Xuandu was still somewhat unsatisfied, saying, "Yes, Teacher is about to attain the Dao."
Having followed Laozi by his side, he had learned countless profound truths of the Great Dao along the way.
The Great Dao could only be understood, not conveyed in words. Yet, Xuandu had gained countless manifestations of the Great Dao from his teacher's words and actions.
Laozi, in practicing the Dao, was also imparting it. Every word, every deed, was nothing but the Dao!
This pair of master and disciple were both obsessed with the Dao.
Laozi still had to consider all aspects of heaven and earth because he was the master of the Xuanmen.
Xuandu would be even more immersed in the Dao than his teacher. With Laozi around, he didn't have to worry about the great calamities of heaven and earth, nor the lack of Dao to learn. He could simply dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the Dao. Everything outside the Dao was handled by his teacher.
This was perhaps the most significant difference between them and the great powers in the world.
Others sought the Dao to attain it, while Laozi and Xuandu attained it by seeking it.
Because after attaining the Dao, there would be even more Daos to comprehend, learn, and practice. As for whether they attained the Dao or not, it was of little consequence, done casually.
Above the firmament, Yuanshi traveled amidst the celestial clouds, his presence grand and imposing, yet no one came to greet him.
Yuanshi did not mind. Unlike Laozi, who spread the Dao to all living beings, he had come to impart the will of Heaven and comprehend the Heavenly Dao.
Laozi, from the humble mortal realm, observed all sentient beings, entered the myriad splendors of the mortal world, and emerged from it.
Yuanshi, high in the celestial canopy, observed sentient beings from a lofty vantage point, his gaze also lofty.
Among the Great Daos, there was no inherent superiority or inferiority.
As for Tongtian, compared to his two elder brothers, he was an anomaly.
The Taoist wandered the world alone, sword in hand. If he encountered beautiful scenery or magnificent natural wonders, he would be moved to dance with his sword. His swordplay, myriad and profound, was like splashing ink and painting, writing the various aspects of the Great Dao. Regardless of status or sentience, all could witness the Dao.
Even Laozi, in imparting the Dao, valued karmic connections. Tongtian, however, acted according to his whims, unbound by any rules.
The Law should not be easily transmitted, and the Dao should not be lightly spoken of.
In Tongtian's eyes, these were mere formalities.
He cared not for any rules or constraints.
If Laozi bore the responsibility for the welfare of the Xuanmen, and Yuanshi lived for dignity—the dignity of the Great Dao, of Pangu, of the Heavenly Dao, hence his aloofness—
Then Tongtian lived for himself alone, freely indulging in the passage of time. Thus, he was the youngest, the most youthful, perhaps reflecting Pangu's yearning for self-expression.
Tongtian spread the way of the sword, traveling the world. Those who attained his Dao numbered countless thousands. What he imparted was the Dao of freedom and ease, teaching all beings to be themselves, not to compromise, imitate, or curry favor.
Having been born into this heaven and earth, one should live a life without regret.
Tongtian arrived at the East Sea, where countless rogue cultivators welcomed him.
Even a golden tortoise from the sea came to greet him, seeking to inquire about the Great Dao.
Tongtian smiled and replied, "Your innate foundation is flawed, and your path to Buddhahood is uncertain. However, I can offer you two paths to seize that sliver of opportunity. The first is to go to Buzhou Mountain, and transform into stone mountains for three thousand Yuan. This will perfect your elemental essence and allow for the cutting of a corpse."
The golden tortoise's face contorted in pain. Buzhou Mountain was too dangerous, and three thousand Yuan was too long a time.
"May I ask, Saint, what is the second path?"
Tongtian smiled and said, "Descend into the East Sea and transform into an island for eight hundred Yuan. Let the boundless sea water nourish your primordial essence."
The golden tortoise pondered for a moment and said, "This humble beast chooses the second path, to descend into the East Sea and become an island.
If the Saint does not mind, this humble beast wishes to serve as your Dao practice ground, to repay your guidance."
Tongtian heard this and chuckled, "Excellent! Since you have this intention, I shall assist you!"
Tongtian bowed to the East Sea and said, "Apologies for the disturbance!"
As his voice faded, Tongtian drew the Qingping Sword from his back, and with a single swing, cleaved the East Sea. The Qingping Sword's light severed tens of thousands of miles, and a void without water appeared.
