: There are no fixed laws, the mind is the foundation of laws; there are no constant techn

Chapter 85: There are no fixed laws, the mind is the foundation of laws; there are no constant techniques, the Way is the source of techniques.

The Five Plague Messengers were originally gods who spread plagues and were in charge of human diseases.

They are the tools of Heaven, the messengers of destiny, and the objects of fear for mortals.

When people see it, they are all terrified and tremble with fear, avoiding it at all costs. This fear does not stem from hatred, but from an instinctive tremor at the impermanence of the natural order and a natural awe of the inevitability of fate.

But yin and yang are interdependent, and misfortune and fortune are interdependent.

It can both disperse and eliminate the plague.

Just as fire can burn things, it can also cook food; water can drown people, but it can also carry boats.

Fire is still fire, water is still water; it is good when used for good, and evil when used for evil. Their nature is the same, but their uses are different.

It can bring disaster, and it can also resolve disaster.

Just as winter can kill things, it can also store things; summer can grow things, it can also expose things to the elements.

The killing in winter is not because it is in winter, but because it is the right time; the growth in summer is not because it is in summer, but also because it is the right time.

Both killing and growth originate from Heaven and return to the Way.

Like water and fire, it can both destroy and nourish all things;

Like swords, they can both kill and save lives.

It all depends on how the holder uses it.

The forces in this world are neither good nor evil in themselves; good and evil reside in people. They are neither righteous nor evil in themselves; righteousness and evil reside in the heart.

If used for righteous purposes, even evil methods become righteous; if used for evil purposes, even righteous methods become evil.

There are no fixed laws, the mind is the foundation of the law; there are no constant techniques, the Way is the source of the technique.

A single thought can lead to heaven or hell; it doesn't depend on the skill of the technique, but on the intention of the person using it.

At this moment, the five illusory figures raised their eyes and looked at Li Yuan.

There was a chilling intent in that gaze—

That's the nature of plague gods, their innate majesty.

That chilling atmosphere is not cruel, but rather an inescapable part of the natural order—just as autumn is inevitable, regardless of whether the plants and trees are willing; just as all things are destined to wither, regardless of whether the flowers are reluctant to leave.

That's not cruelty, but the impartial justice of Heaven and Earth.

With authority—

That was a gift from heaven, an inviolable reverence for them.

That dignity is not arrogance, but rather the unwavering part of one's duty—

Just as the sun and moon inevitably rise and set, never stopping because of human joys and sorrows; just as rivers inevitably flow eastward, never changing course because of mountains and rivers.

That was not arrogance, but the unchangeable mandate of Heaven.

There is also—submission.

That is the natural submission when facing a higher being.

Like all rivers flowing into the sea—not because the sea forces the rivers to flow, but because the rivers, after flowing thousands of miles, must eventually enter the sea; that is the destiny of water, and also its fulfillment.

Just as countless stars surround the moon, it is not the moon's strength that causes the stars to surround it, but rather the myriad points of starlight that all borrow from the moonlight. That is the nature of light, and also the destination of light.

Just as all methods return to one source, it is not that the sect forces the methods to return, but rather that all methods and schools originate from the same source. That is the nature of the Tao and the inevitability of reason.

It wasn't about anyone forcing or ordering anyone; it was simply the natural order, the inevitable trend, and the inevitable course of events.

Like flowers blooming and fading, like tides rising and falling, it all happens naturally, without any forcing.

The six divine tablets lit up simultaneously.

The eight divine lights of the Heavenly Physician, the Medicine King, and the Five Plague Messengers intertwined, illuminating the entire Daluo Palace as if it were daytime.

That light was no longer a single, singular light.

Instead, they are eight different lights, eight different powers, and eight different wills, intertwined and fused together, like eight different rivers flowing into the same sea. Once they enter the sea, they are no longer the water of this river or that river, but simply the seawater, the same vast expanse.

Like eight different colors painting the same picture—

Once captured in a painting, it is no longer just a matter of color or color, but simply the artistic conception, a shared world.

The light of the Heavenly Physician was gentle and nourishing, like water, nourishing everything.

That water was no ordinary water; it was the water of the Great One, the source of life.

It is silent and yet all-encompassing; it is formless and invisible, yet it nourishes all things.

The Medicine King's radiance, as rich as medicine, healed everything.

That medicine was no ordinary medicine; it was the essence of plants and trees, the spirit of mountains and rivers, and the fragrance formed from the condensation of all life in the world.

It is neither too fast nor too slow, yet it can bring the dead back to life; it is neither too hot nor too cold, yet it can cure all diseases.

The light of that green plague was vibrant and full of life, nurturing everything.

That blue was no ordinary blue; it was the color of the wood of the East, the pure first touch of green when spring returns to the earth.

It is born in the East, corresponds to the spring season, and governs the birth of all things.

The crimson light of the plague was intense and dazzling, amplifying everything.

