The Heavenly Dao's Law Eye

His foundation is damaged, which is indeed tricky.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, both shaking their heads and sighing.

You should know that the so-called foundation refers not only to cultivation aptitude but also to fundamental aspects like origin and background.

This determines the upper limit of your Dao path.

If it were merely an aptitude issue, it would be easy to solve; heavenly treasures could compensate. But you are a transformation of Purple Bamboo, a congenital deity.

This origin was nurtured by heaven and earth; we cannot mend it for you.

Lu Tian, the Heavenly Dao is impartial. Your comprehension is extraordinary, no less than a Sage's, hence this tribulation.

However, the Great Dao has fifty, and Heaven's permutations are forty-nine, always leaving a sliver of hope.

Go and cultivate. This sliver of hope, your master will strategize for you.

Lu Tian nodded in silence, bitterness welling in his eyes.

Isn't defying fate a difficult task? Perhaps in the end, I'll have to rely on that system...

This hint of gloom did not escape Zhunti's dharma eye.

Just as he was lost in thought, Zhunti's voice suddenly sounded in his ear:

Foolish child, do not lose heart!

If the Heavenly Dao does not grant you a chance, your master will snatch one from heaven for you!

Looking at Zhunti's solemn expression, Lu Tian felt a warmth surge in his chest.

What an overbearing declaration!

He knew that although his two masters were Sages, snatching a chance from the Heavenly Dao was still incredibly difficult.

He understood even more that his turning point might entirely depend on the system—the last hope for mending his foundation.

Yet, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel his heart surge with emotion.

It was as if...

An oppressed student, long bullied, suddenly encountered a righteous teacher speaking up for him.

Memories washed over him like a tide: being mocked for his low aptitude in the outer sect of the Intercepting Sect, being looked down upon for his Western origins, and after betraying the sect, being banished for ** eighty million li...

Lu Tian took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to Jieyin and Zhunti.

What does a flawed foundation matter? He would surely ascend to the pinnacle of the Primordial World!

After bidding farewell to the Sages' dojo, Lu Tian established a separate cave dwelling in the Western Teachings for secluded cultivation.

After the cave dwelling was completed, Lu Tian did not immediately go into seclusion but visited several of his senior brothers one by one.

His senior brothers looked at him with complex expressions, a hint of jealousy subtly showing—after all, he had obtained the inheritance of the Dream Path Enlightenment Method in advance. This emotion was normal; Lu Tian merely offered a smile.

After chatting with his senior brothers, Lu Tian had officially settled into the Western Teachings. Fortunately, his senior brothers had kind dispositions, and there was no infighting among them.

Once settled, Lu Tian returned to his cave dwelling to cultivate wholeheartedly.

The years of the Primordial World passed in a flash, and two hundred years went by in the blink of an eye.

During these two hundred years, Lu Tian had been cultivating diligently in his cave dwelling, but his cultivation progress upon emerging was minuscule. Just as deduced in the dream world, five hundred years of hard cultivation was but a drop in the bucket.

His innate aptitude was, after all, a fundamental flaw.

Lu Tian did not lose heart.

Upon emerging this time, he had decided to travel and seek out blessed lands to trigger system rewards, thereby compensating for his congenital deficiencies. There was also an important matter—

Jieyin and Zhunti were about to hold a sermon.

According to the custom of the Western Teachings, the two Sages preached once every five hundred years. He had missed two previous occasions due to being in the dream world; he could not miss this one.

A Sage's sermon was a rare and unmissable opportunity. Back when he was in the Intercepting Sect, although Sect Master Tongtian also preached publicly, Lu Tian had not yet received the system's blessing then, and his comprehension was **.

When Lu Tian arrived at the sermon site, his senior brothers had already been waiting for a long time.

"Junior brother, you're finally here!"

"Hurry and take a seat, Master is about to arrive. Any later and I'd have to drag you from your cave!"

Maitreya and Mahasthamaprapta teased with smiles. Lu Tian also smiled and found a ** spot to sit.

"This is my first time listening to a sermon. Please, senior brothers, guide me on any taboos?"

Although he had focused on cultivation for over two hundred years, his interactions with his senior brothers had not ceased. On the vast Spiritual Mountain, besides Jieyin and Zhunti, there were only the six of them—brothers—and they were already very familiar with each other.

