Beneath the blazing sun, the torrential Huai River flowed like a massive Silver Dragon, traversing mountains and piercing through plains, tirelessly pushing forward. With the passage of years, it carried the hopes and dreams of countless lives, striving forward endlessly.

It broke through barriers, crossed treacherous shallows, healed the mountain's fissures, and moistened the parched land, bringing thriving vitality to both banks of the river.

Saint Zhunti glanced at the roaring Huai River and turned back to smile at Yu Yuan, saying, "When you were last in the Western Region of cattle-respecting, did you see any rivers similar to this one?"

Yu Yuan shook his head, "Replying to the Saint, last time I was ordered to go to Longevity Mountain, and on the way, I only passed by the Flowing Sand River... But though the Flowing Sand River is broad, it is a Ruishui River, lifeless on both banks, certainly incomparable to the Huai River, one of the Four Drains."

Saint Zhunti nodded and said indifferently, "Longevity Mountain has Zhen Yuanzi protecting it with the Earth Book, naturally rich in Spiritual Energy. Nevertheless, going there doesn't count as having been to the Western Region of cattle-respecting.

Come, I shall take you for a glimpse of what the true Western Region of cattle-respecting looks like."

As he spoke, he did not wait for Yu Yuan to refuse before extending his hand in a sweeping motion.

Yu Yuan only felt the scenery before his eyes change, and in an instant, he was brought by Saint Zhunti to the vicinity of a great mountain.

With just one glance, he recognized it as Longevity Mountain, a place he had visited before.

However, Saint Zhunti did not stop there, but continued to bring him westward at an extremely high speed, feeling much faster than his Chasing Sun Chariot by many times.

Not long after passing Longevity Mountain, the scenery below gradually began to change.

From the original lush green, it turned yellowish, and then soon after, even the yellow parchedness was gone, replaced by an endless barren desert.

The boundless yellow sand covered the earth, resembling a world of silence and desolation.

The scorching sun shone mercilessly, baking the land, making the entire desert turn a scorching yellow.

The sand dunes undulated, like continuous waves, while the edges of the desert were outlined by withered grass and scattered sand and stones.

When the wind blew, the sand whispered in low murmurs, as if sighing for the land, evoking reflections on the fleeting nature of time and the vastness of the ocean.

In this desolate land, there was almost no vegetation.

Sparse desert grass tenaciously poked out from the yellow sand, pale and feeble under the erosion of the wind and sand, seemingly doomed to never root and sprout. A very few desert plants grew towards the sun, adapting to this barren land with their tenacious will and vitality.

Above the desert, heat waves twisted the vision, as if one were in an illusory realm. The sky was a deep blue with no clouds in sight, the sunlight making the ground shimmer, as if the earth was struggling in flames.

Yu Yuan truly felt a sense of oppression and loneliness.

However, this desert was not entirely desolate.

There were oasis scattered amidst the sand dunes, like bright jewels that shone dazzlingly under the sunlight, adding a mysterious color to the desert.

Yu Yuan discovered that each oasis contained at least one temple of the Western Sect, with countless creatures worshiping and offering, continuously providing Power of Faith.

This Power of Faith was mostly used for arranging the Earth Book's veins, adjusting water currents, summoning wind and rain, among other things.

A peculiar symbiosis was formed between the two.

Countless creatures survived and adapted in this barren land in extreme ways.

"This is the real Western Region of cattle-respecting, with more than eighty percent of the area being barren and desolate!"

Saint Zhunti looked at Yu Yuan and said with a sigh, "Are these sights not vastly different from those of your East?"

Yu Yuan did not answer, but instead asked with a frown, "Saint, for what purpose have you brought me here to see the Western landscape?"

Saint Zhunti smiled and said, "Today, I bring you here merely to let you have a deeper understanding of the West. You may have also heard that the West was not always as barren and desolate as it is now..."

Accompanying his words, a vast and magnificent Divine Thought came through.

Before Yu Yuan's eyes, an illusory scroll appeared, flickering continuously like revolving lantern slides.

In that scroll, he could clearly see Saint Zhunti sitting cross-legged under a Mysterious Bodhi Ancient Tree, his posture upright and dignified, his tall figure standing straight and stalwart, as if an iron column connected to Heaven and Earth.

