OBS Chapter 6 Hongjun Achieves Sainthood, Two Zodiac Animals Return to Their Positions
Chapter 6 Hongjun Achieves Sainthood, Two Zodiac Animals Return to Their Positions
More than 30,000 years have passed in the vastness of time, but in the grand scheme of things, they are but a fleeting moment.
Inside the Guanghan Palace of the Moon Star.
The moonlight shines in myriad rays, the fragrance of osmanthus lingers, the air is crisp and clear, and the Daoist spirit arises naturally.
Changxi concealed his human form, revealing his innate true form, transforming into a snow-white jade rabbit about a foot long—
Its fur is as smooth and lustrous as snow, crystal clear and flawless. Its ears are long and delicate, and its ruby-like eyes are clear and bright. Its whole body is surrounded by a faint moonlight, making it naturally beautiful and ethereal.
"clatter."
She lightly touched the ground with her toes, leaped up, and landed gracefully on Ling Xiao's lap. She curled up softly, her voice sweet and gentle: "Brother Ling Xiao, all twelve zodiac animals have been restored to their positions, guarding the celestial order, and the merits of Heaven are inexhaustible. Should we stay here in seclusion to cultivate, or should we travel to various parts of the starry sea to seek opportunities?"
At that moment, the palace doors opened slightly, and Xihe walked in slowly and leisurely.
Her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, held up only by a single, cool, lustrous jade hairpin.
Her face was ethereal and otherworldly, her brows and eyes were delicate and gentle, her skin was as smooth as moonlight and frost, and she was surrounded by a hazy, luminous aura, exuding the holy and aloofness of the moon.
"This time, enlightening the star gods and restoring order to the earthly branches and stars is a supreme act of kindness in accordance with the will of heaven and earth," Xihe said softly, her voice like the gentle murmur of a cold spring.
"We do not seek to dominate the primordial world, nor do we get involved in the conflicts between myriad races. We only need to solidify our foundation step by step, stay away from the great calamities and slaughter, and cultivate in peace."
"In my opinion, it would be better to continue to enlighten the other star deities and strengthen the starry sky lineage. This should be safe and secure, and far better than stepping into the primordial land and getting involved in boundless killing and entangled karma."
In Xihe's heart, the primordial land was filled with the lingering calamity, and hidden dangers lurked in the shadows. The bloody hue of the fall of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans had not yet dissipated, and powerful recluses from all sides were lurking in the shadows, making every step fraught with peril.
Holding fast to the two stars of the Moon and the Sun, and cultivating the order of the galaxy, is the only way to ensure stability and longevity.
Ling Xiao looked at Xi He, who was cautious and sought stability in everything she did, and shook his head with a helpless smile:
"Fellow Daoist Xihe, you are too cautious in your actions, and have fallen into the trap of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Avoiding calamities is certainly a fundamental principle of life, but in the ascension of the Great Dao, there is no way to achieve perfection by simply retreating."
The path of Gou Dao is by no means about closing oneself off or constantly avoiding challenges, but rather about planning carefully before acting, accumulating strength, and knowing when to advance and retreat.
He foresaw the future trajectory of the primordial world and knew that avoiding the world was ultimately not a long-term solution.
During the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, Zhen Yuanzi lived in seclusion at Wuzhuang Temple, avoiding worldly strife, but in the end he still could not escape the schemes of the West.
During the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the Tongtian Sect Leader strictly ordered the disciples of the Jie Sect to seclude themselves in caves to recite scriptures, silently study the Yellow Court Classic, and refrain from worldly affairs. In the end, however, countless immortals perished, the Jie Sect collapsed, countless people died, and the place was desolate...
Sometimes, choosing to avoid a situation can be unavoidable.
"Previously, you and I established the Twelve Earthly Branches, defined the order of heaven and earth, and gained merit, thus forming a karmic bond with them," Ling Xiao said slowly, his gaze deep and composed.
"Now that I have personally enlightened the twelve zodiac animals and promoted the Yuan Chen Star God, it is in accordance with the principle of repaying good deeds with good results, and this cause and effect has been settled."
"But if we continue to aimlessly enlighten the stars and forcibly give birth to star gods, we will needlessly incur new karmic consequences, and the advantages and disadvantages are unpredictable."
"The way of cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation to ensure the longevity of the Great Way."
The purpose of enlightening the twelve earthly branches is twofold: first, to settle karmic debts, and second, to stabilize the order of time.
As for further enlightenment of other star gods?
That's not something we need to do now.
Do what you are capable of.
It's not entirely impossible for someone like Di Jun to create countless post-natal demon races and bear countless karmic consequences with a single wave of imperial dew.
Instead, we should proceed slowly, in a planned manner, and with discretion; we cannot try to achieve everything at once.
Xihe frowned slightly, her gaze narrowing: "From what you've said, Brother Dao, you seem to intend to leave the starry sky and travel to the primordial land?"
When she spoke of the primordial wilderness, a look of worry was hard to hide. That land, which had endured several great calamities, was fraught with unpredictable dangers and was by no means a safe place.
