Chapter 396: The Resonance of Temples and Celestial Decrees

Snap, crackle—an abyss of dark clouds cascades from the heavens.

Thunder roars like a torrential storm as fierce spring lightning rips through the oppressive, constricting darkness.

Raindrops the size of beans pelt from the sky, enlarging in human eyes before shattering upon impact with the ground.

The Emperor stands in the Divine Capital First City’s Great Realm Imperial Palace’s Divine Temple.

His bright yellow robe flutters in the storm, its flowing sleeves whipping the air into bursts.

Upon his face, divinity and vitality converge rapidly, imbuing him with an aura both monumental and powerful.

At that moment, the entire Divine Capital First City seems to awaken, with thick mists slowly rising from the jade floor—only to be swallowed by the grand formation patterns etched upon the city walls.

This divine talisman formation is clearly the work of a master of divine formations, whose arcane techniques seem to absorb the rising eerie mists.

Divine talismans, divine weapons, the Divine Eagle, and divine elixirs—these four major professions are acknowledged by the cultivation world as the core paths of divine cultivation, while divine formations remain somewhat obscure.

The role of Formation Master is intertwined with all four professions; divine talismans serve as primary array tools, while divine weapons and the Divine Eagle can also act as the formation’s foundation—divine elixirs likewise.

Because of this inclusiveness, many esteemed divine experts hold that a divine formation master is unworthy of being compared with the top masters of the four main professions.

Yet, hidden within Divine Capital First City is a formation created by a divine formation master.

The Emperor’s eyes shine brightly.

He gazes at the vaulting sky and oppressive black clouds, though they fail to disturb his inner calm.

Brushing off his bright yellow robe, he sits cross-legged; as the eerie mists swell, they are absorbed by the formation.

The entire palace temple, suddenly illuminated by a crystalline divine array, vibrates with countless roars, and rain falling from the heavens evaporates, twisting into white mist.

The Emperor strides forward toward the resplendent palace corridors.

Treading over jade steps and climbing past stone railings, he enters the magnificent palace.

The palace walls seem painted with myriad patterns in seven colors, with a faint, distorted energy stirring as the formation activates.

Around the walls, intricate murals of deities in countless postures begin to emerge.

Some glare furiously, some smirk, others stroke their beards or squint—

Each expression distinct, as if an overwhelming, mystic force capable of shaking even the mightiest divine soul were battering them, leaving one dizzy.

The Emperor steps into the opulent palace.

Immediately, the murals around him shift and change.

Then his gaze falls upon the Dragon Throne; in a sudden metamorphosis, it vanishes, replaced by an enormous Divine Eagle that towers so high its top is unseen.

This is the Xi Wangmu Temple Spirit Divine Eagle, resplendent in lavish robes of silk, seated behind a ceremonial table adorned with piled-up peaches.

Though stately in its posture, the majestic Divine Eagle exudes an overwhelming presence, its head tilted upward as if veiled by immortal aura.

Had Li Che been here, he would surely be astonished.

At this moment, the Emperor finds himself within the confines of the Xi Wangmu Bizarre Temple.

The temple of that strange sanctuary!

Not even the ancient celestial families, eminent officials, imperial princes and princesses, or the heads of major divine sects know the true location of the Sanqing Xi Wangmu Bizarre Temple!

The Emperor slowly steps into the grand hall, as if a path gleaming with endless light—like a cascade of stars—has descended.

It feels as though he is treading upon a celestial river of stars, advancing step by step.

He arrives before the Temple Spirit Divine Eagle of the Bizarre Temple.

An exquisitely crafted Divine Eagle statue, over a hundred zhang tall, stands with lifelike grace—as if not merely a sculpture but the majestic Xi Wangmu herself incarnate.

Yet beneath the interwoven divine aura and vital essence on the Emperor’s face, his piercing eyes fix beyond the temple’s Divine Eagle, toward what lies behind.

In a blurred moment, it seems that behind the Divine Eagle, a grand and robust spectral figure sits as if enthroned upon the clouds, revered by all immortals and deities.

“Heavenly Emperor—”

A brilliance unlike any before erupts in the Emperor’s eyes!

He clenches his fist; the divine aura and vital energy on his face begin to tremble, betraying his inner unrest.

