Jieyin and Zhunti's Respect

Next came Zhunti. His voice was much clearer, carrying an eager, nimble undertone:

"Senior Brother's path seeks transcendence.

"My path places emphasis on 'wondrous application' and 'dependent arising.'

"All phenomena in the world are born when causes and conditions converge, and perish when those conditions scatter.

"Since affinities exist, they can be grasped and put to use. A grain of sand, a stone, every blade of grass and tree—all contain the principles of the Dharma, all can become provisions for the path.

"I see that the West is barren; all the more reason to cherish every scrap of affinity and Dharma.

"Use wisdom to turn stone into gold, transform decay into wonder, and follow the path of wisdom and skillful means.

"Forge broad good affinities and accumulate provisions. In the end, one may save oneself and others, adorning the pure land."

As Zhunti spoke, wisdom-light seemed to flow through his eyes, while his fingers unconsciously traced faint lines through the air.

They vaguely sketched illusory images of lotuses, jeweled trees, and necklaces.

The phantoms flickered into being and vanished again, as though demonstrating the principles of arising and passing through conditions, of boundless wondrous application.

The aura around him was livelier, a stark contrast to Jieyin's somber gravity.

There was a faint but unmistakable resilience and fervor about him—an unyielding drive to seek opportunities amid adversity.

Xuande nodded inwardly. Zhunti's path was more involved with the world, more flexible, even somewhat...

"Utilitarian." Yet behind that "utilitarianism" lay a powerful obsession with changing the current state of affairs and bringing prosperity to one side.

His concepts of "dependent arising and inherent emptiness" and "skillful means and expedient methods"

had much in common with certain ideas of the Buddhist sect in later generations. In practical cultivation, especially in the resource-starved West, they indeed possessed immense practicality and potential for expansion.

Xuande's path of merit was, to a certain extent, also one of "accumulation" and "application." Yet in terms of initiative and purpose, it seemed less forceful and direct than Zhunti's.

Zhunti's keen insight into "affinity and Dharma," and his way of actively drawing such affinities in, offered Xuande considerable inspiration as he considered how to more proactively grasp the karmic affinities between himself and the West, and between Jieyin and Zhunti.

It was his turn.

After a brief ponder, Xuande spoke at last, his voice clear and calm:

"Your paths, fellow Daoists, deeply accord with the time, place, and hearts of the people in the West. Xuande admires them.

"My Origin Essence is the Innate Golden Lotus, born bearing the merit of Heaven and Earth.

"Thus, my path is rooted in the innate nature of Purity and manifested through the bearing of merit.

"The lotus rises from mud yet remains unstained—this is the Purity of one's true nature, unafraid of outward filth.

"Merit is like rich earth, bearing all things without contention—this is Virtue Carries All, nourishing all creation without claiming credit.

"My cultivation lies in upholding this pure nature, steady as a lotus dais;

and practicing this path of merit, like golden light shining everywhere—benefiting oneself and others alike. With Purity and merit, perfection comes naturally."

He did not deliberately stir his power.

Yet his words became law. A warm, pure golden radiance naturally suffused his body. Above his head hovered the faint phantom of an auspicious cloud; the Three Flowers had yet to appear, but already an essence of the Dao of Purity descended.

It was as though an invisible lotus dais supported him from below, firm and immovable.

The golden light was auspicious and peaceful, never harsh to the eye. Wherever it shone, even the clear radiance of the Bodhi Tree seemed gentler, while the surrounding Spiritual Energy grew more balanced and tranquil.

This phenomenon was not a display of pressure, but a natural manifestation of his Dao realm, revealing the extraordinariness of his origin and the solidity of his Dao foundation.

Jieyin and Zhunti beheld the sight, and wonder repeatedly flashed in their eyes. Especially when they sensed the pure, profound aura of merit and the meaning of Purity within that golden light, their hearts and minds shook violently.

It shared the same source as the aura of the spiritual treasure they had sensed—the treasure fated with their West—yet it was more vivid, deeper, and brimming with life!

Xuande's path perfectly united "Purity" and "merit." Purity was the essence, merit the application.

It possessed both the bearing of one beyond the dust of the world and the virtue of one engaged within it, complete and unfettered.

His Dao realm was lofty and his foundation profound. In particular, the meaning behind "Virtue Carries All" and "perfection comes naturally" faintly touched upon a higher realm of the "Dao."

They benefited immensely from it. Many doubts in their cultivation seemed, beneath the illumination of that auspicious golden light and the Dao essence of Purity, to reveal new directions for comprehension.