"Not so. Establishing the timeline is just the beginning. If nothing unexpected happens, the next step will naturally be to continue planning for meritorious deeds," Ling Xiao said with a smile.
In the beginning of time, there were many things in the primordial world that needed improvement, and there were also many ways to plan for meritorious deeds.
If several more great eons pass, the amount of merit that can be accumulated in the world will be very limited.
This is the worst of times for a power struggle.
But for those planning to do good deeds, this is the best of times!
As the two were whispering and discussing the Tao—
"Boom!!!"
A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the depths of chaos, its sound vast and boundless, like the thunderous roar of Pangu's giant axe when he created the world, shaking the very membrane of the primordial world.
Amidst the endless chaotic currents, a purple-gold rift spanning billions of miles was suddenly torn open.
"Bang!"
The innate spiritual energy, pure energy, and chaotic energy surged down like waves, but as they approached the primordial world's embryonic membrane, they all transformed into countless seven-treasure necklaces and nine-petaled golden lotuses covering the ground.
Above the Thirty-Three Heavens, purple qi stretched for three hundred billion miles, covering all the heavens;
Auspicious energy rises from the five directions, cranes circle, and deer carry lingzhi mushrooms.
An immense and overwhelming pressure spread out layer by layer, enveloping the nine heavens and ten earths, and the vast starry sea.
Immediately afterwards, a calm voice rang out, devoid of sorrow or joy:
"Lying high above the nine heavens, I find the true Tao on my futon."
"Beyond the mysteries of heaven and earth, I shall be the supreme leader."
"Pangu gave birth to Taiji, from which Yin and Yang and the Four Symbols followed."
"The leader of the Xuanmen, one Qi transforms into Hongjun."
"I am Hongjun, the master of the Jade Tablet of Creation. Favored by the Heavenly Dao, I have transcended the shackles today and attained the supreme Primordial Dao Fruit, thus becoming a Heavenly Dao Saint."
"Three thousand years from now, I will open an altar in the Chaos Purple Cloud Palace outside the Thirty-Three Heavens to preach the Dharma, expound the wondrous laws of the Heavenly Dao, and analyze the ultimate principles of the Primordial Chaos."
"All races of the primordial world, all gods and deities of the heavens, all those with the affinity for the Dharma are welcome to attend this gathering and listen to the teachings."
As the sacred sound subsided, the extraordinary phenomena in heaven and earth became even more magnificent.
The clouds and mists of the heavens are layered upon each other, and the auspicious seven-colored vapors descend to the mortal world.
The vast ocean waves transform into golden ripples, and all living beings bow down in worship.
That supreme, sage-like power, which transcended all things, swept across the primordial world, suppressing all living beings without discrimination.
Within the primordial world, no matter how powerful a being was, they were all drawn by the pressure and involuntarily knelt down in worship.
Even a top-tier innate deity like Ziwei Xingjun, with a noble destiny and extraordinary foundation,
Even a reclusive Primordial Golden Immortal and an ancient power like Zhulong,
Even Taiqing Laozi, who was transformed from the primordial spirit of Pangu and protected by the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda, a treasure of acquired merit...
They were all forced to their knees by this oppressive force, completely out of their control!
Below the level of a sage, all are but ants!
The Heavenly Sage is supreme and noble!
Only where the Taiyin star was located, the vast holy might bypassed it, without exerting any pressure whatsoever, as if it were intentional.
Therefore, Ling Xiao and the other two were not affected by this oppressive force.
"This is... Hongjun has attained sainthood?!"
Ling Xiao's expression changed drastically. He suddenly stood up from the futon, raised his eyes and gazed at the purple-gold glow deep in the chaos, his heart churning with emotion.
The snow-white jade rabbit swayed its body, its spiritual light flowing, and in an instant transformed into the charming and lively young girl Chang Xi.
Her eyes sparkled, her face filled with shock and excitement: "Ancestor Hongjun has attained enlightenment! He's the first person to successfully attain enlightenment since the beginning of time! Such an ancient and supreme being is going to preach, Brother Lingxiao, should we go listen?"
Xihe gazed into the distance beyond the chaotic heavens, her expression hesitant and uncertain.
The lectures at Zixiao Palace brought together all the top experts of the primordial world, including descendants of the Dragon-Han people and innate deities, all gathered together, with the opportunity to attain enlightenment within reach.
However, with heroes gathering, interests intertwined, schemes hidden, and conflicts unavoidable, the dangers within are also unpredictable.
A single thought can lead to opportunity, or a single thought can lead to disaster.
The two women looked at each other, both unable to make a decision. In the end, they both turned their gazes to Ling Xiao, waiting for him to make his decision.
Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his fingertips lightly touching his chin, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
Three thousand years later, the Zixiao Palace opened its doors to lectures, and the Dao Ancestor expounded his teachings, marking a crucial juncture in the course of the primordial world's destiny.
The road ahead holds both opportunities and turmoil; this grand event spanning millennia...
To go, or not to go?