Outside the heavens, in the chaos.
Qing Ling, holding the twenty-four grades of the Primordial Creation Green Lotus, couldn't help but smile, "The Great Dao is finally achieved, and my heart can be at peace. Fellow Daoist Nuwa, speaking of which, you should thank me."
Nuwa also smiled, "It's always the smoothest to travel with you. Fellow Daoist, why don't you come with me?"
Qing Ling shook his head, "I still need to return to the Primordial World to instruct my disciples; it's not as carefree as you are."
Nuwa chuckled softly, "Look, here they come."
Qing Ling looked and saw the five saints arriving in unison.
"Fellow Daoist Qing Ling, you must explain this to me!" Tong Tian was the first to ask, the Investiture of the Gods still a lingering unease in his heart.
Zhunti clasped his hands and said, "This matter indeed requires an explanation for us."
Qing Ling nodded, "I know what you all are thinking and asking. However, you will know once you observe."
He flicked his sleeve, and from the depths of the distant chaos, a scene appeared. It depicted an old woman walking in the chaos, with a magnificent giant willow behind her, from which hung three thousand worlds. Behind her were figures emanating powerful auras.
All the saints' hearts sank. Lao Zi said, "So the immeasurable tribulations of the Primordial World are the Calamity of Gods and Demons!"
Tong Tian sneered, "Are they not just a group of gods and demons who haven't entered the Hunyuan realm?"
Yuan Shi shook his head, "But we cannot intervene. When Pangu created the Primordial World, he established the heavens, earth, wind, water, and fire by borrowing a portion of the origin of the three thousand gods and demons. The other half was scattered by Pangu into the endless chaos.
However, gods and demons are born of chaos. As long as there is a trace of them, they will eventually be replenished and strengthened in the chaos. For them to step into the Hunyuan realm, they must destroy the Primordial World and kill all living beings within it to reclaim their lost origins and perfect their foundation.
This is the karmic entanglement between Pangu and the three thousand gods and demons from the previous era. Yang Mei will not act, nor will the Dao Ancestor, and thus we cannot act.
Jie Yin, who was always taciturn, said, "For the beings of the Primordial World, it is a great disaster, but also a great opportunity!"
Zhunti's eyes lit up, "Indeed! The gods and demons seek to perfect their foundations, and all living beings in the Primordial World are transformed from the origins of gods and demons. As long as they obtain the origins of the gods and demons, they can step onto the path of the Hunyuan Dao!"
Lao Zi said indifferently, "But within the Primordial World, the positions of saints are already filled."
The five saints hesitated for a moment.
Jie Yin added, "This is an opportunity for the great powerful beings and the Da Luo, but for the weak common folk, it is only disaster."
The five saints' hearts trembled, and countless scenes flashed in their minds.
"Therefore, this is why I have returned to the Primordial Creation Green Lotus," Qing Ling smiled. "Fellow Daoists, as long as the Green Lotus remains undefeated, the gods and demons cannot enter the thirty-three layers of heaven of the Primordial World."
Lao Zi was surprised, "So Fellow Daoist has such foresight and considers all beings so deeply. I am impressed."
Qing Ling waved his hand, "I merely met Yang Mei once, and at that time, he was already close to the Hunyuan realm. Now, bearing the last wishes of the three thousand gods and demons, she is likely comparable to the Dao Ancestor.
Therefore, I plan to place the Primordial Creation Green Lotus outside the Primordial World and establish a Dao Realm. The gods and demons cannot enter the Primordial World, but the beings of the Primordial World can come to the chaos to fight! Do you have no confidence in our fellow Daoists of the Primordial World?
The gods and demons have three thousand worlds; we have the myriad heavens and myriad realms. They have three thousand gods and demons; we have three thousand Da Luo. They have nine great Tai Mo and Tai Shen; we have twelve realm lords, and countless supreme beings and half-step Hunyuan Dao friends. I believe there is no reason for the Dao friends of the Primordial World to miss this opportunity for Hunyuan!"
Upon hearing this, the saints suddenly realized. So this was the reason for the Investiture of the Gods tribulation, the meticulous planning over countless eons, the gathering of the Five Directions Flags, the creation of the myriad heavens and myriad realms to reshape the Primordial World, and even the planting of the Jianmu tree of the myriad realms before the Great Dao was fully formed.
