Chapter 6

A damaged foundation was indeed troublesome.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, both shaking their heads with soft sighs.

You must understand that one's foundation did not merely refer to cultivation aptitude. It also concerned one's origin, birth, and other fundamentals.

It determined the upper limit of your Dao path.

If it were merely an issue of aptitude, it would be easier to resolve. Heavenly treasures could make up for it. But you were transformed from Purple Bamboo, an innate divine being.

This origin was nurtured by heaven and earth. Even we could not restore it for you.

Lu Tian, the Heavenly Dao was supremely impartial. Your comprehension surpassed even that of Saints, and thus you faced this tribulation.

Yet the Great Dao had fifty, while Heaven evolved forty-nine. There would always be a single chance of survival.

Go cultivate. As your master, I will make plans for that slim chance.

Lu Tian silently nodded, bitterness surfacing in his eyes.

How could defying fate and changing one's destiny be easy? Perhaps he would ultimately have to rely on that system...

That flicker of gloom did not escape Zhunti's discerning gaze.

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

Foolish child, do not lose heart!

If the Heavenly Dao refuses to grant you a chance, then your master will seize one from Heaven itself!

Looking at Zhunti's solemn expression, warmth suddenly rose in Lu Tian's chest.

What a domineering declaration!

He knew that although his two masters were Saints, wresting a chance of survival from the Heavenly Dao would still be unimaginably difficult.

He also understood that his turning point might well depend entirely on the system—the last hope of repairing his foundation.

Yet at that moment, he could not help but feel his blood surge.

It was as though...

A student long bullied and humiliated had suddenly encountered a teacher willing to stand up for him.

Memories flooded over him: in the outer sect of the Jie Sect, he had endured endless mockery for his poor aptitude; his Western origins had repeatedly earned him contempt; after betraying the sect, he had even suffered pursuit for eight million li...

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

So what if his foundation was incomplete? He would surely stand at the pinnacle of the primordial world!

After bidding farewell to the Saints' dojo, Lu Tian opened another cave abode within the Western Teachings and cultivated in seclusion.

After the cave abode was completed, Lu Tian did not immediately enter seclusion. Instead, he visited several senior brothers in turn.

His senior brothers looked at him with complicated expressions, faintly revealing a measure of envy—after all, he had received the inheritance of the Dream Path Enlightenment Method ahead of them. Such feelings were only natural, and Lu Tian merely responded with a smile.

After speaking at length with several senior brothers, Lu Tian finally settled down properly in the Western Teachings. Fortunately, his senior brothers were all honest and kindhearted, with no scheming among them.

Once everything was arranged, Lu Tian returned to his cave abode and devoted himself to cultivation.

The years of the primordial world passed in the blink of an eye, and more than two hundred years went by.

Throughout those two centuries, Lu Tian had cultivated bitterly within his cave abode, yet when he emerged, his progress in cultivation was negligible. Just as the dream world's simulations had shown, five hundred years of arduous cultivation would be little more than a drop in the bucket.

His innate physique and aptitude were ultimately a fatal weakness.

Lu Tian did not lose heart.

Now that he had emerged from seclusion, he had already resolved to travel abroad, seeking Blessed Lands to trigger system rewards and thereby compensate for the shortcomings of his innate origins. There was also another important matter—

Jieyin and Zhunti were about to hold a sermon.

By the customs of the Western Teachings, the two Saints preached once every five hundred years. Lu Tian had already missed two such sermons while he was in the dream world, and he absolutely could not miss this one.

A Saint's sermon was a rare opportunity that could only be encountered by chance. Back when he was in the Jie Sect, Tongtian Jiaozhu had also preached publicly, but Lu Tian had not yet received the system's aid, and his comprehension had been mediocre.

By the time Lu Tian arrived at the preaching hall, his senior brothers had already been waiting for quite some time.

Junior Brother, you finally made it!

Hurry and take a seat. Master will be here soon. If you had been any later, I would have gone to your cave abode and dragged you out myself!

Maitreya and Mahasthamaprapta joked with smiles, while Lu Tian smiled back and found an empty place to sit.

This is my first time listening to a sermon. I hope my senior brothers will advise me on any taboos.

