The Green Lotus Treasure Banner Stuns the Two Sages of the West

Western Region, Mount Sumeru.

Atop the half-collapsed mountain peak stood two Innate Spiritual Roots.

One was the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root, Innate Bitter Bamboo; the other was the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root, Seven Treasures Bodhi Tree.

The Seven Treasures Bodhi Tree swayed slightly, sending a strand of Spiritual Sense to the Innate Bitter Bamboo beside it.

"Senior Brother, why do I feel that the Karmic Energy between heaven and earth is diminishing, while the spiritual energy is recovering?"

These two Spiritual Roots were Jieyin and Zhunti before they had taken form. Since they were not born of the same root and origin, they could only address one another as Senior Brother and Junior Brother.

"That is indeed the case, Junior Brother. At this rate of recovery, I will take form and be born within this kalpa. Once I emerge, I will help you take form." After sensing it for a moment, the Innate Bitter Bamboo—Jieyin of the future—replied.

The Seven Treasures Bodhi Tree, or rather Zhunti, had damaged his origin in the Dao-Demon Conflict. Trying to take form on his own would be as difficult as attaining Hunyuan Grand Unity.

"Wonderful! Once we two brothers are born and take command of the West, all the spiritual treasures and spiritual roots will be ours! Long ago, I sensed opportunities calling to me from all across the West."

Zhunti had reason for such confidence. At this time, Karmic Energy spilled across the western lands, and even the spiritual energy was tainted with the aura of the Annihilation Law. Ordinary Great Powers were unwilling to come here, while Jieyin happened to cultivate the Annihilation Law. The two brothers were those favored by the Destiny of the West.

Yet they did not know that another living being who also cultivated the Annihilation Law was already close to sweeping away every opportunity that had emerged into the world.

Randeng spiraled around Mount Sumeru all the way forward, finally arriving at its foot.

On this journey, he had repaired a total of three hundred and sixty-five major Earth Vein Nodes. His comprehension of the Annihilation Law had also reached forty-eight percent; he needed only a little more to reach fifty percent and break through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

The fragments of the Annihilation Law absorbed while repairing Earth Vein Nodes provided less and less insight into the Law as time went on. At most, they were better than nothing.

However, his harvest of spiritual treasures and spiritual roots had been quite abundant.

He had obtained five Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and three Low-grade Spiritual Roots;

one Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Root, the Geng Metal Apple Tree. It blossomed once every three thousand years and bore fruit once every three thousand years. Consuming its fruit could increase one's Metal Element Cultivation and comprehension of Metal Element Divine Abilities;

and one Mid Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure named the Universe Bag. It possessed seventeen Innate Restrictions, containing a universe within and capable of holding heaven and earth. Randeng guessed that this might be the Human Seed Bag of Maitreya Buddha in later generations.

Yet aside from the Vajra Pestle, Randeng had not encountered any other Innate Spiritual Treasures or Spiritual Roots above the mid grade. Perhaps they were all on Mount Sumeru.

After all, there were two Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Roots there alone.

Randeng thus began ascending the mountain steps. Everywhere he looked was a scene of devastation: spiritual springs had run dry, strange rocks had collapsed, and in some places, spatial turbulence left behind by that great battle still lingered.

Seeing this, Randeng could understand why Jieyin and Zhunti would later weep to anyone they met about the West's barrenness. Still, while the West truly was quite barren, Jieyin and Zhunti, as the West's only two Innate Divine Saints, could not possibly have had meager family fortunes.

After all, most of their future fortunes had now fallen into Randeng's hands. No one knew this better than he did.

When he finally reached the summit, Randeng discovered an Innate Great Formation shrouding the place. White vapor hung suspended in the air, while golden light shot out in ten thousand rays.

After sensing it briefly, Randeng was surprised to find that the formation did not reject his entry at all, as though he were the master of this great formation.

Primordial Treasures belonged to those fated for them. If one had no fate with them, one could only blast open the formation.

This meant that the objects within the formation were things the Destiny of the West acknowledged as fated to him, Randeng. But inside the formation were Jieyin and Zhunti.

"Could it be that, because I have merit in the western lands, the Heavenly Dao has tacitly handed Jieyin and Zhunti over to me?"

Randeng did not rush to break open the formation. Instead, he prepared to refine it first, bringing Mount Sumeru under his control and ensuring that nothing could go wrong.

Green Lotus World-Purifying Glazed Array.

It did not take him much time to refine the formation and learn its name. This formation specialized in purification and defense.

Randeng raised a hand, and a small banner flew over from the formation eye.

Eastern Green Lotus Precious Color Banner!

