in this matter, Dean Yu has always maintained a very humble attitude, and has been compliant with all of Yunxiao Mountain's requests, hoping only to settle the matter peacefully. Now it seems that the matter is more or less over.

***