Chapter 30

If fortune could be drawn to the west sooner, it would naturally greatly benefit the Western Teachings.

Unfortunately, Jieyin and Zhunti were focused only on repairing the western Earth Veins and had yet to notice the hidden implications.

Lu Tian mused inwardly that perhaps he could secretly plant a piece in the human race's fortune, which the Saints had been plotting over.

His thoughts raced. At his level of cultivation, such thoughts took no more than an instant.

The void trembled slightly, and his figure abruptly appeared.

Below, a hundred thousand mortals were fleeing in terror!

A raccoon demon leaped forward and bit down, instantly tearing off a woman's head.

A shrill wail rang out.

Only moments ago, the young man had been desperately dragging his mother away. In the blink of an eye, they had been separated forever.

He had no time to grieve and could only keep running.

This was the norm for the human race of the primordial world—

In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, they were as insignificant as ants. How could they speak of familial love?

Perhaps one day, the aftermath of a battle between powerful beings would wipe out their entire clan.

The raccoon demon's fur suddenly grew wildly, turning into countless spikes as hard as dark iron, just as it was about to pierce the surrounding crowd—

A flash of cold light passed, and the demon's head fell.

These mortals had not even noticed the sudden turn between life and death.

How had they encountered danger? They did not know!

Why had they been saved? They did not know either!

The fates of the weak had never been in their own hands.

Until—

Boom!

The demon head struck the ground, kicking up dust as it rolled more than ten feet away. Only then did the crowd snap out of their daze.

Q-Quick... quickly thank the immortal elder!

Stop running! Hurry and kneel to thank our benefactor!

The gray-haired elder at the front was the first to recover. In a hoarse voice, he grabbed those around him and pulled them down to kowtow.

Lu Tian drifted down to the ground.

Gratitude showed through the people's worship, but even more so did trembling fear.

After all, no one knew whether this immortal would suddenly turn hostile.

Rise.

He casually waved a hand as a jumble of grateful voices filled his ears.

You, come here. He pointed at the quick-witted elder. Answer well, and I will grant you a fortune.

The elder hurriedly crawled forward on his knees. "If the immortal elder has questions, this old man will certainly answer truthfully."

The elder stood with his head bowed, unease evident in his eyes.

If he answered well, he could gain an opportunity. If he answered poorly, would he lose his life?

Where do you intend to go?

"In answer to the immortal elder, we have no fixed destination for our migration. We simply travel while trying to survive. If we find a peaceful place, perhaps some of us will remain there while the rest continue onward."

Lu Tian nodded slightly.

They were merely trying to ensure their people's survival.

It was indeed the most prudent approach.

In that case, I will point out a path for you. Are you willing to take it?

After a brief thought, Lu Tian decided there was no need to beat around the bush with these people.

He could simply have them head west.

If he was too tactful, it would only make them more fearful.

This...

The elder froze for a moment. Though he did not understand the immortal elder's intentions, he hurriedly answered, "Willing! Of course we are willing! Please guide us, immortal elder!"

As the oldest member of the clan, he had lived for more than forty years and experienced countless hardships.

How could he possibly refuse an immortal?

Lu Tian casually tossed out three pieces of jade.

Drip your blood onto them, and you will obtain a cultivation method.

Once you cultivate spiritual power, you will be able to activate these stones.

If you encounter anyone blocking your path again, release the pressure within the stones, and they will naturally retreat.

The elder stood rooted to the spot!

He had never imagined that this truly would be a fortune!

A cultivation method!

An immortal had actually bestowed upon them a cultivation method!

Wild joy flooded over him like a tide. He stood there stunned for a long while before finally recovering and hurriedly preparing to kneel in thanks.

But when he looked up, Lu Tian had already vanished.

Only the three warm jade stones in his palm proved that what had just happened was not a dream.

Lu Tian's distant voice drifted through the wind:

A simple map is carved within the stones.

Head west. After crossing Two Realms Mountain, activate the jade stones, and someone will receive you. You may receive the protection of my sect.