Although cultivation had been his main focus over the past two hundred years, his interactions with his senior brothers had never ceased. On the vast Spirit Mountain, aside from Jieyin and Zhunti, there were only the six of them. They had long since become familiar with one another.

Just listen attentively. Our masters are exceptionally kind, Sunlight said with a smile. His old injuries had already healed—the Spirit Pill bestowed by their master had truly been remarkably effective.

Lu Tian was about to reply when he suddenly saw auspicious clouds gathering. The two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, arrived together. Everyone hurriedly rose and bowed.

Greetings, Masters!

Jieyin and Zhunti took their seats first, and everyone else sat down in turn.

"This sermon will begin with me. Senior Brother and I will each speak for forty-nine days. Our understandings of the Dao differ in certain respects, and you may compare them with one another."

"Today is Junior Brother's first time hearing the Dao, so I shall explain a passage from the Diamond Sutra."

Zhunti said no more and immediately began to preach:

"Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove, Anathapindika's Park, in Shravasti, together with a great assembly of one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikshus. At that time, when it was time to eat, the World-Honored One put on his robe, took up his alms bowl, and entered the great city of Shravasti to beg for food. After begging in order throughout the city, he returned to his dwelling. When he had finished eating, he put away his robe and bowl, washed his feet, arranged his seat, and sat down."

"Then Elder Subhuti rose from his seat among the assembly..."

As the sacred voice emerged, every word shone. Buddha Light flowed, auspicious clouds appeared in the heavens, and golden lotuses bloomed from the earth. Spirit flowers suddenly blossomed in the once-empty hall, while immortal cranes called out clearly. The lingering echoes seemed capable of piercing through the ages.

Yet such phenomena did not disturb anyone's mind in the slightest.

Some concentrated in contemplation, while others furrowed their brows in thought. All were immersed in the Dao. Lu Tian listened with equal focus.

Over the years, he had cultivated without pause and gained some understanding of the Wrathful Vajra Method, but compared to Zhunti, he still fell far short. As he listened to the sermon and verified it against his own insights, a Vajra Dharma Form naturally manifested behind him.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances and nodded—this child's Dao heart was as firm as stone, and his comprehension was outstanding. Even if his damaged physique slowed his cultivation, given time, he would surely become someone great.

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

Multitasking was no more than ordinary for him.

That fantasy world had now expanded until it was as vast as a solar system. Planets revolved around a star, yet no living beings had arisen within it. Upon hearing the profound meaning of the Diamond Sutra, Lu Tian suddenly gained an insight and immediately acted within the fantasy world.

He took stellar mineral veins as materials and molded them into a crimson creature, fiery red in color, with three heads and six arms. After granting it intelligence, he imprinted the Diamond Sutra and the Wrathful Vajra Method within it.

The corners of Lu Tian's mouth rose slightly.

"Let it be called 'Vajra.'"

"The civilization of Zero World shall begin with this."

Lu Tian thought to himself. As though sensing his intention, the crimson giant slowly opened its eyes, a glimmer of wisdom flashing within them.

He bestowed upon this giant the name Crimson Vajra.

Then, following the same method, Lu Tian successively created Golden Vajra, Azure Vajra, Jade Vajra, and Mysterious Void Vajra in other planes.

These five Vajras corresponded exactly to the five great origins he had used in creation: earth, water, flame, air, and void.

As the primordial gods of Zero World, the Five Vajras came into being in accordance with fate.

Lu Tian was rather pleased with this.

When he withdrew his Spiritual Sense from Zero World and returned to reality, he suddenly felt his mind become clear and tranquil.

This was...

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

Zero World, a fictional plane, had actually returned a thread of Golden Light of Merit to him!

Though it was not even one hundred-millionth of the merit Nuwa had gained from creating humanity, it was still more than enough to shock Lu Tian.

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

Fortunately, he had long mastered the ability to conceal his emotions, and no one noticed anything unusual. He swiftly composed himself and continued listening to the Saint's Dao.

After eighty-one days, Saint Zhunti ceased preaching.

After resting for seven days, Saint Jieyin took the dais once more.

Another eighty-one days passed, and the sermon came to an end. The cultivators departed one after another to contemplate their insights.

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

This disciple wishes to leave Spirit Mountain and travel through the West. I hope Masters will grant permission.

Saint Jieyin looked slightly surprised.

