This Seclusion Will Mark the Beginning of a New Leap!

Two Sources of Merit

This merit had come from two sources:

One part came from his establishment of "spirit stones" as currency, which had been acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao;

The other part came from the good deeds he had accumulated while silently repairing the earth veins.

Though this merit had usually remained hidden and unseen, now that it had a trigger, it all erupted at once.

Back then, Zhunti and Jieyin had likewise attained Sagehood through this method. Borrowing the power of merit, they entrusted their Primordial Spirits to the Heavenly Dao and thus endured without perishing.

Zhu Yin put away the merit and returned to Spirit Platform Mountain.

The Western Lands Shook, Reactions From All Sides

At this moment, Zhunti returned to Mount Sumeru, his face full of gratification.

Far away in the void, Sage Jieyin also wore a faint smile, his heart at ease.

The White Tiger Clan's ancestor stood atop a lofty mountain and nodded toward Spirit Platform Mountain.

He understood that the Western Lands were barren and that cultivation was difficult for all living beings. No matter Zhu Yin's motives, establishing the Hundred Treasures Hall was helping the beings of the Western Lands.

At this moment, his view of Zhu Yin had changed from "Zhunti's disciple" to "Lord of Spirit Platform Mountain" and "a great expert of the Primordial Wilderness."

Within a certain Dao palace, Jin Sheng threw back his head and laughed heartily.

Standing atop a wolf-toothed club, he walked outside and shouted:

"Wife! Look at Zhu Yin of Spirit Platform Mountain. Not only has he become a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, he has also received merit from the Heavenly Dao. His future achievements will surely surpass ours. Sending Little Twelve to him was the wisest decision I ever made!"

Yet an angry roar came from inside. "If you miss your son, go kneel! Say one more word of nonsense, and I'll serve you with my golden blade!"

The moment Jin Sheng heard that, he immediately went back inside and knelt properly.

The beautiful woman in white inside merely smiled faintly and looked toward Spirit Platform Mountain.

"Spirit Platform Mountain truly is not bad. That was why I agreed in the first place. It is simply that a mother who cannot see her son has to vent her temper a little."

Preparing to Establish a Great Dao, Enlightenment and Breakthrough

At this moment, Zhu Yin sat cross-legged in the bamboo pavilion with his eyes closed, reviewing every detail of the process of establishing the Hundred Treasures Hall and summarizing his experiences.

He understood that this had merely been a "warm-up." The true Trade Dao still needed greater trading scenes and more powerful Dharma treasures to drive it forward.

For instance, only by using the Fallen-Treasure Coin as the object of suppression and linking the entire Primordial Wilderness could the Great Dao truly manifest!

He had already taken the first step. Greater goals still lay ahead.

This enlightenment had deepened his understanding of the Trade Dao and, at the same time, stirred the bottleneck of his Great Freedom Dao.

Such an opportunity was rare. He had to seize it.

As for the Hundred Treasures Hall, he would leave it to the two attendants, Wuxin and Wuqing. They had managed the Merit Pavilion for ten thousand years and had long since become capable of standing on their own.

As for the Merit Golden Wheel, he would not use it for the time being.

Merit was a universal resource. Unless it was a critical moment, he would never squander it lightly.

As Zhunti's disciple and the guardian of the Western Lands, with no powerful enemies to interfere, he could make breakthroughs one step at a time.

More importantly, he had already found the method to break through. This seclusion would mark the beginning of a new leap!

Time flowed on. Spring departed and autumn came; in the blink of an eye, five thousand years had passed.

Ever since the Hundred Treasures Hall appeared, the area around Spirit Platform Mountain had become exceptionally bustling. Vast numbers of cultivators gathered here every day, coming and going, of varying cultivation levels and different races.

Because they lived nearby, the cultivators around Spirit Platform Mountain were the first to enjoy the convenience of the Hundred Treasures Hall. In particular, the three hundred thousand cultivators who had settled here earliest had long since put down roots. They obtained quite a few treasures and often exchanged for or purchased cultivation resources within the Hundred Treasures Hall.

Then came the second wave of settlers, followed by the cultivators who had only recently arrived after hearing the news. These newcomers not only experienced the wonders of the Hundred Treasures Hall but also learned of the existence of the Merit Pavilion. Coupled with the repair of the earth veins and the revival of spiritual qi, the spiritual opportunities throughout this region of a million li grew ever denser, and Spirit Platform Mountain gradually became increasingly spiritual.

Some cultivators chose to settle here, carve out caves, and establish Dao grounds. Some began planting spiritual herbs and periodically went to the Hundred Treasures Hall to exchange for resources; others repaired the earth veins and went to the Merit Pavilion to exchange for Dharma treasures.

And so, more and more people came, until the place brimmed with life... Heavenly Immortals, True Immortals, and Mysterious Immortals appeared one after another. For a time, this place had become a gathering ground for cultivation.

But where there were many people, there was also much trouble.

Some cultivators, relying on their profound cultivation, attempted to force purchases and sales, violating the rules of the Hundred Treasures Hall. As a result, they were slain on the spot by attendant Wuxin... Borrowing the power of a high-grade merit spiritual treasure, he killed them cleanly and decisively, delivering a powerful warning.

From then on, even Mysterious Immortals behaved far more properly, afraid of angering this "immortal attendant."

The Hundred Treasures Hall also held several auctions in succession.

