Xuande's Choice

Xuande understood at once that they had grown suspicious, but he gave nothing away, merely smiling as he said:

"So you are fellow Daoists Jieyin and Zhunti of Mount Sumeru. I have long admired your names."

He spoke those words—"long admired"—with perfect naturalness, and to Jieyin and Zhunti, they sounded like nothing more than polite convention.

"This humble Daoist was fortunate enough that his true form is an Innate Golden Lotus, born bearing a trace of the world's merit.

"I slumbered in the secluded lands of the west for countless Kalpas. Only recently did my spiritual intelligence reach completion, allowing me to undergo Form Transformation. The Heavenly Dao bestowed upon me the name 'Xuande.'"

He openly admitted his origins, yet deftly concealed the crucial detail of "Twelve-Petal," saying only that he was an "Innate Golden Lotus."

"An Innate Golden Lotus!" Zhunti's eyes lit up as he exchanged a glance with Jieyin.

Just as expected! No wonder their resonance had been so intense. It truly was a lotus that had undergone Form Transformation—and an Innate Golden Lotus containing merit!

Its compatibility with their Western path was simply beyond imagination.

A few traces of sincere emotion showed through the sorrow on Jieyin's face. "So it is an Innate Golden Lotus that has attained the Dao. Excellent, excellent.

"A lotus rises from the mud unstained; it is innately imbued with the meaning of Purity. With merit's blessing as well, Daoist friend, your blessings and fortune run deep, and the Great Dao lies before you.

"Our west is barren, and fellow Daoists with such auspicious origins are rarely born here. To meet you today is itself a matter of karmic affinity."

As he spoke, he deliberately stressed words such as "the west" and "karmic affinity." He looked earnestly at Xuande, the intention to recruit and draw him in already faintly showing through.

Zhunti stepped half a pace forward, his smile growing several degrees warmer.

"Daoist friend Xuande underwent Form Transformation here, so you must already have sensed something of these western lands.

"My senior brother and I have established a Daoist grounds upon Mount Sumeru. Though we dare not call it a blessed land or heavenly paradise, it is tranquil and suitable for cultivation. Moreover, we are devoted to comprehending the Western path of compassion and Purity.

"Daoist friend's lotus nature accords with Purity, and you have an affinity with our west. If you do not mind, why not accompany us to Mount Sumeru for a talk?

"To discuss and exchange the Dao with one another—would that not be a wonderful thing?"

The two played off each other, their manner polite and even somewhat attentive, but Xuande heard the intention behind their words loud and clear.

They still had not completely given up. They had merely changed from trying to claim a spiritual treasure to recruiting a fellow cultivator—and they did so in the name of affinity.

Jieyin and Zhunti echoed one another, their words earnest and their gazes intent.

Those two words—karmic affinity—were like invisible threads winding toward him. How could Xuande fail to understand the deeper meaning within them?

The gentle, peaceful smile remained on his face, but his thoughts were already racing.

His first instinct was to refuse—to keep his distance.

Form Transformation was not easily achieved, and freedom was precious. Why bind himself too early to these two future Saints, especially Western Saints destined to establish a religion and gather treasures?

Would it not be better to roam the Primordial Wilderness alone, seek opportunities, and live free and unfettered?

Yet a calmer, deeper thought swiftly overwhelmed that initial impulse.

Cause and effect.

In the Primordial Wilderness, those two words weighed as heavily as mountains.

He had undergone Form Transformation from the Twelve-Petal Merit Golden Lotus. This Origin Essence, this "affinity"—

From the moment his true spirit was born, he had already formed a connection with the west, with Jieyin and Zhunti, one that could not be wholly severed.

This was the "karmic affinity" granted by the Heavenly Dao, and also a potential "cause and effect."

He could politely refuse today. He could avoid them. But that thread of connection would not vanish because of it.

It was like a seed buried underground. At some moment in the future, it might sprout somewhere unexpected, perhaps even grow into a pull he could not resist.

By then, if he stood alone while they had already become Saints, his position would be all the more passive.

But what if he simply went with the flow now?

The two before him were only at the middle stage of Great Luo, yet they treated him, a late-stage cultivator, with courtesy—even seeking to recruit him.

If he joined them now, he would not do so as a subordinate or a magic treasure, but as a Daoist friend, as one who walked the same path.

His cultivation was higher, and his origins extraordinary.

Even if they harbored their own designs, they would have to treat him with respect and grant him the status and regard he deserved.

That would leave him room to maneuver.

More importantly, Mount Sumeru was the Western Ancestral Vein, the future Daoist grounds where Jieyin and Zhunti would become Saints.