"Just listen attentively. Our Masters are the kindest," Senior Brother Sunlight said with a smile. His old injuries had healed—the elixirs bestowed by his Master were indeed effective.

Just as Lu Tian was about to reply, he saw auspicious clouds swirling, and the two Sages, Jieyin and Zhunti, arrived together. The assembled ** quickly rose to bow:

"Greetings, Masters!"

Jieyin and Zhunti took their seats first, and the rest also sat down in order.

"This sermon will begin with me. My brother and I will each preach for forty-nine days. Our understandings of the Dao differ, so you may cross-reference them."

"Today is our junior brother's first time listening to a sermon, so I will expound upon the Diamond Sutra."

Zhunti no longer spoke, and immediately began his lecture:

"Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was in the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, together with a gathering of twelve hundred and fifty monks. At that time, the World-Honored One, at mealtime, put on his robes and, holding his alms bowl, entered the great city of Savatthi for alms. After receiving alms in order, he returned to his dwelling. Having finished his meal, he put away his robes and bowl, washed his feet, spread his seat, and sat down."

"At that time, the elder Subhuti, from the midst of the great assembly, immediately rose from his seat..."

As the sacred words were spoken, each character shone with brilliance. Amidst the flowing Buddha-light, auspicious clouds appeared in the heavens, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth. The previously empty hall was suddenly filled with blooming spiritual flowers and the clear calls of immortal cranes. The lingering echoes seemed to pierce through the vastness of time.

These wondrous phenomena, however, did not disturb the minds of those present in the slightest.

Some were lost in deep thought, others furrowed their brows in contemplation, all immersed in the Dao. Lu Tian also listened attentively.

He had cultivated diligently over the years and had gained some understanding of the Wrathful Vajra Method, but he was still far inferior to Zhunti. Listening to the sermon now, it intertwined with his own insights, and a Vajra dharma form naturally manifested behind him.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances and nodded. This child's Dao heart is as firm as a rock, and his comprehension is extraordinary. Even though his innate potential is damaged and his cultivation is slow, he will surely achieve great things in time.

They did not notice that a portion of Lu Tian's consciousness had quietly drifted elsewhere.

Dividing his attention was a simple matter for him.

The illusory world had now expanded to the size of the solar system, with stars orbiting a sun, yet it had not yet given birth to any life. Upon hearing the profound meaning of the Diamond Sutra, Lu Tian suddenly had an epiphany and immediately acted within the illusory world.

He took materials from the star's mineral veins and sculpted a being as red as fire, with three heads and six arms. After bestowing it with intelligence, he imprinted the Diamond Sutra and the Wrathful Vajra Method within it.

Lu Tian's lips curved into a slight smile.

"Let's call it 'Vajra'."

"The civilization of the Zero World will begin from here."

Lu Tian mused inwardly. The crimson colossal statue seemed to sense his thoughts and slowly opened its eyes, a flicker of intelligent light flashing within them.

He bestowed upon this colossal statue the name Crimson Vajra.

Subsequently, Lu Tian followed the same method, shaping the Golden Vajra, Azure Vajra, Jade Vajra, and Mysterious Void Vajra in other planes.

These five Vajras precisely corresponded to the five fundamental origins he used for creation: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Void.

As the primordial deities of the Zero World, the Five Vajras were born in response to destiny.

Lu Tian felt quite pleased with himself.

When he withdrew his divine sense from the Zero World and returned to reality, he suddenly felt his spiritual platform clear.

This is...

A look of astonishment flashed in Lu Tian's eyes.

The Zero World, as a fictional plane, had actually fed back a wisp of golden light of Merit to him!

Although it was less than one hundred millionth of the Merit Nuwa received for creating humanity, it was still shocking enough for Lu Tian.

After all, this was a world he had entirely imagined!

Fortunately, he had long since mastered the skill of keeping his emotions hidden, so no one else noticed anything unusual. He quickly collected his thoughts and continued to listen to the Sage's teachings.

Eighty-one days later, Sage Zhunti concluded his sermon.

After a seven-day rest, Sage Jieyin once again opened the altar.

Another ninety-nine days passed, and the sermon ended. The cultivators dispersed one after another to meditate and comprehend.

Only Lu Tian remained to pay his respects to his two masters and make a request.

I wish to leave Spiritual Mountain and travel the West. I hope my masters will grant my request.

Sage Jieyin appeared slightly surprised.

