Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

Just as Emperor Jun was plotting in the Lingxiao Palace, determined to use the power of the Zhou Tian Star Array to intervene in the restoration of the western earth veins, the alarm bell on Mount Ling finally resounded through the sky.

"Thump—"

"Thump—"

"Thump—~"

The bell tolled nine times, each toll more magnificent and more urgent than the last. The ancient, deep, and penetrating sound of the bell swept across most of the west, centered on Mount Ling, and even reached the adjacent central, northern, and southern edges of the primordial wilderness.

Countless Western beings, regardless of race or cultivation level, were involuntarily shaken upon hearing the nine warning chimes of the Spirit Mountain, instinctively turning their gazes towards it. Some elders of ancient tribes were even moved to tears, prostrating themselves on the ground. They remembered the legends of their ancestors: the Spirit Mountain warning bell would never be rung lightly unless it signified a matter of life and death for the West, or an event of supreme merit. The last time it had rung nine times seemed to be when the Western Religion was first established, when the two sages made their grand vows.

Now that the bells are ringing again, nine times in a row, what does it mean?

Lingshan!

The Guide and the Cundi stood side by side, their monks' robes fluttering without wind, and a golden wheel of merit faintly appeared behind their heads. Although its light was slightly dim, the majesty of saints was undeniable. Unlike their previous gloom, scheming, and dejected demeanor in the hall, the two now wore their compassionate and solemn holy countenances again, only their sorrow seemed deeper, as if bearing the weight of the eternal suffering and hopes of the West.

"May Buddha have mercy." Jieyin spoke, his voice not loud, but it resounded far and wide with the sound of bells, clearly echoing in the hearts of every being who cared about the West. "Now I feel the suffering of the beings in the West, the withering of the earth's veins, the depletion of spiritual energy, the difficulties in cultivation, and the frequent calamities. This is a great regret for the West, and it is also the unfinished work of the great vows I made when I, Jieyin and Zhunti, attained sainthood."

"Fortunately, Heaven has favored us," Zhunti replied, his voice clear and resonant, carrying a sense of fervor and determination. "Now, a esteemed disciple of the Xuanmen, the Great Emperor of Fengdu in the Underworld, with the well-being of all living beings in his heart, has made a great vow to perform the work of mending the heavens, repairing the damaged ley lines of our Western lands, and restoring the vitality of the Western earth! This is immeasurable merit, an unparalleled act of goodness, and the dawn that countless lives in our Western lands have been waiting for for countless eons!"

"Our Western Religion, upholding compassion, was established in the West. We are naturally concerned with the well-being of all beings in the West and take it upon ourselves to fulfill our long-cherished vows!" The guide's voice rose, carrying an unwavering resolve. "Today, the entire Western Religion is willing to open its gates and dedicate all its strength to assisting the Great Emperor of Fengdu in this work of mending the heavens! As long as the earth's veins are not restored, our religion will not cease; as long as the West does not prosper, our religion will not retreat!"

"All disciples of my Buddhist sect, from Bodhisattvas and Arhats to Bhikkhus, Novices, and Dharma-protecting Sangha warriors, must bravely strive to be at the forefront and await orders! All temples, monasteries, and strongholds under my sect can serve as transit points and resting places for the restoration of the earth's veins! All resources, scriptures, and secret methods accumulated within my sect that are beneficial to the restoration of the earth's veins may be used as appropriate!"

"This is the vow of our Western religion, and also a heartfelt expression to comfort all souls in the West!"

The words of the two sages, like the resounding tones of a great bell, echoed repeatedly throughout the Western world. With their words, a magnificent light shone upon Mount Ling! Countless golden swastika symbols rose from all corners of Mount Ling, accompanied by chanting and the fragrance of sandalwood. The phantom images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats appeared in the light, some compassionate, some majestic, some solemn, together forming a magnificent panorama of ten thousand Buddhas paying homage and making a shared vow.

Immediately afterwards, the gates of Lingshan Mountain opened!

The four Bodhisattvas—Medicine King Bodhisattva, Precious Light Bodhisattva, Sunlight Bodhisattva, and Moonlight Bodhisattva—hold a revered position in Western Buddhism and are also the true disciples of Jieyin and Zhunti.

Furthermore, powerful Bodhisattvas, clad in solemn robes and wielding ritual implements, were the first to emerge from the mountain gate. Behind them were three thousand monks with profound auras, the lowest level of which was Golden Immortal cultivation. Following them were eight hundred Arhats, their bodies shimmering with golden light, their auras a mixture of malevolent and Buddhist radiance. Finally, there were a million Dharma-protecting monks clad in golden armor, wielding vajras, their auras fierce and imposing! In terms of top-tier combat power, it was unknown where Zhunti and Jieyin had obtained the two Quasi-Saints. There were also more than ten Great Luo Golden Immortals and several thousand Golden Immortals. In particular, the sheer number of Dharma-protecting monks, though not comparable to the top forces in the prehistoric world, demonstrated that Zhunti and Jieyin had put in considerable effort to assemble such a large force in the resource-poor West.

