“Ah?” Master Duanchen was flummoxed. Benefactor Lu, is this your way of doing good deeds—leading a line of people back?”

“This one cultivates Blissful Chan Buddhism.

“This one wanted to commit suicide.

“This one knows hypnotism arts...”

Lu Yang introduced each person’s background one by one. Every single one had a story worth telling. Setting aside what these people had planned to do, capturing them alone was already no easy task. A brief summary couldn’t do justice to the process.

When he reached the last one, Lu Yang said earnestly, “Fortunately, Old Meng and I sensed that something major might happen during this festival. We were uneasy and kept watch for anything unusual in the city. And look, we found them all.”

Master Duanchen’s forehead was covered with cold sweat. These people pose massive hidden risks. If Benefactor Lu and Benefactor Meng had missed even one of them, this Buddha Bathing Festival would have been ruined.

But I can’t be blamed for inadequate preparations. These troublemaking cultivators acted with such stealth that even additional patrols couldn’t have uncovered them.

“May I ask how you found these people, benefactors? Could you impart some of your techniques to this humble monk?”

Lu Yang waved his hand modestly. “There’s no technique. It’s simply the blessing of the World-Honored One.”

Master Duanchen’s heart stirred. This is indeed the only possible explanation. Otherwise, even if the two had kept their spiritual consciousness constantly active, they could never have found all of them.

“It seems you are individuals of profound fortune and karma, benefactors.”

“Master, we’ll have to trouble you to handle these people. The top eight should be selected soon. Old Meng and I need to head to the venue.” Lu Yang checked the time.

Originally, after capturing the person attempting to unleash the zombie poison, they would have had plenty of time to enjoy themselves. Who could have known there would be so many other people waiting to be caught? After apprehending them all and delivering them to Kaihuang Temple, there was hardly any time left.

“Excellent.”

The moment Lu Yang stepped out of the temple gate, his vision went black. When his vision was restored, he was standing near the arena stage.

“Old Lu, want to watch how they fight?” Meng Jingzhou pointed at the lively stage, looking quite interested.

Lu Yang’s eyelid twitched. Seriously? Another time reversal right in the middle of the festival? Can’t you let me enjoy the holiday in peace?

“Don’t bother. They’re all fairly average. The best are probably the ninety-fifth and ninety-ninth cultivators on the Earth Ranking.” Lu Yang had already watched it once and knew that spectating here was a waste of time.

“What’s the Earth Ranking?”

Lu Yang pressed a hand to his forehead. I forgot that Old Meng doesn’t know what the Earth Ranking is yet. “It’s a ranking of Buddhist Kingdom cultivators by Xitian Temple. There’s the Human Ranking, Earth Ranking, and Heaven Ranking...”

“I see.” Meng Jingzhou nodded in understanding, not giving it much thought. Such information was easy enough to look up.

“But aren’t you curious about the level of this Earth Ranking?” Meng Jingzhou remained curious and chose to stay and watch.

On stage, Huo Ying stared solemnly at Fang Wudi. “Fang Wudi, I didn’t expect you to come as well. I’ve heard you possess the Innate Supreme Physique. When you were born, a golden dragon coiled and entered your body, turning into your birthmark...”

Meng Jingzhou watched with keen interest for a while, then quickly grew disappointed. “This is all they’ve got? When I was at the Golden Core Stage, I could have taken them both on myself.”

“Told you so. There’s nothing worth watching,” Lu Yang said helplessly.

“Then how did you know Earth Ranking cultivators would show up?” Meng Jingzhou was puzzled. Even Kaihuang Temple didn’t know who would participate; everyone registered on-site.

“Of course I know. I’ve already experienced it once.”

“Experienced it once? What do you mean?” Meng Jingzhou was surprised.

Lu Yang saw the confusion on Meng Jingzhou’s face. Realizing that he never had an opportunity to explain the time reversals before, Lu Yang figured this was a good chance.

“This goes back to when I first broke through to the Intermediate Divine Transfiguration Stage...”

Lu Yang explained from the beginning, recounting his experiences over the past half year. Meng Jingzhou listened, utterly perplexed.

I’ve heard from the Old Ancestor that some half-immortals can temporarily stop time, but it’s my first time hearing of time reversal.

But judging by how Old Lu has talked until his mouth is dry, it doesn’t sound fabricated.

“I see. I never imagined a Dao Fruit could do something like this...” Meng Jingzhou nodded, finally understanding. But then his expression went blank.

“Eh, Old Lu, what were you saying just now?”

“...” Lu Yuan was speechless. Damn. I forgot that Dao Fruit methods have an oblivion property. I explained all that for nothing.

Just then, a familiar voice sounded. “Hmm? It’s Master Lu and Master Meng.” A familiar voice sounded.

Lu Yang didn’t need to turn around to know it was Tang Qiaoqiao and Cui Que’er.

“Great masters, didn't you say you have to be on stage as judges? Why are you still here?”

“We haven’t been called up yet,” Lu Yang answered casually, not asking about Tang Chuanwu’s whereabouts as he did last time.

“Why are you two alone? Where’s that kid Chuanwu?” His good brother Meng Jingzhou asked the question on his behalf.

“My elder brother went to the neighboring Lianhua City with his boss to restock.”

“Remember to stay safe when you distribute porridge, Miss Cui,” Lu Yang reminded.

Cui Que’er was surprised. “Master Lu, how did you know I’m going to distribute porridge with my dad?”

“Have you forgotten, Miss Cui? You mentioned that your family distributes porridge on the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth of every month. It’s the fifteenth day of the fifth month today.”

“Can’t you postpone it by a day?” In Meng Jingzhou’s view, today should be dedicated to fun and play.

Lu Yang shook his head. “Of course not. The merit gained from doing good deeds today is ten times that of ordinary days. All the more reason to distribute porridge.”

Cui Que’er grew even more surprised. “You know so much, Master Lu. I thought only we locals were aware of that saying.”

After parting with Cui Que’er and Tang Qiaoqiao, Meng Jingzhou urged Lu Yang, “Old Lu, shall we go do some good deeds too?”

“This is simple.” When it came to doing good deeds and accumulating merit today, no one could know better than Lu Yang.

Lu Yang led Meng Jingzhou through the bustling streets. Suddenly, a man in a black cloak spun around and burst into manic laughter, leaving Meng Jingzhou utterly befuddled.

“The chaos of Kaihuang City shall begin with...”

“Spare me the same line.” Lu Yang stepped forward, his palm slamming down over the man’s face, pinning him to the ground with a thud.

“Old Lu, he is...”

Lu Yang crouched down, produced a Spirit-Locking Rope, and bound the black-cloaked man with practiced ease. This time, he didn’t need to perform a soul search.

“Don’t ask so many questions. I’m taking you to do good deeds and accumulate merit.”

“Ah? Oh.”

After that, it was the lecherous monk, the all-embracing cultivator, the insect cultivator... One by one, they fell into his trap. Drawing from his previous experience in capturing them, Lu Yang was completely in his element this time.

“Mission accomplished. Let’s deliver them all to Master Duan—”

Before Lu Yang could finish, his vision went black, and he was back near the arena stage.

Five more loops passed in a flash.

“Old Lu, want to watch how they fight?” Meng Jingzhou pointed at the arena stage.

“Don’t bother. At best, two Earth Ranking cultivators will show up.”

“What’s the Earth Ranking?”

Lu Yang stepped forward. With practiced ease, he patted the shoulder of the loudest spectator at the outermost edge.

“Here, you explain to him what the Earth Ranking is.”