Under the Longhua Tree, the Triple Assembly of Longhua convened.
This place marked the First Assembly.
A Dharma altar was set beneath the Longhua Tree inside a hall; seven treasure steps led up to a surging golden lotus.
Adorned with jeweled nets and mystical melodies, countless Buddhas, endless Bodhisattvas, bhikshunis, arhats, and so many immortals and spirits were gathered here.
The Genuine Immortal sat in the foremost row, his position above all the Buddhas.
On this morning, as the Three Pure Ones of Heaven were absent, he naturally held the highest seat.
Sitting there, the Genuine Immortal understood the meaning behind this arrangement.
This Dharma assembly was largely for the Elder Buddha Tathāgata to entrust the position of World Honored One to Maitreya Buddha.
From now on, Maitreya Buddha would be the World Honored One, and the Chan (Zen) Dharma would be the present-day Buddhist teaching.
He himself was always regarded as the Patriarch of Chan, so naturally his seat was placed near the front.
From his seat, the Genuine Immortal looked down and glanced toward Sun Wukong and the others.
He saw them chatting among themselves and smiled slightly, not interfering too much.
As he observed, a voice suddenly sounded nearby.