This massive Buddhist procession did not ride clouds or fly like other forces, but instead stepped out of Mount Ling, their feet firmly planted on the earth, chanting scriptures. With each step, a phantom golden lotus bloomed beneath their feet, forming a golden avenue that stretched towards the White Tiger Sect. The chanting followed, and wherever they passed, a faint Buddhist light seeped into the barren land, causing tiny glimmers of life to sprout in some desolate areas. This was both a demonstration and a silent declaration: the Western Sect was the true master of this land, the one who understood it best and could influence it most deeply.

The sudden high-profile appearance and all-out effort by Lingshan surprised the representatives of various forces who had just arrived at the White Tiger Sect and were not yet fully settled.

"The Western Sect's reaction... is quick and ruthless enough." At this moment, Duobao squinted at the golden road stretching across the sky, filled with chanting, and whispered to Guangchengzi and Jinling Shengmu beside him, "They were hiding their intentions before, waiting for Senior Brother Xuanbao to come to their door. Now that they see that things are not going to work out, they immediately changed their tune, not only giving their full support but also trying to seize the title of 'host,' and even putting on this 'compassionate and selfless' attitude. This Jieyin Zhunti has a thick skin and decisive methods."

Guang Chengzi snorted coldly: "They're just going with the flow. If they don't, are they really going to wait to be excluded? But this makes things even more complicated. The control over restoring the ley lines..."

A sharp glint flashed in Jinling Shengmu's beautiful eyes: "The initiative lies with Senior Brother Xuanbao, and the overall situation is in his hands—this is a consensus among all parties. The Western Sect's participation is merely icing on the cake, a way to share in the merits. Want to seize control? They don't yet have the qualifications or the strength. However, coordinating specific matters, allocating manpower, and distributing resources will likely require more effort. After all, their familiarity with the Western region is unmatched by others."

Dijiang, the Ancestral Witch, crossed his arms and looked at the golden road with great interest. He laughed to Zhurong and Gonggong beside him, "These two bald monks are quite adaptable. Now, everyone's here—the actors, the gong players, the extras—it's all up to Brother Xuanbao. I want to see if those Western Sect monks chant scriptures while digging and moving mountains."

Zhu Rong laughed heartily: "Who cares if they chant scriptures or not? If they don't work hard, they'll still get beaten!"

Gonggong glanced coldly at the source of the golden light, said nothing, but felt an even greater chill emanating from him.

Representatives from the Dragon, Phoenix, Qilin, and Xuanwu clans exchanged glances with their elders. The Western Religion's involvement was expected, but its high-profile and large-scale participation still put pressure on them. This meant that another party would be sharing the spoils, and a native Western power at that, possessing a natural advantage. The ensuing power struggle would likely be anything but easy.

The White Tiger Clan Chieftain was deeply conflicted. The Western Sect had always been a mountain weighing heavily on them, and now, not only had this mountain temporarily lifted its oppression, but it had also "condescended" to cooperate. He knew this was a change brought about by Emperor Xuanbao, but the wariness and estrangement he harbored towards the Western Sect deep within him had not been completely eliminated. He secretly resolved to lead the White Tiger Clan's men to work even harder in this grand project, to achieve even greater merit, and to ensure that they would not be overshadowed by the Western Sect in any future distribution of benefits.

Xuanbao, the core figure of the entire event, remained calm, even displaying a faint, confident smile. He stood with his hands behind his back on the highest observation platform of the White Tiger Sect, gazing at the celestial lights of the Three Religions in the east, the fiery clouds of the Phoenix Clan in the south, the surging waters of the Dragon Clan in the north, the auspicious clouds of the Qilin and the Xuanwu Xuanshui in the west and north, the torrent of the Witch Clan rushing across the land, and the golden path of Buddhism now spreading from Mount Ling…

"They've all come...good." Xuanbao murmured to himself, "Repairing the earth's veins is a matter for all living beings in the primordial world. The more forces involved, the greater the accumulated fortune, the higher the chance of success, and the richer the final merit. But..."

Xuanbao's gaze swept across all directions, especially towards Mount Ling: "Interests are entangled, and minds are divided. The real test is how to unite this world-changing power into a single force and efficiently channel it into the restoration project. Of course, it's also because Xuanbao is no longer afraid of the two saints, Zhun and Ti Jieyin. Nowadays, let alone the Three Pure Ones, even Nuwa and Houtu could easily defeat them. However..."

Xuanbao's smile deepened, a profound light flashing in his eyes. He had been prepared. Restoring the western ley lines was not merely a massive undertaking, but a crucial step in refining the power structure of the primordial world, practicing his own path, and accumulating unparalleled resources. The demands, conflicts, and advantages of all factions were all within his consideration.

