Jieyin rose to his feet and pressed his palms together.
"Amitabha."
"Benefactor Xuandu, I trust you have been well."
Zhunti also stood, taking his place at Jieyin's side.
He said nothing, merely staring fixedly at Xuandu.
His eyes held wariness, vigilance, and a trace of barely concealed tension.
Xuandu looked at the two of them, his gaze calm.
"What?"
"Aren't you going to invite me to sit?"
Jieyin froze for a moment, then stepped aside.
"Please, Benefactor."
Xuandu gave a slight nod and walked toward the pool.
He sat down on a bluestone by the water.
His green robes draped around him, his gaze tranquil.
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance before sitting cross-legged once more.
The three figures sat facing one another beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.
Golden light swirled, and lotuses bloomed.
Yet the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.
"Benefactor Xuandu."
Jieyin spoke in an even voice.
"You have cultivated in seclusion for tens of thousands of epochs, and your cultivation has greatly advanced."
"Now that you have emerged from seclusion, you have come to Mount Sumeru."
"May I ask what brings you here?"
Xuandu looked at him, and the smile at the corner of his lips deepened slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Jieyin is quite straightforward."
"Since that is the case, I will not beat around the bush."
"The moment I emerged from seclusion, I sensed that both Fellow Daoists had greatly increased in strength."
Xuandu spoke calmly.
"How about the three of us exchange moves?"
The moment those words fell, silence descended upon the side of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.
The pool water rippled gently, and the lotuses swayed softly.
Jieyin was stunned.
Zhunti was stunned as well.
They exchanged a glance, each seeing the fleeting shock in the other's eyes.
Then that shock turned