Without Qing Ling, the Primordial World would now be divided, its origins depleted, the Three Races annihilated, the Witch and Demon tribes weakened, the Chan and Jie sects virtually defunct, great beings perished, and the Primordial World dormant. How could it be a match for these three thousand gods and demons?
The Dao Ancestor lectured in the Zixiao Palace, imparting knowledge to three thousand destined guests, perhaps in preparation for the return of the gods and demons. However, the Heavenly Dao massacred most of them. If Qing Ling had not appeared at this opportune moment, the Primordial World would likely no longer be called Pangu's Primordial World!
The saints' minds cleared. Qing Ling also had an epiphany: his past life memories were not coincidental but destined. Perhaps he was a transmigrator, but one carrying the mission bestowed by the Great Dao, or else he would have long ago turned to dust.
Qing Ling interrupted the saints' thoughts, saying, "Since you are all gathered here today, let us establish the Green Lotus Dao and offer a chance for Hunyuan to all beings!"
The saints nodded in agreement.
Qing Ling tossed the twenty-four grades of the Primordial Creation Green Lotus, and the Green Lotus instantly transformed into a magnificent giant lotus, encompassing the myriad heavens and myriad realms of the Primordial World.
Qing Ling clapped his palm, and the power of wood surged madly, with the heavenly authority of all beings and saints empowering the Green Lotus.
Nuwa also patted her palm, her power of creation continuously flowing into the Green Lotus, perfecting its substance and form. The heavenly authority of the Saint of Creation was bestowed upon the Green Lotus.
The Three Pure Ones acted, their respective powers flowing into the Green Lotus. It was as if Pangu's will condensed within the Green Lotus. The Three Pure Ones trembled as if they sensed something.
Those present did not question this further.
The Two Sages of the West simultaneously acted, bestowing supreme Buddhist dharma upon the Green Lotus, subduing demons and suppressing gods with infinite might.
With the combined strength of the seven saints, the Green Lotus transformed into the Dao. The twenty-four grades of the Primordial Creation Green Lotus merged into the outer curtain of the Primordial World, becoming a world barrier that would, in the future, block all gods and demons from entering.
Seeing this, Qing Ling couldn't help but laugh, "From this day on, my role as a saint for all beings is complete."
Nuwa smiled, "Mine too. However, today Nuwa must bid farewell to you, fellow Daoists!"
Zhunti asked with confusion, "Where are you going, Fellow Daoist Nuwa?"
Nuwa smiled and said, "While returning Qing Ling to the Green Lotus, I have comprehended the Great Dao of Creation. I must leave the Primordial World and venture into the depths of the endless chaos to seek a grander and more supreme Great Dao. Perhaps, one day in the future, in the depths of the chaos, I too will experience a convergence of Dao destiny and, like Pangu, reopen the heavens.
Although Nuwa has had many karmic entanglements with all of you in the Primordial World, all that is in the past. I only wish you all, Dao lives eternally!
Nuwa, farewell!"
The saints were both surprised and moved, bowing in succession, "We respectfully escort you, Fellow Daoist!"
Nuwa chuckled softly, scattering rosy clouds across the Primordial World, and declared, "I hereby inform the heavens and earth and the Primordial World that I, Nuwa, the Saint of Creation, have now completed my teachings as a saint, and from this day forward, I shall no longer hold the position of saint!"
All beings were shocked. The living beings of the myriad realms were reluctant, bowing down, "We respectfully escort Empress Nuwa!"
The common folk did not know where Nuwa was going, but they knew that from this day forward, there would be no more Saint Nuwa, so they were bidding farewell to a saint. Coincidentally, Nuwa had indeed left the Primordial World silently. Apart from the six saints and her elder brother, no one else knew.
As the rosy clouds dissipated, the Empress Nuwa was no more in the world.
She walked towards the chaos, letting go of her distinguished position, her attachments, and her karma. She was no longer the Nuwa Saint who bore the mandate of heaven, who shaped humans from clay, mended the sky with her body, taught all demons, and passed down the heritage of humanity. She was simply herself, a seeker of the Dao.