That crimson was no ordinary crimson; it was the color of the fire element of the south, the intense heat of the midsummer sun.

It is born in the south, corresponds to the summer season, and governs the growth and nourishment of all things.

The white light of the plague was clear and cold, encompassing everything.

That white was not ordinary white; it was the color of the metal element of the West, the crisp chill of the first frost and dew when the autumn wind first rises.

It is born in the west, corresponds to the autumn season, and governs the harvest of all things.

The light of that black plague was deep and silent, containing everything.

That black was no ordinary black; it was the color of the Ren and Gui waters of the North, the deep stillness of a silent winter night.

It is born in the north, corresponds to the winter season, and governs the hibernation of all things.

The light of the Yellow Plague was thick and profound, transforming everything.

That yellow is not ordinary yellow; it is the color of the central Wuji earth, the profound and virtuous earth that carries all things deep within.

It resides in the center and governs the four directions, responding to the long summer and controlling the transformation of all things.

Seven rays of light, seven powers, seven wills—within the Great Luo Palace, they intertwine to form a silent symphony.

That melody had no sound, yet it could shake heaven and earth; it wove together a colorless scroll—a scroll without color, yet it could reflect all things; it wove together an invisible great path—

That Great Dao has no shape, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth.

That moon-like radiance trembled gently at that moment.

That tremor was extremely slight, like the moon's reflection swaying in the water. It wasn't the moon that moved, but the water. The moon was in the center of the sky, originally still, but its reflection appeared to move because of the ripples in the water.

Like a candle flame flickering in the wind, it's not the fire that moves, but the wind that moves it. The fire in the lamp itself is not flickering, but the flame appears to flicker because of the wind.

But this tremor silenced the entire Great Luo Palace. All the gods, all the light, and all the thoughts held their breath and focused their attention at this moment.

At that moment, all was silent in the Daluo Palace.

It's not a silence without sound, but a silence where even the concept of "sound" doesn't exist.

In that silence, neither sound has arisen nor ceased.

It is a existence deeper than silence, the true nature of sound before it is born and after it disappears.

It is not darkness without light, but a void where even the concept of "light" does not exist.

In that clear space, the light has not yet appeared, nor is it hidden.

It is a light that is truer than no light at all; it is the true nature of things before the light appears and after it has been extinguished.

In that silence, in that clarity, something is happening—

That is the beginning and the end; that is the deepest and the shallowest; that is beyond the abyss and of heaven and earth.

It is the light of the abyss, and also the great way of heaven and earth; it is the call of the abyss, and also the response of all things.

To distinguish is to know; to not distinguish is to be wise.

At this moment, consciousness ceases and wisdom arises; all distinctions vanish; one is no different from heaven and earth.

Then-

Eight divine lights surged into that spiritual light.

That influx was not an invasion, not a devouring, but a return.

Like all rivers flowing into the sea—

It's not that the sea swallowed the river, but rather that the river was originally part of the sea, and now it has returned to its original place.

Those eight divine lights originally flowed from this spiritual light, and now, after circulating around once, they have returned to their starting point.

Where you come from is where you go; where you start is where you end.

Just as the return of all laws to their origin does not mean that the origin has swallowed up the law, but rather that the law is originally a manifestation of the origin, only now it has returned to its original form.

Whether it is the Heavenly Physician, the Medicine King, or the Five Plague Messengers, they are all manifestations of this inherent light and the manifestation of this Great Dao.

When the function returns to its essence, and the manifestation returns to its concealment, this is called returning to the origin.

The light of the Heavenly Physician, the light of the Medicine King, and the light of the Five Plague Messengers all merged into the clear and full moon at this moment.

The bright moon is inherently pure, inherently perfect, inherently unwavering, inherently neither born nor dies.

The eight divine lights merged into it, yet it remained clear, pure, and perfect.

Just as the void contains all things, yet the void neither increases nor decreases; just as a clear mirror reflects all things, yet the clear mirror is neither defiled nor pure.

But within that emptiness and clarity, there was an added touch of compassion. This compassion was not external, but rather its inherent compassion that had been awakened.

Like an ancient mirror covered in dust, once the dust is removed, its light shines through. The light does not come from outside; the mirror is inherently bright.

Compassion is inherent in the light of one's nature, but it has not manifested because it has not encountered the right conditions; now, encountering the calamity of poison, compassion arises spontaneously.

Within that clarity, there was an added touch of wisdom—

That wasn't external wisdom, but its inherent wisdom that had been illuminated.

Just as a lamp in a dark room fills the room with light when turned on, the light does not come from outside; the lamp itself provides illumination.

That wisdom was originally within the light of nature, but it did not shine because the time was not right; now that it is needed for salvation, the wisdom arises spontaneously.

Within that perfection, an extra layer of power was added—

That wasn't an external force, but rather its inherent power that had been activated.

