Chapter 669
The Hidden Secrets of Heaven's Dao
At the very moment Zhuang Yan achieved the 'Boundless Dao Body', his primordial spirit sat peacefully atop the Three Flowers and Five Qi above his spiritual platform.
At this moment, Zhuang Yan saw the 'Heavenly Dao'. Although it had no actual form and was merely a void, Zhuang Yan knew that a will called the Heavenly Dao was there, watching him.
The Heavenly Dao turned its gaze to Zhuang Yan, and at this moment, the effect of Zhuang Yan integrating the Jade Purity Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Book into his own power became apparent.
This is how Zhuang Yan, after refining the "Jade Purity Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Scroll" into his own great power, regained another 'function': "The Great Dao is formless."
The original 'automatic avoidance' has completely disappeared, because the 'Great Way is Formless' function already includes 'automatic avoidance'.
As the gaze of Heaven descended, the 'Formless Great Dao' function was automatically activated, allowing Zhuang Yan to perfectly merge into the Heavenly Dao of Pangu.
Therefore, the 'Heavenly Dao' only glanced at him before confirming that Zhuang Yan was not abnormal and was a being within its own Pangu Heavenly Dao.
Just a moment later, Zhuang Yan felt the will of Heaven vanish without any warning or omen; it was omnipresent.
As the 'Pangu Heavenly Dao' completed its final 'identification' of Zhuang Yan, a boundless mysterious light flashed across Zhuang Yan's body.
This boundless light illuminated all the heavens of the Three Realms, the Thirty-Six Heavens, the Nine Netherworlds, and finally the entire present world.
Meanwhile, a circle appeared in Zhuang Yan's primordial spirit's embrace. That circle encompassed everything, covered all heavens, evolved all things, and generated endless power to nourish Zhuang Yan's primordial spirit and Dao body.
And this 'circle' is precisely the 'Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit'!
At this moment, Zhuang Yan was already a Great Luo Golden Immortal who was "untouched by countless calamities and unblemished by cause and effect. With a single thought, he could transcend the past and present, and his chaotic body was naturally formed."
The moment Zhuang Yan successfully attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, a halo appeared behind his head. Within that halo, countless mysterious lights illuminated the Three Realms and reflected the heavens.
At the same time, from the Thirty-Sixth Heaven down to the Three Realms and the Underworld, boundless auspicious clouds covered the ten directions, and vast purple qi covered the entire sky.
The celestial energy within the Three Realms continued to rise for a hundred days, eventually transforming into sweet rain that descended upon the Three Realms. All living beings who bathed in this sweet rain gained a twelve-year lifespan at that moment, their calamities and diseases were eradicated, and the disabled even experienced limb regeneration, becoming completely whole.
Those who are trapped in shackles for a long time and unable to break free, or who are entangled by inner demons and karmic obstacles, can also break free from these shackles and sweep away all inner demons and karmic obstacles by bathing in the sweet rain.
When this sweet rain falls into the underworld, the millions of ghosts there are immediately cleansed of their sins and are thus liberated.
Except for a few ghosts who had committed unforgivable crimes, all the other souls were liberated, and the underworld was emptied.
If immortals bathe in sweet rain, they will understand the Dao and the world, be thoroughly familiar with the mysteries, comprehend supernatural powers, and see all laws clearly.
If a cultivator bathes in sweet rain, he will gain profound insight and transcendence, see through the illusions of the mortal world, be freed from the seven emotions and six desires, and all kinds of suffering, thus obtaining the opportunity to become an immortal.
When a fairy bathes in the sweet rain, she can instantly transform into human form, realize the Dharma, wholeheartedly turn to good, and cultivate herself without hindrance.
When heaven and earth are bathed in this sweet rain, all things flourish, their vitality shines brightly, and the celestial energy fills the ten directions, seemingly endless.
This sweet rain lasted for a hundred days before ceasing, ensuring that no living being in the three realms was left out, and that all received this blessing and auspiciousness.
After a hundred days, the mysterious light subsided, the miraculous rain subsided, and a heavenly voice resounded throughout the Three Realms: "I am Zhuang Yan, the Heavenly Venerable of the Spirit Platform and the Law, the Great Emperor of the Divine Firmament who assists the Three Realms. I have now attained the 'Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit' and have bestowed upon all beings in the Three Realms a hundred days of blessed rain."