Each time, it brought out nine rare treasures: body-refining spiritual wine, acquired spiritual fruits, spiritual treasures, spiritual pills, and more. Every kind of treasure could be found, and every auction sparked a frantic scramble.

Five Thousand Years Later, Spirit Platform Mountain.

The mountains were clear, the waters beautiful, and spiritual qi overflowed everywhere.

The door to the third floor of the bamboo pavilion opened, and a gentle-looking man in green robes stepped out. It was Zhu Yin.

This seclusion had brought him tremendous gains. He had successfully broken through to the middle stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

He strolled through the mountain forest, observing the changes in his Dao ground over the years:

The Enlightenment Tea Tree was about to ripen, its fragrance assailing his nostrils; the queen of the bee clan had broken through to the late Mysterious Immortal stage; Jin Tu the White Tiger had secretly drunk spiritual wine and was still unconscious from drunkenness; the white lotus in the spiritual pond was slowly blooming, sacred light flowing around it; the dragonfish in the water leaped from the surface and successfully broke through the limits of its bloodline; the old pine tree had unexpectedly taken human form and become an immortal, respectfully kowtowing to him...

All things were renewed—familiar, yet novel. The only things unchanged were the tranquility in his heart and the freedom of body and mind... This was his Dao ground.

Vitality was the melody, while serenity was the underlying hue.

Then Zhu Yin walked out of his Dao ground and glanced at the world outside:

A tide of people surged before the Spirit Treasure Hall, as all kinds of spiritual items were traded without cease; different races gathered here, passing down their legacies and multiplying; the two attendants, Wuxin and Wuqing, held the overall situation firmly in hand, everything orderly and clear; in the distance, the earth veins continued to be repaired, and the spiritual qi grew ever richer.

In only five thousand years, the liveliness outside had exceeded his expectations.

Inside the mountain and outside the mountain differed by only one word, yet they seemed like two separate worlds, each unfolding its own vitality and serenity. In Zhu Yin's eyes, both were Dao.

After making a circuit, he returned to his Dao ground to brew tea, plant herbs, and refine wine. His hands were stained with mud, yet his heart remained as clear as ever.

Suddenly, a feeling stirred within him, and he had an attendant leave the mountain to receive the visitor.

Not long afterward, the visitor departed, leaving behind an invitation.

Zhu Yin looked at the invitation and felt a thousand emotions rise within him.

A hundred thousand years ago, he had still been a Golden Immortal. He had merely ridden on the opportunity afforded by his identity as "Zhunti's disciple" and followed his master into the Heavenly Court.

A hundred thousand years later, he was already a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. This time, the Heavenly Court had proactively sent him an invitation, simply because he was now a true great expert.

The Primordial World was very realistic... The strong were respected, and the biggest fist was the hard truth.

Zhu Yin felt this deeply.

He knew that after the Heavenly Wedding, the Witch and Demon Clans would begin a glorious chapter. Their strength would soar, and even Sages would have to make way for them.

After the Heavenly Court's envoy left, Spirit Platform Mountain was not affected in the slightest.

Zhu Yin maintained his usual rhythm: repairing earth veins, drinking spiritual tea, comprehending Dao principles, brewing spiritual wine...

Five hundred years later, he preached the Dao to the cultivators in his Dao ground for a hundred years, personally guided the two attendants Wuxin and Wuqing in cultivation, and only then set out for Mount Sumeru.

Upon reaching Mount Sumeru, he first greeted the attendant in gold and the attendant in white, then headed directly up Wisdom Peak and entered Bodhi Hall.

"Disciple greets Master. May Master attain Sagehood soon and endure eternally without perishing."

Having not seen each other for ten thousand years, master and disciple were both somewhat excited.

After Zhunti resolved his doubts and answered his questions, he took him to Lotus Peak to meet Sage Jieyin.

But this time, his master and martial uncle would not accompany him to the Heavenly Court.

Zhunti explained with a smile:

"Now that you are already a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, you should appear before everyone as a 'great expert of the Western Lands.' If we accompany you, you will forever be merely a 'junior brother' or a 'disciple,' and your radiance will be obscured."

"Only if you go alone will others truly remember you, acknowledge you, and respect you."

Hearing this, warmth filled Zhu Yin's heart. He did not refuse. After solemnly bowing, he took his leave.

Watching his disciple's departing figure, Zhunti revealed a gratified smile.

"Senior Brother, that little bamboo who once needed our protection has now become a towering tree, capable of standing on his own."

Jieyin smiled as well.

"A fledgling eagle must eventually soar, and a young tiger must eventually roar."

"His temperament is steady and his Dao cultivation profound. Such achievements are not truly surprising. Congratulations on accepting such a fine disciple."

Zhunti nodded with a smile, though his heart was also filled with emotion.

"I truly never expected him to grow so quickly. It feels as though only yesterday he had just taken me as his master."

Jieyin said nothing.

He had not yet accepted a disciple. Perhaps only after he truly had one would he understand this feeling.

Thinking that Zhu Yin had already become a Great Principle cultivator while he did not even have a single disciple, the smile on Jieyin's face gradually faded, and he returned to his sorrowful expression.

This time, however, he was not suffering for all living beings, but for himself.

Especially when Zhunti kept praising Zhu Yin into his ear, the more Jieyin listened, the more he felt that this junior brother was a little too deserving of a beating.