Chapter 309: Please……Holy One, return to your seat!

Exactly!

Yuanshi Tianzun clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "With our abilities, we can surely guide the rise and fall of mortal thoughts; my heart is the heart of all beings."

Besides, we are powerless against those mighty beings who command the vast mountains and rivers and govern the endless multitudes.

"Indeed..." Lingbao Tianzun echoed, accompanied by a soft sigh, "Such figures are the most troublesome."

Even if our plan is perfect, facing them... we might very well be checkmated in the middle game.

It's fine. Morality Tianzun took it in stride, "In this era, we are still not the most important players on the world's stage."

So, success is welcome, failure is no problem.

This Heavenly Venerable's attitude is wonderfully good; even when a tremendous benefit is dangled before him, he shows no trace of agitation or rashness, handling things with serene detachment.

Perhaps this is also related to his philosophy—supreme goodness is like water.

Movement and stillness united, acting through non-action, governing with a transcendent mind without deliberate attachment.

Compared to him, Yuanshi Tianzun is somewhat concerned—after all, his path is to expound the orthodox Dao of heaven and earth, interpreting and applying it as the human way, inevitably becoming too entwined with the mortal world.

This is determined by each individual's path.

"After all, our disciples' share in the power that governs the mountains and rivers is neither sufficient nor high enough."

Yuanshi Tianzun pondered, "Without the king's support, religious rites cannot succeed."

"If we had an opportunity to let our disciples and followers participate on a large scale in the governance of heaven and earth, then the situation could be plotted."

"Even if we merely assist in the operation of heaven and earth, soothe the livelihood of one region, and slightly favor our teachings, would we not be able to guide the hearts of mankind toward the Dao?"

"Just issue some local regulations, advocate whatever, and after implementation, what benefits would there be? All beings seek profit, and they will surely come in droves."

Yuanshi Tianzun muttered to himself.

"Well... let's wait." Morality Tianzun chuckled and shook his head, "Anyway, the years ahead are long; sooner or later we will have our chance to take the stage."

"As for now, we should first handle the publicity operation, do our best, and give an explanation to Nüwa's side, which is also to support our Daoist friend Shaoyang."

Yes!

Yuanshi Tianzun and Lingbao Tianzun both accepted the orders.

Soon after, the two Heavenly Venerables made their moves, beginning to play out the hands they had prepared over countless ages.

……

Yuanshi Tianzun acted first.

He sat high on the palace hall's Dao platform; below stood his twelve direct disciples in order, awaiting orders.

The Heavenly Venerable casually waved his horsetail whisk, resting it in the crook of his arm, and spoke in a clear voice.

"Guang Chengzi."

"Present." Guang Chengzi stepped forward.

"Go to Nine Immortals Mountain, there expound the Dao and its methods, respond to your Grandmaster-uncle, help push forward the wind and waves blown from Mount Buzhou, and by the way craft some successful examples to let them take root in people's hearts, guiding the populace's mindset."

"I will obey the master's command."

Guang Chengzi bowed solemnly.

"Chijingzi!"

Yuanshi Tianzun continued, looking at another disciple, "You shall go to Mount Taihua, preside over the Daoist temple; your conduct shall be no different from that of your senior brother, adapting to circumstances and expounding the Dao."

"I will obey the master's command." Chijingzi bowed low.

"Taiyi..."

"Yuding..."

……

Yuanshi Tianzun dispatched his twelve disciples to mobilize the power cultivated by the Daoist sect over ages, tasking them with orchestrating the momentum.

Merely having Morality Tianzun expound the Dao De Jing yields some influence, but how effective is it? Actually, not very much.

Most beings merely observe.

Moreover, the habitual mindset of everyday people stays as it is; they will not easily make changes even in leisure.

Unless the benefits are great enough.

At this moment, it is like a balance scale poised on the edge, swaying left and right, indecisive.

Yet what Yuanshi Tianzun does is to place a sufficiently heavy weight on one side of that scale—

What are you waiting for? Hurry up and join the ranks of those who practice the Dao De Jing!

The earlier you practice, the easier success will be!

Yuanshi Tianzun devoted immense effort.

However, in secret, Lingbao Tianzun also cooperated—his lineage has recently greatly increased its recruitment efforts and strengthened its teaching staff to cultivate talented individuals.

This is the joint effort of the Daoist sect's Three Pure Ones.

Morality Tianzun tells the world what conditions are needed for success.

Yuanshi Tianzun tells the world that Morality Tianzun's words are true, backed by vast data, and you have such examples around you.

Lingbao Tianzun tells the world that if you envy those who have succeeded and wish to pursue success, come to me—I have the most systematic method to guide you onto the path of success.

