Zhunti

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhunti (准提)
Alias(es)	Daoist Zhunti; Western Second Saint
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Western Teachings; later the Buddhist Sect
Occupation/Role	Co-founder and Saint of the Western Teachings
Status	Saint
First Appearance	11

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Early-stage Quasi-Saint	21	Unable to withstand Li Peng's Yin Yang Twin Swords; his Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree was damaged during the fight for the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus.
Quasi-Saint Peak	37	Reached after Zhunti and Jieyin founded the Western Teachings and received Heavenly Dao merit; the merit proved insufficient for immediate sainthood.
Saint	37	Zhunti and Jieyin made extensive vows to borrow additional merit, achieving sainthood at the cost of immense karmic debt.

Background and History

Zhunti arrived late at the Purple Heaven Palace with Jieyin, presenting himself as a distressed cultivator from the impoverished West. He used their hardship to seek a place among the foremost listeners, denounced Kunpeng as unworthy of a front-row seat, and ultimately received a seat arranged by Dao Ancestor Hongjun as part of Hongjun's karmic obligation to the West 11.

Hongjun later accepted Zhunti and Jieyin as direct disciples and granted each of them a strand of Primordial Violet Qi 19. After Li Peng targeted the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus they possessed, Zhunti and Jieyin fled westward. Li Peng caught them, defeated Zhunti and Jieyin decisively, and seized the lotus; Zhunti's Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree was damaged in the encounter 20 21.

Zhunti later attempted to forcibly bring Kong Xuan to the West after Kong Xuan's transformation. Li Peng intervened, forcing Zhunti to settle the matter by compensating Kong Xuan with a Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure 24.

Appearance

Zhunti first appeared as a disheveled, ragged middle-aged man with a pained expression, deliberately presenting an impoverished image upon entering the Purple Heaven Palace 11. In later appearances, he is described as a golden-light-radiating Daoist 24.

• Manifests a six-zhang golden body when appearing before Golden Cicada 140.
• Can assume a twenty-four-headed, eighteen-armed Dharma form in battle 129.
• His Dharma form wields numerous weapons and ritual implements, including a jeweled headdress, umbrella, fish intestine sword, golden bow, silver halberd, vajra pestle, vajra file, Buddha-light pure vase, and flower adornment 129.

Personality

Zhunti is calculating, opportunistic, and acutely conscious of the West's lack of resources. He repeatedly frames the West's barrenness as justification for seeking opportunities, whether at the Purple Heaven Palace, through the founding of the Western Teachings, or while petitioning Li Peng for access to the Human Race 11 37 83.

He is also resentful of eastern prosperity and willing to exploit calamity for western advantage. He welcomed the possible collapse of Buzhou Mountain because it would weaken the East, and he later worked with Primordial Lord of Heaven to devise a scheme intended to humiliate Haotian 68 103.

Despite his boldness, Zhunti recognizes overwhelming power when confronted by it. He withdrew from direct conflict with Li Peng after being defeated, feared provoking him during later schemes, and accepted unfavorable terms when the Western Teachings needed Li Peng's aid 21 83 103.

Abilities & Skills

Saint Cultivation

Zhunti attained sainthood together with Jieyin by founding the Western Teachings and making extensive vows to the Heavenly Dao 37.

• Received Primordial Violet Qi directly from Hongjun before becoming a Saint 19.
• Borrowed merit through vows after the merit from founding the Western Teachings only raised him to Quasi-Saint Peak 37.
• His sainthood is burdened by karmic debt; failure to fulfill the vows may cost him his Saint position or even destroy his soul 37.

Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree

Zhunti's Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree is formed from his true body and serves as his principal treasure 21.

• Used to resist Li Peng's Yin Yang Twin Swords, though it was damaged and its branches were broken 21.
• Can brush away opposing magic treasures and was used to confiscate the treasures of Jie Sect disciples 128.
• Could not clear all of Cangjie's ancient-character manifestations during their confrontation 131.

Dharma Form

Zhunti can manifest a twenty-four-headed, eighteen-armed Dharma form for direct combat 129.

• Each arm carries a different weapon or ritual treasure 129.
• Used against Sect Leader Tongtian during the Investiture of the Gods conflict 129.
• Was defeated by Tongtian after the Western Teachings lost thirty percent of their Destiny 129.

Conversion and Sect Expansion

Zhunti actively recruits and converts cultivators to strengthen the West.

