The Schemes of the Two Sages of the West

In the west, within the main hall, the Eight Treasures Merit Pool shimmers with light, lotus flowers blooming in its depths, each one imbued with Buddha Light, a sight that soothes the soul.

Zhunti and Jieyin sat facing each other on the futon.

"Senior brother, are we just going to let this go?"

Zhunti's voice suppressed his anger, "They were so close! Once the Interception Sect and the Chan Sect had fought to the death, our Western Sect could have reaped the benefits, bringing those destined to the West to glorify our sect!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, "But now that the Great Calamity has ended so hastily, the foundation of the Interception Sect remains intact, and we don't even have a chance to deal with the Interception Sect!"

The Saint Jieyin sat atop the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit, his face still etched with sorrow. He slowly opened his eyes, which seemed to hold the birth and death of countless worlds.

"Junior brother, please calm down." Jieyin's voice was calm. "Master has personally announced the end of the Great Tribulation. Heavenly Dao bears witness; it cannot be disobeyed."

Upon Zhunti this, Zhunti's anger subsided slightly, but he was still unwilling to give up. "But our dozens of disciples... though they are only monks and novices, are also seeds carefully cultivated by our Western Paradise! Now that they have all been listed on the Investiture of the Gods, how can we not avenge this?"

When the names of the fallen Western Teachings disciples were mentioned, the sorrow on Jieyin's face deepened.

The West was already sparsely populated, and each disciple was brought to the West by two sages who traversed the Primordial Wilderness with great difficulty.

He was heartbroken to lose dozens of people in this great calamity, though they were not core disciples.

"Tongtian..." Jieyin murmured the name, a cold glint in his eyes, "This Karma will be repaid in due time. But not now."

He looked at Zhunti and continued, "Junior brother should know that the one who is most furious right now is Yuanshi in the Jade Void Palace."

Zhunti was taken aback, then realized. "Senior brother means..."

Jieyin slowly said, "Yuanshi has been planning this for a long time, intending to use this great calamity to completely crush the Interception Sect and pave the way for the Chan Sect."

"But now that the great calamity has ended so hastily, the main force of the Interception Sect still exists, while his disciples who were Investiture of the Gods of the Gods have lost their physical bodies and can only rely on divine cultivation. Tell me, who is more unwilling?"

Zhunti's eyes gradually brightened. "Senior brother is right."

It's important to know that Yuanshi and Tongtian have always been at odds, and Yuanshi was arguably the most resentful of them all.

Jieyin for a moment, then continued, "However, the Investiture of the Investiture of the Gods is Yuanshi over by Yuanshi Tianzun. Those Western disciples who have made the list still need to strive for better divine positions. Junior Brother, you may make a trip to Kunlun Mountain for this matter."

Zhunti: "That's right. Although those disciples are not highly skilled, they have entered the Heavenly Court and received divine blessings. In the future, they may become the eyes and ears of the West."

The Jieyin said no more and closed his eyes to enter meditation.

Zhunti understood, and his figure transformed into a golden light, leaving Mount Ling and heading straight east.

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.

Yuanshi sat upright on his cloud bed, his face serene.

Below, the immortals of the Chan Sect stood solemnly with their hands at their sides, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, True Person Huang Long, True Lord Taiyi...

All the Golden Immortal were present, each with a complex expression.

Shen Gongbao stood among the immortals, his head bowed very low.

"A hundred years from now, the Investiture of the Gods ceremony will be held at the Investiture of the Gods Platform," Yuanshi Tianzun announced, his voice echoing throughout the Jade Void Palace. "This matter will be presided over by Shen Gongbao, and you all must cooperate fully."

The members of the Chan Sect exchanged glances, a hint of disgust flashing in their eyes, but their master already understood, and they had no choice but to comply.

"I will obey my master's orders."

Shen Gongbao snapped out of his daze and quickly stepped forward to bow respectfully. "Yes, Master, this disciple will certainly not fail your expectations."

He was incredibly excited; he never imagined he would one day have the power to decide someone else's fate.

His gaze swept over the disciples. "Although the disciples on the list have lost their physical bodies, they can continue to cultivate after obtaining divine positions. The Chan Sect Disciple are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court."

These words were spoken plainly, yet the immortals understood their meaning.

The master is about to engage in a Investiture of the Gods struggle with the Heavenly Court regarding the Investiture of the Gods.

