A New Nephew, and a Plan for Di Jun and Tai Yi

After chatting with Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun, Randeng left Longevity Mountain. It was a rare meeting with them that hadn't involved discussing the Dao.

Longevity Mountain lay where the east met the west. Randeng brought out the Primordial Chaos Heaven Measuring Ruler and decided to return to Mount Sumeru first.

Thirty thousand years sounded like a long time, but to a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, it was little more than the time it took to complete a retreat.

The Demon Clan wasn't strong enough to contend with all the other powers yet, and Randeng had no reason to interfere with its expansion. After all, Hongjun had tasked him only with ensuring that enough Innate Divine Saints attended the Sermon at Purple Cloud Palace.

Given the Demon Clan's current course, they probably planned to first eliminate the Taiyi cultivators who might break through to Grand Unity Golden Immortal, then block the other Grand Unity Golden Immortals when the sermon drew near.

Randeng flew all the way to the western lands. By now, the number of living beings in the west had recovered to about half that of the east.

Randeng couldn't help but feel moved. Jieyin and Zhunti had worked tirelessly for the revival of the west.

Mount Sumeru was no longer anything like it had been. The main range had expanded several times over, with mountain after mountain stretching into the distance. Its peaks towered high into the heavens, hidden among clouds and mist.

A thousand-zhang waterfall plunged from the summit, like the Milky Way pouring down from the sky. Its roar shook the heavens. When the water reached the ground, it became a winding river that flowed across the western lands, nourishing the region.

Immortal qi shrouded the whole mountain range, and rays of rosy light filled the sky. White cranes circled above the clouds while beasts played among the woods.

Randeng sensed that even the mountain-protecting formation had improved considerably.

Sensing Randeng's aura, two figures flew out from the summit of Mount Sumeru. They were Jieyin and Zhunti.

"Senior Brother, you're finally back! Are you going to join us for Saint Hongjun's sermon?"

Zhunti's fair face lit up with excitement. Both he and Jieyin had now reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, making them undisputed powerhouses in the west. They had been eagerly awaiting Randeng's return, hoping he would help them become Saint Hongjun's personal disciples.

"Senior Brother, everything has been well in the west since you left. We followed your arrangements and preached across the western lands. We've earned some merit and found quite a few promising disciples."

Jieyin was the more dependable one. Knowing Randeng would be concerned about the state of the west, he gave him a detailed account of how things had been.

"Maitreya, Mahasthamaprapta, come out at once and pay your respects to your uncle!"

The group entered the mountain-protecting formation. As Jieyin's voice rang out, two streaks of light flew toward them from halfway up the mountain.

One had long earlobes that hung to his shoulders, a round, prosperous face, and a warm smile that never left his lips. Peaceful Buddhist light surrounded him. He was Maitreya. The other had a dignified bearing, swordlike brows, and a commanding presence. He was Mahasthamaprapta.

Both were Innate Beings. Their roots couldn't compare with Randeng's, Jieyin's, or Zhunti's, but they were still exceptional. They had reached the late Golden Immortal stage and were considered outstanding among the west's new generation.

The two bowed together to Randeng. "Greetings, Uncle-Master!"

Maitreya and Mahasthamaprapta were both Innate Beings, but their roots were inferior to those of Randeng and the others. Their cultivation was only at the late Golden Immortal stage.

Randeng looked at his two nephews and knew that they would one day become pillars of the Western Teachings.

"Rise. I returned in a hurry, so take these two Innate Spiritual Roots as a gift."

One was wreathed in flames and laden with scarlet fruit: a Fire Jujube. The other swayed in the breeze, its graceful willow branches imbued with the Great Dao of Wind: a Wind Willow.

By now, most of the Innate Spiritual Treasures and spiritual roots in the Primordial World already had owners. These two Low-grade Innate Spiritual Roots were ones Randeng had obtained when he first arrived in the west.

Seeing Maitreya and Mahasthamaprapta caught up in the joy of receiving Innate Spiritual Roots, Zhunti discreetly smacked Mahasthamaprapta.

"Why haven't you thanked your uncle-master? There are barely two spiritual roots on all of Mount Sumeru!"

Only then did the two react. They hurriedly bowed and thanked Randeng.

"Don't mention it. And don't listen to your master talking nonsense. If Mount Sumeru has no other spiritual roots, it's because your master and uncle dug up the place when they transformed, leaving it barren."

Randeng smiled as he exposed Zhunti and Jieyin's secret.

After Maitreya and Mahasthamaprapta left, the three of them walked together into the hall at the summit of Mount Sumeru.

"May I ask what brings you back this time, Senior Brother?"

Jieyin spoke up. He knew Randeng usually returned only when something important was afoot.

Randeng gave a slight nod. Calmly raising his hand, he unfurled a pale golden curtain of light that enveloped the entire hall, cutting off all heavenly secrets from both inside and out.

A flash of spiritual light appeared in his palm. A simple, unadorned diagram, filled with boundless might, slowly floated into the air. Yin and yang flowed within it, and the Taiji gave rise to all things. It seemed to encompass the entire cosmos, and its pressure made their spirits tremble.

Zhunti stared at the Taiji Diagram floating in midair, his eyes wide.

"Senior Brother Randeng, don't tell me you went out and came back with an Innate Supreme Treasure?"

Zhunti knew Randeng's fortune far surpassed that of ordinary people. But there were only three Innate Supreme Treasures in the entire Primordial World. Could he really have stumbled across one?

"After Teacher Hongjun attained sainthood, I went into the Chaos. This is something he bestowed upon me for my protection."

Randeng didn't tell them that Luohu's surviving Primordial Spirit was inside it. The shadow Luohu had left over them was still too great.

"Senior Brother, do you still stand by what you said before? Can you really help us become Saint Hongjun's personal disciples?"

Unlike other Innate Divine Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti were willing to take Hongjun as their master even without Primordial Violet Qi.

Randeng grew solemn. His voice was steady as he spoke, carrying unquestionable authority. "I returned for this very reason. Teacher will soon begin the Sermon at Purple Cloud Palace. But the Demon Clan is ambitious and intends to claim the opportunity for itself. It may well attack on the way and stop the other Innate Divine Saints from attending."

Randeng slowly explained the task Hongjun had given him and the enemy they would face.

He wanted Jieyin and Zhunti to help him. That way, they could make an appearance before their teacher and raise their profile.

Jieyin understood at once. The fact that Randeng trusted them with such sensitive information, the revelation of which could expose heavenly secrets, moved him deeply. He asked in a grave voice, "What should the two of us do, Senior Brother? Just give the word!"

A glint flashed in Randeng's eyes. He already had a plan. "It's simple. One of you should go to the Sun Star and seek out Di Jun and Tai Yi. Tell them I've set up a seat for discussing the Dao at Mount Sumeru. I'd like to know how much their cultivation has improved since we last met, and invite them to come here for a visit."

After a brief pause, he continued in a calm voice, his words carrying the confidence of someone who had everything under control. "Di Jun and Tai Yi are the Demon Clan's linchpins. As long as we keep those two in the west, the Demon Clan will be leaderless. Whatever plans they have will be far less effective, and it will be much harder for them to stop the various powers from reaching Purple Cloud Palace."

"Senior Brother Randeng, let me go. Since Senior Brother Jieyin also cultivates the Annihilation Law, I'm afraid they might not be able to resist attacking him."

Randeng hadn't expected Zhunti to volunteer for the mission to the Sun Star.