Along the way, you may worship the Western Teachings. The more sincere you are, the stronger the jade stones' power will become, ensuring your safety.

The elder stood there for a long time.

In the end, he solemnly knelt toward the direction in which Lu Tian had disappeared and pressed his forehead to the ground.

Within an unnamed mountain range.

One hundred thousand humans knelt together, kowtowing in thanks toward the direction of Lu Tian's departure.

To Lu Tian, it was merely an ordinary **.

To these humans, however, it was the first light of hope.

For three days and three nights, they remained kneeling.

Only when the elder led the entire clan to rise did they finally stand.

He gave the three jade stones to two young men and carefully explained all the important details.

You must remember: while heading west, do not take the same route.

The immortal had given them these three jade stones precisely to create more possibilities.

Even with the jade stones' deterrence, they might not frighten off every demon or monster. They still had to remain vigilant.

If you encounter anyone with exceptional talent for cultivation along the way, make sure to nurture them carefully. They are the hope of the future.

He instructed them in every detail, explaining everything he could think of. Even then, he watched the two groups depart with lingering concern.

He then divided the remaining clansmen into two groups.

One group would head west with him.

The other would continue in their original direction.

His years of experience told him that they had to preserve multiple possibilities for the clan. They could not stake everything on a single chance.

Though he was only a little over forty.

He was already the oldest and wisest elder of the clan.

Once all arrangements had been made, he used his blood to unseal the jade stone and obtain the cultivation art within.

After passing it on to the other group, the two parties headed off in opposite directions.

The elder led his people onward while cultivating, and their progress was unexpectedly swift.

Following Lu Tian's instructions, they worshipped the Western Teachings, carried a stone statue of Lu Tian with them, and continued westward.

Time passed.

Most of the group had died away, yet the younger generations still marched west under the elder's leadership.

His aged appearance faded away, and he regained his youth, returning to the look of a middle-aged man.

He sped along at the front of the group, eagerly awaiting the day they crossed Two Realms Mountain.

However...

Things did not go as hoped.

Though the jade stones protected them from many demonic beasts, the group still suffered devastating losses from the aftershocks of battles between powerful beings.

The elder's son took up the jade stones and led the survivors in continuing to worship Lu Tian and the Western Teachings.

Unceasingly, generation after generation.

After leaving the human tribe, Lu Tian no longer paid attention to them.

To him, it had merely been a casual act.

He had aided these humans only for the sake of one possibility.

As for whether they could truly arrive...

Lu Tian believed the chances were slim.

Even with the jade stones' protection, a natural disaster or a clash between powerful beings could destroy the tribe.

Thus, he continued to watch along the way.

Whenever he encountered other human groups, he followed the same method and gave them aid.

As long as one group reached the west, it would be a success.

Population growth had an exponential effect.

If a thousand people headed west, then within a few years, the west would surely flourish.

These people could help with construction while also strengthening the fortune and faith of the Western Teachings.

Why not simply lead them there himself?

That would truly be overstepping.

The human race belonged to the east. They had been created by Nuwa, while the Three Pure Ones had established teachings to shelter them.

If humanity were compared to a faction, Nuwa would be its founder, and the Three Pure Ones would be those in power.

How could Lu Tian hope to bring humans to the west and claim a share of their fortune so easily?

Only by making arrangements in secret could he avoid drawing notice.

This was not yet the era of Journey to the West.

The Western Teachings, and even the entire west, occupied a delicate position in the primordial world.

Therefore, Lu Tian had revealed only the name "Western Teachings," without mentioning Jieyin, Zhunti, or their doctrines.

Once the people arrived in the west, it would not be too late to reveal the truth.

The games of the primordial world's great powers involved Karma, fortune, merit, Karmic Debt...

They often arranged matters in secret and only cast the net once the time was ripe.

Only after advancing into the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm had Lu Tian gained a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Dao and glimpsed some of it.

"The path of cultivation is long..."

He silently reminded himself, his gaze solemn as he looked into the distance.

After years of flying, he finally arrived at Kunlun Mountain!