He wore a white robe, his black hair elegant and fluttering gently with the breeze. His brows and eyes exuded a trace of kindness and tolerance, the corners of his mouth slightly curling up, radiating a tranquil and serene smile.

Sunlight filtered through the Bodhi Tree's branches and leaves, casting specks of golden light.

Around Saint Zhunti, countless creatures bowed in respect and worship.

They came in diverse forms from different species, whether Scale Armored, winged, or walking, all quietly listening to the great Dao around him.

And in the far distance, there stood an imposing and majestic, awe-inspiring mountain.

Just a simple glance, and Yu Yuan felt a flicker of enlightenment in his heart.

That was Sumeru Mountain!

A complete and magnificent Divine Mountain!

An insurmountable and towering giant, standing whole and intact upon the Western land, touching the sky. Peaks piercing the clouds, eternally snow-capped, as though a colossal beast lay coiled upon the Earth.

However, an endless malevolent aura suddenly enveloped the entire Western Continent.

The sun and moon discolored, the ground shook, and mountains trembled.

Countless living beings turned to ashes in an instant!

The unforeseen catastrophe wreaked devastating destruction upon the Western Ancestral Vein, Sumeru Mountain; that immense mountain crumbled into ruins in the blink of an eye...

As Sumeru Mountain collapsed, the Western Ancestral Vein suffered severe damage; cracks swiftly spread across the entire land like fierce dragons writhing about.

Countless spirits were reduced to ash in the blink of an eye.

A malevolent aura shrouded the entire Western Continent, forests and plains losing their vitality's green, leaving only desolate ruins.

Everywhere was a heap of rubble, mountains lay in decay and despondence, as if the figures of fallen giants languished across the land.

Once vibrant with life, the Western Continent now lay desolate and silent, devoid of any signs of life.

Silence and despair permeated the hearts of the surviving beings, having lost their support and hope, unsure of where to turn.

When the disaster struck, Saint Zhunti, who had not yet attained sainthood, saved many lives.

Yet despite his best efforts, what he could do was hardly enough compared to the terrifying calamity.

"After that, I attempted to lead the surviving beings of the West to migrate eastward," Saint Zhunti said indifferently, "sadly, those in the East did not favor the idea of sharing what they thought should belong only to themselves.

So I had no choice but to lead those survivors back to the West, to strive and survive on this barren wasteland."

Yu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.

Though Saint Zhunti spoke lightly, Yu Yuan could imagine the unimaginable rejections, targeting, bullying, and even attacks he must have faced at that time.

Left with no alternative, Zhunti, who had not yet reached sainthood, had no choice but to bring those Western beings back to the barren Western Continent.

Under such harsh conditions today, it was only by continually transporting Cave Heaven Spirit Veins from the East that those Western beings could survive...

Eh, wait!

Why does it feel like I'm starting to sympathize?

He's leading me down the garden path!

Yu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, silently admonishing himself: No matter what reasons he has, they are none of my concern!

Saint Zhunti observed the changes in his expression, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he spoke with sincere earnestness, "Since then, I've resolved to revitalize the West, to let these beings who have suffered calamities regain a homeland of their own. If you, my friend, would..."

Before he could finish, Yu Yuan energetically clapped his hands, while simultaneously expressing admiration, "Well said! The Saint truly possesses a compassionate heart, inspiring genuine reverence!"

Saint Zhunti's gaze fixed intensely on Yu Yuan, "Would you, my friend, be willing to assist me and revive the West together?"

"Hm?"

Yu Yuan said somewhat surprisedly, "Is the Saint trying to recruit me?"

Saint Zhunti's brows furrowed slightly, smiling he said, "Do you find something unsuitable with that?"

"Unsuitable! Very much so!" Yu Yuan nodded repeatedly, "If you seek to recruit me to serve the West, shouldn't you first entice me with big promises?

You don't even paint me a picture but expect me to change allegiances after a story... That seems somewhat dismissive."

Saint Zhunti seemed not to have anticipated such a frank request for benefits, raising his eyebrows slightly in surprise and smiling, "Tell me what you want. Whatever you desire within the Three Realms, within the Five Elements, I can help you obtain!"

Upon hearing this, it was Yu Yuan's turn to be astonished.

This Saint Zhunti was truly determined to recruit him!

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