He had not expected the formation eye to be this—the foremost of the Innate Five Directions Banners. It contained forty-eight Innate Restrictions and stood at the pinnacle even among Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.

The banner was azure in color, embroidered with a precious-colored green lotus. When unfurled, white vapor would hang in the air and golden light would shine in ten thousand rays. It possessed the marvelous effect of driving back all evils and rendering all techniques unable to breach it.

But wasn't the Eastern Green Lotus Precious Color Banner in Hongjun's possession? Could it be that this formation was not innate, but had been arranged by Hongjun?

Then were Jieyin and Zhunti within the formation deliberately preserved by Hongjun to restore the West and repay Karma?

This also resolved a question in Randeng's heart. During the Dao-Demon Conflict, Demon Ancestor Luohu had even self-detonated his Primordial Spirit, so why had he left behind two Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Roots unused? It turned out that Innate Bitter Bamboo and the Seven Treasures Bodhi Tree had been preserved by Hongjun to bear Karma in his stead.

For tens of thousands of years, Randeng had been considering how to deal with the original western duo. Should he erase their spiritual intelligence and keep only the Innate Spiritual Roots, or help them take form and retain them as assistants?

Now, he had reached a decision. If Jieyin and Zhunti had been cultivated by Dao Ancestor Hongjun, then he absolutely could not kill them. Otherwise, all the Karma of the West would fall upon Randeng himself. Luohu had not been completely wiped out yet; if he retaliated, it would bring another heaven-shaking trouble.

As for taking Jieyin and Zhunti in as assistants, it would bring many benefits. First, there would be people to share the West's Karma with him. Second, since Dao Ancestor Hongjun intended for them to repay Karma, he would not act against them. That meant they could handle some of the dirty and exhausting work.

Since the Minor Trends of the Primordial World could be changed while the greater trends could not, he would let the two of them madly test Dao Ancestor Hongjun's bottom line. He would make use of his advantage as one who knew the future and seek benefits in the later Witch-Demon War and Investiture of the Gods War.

At the same time, within the formation.

"Senior Brother, why do I feel that the formation's efficiency in converting spiritual energy is so slow today? Could something have gone wrong with the formation?"

Zhunti was uncertain. This Green Lotus World-Purifying Glazed Array was the last layer of defense for the two brothers.

"Rest easy. This formation was left behind by the Great Power who won the Dao-Demon Conflict. No one can break it, except people favored by the Destiny of the West like you and me."

Jieyin knew that the man was already a powerhouse close to Hunyuan Grand Unity dozens of kalpas ago. The two brothers were the ones he had chosen.

Zhunti calmed down as well, feeling that perhaps he had been overthinking it.

Suddenly, ripples spread across the formation's restrictions. Whether white mist or golden light, all of it parted to make way.

A young Daoist in an ink-colored robe walked in, with sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, and an Ancient Lamp floating above his shoulder.

"Senior Brother... Senior Brother, someone has entered the grand formation!"

Even Zhunti's Spiritual Sense carried a tremor. Innate Spiritual Roots that had yet to take form were fish on the chopping block, left for others to slaughter.

"No. He did not force his way in. The grand formation let him enter on its own."

Jieyin had detected no signs that the formation had been attacked. There were only two possibilities: either this man's strength surpassed that Great Power, or he too was a Child of Destiny of the West.

Jieyin had already prepared to force himself into taking form and entering the world. Even if it damaged his origin, it was still better than being at another's mercy.

Seeing Jieyin prepare to stake his life on it, a trace of surprise flashed through Randeng's eyes. So decisive—no wonder he would one day become one among the sages capable of pursuing Taishang.

"Hold on, Fellow Daoists. I have come to deliver a great opportunity to you both."

Randeng wore a smile, as though victory were already in his grasp. The Annihilation Law circled around him, while the great momentum of heaven and earth converged upon him.

Jieyin and Zhunti only felt that Randeng seemed to be the center of heaven and earth in the West at that moment, incomparably majestic. How laughable that they had thought themselves favored by the destiny of the West; looking at him now, they were merely frogs at the bottom of a well.

Unknowingly, the speed at which Jieyin gathered spiritual energy slowed by several degrees.

"This Fellow Daoist, may I ask what opportunity you speak of?" Jieyin sent out his Spiritual Sense and asked cautiously.

Looking at Zhunti and Jieyin's reactions, Randeng thought that the so-called Two Sages of the West were no more than this for now. He laughed aloud.

"I wish to establish the Western Teachings, gather all living beings of the West, and help you two take form and achieve the Primordial Unity! Are you willing to follow me and accomplish great things together?"

Jieyin and Zhunti were stunned by those bold words, and for a moment, they actually felt that this man truly possessed such ability.