Return

The First Five-Year Plan had just been finalized, and Jieyin and Zhunti planned to make some preparations for it first.

First, setting up the formations would require quite a few spiritual materials and plants. The two had been continuously collecting them over the years, and they believed they had gathered enough for use.

However, as for candidates to guard the nodes, Mount Sumeru had yet to open its gates and accept disciples, so there really were no suitable choices. The beings on Mount Sumeru lacked sufficient foundations, and those whose cultivation had not reached the Grand Unity Realm were all incapable of guarding a region. They would need to be cultivated slowly.

The best solution now was to widely open the mountain gates and recruit fellow cultivators and virtuous people from the Western Land. Then, following what Jiang Yun had said, they would establish a great sect and unite everyone together.

By establishing a sect, they could, first, spread their ideals to more people. Second, with strength in numbers, they could accomplish great things by concentrating their forces. Finally, by mobilizing everyone to carry out these tasks, they could all obtain large amounts of Merit and Fortune. Once word spread, the beings of the Western Land would take action of their own accord.

As for the sect's name, the three unanimously felt that it could be called the Western Teachings. It was simple and clear, letting people know at a glance that it was the great sect of the Western World.

Before accepting disciples and establishing the sect, there was no need to hurry to select regions and establish nodes for the time being, lest there be no one to guard them.

To open the mountain gates and accept disciples, Jieyin and Zhunti first needed to organize some of their insights into cultivation and compile them into books for use when accepting disciples in the future.

Jiang Yun felt that there was nothing much he could do at Mount Sumeru in the short term. Besides, he had been away from home for a long time, and he suddenly felt the urge to return and take a look.

"Master, Martial Uncle, I came to Mount Sumeru in the past to seek the Dao, and a long time has passed since then. My cultivation has now reached the Grand Unity Realm, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to break through in the short term. Therefore, I wish to leave Mount Sumeru and return to my Dao Field, Spirit Bamboo Valley, to take a look. Moreover, Spirit Bamboo Valley lies to the northwest of Mount Sumeru, so it can just serve as the first node in the northwest. We can establish it as a trial site first, and I'll also work out some experience and organize it for future use."

"Mm. You've always been steady and have always had your own ideas. You can often inspire your master and your Martial Uncle as well, so we trust you. Since you wish to return to your Dao Field in Spirit Bamboo Valley, then go!" Jieyin did not stop Jiang Yun after hearing his thoughts.

As he spoke, he took out a jade tablet he carried with him and said to Jiang Yun, "This jade tablet was refined with your master's magic power. It contains the power of three strikes. Keep it with you; it can protect you."

"Thank you for bestowing this treasure, Master!"

Jiang Yun accepted the jade tablet, carefully put it away, and then turned toward Zhunti, looking at him expectantly.

Zhunti found it rather amusing after being stared at for a while. Seeing this, Jieyin also turned to Zhunti and teased, "Junior Brother, why don't you show your support as well?"

Zhunti helplessly shook his head and took out the purple-black gourd he had picked up at Buzhou Mountain.

He had not refined the gourd after obtaining it, but the aura it emitted was clearly extraordinary. Today, he took it out to reward Jiang Yun for contributing the series of formations centered around the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Stars Formation.

"This spiritual treasure gourd is yours. You may receive a surprise after refining it!"

Jiang Yun thanked him at once and happily accepted the gourd.

After bidding farewell to the two, Jiang Yun left Mount Sumeru and traveled toward Spirit Bamboo Valley along the route he had taken when he first came.

When he passed by Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven, he stopped.

Back then, he had been in a hurry to reach Mount Sumeru and had only refined the grotto-heaven's core hub, making no arrangements whatsoever for the beings within.

Now that he was returning from Mount Sumeru, he truly needed to deal with it.

The beings within this grotto-heaven all bore its imprint and recognized him as their master. If he cultivated them properly, he could assign many tasks to them in the future, which would make things much more convenient.