It is a sign of his turbulent emotions.

In the distance——

Faint footsteps echo.

The Emperor slowly turns his head and sees an extraordinarily enchanting young girl emerging from behind the temple’s Divine Eagle.

Two long, fair legs peek out from under her robe, shimmering with light; her mesmerizing eyes seem capable of drawing life’s very essence with a single glance.

The Emperor’s restless heart gradually settles.

He smiles and says, “My beloved consort, you’ve arrived.”

“The Temple Spirit Resonance ceremony is complete. Next— I must accept the resonance legacy and gift of the temple spirit,” he continues.

“Beyond this Xi Wangmu Bizarre Temple lies an even higher Heavenly Emperor Temple—perhaps a temple above the Sanqing Bizarre Temple. Can we be sure that the message you brought is genuine, my dear?”

The Emperor chuckles.

The enchanting maiden sways gracefully and leans into his embrace, her eyes laced with an alluring glint.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty; the news I bear is undoubtedly true,” she murmurs with a light, almost soft laugh.

Her voice, delicate as a whisper, carries an intriguing timbre.

The Emperor exhales sharply.

A temple of mysteries beyond the Sanqing level—

What level of bizarre temple could that be?

At most, even the highest echelon within the Great Realm is merely the Sanqing Bizarre Temple.

Moreover, there are but a few Sanqing Bizarre Temples in existence.

“Heavenly Emperor?”

“The master of all immortals and deities?!”

The Emperor’s eyes blaze with renewed intensity.

Only one fit to inherit the Heavenly Emperor legacy is the ruling Emperor—who else in the realm could be more suited to claim the temple spirit’s legacy than the reigning Divine Emperor?

He had not known that the rear of the Xi Wangmu Bizarre Temple even connected to another bizarre temple—

But when the alluring Su Da arrived with her news, he uncovered this secret.

Even secrets unnoticed by the Great Realm’s Founder have now come to light.

Though the Emperor knew that Su Da might be the reincarnation of the temple spirit and that her message might serve a purpose,

what did it matter?

Her news is more than enough.

Rumbling thunder—the bizarre temple begins to tremble.

The Emperor suddenly straightens up, raising his head, sitting cross-legged as he dramatically spreads his arms.

The enchanting consort Su Da steps back gracefully to the temple’s edge, her long legs moving with mesmerizing allure; she licks her lips and fixes a seductive gaze upon the seated Emperor.

Boom—

The tremors persist for a long while.

A faint divine aura descends, surging into the Emperor’s body as if only a shudder.

Then, the trembling bizarre temple falls silent.

The Emperor opens his eyes, stunned: “Is it… over already?”

Even the esteemed Consort Su Da stands bewildered.

There is confusion and disbelief—

Surely, by her account the Temple Spirit Resonance should have yielded more, at least one Ju Xian Flag. Combined with the two [Ju Xian Xuan Flag] and [Ju Xian Di Flag] the Great Realm’s Founder obtained in the Xi Wangmu Bizarre Temple and the Bizarre Temple, that would bring the total to three!

Three Ju Xian Flags, though still five short of the eight required.

Yet, it should have triggered the Qiankun Haori Kunlun Mirror to reveal the clue of the Heavenly Emperor Bizarre Temple’s temple spirit resonance!

The Emperor stands, a puzzled glint in his eyes.

He turns to Su Da.

Su Da shrugs, tilting her head adorably.

“Your Majesty, perhaps you should present one of your Ju Xian Flags?” she suggests.

The Emperor gazes deeply at Su Da, then slowly exhales.

In his hand, a Qian Kun Jade materializes; a beam of light rips through the void.

With his fingers spread, a palm-sized flag shoots forth.

A mighty burst of divine aura erupts from the flag.

Su Da stares at the flag, noting an ancient character meaning “Xuan” inscribed upon it.

This is the Ju Xian Xuan Flag!

The Emperor invokes the Ju Xian Xuan Flag, forming hand seals. As mist swirls, the bizarre temple trembles once more.

Boom—the reverberations are even more violent than before.

He even senses that the Ju Xian Flag is trembling, its tattered banner flapping furiously.

Joy sparks in the Emperor’s eyes!

He senses it!

Another Ju Xian Flag!