Like a precious sword in its sheath, its sharpness is revealed when drawn; the sharpness does not come from outside, but is inherent to the sword itself.

That power originally resided within the light of nature, but because it had not been put to use, it remained unexhibited; now, encountering the task of saving others, its power manifested itself.

Then, it slowly flowed out from the depths of the bright moon.

The flow was extremely slow, like a mountain stream, unhurried and calm, with each stone and stream having its own destiny.

That slowness is not a slowness in speed, but a slowness in the way of things—

The Way cannot be rushed, for rushing will cause one to lose sight of its essence; the Way cannot be pursued with speed, for speed will cause one to forget its root.

Just as the universe revolves, moving one degree per day, it eventually completes a full cycle; just as plants grow, growing one inch per day, they eventually reach the sky.

Like the clouds in the sky, moving slowly and steadily, each movement a natural consequence of nature's will.

That slowness is not slowness in efficiency, but slowness in reason. Reason does not compete to be first, for to be first violates the order; reason does not compete for speed, for speed disrupts the order.

Just as the four seasons alternate, spring is followed by summer, and summer by autumn; just as day and night cycle, day goes and night comes, and night goes and day comes.

That flow is not the flow of water, but the flow of the Tao;

That speed is not the speed of time, but the speed of cause and effect.

The flow of the Tao is silent and imperceptible, yet nothing can obstruct it; the speed of cause and effect is neither too fast nor too slow, yet it is never off.

Flow when it should flow, stop when it should stop; be fast when it should be fast, and slow when it should be slow.

All causes and conditions are contained within it; all causes and effects arise from it.

Following the thoughts of Li Yuan.

Where the thought arises, that is the direction; where the thought goes, that is the destination.

Along that invisible thread of cause and effect.

The thread is invisible, inaudible, and intangible, yet it connects every person, every Gu, and every wisp of poison.

That is the thread of karma, the cord of cause and effect, the inseparable bond between sentient beings and suffering.

It surged forth from the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows.

Inside the train carriage.

Everyone kept their eyes closed, not daring to breathe.

Wei Shufen stood to the side, staring intently at Li Yuan.

She saw it.

I saw Li Yuan's closed eyes.

Those eyes were closed, yet they seemed to see farther, deeper, and more clearly than when they were open.

The closed eyes are not the eyes of the mortal world; the open eyes are not the eyes of the heart.

I saw a wisp of clear light suddenly appear between his brows.

That clear light is not between the eyebrows, but beyond them, in the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows, in the place where the human body connects with heaven and earth.

That clear light was not an external light, but an internal light, a light of true nature that Li Yuan had condensed over countless years of cultivation.

The light was extremely faint, as faint as moonlight shining through a thin mist. It wasn't that the moon was dim, but that the mist made it so; it wasn't that the light was dim, but that ordinary eyes couldn't see it.

That clear light appeared faint, but was actually profound; it appeared weak, but was actually boundless.

It doesn't rely on dazzling brilliance, but rather on nourishing and nurturing.

But the moment that clear light appeared, Wei Shufen was terrified!

She "senses" it!

It was some kind of indescribable "existence"!

It wasn't intimidation, it wasn't imposing presence, it wasn't anything that could be described as "strong" or "weak."

Pressure has boundaries, momentum has form, strength has limits, but this thing is boundless, formless, and limitless.

It is neither strong nor weak, because it cannot be measured by strength or weakness.

Just as the void cannot be weighed in terms of lightness or heaviness, so too can the Great Way not be judged in terms of highness or lowness.

That's a kind of—

"Arrival".

It was as if something was slowly descending from a very distant place.

That distance is not spatial, but dimensional; that arrival is not a movement of location, but a manifestation of levels.

Like the moon's reflection in the water, it is not the moon that rises from the sky, but the moon's reflection that enters the water;

Like a reflection in a mirror, it's not that the person comes from outside, but rather that the reflection appears in the mirror.

It was as if countless eyes were watching all of this from the void.

That nothingness is not a void of nothingness, but rather the original state before all phenomena manifest.

In that nothingness, there are countless eyes—

Those are the eyes of the gods, the eyes of heaven and earth, and also the eyes inherent in Li Yuan's own nature. The observer and the observed are, at this moment, one.

Wei Shufen's pupils suddenly contracted!

She subconsciously took a half step back, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.

That retreat is not out of fear, but rather the body's instinctive reaction when faced with something beyond our comprehension, like being under a vast starry sky, where one unconsciously holds their breath.

As if standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss, one will unconsciously take a half step back.

Li Yuan remained standing still.

He simply stood there, like an ancient pine tree standing on a cliff, like the bright moon hanging in the mid-sky.

He remained unmoved, unaffected by the radiant light, the divine power, or the gaze of the gods.

It wasn't that it was forcing itself to stay still; it had never moved at all.

What moves is divine light, divine power, the gaze of the gods; what remains still is Him, His spiritual light, His Way.