Western Duo

"It seems my affinity with those Heavenly Mandate Spiritual Treasures is truly shallow indeed."

Qing Huan stood atop the clouds, gazing down at the vast earth below, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Just then, a voice tinged with urgency yet carrying a hint of warmth came from behind:

"Daoist Friend—please wait!"

That voice... Qing Huan's figure paused, a strange sense of familiarity rising in his heart.

He slowly turned, his gaze landing on two Daoists riding auspicious clouds not far away—one wore a face of bitter sorrow, pitying the world.

The other had a gaunt countenance, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.

"Hah! So it's these two!"

Qing Huan understood inwardly.

"The Western Duo, Zhunti and Jieyin! Looks like they've been 'treasure hunting' in the Eastern lands for an entire Kalpa now."

"Daoist Friend Qing Huan! What a fateful coincidence, meeting here!"

Daoist Jieyin pressed his palms together, forcing a warm smile onto his face as he stepped forward to greet him.

Zhunti also bowed in salute, his gaze swiftly sweeping over the mountains and rivers below, as if searching for something.

Qing Huan's expression remained calm as he returned the greeting:

"So it's the two Daoist Friends from the West. I wonder why you've ventured deep into the Eastern lands instead of saving all sentient beings in the Western Pure Land?"

Though Qing Huan knew full well that as long as these two didn't scheme against him, there was no need for enmity.

But if they truly dared to set their sights on him... destroying their Dao Field so they could never establish the Western Sect in this lifetime would far surpass mere combat and violence.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, their minds in sync.

"Sigh!"

Zhunti sighed before speaking, his face instantly clouded with pity for the world, as if bearing the boundless suffering of all beings in the Primordial Wilderness.

"Daoist Friend, you may not know! Our Western lands are barren and desolate, with scarce Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth, few Innate Lifeforms, and the Great Dao's transmission is arduous.

My Senior Brother and I have come to the East out of sheer necessity.

We seek only to find disciples with wisdom and affinity, to guide them back to the West, to cultivate wondrous Dharma together, to teach and transform one region, hoping that one day the West may flourish with life and Dao like the East!"

"Amitabha!"

Jieyin timely intoned a Buddha's name, his expression growing even more sorrowful, adding:

"Exactly so. Our actions are, first, to propagate the supreme Great Dao passed down by Dao Ancestor Hongjun, blessing all living beings.

Second, to remedy the West's lack of spiritual vitality, contributing a small effort to the Primordial Wilderness's balance. We hope the Daoist Friend understands our heartfelt intentions."

As for how much truth or falsehood lay in Jieyin and Zhunti's words, Qing Huan had no intention of probing deeply—as long as they didn't interfere with his affairs.

Still, he held a measure of objective recognition for these two.

All in the Primordial Wilderness knew the West was impoverished, with Innate Spiritual Treasures and spiritual roots pitifully scarce.

Yet these two had carved a unique path, groping their way toward a method of using Sarira to replace Innate Spiritual Treasures in Slaying the Three Corpses!

This path of the Sarira was indeed novel.

But... Qing Huan's gaze shifted slightly, perceiving the difference.

The same method of Slaying the Three Corpses, yet the West's version was Slaying the Three Worlds—past, present, and future.

The end of this path was already faintly visible, similar in essence to Slaying the Three Corpses, yet far more arduous.

Without a complete Great Dao law to comprehend to its utmost, and lacking an Innate Supreme Treasure to suppress great Luck and house the Primordial Spirit, attempting to attain the Hunyuan Dao through this was nothing but a moon in the water, a flower in the mirror—utterly impossible!

It would be more practical to try opening a great world in the Chaos...

Still, the laws Zhunti and Jieyin cultivated, the Great Dao they comprehended, especially the concept of "Slaying the Three Worlds"—its ingenious design held high research value. Qing Huan, in his future enlightenment of his own Great Dao, might draw inspiration from the essence of this method.

As thoughts turned in his mind, Qing Huan's face broke into a seemingly sincere smile:

"So the two Daoist Friends harbor such a grand vow to save all sentient beings!

