Hu Le watched Yunxiao and the others disappear into the horizon. Just as he was about to urge the auspicious cloud to continue heading towards the easternmost point, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"Young fellow Daoist, please wait a moment."
Upon hearing this, Hu Le turned around and saw that the newcomer had a double bun hairstyle, a sallow complexion and a thin body, with two flowers on the buns and a tree branch in his hand.
He was startled and quickly stepped forward to greet him, saying, "So you are a senior from the West. This junior greets you."
The visitor was none other than the Western Sumeru Mountain Daoist Zhunti, the future second leader of the Western Religion.
"Ha! I recognized you from afar, young friend. It turns out you are the newly appointed Eastern Divine Lord of Heaven, a disciple of Brother Taiyi. It's been a long time!" Zhunti Daoist said with a kind smile.
The two had met briefly at Emperor Jun's birthday banquet in the Sun Palace. Daoist Zhunti had a good memory and recognized him instantly.
"This junior's good fortune is all thanks to my master. As for you, senior, it's been a long time since I last saw you, and you still look as dashing as ever!" Hu Le said with a smile.
He had long heard that this Daoist Zhunti had always liked to go around begging for alms and to convert all living beings in the world to cultivate his pure and righteous path in the West.
However, as a disciple of Taiyi, he was not afraid that Zhunti Daoist would harm him, so he remained calm and composed.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Master Zhunti showed no airs of a senior, highly skilled master. His warm and amiable manner made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
After exchanging pleasantries, Hu Le asked, "I have long heard that Mount Sumeru is a pure and tranquil place in the West. Why do you come to the East Sea instead of seeking blessings in the West?"
Zhunti Daoist brushed himself with a branch and said with a smile, "My lifelong wish, Brother Jieyin Daoist, is to promote our Four Directions Great Law. However, the population of our Western Regions is not large, and there are very few people with the right affinity."
Having long heard of the outstanding people and abundant resources of the East, I have come specifically to guide one or two destined individuals to return with me and jointly comprehend the Great Dao.
Upon hearing this, Hu Le nodded slightly and praised, "Senior is compassionate."
However, he knew in his heart that the person in front of him probably knew about the changes on Penglai Island and that there might be some benefits to be gained in the East China Sea, so he came here specifically to seek some advantages.
However, true friends are those who see through things but don't say anything.
He has already taken the biggest advantage of the battle in the East China Sea. As for the Taoist Zhunti coming to pick up the rest, it's none of his business, much less his ability to do so.
"But where is the person you spoke of who is destined to be with you?" Hu Le continued to ask.
"Hehe! Since we are destined to be together, we should follow fate and act according to our hearts!" Master Zhunti replied with a smile.
Hu Le chuckled inwardly: That sounds nice, but isn't it just about taking advantage of someone you like and kicking them out if you don't...?
"Since you are going to guide those destined to receive enlightenment, I will not disturb your good deed and will take my leave first."
Hu Le was unwilling to stay with Daoist Zhunti any longer, fearing that if he stayed too long, he would be subtly converted by the other party.
After all, he had heard of the strange and unpredictable nature of Western religions' supernatural powers, and he was afraid of accidentally falling victim to them...
The Daoist Zhunti seemed to see through Hu Le's little scheme, but he didn't expose him. He said with a half-smile, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave, young man? Stay and be my witness."
"Witness?" Hu Le frowned slightly.
“I have foreseen that there is someone not far ahead who is destined to be with me in the West and has a deep connection with your Penglai Immortal Island. Since you are the new master of Penglai Island, why don’t you come with me and sever our ties?”
"this?"
Hu Le hesitated for a moment, "Since that person has a great affinity with my Penglai Immortal Island, how can he be accepted into the Western Sect? Senior, shouldn't you reconsider?"
Zhunti Daoist shook his head, "It's not what you think... Never mind, come with me, you'll understand when you see me."
Having said that, he urged the auspicious cloud beneath his feet to fly forward, and Hu Le followed. He wanted to see what this Daoist Zhunti was up to...
The two traveled forward for several thousand miles when Zhunti Daoist suddenly stopped above a deserted island and looked down.
Hu Le also stared intently, only to find it was a desolate island, devoid of any living beings and even spiritual energy.
"Senior, is your destined one not on this island?" Hu Le teased with a smile.
The Taoist Zhunti did not answer, but instead casually swept the branch across the island.
With a loud bang.
The entire island seemed to have moved hundreds of miles out of thin air, causing the sea to churn and creating endless waves.
Beneath the vanished island, a large, dark hole appeared.
Surprisingly, although a large amount of seawater had gathered around the black hole, it seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier, showing no sign of flowing back in...
"Senior, what amazing abilities you have! The Western Dharma is truly extraordinary!" Hu Le couldn't help but clap his hands in agreement upon seeing this.
Zhunti Daoist nodded slightly, his face showing little pride. It was understandable; with his cultivation level, moving an island was something he could accomplish in the blink of an eye, hardly a world-shaking feat.
At this moment, Hu Le looked at the branch in the hands of the Taoist Zhunti and couldn't help but feel a thought. He remembered that he had been fighting with someone some time ago and was lacking a suitable tool for proving his Tao.
Now that we've witnessed the divine power of Zhunti's magical weapon, we might as well ask him for advice and forge one ourselves.
"I observe that the magical weapon in your hand, senior, possesses extraordinary power. May I ask how it was forged? Would you be willing to impart some of your skills to this junior?"
Hu Le asked directly.
In front of someone like Master Zhunti, just say what you mean directly. Trying to use cryptic language and hidden meanings will only make you a laughingstock...
The Daoist Zhunti, who would later become a leader of a sect, was certainly not a narrow-minded person. Seeing that Hu Le was seeking his guidance, he did not hold back and explained the method of refining magical artifacts.
This treasure is called the Seven Treasures Tree. It was made by combining the Western Gengjin Bodhi with seven treasures such as gold, silver, and lapis lazuli. It has the power to sweep away all the treasures in the world and cleanse nothing.
These materials are not rare or hard to find. The reason they have such power after being refined is simply because they have been nurtured by him for many years and contain the profound mysteries of the Great Dao that he himself possesses.
More importantly, the restrictions placed upon this treasure during its forging were exceptionally extraordinary…
As Zhunti Daoist walked towards the black hole, he explained the refining method to Hu Le, especially the method of restriction, which he had come up with through his understanding of the Great Dao. He did not keep it a secret from Hu Le and taught it to him as well.
Hu Le nodded repeatedly, firmly memorizing the method of the restriction.
Before they knew it, the two arrived at the sea. Zhunti Daoist used the Seven Treasures Tree to sweep the seawater, and the seawater automatically parted to create a path.
The two continued on their way and finally arrived at the black hole.
At this moment, Daoist Zhunti also finished explaining the refining method.
Hu Le quickly bowed and thanked the Taoist Zhunti for passing on his skills.
Just then, a figure suddenly flashed inside the black hole, and another person appeared out of thin air in front of the two.
Hu Le looked closely and quickly recognized the person who had come, and understood why Daoist Zhunti had asked him to come and be a witness.
It turns out that this person did indeed have some connection with Penglai Immortal Island... no, it should be said that he had a deep connection with the deceased Eastern King Duke...
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