Jieyin and Zhunti bowed together and said, "We've seen the three senior brothers!"
Taishang, Primordial, and Tongtian returned the bow, saying, "We've seen junior brother."
The five stood upright, exchanged smiles, and the atmosphere seemed to be particularly harmonious.
Taishang looked at the five people behind Jieyin and Zhunti and said, "Are they your high disciples?!"
Zhunti smiled and said, "They can hardly be called high disciples. The West lacks the profusion of talent that the East has. They may be considered notable in the West, but in the East, they would be reduced to mediocrity."
The five disciples behind Jieyin and Zhunti lowered their heads without speaking, looking very humble.
Primordial said, "If they have caught the eyes of fellow Daoists, how could they be mediocre?
Duobao, you are responsible for taking care of these junior brothers from the West; do not neglect the proper courtesy."
Duobao Taoist respectfully responded, "Yes!"
Zhunti said, "You all may go now! Learn well and ask our senior brothers for advice."
The three disciples behind Jieyin and Zhunti humbly responded, "Yes!" and followed Duobao and others towards the back mountain.
Taishang chuckled and said, "It's rare for the two junior brothers to visit; how about going to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kunlun Mountain with me?"
Jieyin revealed a slight smile and said, "It would be disrespectful not to comply."
"Giggle~" A light laugh echoed between Heaven and Earth, a crisp voice arose in the skies above Kunlun Mountain: "Why didn't you inform me when brothers are gathering?!"
Taishang, Jieyin, and others looked up to the sky, only to see ripples in the sky as a magnificent and beautiful woman slowly descended from the ripples.
Zhunti bowed and respectfully said, "It was a whim, a sudden decision to visit the three senior brothers, moved by the heart without daring to disturb the senior sister."
Taishang laughed and said, "Now that the junior sister has also come, let's have an Immortal Pill appreciation gathering today! This old Daoist has newly refined a batch of Immortal Pills, and I invite junior sister and junior brother to evaluate them."
Nuwa gently landed in front of the group and chuckled, "Thank you then, senior brother."
The group instantly disappeared in front of the main hall and reappeared in the next instant under a large tree in the back mountain, sitting around a stone table surrounded by drifting leaves, appearing very serene.
Shortly after, the Wudang Saint and Golden Spirit Saint Mother came to offer the Immortal Fruit and exquisite wine, and then retreated.
There is a waterfall on the back mountain, where spring water flows with flowers blooming profusely; it is quite a beautiful spot.
Duobao and others hosted the visiting far-off senior brothers from the West to this location.
Duobao smiled and asked, "How may the junior brothers address you?"
"I am called Pharmacist~"
"I am called Ksitigarbha~"
"I am called Mahasthamaprapta~"
"I am Sunlight~"
"I am Moonlight~"
All five bowed.
Duobao nodded and said, "Please have a seat, junior brothers."
Moonlight looked left and right, puzzled, and asked, "Where should we sit?"
Duobao said, "The Taoist way is natural; naturally, one sits on the ground." He floated down to seat himself on a stone and looked at them.
The other ten or so registered disciples also sat cross-legged on the ground, with a few even letting out chuckles as they directed their gazes at Pharmacist and others.
Pharmacist chuckled and said, "It seems we were too formal." Adjusting their clothes, they sat down on the ground.
Duobao glanced at Pharmacist Buddha and the others with a flash of admiration in his eyes.
The group casually chatted about past and present rare stories, and the conversation eventually led to discussing philosophical doctrines, with disagreements gradually widening and laughter less frequent.
"Whirr~" There was a sound of flapping wings.
A beautiful injured small bird descended from the sky, closely followed by a Golden Eagle that swooped down towards the small bird.
Pharmacist Buddha waved his hand and released a golden light to block the Golden Eagle.
A young man with big ears, looking to lighten the heavy air, joked and laughed on the spot, "Lucky for us, food has come right to our door, allow me to kill and roast it, to entertain our fellow brothers from the West."
Medicine Buddha shook his head and said, "Thank you, Daoist Brother, for your good intentions, but in the Western region, we do not engage in acts of killing."