As Zhuang Yan's voice resounded throughout the Three Realms and Heavens, at this moment, Heaven and Earth felt gratitude, all things were thankful, and gods, demons, and all living beings bowed three times and kowtowed nine times to express their thanks.
Inside the Zhou Tian Abode, Zhuang Yan could know anyone and anything in any place in the Three Realms with just a thought; the secrets of heaven were no longer hidden from him.
At this moment, Zhuang Yan sorted out what he had gained from this enlightenment. First of all, besides attaining the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, the biggest gain was the restoration of the new function 'The Great Dao is Formless'.
The Great Way is formless and invisible, yet it exists everywhere in its natural emptiness and mystery.
This great power of 'the Great Dao is formless' was only partially revealed when facing the Heavenly Dao of Pangu. When he encounters the Heavenly Dao of the Five Elements in the future, this power will be his greatest reliance.
Currently, Zhuang Yan has regained the following abilities: the formless Great Dao, defying fate, creating all things, limitless and infinite, instantaneous teleportation, absolute defense, words becoming law, infinite space, and the True Eye of the Cave Heaven.
However, the Infinite Space and the Cave Heaven True Eye are no longer of much use to Zhuang Yan, because he is now a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and he can open up a small world with just a thought.
Moreover, he had already created a small world before, which was the 'Spirit Platform Treasure Realm'.
However, the Lingtai Treasure Realm that was created at that time was not yet perfect, and the small world inside was not complete. At this moment, Zhuang Yan had a thought and absorbed the 'Lingtai Treasure Realm' into his Lingtai, and then projected his great power into it.
Just three breaths later, the original Lingtai Treasure Realm quickly took shape and fully opened up this small world.
As this small world was fully opened, all things in heaven and earth began their own process of evolution, birth, and death.
Zhuang Yan ignored the evolution of the minor worlds. After a moment's thought, he separated the two major functions, 'Infinite Space' and 'True Eye of the Cave Heaven,' from his own abilities and turned them into two divine powers.
The name of the Cave Heaven True Eye remained unchanged, but the name of the Infinite Space became 'Mustard Seed Contains Mount Sumeru'.
Thus, Zhuang Yan incorporated these two supernatural powers into the "Jade Purity Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Record." He attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit by cultivating the "Jade Purity Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Record," and it was through integrating the Daoist methods of the "Jade Purity Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Record" that he restored the function of "the Great Dao is formless."
Therefore, Zhuang Yan now intends to use this Daoist method as his own inherited Daoist method, so he reached out and changed the first "Yuqing" to "Lingtai Shenxiao Daobao Lu".
At the same time, Liang Nu, who was excited and joyful that her master had attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, felt that her own Daoist methods had changed.
She hurriedly activated her Daoist magic to check, only to find that the original "Jade Purity Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Register" had become the "Spirit Platform Divine Firmament Great Dao Treasure Register." At the same time, she also sensed changes within the Daoist magic, as if something had been added.
However, she cannot see the changes within the Daoist arts yet. She will only be able to see them when she cultivates to that level or comprehends that level.
After a moment, she withdrew her magic, stood up and said, "Master has attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit. As his disciple, I should go to Buzhou Mountain to congratulate him."
So Liang Nu left the cave, used her magic to seal it, and then rode a cloud all the way to Buzhou Mountain.
However, when Liang arrived at Buzhou Mountain a few days later, she was stunned by what she saw.
All that could be seen inside and outside Buzhou Mountain were people, all of them immortal cultivators from all over the world of Jambudvipa.
Not only the mountain, but even the imperial road at the foot of the mountain was crowded with people.
Liang Nu was unable to enter the mountain at this time because there were simply too many people. Huo Ling Zhen Xian directly dispatched seven hundred divine generals from Zhe Chong Fu to guard the area and made distinctions between visitors.
Because there simply wasn't enough room for so many people in the mountains, the important people were housed there, while those who were just there to offer their congratulations were accommodated at the foot of the mountain.
The Divine Firmament Jade Palace is headed by various revered deities, including Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, Dongwanggong, Xiwangmu, Zhongtian Fanqi Doumu Yuanjun, and Wenchang Dijun. All the celestial officials of the sixth rank and above who belong to the Divine Firmament Jade Palace are present, including Zhou Tian Xingjun, the celestial officials and righteous gods of various departments, as well as the attendants and celestial officials of the various revered deities' dojos and divine palaces.
