Bringing Blessings to the Western Lands Is Only Right!

Inside a bamboo lodge on Spirit Platform Mountain.

Zhu Yin sat inside, carefully considering the two Golden Immortal flora spirits kneeling before him.

A few days earlier, he had been tending the Enlightenment Tea Tree in the Spirit Medicine Garden. While loosening the soil and watering it, his heart had suddenly stirred, and he sensed a large number of flora spirits fleeing toward the vicinity of Spirit Platform Mountain while being hunted down.

Zhu Yin was no ordinary person. He had attained his Transformation Stage from an Upper-Grade Innate Spiritual Root and was considered an ancestor-level figure among the Wood-and-Grass Clan. Seeing his kin in trouble right beside his own Dao Field, how could he possibly stand by and do nothing?

He directly swung his hoe, its reach spanning hundreds of thousands of miles. Like a divine weapon descending from the heavens, it split open the sky and instantly slaughtered vast numbers of pursuers. Even several Golden Immortal Demon Clan members failed to escape.

After retrieving his hoe, he continued tending the spirit herbs while bringing the suffering flora spirits back to settle them down.

Although the Demon Clan was powerful, Zhu Yin naturally had confidence on his own territory. After all, there was an unspoken rule in the Primordial World: within a million miles of a great cultivator's territory, everything fell under his jurisdiction. Even the Witch Clan and Demon Clan had to show some respect.

Not to mention that this time, the Demon Clan had actually killed their way to his doorstep and targeted the Wood-and-Grass Clan. That was practically shitting on his head. It would have been strange if he had not struck back.

Did Dijun want to make a move against him? Impossible. Zhu Yin had his master backing him and was not some lone wanderer. Besides, the Heavenly Court would not tear relations apart with Mount Sumeru over a few minor demons.

After the matter settled, these flora spirits voluntarily came to Spirit Platform Mountain to express their gratitude. They even sent two Golden Immortal representatives to request protection. Zhu Yin brought them into his Dao Field and asked about the details. Although he could glean some of it through the Heavenly Dao, he still wanted to hear it firsthand.

"Senior, we originally lived on Tuohu Mountain under Azurewood Ancestor's protection..." the two Golden Immortals explained.

Zhu Yin listened attentively, comparing their words against the information within the Heavenly Dao as he gradually sorted out the full story.

He knew of Azurewood Ancestor... He was an ancient great cultivator, originally transformed from the innate divine tree known as Paper Mulberry. Mild-tempered by nature, he specialized in sheltering flora clans.

He had personally experienced the Three Clans War and understood its terror well. Unwilling to let the Flora Clan be dragged into conflict, he had only wanted to live quietly in a corner. Unfortunately, he possessed an extraordinary treasure and caught the Demon Clan's attention. In the end, he died at their hands, and even his corpse was collected as a treasure.

Once Azurewood Ancestor died, the Wood-and-Grass Clan fell apart. Most chose to join the Demon Clan in order to survive, while another portion stubbornly upheld their ancestor's will, wandering from place to place and struggling to stay alive.

These flora spirits were the survivors of that small group.

If not for several powerful Flora Clan cultivators secretly helping them, they would have long since been slaughtered by the Demon Clan. Later, after hearing that Zhu Yin had settled in the Western Lands, those great cultivators quietly guided them to Spirit Platform Mountain to seek refuge.

The Western Lands were vast and sparsely populated, with thin spiritual energy. The Demon Clan did not care much for the region either, making it ideal for the Wood-and-Grass Clan to settle down and take shelter.

Everything had originally gone smoothly, but they had unexpectedly been discovered by the Demon Clan halfway there. They had been pursued all the way to Spirit Platform Mountain, suffering devastating casualties. Only a mere hundred thousand had escaped, which was already a great stroke of luck.

After hearing them out, Zhu Yin fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "From now on, cultivate peacefully in the Western Lands and recover properly. But you must follow the rules."

The two Golden Immortals immediately burst into tears and repeatedly kowtowed, declaring their willingness to obey. They had wandered for far too long and had finally found a place to settle. No matter how many rules there were, they were willing to abide by them.

"Hundred Flowers and Hundred Herbs thank you, Senior! From this day onward, the Wood-and-Grass Clan shall look to Senior for guidance!" the two declared in unison.

Zhu Yin nodded in satisfaction. Their first statement thanked him for his protection, while their second acknowledged him as their ancestral leader. From then on, he became the spiritual leader of this branch of the Wood-and-Grass Clan and could receive the offerings of their destiny.

Sure enough, as soon as they finished speaking, a dense wave of flora destiny poured into Zhu Yin's body. He immediately felt his mana circulate faster, his thoughts grow clearer, and his cultivation become twice as effective with half the effort.

Although he had expected it, he still felt it was well worth it when it truly happened.

This branch of the Wood-and-Grass Clan might have only a hundred thousand survivors, but they were all elites who had endured countless hardships. More than ten thousand were True Immortals, over a thousand were Mysterious Immortals, and there were even two Golden Immortals. In the Western Lands, such a force was already formidable.

The Mist Spirit Clan, the largest clan near Spirit Platform Mountain, had only developed to thirty thousand members after tens of thousands of years and possessed merely three Mysterious Immortals. The comparison showed just how deep the Wood-and-Grass Clan's foundations were.

Zhu Yin immediately summoned the Boy Attendants Wuxin and Wuqing, ordering them to lead the Wood-and-Grass Clan members into the best spirit lands. Flora spirits were gentle by nature, skilled at cultivating spirit herbs, and disliked causing trouble. They were perfectly suited to develop around Spirit Platform Mountain.

His decision to accept them was not merely out of kinship. He was also considering the larger picture.

