After clarifying their respective tasks.
The five did not immediately go their separate ways. Instead, they first headed together to the "relatively simple" area assigned to Jieyin and Zhunti for restoration.
This area lay in the south-central part of the West, amid a stretch of rolling hills.
On the Earth Vein Light Shadow Map, its channels looked like a web that had been crumpled and then hastily spread out again.
Though the overall framework remained intact, the channels were subtly distorted and tangled in places, and Spiritual Energy flowed sluggishly.
Zhenyuanzi chose a small valley where Earth Qi was particularly congested as their lesson site.
He asked Jieyin and Zhunti to carefully sense the state of the Earth Qi there.
It felt heavy, as though a water pipe had been clogged with mud. The spiritual energy underground wanted to flow,
but was trapped by an invisible resistance.
It could only circle around in place, leaving the area thin in Spiritual Energy, barren, and unable to support plant life.
"The key to fixing this sort of problem is to clear the way, not force a passage through."
As he spoke, Zhenyuanzi summoned the Earth Scroll again.
This time, however, he drew out only the faintest glimmer, as fine as a surgical blade.
He extended a finger and pointed into the air. The thread of ochre light flowed into the ground as gently as a living stream.
Jieyin and Zhunti watched intently, releasing their spiritual sense to follow the light's path deep underground.
They "saw" several thread-thin ochre Spiritual Veins, tangled together about a hundred zhang beneath the surface.
They had formed a small "knot," blocking the energy of a somewhat larger Earth Vein branch deeper down from rising.
"We've found the knot," Zhenyuanzi said evenly.
"Next, don't use brute force to break it open. That could damage the Spiritual Veins, which are already fragile.
Instead, use your own gentle magical power to imitate pure Earth Qi.
Like warm water melting ice, moisten it little by little and loosen the knot."
The Earth Scroll's glimmer gently enveloped the small knot, radiating a unique Dao resonance that soothed and set things in order.
Under its influence, the disordered Earth Qi clogged within the knot began to slowly loosen and separate.
Zhenyuanzi's fingers trembled with the delicacy of a master musician.
He guided each wisp of separated Earth Qi back into the fine channels where it was meant to flow.
The process was slow and painstaking, taking the better part of a day.
When the last trace of congested Earth Qi had been guided back into place, the small knot quietly vanished.
The ground trembled faintly, and a stream of Spiritual Energy, weak but fresh and clear,
rose slowly from underground, like a brook freed from its restraints, spreading through the small valley.
A few patches of wild grass that had looked somewhat wilted seemed to stand a little straighter, their color a little brighter.
"That's how it's done." Zhenyuanzi put away the Earth Scroll.
"The key is to sense accurately, work gently, and be patient.
A tiny knot like this is one thing; clearing many similar blockages across a whole region
follows the same principle. It simply takes repeated effort, and you must pay attention to how they relate to one another so you don't neglect one while tending to another."
Jieyin and Zhunti were both Grand Unity Golden Immortals, with exceptional insight. After observing and reflecting carefully, they had already grasped the method.
Jieyin said solemnly:
"Your method, Daoist friend, embodies the principle of nourishing all things without a sound. I understand."
Zhunti nodded as well:
"It looks simple, but it demands extremely precise control of one's magical power and great concentration.
We'll be sure to proceed carefully, beginning with the smallest and simplest blockages."
Seeing how quickly they had understood, Zhenyuanzi felt reassured.
He then explained in detail the section marked out for them on the Earth Vein Light Shadow Map.
He pointed out several key points requiring special attention, along with potential difficulties, and repeatedly reminded them:
"Don't seek speed; seek stability. Once you clear a spot, make sure it's secure.
If you're unsure how to proceed or sense anything unusual, don't force it. Contact us promptly using the secret method."
Jieyin and Zhunti solemnly agreed.
They knew this was the first step in repairing the West's Earth Veins, and the step that would lay the foundation. They could not afford the slightest carelessness.