The Divine Thunder Jade Palace is headed by revered deities such as the Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable, the True Martial Emperor, the Divine Might Subduing Demon Thunderbolt True Lord, the Five Directions Thunder Emperor, the Heavenly Peng True Lord, the Yisheng True Lord, and the Heavenly You True Lord. All the immortal officials of the Divine Thunder Jade Palace, including the attendants and immortal officials in its sacred temple, have also come.
Then came the Five Sacred Mountains Palace, where the Five Sacred Mountains Emperors personally led their delegations to offer their congratulations.
Next came the Underworld, where all the celestial officials and deities of the sixth rank or above, from the Emperor of Fengdu down, came to offer their congratulations.
People from Taoism, Buddhism, Xuanxue, Brahma, and even the Demonic Sect came, and they were all led by high-ranking masters. In particular, almost everyone from Taoism and Buddhism, except for Laozi and Shakyamuni, came.
Of course, the Jade Emperor also sent an envoy to offer his congratulations. Hongjun Daoist of the Xuanjiao sect did not come, but Tongtian, the leader of the Xuanjiao sect, personally led all the immortals of his sect to come.
In addition, there were the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, as well as gods and righteous gods of the sixth rank or above from all sides, and holy beings and wandering immortals from all sides. It can be said that almost everyone who could come from the entire Jambudvipa world came.
Such a lively scene was something that even the Queen Mother of the West, let alone the Fire Spirit Immortal, had never seen before. She and the other emperors stood on the pavilion, looking at the crowd of immortals coming and going outside, and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "I've never seen so many immortals when I held the Peach Banquet."
The True Martial Emperor laughed and said, "How many people are qualified to attend your Peach Banquet? If you open the gates of immortality wider, there will definitely be more people than this."
The Queen Mother of the West laughed and said, "Then I don't have that many peaches to give to everyone."
Everyone burst into laughter, and Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun then said to Xi Wangmu, "Why don't you hold a gathering to appreciate innate spiritual roots together with Zhenyuan Daxian and other immortals with spiritual roots in the Three Realms? That way, we won't have to worry about not having enough to eat."
"Good idea." Dongwanggong said with a smile, "I just saw Zhenyuan Daxian. He seemed to be with all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas."
Erlang Shen asked in surprise, "Where is the Divine Firmament Emperor? He's the main character, why hasn't he shown up yet?"
The Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation and Responding to the Origin of Thunder laughed and said, "I'm afraid he won't be able to come."
"Oh?" Erlang Shen was even more surprised. "What's wrong?"
The Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation and Responding to the Origin of Thunder smiled slightly and said, "The Jade Emperor is hosting a banquet in the Xuanwei Hall of the Taiwei Jade Purity Palace to celebrate the Divine Firmament Emperor, with the Supreme Lord Laozi, the Buddha Tathagata, the Taoist Hongjun, and the Four Emperors in attendance."
"This..." Erlang Shen was stunned. Even many gods who were unaware of this situation were taken aback. After a moment, Nezha, who finally had the opportunity to descend to the mortal realm, asked, "Then what are we doing here?"
Upon hearing this, Doumu Yuanjun smiled, pointed, and said, "There are two things to do here. First, leave your name and gift on the gift list of the Dust Realm Jade Palace. Second, eat and drink well."
Although Zhuang Yan, the main character, is not here, the banquet at Chenhuan Jade Mansion still needs to be held in a grand manner, otherwise so many people will just sit there doing nothing.
To ensure the success of the celebratory banquet, the Fire Spirit Immortal even sought out the Moon Goddess, asking her to bring down some celestial maidens to offer celestial music and dance.
Of course, those fairy maidens Chang'e couldn't come, because the Jade Emperor was also holding a celestial banquet.
The arrangements made by the Fire Spirit Immortal were not limited to that. She also specially contacted various powerful figures from the Taoist, Buddhist, Xuanjiao, and Brahma sects, asking them to preach and expound the Tao to the immortals and cultivators from all sides who came to offer their congratulations at the banquet.
The great beings naturally agreed that this was a good opportunity to preach, and even the people from the Demonic Sect wanted to preach, but were refused by True Immortal Fire Spirit.
"That's not a good idea. After all, this banquet is a joyous occasion. What if your sermons cause someone to go berserk?" True Immortal Fire Spirit directly rejected the suggestion from the Demon Lords of the Demonic Sect.
The demon lords could only report back to Mara. Mara, who was sitting with Vishnu, Shiva and others, was not angry after hearing this. He just laughed and said, "It seems that everyone is afraid of the magic of my demonic sect."
