Was Zhu Yin a Disciple of Sage Zhunti?

The skies over the Western Lands were azure and tranquil, with gentle winds and scattered clouds.

Dressed in green, Zhu Yin strode swiftly through the void. After leaving Mount Sumeru, he did not head straight for the Heavenly Court. Instead, he first returned to his Dao Field and brought along Jin Tu, the White Tiger.

Jin Tu had now cultivated to the Mid-stage Mysterious Immortal realm. He was enormous, his white fur gleaming, and the golden character for "king" on his forehead shone brilliantly. His imposing aura made him look sacred and majestic. Bringing him along to the Heavenly Court would not only be impressive, but would also earn them plenty of benefits, such as the Golden Immortal treatment provided by the Heavenly Court.

Ordinarily, Zhu Yin kept a low profile. He preferred to travel quietly, without drawing attention or inviting trouble. But this time was different. Since his master and senior uncle had placed such high hopes on him and intended for him to make his first public appearance as a "Western Lands great power," he could no longer remain unknown as before.

He sat atop the Ninth-Grade White Lotus and placed the lotus platform upon the White Tiger's back.

A top-grade spirit treasure White Lotus, a sacred White Tiger, and an aura of purity surrounding him—this display was more than grand enough. Everyone would remember it at a glance.

The White Tiger rode the wind and shattered the clouds, charging straight toward the Nine Heavens. Upon the lotus platform, Zhu Yin stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze free and easy, his manner calm and composed. At that moment, he cared neither for keeping a low profile nor for being ostentatious, and he feared neither trouble nor karmic entanglements. He only wanted to live freely and keep his heart at peace.

He did not want to disappoint his elders. That was the truth.

He wanted to make Spirit Platform Mountain famous. That was also true.

The freedom in his heart lay in Spirit Platform Mountain, in Mount Sumeru, and throughout the entire Western Lands.

This time, he decided to let go of everything and properly enjoy his own moment in the spotlight. He would not dwell on the past or fear the future. He only wanted this moment to be free of regret.

It was precisely because of this relaxed state of mind that his Dao heart became even firmer, while his entire bearing seemed all the more natural and composed.

Above the Nine Heavens, spiritual energy was rich and creation energy abundant.

Heavenly palaces rose one after another, magnificent and resplendent, brimming with celebration. The Heavenly Court had recently been preparing for a Heavenly Wedding... the Heavenly Emperor was to marry the two goddesses of Taiyin Star. The various Demon Clan factions were already run ragged decorating the palaces, arranging banquets, receiving guests, and delivering gifts. The place was incredibly lively.

Celestial maidens gathered fruit, strongmen carried wine, and demon gods welcomed guests. Escaping lights flashed back and forth through the heavens, some powerful and some weak, all belonging to important figures invited to the wedding.

There was a rule for such occasions: the higher one's cultivation, the later one appeared. Zhu Yin was now a Mid Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, so naturally, he could not make his appearance too early. Only by arriving later would he seem suitably important.

He was in no hurry. Riding the White Tiger, he observed the Dao hearts around him. Some of the other great powers flew on clouds, some rode divine beasts, and some stood upon spirit treasures, but compared to Zhu Yin's display, all of them seemed to be missing something.

At this point, Taiyi Golden Immortals began arriving one after another, and Great Principle Golden Immortals also started making their appearances.

Zhu Yin chose to appear last among this group. It would establish his status without stealing the limelight from the Great Principle Perfection experts. It was just right.

Finally, when he arrived at the Heavenly Court, the ceremonial official announced loudly:

"Venerable Zhu Yin, master of the Hundred Treasures Hall of Spirit Platform Mountain in the Western Lands, has arrived! He presents one liang of Upper-grade Innate Enlightenment Tea, congratulating the Heavenly Emperor and the Taiyin Star Lord on their joyous union and wishing them many children!"

At once, every gaze in the venue turned toward him.

"Spirit Platform Mountain? The Western Lands?" Many great powers looked confused. They had never heard of this name.

But upon further thought, had not the Western Lands produced two future Sages? Could this Zhu Yin be a disciple of Sage Zhunti?

In merely a hundred thousand years, he had advanced from a Golden Immortal to the mid Great Principle realm? That was utterly heaven-defying!

Especially when the White Tiger soared into the air, the lotus bloomed, and Zhu Yin sat steadily atop it in green robes, looking graceful and unrestrained, everyone was left dumbfounded.

Not only was the scene shocking, but the congratulatory gift was extraordinary as well.

"Upper-grade Enlightenment Tea? That is an extremely rare treasure. This fellow must possess an entire Innate Spirit Root!"

Even several of the Demon Clan's foremost demon gods paused what they were doing and looked toward Zhu Yin.

The Heavenly Court's upper ranks naturally knew his background. The Hundred Treasures Hall of Spirit Platform Mountain had only just been established when it was granted merit by the Heavenly Dao. Then he had slain the young master of the Slate-Horn Azure Ox Clan, becoming famous in a single stroke.

Within Qiankun Hall, a white-haired crane clan patriarch cried out in shock:

"It's him! A hundred thousand years ago, he was merely a little Golden Immortal by Venerable Zhunti's side. Now, he has already attained the Dao!"

The crowd erupted.

