"What sharp cultivation this fellow Daoist Qing Xuan possesses!" exclaimed Jie Yin.
"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan's cultivation, is it late stage Da Luo?" asked Zhun Ti.
Jie Yin nodded, his expression grave. "Not only that, but I also sense a remarkably peculiar Dao rhythm emanating from him."
"What Dao rhythm?"
"It resembles the Dao rhythm of the great powers of heaven and earth, yet his strength and realm are truly that of an ordinary Da Luo."
Zhun Ti was astonished. "Could it be that he is hiding his true cultivation?"
Jie Yin shook his head. "Highly unlikely. When sensing him before me, such perception would not be mistaken."
Zhun Ti nodded and looked eastward, pondering. "Then, should we still go and pay our respects to that person?"
"We should. We must make the journey."
...
As the clouds flowed across the horizon, Qing Ling descended Jian Mu, looking at the two approaching figures. He smiled and said, "Two young friends, do you still remember me?"
"It is kind of you to remember us, Senior. Of course, we remember," replied Zhun Ti with a joyous smile.
Jie Yin also bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior."
Qing Ling appraised them for a few moments, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Two young friends, back at the Eight Treasures Pond on Mount Sumeru, you, a Bodhi, and a white lotus, shared some karmic ties with me. Since we meet today, I shall bestow upon you a gift of connection. Are you headed beyond the heavens?"
Zhun Ti's heart leaped. "Indeed! The Dao Ancestor is preaching in Zixiao Palace, and we all journeyed beyond the heavens to hear the Great Dao."
Qing Ling extended a finger. Behind him, Jian Mu rose from the ground, piercing through the clouds like a ladder connecting heaven and earth! "If you two step upon my Jian Mu Heavenly Ladder, you can ascend directly to the twenty-sixth heaven. As for the remaining seven heavens, you must traverse them yourselves. However, by saving yourselves the journey through twenty-six heavens, even at your slowest pace, reaching Zixiao within a thousand years will surely be no problem."
Zhun Ti was overjoyed. "Though this is but a small effort for Senior, it is an opportunity for us to hear the Great Dao. We shall never forget this kindness and favor!"
Qing Ling waved his hand. "No matter. Ascend quickly."
Zhun Ti, elated, bowed and pulled Jie Yin along.
Jie Yin, however, asked, "Senior, are you not going?"
Zhun Ti paused, having forgotten this detail.
Qing Ling shook his head. "Each has their own Dao. I achieved enlightenment before the Heavenly Dao, so I need not seek it externally. Furthermore, my destiny does not lie in Zixiao. As for your destiny, it lies solely in Zixiao. To miss this is to lose the opportunity for all eternity. Go swiftly!"
Jie Yin's expression shifted slightly, then he bowed respectfully. "Farewell, Senior!"
With those words, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder!
With a single stride across each heaven, they found themselves atop Jian Mu, in the twenty-sixth heaven! Beneath them, all beings in the Primordial World were making their arduous progress, all beneath their feet, without exception. At this moment, they realized they had already surpassed all others.
Shock turned to a sigh, then to calm. This was not their own strength. Borrowing power for a moment aided the Great Dao, but relying on it for a lifetime would become a hindrance. The two began their journey towards the outer heavens. Yet, their progress was incredibly difficult. What took the mighty beings below a few steps, they could barely manage one. The distance between them widened. However, the twenty-six-heaven gap was enough to leave the vast majority of powerful beings far behind.
But there were exceptions. For instance, Pangu's three pure ones, already at the fifteenth heaven, along with Nuwa and Fuxi, Zhen Yuanzi, and Hong Yun. Even the Old Ancestor of the North Sea had ascended to the twentieth heaven and was rapidly approaching the outer heavens, far surpassing the other great beings.