Guangchengzi stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Master, that Interception Sect..."

No need for further explanation.

Yuanshi waved his hand to interrupt, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "I will settle accounts with him next time."

Just then, a boy came from outside the Jade Void Palace to report, "Reporting to Master, the Western Saint Zhunti has arrived."

Yuanshi frowned slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Please."

Before long, Zhunti slowly entered, a smile on his face, holding the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, surrounded by Buddha Light.

His smile remained unchanged as he looked at everyone with a warm and gentle expression, though he inadvertently glanced at Randeng.

"Brother Yuanshi, how have you been?" Zhunti him with his palms together.

Yuanshi nodded slightly, but did not offer him a seat. He simply asked, "Zhunti Daoist Zhunti, what brings you here from afar?"

This cold attitude displeased Zhunti, but he still smiled and said, "Firstly, I congratulate you, Senior Brother, on presiding over the Investiture of the Gods; your merits are immeasurable. Secondly, I ask that you take care of my disciples in the West who have been listed during the Investiture of the Gods."

Yuanshi looked up at him and said, "The matter of the Investiture of the Gods is ordained by the Heavenly Dao Law and cannot be arranged arbitrarily by me."

These words sounded high-sounding, but Zhunti cursed them inwardly while Zhunti his smile, "Senior brother is joking. Although the Investiture of the Gods the Gods has been established, the order of the gods' ranks and the weight of their responsibilities are not simply decided by the person in charge."

"Our Western Teachings has a small population, and although those disciples are not very capable, they are still the result of my and my Jieyin brother's painstaking cultivation..."

Yuanshi interrupted directly, "I know what I'm doing in this matter, fellow Daoist, there's no need for further discussion."

Zhunti's smile froze on his face. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said, "In that case, I have another matter to discuss with you."

He paused, and seeing that Yuanshi remained silent, continued, "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity has ended. Our Western Teachings wish to Converting All Living Beings, but I wonder..."

"No." Yuanshi interrupted directly, his voice resolute. "The East has its own way, and the West has its own methods. Fellow Daoist, you'd better focus on managing the Pure Land of Spirit Mountain."

Zhunti finally frowned. "Senior brother, have you forgotten the alliance you formed with the West? You promised to repay it after this great calamity."

"You still have the nerve to say that? The Interception Sect..." Yuanshi started to say, but seeing that all his disciples were present, he had no choice but to give up. "Let's not mention this matter again. If there's nothing else, you may leave."

This blunt order to Zhunti left Zhunti trembling with anger.

He was a Heavenly Dao Saint, on par with Yuanshi Tianzun, yet he had to suffer such humiliation?

"Fine... fine!" Zhunti gritted his teeth, turned around with a flick of his sleeve, and said, "Since that's the case, I'll take my leave!"

As he left Jade Void Palace, Zhunti's face was devoid of any smile, and his eyes flashed with cold light.

He glanced back at the majestic Kunlun Mountain, a surge of malice welling up within him.

"O Yuanshi Yuanshi, since you so despise the West, don't blame me for taking drastic measures..."

"Since doing it openly won't work, then we'll do it covertly..."

Zhunti sneered, his figure transforming into golden light as he returned to the West.

Yuanshi snorted coldly, not taking Zhunti at all. In his mind, the two Westerners were nothing but two guys who had taken advantage of the situation and were not worthy of being mentioned.

"You may all leave."

All the disciples bowed in unison, "Yes, Master."

The cave dwelling of the Daoist Randeng is located on the southern slope of Kunlun Mountain, a place rich in spiritual energy.

The cave dwelling was simply furnished with a bed, a futon, a censer, and an incense table.

Randeng sat cross-legged on the futon, his face calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

He was originally a guest in the Purple Cloud Palace, of the same generation as the Three Pure Ones, but due to various reasons, he joined the Chan Sect and was relegated to a subordinate Yuanshi below Yuanshi.

Over the years, although he has obtained the nominal title of Vice Sect Master, he has been constrained in every way, and his cultivation has been stagnant at the mid-stage of quasi-saint, without any further progress.

What chilled him even more was that Yuanshi seemed to have never truly trusted him.

He was often excluded from important meetings at the Jade Void Palace, and the core lineage of the Chan Sect was never open to him.

He was like an outsider, barely able to squeeze onto the great ship of the Chan Sect, yet forever unable to touch the rudder.

