All Phenomena Are Empty, Only Karma Remains

After learning the full course of events, Zhu Yin appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He had never expected to become involved in the matter of Longbo Fishing for Ao as well.

Mentioning those Giant Aos and the five immortal islands inevitably reminded him of the great war when the Heavenly Court destroyed the Immortal Court.

That battle had shaken heaven and earth.

Although the Demon Clan defeated the Immortal Court, their victory did not last long.

Like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it.

The Witch Clan, a powerful race equal to the Demon Clan, possessed not only boundless strength but also extraordinary wisdom.

At the height of the Demon Clan's triumph, the twelve ancestral witches moved together, turning heaven and earth upside down as war spread across the Four Seas.

The war lasted several thousand years. Neither side had revealed all its trump cards, yet countless had already died or been wounded, while Great Principles and Great Shamans fell one after another.

In the end, half of the Demon Clan's gains were taken by the Witch Clan.

From then on, the depths of the sea belonged to the Dragon Clan, while the sea surface was divided between witches and demons. The outer seas belonged to the Witch Clan, and the inner seas to the Demon Clan.

The Eastern Sea had originally been the Immortal Court's territory. After the chaos of war, the land split apart, and the five immortal islands were affected as well.

In order to preserve the islands' rank, Dijun dispatched many demon gods to repair the earth veins. Even Xihe and Changxi acted, scattering Emperor's Flowing Essence to restore vitality.

In the end, Dijun found fifteen Giant Aos in the depths of the Eastern Sea and had them bear the five immortal islands upon their backs.

These Giant Aos were all ancient beasts born when heaven and earth first opened. Though they possessed no intelligence, each was immensely powerful. The weakest rivaled a Great Principle Golden Immortal, while the strongest could contend against a perfected Great Principle.

Of them, three supported Daiyu and Yuanjiao, two superior grotto-heavens; six supported Penglai, a supreme grotto-heaven; while the remaining six held up Fangzhang and Yingtai, all exceptionally important immortal lands.

While the Demon Clan busied itself with repairs, the Witch Clan did not remain idle.

Ancestral Witch Houtu joined forces with Goumang to regulate the spiritual veins of the outer seas and appoint divine rulers over the Four Seas:

Southern Sea: Zhurong

Eastern Sea: Goumang

Western Sea: Roushou

Northern Sea: Xuanming

The Witch and Demon Clans had completely divided their powers across the Four Seas.

At that moment, Hundred Herbs Fairy lowered her head and knelt on the ground, her face full of guilt as she said:

"This disciple knows that Ancestor does not like trouble, yet this time I caused a great disaster. I dare not implicate Spirit Platform Mountain. I will take the Longbo Giants and leave as soon as possible."

Her words pulled Zhu Yin from his memories.

Looking at this disciple of his, Zhu Yin's eyes were filled with complicated emotions.

There was relief, and some displeasure as well. In the end, it all settled into calmness, and he sighed softly.

"Is that how you see me? As someone afraid of trouble?"

Hundred Herbs Fairy froze, then immediately knelt and kowtowed, hurriedly explaining:

"Ancestor disregarded the Heavenly Emperor's wrath back then, sheltered the Flora Clan, slew demons, and saved lives. How could this disciple forget?"

"In my heart, Ancestor has always been a mighty cultivator of unyielding integrity. You are merely low-key and keep your strength hidden. Once you act, it will surely shake heaven and earth."

"It is only... this disciple knows that Ancestor prefers peace and quiet, yet I rashly brought down this karma..."

Before she could finish, Zhu Yin's laughter interrupted her.

"You just called me a man of unbending pride. How could I abandon my own people merely to seek a little peace and quiet?"

Zhu Yin's smile faded, and his expression turned solemn.

"I usually teach you to stay away from disputes so you will invite less trouble. But yielding does not mean fearing trouble, and enduring does not mean admitting defeat."

"If a true crisis arises, I will never retreat when it is time to act."

"If I cannot even protect you, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, then what Dao am I cultivating?"

Every word rang like a hammer striking the ground, spoken from Zhu Yin's heart.

He was a mighty cultivator and possessed his own pride.

Though he hated trouble, he had never feared karma.

