Chapter 168: Discussing Dao and Devil, the Devil Attains the Dao

As Yuan Feng's aura faded, the seal began to collapse; before Zu Long and the three could react, the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner turned into a streak of light and flew toward the Wilderness.

Qing Long reached out to block it, but spiritual light flared on its body; in the panic, it actually escaped.

"Forget it, it's just a spiritual treasure anyway; since we lack affinity, there's no need to insist."

Zu Long stopped Qing Long's attempt to give chase; at this point their condition is poor, so it's better to avoid further trouble.

Yuan Feng's body began to gradually vanish, turning into specks of dust that scattered in the Chaos.

Seeing this, the three hesitated for a moment, then still cupped their hands and said:

"May Fellow Daoist Yuan Feng depart peacefully."

Although they also knew, Yuan Feng fundamentally had no possibility of reincarnation.

Yuan Feng's true spirit has been extinguished; even if any remnant remained, attached to the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner, it could not return to the Wilderness after passing through the endless Chaos currents.

As Yuan Huang rushed toward Bei Fang, she suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart, grief filling her inner being.

A streak of flowing light flew across the sky and landed beside Yuan Huang; it was precisely the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner.

Yuan Huang gazed at the damaged treasure before her; her fingers lightly brushed the banner, and the last glimmer of hope in her heart vanished.

"Phoenix..."

Yuan Huang suddenly thought of something; after putting away the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner, she hastily turned and flew toward Nan Fang.

Now Yuan Feng has died and his Dao has vanished; she has already lost her beloved, and cannot afford to lose her children as well.

Moreover, her people still need her; that is Yuan Feng's lifelong painstaking effort, and she cannot stand by and watch the Phoenix Clan decline and perish.

The Wilderness, Xifang Dalu.

Upon a expanse of cloud, here gathered several primordial divinities who wished to leave the Wilderness; basically they were all rare great gods, none of whom failed to follow the Primordial Origin Dao.

Yang Mei opened his eyes and said: "Everyone, the protagonist of the great calamity has now been determined; we too should go to observe the Dao."

"Good."

Everyone replied in kind, then instantly turned into streams of light and vanished, heading toward Xu Mi Mountain.

In the sky above Xu Mi Mountain, Hongjun and Luo Hou sat facing each other; they also constantly paid attention to the situation in the Chaos.

"Fellow Daoist Luo Hou, it seems that between us a contest is about to begin; if the Heavenly Dao were not to emerge, only one could attain the Dao, and I truly do not wish to contend with you, fellow Daoist."

Hongjun's countenance was gentle, his words full of regret and pity, as if it were truly so.

Luo Hou merely smiled and said:

"Fellow Daoist, you need not be so; I too am unwilling, but in the struggle for the Great Dao, there is advance without retreat, unchangeable by human intention."

"We had better wait for the other fellow Daoists to arrive, then jointly discuss the Dao; between us there is death without life, to speak otherwise would be too false."

"Between the Immortal Dao and the Devil Dao, there should be a distinction of superiority; do you and I not also harbor expectations for that?"

Hongjun did not agree with Luo Hou's words, was unaffected in the slightest, and merely laughed:

"The distinction of superiority—have you and I not long understood it? In the Wilderness, those cultivating the Immortal Dao number ten, those cultivating the Devil Dao are none or two or three; the living beings make such choices, fellow Daoist, why must you persistently entangle?"

Luo Hou snorted coldly, disdainfully saying: "It's merely that I have rarely transmitted the Dao; the contest between Immortal and Devil Dao is merely that the Dao is high by one chi, the Devil by one zhang."

"Can't be bothered to speak further with you; let's wait for them to arrive, then proceed with discussing the Dao."

"Good."

Hongjun had no objection to this.

Several rays of rosy light appeared in the sky; all those who had come to witness the Dao discussion arrived, and all survivors of the Divine Dao from the Three Sovereigns Era came as well.

Space Great Dao Yang Mei Great Immortal.

Five Elements Great Dao Five Elements Old Ancestor.

Yin Yang Great Dao Yin Yang Old Ancestor. Heaven and Earth Great Dao Heaven and Earth Old Ancestor.

The four appeared in different forms, their bodies varied, yet their Dao rhythm flowed smoothly and completely; their cultivation could reach the heavens and mankind.