Thus carried out in one seamless flow, guiding the trend with sweeping force, utterly magnificent and upright.

When the momentum reaches its peak, it even affects the normal administration of the Heavenly Court, causing those who hold power to lower their eyes and declare their stance.

Dong Wanggong, the current Grand Minister of Destiny of the Heavenly Court, who adjudicates fortune and misfortune and powerfully guides people's hearts toward good and evil, after finding no fault in their management, loudly praised and commended the Daoist conduct led by the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun.

Although some question it, saying the Daoist sect's power is detrimental to the Heavenly Court's governance of mountains and rivers,

all such objections were refuted by Dong Wanggong.

"The three Heavenly Venerables, entrusted with the Heavenly Dao's mandate, have the duty to educate humanity."

"Although their momentum is now formidable, we must acknowledge that their intentions are good and the core of their propaganda is the utmost positive energy."

From my standpoint as the highest arbiter, their conduct is without fault... Although it somewhat obstructs my Heavenly Court's management, strictly speaking it violates some regulations and statutes.

However, we Controllers of Fate should view problems flexibly... This legal benefit can serve as the basis for guilt, but ethics and morality can serve as the basis for innocence.

So regarding the actions of the Three Pure Ones Heavenly Venerable, we can just turn a blind eye——at most we send people to negotiate with them, regulate their behavior, and conduct proper propaganda and teaching in proper settings.

With the endorsement of Dong Wanggong as the Grand Controller of Fate, the Daoist sect's influence was not only not suppressed, but actually grew stronger.

As time went on.

The mainstream thought of the Demon Race will increasingly align with the current mainstream thought of humanity.

This finally caused some great powers to no longer remain indifferent.

"It's time to take action."

In the same hall, the Demon Emperor Jun said lightly,

"After waiting these years, the problem should be resolved."

Those great powers who had attended before all nodded silently.

"Earlier we already knew the Three Pure Ones were active, seeking to lead the direction of human thought and bring the Demon Race closer to humanity." Di Jun's eyes were deep, "I originally wanted to act immediately and suppress them."

"But later, after a change of heart, I temporarily shelved the idea."

"First, to let the people, whose spirits are tense due to the war situation, breathe a sigh of relief and ease some of the contradictions of the age."

"Second, to see, while the Three Pure Ones are so active, which people in the high ranks of my Heavenly Court would respond and cooperate with them."

"The Three Pure Ones, and the Wu Clan over there—things are unclear between them, likely involving mutual benefit."

"Anyone who is too ambiguous with them is problematic."

"In this matter, the Grand Controller of Fate has gone too far."

Di Jun said calmly, "Although he filed a report saying he wanted to gain the Wu Clan's trust...... but upon examining the details, I found some obscure points, and his cooperation with the Three Pure Ones is too seamless."

"Don't let it end with him holding high the banner of my Heavenly Court, only to personally tear it apart."

"Dong Wanggong……You should pay attention to him."

"Okay." Bai Ze Yao Marshal sighed, "I will monitor him carefully...... If he really has a problem, I cannot escape responsibility."

"No need for that, fellow Daoist." Di Jun chuckled, "Even if Donghua harbors ill intentions, his contributions to my Demon Race so far are still considerable; weighing gains and losses, we still profit."

"After you go down, you should pay attention to him, but not be too superficial, lest he grow suspicious...... What if we misjudge?"

"He is still, for now, one of the high-ranking officials of my Heavenly Court...... Do not expose these contradictions to those below; maintain harmony and unity."

Di Jun waved his hand, then turned to look at Donghuang, "Taiyi, this time you need to make a trip."

"Persuade the Three Pure Ones fellow Daoists...... Let Yuanshi understand which heaven he is expounding, and which Dao he is speaking of."

"Also, the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable, although teaching says it's education without discrimination, accepting many disciples is good, but regarding the selection of teaching materials, my Heavenly Court should look into it a bit."

"Make sure they don't forget that the Saint's position is bound to something, and openly, who they should stand alongside."

"Without Nüwa's iron fist to pull out a rebel army, they'd better take it easy."

"Good." Donghuang slowly rose, a great bell looming faintly behind him, "In my view, those who occupy the Saint's pits yet stubbornly refuse to become Saints are tumors, stumbling stones affecting the overall situation of my Heavenly Court."

"If that's the case, then let them all return to their proper places, bound by the Heavenly Dao, and no longer think of stirring up trouble!"

Donghuang said coldly, his tone stern.

"Mmm…" Di Jun leaned forward slightly, his eyes flickering, then suddenly laughed, "What you say also makes sense."

"If you have confidence you can do it, then go ahead and do it."

