Those who act against Heaven are Hunyuan Da Luo Golden Immortals, they are Sages. With countless primordial energies, nothing can instill fear in them, and Heaven's will naturally cannot deter Sages.
Laozi frowned and said, "Perhaps we should first stabilize the Primordial World, and then discuss this matter further."
After all, Heaven was complete, but the Earth was still fragmented. The Primordial World could never be whole again.
But this time, it was Yuanshi Tianzun who shook his head, "I am more curious about what kind of secret of Heaven's will Fellow Daoist Qingling is talking about."
Laozi, hearing this, said no more. Yuanshi's heart was already filled with doubt, even suspicion towards Heaven's will. Such is the wisdom of a Sage; no matter how secret or sealed away, a Sage will not be easily swayed if there is even the slightest possibility.
If this knot in Yuanshi's heart were not untangled, he would not be able to overcome this hurdle.
Tongtian also said, "I am very interested as well. Let us hear it, after all, it is a rare occasion for the six Sages and one Hunyuan to gather together."
Zhunti and Jieyin had no objections either.
Seeing that all the Sages had agreed, Qingling slowly began to speak, "In the ancient era, the world belonged to the three clans. The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans dominated the world, striking fear into all mighty beings of the Primordial World. Even the Dao Ancestor avoided their edge.
At that time, the Great Dao of the three clans ruled the Primordial World. All myriad races were vassals of the three clans, without exception.
And at that time, Heaven's will was newly born, controlling very little of the power of heaven and earth.
Let alone supreme mighty beings, even ordinary beings did not take Heaven's will seriously, nor did they even know what Heaven's will was, only knowing the Great Dao of the three clans.
Therefore, Heaven's will could only endure and merge with Hongjun Dao Ancestor's Great Dao to gain a foothold among the myriad Daos of the Primordial World.
The battle of the three clans, the conflict between Dao and Demon, these are all known to you all, and I need not elaborate further.
What I will speak of is how Heaven's will, step by step, expanded its origin and gained control of heaven and earth.
Do any of you recall how the Dao Ancestor appeared after Rahu battled the four ancestors and the West was shattered?"
Zhunti sighed, "Of course, we remember. At that time, the entire West turned into nothingness. Fortunately, thanks to the Dao Ancestor's compassion, he carried the three thousand worlds, thus giving rise to the foundation of the West today."
Qingling nodded, "Indeed. The Dao Ancestor carried the three thousand worlds and placed them in the West, completing the Primordial World.
But do you know how these three thousand worlds came to be? They were formed from the Dao treasures of the Da Luo Golden Immortals who perished over the long period from the ancient era to the Dragon-Phoenix era, spanning nearly ten thousand yuanhui.
Do you also know how many of these three thousand Da Luo possessed consciousness that existed before the creation of heaven and earth? Many of them were fragmented consciousnesses of Chaos Gods and Demons manifesting and reincarnating in the Primordial World.
But their origins were all absorbed by Heaven's will.
More seriously, in order to strengthen Heaven's will, the Dao Ancestor even took the origins of some of the most powerful of the three thousand Gods and Demons. The origins of the nine great primordial deities and the nine great primordial demons were all merged with Heaven's will by the Dao Ancestor.
Furthermore, the Dao Ancestor himself was one of the nine great primordial deities, the Time Primordial Deity. You can boldly imagine, with so many origins of Chaos Gods and Demons integrated into Heaven's will, what else could arise besides the expansion of its origin?"
Yuanshi Tianzun's face showed surprise, and he murmured, "The three thousand Chaos Gods and Demons were killed by Great God Pangu, and the Primordial World was destroyed. Their greatest wish before their demise as Gods and Demons was to destroy the Primordial World. They were irreconcilable enemies of the Primordial World.
Moreover, even if the Dao Ancestor purified their origins and removed the will of the Gods and Demons, these were still taken from the true spirits of Gods and Demons. No matter how purified, they would still possess the will of sentient beings and inherently harbor ill intentions towards the Primordial World."
Yuanshi Tianzun, worthy of being a Sage who cultivated the path of spiritual essence, grasped Qingling's words in an instant.
The faces of all the Sages changed. Tongtian suddenly realized and said, "In that case, after Heaven's will was completed, it divided into three paths. Its own essence became the will of heaven and earth, the Great Heaven's Will. Then, the two divided wills must carry the tendency of destruction from these Gods and Demons!"