• Attempted to forcibly convert Kong Xuan after Kong Xuan rejected the barren West 24.
• Took Golden Cicada as a disciple after recognizing his potential and Buddhist affinity 140 141.
• Protected former Chan Sect disciples after they defected to the Western Teachings and became prominent Buddhist figures 138.
• Used the Universe Bag with Jieyin to capture large numbers of Jie Sect disciples during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation 131.

Equipment

• Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree — Zhunti's true-form treasure; used for defense, combat, and brushing away magic treasures 21 128.
• Pure Dust Brush — A High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure used against Li Peng's Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda 21.
• Universe Bag — Used to collect Jie Sect disciples during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation 131.
• Nine-Ranked Virtuous Golden Lotus — Used to conceal and protect Dinguang Huanxi Buddha on the battlefield 131.
• Eight Treasures Merit Pool — A High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure used with Jieyin as the foundation of the Western Teachings' Destiny 37.

Relationships

• Jieyin — Senior Brother and fellow Western Saint; Zhunti jointly founded the Western Teachings with him, made vows with him to achieve sainthood, and later broke from the Mystic Sect alongside him 37 111.
• Li Peng — Powerful adversary and later a creditor. Li Peng defeated Zhunti, seized the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus, and later accepted two High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures to permit the Western Teachings to spread among the Human Race 21 83.
• Kong Xuan — Target of Zhunti's attempted forced conversion; Zhunti withdrew and offered compensation after learning Kong Xuan was Li Peng's brother 24.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven — Temporary co-conspirator against Haotian, but also a major rival who confronted Zhunti over former Chan Sect disciples sheltered by the Western Teachings 103 138.
• The Three Pure Ones — Sectarian rivals who pressured Zhunti and Jieyin during debates over the Investiture of the Gods, contributing to the Western pair's departure from the Mystic Sect 111.
• Golden Cicada — Favored disciple accepted by Zhunti; one of Demon Ancestor Rahula's soul clones embedded within the Western Teachings 140 141.
• Guanyin, Puxian, Manjushri, and Juliusun — Former Chan Sect disciples protected by Zhunti after their defection to the Western Teachings 138.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Founding the Western Teachings

After seeing eastern figures establish sects and become Saints, Zhunti and Jieyin founded the Western Teachings with the Eight Treasures Merit Pool as its foundation. Their initial merit was insufficient, compelling them to make extensive vows and incur enormous karmic debt to become Saints 37.

Witch–Demon Conflict

Zhunti regarded the Witch and Demon Clans' eventual war as necessary for the Western Teachings' expansion, since neither faction revered the Western Saints. Restricted from attacking either side directly by Hongjun, he proposed accelerating their conflict indirectly 61.

During the final crisis of Buzhou Mountain, Zhunti viewed its collapse as a strategic chance to weaken the East, despite the devastation it would cause 68. After the Witch–Demon conflict, Zhunti and Jieyin took the remaining Demon Clan members into their possession 72.

Struggle for Human Race Influence

Zhunti and Jieyin later approached Li Peng for permission to spread their teachings among the Human Race. Their limited offerings reflected the poverty of the West, but Li Peng accepted two High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures and declared their previous karmic debt settled 83.

Zhunti subsequently partnered with Primordial Lord of Heaven in a scheme intended to disgrace Haotian and weaken the Heavenly Court's standing 103.

Departure from the Mystic Sect

During the Investiture of the Gods dispute, the Three Pure Ones treated the Western Teachings as expendable and pushed for its disciples to fill divine positions. Zhunti and Jieyin refused, chose to leave the Mystic Sect, and established the Buddhist Sect; Hongjun permitted their departure without punishment 111.

Investiture of the Gods Tribulation

Zhunti supported the Western Teachings' efforts to gain disciples and influence from the collapsing Jie Sect. He fought Sect Leader Tongtian with his Dharma form but was defeated after the Western Teachings' Destiny declined 129.

He later used the Universe Bag to gather Jie Sect disciples, intended to cultivate Daoist Duobao as a pillar of the Western Teachings, and defended the defecting Chan Sect disciples against Primordial Lord of Heaven 131 138.

Later Western Expansion

Following the restoration of the Primordial World, Zhunti and Jieyin accepted Li Peng's help in exchange for a karmic debt. Zhunti subsequently accepted Golden Cicada as a disciple, unaware that Golden Cicada was one of Rahula's soul clones placed within the Western Teachings 139 140 141.