With a sweep of his wings, Kun Peng rode the wind, crossing heaven after heaven at a speed that astonished all beings. He soon caught up to Zhun Ti and Jie Yin, meeting them at the twenty-eighth heaven. All three were greatly surprised. Kun Peng was shocked that there were others in the Primordial World faster than him, besides the ancient elders. But after a cold glance at the trembling Zhun Ti and Jie Yin, Kun Peng soared upwards, heading directly for the outer heavens.
"This one is too terrifying!" Zhun Ti stammered, trembling.
Jie Yin was also unable to calm himself for a long time. After their shock, they redoubled their efforts and raced onward. As they reached the twenty-ninth heaven, the three pure ones and a host of other top-tier beings had reached between the twenty-third and twenty-fifth heavens. Below them were the Nine Immortal Elders of Penglai Island, excluding Fu, Lu, and Shou. And then, below them, were the ordinary Da Luo Golden Immortals.
Qing Xuan, meanwhile, followed behind the few quasi-Saints, calmly ascending to the seventeenth heaven. He had no interest in the Saint positions within Zixiao Palace. It wasn't that he didn't dare to contend, but that contention would be useless. Heavenly Dao Saints could not be achieved through mere arduous cultivation. The most crucial element was Destiny! Which of the six Saints was not a being whose Destiny suppressed a region of heaven and earth? Without sufficient Destiny, one would not have the heavenly authority corresponding to the Saintly position, and thus could not achieve Sainthood. To hold the Saintly position without it would merely be a death warrant!
Qing Xuan had never considered the realm of Sainthood. He merely wished to watch over his snake clan and leave his mark upon the world. He was unworthy of the Saintly position. To take it without being worthy would lead only to death!
In the boundless chaos, earth, wind, water, and fire swirled and mingled, devoid of space and time. Yet, a Dao Palace stood in the depths of the chaos, with earth, wind, water, and fire calmed around it. The palace was ancient and elegant, yet majestic and imposing. Dao patterns were engraved upon it, bearing the name: "Zixiao Palace!" Within the palace was a vast, quiet stone, with three thousand futons laid out across the grand hall. A high platform stood at the front, upon which sat the Dao Ancestor. Beside the Dao Ancestor, the True Spirit of Hao Tian was held by the Dao Ancestor's ego, presented to the Dao Ancestor.
The Dao Ancestor remained expressionless, simply stating calmly, "Since I have granted you freedom, I shall abide by it!"
Upon hearing this, the Dao Ancestor's ego let out a resonant laugh, swallowed the True Spirit in his hand, and turned to leave. He laughed wildly, for the Dao Ancestor had declared him free, and thus he was free! The Dao Ancestor's ego looked at the beings traveling far into the heavens and then let out a low chuckle, sitting cross-legged in the chaos and closing his eyes to recuperate. The swirling earth, wind, water, and fire around him could not touch him.
Soon, he awaited the arrival of the first powerful being! A massive Kun Peng, wings spread, flew into the chaos, its brilliance receding to reveal a middle-aged Daoist.
"Where do you, fellow Daoist, come from?"
Kun Peng was startled; there was someone else here! But upon seeing the figure, Kun Peng relaxed slightly. "Dao Ancestor's Ego?"
The Dao Ancestor's ego chuckled and looked at Kun Peng. "My name is Hao Tian, and I guide all beings in the Primordial World towards Zixiao."
Kun Peng observed the Dao Ancestor's ego, his thoughts churning, and said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist Hao Tian."
Hao Tian extended a finger, and a pathway appeared in Kun Peng's mind. Kun Peng offered a half-bow and took a step, intending to reach Zixiao.
The Dao Ancestor in Zixiao Palace saw the first arrival without surprise. How could those at the peak of the thirty heavens be compared to the still weak beings? But, just as Kun Peng was about to reach Zixiao Palace, he stopped abruptly. Kun Peng did not intend to be the first to enter. He and Hong Jun were almost peers, and now he had to personally seek knowledge from him. Although he could humble himself, it did not mean his heart was without turmoil. If he went now, how would he address the Dao Ancestor? "Fellow Daoist Ping Li?" "Your Holiness the Saint?" "Respected Senior?" No matter which way, it would be extremely awkward.