Fortunately, he had not missed the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony—there were still three hundred years before it began, no more than the blink of an eye.

Lu Tian flicked his sleeve and sent out a talisman, which burned away atop Kunlun Mountain as a calling card.

This ceremony was hosted by the Chan and Jie Sects. After landing, he proceeded on foot to show reverence for the Saints' sacred grounds.

As he walked, a clear chime suddenly rang within his sea of consciousness:

[The host has arrived at the blessed land of Kunlun Mountain. Reward granted: Enlightenment Tea Tree]

This was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root!

Upon examining its effects: it matured once every nine thousand years and produced three thousand tea leaves.

Each tea leaf could aid enlightenment. Though it could not increase cultivation like peaches or Ginseng Fruit, its number of three thousand made it unparalleled in the primordial world.

This item was highly effective for cultivators below the Grand Unity Realm and provided some benefit even to Grand Unity Realm experts, though it was useless to Quasi-Saint-level beings.

More importantly, after every nine growth cycles—that was, eighty-one thousand years—it would additionally produce nine rare Dao Leaves, which could greatly enhance one's realm of enlightenment!

These nine special Dao Leaves were precious treasures even to Quasi-Saint experts!

It truly was extraordinary!

Even better, it had been granted fully mature, saving him the long years of cultivation.

Delight flashed through Lu Tian's eyes.

This opportunity came at the perfect time for his fellow disciples to make further breakthroughs before the Mystic Gate Grand Gathering!

Perhaps they could give those personal ** disciples of the Jie Sect and Chan Sect an unexpected surprise.

As he pondered, he suddenly saw a Daoist walking down a path on Kunlun Mountain.

The newcomer had a thin, refined face and a gloomy air between his brows, dressed in a gilded Daoist robe.

It was none other than Taiyi Zhenren of the Chan Sect.

"So it is an outstanding disciple of the Western Teachings. I, Taiyi, offer my greetings."

Taiyi Zhenren's manner was exceptionally courteous, his righteous bearing forming a sharp contrast with his sinister appearance.

Lu Tian returned the greeting. "Fellow Daoist Taiyi, I trust you have been well."

"Judging by your aura, Fellow Daoist, your cultivation has advanced again."

"Thanks to your good fortune, Fellow Daoist, I have gained a little." Taiyi Zhenren's smile did not change.

Turning slightly to lead the way, he said, "The elders of your sect have been waiting atop the mountain for some time. Please follow me."

Lu Tian nodded. "I was just intending to visit my master. Thank you for leading the way, Fellow Daoist."

The two chatted and laughed as though their old discord had never existed.

Only when Lu Tian revealed his Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation did Taiyi Zhenren's eyes twitch slightly before his smile deepened.

Led by Taiyi Zhenren, Lu Tian soon arrived at an immortal palace nestled in the mountains.

Before he could examine it closely, a stern Daoist voice rang in his ears:

"Come at once, disciple!"

It was a transmission from Saint Jieyin, and his tone carried an unexpected hint of urgency!

"Since I have delivered you here, I shall take my leave."

Though Taiyi Zhenren had not heard the Saint's voice, he tactfully cupped his hands and departed.

"We shall speak again another day."

Lu Tian did not dare delay and turned into a streak of light, shooting into the palace.

What could have happened to make his Saint master lose his composure like this?

The sight inside the hall made Lu Tian's heart tighten.

The two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, sat upon the Cloud Platform, their blazing gazes fixed upon him.

"I greet you, Master."

Under the scrutiny of the two Saints, cold sweat inevitably seeped down Lu Tian's back.

Could I have offended Master somehow?

The hearts of Saints were unfathomable; even Lu Tian could not discern the mystery within them.

"Yun'er, how did you suddenly advance to the Taiyi Realm?"

Jieyin's voice was low, and disappointment showed between his brows.

"The Mystic Gate Grand Gathering was meant to be a stage for your younger generation to spar and compete. I understand that you wished to uphold our teachings' honor, but forcing your way into the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm merely to take part in the gathering was truly inappropriate!"