You wish to travel through the West?

The Saint's surprise was understandable, for the West was truly barren.

That is correct. This disciple wishes to visit the blessed places of the West and experience its scenery. Perhaps I may find an opportunity to repair my foundation.

Lu Tian spoke earnestly.

Though the West was desolate, it had once nurtured treasures such as the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and the Six Roots Pure Bamboo.

Jieyin sighed inwardly, sympathy appearing in his eyes.

His damaged foundation had ultimately become a knot in his heart.

For someone his age to possess such a Dao heart was already rare. It was only natural that he would be eager to make up for his shortcomings.

It would be good to let him go out and see the world. In any case, he would remain within the Western region, so nothing should go wrong.

Moreover, their earlier divinations had shown that his opportunity lay in the northwest.

Jieyin and Zhunti discussed it through voice transmission.

The two Saints merely believed that Lu Tian was desperately grasping at any remedy.

But allowing their disciple to travel for a thousand years was no more than an instant to ancient beings like them.

You know the conditions of the West as well. If you wish to see it for yourself, there is no harm in that. Perhaps you may encounter some opportunity.

Jieyin nodded slightly, then his tone grew solemn. However, you must be careful with your words and actions outside. Though the West is sparsely populated, living beings still dwell there. Some were born of the land itself, while others fled from the East to escape disaster.

As he spoke, he took out a scroll of maps. These are the three remaining places in the West where spirit veins converge. Go and test your fortune there. He lightly tapped Lu Tian's brow, and the mountains and terrain immediately appeared in his mind.

These three Blessed Lands were not far apart. At Lu Tian's pace, he could traverse them all within a thousand years. Though the Western territory was vast and boundless, after the Earth Veins shattered, few intact spiritual lands remained. Only the region around Spirit Mountain was still relatively well preserved.

Lu Tian's eyes gleamed—with the guidance of this map, this journey would proceed far more smoothly. He had already intended to use the system to gather rewards. As for so-called opportunities? If they truly existed, his two masters would have long since claimed them.

This disciple will go prepare for the journey. Seeing his eagerness, Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged amused smiles.

Zhunti suddenly said seriously, "There is one more matter. Senior Brother and I have divined the heavenly secrets. Your opportunity should lie in the northwest. During this journey, you may wish to search that region more thoroughly."

The northwest? Lu Tian cupped his hands and accepted the instruction. Yet Zhunti added another reminder: "Opportunities cannot be forced, especially when it comes to repairing one's innate origins. Now that you have attained the Golden Immortal fruition, even if your progress is somewhat slow, given enough time, you may not be unable to reach the Great Dao. Remember that cultivation places greatest importance on one's Dao heart."

Feeling his master's earnest gaze, Lu Tian solemnly agreed. He had not held much hope to begin with—the West had few spiritual lands, so even the chance of rewards was low. The opportunity that could truly repair his innate origins was likely still in the East. But since he had encountered an opportunity, he naturally could not let it pass.

Only after seeing that his expression remained calm did the two Saints feel at ease. Lu Tian bid farewell to his masters and senior brothers, then set out alone for the West. When he had arrived, he had suffered the harassment of the Jie Sect's outer disciples. When he left, his five senior brothers escorted him for a thousand li, only turning back after his figure vanished into the horizon.

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

Several direct disciples gathered together, but the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Junior Brother has already gone down the mountain. How long had he even stayed at the sect...

Compared to him, we are like flowers raised in a greenhouse.

Pharmacist shook his head and sighed.

We are far inferior to Junior Brother.

Even Mahasthamaprapta, usually so lively, rarely sighed.

Maitreya seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he merely shook his head.

Let us cultivate diligently and break through to the Taiyi Realm as soon as possible.

Junior Brother's foundation is damaged, and his cultivation is destined to be difficult. As his senior brothers, we cannot fall behind.

The five looked at one another in silence before dispersing to enter seclusion.

Within the Western Teachings, a wave of cultivation fervor unexpectedly arose because of this.

Lu Tian traveled northwest alone, following the map.

Though he had to traverse space and detour around perilous paths, the map Jieyin had given him had clearly been carefully planned.

He encountered neither danger nor any trace of living beings along the way, with only dangerous peaks and deep ravines for company.