Jieyin

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Jieyin (接引)
Alias(es)	Daoist Jieyin; One of the Two Saints of the West
Species/Race	Saint
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Buddhism
Occupation/Role	Buddhist leader; cultivator of faith power
Status	Active; later trapped with five other Saints inside the Investiture of the Gods 118
First Appearance	Chapter 22

Background / History

Jieyin and Zhunti cultivate atop a thirty-six-petal lotus platform in an unknown region beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, refining the faith power produced by Buddhist believers. Jieyin considers faith power more valuable than destiny and merit, and plans to use Buddhism's eastward spread to gain enough of it for another breakthrough 22.

When the pair return to the Primordial World, they find Buddhism in disarray: Jin Chanzi and Guanyin have been killed, while Tathagata has led Buddhist forces into conflict with the Heavenly Court. Jieyin and Zhunti intervene to protect their Buddhist juniors, then clash with Yuanshi Tianzun after he attacks them 22 25.

Jieyin eventually realizes that the conflict surrounding the Heavenly Court may have been manipulated. Alongside Zhunti, he searches for the actual culprit and suspects Tongtian, but finds Biyou Palace empty 25 26.

His hostility toward Tongtian escalates into repeated confrontations. Trapped in the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, Jieyin discovers that Buddhism's faith power has vanished as mortals shift their beliefs. He attempts to force Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun into helping against Tongtian, but Yuanshi abandons the battle instead 36.

Tongtian defeats Jieyin with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and the Six Souls Banner. Hong Jun intervenes, takes the banner away, and restores Jieyin's true spirit after it had been collected by the forbidden treasure 38 39.

Jieyin later breaks an agreement to fight Tongtian without magic treasures by drawing the Green Lotus Treasure Banner. Tongtian and his Journey to the West counterpart exploit this, forcing Jieyin into Yunxiao's tribulation clouds and making him endure the lightning intended to test her sainthood 42 43.

After Tongtian destroys Spirit Mountain and shatters Jieyin's Green Lotus Treasure Banner, Jieyin faces the possible dissolution of Buddhism. He initially resists Tongtian's demand to disband the sect because its believers are the source of his faith power 46 51.

Personality

Jieyin is ambitious and deeply invested in Buddhism's expansion. He views faith power as the foundation of his strength and regards the eastward spread of Buddhism as an opportunity too valuable to abandon 22 45.

He is calculating when given time to plan. While trapped by Tongtian, he proposes pressuring Taishang and Yuanshi into assisting by threatening to ally with Tongtian against them if they refuse 36. However, he is also hot-headed when insulted, repeatedly allowing Tongtian's provocations to draw him into disadvantageous fights 42 43.

Despite presenting himself as a Saint concerned with dignity and Buddhist interests, Jieyin becomes markedly pragmatic when overpowered. He seeks negotiation when the Six Souls Banner appears, attempts to preserve Buddhism under threat, and later provides Tongtian with intelligence about Yang Mei in exchange for leniency 36 51 118.

Abilities & Skills

Saint Physique and Law Manipulation

As a Saint, Jieyin can wield laws, survive devastating attacks, and fight in the chaos.

• He withstands Tongtian's Nine Heavens Divine Lightning, though the strike chars his body black 42.
• He remains alive after being struck by the tribulation lightning intended for Yunxiao, suffering primarily a disheveled appearance 43.
• His attacks alongside Zhunti create black holes in the chaos during their battle with Tongtian 36.
• His Saint body allows him to endure the aftermath of the destruction of his Green Lotus Treasure Banner 46.

Faith Power Cultivation

Jieyin refines faith power generated by Buddhist believers to strengthen himself.

• He and Zhunti continuously digest faith power while cultivating on their lotus platform 22.
• He expects Buddhism's eastward spread to provide enough faith power for another minor breakthrough 22.
• His strength suffers when mortals change their faith and the power of faith within him disappears 36.
• The possible dissolution of Buddhism threatens his future source of faith power 51.

Divination

Jieyin can calculate heavenly secrets, though his deductions are limited when the secrets of heaven are obscured.

• He determines that an Innate Supreme Treasure has appeared in the Primordial World but cannot identify its precise location 22.

Political Manipulation

Jieyin uses alliances, threats, and accusations to protect his interests.

