Chapter 243

Mending heaven and earth, establishing order in the cosmos!

Nüwa's merit is boundless; all beings under heaven bow and kowtow, tears of gratitude streaming, loudly acclaiming "Great Compassion, Great Mercy Nüwa", her fame boundless, unseen numbers of great beings secretly envy her.

Such supreme status under heaven and earth is the glory that Pangu deserves.

And Pangu... who wouldn't want to keep such an achievement in mind and give it a feel?

"If you can achieve it, so can I!"

A Grand Luo who does not aspire to the position of Pangu is a Grand Luo without dreams.

The closer one gets to that level, the easier it is to have second thoughts.

Therefore, after removing those powerful beings who had done great deeds, offended Nüwa and thus had to flee, the remaining neutral great divine-ability holders all widened their eyes, gazing at this historic moment.

Among them, the Three Pure Ones and the Two Buddhas were foremost—they even came to the scene, approaching Mount Buzhou for a close-up observation.

Each saw something different.

Each also gained something.

Not to mention the somewhat mysterious Morality Heavenly Venerable and Jieyin Ancient Buddha, who were already beginning to plot something.

Yuanshi Tianzun blinked, his gaze falling on the half of Mount Buzhou severed at the waist, then he looked around, left and right, as if confirming something.

After a moment, he thrust out his hand, flicked his sleeve, and saw the portion of Mount Buzhou broken from summit to mid-slope, which had fallen onto the lands of Honghuang, silently vanish.

Of course.

Such a huge object, when taken away, can be moved with barely any disturbance; under Yuanshi Tianzun's divine powers, not even a sound is made… but for ordinary living beings, that's out of the question.

Great Luo… nobody is blind.

Immediately, someone widened their eyes and stared over, their gaze full of deep meaning.

"Fellow Daoist of Emptiness and Tranquility, why are you looking at me?" Yuanshi Tianzun said calmly, "I do this because I care for all beings… Look, such a huge piece of contraband, fallen onto the earth, blocks traffic and creates hazards."

"It's inevitable; communication through here will inevitably be obstructed…… This is greatly detrimental to the local construction and development!"

"I foresaw the future, perceived the trend of the times' development needs, acted in advance to remove it…… You tell me, how wise am I?"

The True Person of Emptiness and Tranquility heard this, his face instantly turning strange: "Fellow Daoist… that thing, after all, was once part of Mount Buzhou—what a tremendous treasure!"

"Even a grain of sand or a stone on it is of immeasurable value."

"One could say that wherever it lands, that place instantly becomes rich."

"Even if ordinary beings are limited by their life level and lack the ability to develop its value…… the future can still hold hope."

"Even if limited by talent and teachers, truly having no chance to reach such achievements, still one can skim some profit from it——such a huge natural treasure trove existing, it's not hard to draw cultivators from all sides, gathering like clouds, and it naturally becomes a holy land of cultivation."

"The natives lack the ability to develop its value, but they can do small‑time business around it, earn a little money to support their own cultivation— that shouldn't be hard— as long as there isn't some genius who forcibly encloses the place, declares ownership, uses force to impose harsh terms, and compels them to choose between unpaid labor and fleeing."

"But, Fellow Daoist, what you've done now…… this isn't just driving them away; it's confiscating their very pots!"

The True Person of Emptiness and Tranquility said.

Yuanshi Tianzun's face showed surprise: "Really, is it so?"

"Sigh…… in saying this, however, it's my earlier lack of consideration, my prior unilateral decision‑making mistake." He said solemnly, "In that case, I ought to issue an announcement to the beings originally there, apologize formally, to show I have a heart full of regret for pushing local development and prosperity while overlooking the concrete situation."

"Very good." The True Person of Emptiness and Tranquility nodded, "Right…… after the apology, will you return that half of Mount Buzhou?"

"How could that be…… cough, cough, this…… is still up for discussion." Yuanshi Tianzun spoke after consideration, "Every advantage brings a disadvantage…… that half of Mount Buzhou, while indeed having great marvels, could also become a fuse."

"So that's it."

"Let me see what's happening, whether the reaction of the masses on that land is intense…… then I'll make the final decision."

"If they can make a very reasonable argument, or bring someone who can crush my Pangu‑level opponent…… then let me think again."

The True Person of Emptiness and Tranquility heard this and burst out laughing.

He could say no more, only extending a hand and giving a thumbs‑up to end the topic.

