Volume One: The Great Tribulation of Liches Chapter 231: A Saint Emerges in the West, Four Sages Arrive at the Northern Darkness

Zhun Ti turned to look at Jie Yin and spoke slowly.

"Brother, should we perhaps use that method? To be slow by one step is to be slow in every step!"

Zhun Ti gazed at Jie Yin with eyes full of anticipation. After a long moment, Jie Yin could only heave a sigh and reply.

"Very well, since you have decided so, Brother Junior!"

Perhaps witnessing the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa attaining sainthood had stirred something within him, or perhaps he was simply yielding to Zhun Ti's wishes. Jie Yin sighed softly, stood up first, and proclaimed to the Primordial World:

"Heavenly Dao above, I, Jie Yin, and Zhun Ti, sensing the hardships of cultivation for all beings in the Primordial World, hereby establish a sect called the Western Sect! All beings of the Primordial World may join the Western Sect! The Western Sect is established!"

As their voices fell, vast amounts of providence and merit converged upon them. The two then continued:

"We, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, pledge the supreme innate spiritual treasure, the Subduing Pestle, and the supreme innate spiritual treasure, the Golden Lotus of Merit, to suppress the providence of the Western Sect!"

As they spoke, the merit and providence gathered above Mount Sumeru descended upon them. Their aura surged violently, but just as they were about to break through to the realm of the Hunyuan Daluo, the process came to a sudden, jarring halt.

"What is happening? Are the two from the West unable to attain sainthood?"

"Indeed, their opportunity for sainthood was begged for; now they face retribution!"

Countless powerful beings across the Primordial World, seeing their failure, began to whisper with biting sarcasm, their words as harsh as could be. Many prepared to mock the duo. Zhun Ti and Jie Yin stood there, faces bitter, exchanging looks filled with visible regret.

"Alas, Brother, it seems we must do as we planned! This amount of merit is insufficient for us to attain sainthood. Perhaps you should attain it first, and then I shall follow," Zhun Ti lamented.

Jie Yin sighed. "Brother Junior, we have traveled this long road together; how could I leave you behind? We shall either attain sainthood together, or not at all!"

"Brother!" Zhun Ti was deeply moved.

The two then turned once more to proclaim to the heavens.

"Heavenly Dao above, I, Jie Yin, after countless eons, have realized the method of attaining enlightenment through dreams. Sensing the suffering of all beings, I, Jie Yin, wish to establish the Land of Ultimate Bliss in the West to grant great liberation to all! All who enter my Bliss, holding the Buddha in their hearts, shall be liberated!"

"I wish for the red dust to be like a furnace, and all beings like insects; to see the Land of Ultimate Bliss is to find true bliss!"

"I, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, vow great aspirations: When I attain Buddhahood, my body shall be like lapis lazuli, pure within and without..."

"May I, when I attain Buddhahood, ensure that the world is free of suffering, even the names of the three evil paths..."

"May I, when I attain Buddhahood, ensure the world is filled with pure and radiant light."

"If I attain Buddhahood, may all Bodhisattvas in other lands who hear my name immediately attain the first, second, and third levels of patience, never regressing from the Dharma..."

"May the Heavenly Dao witness this!"

Following these forty-eight great vows, even more merit descended upon them from above Mount Sumeru. As they absorbed this merit, their aura surged again. Simultaneously, the Grandmist Purple Qi within their primordial spirits fused completely, linking them to the Heavenly Dao, allowing them to perceive its laws and borrow its power. In an instant, they broke through to the status of Sages, their power continuing to climb until it stabilized at the mid-stage of the Sage realm.

"Though it falls slightly short, we have at last attained the status of Sages!" Zhun Ti remarked, feeling the power within him.

They spoke again: "We, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, having attained sainthood today, pledge the supreme innate spiritual treasures—the Banner of Guidance, the Seven-Treasure Tree, the Six-Cleanse Bamboo, and the Eight-Treasure Merit Pond—to suppress our providence."

As they ascended to sainthood, the spiritual energy of Mount Sumeru grew significantly richer. In the Heavenly Court, the countless powerful beings of the Primordial World were stunned. Those who had mocked them now wished they could retract their words, but it was too late; they had become the jesters instead.

"Brother, can we also attain sainthood like the two Sages of the West?" Tai Yi asked, looking at Di Jun with hope.

Di Jun shook his head firmly. "Tai Yi, this method is only viable for the Western Sages. If we attempt it, it will be meaningless. Besides, you know the saying: those who imitate me live, those who resemble me die!"

However, they did not expect that someone in the Primordial World would attempt to emulate the Three Pure Ones and the Western Sages. In the North Abyss, Kun Peng stood amidst the sea, his eyes filled with hatred as he glared toward Mount Sumeru.

"If the two of you could steal my opportunity, do not blame me for seizing your providence now!"

Kun Peng proclaimed to the Heavenly Dao: "Heavenly Dao above, I, Kun Peng, sensing that the demon race lacks proper guidance, hereby establish a sect called the Demon Sect! I pledge the supreme acquired spiritual treasure, the Demon Master Palace, and the innate merit spiritual treasures, the Demon Script Scrolls and the Execution Brush, to suppress the providence of the Demon Sect!"

As he finished, some providence and merit gathered toward him, but he found it did little to enhance his strength. In the Heavenly Court, Di Jun and Tai Yi were furious, casting their gaze toward the North Abyss.

"Kun Peng, you thief, how dare you!"

The two disappeared from the Lingxiao Palace, heading straight for the North Abyss. Kun Peng, realizing his cultivation had barely improved, gritted his teeth and made further vows.

"Heavenly Dao above, I, Demon Master Kun Peng, make a great vow: when I am the Demon Master, I wish for the demon race..."

Kun Peng had poked a hornet's nest. On Mount Sumeru, every word he spoke caused the aura of the two Sages to become unstable.

"Old thief Kun Peng, you have some nerve!"

Jie Yin and Zhun Ti stepped forward and arrived instantly in the North Abyss. Di Jun and Tai Yi followed shortly after. The four surrounded Kun Peng with icy countenances.

"Kun Peng, you truly are bold!"

Kun Peng remained unfazed. "Let it be known that your sainthood was achieved by stealing my opportunity. From that moment on, you have owed me a karmic debt!"

Upon hearing this, the Sages' auras fluctuated; as Sages, they understood the weight of such karma.

"Old thief Kun Peng, you are courting death! Do you not fear that we shall strike you down and let the karma dissipate with your life?"

The two Sages looked at him, their expressions devoid of emotion.