Unlike Zhunti's envy, Jieyin remained calm:
"If the West can greatly prosper, Merit will naturally come, and there will be even more of it.
What Fellow Daoist Beiming seeks may revive the North, but the North has not truly prospered.
Looking across the Primordial Wilderness—east, west, south, and north—even after clearing away the Baleful Aura and reviving the spiritual veins, the North will merely surpass the barren West and stand level with the Southern Continent.
It will still be far from enough to suppress the Eastern Continent.
If one region cannot overwhelm the Primordial Wilderness, how can it be called great prosperity? What you and I seek should be the West's great prosperity."
"What Senior Brother said is absolutely right."
Zhunti slowly lowered his clasped hands. The unchanging smile on his face faded somewhat as well. With a trace of concern, he said:
"But I believe that if Bei Ming becomes a saint through this Merit, then with a saint's power, supporting the North would be effortless, would it not?"
"Junior brother."
Jieyin lightly flicked his prayer beads with his fingertips, their crisp chimes echoing through Mount Sumeru.
His expression remained peaceful as he said slowly, "If it were you or me, and we had such an opportunity to become a saint, we certainly would not give it up.
Below Saints, All Are Ants. Only Saints can be considered chess players.
Only by standing above the chess game can one truly place pieces and arrange the board.
If we become saints, it will be far more convenient to seek the West's great prosperity afterward."
Jieyin raised his eyes toward the Merit Golden Light pouring down from the void, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"It is because you and I, as senior and junior brothers, have taken the West as our foundation.