The missionary in deep blue also saw the leader of the Dharma Sect.
He did not recognize the other party. Although he had been to this land many times, the only one who had received him each time was the Thunder King. The other party seemed to be the most influential figure controlling the faith of the entire South China Sea, the most important and largest sect within the Dharma Sect.
"Greetings, may the Lord's gospel protect you."
The missionary greeted the sect leader. He could also tell that the aura emanating from the sect leader was no longer humanly possible.
So that's how it is.
The Thunder King had not appeared because he had reached a higher level and felt it was time to pay his respects... or perhaps, he was currently troubled by something, forcing him to let an outsider welcome him, but without appearing too disrespectful...
This was actually quite a grand reception.
"Immortal."
The missionary's mouth "split" slightly. "This is my first time seeing someone on this land who has reached the [Heavenly Saint] level."
The split mouth was not actually terrifying. The leader of the Dharma Sect had seen many divine and ghostly beings. What he was wary of at the moment was that the other party had no trace of cultivation, yet made him feel extremely dangerous.
This sense of danger came from an unknown source, but an immortal's premonition was almost a certainty compared to mortals; nine out of ten things they foresaw would happen.
If he felt this person was dangerous, then he was definitely dangerous!
Although he had achieved immortality through a shortcut and might have little chance to break through the new Primordial Demon Tribulation, an immortal realm was still an immortal realm. The lowest-tier immortal was not comparable to a mortal.
"Those apostles possessed by angels were not very powerful themselves, some even had no cultivation at all, relying entirely on the angels' power to perform various miracles and divine abilities."
"But this person before me... if he were just an apostle, he wouldn't give me such a dangerous feeling."
After a moment of silence, the leader of the Western Heaven Sect returned the greeting to the missionary in deep blue robes, and they walked side by side.
"Is this your first time seeing a blue-robed Christian monk? It's because I inherited the position of Saint Francis Xavier."
The missionary said, "Did the Thunder King invite an immortal to welcome me? Has something major happened?"
"Is he unable to get away?"
It was necessary to maintain some politeness in front of others. The West and the Dharma Sect were allies. Of course, he would not ask directly if the other party looked down on him, which would escalate the conflict. Naturally, the development of events made the missionary very satisfied.
"The Thunder King is indeed unable to get away, simply because someone is about to head south."
"Oh?"
The missionary's blue eyes under his hood emitted a faint glow.
"Has the Thunder King achieved immortality now?"
"He is tens of times stronger than me."
"That's incredible. In our terms, such a person might be comparable to an archangel! However, our Dharma cannot cultivate to the level of an archangel. They are creations of God, while we are merely devout believers borrowing divine power."
The missionary was being modest, but the leader of the Western Heaven Sect scoffed at such words and did not engage further. The missionary continued to ask, "Who is coming here to warrant the Thunder King's personal reception?"
"Or... a formidable enemy? Like facing a great enemy... is that how it's said?"
"Extremely formidable. He is a remnant immortal, and it is said that he has now returned to the immortal position. It is rumored that he once scared away the Bodhisattva of Enlightenment."
The missionary's eyes showed a hint of shock at this point.
Regardless of which great sect it was, the peak representatives within the realm of transcending mortality and achieving sainthood were called Flying Immortals in the Eastern countries like Ming, Japan, and Joseon. Buddhists called them Bodhisattvas of Enlightenment, and other sects also had their own titles, but their influence was not great. In fact, their cultivation paths could not escape the grand framework of the Three Teachings or the Way of Ghosts and Gods.
Just like the leader of the Dharma Sect before him, although called an independent religion, it was actually a product of the great religions.
"This is like an archangel being scared away by an angel. Can the gap in levels be so easily crossed?"
The missionary was puzzled, but the leader of the Western Heaven Sect said, "Hmm! We cultivate the Dharma of this life, but it is said that in ancient times, there were many other cultivation methods. This remnant immortal is from over a thousand years ago. It is said that in their time, the current Golden Elixir Dao was not popular, nor was the Earth Immortal method cultivated."
"Different cultivation paths bring different advancements, and the key points to cultivate are also different. It was only after I entered the immortal realm that I learned this from a master of Esoteric Buddhism. For example, among the various Buddhist schools, although they are all called Bodhisattvas of Enlightenment when they reach that level, their own cultivation focuses are different."
The missionary smiled. "Oh my, these heretics always find some crooked paths and then claim to be on par with the orthodox. It seems the person who is about to arrive here is extremely terrifying. Is the Thunder King afraid he cannot defeat him? If he wants me to help, it might cost a great price."
"We have come to Haojing'ao this time to negotiate with the Ming imperial court. Of course, if you intend to go to war with the court, we can also support you immediately."
The leader of the Western Heaven Sect frowned. "Do you want to carve out territory? Can't wait any longer?"
"What's the difference between here and carving out territory? The entire South China Sea is under the control of your Dharma Sect, even extending to the southeastern coast. The Provincial Governors and Provincial Administration Commissioners have all accepted our benefits, and Portuguese law can continue to be implemented in Haojing'ao. Two different laws on one piece of land?"
The missionary said this, and the leader of the Western Heaven Sect retorted, "You can't say that. At most, you have been given treatment equivalent to that of a Prince. A Prince also has his own laws on his fiefdom. The rules of our Dharma Sect are also recognized by the people here. In the end, this is our territory, and we recognize some of your laws simply because those laws are beneficial to us."
