Brother, This Gift Is Not Light at All

Zhu Yin asked straight to the point, "I wonder why Senior has appeared here. What guidance do you have?" Spirit Platform Mountain was his territory, and he had cultivated bitterly there for tens of thousands of years. The spiritual essence of the ley lines was gradually recovering, and for an outsider to suddenly appear deep within the ley lines and happen to run into him was clearly no coincidence. If this Daoist had come to repair the ley lines and accumulate merit, the Western Lands were vast and boundless; why come here of all places? Zhu Yin's personality in his past life had been straightforward, and in this life, having become a spiritual root, he spoke without beating around the bush, directly and plainly. Hearing this, the Cloth-Robed Daoist instead revealed a satisfied smile, nodded appreciatively, and spoke to state his identity and purpose. "I am Zhunti of Mount Sumeru." "As an entity transformed from an innate spirit root of the Western Lands, you have also actively repaired the ley lines and accumulated merit. Your temperament and character are both exceptional, and you share a master-disciple fate with me." "I have come precisely to take you as a disciple. I wonder if you are willing?" Hearing the name Zhunti, Zhu Yin's heart gave a violent jolt, and he instantly lost his outward calm. ...This was none other than one of the future Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao! Faced with such a heaven-sent opportunity, how could Zhu Yin still hesitate? He immediately bowed down and prostrated without a moment's hesitation. "Disciple Zhu Yin pays respects to Master!" Seeing him make a resolute decision to become his disciple, Zhunti was overjoyed, waved his sleeve to lift him up with a stream of dharma power, and praised repeatedly, "Good, good, good!" "From today onward, you are the chief disciple of my Mount Sumeru lineage." Zhunti wore a gratified expression. After listening to the Dao Ancestor's discourse, he had originally planned to travel to the Eastern Lands to widely forge good karmic connections, using the East to nurture the West. He had not expected that before his plan could even be put into action, a premonition had suddenly welled up in his heart, and following that thought, he had come here. The moment he caught sight of the spiritual Qi changes on Spirit Platform Mountain, he knew someone was silently repairing the ley lines there. When he pinched his fingers to calculate, he discovered that Zhu Yin actually shared a master-disciple fate with him, filling his heart with even greater pleasant surprise. The spiritual Qi in the Western Lands was inherently sparse, and talented individuals were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Being able to encounter a being transformed from an innate spirit root, even if it were only a Low-Grade Spiritual Root, was already an extraordinary affinity for him. ... Zhu Yin said respectfully, "Master, my Dao field is nearby. Please enter the mountain to rest for a moment, and allow your disciple to perform his filial duty." Zhunti did not decline, and followed him into Spirit Platform Mountain. Stepping into the mountain and casting his gaze about, he saw emerald bamboo like a sea, spiritual essence surging, clear mountain springs, and flourishing vegetation. Zhunti nodded inwardly. Although this Spirit Platform Mountain belonged to the Western Lands, it was tended exceptionally well and already possessed the grand air of a superior spiritual mountain. Given enough time, it would sooner or later advance into a true Grotto-heaven Blessed Land. Zhu Yin retrieved the spirit spring, personally brewed a pot of bamboo tea, and presented it to his master. "Master, there is nothing in this mountain to entertain you with, save for this cup of bamboo tea. Please partake of it." Zhunti accepted the tea cup, took a gentle sip, and immediately felt his whole body relax, his hearing and vision sharpen, and his state of mind grow clear and untroubled. Although it did little to boost his cultivation, this bamboo tea indeed contained a wondrous essence. "Good tea." "The bamboo leaves originate from your true form, and paired with the Innate Spirit Spring, they carry their own spiritual charm." "Your thoughtfulness has arrived." ... After a brief rest, Zhunti brought Zhu Yin along to set off. Naturally, Zhu Yin had no objections. If he were to rely solely on his own comprehension and heritage, he would reach at most Golden Immortal Perfection, and still have to endure numerous hardships; yet with a Sage personally providing guidance, the path he walked would become much smoother. Why wouldn't he be willing? Mount Sumeru vastly surpassed Spirit Platform Mountain, boasting abundant spiritual Qi, a superior environment, and serving as the future Western holy land. For Zhu Yin, being able to cultivate there was a dream opportunity. During the flight toward Mount Sumeru, the inner turmoil within him gradually subsided, and his resolve to enter Zhunti's sect grew increasingly firm. He was not some supreme prodigy of peerless talent, and being able to take a Sage as his master was already a magnificent stroke of fortune. How could he have the nerve to be picky? Living in the Primordial Wilderness, he knew very well that Sages were extremely cautious when taking disciples. Even though the Western Teaching was thirsty for talent, it was impossible for them to casually acknowledge just any disciple. The threshold for the future Sage Dao would only grow higher and higher, and not even the Interception Sect, which proclaimed that it taught without discrimination, welcomed just anyone—let alone other sects. He had long since seen through it: The Three Pure Ones might be glorious, but endless conflicts would follow in days to come, and during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity in particular, the Interception Sect would experience a storm of blood. Meanwhile, the Western Teaching's Dao style was pure and untainted, shunning struggle and contention, making it instead far more suited for a cultivator like him who hailed from vegetation and possessed a peaceful disposition. What was more, if he had taken the initiative to venture out into the world in search of a master, he would inevitably have suffered calamities along the way, ending up coveted by others for his true form's spiritual root. Now that a Sage had personally come to his doorstep to take him as a disciple, how could he fail to seize it? Compared to his past-life fantasies of high-and-mighty Sage disciples, such a down-to-earth path was truly the one suited for him. The weak had no qualifications to be picky; only by growing stronger could one cultivate in peace and tranquility, achieving untroubled longevity. ... At last, the two of them arrived at their destination. The mountain before their eyes was tall and towering, with continuous ranges and drifting clouds. A thousand lakes and ten thousand peaks spread out before them, medicinal herbs grew everywhere, rare birds and exotic beasts gathered in groups, and the spiritual Qi surged forth like a tidal wave. ...Mount Sumeru, the ancestral vein of the Western Lands!