Yet…

Slowly, the pulsations from the Ju Xian Xuan Flag subside.

The entire divine temple lapses into silence once again.

This time, not even a trace of divine reward manifests.

In Su Da’s bewitching eyes, confusion reigns before she blinks and seems to grasp something.

The Emperor turns his head, his eyes freezing into a cold glare.

Following Su Da’s ritual, he completes the Temple Spirit Resonance—

In doing so, he utterly disgraces himself as the Divine Emperor.

The Ju Xian Flag is absent.

The Qiankun Haori Kunlun Mirror also remains unattained.

And there’s not a scrap of clue regarding the Heavenly Emperor Bizarre Temple!

He has made a farcical solo performance, like a fool.

“My beloved—”

“Tell me… where is my Ju Xian Flag?”

Su Da extends her slender tongue, her enchanting eyes narrowing slightly.

“Under the formation…”

“Could it be that someone beat us to seizing the Ju Xian Flag?”

Heavy rain cascades from the sky.

In an instant, it pelts the surface of the Grand Canal.

Boom!

A roar, like an angry bellow, shatters the turbulent canal; crashing waves burst into countless droplets of mist.

At the Ninth City’s dock in Divine Capital,

a figure, once a mere twisted speck of darkness, slowly unravels into a tall, sharp silhouette.

A flowing black robe and jet-black hair flash as rain is shattered into mist by each strike.

Li Che, donning his half-black, half-white Underworld Yama Mask, descends gracefully—as if stepping on a suspended droplet charged with aura, his entire form suspended.

The surrounding river churns with towering waves.

With his fingers, he launches a Feilei Chess Piece; in a blink, he shifts from Divine Capital Second City to the Grand Canal dock outside the Ninth City.

It takes almost no time at all.

Glancing upward, amidst the wild wind and rain, he sees a dense, viscous black abyss descending like a snarling, primordial beast.

Yet, this is not what concerns Li Che most.

The focus is—

Countless massive, intertwined cloud-hands, like towering mountains, surge forward; their fearsome impact causes innumerable raindrops to burst in mid-air into a shrouding white veil!

The mountain-like fingers unleash a piercing howl that assaults everyone’s ears!

That is a move from the Grand Inspector, now pursuing at an astonishing speed as if locking onto his position.

Beneath his Yama Mask, Li Che cannot hide his surprise.

This power, as if pinpointing his aura, is indeed intriguing.

“Is that the Five Finger Mountain?”

Li Che smiles wryly.

The Grand Inspector is truly stalwart—he plays his part to perfection in severing ties with the Great Realm Imperial House.

But—

the Grand Inspector is no Buddha.

And I, Li Che, am no Monkey King.

Li Che lands lightly on the dock, deliberately avoiding unleashing disastrous force that would shatter everything around him.

At his level, mastery over power has long been second nature.

Momentarily, harnessing the rebound from his landing, he rockets forward, crashing into several boats moored on the rain-washed Grand Canal, sending them pitching amid the surging tide.

The waves hit them with unbridled force.

Li Che lands upon the canal’s surface as if on level ground, his movements swift like a falcon in flight.

The body movement techniques he once honed now manifest with unparalleled prowess.

Truly, they have transcended into the realm of the Martial Saint Arts, transforming into streaks of golden lightning that race toward the distant Grand Canal.

It is as if a submarine slices through the canal, unleashing a torrent that shatters into roaring waves.

Behind the surging water, enormous intersecting black clouds form mountain-like fingers that surge across the sky—an astonishing spectacle few can truly witness.

Li Che strides along the canal, as if the vastness of heaven and earth were his playground, moving with the freedom of a fish swimming in a boundless sea.

Within him, a roar of vital energy—pure martial vigor of a golden hue—bursts forth like a dazzling flash of lightning!

In Divine Capital Second City,

the Grand Inspector hovers in mid-air, his surroundings seemingly frozen as a veil of pure white mist shrouds his face, revealing a hint of keen interest.

He extends his spread fingers toward the heavens and slowly presses forward.

Two streams of energy intertwine in his eyes, as if he has spotted a white Chess Piece and traced its movement to an Underworld Yama over a hundred li away.

“An excellent technique. This shifting art, apparently powered by Dao Essence—”

“Quite intriguing.”

