Zhunti Emerged from Seclusion

Time flies, and a thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The West.

Mount Sumeru.

Eight Treasures Merit Pool, swirling mists abound, golden lotuses bloom in full glory, and Buddha Light.

Beside the pool, a figure that had sat cross-legged for a thousand years finally slowly opened its eyes.

The once-weak aura Surrounding Body has now been fully restored, replaced by a boundless and unhindered Saintly Might that has returned to its peak.

It was Daoist Zhunti who had awakened from seclusion.

Almost the instant he awoke, the Daoist Jieyin over him sensed it, and a hint of concern appeared on his troubled face.

"Junior brother, you're awake."

Jieyin his mouth with concern.

How are your injuries?

Zhunti rose to his feet, his Surrounding Body radiating Buddha Light. His shattered golden body had already been reformed, without a single crack.

He nodded slightly to the Jieyin, his voice steady.

"Don't worry, senior brother, he has fully recovered."

"Thanks to the water of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, otherwise, it would have been absolutely impossible to recover within a thousand years."

Jieyin hearing this, Jieyin finally felt completely relieved.

He knew perfectly well just how serious his junior brother's injuries were.

First, his golden body was shattered by the Yuanshi Tianzun, and later, Nuwa, in Nuwa anger, suppressed him, almost damaging his very Origin Essence.

If it weren't for their profound foundations and the nourishing effects of the Merit Pool, anyone else would have needed tens of thousands of years of arduous cultivation to recover.

It is already a stroke of good fortune that it has been restored to its original state within a thousand years.

"It's good that you've recovered, it's good that you've recovered."

Jieyin repeatedly, then couldn't help but sigh.

"It's just that you've suffered, junior brother."

Zhunti waved his hand dismissively.

A little physical pain is nothing.

He didn't dwell on his injuries. Looking around and sensing the increasingly strong Buddhism Fortune on Mount Sumeru, he asked directly.

"Senior brother, during my thousand-year seclusion, how has Buddhism developed?"

This is what he cares about most.

Jieyin hearing this, a rare smile finally appeared on Jieyin's sorrowful face.

"Don't worry, junior brother, everything is going smoothly."

"Daoist Randeng is indeed a talented individual, with outstanding abilities and extraordinary methods."

"They managed the affairs of the church very well."

"Furthermore, with Shen Gongbao assisting him, although this man is not highly skilled, he is shrewd and adept at understanding people's hearts, making him a great help to Randeng."

"Within the past thousand years, through their joint efforts, they have subdued most of the Jie Sect Disciple who were converted from the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation."

"Now, most of those once arrogant and haughty Interception Sect have put aside their past grievances and sincerely converted to Buddhism, becoming the mainstay of our Buddhism."

Only a handful of people remained unwilling to accept their fate and stubbornly refused to listen.

"However, that's alright. Suppress them under the Eight Treasures Merit Pool and cleanse them day and night with Buddhist Dharma."

"I believe that sooner or later, they will have a sudden awakening and realize the Great Dao of Buddhism."

The tone of his Jieyin carried a hint of genuine admiration.

That Randeng, as expected of the former Deputy Sect Master of Chan Sect, is top-notch in both methods and temperament.

Shen Gongbao, on the other hand, was extremely adept at social maneuvering. With his silver tongue, he could talk the dead back to life. When he stepped forward to appease the Jie Sect Disciple, the effect was surprisingly good.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Upon Zhunti this, Zhunti clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his face filled with uncontrollable joy.

"It wasn't for nothing that I took a beating from Primordial Lord back then!"

"To exchange my own injury for the flourishing of my Buddhism Dao Lineage —this deal was well made!"

It seems that my initial choice was correct.

He was willing to endure a severe beating from Yuanshi Tianzun to save Randeng and Shen Gongbao, which was truly one of the wisest decisions he ever made.

Without these two people, it would have taken him and his senior brother an unknown amount of effort and time to completely subdue such a large number of Jie Sect Disciple.

He abruptly changed the subject, asking about something even more important.

"Senior brother, have we chosen suitable candidates for our plan to take up positions in the Underworld and earn Merit?"

This is the most important thing right now.

The debt of Merit they owed weighed heavily on the hearts of the two brothers, like a mountain.

If they cannot find a way to repay the debt as soon as possible, the West will never truly prosper.

The Jieyin's expression instantly became solemn.

"I have thought about this matter for a long time."

"They have indeed chosen the most suitable candidate."

Zhunti's spirits lifted.

Who is it?

The Jieyin slowly uttered two words.

Dizang.

Upon Zhunti this, Zhunti was taken aback at first, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"Dizang? Wonderful! Senior brother has keen insight!"

"This son of Dizang is inherently compassionate, and also possesses great perseverance and wisdom."

"He is indeed the most suitable candidate to go to the Underworld to purify the boundless sins and redeem the billions of lost souls."

Zhunti knew his disciple all too well.

He was someone who was born to make a living by converting people.

"However, the Underworld is filled with countless sins and countless souls. Dizang is probably too weak and powerless."

"Even if he possesses Tongtian abilities, how many people can he truly convert?"

"The Merit earned are but a drop in the ocean."

"This matter concerns the very foundation of our Great Prosperity of the West; it must be handled with absolute certainty."

"In my opinion, we should select more disciples who are well-versed in Buddhist Dharma and skilled in the path of salvation to Dizang his journey, so that they can look after him."

"We must make them accumulate as much Merit as possible for the West, to make up for our previous losses!"

His goal is not something to be taken lightly.

Instead, they want to turn the Underworld into a stable source of Merit for them in the West!

"I've already thought of what you said, junior brother."

The Jieyin smiled and spoke.

"I have already selected a group of disciples from among my followers who are profound in Buddhist Dharma and skilled in the art of guiding others to enlightenment."

"At that time, Dizang will take the lead and have them all enter the Underworld to serve and obey Dizang's commands."

Upon Zhunti this, Zhunti was finally relieved.

"Good! Great good!"

"I deeply appreciate your actions, senior brother!"

"Now that the candidate has been chosen, there's no time to lose."

"We shall now travel to the Underworld to discuss this matter with Pingxin Fellow Daoist!"

Jieyin slowly rose to his feet, his face, which was always filled with sorrow, now brimming with anticipation for the future.

"Good."

The moment the words left their mouths, the two figures vanished silently beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

The next moment, they traversed endless space and appeared above the Sea of Blood.