In the Primordial Chaos of Azure Spirit, after a long period of dual cultivation, I was finally able to reluctantly aid Chaos and successfully ascend to the Dharma power realm of the thirty-first heaven.
Indeed, from the thirtieth heaven upwards, every step forward required immense fortune and perseverance. Few individuals throughout history could traverse this path.
Reflecting on it, the path of severing the three corpses was far easier than this one.
With the insights of the Dao Ancestor and the existence of seven beings who had successfully walked this path and become Sages.
Yet, Azure Spirit had no regrets and continued to persevere on this path.
Even though the Three Pure Ones had surpassed him, even though the Two Sages of the West had surpassed him, Azure Spirit felt no loss or regret.
When Azure Spirit returned to the Primordial World and learned that the Six Sages had all taken their positions, his heart remained calm.
In this regard, he and Laozi's thoughts were very similar; they both believed they were destined to reach that height, it was merely a matter of being a step faster or slower.
Consider it, the Great Ancestral Powers who were born even earlier than Azure Spirit would naturally feel a sense of desolation.
For instance, the reclusive Queen Mother of the West, who once stood as an Immortal King, revered by countless immortals, could now only watch as others achieved Sagehood and enlightenment.
Or Kunpeng, who even abandoned his own path, took the Three Corpses path, and willingly debased his seniority to listen to the teachings in Zixiao Palace.
And then there were figures like the corpse of Shen Ni, Doumu Yuanjun, and many other living dead who were born even earlier than Azure Spirit and had once held sway in the ancient era, yet they had not yet attained Sagehood.
The path of cultivation requires a Dao Heart, a heart of dedication to the Great Dao. If one harbors resentment, jealousy, or complaints and dissatisfaction because of it, then their cultivation is truly incomplete.
Azure Spirit quietly returned to the Primordial World. Currently, the focal points of the Primordial World were on the Six Sages and the Wu and Yao tribes.
The Jianmu in the Eastern Wilderness was, of course, receiving little attention.
Naturally, his apprehension towards the Eastern Wilderness had not diminished in the slightest.
Azure Spirit stood at the height of the thirty-second heaven of Jianmu, gazing at all beings, heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, and fell into deep contemplation.
He was very far yet very close to the Hunyuan realm. If he could break through one more heaven and step into the thirty-third, Azure Spirit would have the potential to achieve Hunyuan.
However, when he would break through, how he would break through, and whether he could break through, each step was critical. Furthermore, having this opportunity did not guarantee entering Hunyuan. Without the opportune time, favorable location, and harmony among people, without fortuitous encounters and destinies, there was only a ten percent chance!
This was why the Ancestral Dragon, even when he reached the thirty-third heaven realm, and the Dao Ancestor reached the thirty-third heaven realm, did not immediately break through.
Innumerable possibilities and outcomes were deduced by Azure Spirit's primordial spirit, intertwining in his mind, judging that each step taken would yield a different result.
There are countless kinds of Dao, and thus countless kinds of Dharma.
Dao is divided into many types. There are numerous Great Daos of divine abilities that are perceived and comprehended through self-cultivation, such as the Five Elements, Life and Death, Strength, Chaos, Destruction, and so on.
Currently, there are two paths to achieving these Great Daos of divine abilities. The Dao of the path is divided into the path of the ancient Great Powers and Hongjun's path of severing the three corpses. If Azure Spirit were to achieve Hunyuan in the future, there would be another path, called the path of Three Lives.
Paths are methods, and Great Daos of divine abilities are the endpoints.
As for the other kind of Dao, the Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, Human Dao, and the Great Heavenly Dao of Heaven and Earth's Will, these are the stances, aspirations, and ambitions of each Hunyuan or Sage after reaching the endpoint of the Great Daos of divine abilities, representing their personal ideal choices.
For instance, including Hongjun, there have been a total of seven Sages in the Primordial World.
Hongjun cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities as the Dao of Time, and his path was self-created, severing the three corpses. His choice was the Great Heavenly Dao, thus after he merged with the Great Heavenly Dao, the Primordial World became complete, and only then did the Three Daos of Heaven, Earth, and Man evolve beneath the Great Heavenly Dao.