On the other side, the Taoist, Buddhist, and Xuanjiao sects sat together, and even a saint like Zhen Yuanzi was with the Taoist, Buddhist, and Xuanjiao sects.
Fire Spirit Immortal hurried past, having finished arranging things within Buzhou Mountain, she now had matters to attend to at its foot. Wang Shu, holding the ledger, approached Fire Spirit Immortal, saying, "The procurement list for the past few days has already reached two million purple coins."
Fire Spirit True Immortal didn't even look at the ledger, but just grabbed Wang Shu's hand and said, "Even if it costs twenty million, we have to pay it. This is His Majesty's grand celebration banquet for attaining the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. We must ensure that every fellow Daoist who comes to offer his congratulations eats, drinks, has fun, and enjoys the sights, regardless of the cost."
Upon hearing this, Wang Shu immediately nodded and said, "Understood."
"And don't forget to make arrangements everywhere. Although the Moon Goddess has a good relationship with my Emperor, the fairies she brought should be properly thanked. We can't let them work for nothing."
"As for the great masters of each religion who preach later, they should also be presented with treasures and gifts after the sermons are over."
"The celestial officials and attendants who were transferred from the Central Peak Divine Palace and other places to help should also be rewarded afterwards."
Listening to the Fire Spirit Immortal's instructions one by one, Wang Shu rubbed her ears and said, "I know, I know."
Seeing her like this, True Immortal Huo Ling said no more and turned to attend to other matters.
At this moment, the guardian deity of Buzhou Mountain, Mosquito Taoist, found Fire Spirit True Immortal and reported, "Your Highness, Lady Liang has returned."
"Oh?" Fire Spirit Immortal hurriedly asked, "Where is it?"
Mosquito Taoist said, "She was previously blocked at the foot of the mountain and couldn't enter. After I saw her, I brought her into the mountain." As he spoke, Mosquito Taoist waved his hand behind him.
Liang Nu immediately stepped forward and bowed to the Fire Spirit Immortal, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Fire Spirit Immortal hurriedly stepped forward and grasped Liang Nu's hand, saying, "It was all my negligence that caused you to be blocked outside the mountain. I am truly sorry."
Liang smiled and said, "It's nothing, it must have been tiring for Your Highness to have so many people come."
Fire Spirit Immortal smiled and said, "It's good that you're back. I'm short-handed right now, so come and help me."
Ms. Liang nodded happily and said, "Okay." But then she added, "I need to go see my master first and congratulate him."
Fire Spirit Immortal laughed and said, "Then there's no need to rush. His Majesty is not in the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm at the moment."
"Oh?" Liang asked in surprise, "Where did Master go?"
Huo Ling Zhenxian said, "The Jade Emperor is holding a banquet in the Great Luo Heaven to celebrate, so His Majesty will naturally go to the Great Luo Heaven to attend the banquet."
Liang Nu suddenly realized what was going on and immediately rolled up her sleeves, saying, "Alright, then what do you need me to do? Please give your orders, Your Highness."
Fire Spirit Immortal laughed and said, "Why call me Your Highness? Call me Sister."
Liang Nu chuckled and said, "Alright, Sister Huo Ling."
Unlike the bustling and noisy Jade Palace in the Mortal Realm, the Xuanwei Hall of the Taiwei Jade Pure Palace in the Great Luo Heaven was filled with the gentle sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, and the ethereal music was as clear as flowing water.
Some of the Chang'e fairies played music on the sidelines, while others served at the banquet, pouring wine, serving tea, and bringing dishes and fruits.
The Jade Emperor smiled and said to Zhuang Yan, "Today, the Pangu Heavenly Dao has a fifth Great Luo Golden Immortal, so it is no longer at a disadvantage when facing the Five Elements Heavenly Dao."
Everyone present laughed. Although the Four Emperors were not Great Luo Golden Immortals, they were Great Awakening Golden Immortals and wielded great power.
When the Jade Emperor is too busy to oversee the Heavenly Way, they can temporarily take over the operation of the Heavenly Way in place of the Jade Emperor.
Therefore, the supreme position of the Four Emperors lies in their power, not their cultivation.
The five Great Golden Immortals within the Pangu Heavenly Dao mentioned by the Jade Emperor are: the Jade Emperor, Laozi, Shakyamuni, Hongjun Daoist, and Zhuang Yan.