After a moment of hesitation, Kun Peng changed his course and headed towards the depths of the chaos, not entering Zixiao. The Dao Ancestor sighed inwardly. Under the Heavenly Dao, there were nine Saintly positions. Nine is the extreme number, the extreme of heaven and earth. The appearance of the ninth Saint would also be the time when heaven and earth neared destruction. Fortunately, he only controlled eight Primordial Dao foundations, and the last one would either be lost in the Primordial World or scattered in the chaos. Of the eight, he had attained enlightenment from one, and the remaining seven he would bestow without reservation upon all beings in heaven and earth. Even with one more Purple Qi, he might be able to ascend higher. But in Hong Jun's eyes, the level of attainment was no longer measured by strength. In other words, the difference in strength, the struggle for supremacy, was meaningless in his eyes.
Kun Peng, though his peer, possessed a heart of seeking Dao and was willing to humble himself, but ultimately, he had not completely let go of that. If he had entered Zixiao, Hong Jun would not have held back, and Kun Peng would have received a foundation for enlightenment. Alas...
As for destiny and heavenly will, the current Heavenly Dao was controlled by Hong Jun. The Dao Ancestor's will was heavenly will, and the Dao Ancestor's decree was heaven's decree! The Dao Ancestor was impartial. There were only seven positions for enlightenment, and those who arrived first would obtain them first. This was the simplest yet fairest method. Traveling from the Primordial World to the chaos beyond the thirty-three heavens was no easy feat. And the Dao Ancestor had only spoken of a thousand-year deadline. Those with a heart seeking Dao would naturally not slacken. Those with strength would naturally be able to traverse the thirty-three heavens. Those with wisdom would naturally understand the underlying principles. Those with Destiny would naturally receive assistance. Whoever arrived first would possess something beyond the ordinary beings. There was no such thing as the heavens decreeing that the Three Pure Ones would become Saints or that Nuwa would become a Saint; everything was a matter of "contention"! Without immense perseverance, great fortune, and grand Destiny, one could not reach Zixiao. The order of arrival within Zixiao was the combined effect of these three elements.
The Dao Ancestor remained calm, not showing favoritism to the Three Pure Ones, his disciples, but facing all beings. In this era, whether ants or mighty beings, all had the opportunity to contend for the Saintly position! This was the fairness and justice that the Dao Ancestor could provide, for the efforts of all beings.
As the Three Pure Ones ascended to the thirtieth heaven, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin barely reached the thirty-second heaven. They had taken form very late, and after spending tens of Yuan Hui nurturing the beings of the West, and without guidance from a famous teacher, the two from the West naturally could not match the strength of the three from the East, nor were they protected by Pangu's Destiny. But they possessed a selfless heart of great love for all beings! The Destiny of the West rested upon them, and they would not fail the beings of the Western heaven and earth. Their pursuit of Dao in Zixiao was not only for themselves but also to seek the Dharma for all beings. Therefore, Qing Ling had sent them on their way.
At this moment, in the star-filled universe of the twenty-eighth heaven, four figures emerged. The two from the Tai Yin Star encountered the two from the Tai Yang Star. Di Jun was led by time and had the opportunity to form connections, but this caused him to miss his chance. He gained the Tai Yin, but lost the Saintly position. Tai Yi was merely waiting for his elder brother, and in fact, was waiting for that person, wanting to walk the Dao together. It was a pity that he underestimated that person. Fu Xi handed the Fu Xi Qin to Nuwa. The twin phoenixes within the Qin lifted Nuwa, who rode the phoenix to ascend, taking the lead, while Fu Xi could only struggle to ascend behind her.
In truth, fate, or heavenly decree, was all the karmic connections of beings; there was no right or wrong!