It gathered the west's fortune. Though it was said to be barren, it possessed its own laws and principles. It might instead benefit his comprehension of merit and the path of Purity.

Danger and opportunity had always been two sides of the same coin.

By venturing deep within, he could observe at close range the Dao and deeds of these two future Saints.

Know yourself and know your enemy. Whether he chose in the future to deepen these ties or find a way to sever or straighten out this cause and effect, it would be far clearer than trying to view flowers through mist from the outside.

"Joining them may not be such a bad thing..."

Once that thought became clear, the many advantages and disadvantages flowed together like streams entering the sea, all becoming distinct.

Avoidance might bring temporary peace, but facing it head-on might win him greater initiative and an earlier advantage.

With the gift of foresight to rely on and late-stage Great Luo cultivation as his foundation, what was there to fear in making this journey?

In the span of a spark flashing from flint, these thoughts had already settled.

Jieyin and Zhunti saw Xuande fall silent.

Though the smiles on their faces did not fade, their hearts could not help sinking further. Just as they were about to say more to persuade him—

The contemplative look on Xuande's face slowly dissolved, and his gentle smile became all the more genuine. He cupped his hands once more, his voice clear and bright:

"Both Daoist friends have invited me with such warmth and sincerity. Every word concerns the affinity and law of the Great Dao. If this humble Daoist continues to refuse, I would appear unable to appreciate kindness, and would betray this fellowship among fellow seekers."

The moment those words fell, both Jieyin and Zhunti froze, before delight burst forth in their eyes.

They had thought they would need to spend much more breath and had even prepared themselves to be politely refused again. Who could have expected the turn of events? Daoist friend Xuande had actually agreed!

"Do you truly mean this, Daoist friend?" Zhunti could not help stepping half a pace forward, his joy written all over his face.

The sorrowful expression on Jieyin's face also greatly diminished, revealing heartfelt delight as he pressed his palms together. "Excellent! Excellent! That Daoist friend can clearly perceive this affinity is truly a blessing for our West, and also a Dao affinity for us two brothers!"

Xuande smiled. "Naturally, I mean it. This humble Daoist has only recently undergone Form Transformation, and my understanding of the Great Dao remains shallow. I have need to exchange insights and verify them with fellow seekers.

"The Western path of compassion and purity indeed shares something in common with my lotus nature. Listening to the two fellow Daoists expound the Dao and discuss it will surely prove beneficial.

"Only..." His words paused slightly, and Jieyin and Zhunti's hearts rose with them.

"This humble Daoist has long been accustomed to idleness. If I go to Mount Sumeru, I fear I can only reside there as a guest and listen to the Great Dao. I cannot, I fear, remain bound to one place for long-term secluded cultivation as the two Daoist friends do."

He was drawing the boundary in advance: he would go as a Daoist friend to discuss the Dao, not as a disciple, subordinate, much less a dependent.

What kind of people were Jieyin and Zhunti? They immediately understood Xuande's unspoken meaning. Yet this already far exceeded their expectations!

So long as he was willing to go to Mount Sumeru and have close contact with them—

With their Western methods, the momentum of days to come, and the pull of this natural Dao affinity, why fear that they could not gradually deepen their connection?

Agreeing to his status as a guest at this moment was proper etiquette and gave both sides a way down.

"What are you saying, Daoist friend!" Zhunti beamed. "You are an honored guest. My brother and I could scarcely welcome you eagerly enough—how could we impose the slightest restraint?

"Though Mount Sumeru is humble, we shall certainly open a pure and tranquil cave abode for you. You may come and go as you please; there shall be absolutely no interference."

Jieyin nodded as well. "That Daoist friend is willing to come is itself an affinity.

"To sit and discuss the Dao, exchanging what each possesses, is precisely the 'fellowship among fellow seekers' of which Daoist friend spoke. As for all other matters, they shall follow Daoist friend's wishes."

Seeing them readily agree to his terms, Xuande's heart settled further, and his smile grew a few degrees more sincere. "In that case, I shall trouble the two fellow Daoists."

"How could it be trouble? Daoist friend, please!" Zhunti was overjoyed as he turned sideways to lead the way.

Jieyin too wore a smile, walking shoulder to shoulder with Xuande.

Three streams of Escape Light immediately rose. Jieyin's cloud-light was pale gold, compassionate and weighty;

Zhunti's cloud-light was green tinged with gold, sharp and lively;

Xuande's Escape Light was a pure, auspicious pale gold, with the faint phantom of lotus blossoms accompanying it, serene and unbound.

The three rays of light merged as one and flew toward Mount Sumeru, the Western Ancestral Vein.