A very, very long time later, the Creator saw that the time had come, and bestowed upon the Liuli Heavenly King a new divine body. He became a celestial child-attendant beneath the throne of a Bodhisattva (in Buddhist tradition, a Bodhisattva is an enlightened being who, out of compassion, chooses to remain close to the world in order to help save all sentient beings), entrusted with the task of watching over and protecting human beings in the "lands where the gods abide."
The "lands where the gods abide" refers to those regions whose people still hold in their hearts a faith in the orthodox gods. As long as it is a belief in an orthodox deity or in an orthodox traditional folk faith, these people receive divine protection. But even within "lands where the gods abide," there are atheists, and there are also those who place their devotion in evil spirits and dark sorcery. Because these people have no right faith, the doors of their hearts are sealed shut to the orthodox gods. Even if the orthodox gods wish to protect them, there is nothing they can do — because these people have closed off their own hearts and spirits.
The "lands where the gods do not abide" refers to those countries whose governments are atheistic, or to certain governments that openly venerate evil spirits, or that even practice sorcery (the Chinese Communist Party, for example). But this does not mean that all the people in such places are without faith in their hearts. There may still be many among them who hold a sincere right faith, and the orthodox gods will still extend their protection to such people. However, in regions of this kind, natural disasters and man-made calamities occur with great frequency, and the people live in very harsh conditions.
On this particular day, the little celestial attendant stepped upon a lotus and followed the Bodhisattva to Taiwan, one of these "lands where the gods abide." Filled with curiosity, he flew this way and that, and felt a deep joy. He asked the Bodhisattva: "In the future, I would like to be born as one of the people of this place. May I?"
Perhaps because the workings of heaven could not be revealed, the Bodhisattva only smiled gently, and gave no answer.
After the Liuli Heavenly King had served for a while as the little celestial attendant, he was once again summoned by the messenger of the Creator.
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