Jieyin's face showed neither joy nor anger. "If all we sought was freedom and a good reputation, you and I could have left Mount Sumeru and headed east when we first took form.
Back then, we brothers could have found an immortal blessed land in the Eastern Continent and lived in peace.
Even without Dao-Proving, Quasi-Saints would have sufficed. With two Quasi-Saint Peaks working together, we would have feared no one beneath the Saints.
But for the sake of the West, we chose to remain in this barren land."
At this point, the prayer beads between Jieyin's fingers paused for an instant.
"The Eastern Land prospers, but the West gave birth to you and me. Others may despise the West, but we cannot abandon it."
"Alas..."
Zhunti let out a long sigh. Some of his urgency faded, but his worries remained.
"I understand, Senior brother. I have no regrets over all we have done for the West. But now outsiders are making moves, and I fear there is a conspiracy.
Looking across the Primordial Wilderness, aside from you and me, who would truly treat the West sincerely?"
Jieyin said, "We lack strength. I fear outsiders coveting the West, but I fear even more that outsiders will not covet the West.
Junior brother, look at it more openly. More Cultivators joining in may not benefit the Western Religion, but it will greatly benefit the West.
As long as the West prospers, what does it matter if we must give up the Western Religion?"
Jieyin's Dao-Proving differed fundamentally from the Dao-Proving of the Three Pure Ones.
The Three Pure Ones established religions in order to Teach and Transform.
Jieyin established a religion in order to prosper the West.
A religion was merely a means; what mattered was the ultimate goal.
If abandoning