Jieyin, seeing a mere tattered book pull the three back, was also surprised, but only slightly so!
"Can a speck of dust outshine the sun!"
As Jieyin's voice fell, golden figures appeared seated on the lotus seedpods of the white lotuses, and they began chanting sutras in unison!
With the added chanting of the golden figures, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma's eyelids grew heavier, their bodies and minds utterly fatigued, as if a great magic was luring them into slumber!
Though the three knew it was Jieyin's scheme, and that this sleep might be eternal, they couldn't resist the allure of dreamland!
Shiva and Vishnu, seeing that it was the Veda Sutra in Brahma's hand that had pulled them back, turned their gaze back to Brahma.
Brahma understood their meaning. Though the Veda Sutra was precious, it had to be used at this moment.
Brahma looked at Shiva and Vishnu and said, "Lend me your strength!"
Shiva and Vishnu nodded, placing their hands behind Brahma. With a resolute heart, Brahma poured the strength of all three into the Veda Sutra.
As the Veda Sutra received their combined power, it began to burn. Brahma watched the burning sutra, his heart bleeding!
As the Veda Sutra burned, verses surged from the flames, encircling the three. In a short while, they were completely enveloped by these verses.
Jieyin, witnessing this, furrowed his brow, then quickly relaxed it.
"To think you could resist my divine abilities with a mere scripture, have I cultivated for these endless eons in vain?"
Jieyin chuckled, glancing at the protective shield formed by the scriptures.
"This is your own doing, do not blame me!"
"I am the Master of Great Dreams. The mortal world is filled with troubles; only great dreams can dispel sorrow. You three shall accompany me to the Western Paradise!"
As Jieyin finished speaking, the chanting of the golden figures became more urgent. The minds of Shiva and the other two, which had just cleared, began to cloud over again.
Brahma, with his four heads, was subjected to four times the attack. His eyelids felt as if they were made of lead, and he swayed precariously!
Seeing that Brahma was about to falter, Vishnu immediately looked at Shiva, "Mahadeva, you brought this upon us, why don't you apologize quickly!"
Shiva also felt a pang of regret. Had he known Jieyin was so powerful, he would have avoided him at all costs, not stumbled into his path.
Just as Shiva was struggling with whether to yield, Jieyin suddenly dispelled his divine abilities!
The three looked at Jieyin, utterly bewildered as to why he had suddenly released them. Jieyin then spoke:
"Your fate is not to perish. My junior brother has awakened! You shall fend for yourselves!"
As Jieyin's voice faded, immense golden light erupted from where Zhunti was. Jieyin's face lit up with joy, and without another word to the three, he rushed towards Zhunti.
Upon Jieyin's return, everyone prostrated themselves at his feet:
"Thank you, Buddha, for saving our lives!"
Jieyin frowned, looking at the crowd. "I am not the Buddha you speak of, nor should you address us as such in the future! I did not do this to protect you, but for my junior brother!"
Jieyin wasn't sure why he was speaking so much to a group of mortals. Realizing this, he turned his gaze towards the Bodhi tree.
He saw that though the Bodhi tree was emitting immense golden light, Zhunti would still need some time to awaken.
Jieyin casually glanced at the person beneath the Bodhi tree. He observed that this person was continuously absorbing the immeasurable golden light emitted by the Bodhi tree, their cultivation advancing from early Da Luo to peak Da Luo. This fortunate encounter had saved them much arduous cultivation.
Jieyin also noticed that after receiving Zhunti's blessing, this person seemed to have a predestined affinity with the Western Sect.
Jieyin looked at the person and suddenly asked the crowd, "I hear you all call him 'Venerable One,' who is he!"
The crowd, ecstatic that Jieyin had deigned to ask them, immediately replied:
"He is the founder of our Bhikshu lineage. We all respectfully call him the Venerable One. However, the Venerable One seems to be a prince, named Shakyamuni!"
Another person added, "The Venerable One originally lived a life of ease, but he could not bear the suffering of sentient beings, so he founded the Bhikshu lineage. However, because of this, the Venerable One became a thorn in the side of the Trimurti gods. They have always wished for the Venerable One to vanish from this world! Fortunately, the Venerable One has great fortune and has received your protection, Lord Buddha."
Jieyin looked at the speaker speechlessly, but he was too weary to argue with these people.
At this moment, the Bodhi tree slowly began to shrink, and finally disappeared behind Zhunti. The Bhikshus' faces changed drastically, and they exclaimed in shock, "The sacred tree is gone!"
Jieyin ignored them. Seeing Zhunti restored to his original form, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Junior brother!"
Zhunti, upon seeing Jieyin, also replied happily, "Senior brother!"
Jieyin, noticing the absence of the Bodhi tree, asked, "Junior brother, where are your relatives?"
Zhunti smiled at this. "Senior brother, please don't tease me. I have no relatives!"
Jieyin laughed heartily and immediately inquired, "What happened?"
Zhunti then began to explain: "Senior brother, that Bodhi tree was actually another me. When I fell from the Chaos Bodhi Tree, I happened to encounter Chaos Divine Lightning in the chaos, which split me into two. I fell beside senior brother, while the other half landed here! As I was born incomplete, I always thought I was the sole son of the Chaos Bodhi Tree. Today, by completing myself here, I finally know this is my true self!"
Jieyin listened, stunned. He never imagined that Zhunti, born incomplete, could not only transform but also become a sage!
"Junior brother, how can your Bodhi race be so monstrous? Even being born incomplete, you still became a sage!"
Zhunti immediately knelt before Jieyin. "This is all thanks to senior brother. If senior brother had not watered me daily with his personal treasure when I was young, Zhunti would not be where he is today!"
Jieyin smiled and helped Zhunti up. "Alright, let's not dwell on the past. By the way, what about this young man, how will you handle him!"
Jieyin finished speaking and pointed at Shakyamuni, who had yet to awaken.
Zhunti looked at Shakyamuni. "Senior brother, this child has cultivated beside me for years and has a karmic affinity with me. I wish to take him as my disciple. What do you think, senior brother?"
Jieyin smiled and pinched Zhunti's cheek. "Junior brother, you are also a sect leader of the Western Sect. I am not the only leader; you may decide for yourself, why ask me!"
Zhunti immediately shook his head. "No, senior brother is senior brother!"
Jieyin helplessly shook his head. "Alright, alright! Everything is as you wish!"