"Senior Nephew is indeed a clever one."
The smile on Zunti's face grew even brighter. He exchanged a knowing glance with Jieyin, then leisurely began to speak.
"Since your goal is also the Western Lands' merit, let's be frank with each other."
He pointed to the Bodhi secret realm beneath their feet, then to the barren land outside.
"Senior Nephew has seen it for yourself. The ley lines of the Western Lands were polluted by Luo Hou's Demonic Qi, and their foundations were damaged. Completely purging it won't happen overnight. My senior brother and I are willing, but our strength is limited."
Zunti paused, then changed tack, his eyes shining as he looked at Xuanqing.
"But your divine ability is precisely the nemesis of this Demon Qi! This must be the will of Heaven, the Heavenly Dao guiding you to the Western Lands to help the two of us—and the countless living beings here!"
Xuanqing listened quietly, his heart unmoved.
"How about this!" Zunti clapped his hands, looking as though he had Xuanqing's best interests at heart. "Help the two of us thoroughly purify the Western Lands' ley lines. Once the boundless merit descends, my senior brother and I will both accept you as a direct disciple of the West Teach. What do you say?"
"Then you'll be the Three Teach Masters of the West, second only to the two of us, with authority over all of Mount Sumeru in the Western Lands! This is an extraordinary fortune!"
Zunti's voice brimmed with temptation as he painted a glorious future in Xuanqing's ears.
Any living being in Honghuang would probably have dropped to their knees and thanked him on the spot for such an offer.
But Xuanqing sneered inwardly.
Making grand promises? These two really were experts.
*Never mind that I'm