Nuwa cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities as the Great Dao of Creation, and her path was also severing the three corpses. Her choice was also the Great Heavenly Dao, making her a Sage of the Great Heavenly Dao, or one could call her a Sage of Heaven and Earth's Will, namely a Heaven and Earth Sage.
Laozi cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities as the Great Dao of Taiji Yin-Yang. It is not a single kind, yet Laozi integrated it into one Dao. His path was also severing the three corpses, and his choice was also the Great Heavenly Dao, hence he is also a Heaven and Earth Sage.
Yuanshi cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities as the Great Dao of True Spirit. His path was also severing the three corpses, but his choice was the Heavenly Dao. His True Spirit was entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, which is the Heavenly Dao among the Three Daos beneath the Great Heavenly Dao. Therefore, he is called the Heavenly Dao Sage, and the Chanjiao he established, advocating for the Dao of Following Heaven, is merely an expression of his chosen stance regarding the Heavenly Dao.
Tongtian cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities as the Great Dao of the Sword. His path was also severing the three corpses, but his choice was no longer within the Great Heavenly Dao or the Four Daos of Heaven, Earth, Man, and Man. He acted solely for himself, thus his Jie Jiao, and his advocacy of "Man conquers Heaven" were all centered on himself.
Jieyin cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities of Illusory Primordial Spirit. It is not a single Great Dao of divine abilities, and he still followed the path of severing the three corpses. His chosen stance was not among the four, but solely for the actions of Buddhism.
Zhunti cultivated the Great Dao of divine abilities of Salvation and Causality. It is also multiple Great Daos of divine abilities, and he still followed the path of severing the three corpses. His chosen stance was identical to Jieyin's, with only slight differences within the same stance. Jieyin focused on internal Buddhist affairs and solely cultivated the Buddhist Dao, while Zhunti insisted on widely spreading Buddhist teachings to the world and saving all sentient beings.
Besides these, there are also the two paths of Dao and Buddhism. This is another classification of the Great Daos of divine abilities, representing different educational philosophies, and it also falls within the scope of the Great Daos of divine abilities.
These are the differences in divine abilities, Great Daos, and stances of the Six Sages.
Regarding the comparison of divine ability strength, the Six Sages are on equal footing, only differing in strength.
The status of the Six Sages is the same; they are all supreme Hunyuan and Sages, with no higher or lower ranking, only differences in the strength of their divine abilities and spiritual treasures.
However, among the Six Sages, Yuanshi is undoubtedly the most powerful in the Primordial World.
The strength of the Sages that sentient beings perceive in the Primordial World is actually the strength of the Sages under the restriction of the Heavenly Dao, and it does not represent the full extent of their power.
If we say that the Heavenly Dao limits the strength displayed by the Six Sages in the Primordial World to one hundred.
Then the other five Sages are all one hundred, because the Six Sages are at least several times that mark, so in the Primordial World, they are truly on equal footing. Even if a Congenital Supreme Treasure faced a Congenital Spiritual Treasure, once it exceeded this limit, the Heavenly Dao would automatically balance it, preventing you from unleashing it.
But Yuanshi is different, because he is a Heavenly Dao Sage, and within the Primordial World, the Heavenly Dao's tolerance for his strength is one hundred and twenty.
This is one of the benefits of standing within the Heavenly Dao.
After comparing himself with the various Sages, Azure Spirit also made his own choice.
The reason for such contemplation was that the opportune time, favorable location, and harmony among people for achieving enlightenment would differ based on the chosen stance.
If he chose to become a Hunyuan of the Heavenly Dao, the Heavenly Dao might directly sever his path to Hunyuan, or it might fully assist him in achieving Dao and then control him through karma or other means.
After all, the Heavenly Dao harbored deep hatred for Azure Spirit, considering him a thorn in its side.
However, if there was truly no other opportunity, he could only choose this path and take a gamble, so he had to make all necessary preparations.