Just then, a thought struck him, and he looked up at the heavens.

Almost at the same time, several top experts present—Duobao, Guangchengzi, Dijiang, Zhulong (divine sense), Yuanfeng (divine sense), Jieyin, and Zhunti—also seemed to sense something and looked up at the sky.

High above, the eternally rotating stars seemed to have become several degrees brighter than usual. The sun, in particular, though its light did not surge, exuded a more concentrated and "orderly" aura. A vast, ancient, and pure primordial energy was slowly gathering and flowing among the stars; though faint, its power was extremely high and could not escape the perception of these great beings.

Upon seeing the array formation, Xuanbao immediately understood. However, Xuanbao also felt strange; the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array seemed somewhat awkward. It is said that "isolated yin cannot produce, and solitary yang cannot grow." Originally, the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array should have the Sun Star and the Moon Star as its core. However, now, the former Demon Queen of the Demon Clan has become another man's wife, resulting in the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array being incomplete. Ultimately, it was Dijun who improved the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array with the help of the myriad stars, which could forcibly extract the power of the Moon Star. However, compared to the power of the Sun Star, it was incomparable. As a result, using the star power descended by the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array for a long time could lead to a person becoming irritable, experiencing an imbalance of yin and yang, etc.

"The Zhou Tian Star Array..." Jade Cauldron True Man uttered five words in a low voice, his face calm, but a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

"Di Jun and Tai Yi?" Duo Bao raised an eyebrow. "They want to get involved too?"

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise and gloom in each other's eyes. Demons? What are they doing here?

Just as everyone was wondering, a majestic, imposing voice, carrying the air of a Heavenly Emperor, seemed to come from the heavens above, or perhaps it resounded directly in the hearts of every powerful being:

"I, the Heavenly Emperor Di Jun, am deeply saddened by the damage to the western earth's ley lines, which cause immense suffering to all living beings—a tragedy for the primordial world. Now, I hear that the Great Emperor Xuanbao Fengdu, with boundless compassion, wishes to mend the heavens and repair the western earth's ley lines. I am greatly gratified; this is a monumental act that will benefit the primordial world and bring immeasurable merit!"

"Our demon race, having been ordained by Heaven to establish the Heavenly Court, governs the celestial sphere and has the responsibility to regulate Yin and Yang and bestow blessings upon all living beings. We now wish to mobilize the Great Array of the Celestial Stars to draw upon the primal power of the celestial sphere and transform it into starlight and spiritual tides, which will descend upon the West to nourish the earth's veins, stimulate life, and assist the Great Emperor of Fengdu, thus fulfilling Heaven's benevolent virtue of nurturing life and fulfilling our Heavenly Court's responsibility to regulate the world."

"Repairing the West is a shared responsibility of all living beings in the primordial world. I and the Heavenly Court are willing to contribute our modest efforts to this cause. The specifics of how to draw upon stellar power will need to be discussed with the Great Emperor Xuanbao. Heaven and Earth, and all the stars in the celestial sphere, bear witness to this intention!"

Di Jun's voice boomed in, clear and unambiguous, his posture extremely high. He placed the demon race on the righteous ground of "inheriting the mandate of heaven" and "benefiting all living beings," while portraying the provision of stellar power as "their duty" and "doing their utmost." This not only indicated their willingness to join but also subtly pointed out their "irreplaceable" role in controlling the origin of the celestial bodies. He also took the opportunity to put the two Western Saints in a difficult position: "You have made a grand vow to restore the West, and our demon race is here to help. Aren't you welcoming this?"

These words elicited varying expressions from the representatives of the different factions.

Most of the disciples from the three sects looked surprised, not expecting Di Jun to be so decisive and to have such a clever approach. The power of the stars was indeed of great help in repairing the earth's veins, and the demon race's move was hard to refuse.

The divine senses of the patriarchs of the Dragon and Phoenix clans fluctuated slightly, clearly indicating they were rapidly weighing their options. The addition of the demon race meant one side would share the merit, but accelerating the restoration of the earth's veins would benefit everyone. Ultimately, everyone's gaze turned to Xuanbao.

On the Wu tribe's side, the ancestral witches, including Dijiang, didn't look so pleased. The Wu and Yao tribes were mortal enemies, and seeing the Yao tribe causing trouble instinctively made them unhappy. Especially Dijun's rhetoric about "inheriting the mandate of heaven" and "ordering the world" sounded particularly grating to the Wu tribe. However, Dijiang wasn't reckless; he deeply understood the importance of the power of the stars and knew that turning against them now would be detrimental to the overall situation. He merely let out a cold snort to express his dissatisfaction.

The two Western Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, felt as if they had swallowed a fly. They had just publicly announced their full support, and now their arch-enemies, the demon race, had jumped out, claiming to be there for the sake of Heaven and the common people. This was clearly a scheme to reap the rewards, claim merit, and cause trouble—utterly disgusting!

Xuanbao...