As he was pondering this, a Bodhi Seed in his bosom suddenly became warm and emitted a soft Buddha Light.

A thought Randeng him, and he took out Bodhi Seed. In the Buddha Light, the phantom of the Saint Zhunti appeared.

"Fellow Randeng Deng, how have you been?"

The Zhunti smiled, his attitude completely different from when he was in the Jade Void Palace.

Randeng immediately rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formalities." The Zhunti his hand. "When we discussed the Dao in the past, I deeply felt that you possess profound wisdom and have a connection with the Western Paradise. I wonder what your decision is?"

The Randeng remained lit in silence.

He naturally knew what Zhunti was referring to.

He abandoned the Chan Sect and went to the West.

He had been pondering this matter for a long time.

In the Chan Sect, his path forward was blocked.

In the West, however, two sages promised that if anyone came to join them, they would be treated with the utmost respect and would discuss the Great Dao together.

More importantly, Zhunti had vaguely hinted that there were secret techniques in the West that could help him break through the bottleneck of the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm...

"I am deeply grateful for Randeng Sage's kindness," Randeng finally spoke, his voice low and deep. "However, betraying the faith is no small matter..."

Zhunti laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken. With the Great Dao before us, why be bound by sectarianism? Our Western Teachings open the door to all, regardless of background. If you were to come, you would be the foremost of Past Buddha, second only to me and my Jieyin disciple, Jieyin."

The foremost of the Past Buddha!

The Randeng's flame pounded in his chest.

This promise is far more substantial than the empty title of Vice Sect Master of the Chan Sect.

He took a deep breath and made up his mind. "If that's the case, then I, Randeng, am willing to go to the West."

Zhunti was overjoyed. "Excellent! Excellent! Fellow Daoist's decision is extremely wise!"

Randeng continued, "To be honest, Your Majesty, within the Chan Sect, there are still a few like-minded fellow practitioners, such Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Cihang, but they have all become disloyal."

Zhunti's eyes lit up. "Oh? Fellow Daoist might be able to persuade them?"

"Randeng is willing to try his best." Randeng nodded, "However... if things go wrong, what will happen to the Yuanshi Sage..."

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist," Zhunti said proudly. "With me and Jieyin Brother Jieyin here, even if Yuanshi Tianzun himself came, he wouldn't be able to harm you in the slightest. Besides, by then you'll already be in the West, so what is there to fear?"

These words were spoken with such boldness that even the last trace of concern in Randeng's heart vanished.

Yes, since the decision to betray has been made, it should be complete.

"In that case, I will secretly contact those fellow Daoists," Randeng said Randeng. "However, this matter requires careful consideration and should not be rushed."

The illusory figure of Zhunti: "Fellow Daoist, your consideration is thorough. This matter need not be rushed. We can wait until after the Investiture of the Investiture of the Gods ceremony, when the time is ripe, before proceeding."

The two then discussed the matter in private for a long time Zhunti image of Zhunti finally disappeared.

Silence returned to the cave. He sat alone on a prayer mat with Randeng, the Buddha Light from the Bodhi Seed in his hand gradually fading.

He gazed at the stone walls of the cave, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

There was resolve, and there was acceptance.

Randeng muttered to himself, as if trying to convince himself, "Over the years, I have devoted myself to the Chan Sect, yet I have only gained empty fame and no real benefit. With the Great Dao before me, how can I remain confined to this?"

He thought of Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Cihang.

"Rather than wasting my years in the Chan Sect, I should seek another Great Dao ..." The last trace of hesitation in Randeng's eyes disappeared.

He got up, walked to the entrance of the cave, and looked in the direction of the Jade Void Palace.

There, celestial light swirled, and the scenery was ever-changing; it was a sacred place that countless cultivators in the Primordial Wilderness yearned for.

But to him, it was nothing more than a magnificent cage.

"Yuanshi Tianzun, please don't blame Randeng for being heartless."

After saying this in a low voice, Randeng turned around and went back into the cave, closing the gate.

Meanwhile, at the Jade Void Palace on the main peak of Kunlun, the Yuanshi Tianzun seemed to sense something, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Strange... why did I suddenly have this urge?"

He tried to calculate with his fingers, but the secrets of heaven were Chaos, as if obscured by some force.

Yuanshi pondered for a moment, then shook his head, assuming it was just the passing of a great calamity and not delving into it further.