The ascension of Tai Hao had already served as a warning to Zhen Yuanzi. Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were habitual offenders, and vigilance was necessary!
On Mount Sumeru in the West, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti simultaneously gazed eastward.
Watching the East grow stronger while the West remained stagnant was a painful experience.
Although Jie Yin and Zhun Ti always preached about the absence of East and West, this was only when they were competing for treasures with those from the East.
After all, the establishment of the Western Teachings and the Daoist sects had drawn a clearer line between East and West, and their respective doctrines were incompatible.
Zhun Ti looked at Jie Yin and couldn't help but speak, "Senior Brother, why don't we go to the East and ferry some fated individuals to our side? There are still many fated people for the West in the East!"
Jie Yin shook his head, "Junior Brother, let's not stir the nerves of the Eastern Sages for now. We can discuss this later."
Zhun Ti also knew that many people in the East were fated to the West.
For example, Ci Hang, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra from Yuanshi's sect. Jie Yin felt they were all connected to the Western Teachings. Then there were Duobao, Kong Xuan, Chang Er, and Wuyun from Tongtian's sect, and many others.
However, these individuals had pledged allegiance to the Three Pure Ones. Unless they themselves had external support!
Otherwise, if the Three Pure Ones were to attack Mount Sumeru, the two of them would not be able to resist. Furthermore, the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit were still in Tai Shang's possession.
Despite their reluctance, the two were helpless.
As Hong Yun's saintly might permeated the Primordial World, Tai Hao and Tongtian also arrived to protect Hong Yun during his ascension, as becoming a Saint was no trivial matter.
Even though Jie Yin and Zhun Ti had been beaten by Tai Shang, they could not guarantee that they wouldn't make a move.
Tai Shang had intended to come as well, but sensing that Tongtian, Tai Hao, and Zhen Yuanzi were already heading to protect Hong Yun, Tai Shang decided against it. Three Sages were more than enough to handle any unforeseen circumstances.
Tai Shang looked at Xuanyuan before him and thought that as the Earthly Emperor was about to ascend to his rightful position, the progress of the Human Emperor should be accelerated.
With a sweep of his divine sense, Tai Shang discovered that under Chi You's leadership, the Wu Clan was no longer what it used to be. The celestial battle between these two was also about to begin.
Tai Shang changed his mind and headed towards Mount Sumeru.
Upon Tai Shang's arrival at Mount Sumeru, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti regarded him with apprehension. Jie Yin shouted,
"Tai Shang, what do you want? We haven't gone to your East!"
Tai Shang smiled and, looking at the two wary figures, said,
"Esteemed Sages, as beings of the Primordial World, we in the East harbor no ill will towards you."
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti looked at Tai Shang, completely disbelieving his words.
Tai Shang said no more. With a wave of his horsetail whisk, the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit appeared before him and floated towards Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.
"Previously, it was you two who obstructed the matters of our Eastern Sages that led me to confiscate your spiritual treasures. Today, I return them to you."
"As for the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, a disciple of our Daoist sect has cultivated a similar divine ability and requires it for a period of time for study. It will be returned to you at a later date."
Jie Yin took the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit. Although he was puzzled by Tai Shang's actions, the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit held great significance for the West.
Seeing Jie Yin accept the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, Tai Shang smiled faintly. To be honest, although the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit was a good treasure, he didn't really covet it anymore. He had yet to refine the nine innate supreme treasures he had seized from Hongjun's three corpses.
After driving away Hongjun, he had been busy with the Wu-Demon conflict, followed by matters of the human race, and had not had the time to deal with those nine innate supreme treasures.
After Jie Yin took the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, he immediately asked,
"What is the meaning of this, Daoist Brother Tai Shang?"
Tai Shang heard Jie Yin's change in address and knew that the matter was settled.
Tai Shang looked at the two and smiled.
"The destiny of the human race has greatly increased, and they are now qualified to be the rulers of heaven and earth. Once their Three Sovereigns ascend, the human race will surely prosper! Your West will no longer be desolate. Therefore, I hope you will not make things difficult for the human race!"
"You may also accept them into your teachings, but only if they willingly do so! Of course, this will also require the consent of fellow Daoist Nu Wa, as she is the Human Mother! Do you understand my meaning?"
This was Tai Shang's objective: to pave the way for the human race in advance. Given their rate of reproduction, their expansion into the West was inevitable.
If Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were to constantly oppose the human race, he would have no choice but to expel them from the Primordial World.
The Primordial World would be significantly diminished without two Sages. The more powerful beings there were, the stronger this world would become.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti had not expected Tai Shang to come for the sake of the human race. Tai Shang's demands were beneficial and harmless to them!
Not only could they strengthen the Western Teachings, but they could also ease the relationship with the Eastern Sages. Since they could not defeat them, joining them was the logical course of action.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti beamed with joy and quickly said,
"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, we will not make things difficult for the human race!"
Upon hearing this, Tai Shang nodded and felt relieved. He turned to leave. Zhun Ti quickly called out,
"Fellow Daoist Tai Shang, won't you stay for a while at our Mount Sumeru before you go?"
Tai Shang shook his head.
"No, I have urgent matters to attend to. Farewell!"
Zhun Ti watched Tai Shang depart and shouted,
"Fellow Daoist Tai Shang, don't forget my Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree!"
Tai Shang's voice echoed from afar,
"Rest assured, I keep my word!"
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti watched the disappearing Tai Shang with disbelief. They couldn't believe that this great opportunity of the human race had just fallen into their laps.
Jie Yin looked at Zhun Ti and couldn't help but ask,
"Junior Brother, have our grievances with the Eastern Sages been resolved just like that?"
Zhun Ti also looked incredulous and nodded,
"It seems so."
The two brothers looked at each other, and then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! This Tai Shang isn't so unbearable after all!"
Without anyone to disrupt him, Hong Yun successfully became a Saint. A powerful saintly might filled the heavens and the earth, and Hong Yun's voice resounded throughout the world:
"Today, I, Hong Yun, have become a Saint. My dojo is Kunlun Mountain!"
All beings in the Primordial World heard this and congratulated him in unison:
"Greetings, Saint Hong Yun!"
All the Sages in the heavens and earth rejoiced at the addition of another Saint to the world.
The disciples of Kunlun were particularly excited. This backing was simply invincible. Six Sages! Who in the world had such a formidable patron? (Only a few knew about Yuanshi's failure to ascend.)
The most excited among them was Zhen Yuanzi. With his best friend becoming a Saint, it meant they could walk together forever, didn't it?
What could be happier than this?