Especially those who had seen Zhu Yin at the previous Heavenly Court ceremony finally remembered that the young man who had once stood behind Zhunti was now a great power they could only look up to!

Those Great Principle and Taiyi experts hearing Zhu Yin's name for the first time were even more astonished. His cultivation speed was simply absurd!

Some Taiyi Golden Immortals secretly made up their minds to travel through the Western Lands after the wedding.

"You say the Western Lands are poor? What a joke! That is only because you have never met Venerable Zhu Yin!"

At this moment, Zhu Yin was no longer merely "Venerable Zhunti's disciple."

He was the master of Spirit Platform Mountain.

He was the founder of the Hundred Treasures Hall.

He was a great power of the Western Lands, the most dazzling name of the past hundred thousand years!

Even several top demon gods could not help but praise him:

"That boy from the old Azure Ox family did not die unjustly."

Though the Slate-Horn Azure Ox Clan served under them, it was not worth provoking Zhu Yin or angering Sage Zhunti over it.

After all, the Heavenly Court had already determined that the young master of the ox clan was at fault.

Zhu Yin stepped down from the White Tiger's back, put away the Ninth-Grade White Lotus, and handed his mount over to a divine general. After exchanging a few polite words with the Demon Clan great powers, he entered the Heavenly Court's main hall.

At that moment, every guest present—whether demon, god, or immortal—remembered him...

Zhu Yin of the Western Lands, a true peerless great power!

Above the Nine Heavens, Qiankun Hall was bustling with activity.

The moment Zhu Yin appeared, he became the center of attention. The previously arrogant Taiyi Golden Immortals all rose to their feet and became polite and courteous. Even some great powers took the initiative to greet him, hoping to build a good relationship with him.

Seeing how enthusiastic everyone was, Zhu Yin knew that his plan had succeeded.

Just as his master Zhunti and his senior uncle Jieyin had expected, this appearance at the Heavenly Wedding celebration had thoroughly impressed him upon the hearts of the immortals and gods.

Once the wedding ended, his reputation would surely spread throughout the entire Primordial World alongside these guests. By then, not only Zhu Yin himself, but Spirit Platform Mountain, Enlightenment Tea, the Hundred Treasures Hall, and even Mount Sumeru would become renowned because of it.

Once the Western Lands attracted a large number of living beings to travel there, its fortune would naturally increase. Most might only stay briefly, but some low-level cultivators would inevitably be drawn in and choose to remain.

Whether they wished to escape the conflict of the Witch-Monster War or simply hoped to live a peaceful life in the Western Lands, having more people there would be beneficial to the Western Lands.

After the greetings ended, Zhu Yin did not speak much. He quietly sat in a corner. The other great powers could tell that he disliked lively gatherings, so they did not disturb him further. Leaving some impression on him was enough; being too enthusiastic would only have the opposite effect.

Every one of these great powers was proud. Their goodwill was friendliness, but they would not humble themselves excessively.

Thus, the gods and immortals of all sides returned to their places. Some drank and chatted merrily, while others caught up with old acquaintances. The atmosphere was peaceful.

Time flowed like water, and a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Not long after Zhu Yin took his seat, more and more Great Principle Golden Immortals entered, followed by stronger Great Principle Perfection experts.

Some of them had heard of Zhu Yin, while others recognized at a glance that he was Sage Zhunti's disciple.

Different people reacted differently. Some were shocked, some indifferent, while others smiled and nodded or silently observed him.

Some perceptive great powers even communicated with the Heavenly Dao to investigate Zhu Yin's origins. When they learned that he was transformed from the Upper-grade Innate Spiritual Root Pure Bamboo, they felt several degrees more respect for him.

After all, for an Innate Spirit Root to cultivate into human form was already exceedingly difficult. High-Grade Spiritual Roots were even rarer, each one representing the favor of heaven and earth and bearing immense fortune.

Once they learned of his origins, it became easier for everyone to accept the fact that he had reached the Great Principle realm.

Within Qiankun Hall, some remained impassive, while others were deeply stirred.

But Zhu Yin paid no attention to their attitudes. His attention settled upon someone else... a tall, thin middle-aged Daoist with an unusual air and the bearing of an immortal.

This man was the master of Vulture Spirit Mountain, and one of the Purple Cloud Palace guests who had only managed to attend the Dao Ancestor's lectures starting from the third session... Burning Lamp Daoist.

In the future, he would become an eminent monk of the Buddhist Sect and also the vice sect leader of the Chan Sect.

Thinking of this man's future, Zhu Yin felt complicated emotions and took the initiative to raise his cup in toast.

Burning Lamp Daoist was somewhat flattered and hurriedly returned the toast. He had long paid attention to Zhu Yin, this peerless genius, but knowing that Zhu Yin disliked socializing, he had never dared to approach him. He had not expected Zhu Yin to speak to him first this time.

The two exchanged words and soon began chatting warmly. Their views aligned on many matters, and they found each other excellent company.

Another hundred years passed, and Quasi-Sage great powers began arriving one after another.

Kunpeng, Minghe, Zhen Yuanzi, and the renowned Red Cloud Patriarch and Queen Mother of the West all appeared at the Heavenly Court.

Only after Zhunti, Jieyin, the Three Pure Ones, Dijun, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi entered together did the true spectacle begin.