After bidding farewell to Xuande, Zhenyuanzi, and Hong Yun,
the two chose a relatively outlying area with the mildest problems and cautiously began their first attempt at clearing it on their own.
After watching Jieyin and Zhunti leave, Zhenyuanzi turned to Xuande, his expression more serious than before.
"Daoist friend Xuande, the area where the Demon Qi Remnant Land lies is the most dangerous part of this restoration project.
The demon qi is deeply intertwined with the Earth Veins, and it can corrode the mind.
Though you have merit protecting you, you must still be extremely careful."
He described the area's location in detail, along with several features observed from the outskirts.
It was a vast basin, once home to an ancient Spirit Lake. Part of the Rahula Demon Palace had been built beside it.
After the self-destruction, the lakebed collapsed, and the palace ruins and dense demon qi sank deep into the Earth Veins.
Ever since, gray-black demonic fog had shrouded the entire basin, where not a single blade of grass grew.
Any living being that approached felt extremely uncomfortable and might even be corroded by the demon qi.
"When I used the Earth Scroll to sense the area, I could reach only the outskirts. The demon qi is too dense at the center,
and it's intertwined with the Earth Veins, making it difficult to clearly determine the precise damage to the veins within."
Zhenyuanzi spoke gravely.
"So your first task, Daoist friend, is to purify the demon qi, especially the parts that have seeped into the upper layers of the Earth Veins and become entangled with them.
But remember: until the demon qi has been largely cleared, do not attempt to repair the Earth Veins there!
You can't see their true condition. Acting rashly could make things worse.
You might even provoke a more violent backlash from the demon qi or trigger unpredictable changes in the Earth Veins."
He stressed the point again and again:
"After purifying the area, leave the Earth Veins there as they are. Don't touch them.
Once the demon qi has dispersed, I'll investigate carefully and determine exactly where the Earth Veins below have broken or become twisted. Then we can discuss how to repair them.
This is crucial."
Xuande listened attentively, committing every word to memory.
He knew this was no trivial matter. Nothing left behind by Demon Ancestor Luohu, not even a remnant, could be taken lightly.
"Rest assured, Daoist friend. Xuande understands.
I'll do everything I can to purify the demon qi first and won't rashly disturb the foundations of the Earth Veins.
We'll proceed with the repairs once you've finished your investigation."
Hong Yun patted Xuande on the shoulder, his smile gone for once.
"Daoist friend Xuande, that place is deeply sinister. I felt a chill just from looking at it from far away.
You're going alone, so be extremely careful.
If anything feels wrong, get out at once. We can discuss what to do next.
Merit is good, but your safety matters more."
Touched by the genuine concern in Hong Yun's words, Xuande felt warmth in his heart and nodded.
"Thank you for your concern, Daoist friend Hong Yun. I'll be careful."
With the instructions given, Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun wasted no more time.
They were responsible for the most complex and central part of the restoration, a daunting task that would require a great deal of time and effort.
They cupped their hands to Xuande in farewell, then transformed into two streaks of light and flew toward a region northwest, where the Earth Vein Light Shadow Map showed the deepest red and most twisted structure.
In the blink of an eye, only Xuande remained in the valley that had served as their temporary lesson site.
He looked up toward the direction Jieyin and Zhunti had gone.
Then he looked at the stretch of sky where Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun had disappeared.
Finally, he turned his gaze to the northwest,
toward the region that seemed especially gloomy and oppressive even on the Earth Vein Light Shadow Map.
He did not set off immediately.
Instead, he found a flat boulder, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to focus, beginning to bring himself into balance.
His mind sank into his Purple Mansion, where his vast Great Luo magical power flowed slowly, carefully refined into perfect unity.
An illusory Auspicious Cloud shimmered faintly above his head, the Three Flowers still in bud, Dao resonance cascading down.
Most importantly, he drew upon the power of merit hidden deep within his Primordial Spirit and the Origin Essence of his Dao body.
Warm, peaceful, steadfast golden radiance seeped faintly through the pores of his body.
It did not shine brightly, but carried a sense of Purity that drove away all evil and resisted every spell.