As for the Three Pure Ones, they are not within the Pangu Heavenly Dao, so they do not manifest within the Pangu Heavenly Dao, nor do they interfere with the affairs of the 'All Heavenly Daos'.
Simply put, even if you destroy all the 'Dao of Heaven' and shatter the chaos, it has nothing to do with them. They will always be there because they are the 'Dao'. They do not exist because of anything, nor will they cease to exist because of anything.
At this moment, the Jade Emperor raised his wine cup and said, "Come, let's congratulate the Divine Emperor on attaining the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit."
Everyone raised their wine glasses to congratulate Zhuang Yan, and Zhuang Yan hurriedly raised his wine glass and stood up to return the toast, saying, "Thank you, Great Heavenly Venerable, thank you, fellow Daoists."
Afterwards, everyone drank their wine in one gulp. After putting down their wine cups, the Jade Emperor gestured for Zhuang Yan to sit down.
After Zhuang Yan took his seat, the Jade Emperor said to Hongjun Daoist, "The Great Emperor Shenxiao has attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit and can tell him about the Five Elements Heavenly Dao and the secrets behind it."
Hongjun Daoist accepted the order, then raised his hand and waved it, and in an instant everything before his eyes changed.
Of course, this change only applies to the people at the table; the fairies, celestial officials, and attendants around them cannot see these changes, nor can they hear their voices.
Before Zhuang Yan appeared a vast world, much like the Yama World. This world was teeming with life and brimming with magic; it was practically a world where magic dominated everything.
However, the Heavenly Dao of this world is different from that of Pangu. Everyone present felt a sense of unease because Hongjun Daoist simulated the operating laws of their 'Mysterious Heavenly Dao'.
Therefore, everyone present felt this discomfort, specifically due to the differences in cultivation systems and the rejection by the laws of the Mysterious Heavenly Dao.
However, the Great Luo Golden Immortals present quickly used their great power to eliminate this discomfort, since this was just a simulation of the Mysterious Laws of Heaven by Hongjun Daoist, not the real ones.
Zhuang Yan, on the other hand, did not use his great power to eliminate it. Instead, he used the "Great Dao is Formless" technique to merge himself into it, and he did so very successfully.
Of course, Laozi and the others did not see this, and assumed that he had also used his great power to eliminate the influence.
The only ones continuously affected were the Four Emperors. Their expressions were solemn, and they felt that the flow of magical power within their bodies was extremely sluggish and stagnant.
At this moment, the voice of Hongjun Daoist slowly rang out:
“Each Heavenly Dao has its own way of operating. If immortals or cultivators from other Heavenly Daos enter, they will be rejected by the Heavenly Dao. At best, they will be abandoned into chaos; at worst, they will be directly annihilated.”
"But there is one way to weaken a Heavenly Dao, and that is to continuously kill the cultivators of that Heavenly Dao in order to weaken the 'great number' of that Heavenly Dao."
"This 'great number' is the 'forty-nine great number.' The so-called Great Dao is fifty, Heaven evolves forty-nine, and one is hidden away. This is the basis for the evolution of Heaven's Dao from the Great Dao. Heaven's evolution forty-nine is the basic law of Heaven's Dao, and the hidden one is all the beings within this Heaven's Dao who have great opportunities, great perseverance, and great blessings."
"Therefore, as long as we keep killing these living beings, we can fundamentally weaken the Heavenly Dao of this place."
"My Xuanfa Heavenly Dao has three Grand Luo Golden Immortals, while the Five Elements Heavenly Dao has five Grand Luo Golden Immortals. When our two great heavenly Daos first met, we thought we could exchange Daoist teachings with them and live in peace. However, they were prepared. Two Grand Luo Golden Immortals used their great power to build the Measuring Heaven Divine Bridge to invade my Xuanfa Heavenly Dao. Then, the other three Grand Luo Golden Immortals guarded the Measuring Heaven Divine Bridge to resolve the rejection power of my Xuanfa Heavenly Dao. They also sent cultivators from the Five Elements Heavenly Dao to invade the Xuanfa Heavenly Dao."
"Our two sides then engaged in a fierce war that lasted for 60,000 years, until finally all the cultivators of my Xuanfa Heavenly Dao were killed or wounded."