The Grand Inspector smiles softly; his pure white Dao Robe flutters as he snaps his outstretched hand, seemingly shattering the space before him and plunging into the void in a cascade of phantasmagoria.

Onlookers scarcely seem to notice his arms anymore.

On the ruined Jade Plaza, every strong presence exchanges glances, curiosity and awe mingling in their eyes.

Ji Mo Li, clad in black armor and with a heavy, steely gaze, watches as the Grand Inspector shatters space with the ease of crushing soft confectionery—a feat beyond his own capabilities.

Some are astonished by the Grand Inspector’s might; others wonder if the Underworld Yama can elude capture.

And, of course, some plan to make a quiet exit.

Li Qingshan hoists Granny Mu and calls out to Nie Yang, and they depart from Divine Capital for beyond.

Nie Yang immediately understands that the disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect have been recalled by the Underworld; staying in Divine Capital now is futile—better to leave at once.

Li Qingshan, now a Grandmaster in his own right, leads Granny Mu back to Daocheng with ease.

Thus, the four set out without hesitation.

On the roaring Grand Canal, waves surge skyward!

A massive black shadow obscures the sky as raindrops burst in mid-air, carrying a terrifying, world-ending pressure.

Li Che, wearing his Yama Mask, steps forward and sees a fearsome, compressing cloud-hand rapidly approaching.

Though this cloud-hand lacks lethal force, it exudes a Dao Essence as inevitable as an affliction entwined with one’s fate.

It is precisely this Dao Essence that perpetually tracks Li Che’s every move.

At the Divine Tribulation stage, mastering Dao Essence far exceeds Li Che’s current comprehension.

To command Dao Essence is to align with the will of heaven and earth—to grasp the essence of the cosmos and draw upon its power, a trait reserved for truly transcendent beings.

Boom, boom, boom—

With several strides, Li Che vaults thousands of zhang, sending gigantic splashes across the Grand Canal.

Glancing at the looming, space-stacked cloud-hand that relentlessly pursues him, a wry smile of helpless resolve crosses his face.

“How troublesome,” he mutters as he shakes his head, a spark of defiance lighting his eyes.

He raises his hand and touches his brow.

Within his Mud Pellet realm, a shockwave erupts:

Using his own body as the anchor, the Cosmic Chessboard expands and surges into the heavens, enveloping everything in its reach.

Now, its expansion spans a thousand li, all within Li Che’s perception—though such vast sensing remains vague.

But the transformation of his Iv6-tier Chess Sage Dao Fruit has been overwhelmingly augmented.

It is this metamorphosis that fuels Li Che’s confidence in escaping Divine Capital.

Originally, after dispatching the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird, Li Che had intended to retreat.

Yet, wanting to escort Ji Mo Li along, he acted once more—provoking Ji Mo Li’s Dao Essence tribulation and, not least, eliciting an overblown performance from the Emperor.

Soon after, the Grand Inspector emerged.

Everything happens too swiftly.

Exhaling slowly, Li Che’s mind stirs.

In an instant, he shifts from the bottom-left star position to the top-right diagonal spot on the Cosmic Chessboard—a span of one thousand li.

This is Li Che’s own devised shifting technique, far surpassing any ordinary body movement.

It is a divine martial art born from the inherent traits of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit.

Chess Sage: Flying Star!

While the Feilei Chess Piece requires an anchored chess piece to fall, the Flying Star technique enables direct transposition across the Cosmic Chessboard.

Deep within his chest, his Chess Sage Dao Fruit pulsates continuously.

In rapid succession, three Flying Star leaps span three thousand li.

Above, the sky is adorned with drifting white clouds, under a serene blue expanse; the dazzling sun casts brilliant rays, shimmering upon the tranquil Grand Canal.

Suddenly, the calm is shattered.

On the emerald waters of the canal, ripples form and spread; a figure with a half-black, half-white mask, hands hidden in sleeves, appears gracefully.

A soft breeze rustles the canal’s surface.

The ripples crash and fade.

Li Che gazes upward at the sky, having just completed three thousand li of shifting—

Could the Grand Inspector’s distant palm still catch up over such a stretch?

Though the force of Dao Essence is formidable, over such distances it should not be able to reach him.

After a long, slow exhale, Li Che rubs his forehead.