"Once you dare to promulgate laws that are detrimental to us, then don't blame us for not being accommodating. You don't want to be expelled, do you? Or do you no longer want to maintain the alliance with our Dharma Sect?"
"I'll tell you the truth, the person coming this time is from the northern imperial court. Even Flying Immortals dare not act presumptuously in front of him. If you want to go it alone, feel free. However, the Dharma Sect will soon pledge allegiance to the imperial court."
The missionary laughed heartily.
"Don't get agitated, we don't mean that! It's just that the cannon foundry was suddenly acquired, and the East India Company is very unhappy about it. That was our property, how could it be forcibly acquired by the Ming Dynasty? Are the contracts from the Jiajing Emperor's reign no longer valid?"
The leader of the Western Heaven Sect: "But it is now the Wanli Emperor."
The missionary: "Then you are being unreasonable."
The leader of the Western Heaven Sect: "But we privately hoarded weapons, bribed the Provincial Administration Commissioners and Governors, recruited Japanese ronin and pirates as enforcers, built fortifications and set up artillery without authorization, and traded with Japanese merchant ships in disregard of Ming Dynasty laws."
"We harbored ill intentions, and the imperial court found out, so they are being unreasonable."
The missionary patted his shoulder. "But look, only when you become powerful, have weapons, have those guards composed of pirates and ronin, have strong cities and sharp cannons, will the imperial court be willing to accept your submission. Even before that, they tacitly approved the laws you and we implemented here."
"Those Provincial Governors, Provincial Administration Commissioners, and county magistrates are all for money. We are using money to station ourselves here, legitimately and reasonably. If you want to talk about disregarding the law, it's not us, but these Provincial Administration Commissioners, Governors, and county magistrates. They are officials of the Ming Dynasty, yet they sold the interests of the Ming Dynasty to us."
"But no matter what means are used, the contracts for land and the implementation of laws are in our hands. This is the initiative, and this is the logic of this world. Whether this agreement was obtained through deception or by despicable means, at least the contract itself is still just and noble, and should not be betrayed, right?"
"Face your desires squarely and don't make excuses. Before disaster strikes, you should have already thought of a way to deal with it..."
"However, given that St. Paul's College is also here, in order to maintain the stability of the college, I am still willing to help you free of charge. If that person makes a move, I will help. Please convey this to the Thunder King."
The leader of the Western Heaven Sect was stunned, then shook his head. "That person said he was coming, and even made a demonstration before, but we have not waited for him."
When the missionary heard that the person had not yet arrived, he decided to return to the college. However, as he turned, he suddenly saw a woman carrying a bamboo basket in the bustling street, and not far from her, a traveling monk.
He blinked, and these two people suddenly disappeared.
"Huh?"
The missionary turned his head again.
All the people on the street instantly turned into that woman with the bamboo basket and the traveling monk. These two people also turned their heads in an instant, and those tens of thousands of gazes instantly locked onto the blue-robed missionary!
In the unseen depths, it seemed as if someone had flicked their finger, and time and space were born and died, brilliance flashed, Vajra Buddha images, thousand-armed holy maidens, golden lotuses emerged from the earth, eight-colored divine flowers descended from heaven, sun and moon shone together, mountains and rivers transformed, and carp turned into dragons.
All sorts of strange phenomena bloomed in his eyes, his heart, and his mind, and then vanished without a trace after the next moment of birth and death.
"Oh... so that's how it is."
The missionary received the information in that brief moment.
He hadn't expected there to be such a powerful being here, and such a powerful being was actually going to be an enemy of the person from the north they were talking about!
"Warning me not to interfere. The strength of these two people is immeasurable. If I can convert them to the Christian path, they should be able to become supreme Heavenly Saints?"
"One person wants to win over that person heading south, and the other person wants to kill that person heading south. In that case, I also want to convert that person heading south."
"Since the gospel of God has reached here, how can it not be spread?"
The missionary did not feel afraid because of the threat from the two mysterious people; instead, he became excited.
Let it be chaotic, the more chaotic the better. Not only should the cannon foundry be taken back, but this land should also be completely colonized. Only they should be the ones to promulgate the laws here, and only they should believe in Christ the Lord.
But immediately after, there was a commotion outside the port. The missionary turned his head and saw the Ming Dynasty navy suddenly appear in the far distance. They lined up, completely blockading this port.
"Port lockdown?!"
The missionary's mind exploded.
And at the same moment.
————
Inside the Thunder King's mansion, the Buddha-Ghost suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.
He looked at the traveling monk who had suddenly appeared before him, the same person the missionary had seen earlier.
The Buddha-Ghost was bewildered, and a great sense of alarm arose in his heart!
This was an immortal's abode. The Thunder King had condensed the wishes and destiny of millions of people in the South China Sea, and his power was immense. How could he not perceive the intrusion of others?
Who is it!
The traveling monk's eyes brewed immeasurable golden light:
"Pundarika King, I know someone has made great efforts for you, allowing you to return to the surface world, but the price was the loss of your Bodhisattva of Enlightenment cultivation, leaving you with only an immortal body, waiting to return to your position in eighteen years. But now that I am here, you probably cannot return to your position."
"I want to borrow something from you."
The Buddha-Ghost chuckled. "What does the great monk want to borrow from this humble monk?"
Cold sweat broke out on his back, and the traveling monk said faintly:
"I want to borrow your body!"
As he finished speaking, the traveling monk took a step forward, and a great radiance of the sun enveloped the Buddha-Ghost! The true form of the Great Sun Tathagata manifested for a moment, and all other solar radiance poured into the Buddha-Ghost's body!