Then, he turned to Duobao Taoist and said, "Daoist Brother, this is your domain, how should this situation be handled?"
Duobao Taoist spoke evenly, "The law of the jungle is the rule of Heaven and Earth, just let it go back to the mountains and forests."
Medicine Buddha shook his head and said, "If released back to nature, this beautiful forest sprite will surely die. Can you truly bear that, Daoist Brother?"
Duobao Taoist furrowed his brows, sized up Medicine Buddha, and said, "What would you do?"
Medicine Buddha stood up, took the beautiful bird in his hand, brushed over its injured wing, and a stream of gold light flowed, healing the wounds of the little bird instantly. It chirped cheerfully in delight.
With a casual toss, Medicine Buddha let the bird spread its wings and fly high, disappearing into the clouds.
The young man with large ears felt his face had been slapped and sneered, "Daoist Brother saved a little bird, but isn't this injustice to the Golden Eagle?"
Medicine Buddha smiled, looked towards the Golden Eagle, and said, "I snatched a piece of meat from your grasp; how about I return a piece to you now?"
The Golden Eagle looked at Medicine Buddha with a high head.
Medicine Buddha lifted his clothes, making a knife with his hand, and cut off a large, bloody piece of flesh from his chest.
The Golden Eagle bent down, picked up the piece of flesh, spread its wings, and flew high, disappearing into the clouds.
Everyone gaped at Medicine Buddha, astonished at his actions. Although he wouldn't die, the pain was real!
Medicine Buddha straightened his clothes and turned to the big-eared youth, smiling as he said, "Now both have lived."
The big-eared youth's face darkened, and he fell silent.
Duobao Taoist looked at Medicine Buddha, his expression becoming grave. He came prepared! The appearance of the Golden Eagle and the small bird was also very strange. Is this their Western way?!
Medicine Buddha sat cross-legged on the green stone.
Ksitigarbha stood up and sat down beside a female disciple.
On the other side under a tree, Golden Spirit Saint Mother whispered, "What is he intending to do?"
Wudang Saint shook her head, "I don't know!"
Golden Spirit Saint Mother said coldly, "I think they came looking for trouble."
The female disciple next to Ksitigarbha frowned and said, "Poor Taoist Shi Ji has met you before, Senior Brother, are you sure you are not sitting in the wrong place?"
Ksitigarbha shook his head without speaking.
"Please, Senior Brother, change your seat."
Ksitigarbha continued to shake his head without speaking.
A flash of irritation crossed Shi Ji's eyes as her hands formed a Seal Decision.
Suddenly, Duobao Taoist spoke up, "Do not strike a guest."
Shi Ji paused, her hand decisions changed, and a gust of wind blew towards Ksitigarbha, spinning sand and enveloping him within it.
Ksitigarbha sat still on the ground, ignoring the whirlwind and flying sand.
Seeing the wind ineffective, Shi Ji's hand gestures changed, and the ground rumbled like waves, but Ksitigarbha remained motionless.
Thunderbolts descended from the sky, striking around Ksitigarbha, yet he stayed unmoved.
Storm, frost, thunder, and lightning, none could make Ksitigarbha leave, as if he were rooted in the ground.
Shi Ji abruptly stood up, her face ashen, and said, "Very well! A good Western Daoist Friend." With a sweep of her sleeves, she strode to the side.
Ksitigarbha opened his eyes and said with a smile, "Daoist Friend, do you know why all the Magic Powers cannot prevail over me?"
Shi Ji stopped in her tracks and sneered, "Because you are shameless."
Ksitigarbha shook his head and said, "You are right about one word, because I am the empty.
You have spells, which means you have limits, an end, a quantity, a boundary;
While I am without spells, without means without limits, without end, immeasurable, boundless.
The relationship between nothing and something is to respond to all changes with the unchanging. I do not change, hence I prevail over your myriad of changes."
Shi Ji suddenly turned to look at Ksitigarbha and said, "What are you trying to say?"
Ksitigarbha said with a smile, "To be empty is a tolerant mindset, a poised state one should learn."
Shi Ji's expression shifted, and she turned her head and walked aside.
Duobao Taoist murmured to himself, "What an impressive emptiness, the Western way does hold some interest."