Discussion and Planning

Within the secret realm of Mount Sumeru, the lingering echoes of Dao resonance had yet to fully subside, and the air still shimmered with faint arcs of interwoven laws and the subtle tones of the Great Way.

Ming Xin's Three Bodies had merged into one, his Main Body's aura deep as an abyss, his cultivation as a Golden Immortal of the Origin at the late stage now unshakably stable.

Coupled with the sedimentation of the Path of Mortal World Reincarnation from his Past Self and the ability to deduce fate from his Future Self, his strength far surpassed those of the same rank, enough to trouble even veteran late-stage Golden Immortals of the Origin.

The system hummed silently within the depths of his Primordial Spirit, smoother and more natural than ever, deeply integrated with his comprehension of the myriad Daos.

Daoist Jieyin's Nirvana Buddha Light was perfectly unobstructed, his aura several times more formidable than before his seclusion.

Daoist Zhunti, even more solemn and majestic, had the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree suspended above his head, radiating a vast pressure that was flawless and complete, lacking only the final sublimation.

All four had reaped immense gains, yet their faces bore little joy, instead growing heavier.

"The fragment of the Jade Disk of Creation truly contains the ultimate principles of the Great Way, profound and inexhaustible," Daoist Zhunti spoke first, his tone carrying a solemn awe after initial wonder. "Yet the paths of reincarnation, fate, time, space, the five elements, and even chaos it manifests are boundless and vast.

What we have comprehended today is but a drop in the ocean, mere surface knowledge."

Daoist Jieyin nodded slowly, his expression growing more pained: "The Great Way is infinite, while our knowledge is finite. The more we ponder, the more we feel our own insignificance and the long road ahead. Moreover..." He paused, gazing beyond the secret realm, his eyes seeming to pierce through the layers of protective mountain arrays.

He saw the turbulent waves of the Primordial World's future. "This struggle over the chaos has thoroughly enmired us with the Three Pure Ones and the Demon Clan Heavenly Court. When the time comes, the karma will demand settlement."

Ming Xin said solemnly, "Master speaks truly. The Three Pure Ones were already powerful, and now, having obtained the treasures born of the Green Lotus of Creation, their fortunes are linked, and their strength has grown further. Di Jun and Tai Yi have lost face and their supreme treasures; they will not let this rest. Although the West has gained this opportunity and grown stronger, our foundation is still shallow, far from the time to rest easy."

With a flicker of thought, the phantom of his Future Self flashed behind him, countless fine threads of fate flowing, snapping, and reweaving at his fingertips.

"Your disciple has made a rough deduction with the Future Self. The great trends of the Primordial World have already undergone violent changes due to the West's sudden rise this time. Signs of slaughter lurk, Sha Qi stirs in the shadows, and a great calamity that may sweep heaven and earth is approaching."

Daoist Zhunti's eyes flashed with sharp light: "Under a great calamity, there is both danger and opportunity! The West is barren; we precisely need this chance to widely ferry those with affinity, accumulate merit, and expand our influence!" He looked at Ming Xin. "Disciple, you have comprehended the Path of Mortal World Reincarnation. This path most easily attracts karma, yet it also most easily gathers resources and tempers the Dao heart amidst the vast mortal world. The heavy responsibility of the West's future rise falls on you without hesitation!"

Ming Xin answered solemnly, "Your disciple understands. My path inherently relies on the karma and desires of all beings. After this enlightenment, I have a new conception, perhaps combining the karma of all beings with mortal reincarnation. By laying more 'chess pieces' across the Primordial World, I can both aid my cultivation and subtly spread the wondrous Dharma of the West."

Daoist Jieyin nodded: "Good. But remember, act cautiously, not too aggressively, lest you invite backlash. For now, the priority is still to consolidate our cultivation and fully digest this harvest. This fragment of the Jade Disk of Creation must be studied in turns, thoroughly transforming its Dao resonance into the West's foundation."

"Indeed," Zhunti interjected. "Elder brother, though you and I have reached the late stage or even perfection, the realm of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin cannot be achieved by accumulating magic power alone; it requires great perseverance, great wisdom, and great opportunity. Through this contemplation, I have gained some insights into the paths of 'karma' and 'great vows.' Perhaps I can attempt to make a great vow, borrow power from the Heavenly Dao, and charge into the Saint Realm!"

Making a great vow to become a saint! This was precisely the path of the Two Sages of the West in the original trajectory! Now, with the fragment of the Jade Disk of Creation, Zhunti's insights ran deeper, and he had already seen that clear yet arduous road.

A flash of understanding crossed Daoist Jieyin's eyes, clearly sharing a similar sentiment: "Vows are easy to make, but merit is hard to repay. Once made, it is a contract with the Heavenly Dao. If unfulfilled, your Dao path may stop here. Junior brother, this matter requires careful deliberation and thorough planning."

"Naturally." Zhunti suppressed his excitement and nodded heavily.

The four discussed further, settling on a strategy for the coming period: seclusion to consolidate, study the jade disk in turns, and deduce and perfect their own paths. Ming Xin was tasked with beginning to integrate the system and the Red Dust Law more deeply into the propagation and development of the Western Teachings.

With the decision made, Jieyin and Zhunti withdrew most of their divine thoughts and entered deep meditation to consolidate their vast cultivation at the late stage and perfection of the Golden Immortal of the Origin.

Ming Xin, however, did not immediately enter deep seclusion. With a thought, his Future Self quietly stepped out and sat facing his Main Body.

The Main Body raised a hand, and the Chaos Five Elements Pagoda and the White Bone Life-Death Sword floated out. On the pagoda, chaotic flows grew denser, and as the five elements evolved, it faintly showed signs of transforming into a true Chaos Spiritual Treasure; on the bone sword, amidst the killing aura, a trace of Reincarnation Nirvana had also appeared.

"Five elements reversing into chaos, killing returning to nirvana, mortal world pulling fate..." Ming Xin's Main Body murmured to himself, countless runes swirling in his eyes—the system rapidly deducing, integrating all gains from this enlightenment, optimizing his structure and divine abilities.

The Future Self, eyes half-closed, held his hands in an empty embrace, and a scroll of illusion, composed of countless lines of light and shadow and ever-changing, slowly unfurled in his arms. It was a miniature of the various possibilities of the Primordial World's future, deduced through the paths of fate and time, combined with the system's computational power. Within it, the rise and fall of the Western Teachings, the movements of many great powers, and even the shadow of the great tribulation were faintly visible.

"The great calamity is about to rise; below the saints, all are ants. Yet ants too have the ambition to shake a tree... My Life Protection Way may be the variable among variables." The Future Self whispered softly, gently tapping the illusory scroll with a fingertip. An almost imperceptible speck of light, carrying an extremely faint aura of the Life Protection Way and the Red Dust Dao Seed, silently pierced through the protective mountain array of Mount Sumeru, merged into the vast Primordial World outside, and vanished without a trace.

That was the first true "chess piece" Ming Xin had placed.

Having done this, the Future Self slowly dissipated and returned to the Main Body. Ming Xin fully closed his eyes, his Dao resonance turning inward, and entered a deep state of enlightenment and consolidation.

Mount Sumeru returned to silence, with only the Nirvana Bodhi Great Array silently operating, guarding this sacred mountain that had been reborn, a hidden dragon lurking in the abyss, and the four figures within, gathering power enough to shake the Primordial World. The winds of the Primordial World had changed because of them. And they were ready to face the greater storms to come.