"Do we even need to guess? Naturally, it is the Heaven's Will that initiates the calamity by acting against the general trend of all beings," Yuanshi Tianzun said with a crestfallen expression, as if he had lost his soul. "Alas, I, who am supposedly Pangu's direct descendant, am allied with my destined enemies!"
Speaking of this, Yuanshi turned to Qingling and said, "Fortunately, I did not win back then, and the Jianmu was not broken. Otherwise, the heavens and earth would have probably scattered by now. Even if they were mended, there would be no fundamental origin, and they would only become more fragile.
Yuanshi thanks Fellow Daoist for your guidance."
Qingling smiled and said, "Sage, you need not blame yourself. Who can fully comprehend the fate of heaven and earth? In the past, Sage was merely acting according to the will of Heaven. I have never held any resentment towards Sage."
Yuanshi sighed, "Fellow Daoist's great virtue shames Yuanshi."
Qingling smiled contentedly and said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, if not for your Sage-like virtue back then, and if you had acted according to the will of Heaven, you could have suppressed me beneath Kunlun with a flick of your hand. How could I have reached this day?"
Yuanshi was startled. He realized that this seemed to be the first time the person in front of him had addressed him as a fellow Daoist.
Qingling continued, "In fact, it is not only Heaven's Will. Even among the vast sentient beings, there is the influence of the will of Gods and Demons, though it is hidden beneath personal grudges and tribal conflicts.
Just like the battle between the Wu and Yao tribes, although it was a conflict between races, it resulted in the destruction of heaven and earth. Even the six Sages could not stop it due to various factors.
But fortunately, Fellow Daoist Nuwa exchanged injury for injury, destroying heaven and earth and then mending it. As a result, Heaven's will's power is currently in a state where its old force has been exhausted and its new force has not yet arisen.
This is an opportune moment for all the Sages. Time waits for no one. Are any of you willing to fight for all sentient beings, for this world that has nurtured us? And also for your positions as Sages?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the Sages except Nuwa fell into deep thought.
Even if they understood that Heaven's Will was flawed, knowing it was one thing, and acting on it was another. Any misstep would lead to the perishing of countless beings.
Their power was immense, so their responsibility was even greater.
To defy Heaven, such grand aspirations, such seemingly foolish ideas and paths, lay before the Sages.
Their decisions represented the general trend of the Sages, and the general trend of the Sages could drive the general trend of all beings, and the general trend of the Earth. Their thoughts in that moment would determine the future of the Primordial World.
Nuwa smiled and said, "It is merely a struggle against Heaven's Will, not against the will of heaven and earth, nor against the Great Heaven's Will formed by the Dao Ancestor merging with himself. Why not?"
The sentient beings remained silent. Zhunti, however, asked, "How does Fellow Daoist intend to defy Heaven?"
Qingling smiled and said, "Naturally, by leveraging the great trends of all of you, and the great trends of all sentient beings."
Laozi frowned, "But did Fellow Daoist not just say that human beings and all sentient beings are also influenced by the will of Gods and Demons, and their inherent tendencies?"
Qingling smiled and said, "It is only an inherent tendency, which can be differentiated and harmonized. Instead, it will become a great help!
Moreover, Fellow Daoist Zhunti, there is already the Buddhist path in the six paths of reincarnation of the Earthly Dao. I had promised to give you an opportunity for the great prosperity of the West. If the two merge, the great prosperity of the West will be within reach!
Sage Taiqing, if the Buddhist sect prospers, the Xuanmen cannot fall behind either."
Qingling said this with a smile, which amused the Sages and eased the atmosphere considerably.
Laozi laughed and said, "Since Fellow Daoist has said so, I shall see what methods you have. My Golden Core Dao lineage disciples know that 'one golden pill swallowed, my fate is mine to command, not Heaven's.' As the Xuanmen Dao Ancestor, I cannot fall behind."
Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged a glance, then smiled, "Then our West is also willing to contribute our meager strength."
At this moment, Yuanshi Tianzun no longer inclined towards Heaven's Will, but stood in opposition to it. He also said, "I am also willing to join you all."
Tongtian laughed, "Since you all have this intention, I cannot fall behind either. After all, my sword has never attempted to slay Heaven, only to slay beings."