"You may descend here!"
The golden tortoise bowed in gratitude, resolutely transformed into a colossal tortoise ninety million li wide, and sank into the seabed, becoming an island, connecting with the water currents to nourish its essence.
Tongtian sighed, "All sentient beings in the world who seek the Dao tread a path of near-certain death, all for that single chance. Many achieve glory, but at the cost of countless lives. Alas, how many understand the joys and sorrows of life and death?"
On Buzhou Mountain, Yuanshi halted his journey.
The Nine Dragon Immersion Chariot descended, and Yuanshi led his disciples up Buzhou Mountain. No matter how noble he was, he would not float over Buzhou Mountain in a chariot.
Antarctic Immortal Elder, White Crane Boy, Yun Zhongzi, and the Twelve Golden Immortals followed their master in silence.
The reason was that Yuanshi's expression was somewhat terrifying.
They had never seen Yuanshi with a sorrowful countenance. They loved and respected their master, but they also feared him.
Yuanshi was a qualified teacher; none of his disciples did not respect, revere, love, or fear him as their master.
The Yuqing lineage revered their master with utmost rationality and strict adherence to rules. The Shangqing lineage revered and respected their master but lacked a sense of awe; Tongtian was both master and friend to his disciples.
The Taiqing lineage had only Xuandu. In Xuandu's eyes, Laozi was his father.
Yuanshi ascended to the twenty-eighth heaven of Buzhou Mountain and waved his hand, saying, "You need not follow."
The disciples complied. Guangchengzi cautiously said, "Master, please do not be too heartbroken."
Yuanshi nodded and ascended to the summit of Buzhou Mountain.
Yuanshi no longer maintained his aloof demeanor or his stern expression, nor did he project an aura of authority. His usually straight back bent, his posture, always impeccable, became disheveled, and his habitually unsmiling face was filled with sorrow.
Standing here, he could survey the entire Primordial World.
He stood on the spine of the Great God Pangu. He was Pangu Yuanshi, bearing Pangu's dignity, facing the majesty of the three thousand gods and demons, the unyielding dignity of the primordial Dao, and the resolute dignity of heaven and earth.
The wind at the peak of Buzhou was fierce, and the starlit sky was beautiful. Billions of stars surrounded it like a universe suspended above Buzhou, within reach of one's grasp. The sun and moon hung on either side of Buzhou, rising in the east and setting in the west. Each star in the vast sea of stars accompanied Pangu on Buzhou for countless eons.
Yuanshi stood on Buzhou, as if he were Pangu. In truth, he was Pangu, the Pangu Sanqing.
He was destined to be aloof, for he was Pangu's final dignity. It was not a choice he made, nor an action he took, but a destiny into which he was born.
The spirit of Buzhou, which had been silent for an immeasurable time, was awakened by Yuanshi. Pangu's will manifested one last time in heaven and earth. The Pangu sentient beings did not awaken, nor did the Pangu Witch clan, who had resided in seclusion for hundreds of Yuanhui. Only the Sanqing, Pangu's primordial spirit, were awakened.
Yuanshi ascended Buzhou, and Buzhou, awakened by him, its spirit merged into Yuanshi's being.
Heaven began to descend, the earth began to rise, heaven and earth merged, mountains and seas leveled, and the Primordial World returned to chaos. Chaos was like a hen's egg, and a giant holding a divine axe split heaven and earth. His long hair fluttered, and the primordial chaos trembled. The beginning of heaven and earth, the end of chaos, were all Him, Pangu.
Yuanshi awoke, as if from a great dream. Tears of Yuanshi were left on the peak of Buzhou.
Heaven and earth were named, and the Heavenly Dao bestowed its blessing, like a yellow robe being donned, or a king's crown. The decree of heaven and earth declared: "Yuanshi Tianzun!"
The Golden Dao Seal of Edict descended, and all beings in heaven and earth felt it.
Yuanshi personally tied his scattered hair, straightened his robes and crown. His back was once again erect, as if it had never bent. His face regained its solemnity, as if no sorrow had ever touched it. His eyes contained the heavens, as if no tears had ever fallen.
Tongtian, by the East Sea, looked back at Kunlun and uttered a heavy sigh, "Second Brother."