Admirable. Since we've met, it's also a matter of affinity."

"How about..."

His gaze swept over a nearby mountain peak with decent spiritual energy.

"The three of us sit atop this peak and discuss the Dao together?

We can verify each other's learning and also let the profound sounds of the Dao Ancestor's teachings nourish the living beings of this land—wouldn't that be a fine deed? What say you, two Daoist Friends?"

With that, Qing Huan sat cross-legged on the purple clouds flowing beneath him, his calm gaze fixed on the two Westerners.

A sharp glint flashed in Zhunti's eyes, and he immediately transmitted to Jieyin:

"Senior Brother! Qing Huan's proposal is excellent! We can exchange Dao insights, deepen our understanding of the Great Dao, and by manifesting the wondrous sounds of Western Dharma during the discussion, attract sentient beings with affinity here—killing two birds with one stone!"

"Well said!"

Jieyin's sorrowful expression eased slightly as he nodded in agreement.

Turning to Qing Huan, he pressed his palms together:

"Daoist Friend Qing Huan has such refined intent, willing to share the Great Dao with us two brothers—this is a boundless merit, and moreover, a blessing of Creation for all living beings here!

We too eagerly await the chance to hear your lofty discourse.

Today, right here, let us sit and debate the Dao with you, Daoist Friend!"

As his words fell, a faint Golden Lotus appeared beneath Jieyin's feet. He took the first step, landing atop the peak on a flat patch of blue stone.

Qing Huan and Zhunti followed close behind. The three figures sat cross-legged in a triangular formation on the summit. An intangible Dao resonance began to spread, enveloping the entire mountain, drawing nearby spiritual energy to converge, causing grass and trees to sway gracefully.

Heaven and earth fell silent, with only Dao Scars flowing.

The minds of countless living beings within millions of li were drawn. Countless gazes pierced through the void, focusing on this solitary, immortal-mist-shrouded peak.

Light blazed forth. Spiritual energy cascaded like a waterfall.

Qing Huan, Jieyin, and Zhunti—three Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals—sat upright upon auspicious clouds. Above their heads, the Three Flowers bloomed, casting down profound, pure radiance.

Golden Lotuses blossomed beneath their feet in succession. Dao resonance condensed into tangible garlands, chiming crisply as they purified the dust of the cosmos.

"Well said, Daoist Friend Qing Huan."

Daoist Jieyin pressed his palms together. His compassionate, solemn countenance radiated the light of wisdom, and a hint of merciful smile touched his lips.

"This humble one will cast a brick to attract jade, first speaking of my crude understanding of the Dao, hoping you will correct it, Daoist Friend."

Qing Huan gave a slight nod.

But in his heart, he was unimpressed. Is this playing the fool to hide one's strength?

In the future, to Attain Sagehood in a barren, bitter land like the West, Jieyin and Zhunti's talent, foundation, and comprehension of the 'Dao' are likely no less than that of the Pangu Orthodox Three Pure Ones. What they lack is merely the abundant Luck bequeathed by the primordial creation.

Jieyin began to speak. His Dao Sound started like a trickling stream, then swelled into the resonance of a Great Bell and Large Lyre, ringing through the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths:

"The Great Dao is vast, spreading left and right. All beings bear suffering and cling to karma, entangled in cause and effect, cycling endlessly without cease.

I observe the sentient beings of the Western Extremes, sinking into the boundless sea of suffering. Their minds are like a bright mirror stand, reflecting the emptiness of the Five Aggregates.

Yet this emptiness is not stubborn void or lifeless extinction—it is the true essence of wondrous existence within the void, containing infinite light, infinite lifespan, infinite compassion.

Thus I say: 'The Truth of Suffering' is the root of the Dao, recognizing the world's inherent suffering; 'The Truth of Origin' is the vine of the Dao, clarifying the gathering of suffering's causes; 'The Truth of Cessation' is the flower of the Dao, beholding tranquil Nirvana; 'The Truth of the Path' is the fruit of the Dao, realizing the method of liberation.

In a single thought, awakening that the sea of suffering is the other shore—then one draws near the Dao!"