Finally, he laughed and said, "I find this matter quite interesting…… so later I'll write a related essay, Fellow Daoist, you have no objection, right?"

"Oh?" Yuanshi Tianzun raised an eyebrow, curiously asking, "What is it?"

"First, agree: no bluntly speaking ill of me." The Heavenly Lord said while subtly displaying his cultivation— he is at the utmost peak of Grand Beginning, even half a foot about to step into the Grand Simplicity level of creation from nothing.

"That's natural." The True Person of Emptiness and Tranquility said with a smile, "I'm just moved by seeing you shift the mountain……"

"A story……"

"An old man who knows not whether he is wise‑seeming foolish or foolish‑seeming wise, he set his ambition to move the mountain……"

……

Because of the half of Mount Buzhou, Yuanshi Tianzun and the True Person of Emptiness and Tranquility began to talk.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Lord didn't have so many thoughts.

He merely watched the scene of all beings jointly worshiping the Empress Nüwa, then recalled the earlier series of grand dramas, shaking his head incessantly.

"All beings are like weeds……"

The Numinous Treasure Heavenly Lord lamented for humanity: "Even though a great human Way backs it behind the scenes, the collective's power coalesces into something unimaginable…… yet what does a single individual amount to?"

"In a great catastrophe, there is fundamentally no ability for self‑preservation…… the universal will of the human Way, though strong, also means it won't specially look after any particular individual."

"If one wants self‑preservation, one must still strengthen oneself."

"Only by personally attaining the Dao of Great Luo can one barely count as resting easy…… at the very least, one need not worry about being killed by a stray ripple, or being powerless to save oneself when faced with a disaster like a heavenly river bursting forth, and thus sinking to one's doom."

The Heavenly Lord spoke softly, a flash of resolute light in his eyes: "Beings endure such hardship…… I shall for them broaden the path of the Dao, severing heaven's single thread of vitality!"

This Heavenly Lord, indeed, also harbors great aspirations and is full of compassion.

But, this Heavenly Lord's hint of compassion— its final result may not necessarily be good.

The Morality Heavenly Lord heard his muttering, shook his head, and said, "This path isn't easy to walk…… you'll smash many great beings' stalls, so be careful."

"I understand." The Numinous Treasure Heavenly Lord nodded silently.

"Just understanding is enough." The Morality Heavenly Lord smiled, "After understanding…… you needn't shrink back, needn't be timid, let go and act, boldly proceed."

"I and Yuanshi will forever be your backing, supporting you with all our strength…… just as Fuxi treats Nüwa, Di Jun looks after Taiyi…… they all prepared their rear in advance."

Morality Heavenly Venerable said, his smile suddenly becoming brilliant, "Speaking of which, it's also interesting."

"We, this oldest batch of innate divinities, whoever has family members……whether brothers, sisters, or brother-sister……all those of higher seniority are clever and wise, while those of lower seniority are a bit reckless and headstrong."

"You say that!" Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable's eye twitched, "What do you mean reckless? That's our firm conviction, unchanging till death!"

"And what cleverness and wit……clearly just having many schemes, full of belly of unknown water, one set of tricks after another."

"Besides, if it weren't for you two having many schemes……how could I end up with the lowest seniority?"

Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable's tone hinted at some indignation.

Evidently, something happened back then that made him the third youngest in the family, lowest in seniority, with two elder brothers pressing down on him.

If we refer to Nüwa's life experience……one elder brother is already so 'tragic', let alone two?

When facing external enemies it's still fine; we can still fight side by side.

But when placed at home……

Whenever there's something to do, the younger brother/sister serves the labor……tsk.

"Haha!"

Morality Heavenly Venerable laughed loudly, actively bringing up this topic, "Let the past be past……shouldn't we focus on the future?"

"Your situation is roughly like that."

"You have dreams, you have perseverance, we don't oppose……but if one day you can't hold on yourself, feeling that the whole world is your enemy and you can't fight, then come and talk with us."

"Let us think of a plan, see if we can help you shore up your base, take over the reins, so you won't end up flat on your face, and still preserve some living strength."

"Good." Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable also wasn't pretentious, didn't shirk the idea of his elder brothers' help……right or wrong, he still knew.

"My pursuit, I have it clear in my heart……how about you?"

"Just now I saw you and Jieyin, the two of you watching Nüwa mending the heavens, each profound and unfathomable……what are you scheming?" Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable said, somewhat curious.

"Nothing major." Morality Heavenly Venerable said calmly, "We just saw a path."