Azure Spirit contemplated for decades before returning to his senses. After clarifying everything, he issued a decree from the Dao Lord of the Eastern Wilderness.
A golden decree flew to the four ancient tribes of the Eastern Wilderness, illuminating the billions of miles of ancient land. Countless beings living on this land looked up and saw the ancient Dao patterns originating from the era of the Three Ancient Tribes. The decree was inscribed with only four characters: "Dao Lord of the Eastern Wilderness."
The humans living here looked up with curiosity, not knowing what was happening, but they understood that a major event was about to occur in the Eastern Wilderness.
From each tribe, one or more streams of light ascended, flying towards the region of Dudou and Jianmu.
The human chieftains living in Dudou had also given birth to a Great Luo in these past years, who was the ancestor of this branch of humanity, named "Nong." Millions of humans revered him as the Ancestral Sage Shennong.
(Nong, one of the Chinese surnames, ranks 320th in the Hundred Family Surnames.)
Seeing that the Great Luo of the four tribes dared to go to the Jianmu region, this ancestor of humanity followed suit.
Azure Spirit descended from Jianmu. Currently, besides him, only Sages could stand at the peak of Jianmu; others could not bear its weight.
Streams of light lit up, arriving and then descending, revealing the figures of the elders from the four ancient tribes.
Currently, only the Great Luo of the Eastern Wilderness dared to be called an ancestor; outside, an ancestor was comparable to a peerless Great Power, a sect master level existence to be so honored. This also indicated that the Eastern Wilderness had truly been in seclusion for too long, so long that no one in the world knew of it anymore.
Great Luo figures stood respectfully with their hands lowered. As each arrived, they would come before Azure Spirit and pay their respects.
Azure Spirit smiled faintly and nodded to each of them.
Finally, the two oldest Great Luo of the Giant Crocodile Ancient Tribe and the Giant Ape Ancient Tribe arrived.
Upon seeing them, the dusty memories of countless years in Azure Spirit's mind seemed to come alive.
"Greetings, Dao Lord!"
The two white-haired, aged elders paid their respects.
Azure Spirit said, "I have not seen you two fellow Daoists for a long time. Fellow Daoist Shān Kūn, Fellow Daoist Cháo Shēng."
Shān Kūn smiled and nodded, "Indeed, it has been some years since we last met."
Cháo Shēng also chuckled with a hint of emotion.
Azure Spirit sighed, "Fellow Daoist Shān Kūn, during the Dragon Clan's Sacred Sacrifice, Elder Hua Geng brought my clan along. We witnessed the grand events of the ancient era together, conversing and laughing as if it were yesterday. Alas, several hundred Yuan Hui have passed."
Shān Kūn nodded with a smile, "Permit me to say something presumptuous, Dao Lord. When you had not yet even become a Golden Immortal, you defeated the royal family among the Dragon Clan's vassal races in one fell swoop. I knew then that your future achievements would surely be extraordinary!"
Azure Spirit smiled faintly, "Now, the old friends are fewer and fewer. I can barely recognize the Great Luo of my own clan among these more than ten Great Luo tribes.
Fellow Daoist Shān Kūn, Fellow Daoist Cháo Shēng, I observe that your fortunes are declining and tribulations have been suppressed for a long time. I fear a great calamity is approaching, is it not?
I ordered the four tribes to remain in seclusion. Have you ever resented me in your hearts?"
Upon hearing this, everyone said they dared not.
Cháo Shēng sighed, "Although the Dao Lord commanded us to remain in seclusion, and our fortunes have inevitably waned, we have avoided the calamity of the Wu and Yao tribes, and the entanglement of countless karmic disputes. Otherwise, we would have long since perished in the accumulated karmic killing tribulations."
Azure Spirit said sternly, "But now, even I cannot protect you."
Everyone's faces showed surprise, and they questioned with suspicion, "Is there a killing tribulation approaching?"
Azure Spirit shook his head, "In the past, I could allow you all to remain in seclusion because I was respected in the world, and no one could harm the source of each other's fortune, or their meticulously managed lairs for countless years.
