'So he really is the Holy Child!'

Without even realizing it, Zen Master Qing Nan, who always presided over the Glazed Tower, found his breath quickening.

"This boy is named Zhang Wuji. He comes from Wudang Mountain, and his Cultivation Technique is the Nine Yang Divine Technique. In his youth, he entered a mortal temple called Shaolin. Furthermore, a Great Cultivator appeared in his dreams to guide him, revealing that his past life was as a True Buddha named Lamp Burning..." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Before Zen Master Qing Nan could even ask, De Hou rushed to recount Yang An's answers from the third trial.

What could Yang An say to that? 'Should I praise De Hou for his quick thinking?' He could only nod under everyone's gaze.

He was still enveloped in the cyan light and the Secret Seal of the One Great Cause, which was, in effect, another form of test.

Seeing that Yang An's response also showed no abnormalities, it wasn't just De Hou; even Zen Master Qing Nan took a deep breath.

"Excellent! Most excellent!"

The others then saw an unconcealable look of joy appear on Zen Master Qing Nan's face as he cried out in fervent approval.

De Hou was also overjoyed and immediately withdrew the technique of the One Great Cause from Yang An's body.

The visions around Yang An vanished as quickly as a bubble, and in the blink of an eye, he returned to normal.

The light on the mirror's surface faded, and De Hou's aged face reappeared. This time, however, he couldn't help but look toward De Yu and the other two with a broad, knowing smile.

The expressions on the faces of De Yu and the other two were still ones of unconcealable shock. But when they saw De Hou's gaze turn toward them, their expressions instantly soured.

'This is bad!'

They hadn't given De Hou any chance to explain. Instead, they had treated the matter as a transgression and completely burned their bridges with him.

Who could have imagined that the person De Hou brought was actually a Holy Child, a True Buddha Reincarnation?!

If even Zen Master Qing Nan hadn't expected it, how could they have?

After seeing the visions surrounding the boy, Zen Master Qing Nan had repeatedly cried out his approval, which meant even he could find no fault.

'He really is a Holy Child!'

At this thought, the three of them could only press their palms together in unison and loudly chant, "Amitabha!"

"A grievous error. We never expected that Junior Brother would actually be guiding a Holy Child. We were blind to the Buddhist Technique, truly blind to what was before us."

'What else could they do now? Apologizing was their only option.'

Today, they had suffered a total defeat.

De Hou, however, let out a jubilant laugh, finally releasing all his pent-up frustration. He paid no mind whatsoever to De Yu and the other two.

'I've turned defeat into victory,' he thought. 'Zen Master Qing Nan's earlier decision regarding me is now void. What happens next is what truly matters.'

It was clear at a glance who deserved merit and who deserved blame.

'I was falsely accused and couldn't defend myself, nearly getting sent back to Great Virtue Temple. Now, I'll let De Yu and the others have a taste of that same feeling.'

"Zen Master!"

De Hou immediately looked to Zen Master Qing Nan. He said nothing, but his meaning was self-evident.

"Amitabha! Excellent, excellent! You have performed a great service this time. It was I who failed to investigate properly just now. You have been wronged."

Zen Master Qing Nan was a man who could own up to his mistakes. He had punished De Hou without giving him a chance to explain, and now he apologized without a moment's hesitation.

For a Zen Master to take the initiative to concede was already giving De Hou a great deal of face. Of course, the face the Zen Master had lost had to be regained from someone else.

Zen Master Qing Nan's gaze shifted to De Yu and the other two. Seeing their mortified expressions, he slowly began to speak:

"From this day forward, De Yu, De Chan, and De Sheng, the three of you shall take De Hou's place and guard Yan'an Temple. You are to reflect on your conduct and may only return to the Glazed Tower when your merits have reached Perfection."

"Yes!"

From the moment De Hou proved the boy was a Holy Child, the three of them had lost any grounds to object to the decision.

'If only we had known he was a Holy Child! If we had just stayed on good terms with De Hou when he first came to the Glazed Tower, perhaps we could have shared in some of the merit,' they thought.

'Such bitter regret!'

"Go now. Do not delay."

Zen Master Qing Nan clearly had no desire to see them any longer. He waved his hand in dismissal, and the three had no choice but to depart respectfully from the Quiet Chamber.

Only after they had gone did Zen Master Qing Nan turn his attention to De Hou and Yang An.

De Hou's expression had calmed by now, but words couldn't describe the elation he felt inside.

'Since Zen Master Qing Nan has arranged for them to guard Yan'an Temple in my stead, my own new assignment is as good as settled,' he mused.

"De Hou."

"I am here."

Hearing Zen Master Qing Nan's call, De Hou responded immediately, without the slightest delay.

"There is a vacant position in the Glazed Tower for a Scripture Guardian. I have already had De Yu and the others take over your watch at Yan'an Temple. Henceforth, you shall serve as the Scripture Guardian within the Glazed Tower."

"De Hou respectfully accepts the Zen Master's command!"

De Hou replied respectfully, but inwardly he was ecstatic.

'The position of Scripture Guardian... it oversees all the Scripture Scrolls in the Glazed Tower! This also means the Zen Master will funnel the majority of the Glazed Tower's resources to me, to aid my cultivation.'

'This is a meteoric rise! Perhaps one day, I too can be promoted to Zen Master.'

'Of course, this is just Zen Master Qing Nan's arrangement. Once the Holy Child is sent to the Great Virtue Temple, I'll receive a reward from the temple itself. That will be the real prize.'

His heart swelling with joy, De Hou looked at Yang An with a gaze even more fervent than before.

'After all, without Yang An, none of this would be possible.'

'Besides, as the Holy Child, this boy is certain to receive the best training and resources once he enters the Great Virtue Temple. He's bound to become a powerful figure in the future. I must build a good relationship with him as early as possible.'