With that thought, he waved his hand, controlling the grotto-heaven's protective formation and revealing an entrance. He then walked inside.

After entering the grotto-heaven, he once again saw the sika deer that had carried him to the depths of the abode back then. Since they were old acquaintances, he waved and summoned it over again.

Sitting on the sika deer's back, Jiang Yun was carried once more to the spiritual pool at the center of the grotto-heaven.

He dismounted, stroked the sika deer's head, and said softly, "You and I seem to have quite the affinity. I'll enlighten you and make you my personal attendant in this grotto-heaven!"

He raised his hand slightly. A gentle spiritual light appeared in his palm and slowly flowed toward the sika deer like a trickling stream.

Sensing the approach of this mysterious power, the sika deer's ears trembled lightly. Perhaps because it was affected by the grotto-heaven, it did not panic. Instead, awe and anticipation appeared in its eyes.

After the spiritual light touched the sika deer, it slowly spread out and gradually enveloped its entire body, resembling a huge cocoon of light. Jiang Yun casually beckoned toward the spiritual pool, and more than a dozen drops of Three Lights Divine Water flew over and merged into the cocoon. After an unknown amount of time, the spiritual light gradually weakened, revealing a tender little child within. He wore two small topknots, had lively eyes, and sat upright on the ground, looking like a little lucky mascot!

The child looked up at Jiang Yun, then scrambled to his feet and called out in a clear voice, "Master."

Jiang Yun nodded slightly and smiled as he watched the child bounce over to him. He said softly, "I'll name you Rong Guang. From now on, you'll be the little steward of this Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven. You must take good care of it for your master!"

Rong Guang nodded vigorously.

Jiang Yun then used the grotto-heaven's authority to refine a talisman decree. He had Rong Guang take it and summon the leaders of the various races within the grotto-heaven on his behalf, as he intended to meet them.

After Rong Guang bounded away like a little deer, Jiang Yun waved his hand and conjured a cloud platform. Sitting upright on it, he organized in his mind the knowledge of cultivation for ordinary beings taught by Old Ancestor Hongjun. He planned to explain it to them later and have them spread it throughout the Grotto-Heaven World.

He also intended to select some people with excellent aptitude and cultivation from among them, teach them some Dao techniques and several divine abilities, and carefully nurture them. In the future, he would have them use the Grotto-Heaven World as their center and develop outward.

After sitting quietly for an unknown amount of time, Rong Guang returned with a group of beings. There were roughly a hundred or so tribal leaders, and the strongest among them had already reached the Golden Immortal realm, while even the weakest were above the True Immortal realm.

The group came before Jiang Yun and saluted in unison. "Greetings, Lord of the Grotto-Heaven!"

"Rise, all of you. I am the personal eldest disciple of Great God Jieyin of Mount Sumeru in the outside world, known as Daoist Yun Ya. Now that I am the master of this grotto-heaven, I should bestow creation upon all living beings within it. I summoned you here today to teach you some knowledge of cultivation. Listen carefully, everyone, and afterward spread the contents of this lecture!"

With that, Jiang Yun began explaining cultivation from the Qi Refining stage. He continued all the way to returning from postnatal to innate, finally completing his explanation of the cultivation process for all postnatal beings.

He paused briefly, then continued explaining the cultivation of Innate Beings. This time, everyone below listened even more attentively.

He progressed from the Earth Immortal realm to the Golden Immortal realm, then continued until he reached Golden Immortal Perfection before stopping.

When he stopped, everyone finally came to their senses and thanked him in unison. Many beings in the grotto-heaven were limited by the world and lacked good inheritances. Through Jiang Yun's explanations, they would comprehend Dao techniques suited to themselves.

From among the people below, he selected twenty beings with good aptitude to stay and sent the others away. To those who remained, he taught the Mount Tai Seal, the Mysterious Spirit Shield, and the divine ability Shrink Ground to Inch, instructing them to study them carefully.