But now, Sages have emerged, and not just one, but five! Below the Sages, all are ants.
The solid fortresses and iron walls we have painstakingly built for countless years are merely as easy as a wave of their hand to destroy.
As a result, there will inevitably be power struggles in the world. Six Sages, five factions, karmic calculations, Sages taking action, Great Powers appearing like clouds. There will be no place of peace in the world."
Everyone's hearts were greatly shocked, and each began to ponder.
Shennong asked, "May I ask, Dao Lord, are we in the Eastern Wilderness about to emerge from seclusion?"
Azure Spirit looked at him and asked, "Are you the Great Luo of the Human Race?"
He felt a slight tremor in his heart but remained calm, replying, "Nong Shi of the Eastern Wilderness Human Race, pays respects to the Dao Lord!"
Azure Spirit's expression softened, and he asked with a smile, "Why do you not address me as the Demon Ancestor?"
Shennong Shi felt relieved and respectfully replied, "This is the Eastern Wilderness. There is no so-called Demon Ancestor, no Heavenly Court. Only you, Dao Lord, protect us."
Azure Spirit smiled and nodded, "From now on, there will be the Five Tribes of the Eastern Wilderness."
Everyone present understood, the Dao Lord had acknowledged the Human Race, and it seemed they could no longer isolate the Human Race.
Shennong Shi's face lit up with joy, "Thank you, Dao Lord, for your fulfillment!"
Azure Spirit said, "What you just said is correct, and also incorrect.
The Five Tribes of the Eastern Wilderness should indeed emerge from seclusion!"
Everyone was greatly alarmed. Their tribes' records of the terrifying ancient Primordial Era were clear. They knew they were living a life of paradise, and their people had lost their fighting spirit. Once they emerged, how could they withstand the bloody storms outside?
However, no one dared to question, because the Dao Lord decided all matters within the Eastern Wilderness.
Azure Spirit naturally understood everyone's thoughts and said, "Rest assured, I am not asking you to contend with major powers and suffer the decline of your tribes. On the contrary, it will be a good thing.
If you emerge from seclusion, you will receive the nourishment of fortune and be free from tribulations. Those of you whose fortunes are declining can live for several thousand Yuan Hui. However, you must all obey my command, now and at any time in the future.
If you choose not to emerge, I will not force you. You can continue to remain within the Eastern Wilderness, and I will not close the forbidden formations of the Eastern Wilderness. You can continue to live in seclusion, but in the future, if there are powerful enemies, especially if Sages are involved, I will not assist you."
Everyone's minds were filled with various speculations. Just as they were about to ask for clarification,
Shennong Shi spoke first, "My Human Race lineage in the Eastern Wilderness will, regardless of any circumstances, follow the lineage of the Xi Shan Ancient Tribe. Whether we emerge or remain in seclusion, it will all be according to the Dao Lord's will."
The Great Luo present couldn't help but curse inwardly, the Human Race is indeed cunning.
They quickly followed suit, saying, "My Giant Ape Ancient Tribe (Black Lizard Ancient Tribe, Giant Crocodile Ancient Tribe) are all willing to obey the Dao Lord's decree and share life and death!"
These Great Luo had lived for an incredibly long time and naturally understood human affairs, strategizing and planning. They would never be foolishly clever; in the Primordial World, such behavior would only lead to death.
Azure Spirit saw this and said with satisfaction, "Good.
Since that is the case, you shall begin your preparations. In ten Yuan Hui, your entire tribe will migrate, and ascend to heaven!"
What?!
Ascend to heaven?!
All the Great Luo were profoundly shocked. Ascending to heaven meant only one destination: joining the Demon Clan!
Azure Spirit looked at everyone and said with a smile, "Rest assured, there will be no place for you in the Heavenly Court. The Five Tribes will not fight for the Wu and Yao tribes."
Shān Kūn's cloudy eyes rolled, glancing at the majestic Jianmu in the sky. He seemed to recall something and was suddenly startled.