The Flora Clan excelled at nurturing spiritual roots. Wherever they were, vitality flourished. Settling them in the Western Lands would not only improve its spiritual energy environment, but also attract more Flora Clan members to seek refuge there. In the long run, it would benefit the rise of the entire Western Lands.

More directly, the Flora Clan could help him cultivate more spirit herbs and spiritual roots, attract cultivators of every kind, and expand the influence of the Hundred Treasures Hall and Merit Pavilion.

As for the Demon Clan's reaction, Zhu Yin was not worried.

These flora spirits had come to his territory on their own, so it was only natural for him to protect them. If the Demon Clan truly wanted to pursue the matter, they were the ones who had crossed the line first.

Besides, he was a future Sage's disciple. If Dijun truly fell out with him, he would only lose more than he gained.

Of course, Zhu Yin was not without precautions. He knew that stability was paramount in the Primordial Wilderness, and even the smallest hidden danger could not be ignored.

He had already made up his mind to personally visit Mount Sumeru and ask his master Zhunti and his martial uncle Jieyin to support him. After all, he was not doing this for personal gain, but for the development of the Western Lands. They ought to help.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yin felt somewhat embarrassed, but he still turned and headed straight for Mount Sumeru.

Within Bodhi Hall on Mount Sumeru.

After Zhunti learned why his disciple Zhu Yin had come, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

His disciple Zhu Yin was excellent in every way. His origins were lofty, his luck was good, his comprehension was strong, his Dao heart was steady, and he could settle down to cultivate. But there was one thing about him... something both endearing and troublesome.

That was... he was far too cautious and far too clear-headed!

He never acted rashly when trouble arose. If he could avoid trouble, he would avoid it. If trouble came anyway, he did not run from it; he thought only of resolving it as quickly as possible.

Ordinarily, this was naturally a good thing.

But at certain times, it was a bad thing.

For example, to cultivate Mount Sumeru's Karma Divine Art, one had to truly experience the entanglement and suffering of karma, to taste the bitterness before sweetness, before one could understand its mysteries and master this supreme divine art.

His senior brother Jieyin might appear to have stayed hidden on Mount Sumeru without ever leaving, but from the moment he accepted Red Cloud Patriarch's surrendered seat in the Purple Cloud Palace, he had already taken on the karma of attaining Sagehood.

This was not something that could be repaid casually. If Red Cloud Patriarch failed to attain Sagehood and received no great opportunity, then that debt might never be repaid in a lifetime.

If the Wood-and-Grass Clan had not come to his doorstep themselves this time, and if the circumstances had not been special, and if Zhu Yin had not held the moral high ground, then his disciple would certainly never have taken the initiative to involve himself and accept this karma.

Fortunately, this karma was not too serious and could still be handled. It would not drag him into major trouble.

As long as his disciple did not yet need to experience the vortex of karma, he could continue living peacefully. Once he and his senior brother attained Sagehood and had the ability to protect their disciple, it would not be too late to let him act freely.

With that thought, Zhunti spoke.

"Everything in this world changes too quickly, and circumstances often shift."

"In the past, Dijun sought to unify all living beings and establish his authority, so every creature that opposed him had to be eliminated as an example to others."

"But now, he is already the Heavenly Emperor, ruling the world with all clans submitting to him. Naturally, he now possesses the bearing of an emperor."

"To him, a group like this Wood-and-Grass Clan is nothing more than a trivial matter, not worth keeping in mind."

"Besides, since those spirits have already entered the Dao Domain you marked out, they fall under your jurisdiction according to the rules. He cannot say much about it."

"Still, you must remain wary in case something happens. Prepare three taels of Enlightenment Tea leaves. I will have the Golden-Clothed Boy deliver them to the Heavenly Court as a token gift for Dijun, and this karma will be settled."

Zhu Yin was naturally delighted upon hearing this. If the matter could be resolved with a little tea, it was simply too worthwhile.

If it had been some other innate spiritual treasure, he might have been reluctant. But he had accumulated plenty of Enlightenment Tea over more than a million years, and Spirit Platform Mountain had produced another hundred thousand years' worth. He had an enormous supply.

Not to mention three taels—even three catties would be no problem. As long as it could resolve his karma with Dijun, it would be a guaranteed profit.

Dijun's karma was no small matter. If mishandled, it would lead to endless future trouble.

After calming himself, Zhu Yin immediately cupped his hands.

"Thank you for your concern, Master."

Then he took out three taels of Enlightenment Tea, placed them in a spirit jade box, and handed it to the Golden-Clothed Boy.

Zhunti smiled.

"You and I are master and disciple. There is no need for such courtesy."

"The Wood-and-Grass Clan is naturally gifted, and you and I both attained Transformation Stage from Innate Spirit Roots. Protecting them is also bringing blessings to the Western Lands. It is only right."

"It has been ten thousand years since I last expounded the Dao for you. How about I do so for another thousand years today? I hope you will gain something from it."

Zhu Yin was overjoyed and quickly bowed again in thanks.

Next, he took out the Enlightenment Meditation Cushion, suspended the Supreme Bodhi Seed above his head, held Enlightenment Tea in his mouth, calmed his mind, and let the Pure-Cleansing Bell ring within his primordial spirit as he entered a state of listening to the Dao.

Although these Dharma treasures were not very useful to him now, they were better than nothing.

Within Bodhi Hall, the sound of the Dao echoed. Profound principles were boundless, Dao rhythm overflowed, golden flowers bloomed, the Bodhi Tree flourished, and all manner of Great Dao phenomena emerged one after another.

Zhu Yin immersed himself within it. His Dao heart was pure, his primordial spirit transparent, his mana strengthened, his divine arts grew, his physical body became more powerful, and his cultivation steadily rose as time passed silently.