Even though it had yet to recover its peak condition, it was already an upper-grade Grotto-heaven Blessed Land.

Zhu Yin stood in the void, gazing at the colossal mountain before him that resembled a divine pillar, and felt a profound shock in his heart.

By comparison, Spirit Platform Mountain was as insignificant as a speck of dust.

A Sage's dao field truly lived up to its legendary reputation!

Zhunti smiled as he looked at his disciple, his tone carrying a trace of emotional nostalgia and pride:

"Disciple, this mountain is the ancestor of all mountains in the Western Lands... Mount Sumeru."

"Though it has suffered damage through tribulations, one day, it will regain its former glory."

With that, he flicked his sleeve to open a passageway, brought Zhu Yin through the Mountain-Guarding Array, and officially entered the domain of the Sage.

Deep within Mount Sumeru, beside the spirit pond, a thousand white lotuses swayed in the breeze, as pure as snow, and the pool water rippled with clear, primordial spiritual Qi.

Zhu Yin followed behind his master Zhunti, stepping into the golden-radiant grand hall. Raising his head to look, he saw another figure seated within the hall.

This person was slender in build and carried a somewhat bitter expression on his face, yet his entire aura was ethereal and tranquil, dreamlike and illusory, giving one a sense of serenity that encompassed all things and cleansed the mind.

He was none other than the other future Sage of the Western Lands... Daoist Jieyin.

Zhunti and Jieyin were close friends of many years. In front of Jieyin, Zhunti appeared exceptionally natural, and after offering a greeting, he could not help but show off to him with a hint of smugness.

"Dao Brother, what do you think of this disciple of mine?"

Jieyin had long since known that Zhu Yin had entered their fold. At this moment, divine light welled up in his eyes as he carefully sized Zhu Yin up, revealing an approving smile.

"This child transformed from an innate spiritual root, possesses outstanding natural aptitude and profound fortune, and even comes with a halo of merit. Moreover, he is a living being of our Western lineage, truly a fine sapling."

"This time, Dao Brother has really struck gold."

Hearing this, Zhunti laughed out loud and took the opportunity to call out: "You brat, why aren't you hurrying over to pay your respects to your Martial Uncle!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Disciple Zhu Yin greets Martial Uncle, wishing Martial Uncle an early attainment of eternal the Dao, never to fall."

Jieyin was amused by this congratulatory blessing, his smile carrying a few traces of fondness. He casually flicked out a surge of magic power to lift him up, then beckoned with his hand, causing a white lotus to fly out from the lotus pond and float gently before Zhu Yin.

"Since you call me Martial Uncle, I cannot greet you empty-handed either. This Ninth-Grade White Lotus happened to mature on the very day of your initiation, and it appears to have a bond of fate with you. I shall bestow it upon you as a welcome gift."

Zhu Yin did not accept it immediately, instead looking toward his master Zhunti to seek his opinion.

Zhunti frowned slightly, then smiled and said: "Dao Brother, this gift is not light by any means."