Across the scorched, barren expanses of the West, a sudden, paradoxical warmth took root. The "Two Sages of the West" had spoken their vows, and the world had answered. From every dust-choked corner of the Western Desolation, sentient beings felt a wave of profound compassion wash over them, prompting millions to fall to their knees and press their foreheads to the dirt in the direction of Mount Sumeru.
The heavens rippled. Auspicious canopies of light unfurled in the void, and a rain of phantom blossoms descended, each petal dissolving into pure spiritual essence. Beneath the feet of Jieyin and Zhunti, sweet springs bubbled up from the parched earth, defying the laws of nature.
The sky above them fractured, and a torrent of golden Karma energy poured down, pooling into halos of shimmering perfection behind their heads.
In that instant, both crossed the threshold into the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Perfection.
"Hahaha!" Zhunti's laughter rang out, sharp and triumphant. He had never felt such vitality; the mere act of promising salvation had granted him a shortcut that others spent aeons trying to find. For a moment, he entertained the thought of making dozens more vows just to see if he could skyrocket directly into Saintship.
He rose and cupped his hands toward his brother. "My thanks, Senior Brother. Without your guidance, we would still be languishing in the shadow of the East."
"There is no need for such formality between us," Jieyin replied, a rare, genuine smile tugging at his naturally mournful features. He closed his eyes, savoring the surge of power. At this moment, he felt certain he had surpassed even Laozi. He was the foremost being beneath the Dao Ancestor.
Zhunti's smile thinned, his gaze shifting toward the distant, radiant orb of the Sun Star. A flicker of savage killing intent danced in his eyes. "Senior Brother... I believe it is time for a visit to the Sun."
"You still seek the Golden Crow?" Jieyin asked.
"Naturally. He humiliated us both. If that debt is not paid in blood, our path as cultivators is a farce." Zhunti spoke with a solemnity that masked a burning petty rage. Lingxiao was the thorn in his side, a jagged piece of glass in his heart that he could not ignore.
Jieyin chuckled, seeing the restlessness in his brother's spirit. "That Crow deserves a wretched end, I agree. But the Dao Ancestor's second sermon is imminent. Why waste energy on a side-show? Let him enjoy his remaining days. Revenge is a dish best served after we have heard the secrets of the Quasi-Saint."
"But Senior Brother," Zhunti persisted, his fingers twitching. "It is just one bird. It would take only a moment of our time."
"You are overconfident, Junior Brother," Jieyin cautioned, his voice dropping to a low, analytical tone. "If my senses serve me, the Sun Star is veiled by an Innate Formation. If we rush in now, we might stumble. But after the sermon? Once we reach the Quasi-Saint realm? I will be able to unravel that formation with a flick of my wrist. Why rush into a house when you can simply blow the roof off?"
Zhunti blinked, stunned by his brother's foresight. He bowed his head. "I hear and obey. We wait."
"Good," Jieyin added, his tone becoming that of a stern mentor. "Steady your mind. Our goal is to be Ancestors, not brawlers. Do not let one humiliation blind you to the horizon."
The Wuzhuang Temple, Western Desolation.
Zhenyuanzi stood in his courtyard, his brow furrowed as he watched the golden light pooling over Mount Sumeru. "The Sages of the West have some nerve... they've managed to hijack the entire providence of the West for themselves."
He felt a pang of annoyance. He lived in the West, yet the luck of the land was being siphoned away by his neighbors, leaving him with nothing but the dust.
"The bastards! Why didn't I think of that?" He huffed, pacing the stone path.
"Zhenyuan, why the long face?"
A hearty, carefree voice echoed through the temple, and a flash of crimson appeared. Hongyun walked in, his face beaming like a miniature sun, his robes fluttering with a joy that seemed entirely out of place in the somber temple.
Zhenyuanzi glanced at his old friend. "I wish I had your ignorance, Hongyun. Haven't you seen it? Jieyin and Zhunti have locked the Western Luck behind their own front door. I won't get a scrap of it from now on."
"That's an easy fix!" Hongyun chirped.
"Easy?" Zhenyuanzi paused, hopeful. "What's your plan?"
Hongyun spread his arms wide. "Just move! If you don't like the neighbors, take the West somewhere else!"
Zhenyuanzi stared at him. He felt the urge to faint. "I... I was a fool to ask. Truly."
"Hey, I'm serious!" Hongyun insisted, his smile never wavering. "I'm offering real advice here!"
"Hongyun, stop. I can leave, yes, but the Ginseng Fruit tree is rooted here. Without Innate Loam, it cannot survive a transplant. Do you want to stop eating the fruit? Because that is how you stop eating the fruit."
"Wait!" Hongyun's eyes lit up. "The soil from the Innate Gourd Vine! That works for the earth element, right?"
Zhenyuanzi rolled his eyes. "Of course it works. It's one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots. But that vine is long gone."
"No, it isn't!" Hongyun grinned. "I know a Fellow Daoist who kept the loam. My friend Lingxiao—he has half of it! If we borrow it, we can pack up the tree and leave this dusty corner whenever we want."
Zhenyuanzi's expression shifted instantly from annoyance to cold realization. His eyes widened.
"Not good," Zhenyuanzi whispered. "Hongyun... your friend Lingxiao is in grave danger."
"What? Why?" Hongyun's smile finally faltered.
"Think! You said Lingxiao beat those two Westerners to a pulp during the gourd hunt. Now they've skyrocketed in power and consolidated the West's Luck. Who do you think is the first person they're going to look for once they finish their celebrations?"
Zhenyuanzi's voice was grim. "They're going to go to the Sun Star to reclaim their 'face.'"
Hongyun didn't hesitate. He spun around, heading for the gate. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get to the Sun Star before they do!"