Even with the aid of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit and the Flying Star technique, three consecutive leaps on the Cosmic Chessboard over three thousand li exact tremendous toll on him.

It is a consumption at the level of the heavenly soul.

Without continuous restoration from the Dao Induction [Seven Aperture Luminous Heart], executing three consecutive leaps would indeed be nearly impossible—two leaps are usually the limit.

He sits cross-legged upon the canal,

while gentle ripples break the calm surface.

Li Che, with his half-black, half-white Yama Mask, remains utterly still—like a drifting leaf on water.

“Breathe… steady…”

Li Che closes his eyes slightly, waiting in silence.

In Divine Capital Second City,

the Grand Inspector’s face, shrouded in white mist, wears a resigned smile.

“He can really run…”

The Grand Inspector sighs in wonder.

Such shifting techniques—even the likes of a Divine Tribulation cultivator tearing through the void would find it hard to catch up in a short time.

Even he might not be able to match the Underworld Yama.

And now, attempting to use that move to overtake and suppress the Underworld Yama is even more impossible.

The difficulty is too great, and frankly, unnecessary.

With an upward sway, his hand slowly drops; the Grand Inspector leans forward, and amid countless gazes, shatters the space around him as he vanishes.

Divine Capital Second and Third Cities suddenly fall silent.

Only then do the myriad martial wanderers catch their breath, their excitement surging anew.

After all, nothing that happened at the Peach Festival was more thrilling than this!

One can only imagine that after today, every tavern in Divine Capital’s nine cities will be packed, turning into a storyteller’s paradise.

The Empress stands atop a pedestal, her expression troubled.

She summons Eunuch Lian to deal with the affairs of the slain Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird.

Li Che’s dark hair whips as his ink-black shirt flutters in the wind.

As his eyes slowly open, he sees a nearby space torn asunder.

A figure steps out from a void filled with impenetrable darkness and a chilling, slicing force.

It is none other than the Grand Inspector—a genuine Divine Tribulation cultivator.

Li Che, who had been waiting, meets the Grand Inspector.

As the Grand Inspector emerges from the void, the will of heaven and earth seems to sense a thunderous roar, and massive dark clouds surge as if to unleash an unprecedented calamity.

But this time, the dark cloud-shroud does not form the fearsome Five Finger Mountain that would crush everything.

Li Che realizes that the Grand Inspector has ceased his attempt to subdue him.

He begrudgingly acknowledges that Li Che is simply too fleet of foot.

“Yama, your movements are truly profound—” he muses, marveling at how, even within the Bizarre Temple, facing numerous Divine Tribulation cultivators, you can escape as effortlessly as a gentle spring breeze.

Looking at the Underworld Yama seated serenely on the canal, Li Che smiles softly.

Underworld Yama… it appears he was waiting for him.

The Grand Inspector becomes convinced that this Underworld Yama might be an old acquaintance.

“I must admit, my skills pale in comparison,” the Grand Inspector says kindly.

He continues, “I owe you for giving me an opportunity to sever my ties with the Great Realm Imperial House.”

“Do you share deep bonds with the Great Realm?” Li Che rasps beneath his Yama Mask.

The Grand Inspector replies, “The pact made with the Great Realm’s Founder is a test of the will of heaven and earth—once broken, it will diminish my Divine Tribulation strength.”

He continues unabashedly, “Now, the Second and Third Princes have already used their Imperial Orders; only the First and Youngest Princes still hold theirs.”

Li Che nods thoughtfully.

The Grand Inspector gazes at Li Che beneath his Yama Mask, his eyes growing warm with admiration—and a hint of astonishment.

The Grand Inspector lands on the Grand Canal’s surface, creating gentle ripples.

“The Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff is in your hands? If so, you’d best make a trip to Qitian City in a year, or else Qitian Temple’s legacy will be lost to the Great Realm,” he cautions.

“For if Qitian Temple’s legacy falls into the hands of the Western Lands of Buddhism—with their notorious temperaments—Central lands will inevitably descend into an age of woe,” the Grand Inspector adds with a soft sigh.

Li Che, beneath his Yama Mask, speaks hoarsely, “The Western Lands of Buddhism can contend for Qitian Temple’s legacy even without the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff?”