And so the three spoke, one after another.

Though they displayed no divine abilities in contest, nor delved deeply into specific cultivation methods, the collision of their respective Great Dao concepts, and the display and perception of their core Dao essences, surpassed a thousand words.

Beneath the Bodhi Tree, an air of still extinction would at times descend; at times, the light of skillful wisdom would flow; and at other times, everything would be filled with the golden light of pure merit.

The three Dao essences did not oppose one another. Instead, amid this special atmosphere and against their shared backdrop of the "West," they strangely intertwined, reflected one another, and complemented each other.

Jieyin's still extinction reflected the "non-attachment" within Xuande's Purity;

Zhunti's wondrous application inspired the "initiative" within Xuande's merit;

Xuande's consummate merit also allowed Jieyin and Zhunti to see the possibility of combining "Purity" and "Good Deeds."

As well as the awe-inspiring potential and bearing born from his deep foundation.

Their discourse on the Dao continued for an unknown length of time.

At last, when their final brief exchange concerning "dependent origination, emptiness of nature, and merit not being empty" came to an end, tranquility returned beneath the Bodhi Tree.

The Dao resonances of the three slowly receded, yet the air seemed to retain the lingering echoes of wisdoms colliding.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance. In each other's eyes, they saw irrepressible amazement and... an even stronger yearning.

Daoist friend Xuande's Dao was not only fated with the West—it also offered immeasurable benefits and enlightenment for their Great Dao!

If they could secure his long-term aid, the revival of the West would be no empty fantasy!

Jieyin drew a deep breath. The sorrowful expression on his face was replaced by one of utmost solemnity. He spoke first, his voice more earnest than before:

"Daoist friend Xuande's Dao is consummate and profound. Your pure merit has benefited my junior brother and me immensely, as though we had beheld a guiding lamp.

"Our previous invitation may have seemed presumptuous.

"Yet after today's discussion of the Dao, my resolve has only grown firmer.

"Since you are fated with the West, and your Dao complements ours, why not join hands with us? Let us study the Great Dao together and revive the West as one.

"The West's barrenness does not refer merely to its Earth Veins and Spiritual Energy. It also means that the Great Dao has yet to flourish here, and that gifted talents are few and far between.

"If you are willing to remain, you would not be a guest of my junior brother and me, but a fellow cultivator and pillar of the West!"

"My junior brother and I are willing to honor you as a fellow cultivator. We shall discuss and decide all matters together, and never show you the slightest disrespect."

Zhunti immediately followed, his tone fervent and sincere:

"Every word spoken by Senior Brother Jieyin comes from the heart!

"Daoist brother Xuande, having observed your Dao, I see that Virtue Carries All—you possess the breadth of heart to nurture all things.

"Our western lands are precisely in need of such merit to nourish them!

"Though the Dao-Demon Conflict has ended, when Rahula fell, he detonated the Western Ancestral Vein, leaving living beings devastated and spiritual vitality in decline.

"This is Great Karma, Great Karmic Obstruction, and also a great opportunity!

"If we can join forces with you, fellow cultivator, to sort out the Earth Veins, gather Spiritual Energy, and accumulate boundless merit—

"Not only would it benefit all beings in the West, it would also provide immeasurable aid to our cultivation of the Great Dao!

"Then, fellow cultivator, your Great Dao of pure merit may reveal its true might here and illuminate the West!"

Xuande revealed a timely look of surprise.

Though he knew of the Dao-Demon Conflict, he had only recently undergone Form Transformation and did not know much about the outside world.

Thus, he asked, "The Dao-Demon Conflict?"

Jieyin nodded and said compassionately:

"Devil Ancestor Rahula was defeated by Hongjun and several other mighty experts joining forces, and has already fallen.

"Yet at the moment of his defeat and death, he detonated the Western Ancestral Vein and many other Spiritual Veins in fury.

"As a result, the western lands suffered grievous damage. Fewer than one in ten living beings survived, and even now, Spiritual Energy remains scattered and difficult to gather.

"This is a calamity for the living beings of the West, and a stone weighing upon our hearts."

He paused, then continued, "As for Hongjun—

"After that battle, he secluded himself in Jade Capital Mountain to contemplate and comprehend. Though he has not yet formally attained sainthood, all of the Primordial Wilderness knows that the day of his ascension is likely not far off.

"When that time comes, the Heavenly Dao will manifest, and the entire landscape of the Primordial Wilderness will surely change."