You wish to travel the West?

It was no wonder the Sage was surprised; the West was notoriously barren.

"Precisely. I wish to visit the blessed lands of the West and experience its scenery, perhaps finding an opportunity to mend my foundation."

Lu Tian's words were sincere.

"Although the West is desolate, it has also given birth to spiritual treasures like the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and the Six Roots Pure Bamboo."

Jieyin sighed, his eyes filled with pity.

The damage to his foundation had ultimately become his obsession.

To possess such a Dao heart at his age was already rare, and it was natural for him to be eager to mend his flaws.

It would be good for him to go for a walk. After all, he would remain within the Western lands and no accidents would occur.

Moreover, previous deductions had indicated that his opportunity lay in the northwest.

Jieyin and Zhunti communicated telepathically to discuss.

The two Sages merely thought Lu Tian was resorting to desperate measures.

However, allowing him to travel for a thousand years was but a fleeting moment for ancient beings like them.

"You know the situation in the West. If you wish to see it, there's no harm. Perhaps you'll encounter some opportunities."

Jieyin nodded slightly, then his tone turned serious: "However, you must be cautious when you are outside. Although the West is sparsely populated, there are still living beings inhabiting it, some native-born, and some who have fled from the East to escape calamity."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll: "These are the only three places in the West where spiritual meridians converge. Go and try your luck there." He lightly tapped Lu Tian's forehead, and the topography of the mountains and rivers instantly appeared in his mind.

These three blessed lands were not far from each other; at his pace, he could traverse them all in a thousand years. Though the Western territories were vast and boundless, after the earth veins shattered, few spiritual lands remained intact. However, the area around Spiritual Mountain was still relatively well-preserved.

Lu Tian's eyes flickered—with this map as guidance, his journey would be much smoother. He had intended to use the system's convenience to gather rewards anyway. As for any supposed fortuitous encounters? If they truly existed, his two masters would have already snatched them up.

He would go prepare his travel gear now. Seeing his eagerness, Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a knowing smile.

Zhunti suddenly said with a serious expression, "There is another matter. My senior brother and I have divined the Heavenly Dao, and your fortuitous encounter should be in the northwest. You might as well explore the northwest more on this trip."

"Northwest?" Lu Tian cupped his hands in acknowledgment. Zhunti then cautioned, "However, one cannot force fortuitous encounters, and especially difficult is mending one's foundation. Since you have already attained the Golden Immortal Dao fruit, even if your progress is a bit slow, with time, you may yet ascend the Great Dao. Remember, cultivation hinges on the Dao heart."

Sensing his master's earnest gaze, Lu Tian solemnly agreed. He harbored no grand expectations—spiritual lands were scarce in the West, and the probability of rewards was low even if they existed. Any true opportunity to mend his foundation likely lay in the East. Still, encountering a fortuitous event, he naturally couldn't let it pass.

Seeing that his **expression remained unchanged, the two Sages finally felt at ease. Lu Tian bowed to his masters and senior brothers, embarking alone on the westward journey. On his arrival, he had been troubled by an outer disciple of the Intercepting Sect, but upon his departure, his five senior brothers escorted him for a thousand miles, until his figure vanished into the horizon.

Pharmacist, Maitreya, Mahasthamaprapta, Sunlight, and Moonlight watched Lu Tian depart before riding the clouds back to the Western Teachings.

The few direct disciples gathered together, but the atmosphere was somewhat somber.

"Little junior brother is leaving the mountain already, and he only stayed at the sect for such a short time..."

"Compared to him, we're like flowers in a greenhouse."

Pharmacist sighed lightly, shaking his head.

"We're far from matching little junior brother."

Even the usually lively Mahasthamaprapta sighed uncharacteristically.

Maitreya seemed to want to say something but ultimately just shook his head.

"Cultivate diligently and strive to break through to the Taiyi Realm as soon as possible."

"Little junior brother's foundation is damaged, and his cultivation is destined to be difficult. We senior brothers must not fall behind."

The five looked at each other in silence and dispersed to enter seclusion.

Within the Western Teachings, a wave of diligent cultivation was thus stirred.

Lu Tian traveled northwest alone, following the map.

Although he had to traverse space and take dangerous detours, the map bestowed by Jieyin was clearly meticulously planned.

Along the way, he encountered no danger nor any trace of living beings, only rugged peaks and deep ravines for company.