The Grand Inspector’s eyes grow somber: “Qitian is not so simple. Within the Bizarre Temple, all three divine factions vie for its allegiance—since Qitian now slumbers, when awakened it could align with any side.”

“Qitian may join [Black Xumi], enter [Dark Heavenly Court], or even become the temple spirit for [Ghostly Demon Den]!”

The Grand Inspector declares.

Li Che’s Yama Mask glimmers faintly as he responds, “If the Western Lands of Buddhism possess that [Venerable Diamond Mantra Tightening Manacle], then the Weird Demon Clan, given Qitian’s origins, and the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff represent the Central faction.”

“Thus, as you now wield the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff, I must ask a favor,” the Grand Inspector continues, a wisp of mist trailing on his face.

Li Che, surprised, asks, “Grand Inspector, as a Divine Tribulation cultivator, can’t you intervene?”

The Grand Inspector smiles gently, “Old man—I must block some of the decaying old forces within the Bizarre Temple.”

He offers little further explanation.

“The Bizarre Temple is vast and murky. Child, when you start evading tribulations there, you will understand that the mortal realm is one of the few pure lands remaining. Moreover, to protect your daughter, you must not only empower her but also push your own strength to the very pinnacle—a true bulwark worthy of safeguarding her.”

“Mortal peak is not enough.”

“Neither is the peak of the Bizarre Temple—”

“Nor the abyss of the Underworld—”

“Or, perhaps, the pinnacle of the Three Realms—”

The Grand Inspector fixes his gaze on Li Che beneath the dual-colored mask and speaks.

These words wholly reveal Li Che’s identity.

Afterward, he says no more, as a terrifying pressure from the heavens suddenly descends.

Li Che lifts his eyes; his gaze narrows as he sees rolling Divine Xiao Thunder, annihilating god-wind, and Underworld Fire coalescing into a draconic blaze!

Three calamities converge!

What sort of calamity is this?!

Li Che takes a deep breath—what realm of Divine Tribulation is this Grand Inspector truly from?!

The ominous aura of impending doom presses in, silencing even his vital energy.

Meanwhile, the Grand Inspector’s form begins dissolving into tendrils of mist.

“Great Realm———— Calamity abounds. Fate nears its end.”

“Great Realm may fall, but the innocent people of the world—”

Before Li Che’s eyes, the Grand Inspector completely disintegrates into dust.

On the Grand Canal,

the emerald surface ripples gently;

only the voice of the Grand Inspector lingers as Li Che stands unmoved, his gaze deep and contemplative.

Time seems to stretch interminably as he ponders.

Suddenly, Li Che feels his mind stir; he touches his brow and senses the Cosmic Chessboard tremble.

He notices that the Ju Xian Yellow Flag, once silenced after being drained of eerie aura by the Pure Heart Dao Fruit from the Millennial Peach Grove, is now quivering slightly—the flag flutters boldly.

Within his Mud Pellet realm,

his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart beats softly; soon, Li Che senses a profound connection forming between his spirit and the Ju Xian Yellow Flag.

Then, on the Cosmic Chessboard, an image appears—

the Emperor, before the Xi Wangmu Bizarre Temple’s Divine Eagle, deploying a Ju Xian Xuan Flag.

Li Che is astonished.

He never left a Feilei Chess Piece on the Emperor, yet now he perceives the scene through the Chessboard!

Could this be the resonance of the Ju Xian Flag?!

Li Che’s expression twists into something peculiar.

So the Emperor staged this grand Temple Spirit Resonance to gather Ju Xian Flags?

Or in other words, to complete a set of them?

If the Emperor indeed holds multiple Ju Xian Flags, assembling eight would be truly extraordinary.

“The Emperor holds Ju Xian Flags,” Li Che muses, narrowing his eyes.

“How coincidental—your name has been added to the Life and Death Book, and your Ju Xian Flag is none other than mine!”

Suddenly,

Li Che withdraws his consciousness from the Cosmic Chessboard.

Sound of rushing water shatters the silence.

Looking up, he sees the placid surface of the Grand Canal ruptured as a mighty current surges eastward.

A single bamboo raft drifts serenely.

A figure in white, with a rolled cigarette in hand, sits quietly atop the raft.

Beside the white-clad figure, a large black dog lies contentedly.