Once he made a decision, he would never regret it.

When he decided to suppress and kill Mo Luo, it had been the same.

And now, in saving Hundred Herbs Fairy and the Longbo Giants, it was the same.

He cultivated the Dao in pursuit of true serenity within his heart.

True serenity was not found by fleeing the mortal world, but by remaining at ease even amid worldly dust.

If he did nothing merely to avoid trouble, leaving his heart unsettled and his Dao heart unstable, that would be the greatest trouble of all.

Peace and quiet was a preference; serenity was the goal.

As Hundred Herbs Fairy had said, he was not a cold and heartless man. He merely hid his pride within his heart.

When he was serene, heaven and earth were at peace.

When he was unsettled, heaven and earth would tremble.

Hundred Herbs Fairy was his person, and he had to protect her.

Besides, if this matter was handled properly, it most likely would not bring karma upon them.

Moreover, Spirit Platform Mountain had two future Sages behind it. If he did not even dare to handle something like this, what Dao was he cultivating? He might as well perish in meditation.

After hearing this, Hundred Herbs Fairy's eyes filled with tears. She kowtowed heavily, deeply moved.

Without lingering any longer, Zhu Yin learned that the Longbo Giants were willing to join him and help restore the Western Lands. He placed them into his sleeve once more and departed in a streak of light.

He sped through the air, the radiance flashing like lightning.

After returning to his Dao Field, he settled Hundred Herbs Fairy and the Longbo Giants, instructing them not to leave the mountain without permission. Then he turned and headed for Mount Sumeru.

He had to tell his two elders about the Ninth-Grade Black Lotus and Mo Luo, so they could prepare in advance.

After all, when he faced Demon Ancestor Rahu in the future, he would be relying entirely on those two.

On Mount Sumeru.

A streak of azure light descended from the sky.

Dressed in green, Zhu Yin climbed from the foot of the mountain step by step.

After greeting the two Boy Attendants, Jinyi and Baiyi, he straightened his robes and entered Bodhi Hall.

Upon the high platform, Sage Zhunti awoke from meditation.

Seeing his disciple arrive, he smiled and asked what had brought him here. Yet after Zhu Yin spoke only a single sentence, Zhunti's expression immediately darkened.

"Disciple has come to report a major matter. I ask Master to invite Martial Uncle so that we may discuss it together."

Zhunti's expression turned grave.

He understood this disciple of his. Zhu Yin had always been composed and unhurried. Even the last time he had become entangled with Dijun over the Flora Clan, he had not been this serious.

Alarmed, Zhunti immediately invited Sage Jieyin over.

Once the two Sages had gathered, Zhu Yin recounted everything that had happened at Que Mountain...

After half an incense stick of time had passed, Zhu Yin finished recounting the events at Que Mountain.

Bodhi Hall fell silent.

Sages Zhunti and Jieyin remained quiet for a long time, as though they had recalled distant memories.

Their gazes carried a little more complexity and wistfulness.

Within the Western Teaching, "karma" was the foundation upon which their teachings stood.

All things were born from karma and perished through karma.

In the past, the two Sages had often felt that their disciple Zhu Yin was too cautious and steady, always deliberately avoiding the vortex of karma.

They had originally intended, after attaining Sagehood in the future, to let him personally undergo a cultivation trial where karma entangled him but his heart remained unmoved. Only then could he truly comprehend the "Dao of the Western Lands."

Yet they had never expected that this time, without a word, he would bring them back an enormous karmic burden—and one connected to... Demon Ancestor Rahu!

However, neither Zhunti nor Jieyin blamed him.

On one hand, this was the tolerance elders ought to show. On the other, Mount Sumeru itself was already inextricably entangled with the Demon Ancestor. One more thread of karma made little difference.

After a long while, Zhunti finally spoke to comfort him:

"Cause is the seed; effect is the result."

"All phenomena are empty; only karma remains."

"Regarding Mo Luo, you need not worry too much."

"We have long possessed karma with the Demon Ancestor. One more such thread does not matter."

"You are the chief disciple of our Mount Sumeru lineage. Perhaps your entering Que Mountain and encountering Mo Luo was precisely a destined cycle of karma."