"I will mobilize the Heavenly Court's power, have the gods join forces, and cheer you on!"

"Excellent!"

Donghuang straightened his body.

Then he stepped forward, shattering the ages of time and space!

……

In Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi and Lingbao were plotting.

They reviewed the list, looking at the results of their years of painstaking cultivation, how effective it was, how many Demon Race youths they had led astray.

Unfortunately, before they could finish calculating, a great calamity arrived.

"Alas."

Yuanshi Tianzun threw down the jade slip in his hand, gave a light sigh, "So to speak, I most dislike those who wield military power and control authority."

"They act so swiftly and decisively, with no regard for propriety."

He started walking, pushed open the palace doors, and stood with his hands behind his back.

Lingbao Tianzun followed at his side, the Qingping sword already in hand, the sound of sword clangs rang out, "What a grand spectacle."

"Is this using power to overwhelm us?"

"Although that's the case, I must admit it's still quite useful." Yuanshi smiled, gazing at the vast Honghuang mountains and rivers.

At this moment.

The universe has no light!

Between heaven and earth, all is dim...... In the firmament, although the sun and moon hang high, they are all dim and lightless; even if the stars twinkle in the void, there is not a single point of starlight.

The Honghuang world has now fallen into a strange, inexplicable situation; all light sources seem like candles blown out by a breeze, leaving not a trace of brilliance——except that in the Heavenly Court atop Buzhou, one after another great Luo emperor's majestic dharma bodies naturally blaze with light, while everywhere else is plunged into total darkness.

Such an environment, such a background, is like an extremely dreadful omen, causing all spirits to tremble and all beings to feel panic.

In fact, not to speak of weak living beings, even they cannot spend the whole day in panic over this strange change.

Even if they are fellow Luo beings, or even top-tier great powers, at this moment they are also emotionally bewildered and astonished.

However, they have deep scheming and strong willpower; what ultimately shows is only a slight change in facial expression and demeanor.

"One, two, three......"

"Ten, twenty, thirty......"

One hundred, two hundred, three hundred……

Yuanshi Tianzun gazed toward the Heavenly Court, seeing inside the radiant and blazing Daluo Emperors, muttering under his breath, as if counting something.

After finishing the count, he let out a soft sigh, 'To casually pull forth Daluo by the thousands is truly amazing, quite terrifying.'

'You're giving us brothers too much face.'

Lingbao remained silent, silently gauging the solemn, terrifying aura pressing in from the direction of the Heavenly Court.

This is the manifestation of the combined Great Dao and mana of numerous powerhouses, among whom are not lacking supremely powerful beings and those with great divine abilities, excessively overbearing.

Under the pressure of that aura, Lingbao Tianzun felt that he and the entire spacetime around him were frozen and suppressed, as if unable to take even a step.

Know this: as a Daluo, he possesses the nature of 'once proven, eternally proven; once achieved, eternally achieved,' mastering the authority over endless, eternal, free spacetime; no matter where he stands in the Honghuang world, he can pierce through spacetime, oversee the ages, and roam at will.

Wandering through spacetime is like a fish in water, able to roam freely at will. But now, the water has turned to ice, completely frozen, becoming shackles.

—hiss!

Lingbao Tianzun blinked, and boundless sword intent blossomed in his eyes, severing the bonds, penetrating the illusory, and revealing the truth.

Reflected in his pupils were countless pure lights interwoven horizontally and vertically, thereby weaving the vast Honghuang.

That pure light is the law of heaven and earth, the foundation of the universe, one kind after another of fundamental Great Dao.

They arrange the primordial qi and command matter, thereby accomplishing the myriad phenomena of the Myriad Heavens, the vast and desolate Honghuang.

At this moment, an endless, vast, grandiose concept of will descended, enveloping everything and placing it under control; it wove the chessboard of heaven and earth, mastered the rules of the game, wrote history and fate, thereby sealing time and bringing a terrifying suppression upon Yuanshi and Lingbao, the two Heavenly Lords.

This is the power of the Heavenly Court!

The Daluo counted by the thousands, when their power is combined, unless one comprehends the marvel of 'Taiyi' — the wondrous existence-from-non-existence — of a supreme mighty being, beings of lower realms facing them have only death and no life.

Even if they make no move now, merely standing there as a backdrop, they are still the most terrifying deterrent.

After a moment of indescribable silence, came a bell's toll that shook the ages of Honghuang.

In the dark, gloomy hue of the cosmos, a sun appeared.

A toweringly majestic deity manifested, holding an ancient, simple great bell of Chaos, and walked toward Kunlun Mountain just like that.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi!

Chaos Bell!

(End of chapter)