Jieyin and Zhunti made a solemn vow to save and protect the living beings of the West. Countless creatures in the West sensed a compassionate aura enveloping them, and all knelt toward Mount Sumeru to bow and give thanks.
The faith of all living beings reached up to the Heavenly Dao, which sent down divine radiance. Countless auspicious colors descended, while canopies, flowers, rare treasures, and precious jewels came pouring forth.
Divine flowers fell from the heavens, and sweet springs gushed from the earth. A void opened above Zhun Ti and Jieyin, and a rolling stream of merit descended, forming halos of merit around them.
Their cultivation had also reached the pinnacle of Daluo Golden Immortal.
"Hahaha..."
Zhun Ti was overcome with joy, more excited than ever. The feeling was so exhilarating: he had merely made a great vow, yet gained such benefits.
He even wanted to make dozens more great vows and take off like a rocket.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."
He rose and cupped his hands toward Jieyin. Without his senior brother's guidance, he could never have achieved this.
"There's no need to be so polite between us."
Jieyin said with a smile. He, too, felt immense joy. Sensing the boundless power of a Daluo Golden Immortal at the peak, he felt his spirits soar.
He had probably surpassed Laozi by now, making him unquestionably the foremost being beneath the Dao Ancestor.
"Senior Brother! I want to pay the Sun Star a visit!"
Once he had calmed down, Zhun Ti looked toward the Sun Star and spoke with a faint smile, a sharp killing intent gleaming in his eyes.
"Are you going to find the Golden Crow and take revenge?" Jieyin asked.
"Of course. He humiliated us brothers in the past. If I don't avenge that, I'm no cultivator."
Zhun Ti said in a low voice. He had made his great vow for the sake of revenge. Now that his strength had greatly increased, naturally he had to reclaim his dignity.
Jieyin nodded slightly. "That Golden Crow does deserve to die. But the Dao Ancestor's lecture is about to begin. Don't cause more trouble. Let him off for now; there'll be time for revenge after we've heard the lecture."
He, too, wanted revenge. But to him, the lecture at the Purple Heaven Palace mattered more.
Time was the least precious thing to them. There was no need to rush into it.
"Senior Brother, he's just one Golden Crow. It won't take us long to get revenge if we go together." Zhun Ti was still reluctant to let it go. Ling Xiao was like a thorn lodged in his heart; he wouldn't feel at ease until he pulled it out.
Jieyin gave a helpless laugh, feeling that his junior brother was getting carried away, but still patiently explained.
"If I'm not mistaken, there's an innate grand formation on the Sun Star. If we go there rashly, we might suffer a setback. After we've heard the Dao Ancestor's lecture and grown stronger, I'll be confident I can break that formation."
"The Dao Ancestor said during his first lecture that next time he would teach the Way of the Quasi-Sages. We've already reached the pinnacle of Daluo Golden Immortal. After the lecture, we may be able to break through to Quasi-Sage."
"By then, we'll be able to destroy a puny Golden Crow with a wave of our hands. Why rush into it?"
Jieyin laid it all out for him. When he had just fused with the merit and destiny, his divine sense had spread across the world. He had also paid attention to the Sun Star, where a faint, obscure formation shrouded the place. It would have been hard to notice without drawing near.
That must have been the Golden Crow's source of confidence. He thought that if he hid on the Sun Star, no one could do anything to him.
Little did he know that once Jieyin's cultivation advanced further, he would be confident he could break the formation.
Then, no matter where the Golden Crow fled, he would be at Jieyin's mercy.
Zhun Ti listened, stunned. He hadn't expected his senior brother to be so meticulous, and dutifully agreed. "Then I'll do as you say, Senior Brother. We'll talk after the lecture."
"Junior Brother, your mind has been unsettled lately. You need to steady it as soon as possible. Our goal is to become Sages and Ancestors. Don't get caught up in what's right before you."
Jieyin adopted the air of an elder brother and admonished him.
"Your teachings are right, Senior Brother." Zhun Ti nodded, putting the matter out of his mind.
Once they had heard the lecture, it would be Ling Xiao's death day. To him, that little bit of time would pass in the blink of an eye.
The West of the Primordial World.
Wuzhuang Temple.
Zhenyuanzi's expression was grave. Sensing the changes in the Western realm, he exclaimed in astonishment, "Jieyin and Zhunti are skilled indeed. They actually gathered the West's destiny into their own hands!"
Though he, too, lived in the West, Zhenyuanzi had discovered that all the West's destiny now belonged to Jieyin and Zhunti. He couldn't share even a fraction of it.
"Damn it! How did I not think of this trick?"
He was so furious he beat his breast and stamped his feet.
He had originally been on the same level as Jieyin and Zhunti, but now, for no apparent reason, he had fallen half a level beneath them.
"Zhenyuanzi, why are you so angry?"
A hearty voice rang out. Its owner had not yet arrived, but his voice came first.
Then Hong Yun, dressed in a scarlet robe, walked in, his face alight with a brilliant smile.
It was as if a little sun had suddenly shone into the room.
Zhenyuanzi glanced at his old friend and muttered inwardly, If only I could be as carefree as you.
"Didn't you sense it? Jieyin and Zhun Ti have gathered all the West's destiny into their own hands. From now on, I won't get a single bit of it."
Zhenyuanzi couldn't help venting to his friend.
"That's easy!"
Hong Yun replied cheerfully, without a moment's hesitation.
"Easy?" Zhenyuanzi's expression shifted. He hadn't expected his friend to be so helpful.
"What's your solution? Tell me quickly."
Hong Yun spread his hands. "Just move out of the West!"
"I..."
Zhenyuanzi was so choked up he nearly passed out.
Fine.
He'd been too hasty.
He knew exactly what Hong Yun was like, yet he'd gone and asked anyway.
Only Hong Yun could come up with such an outrageous solution.
"What's with that reaction? I'm serious!" Hong Yun said earnestly.
He'd given perfectly good advice. Why did Zhenyuanzi think he was joking?
"Hong Yun, stop messing around. I can leave whenever I want, but how can I move the Ginseng Fruit? Without Nine Heavens Soil, I can't transplant it anywhere else."
Zhenyuanzi scolded him sternly.
"You've eaten plenty of these yourself. Tell me, do you still want to eat Ginseng Fruit in the future?"
"Wait, would the soil from the Innate Gourd Vine work?" Hong Yun's eyes lit up as he suddenly thought of something, and he asked excitedly.
"Obviously. They're both among the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots, so of course it would work."
Zhenyuanzi answered irritably.
"Then it's settled!"
"I know a Daoist friend who has some soil from the Innate Gourd Vine." Hong Yun said with a smile, looking rather pleased with himself.
Zhenyuanzi looked surprised. "The Daoist friend you mentioned—the one who helped you seize the Gourd?"
"Exactly. Daoist Friend Ling Xiao has half the soil. We can borrow it from him, and then we can move the Ginseng Fruit!" Hong Yun said, beaming.
Zhenyuanzi's expression changed abruptly when he heard this.
"Bad news! Daoist Friend Ling Xiao may be in danger!"
"Why do you say that?" Hong Yun's smile vanished, and he asked suspiciously.
"Didn't you say that when you fought over the Gourd back then, Ling Xiao beat Jieyin and Zhun Ti?"
"Now Jieyin and Zhun Ti have gathered the West's destiny and greatly increased their cultivation. They're probably going to seek revenge on Daoist Friend Ling Xiao!"
Zhenyuanzi said solemnly.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry to the Sun Star and help!"
Hong Yun couldn't sit still. He rose and headed straight for the door.
Before you continue