On Shouyang Mountain, Laozi smiled lightly. All Daos were the same in his eyes. It was fitting for him to be happy for Yuanshi.
Laozi stood on Shouyang Mountain and announced to all sentient beings: "I hereby inform heaven, earth, Xuanhuang, the universe, and the Primordial World: I am the eldest of the Pangu Sanqing, Lao Dan.
Today, on Shouyang Mountain, I establish a sect for all beings, called: The Human Teachings!
To enlighten all sentient beings in heaven and earth, and to conform to the orderly derivation of heaven and earth.
I am the leader of the Human Teachings, Taiqing!
I have comprehended the Great Law of the Dao Ancestor's Three Corpses, and attained the Great Law, called the Four Corpses!
I have severed my good corpse into Yang Jun, my evil corpse into Yin Jun, my true self corpse into Lao Jun, and my fourth corpse into Taishang!
The three corpses merge into the Dao, Taishang forgets emotions, presides over the Xuanmen, and in the thirty-third heaven, opens the Great Scarlet Heaven, which shall be the ancestral court of the Xuanmen!
I use the Taiji Diagram and the Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda of Heaven and Earth as treasures to suppress destiny. The Human Teachings are established!"
As his voice fell, Xuanhuang ascended in heaven and earth, and four figures emerged from within.
Yang Jun, Yin Jun, and Lao Jun merged into one. The three corpses attained Hunyuan and merged into the Dao. Taishang forgot emotions and ascended to the thirty-third heaven, establishing the Great Scarlet Heaven.
Xuanhuang merit descended. Laozi, step by step, ascended the pinnacle of Taiyin, Taiyang, and Taiji. The Yin and Yang Taiji Great Dao manifested as a grand staircase of Dao, a ladder of Dao that had not appeared since the establishment of the Heavenly Dao.
However, what he attained was the Hunyuan Da Luo Golden Immortal!
Bestowed with the sacred position of heaven and earth, Laozi became a Saint!
At this moment, the Primordial World, the Taiji Yin and Yang Dao grew longer and vaster.
Before attaining the Dao, humans revered the Dao; after attaining the Dao, the Dao was elevated by humans!
The Taiji Great Dao stood alongside the Great Dao of Creation.
The sacred phenomenon of heaven and earth descended, heavenly flowers rained down, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, and the destiny of the human Dao expanded and merged with the destiny of the Daoist sect. The Daoist sect flourished. The Great Scarlet Heaven, in the thirty-third heaven, the ancestral court of the Xuanmen, stood above all sentient beings and all Daos, surpassing the Wu and Yao.
The great powers in heaven and earth were all shocked by Laozi's extraordinary brilliance.
Unlike Nuwa, who created humanity with her benevolent creation, Laozi, as a superior to his students, created the four corpses of heaven and earth. His virtue was even greater than Hongjun's!
If Laozi had appeared one epoch earlier, the Primordial World might not have had Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
In the Western Kunlun Mountains, the Queen Mother of the West was lost in a daze for a long time. She sighed, ultimately incomparable to the Pangu Sanqing.
Before her, Chang'e, after her shock, became fearful. She again pleaded, "Please, Queen Mother, help me one more time!"
The Queen Mother sighed, "Rise, child. Your husband, the Old Star Lord, is an intimate friend of mine, so I will naturally help you.
But you are the Moon Goddess of the Nine Heavens. Why must you involve yourself in the Wu-Yao conflict for a great witch? Your sister is already too deeply entangled in the calamity to be saved.
Yet, you still have a chance. If both of you sisters meet with misfortune, how can I face the Old Star Lord from beyond the heavens?"
Chang'e said firmly, "As long as I can save his life, I am willing to lose all my Dao."
The Queen Mother said helplessly, "Alas, ultimately it is a tale of infatuated lovers and a calamity.
This immortal elixir is a first-generation supreme fruit from my Peach Garden's spiritual root. It was born under the Xuan Law of the Ancestor of the Demon Clan, creating celestial anomalies, making it difficult to extinguish life and death, hence its name, Immortal Elixir. Its effect is beyond comprehension, and it may assist you!"
Chang'e was overjoyed, "Thank you, Queen Mother. Chang'e will forever remember your great kindness."
The Queen Mother shook her head and chuckled, "I will likely remain secluded in these mountains for the rest of my life, with no great fortune to be had. You must take care of yourself!"