"Two fellow Daoists, you have waited long; now we have arrived, the great calamity is also clear; may the Dao discussion begin? Or perhaps some preparation is needed."

"However, the Old Ancestor will speak first; although my time is not precious, the emergence of the Heavenly Dao waits for no one."

The Child-like Five Elements Old Ancestor, his voice resembling that of a youngster, laughed and said:

After Hongjun and Luo Hou exchanged a glance, they jointly chanted:

"Good."

The two spoke simultaneously, omens frequently arose, heaven and earth split evenly, each displayed their supernatural powers.

Only hearing Hongjun say: "The Immortal Dao values life, boundlessly saving people. Humans are born and die; those who follow life are one in three, those who follow death are one in three, and the living who move toward death are also one in three."

"Life is the follower of death, death is the beginning of life; who knows its course! Human life is the gathering of qi; gathering brings life, dispersal brings qi."

Instantly heavenly flowers rained down, the earth surged with golden lotuses, all things arose and grew, without any sign of decay.

"Carefully observe this body: it comes from nothingness, due to causes and conditions, accumulating essence and gathering qi, riding karma to descend the spirits, harmonizing to receive life, emulating heaven and earth, containing yin and exhaling yang."

"Distinguish the five phases to correspond with the four seasons. Eyes are sun and moon, hair is stars and constellations, eyebrows are the splendid canopy, head is Mount Kunlun, arranging palaces and halls, placing the spirit."

"Among all things, the human way is most numinous. When life and destiny unite with the Dao, we must cherish and love it."

Yang Mei, the Five Elements, Yin Yang, and Qian Kun, upon hearing this, occasionally nodded lightly, and at times frowned slightly.

Only hearing Luo Hou say: "The Great Dao is mine alone; whether immortals or gods, one mind is the basis, freedom comes from me. Heaven is vast, earth is vast, with my insignificance, the law is naturally obtained."

"The heavenly furnace and earthly fire refine the original heart; firm and solid, what fear is there of thorns?"

"The Great Dao has no fixed time; obtained by laughter, naturally all methods are accommodated and accepted. To obtain the true law, diligence comes first, wisdom as the foundation, perseverance as the basis."

"Not seeking the gods, only questioning the self; sun and moon temper, above and below we seek. Seeking and searching, in practice we actually practice; benefit brings gain, harm brings abandonment."

"Based on the essence of life, step by step we advance; body united with heaven and earth, naturally we have heaven and earth. Taking from distant things, taking from near the body, constantly inquiring, to improve our method."

"Non-contending yet contending, non-obtaining yet obtaining; ask me my name, and it is called the Devil."

As Luo Hou's words fell, instantly the sky changed its color, the earth turned to white sand.

A crowd of demons, hearing the Dao, wailed and howled; appearing together on the path, their words though correct, aroused the inner desire for ghosts; whoever harbors hidden motives abandons morality without concealing their evil.

Yang Mei and the others first heard of the Way, their brows knit tight, they covered their mouths and noses, as if the Way smelled foul.

But as they gradually delved deeper, their faces lit up with joy, as if they were listening to the words of the Great Dao.

In the sky, heavenly demons and plague ghosts manifested, hooking people's souls and spirits, devouring their hearts and minds, spreading pestilence, and corrupting their Dao bodies.

Another great demon, hearing the Way, came and became immersed, unable to extricate itself.

Suddenly, divine light shone from the seven apertures; the demon flew into a rage, gouged out its own eyes, scooped out its ears and nose, sealed its mouth, rendering it unable to see, hear, or speak.

Then it ripped open its chest and abdomen, exposing its five viscera and six bowels.

Though no sound was heard, everyone seemed to hear its loud laugh saying, "I have attained the Way!"

Only to see the demon's five viscera fall to the ground, transforming into five living souls, laughing as it departed.

Immediately thereafter, its six bowels also fell away, transforming into six ghostly spirits, which vanished amidst heaven and earth.

From its own sealed seven apertures, six living spirits likewise leapt out, saying:

"The eyes see joy, the ears hear anger, the nose smells love, the tongue tastes thought, the mind perceives desire, the body embodies worry—I have attained the Way!"

Immediately it laughed loudly and departed.

Nothing remained but the original withered fleshly body, which leapt into the vision of Rahu expounding the Way.

(End of chapter)