Without waiting for Numinous Treasure to ask further, he went on saying himself, "At most this path is somewhat special……called the Pangu Path."

"Are you also going to step onto this path? Congratulations." Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable gave a heartfelt blessing.

"Nothing worth congratulating." Morality Heavenly Venerable laughed, "In this Honghuang world……right now, at this moment, the mighty beings who have seen the path are too many to count on two hands."

"Like Nüwa before……she integrated creation and reincarnation, mastering the fundamental of human destiny, this is her unique Pangu Path."

"Like the mighty Minghe of the Sea of Blood, who wields the crimson lotus karmic fire, executing slaughter of cosmic beings, this is his Pangu Path."

"Also like us Three Pure Ones brothers……you sever opportunities for sentient beings, aiming to achieve one Great Luo after another; if one day you bear abundant fruit, peaches and plums filling the world, without dying midway, you also have hope of becoming Pangu."

"Second Brother Yuanshi, why did you lower your standards a bit, fixated on that half of Mount Buzhou? Actually it's because he chose the Pangu Path, to expound the heavens and expound the law."

"And that half of Mount Buzhou……what was its status before? It was the cord and law of heaven and earth, the iron rule of the universe!"

"Even if now some patterns have changed, the four poles support heaven……but strictly speaking, it still doesn't count as a thorough change of dynasty."

"This is the sword of the current dynasty, it can raise its authority……perhaps it can't cut some peak powerhouses, but cutting the lower levels is very satisfying, it can be used to assist in quickly building his ecological strategy, forming a closed loop."

Morality Heavenly Venerable said offhandedly, speaking of some words that would surely shake heaven and earth if spread, "The Pangu Path, besides strengthening oneself, also involves pulling in allies, forming factions, uniting comrades to strike enemies, ultimately achieving 'Only I Am Honored,' commanding all gods."

"In this great calamity, all kinds of chaos and various bizarre phenomena……perhaps behind them all there are promoters, it is our future and also our past ultimate achievements driving it, under complex intertwined influences forming this scene."

"Cannot affect Nüwa's proving the Dao, but placing a piece in the corners is not difficult……not contending for this era's Pangu, can we not wait for the next age?"

"If one can lay out plans in advance, why wait until the last moment to frantically seek teammates?"

Morality Heavenly Venerable's tone was full of deep meaning.

Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought.

"Some headstrong mighty being, butting his head until he broke Mount Buzhou……is there really no evil deal behind this?"

"Who is it, masterminding all of this?"

"And who is it, directly forcing him to die?"

"Also like Nüwa mending the heavens……will there be such a process, is it because someone offered a good price, placed an order, thus there came the refining of stone to mend heaven, thus came a series of expansions using it as a primer, a seed at this time point is the future's most splendid Dao fruit."

"Reversing fruit as cause, turning time upside down……the Great Luo's game, both in the future and in the past."

"Each person's outcome, in betting trades, some are sacrificial victims, some are fishing in troubled waters……who knows who will laugh last."

"Now it looks like nothing more than a pawn in an idle game, perhaps it is actually the future's most crucial calamity material."

Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable thought of many things.

Not bad.

He is somewhat straightforward, somewhat reckless, but not stupid.

"Those who can become Great Luo, none are stupid."

"At most it's a bottom-line issue, see how one's principles are, able to show to what extent in the operation of drawing lots to call people."

"In this regard, those with high principles often suffer more."

……

"'Nüwa mending the heavens involves your Pangu Path.' Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable pondered, 'Looks like it also has a big connection with Jieyin.'"

"'Probably.' Morality Heavenly Venerable nodded, 'We might end up crossing paths, becoming the two true leaders of a great calamity in some era, manipulating the era's protagonist to play off each other.'"

"'Whoever wins, that one is Pangu.'"

"'Really?' Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable raised his eyebrows, 'Only you two? Those veteran Pangus won't intervene?'"

"'This is hard to say……but even if they do intervene, I suppose it wouldn't be too serious.' Morality Heavenly Venerable fell silent a moment, then said, 'After all, at that time our actions conformed to human needs, able to gain some support in this regard.'"

"'One era, one theme.'"

"'Aside from the original Pangu, the rest of those who prove Pangu are mostly related to the human form, fitting the theme.'"

Morality Heavenly Venerable said slowly, 'Of course, nothing in the world is absolute……if we encounter someone incredibly formidable, then that's another matter.'

"'But most of the time, it's still within common sense.'"

"'Like the first Pangu——Fuxi……'"

(End of chapter)