• He tries to compel Taishang and Yuanshi to assist against Tongtian by threatening to make peace with Tongtian and jointly punish them 36.
• His Journey to the West counterpart exploits foreknowledge to convince Yuanshi and Taishang that their future actions will expose them as enemies of Hong Jun 83.
• The future Jieyin reveals Yang Mei's presence at Zixiao Palace to Tongtian while seeking mercy 118.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Green Lotus Treasure Banner — Jieyin's defensive Dharma treasure, used to protect himself against Tongtian's sword energy and later drawn during his duel with Tongtian 36 42. It is shattered by the combined force of two sets of the Four Immortal Slaying Swords during the attack on Spirit Mountain 46.
• Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus — A protective lotus treasure associated with Jieyin; it shields him and Zhunti inside the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation 36.
• Thirty-six-petal lotus platform — The platform on which Jieyin and Zhunti cultivate and refine faith power beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens 22.

Relationships

• Zhunti — His fellow Western Saint and closest partner. Jieyin generally leads their decisions, while Zhunti supports his plans and restrains him when his temper becomes dangerous 22 36 42.
• Tongtian — Primary enemy. Tongtian repeatedly defeats, humiliates, and manipulates Jieyin, including forcing him to receive Yunxiao's tribulation lightning 36 42 43.
• Hong Jun — Their master. Jieyin seeks Hong Jun's judgment against Tongtian, yet obeys him immediately when reprimanded in Zixiao Palace 39 63.
• Yuanshi Tianzun — Rival Saint. Jieyin confronts Yuanshi for attacking Buddhist juniors, but later attempts to use him as a potential ally against Tongtian 25 36.
• Taishang Laojun — Senior brother and uneasy political counterpart. Jieyin attempts to involve him in the conflict with Tongtian, while Taishang rebukes Jieyin and Zhunti for attacking Yuanshi 25 36.
• Tathagata — Buddhist subordinate whose battle with the Heavenly Court contributes to the crisis Jieyin finds upon returning to the Primordial World 22 45.
• Journey to the West Jieyin — His future counterpart, brought from the River of Time. Both initially accuse the other of impersonation before Hong Jun confirms that each is real 62 65.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Buddhist Crisis and the Heavenly Court Conflict

Jieyin returns from cultivation to discover that Buddhism's eastern campaign has collapsed into chaos. He protects Buddhist forces from Yuanshi Tianzun, then realizes that he and Zhunti may have been deceived regarding the source of the conflict 22 25.

Battle with Tongtian

Jieyin becomes one of Tongtian's most persistent opponents. His loss of faith power leaves him vulnerable inside the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, where Tongtian overwhelms him with the Four Immortal Slaying Swords and Six Souls Banner 36 38.

Yunxiao's Sainthood Tribulation

Jieyin objects to Yunxiao seeking sainthood, then is baited into violating an agreement and positioned beneath her tribulation clouds. He is forced to endure the heavenly lightning in her place while Tongtian insists that the Heavenly Dao's rules be followed 42 43.

Fall of Spirit Mountain and Buddhism's Dissolution

Tongtian attacks Spirit Mountain, destroys Jieyin's banner, and later demands that Jieyin announce Buddhism's dissolution. Jieyin resists because losing Buddhism would permanently deprive him of faith power 46 51.

Encounter with His Future Self

A Journey to the West version of Jieyin arrives in the main world with Zhunti. The two versions accuse each other of being impostors until Hong Jun examines the future Jieyin's memories and confirms that he is a genuine Saint from the future 62 63 65.

Imprisonment in the Investiture of the Gods

Jieyin is among six Saints whose true spirits are trapped inside the Investiture of the Gods. Under torture and fearing annihilation, the Journey to the West Jieyin gives Tongtian information about Yang Mei's arrival at Zixiao Palace 118.

Notable Quotes

“Taishang and Yuanshi, those two fools, only know about destiny and merit to this day, but they don't know that faith power is the most important!” 22

“If they don't help us, then we'll make peace with Tongtian and go together to let them know what happens to traitors!” 36

“There must be some misunderstanding. Shall we sit down and talk properly?” 36

Trivia

• Jieyin's anger over the loss of faith power briefly drives him to consider killing mortals for changing their beliefs 36.
• He complains that Tongtian possesses the Four Immortal Slaying Swords, Qingping Sword, and Six Souls Banner, while he has only “a broken lotus platform” 60.
• In Zixiao Palace, Jieyin takes Taishang Laojun's seat after his own futon is occupied by his future counterpart 63.