"In the end, the three of us Great Luo Golden Immortals fought a desperate battle against the five Great Luo Golden Immortals of the Five Elements Heavenly Dao, but we failed at the last moment. The other two fellow Daoists were suppressed into oblivion by the Five Elements Heavenly Dao, and only I escaped with the remaining bit of the Xuanfa Heavenly Dao's lineage. Fortunately, before being swallowed by chaos, I came to the Pangu Heavenly Dao and was accepted by the Great Heavenly Venerable, where I founded the Xuan Sect and continued the lineage of my Xuanfa Heavenly Dao."
The Jade Emperor waved his hand and said with a smile, "Since you're here, we're all family. Don't be so formal."
Upon hearing this, Hongjun Daoist immediately bowed to the Jade Emperor.
But then Zhuang Yan asked, "What happened to the Xuanfa Heavenly Dao in the end? And why was the Five Elements Heavenly Dao so determined to destroy the Xuanfa Heavenly Dao?"
Hongjun Daoist sighed and said, "This involves those secrets. I can tell the Divine Firmament Emperor that after our defeat, the Mysterious Law Heavenly Dao was also devoured by the Five Elements Heavenly Dao."
"What?" Zhuang Yan's face showed surprise: "The Five Elements Heavenly Dao devoured the Profound Law Heavenly Dao? Why?"
Hongjun Daoist said, "At first I didn't understand either, but in the final battle with the Five Elements Heavenly Dao Grand Luo, I gleaned some insights from their words."
Zhuang Yan's gaze sharpened as he listened quietly to what Hongjun Daoist would say next.
Hongjun Daoist said, "Beyond the Heavenly Dao we inhabit lies a vast Chaos, and this Chaos is not fully opened. It is said that if this continues, the Chaos will give rise to countless eons, reducing all the Heavenly Daos to nothingness and returning to Chaos. However, to open up the Chaos, the power of a single Heavenly Dao is insufficient. It requires the integration of all the Heavenly Daos within the existing Chaos to possess the power to open up the Chaos."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan instantly understood. "So, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao wants to become the sole Heavenly Dao that can cleave through chaos?"
“Yes.” Hongjun Daoist nodded and said, “That’s what they mean.”
Emperor Gouchen said, "Then, in that case, the various Heavenly Daos will be locked in a life-or-death struggle?"
Hongjun Daoist said, "The Heavenly Dao is bound to fight to the death, but we cultivators can surrender. As long as we are willing to transform our own Dao power and actively integrate into the Heavenly Dao's laws, we can coexist with them. However, the only outcome between the Heavenly Daos is that the weaker side will be devoured."
Only after hearing this did Zhuang Yan understand why the Heavenly Dao had reacted so strongly when he secretly stole its power.
“Surrender is also a dead end,” Shakyamuni said. “If we voluntarily transform and integrate our own power into the laws of the other’s heaven, then we will forever remain subservient to others.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. How could someone who surrendered halfway through possibly win under the other party's rules? Absolutely not.
After Hongjun Daoist finished speaking, the simulated scene of the Mysterious Laws and Heavenly Dao disappeared. The Jade Emperor smiled and asked everyone, "What are your thoughts?"
Zhuang Yan spoke directly: "What the Five Elements Heavenly Dao can do, my Pangu Heavenly Dao can also do. Why can't my Pangu Heavenly Dao be the only Heavenly Dao that created chaos?"
Upon hearing Zhuang Yan's words, both Laozi and Shakyamuni burst into laughter, saying, "The Great Heavenly Venerable and we all share this sentiment!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan burst into laughter, his laughter filled with no fear or hesitation, but rather with magnanimity and boldness.
Hongjun Daoist stood up and said to the Jade Emperor, "I was fortunate to be taken in by the Great Heavenly Venerable and allowed to continue my Xuanfa Heavenly Dao lineage in the Pangu Heavenly Dao. Now I am a person of the Pangu Heavenly Dao. From now on, I will live and die with the Pangu Heavenly Dao and advance and retreat together with all beings in the Pangu Heavenly Dao. All my actions will be in accordance with the Great Heavenly Venerable's will."
"Very well." The Jade Emperor stood up, raised his wine cup and said, "Fellow Daoists, those who are willing to join me in supporting Pangu's creation of chaos and attend this unprecedented gathering, shall drink this cup together."
After saying this, the Jade Emperor drank the celestial wine in the cup in one gulp.
The Four Great Emperors, Laozi, Shakyamuni, Hongjun Daoist, Zhuang Yan, and others all rose, raised their wine cups, and said, "We are willing to follow the Great Heavenly Venerable!" They then drank it all in one gulp. (End of Chapter)