Chapter 325

325. Chapter 325: Establishing Merit, Virtue, and Words — The Secret of the Sages

Make your vow, for this is not what I care about, but rather I am thinking of you, for I will never again allow a threat to remain, lest I regret it in the future.

It is best that the oath be weighty; if it cannot dispel my killing intent, then you shall seek your own fortune.

Qi's expression was half-smile, half-not, as if joking, but when it fell into Rahu's eyes, it startled him, and he immediately spoke his vow:

Under the Heavenly Dao, I and the demonic path shall in this life never oppose the Heavenly Court and the various sovereigns; those who consume golden elixirs and peaches of immortality shall not provoke heavenly demons nor enter the demon realm.

If violated, beneath heavenly thunder form and body will be destroyed, the primal spirit will sink into the sea of desire, fall into the dark realm, not attain the Great Dao; I beseech the Heavenly Dao to witness this!

A sudden thunderclap rang out from the horizon, indicating that the Heavenly Dao had already borne witness; Rahu at once let out a breath of relief, and Qi then spoke slowly:

From today onward, if heavenly demons cause chaos in the Heavenly Court, all cultivators may execute the edict, receive the method to vanquish demons, to exterminate evil and wickedness; I beseech the Heavenly Dao to witness this.

As Qi's words fell, myriad golden clouds were suddenly stirred up at the horizon, and a green wind swept by, turning into nourishing rain that moistened a hundred rivers.

Rahu's face suddenly darkened somewhat; the disparity in their treatment was so great that it made Rahu ever more keenly feel the preciousness of heavenly mandate.

However, regarding Qi's words, Rahu had no objection; now, being subservient to others, if even a slight injustice were held with resentment, the bitter days ahead would be endless.

Fuxi saw that Rahu's complexion was poor, and immediately spoke from the side to change the subject:

As for the demon realm, in the Primordial Wilderness it may cause temporary harm, but if viewed over the long term, it is also no small merit; Rahu, you have good intentions.

However, Qi's words also have some reason; attaining the Dao ought to be exchanged for attaining the Dao, otherwise how could there be fairness in the world?

Evolving heavenly demons and opening the demon realm, the Heavenly Court can agree, but since it pertains to attaining the Dao, one must necessarily exchange its hidden secrets.

Rahu, your past reputation is too poor; the actions you wish to undertake, for the present Primordial Wilderness, are likewise such; although the Heavenly Court has assistance, it must also bear considerable pressure.

Rahu nodded, did not refute, and simply spoke directly: 'The secret I speak concerns the path by which heaven and earth become sages; it was obtained from discussions between the Earth Sovereign and the Heavenly Sovereign. This time, Your Majesties may invite the Empress Nüwa and Daoist Companion Kunpeng to come and listen together.'

Di Jun nodded; since we are to speak of the path to sagehood, Nüwa naturally must come; as for Kunpeng, who labors uncomplainingly in the Heavenly Court, he too should now have an opportunity.

Therefore Di Jun spoke: 'Please invite Empress Nüwa and the Heavenly Might King Kunpeng, who covers the seas, to enter the Hall of Lingxiao.'

Although Di Jun's voice was solemn and loud within the hall, there was no sound at all outside; apart from the two who spoke, no one had heard it.

Not long after, Nüwa and Kunpeng arrived gladly; although they did not know what the matter was, given the current state of the Primordial Wilderness, they supposed there would be little tension.

Upon Nüwa's arrival, though she wondered why Rahu was here, she did not ask, but simply walked straight to sit beside Qi, presenting a dignified and solemn appearance.

Although there was some distance between them, it was not far; Qi saw this and gave a slight smile, without pointing out that his own seat remained empty.

Seeing this scene, Kunpeng's heart gave a slight start; he pondered its meaning, wondering whether it would affect the Heavenly Court, yet his face showed nothing, as if this were perfectly normal.

Your subject, Kunpeng, pays respects to Your Majesties; may you have boundless blessings. I have also seen Rahu.

Kunpeng was filled with doubt as to why Rahu was here; although he knew of Rahu's past experiences, given the present circumstances, to him it amounted to nothing.

Thus, facing Rahu in the hall, Kunpeng merely performed a brief salute and then said no more.

Since Your Majesty has let him come, regardless of his attitude toward Rahu, any gain or loss will ultimately not be diminished in the slightest; thus Kunpeng naturally adopts an indifferent attitude.

Rahu also did not care; he was merely an impolite superior, and one grows accustomed to it. Facing Kunpeng's salute, Rahu also spoke with a smile: 'Rahu has seen the Heavenly Might King.'

After the two exchanged greetings, Di Jun then spoke: 'You two are colleagues; henceforth there is no need to be so distant; you should draw closer.'

Rahu and Kunpeng both assented, then fell silent again; Di Jun, seeing this, could only directly address the main topic, saying: 'Nüwa, Heavenly Might King, you two must listen carefully this time; after this, when another such opportunity arises, who knows when it will be.'

Just as Nüwa looked doubtfully at Qi, Qi lightly nodded, signaling her to calm down; sure enough, Di Jun then spoke again:

Rahu, the those who have come to listen are now assembled; you should now speak of your secret to attaining sagehood.

Yes.

Upon Di Jun's words, Nüwa and Kunpeng both stared at Rahu in shock; fallen to this day, he actually still hides such a secret!

Rahu did not consider what they thought; he only wished to finish the transaction quickly, and seeing Di Jun's permission, he immediately spoke:

In the past, when I followed beneath the Earth Sovereign's seat, and when he discussed the Dao with the Heavenly Sovereign, I also occasionally heard a few words; among them was a fragment concerning the verification of the Dao by sages.

The Heavenly Sovereign once said, 'A sage is the proper fruition of the primordial unity in the Primordial Wilderness; if achieved, one shall be the most honored under heaven.' 'If one wishes to achieve it, only three things are needed: establishing merit, establishing virtue, and establishing words. When these three are fulfilled, the Way of the sage is complete.'

To establish merit is to benefit heaven and earth; to establish virtue is to enlighten all beings; to establish words is to educate all beings.

These three are easy to know but hard to practice; accomplishing even one makes one the foremost good in the world, and if all three are fulfilled, one will surely expound the Dao, requiring heaven and earth's acknowledgment.

Surveying the Heavenly Court, there are countless virtuous people, yet none who benefit heaven and earth, none who enlighten beings; only those who educate beings have, Your Majesty Qi, still a trace.

But it is not enough to sustain, so it can only be called a trace; and surveying the Primordial Wilderness, only Chaos has fully accomplished all three.

As for the others, not even a trace of the three, let alone a hint; thus the secret of sagehood is easy to know but hard to practice, and only those who establish merit, virtue, and words can become sages.

Such a high standard has no equal under heaven; the difficulty of sagehood is evident from Chaos's past labors.

When those present first heard this, they still thought it easy; but upon comparison, Qi could only count as one item, and they immediately understood the hardship.

For outsiders, ignorance is excusable; Chaos is too far from them to personally feel the hardship, but Qi is right beside them.

Initially, Qi twice traveled the Primordial Wilderness, lecturing everywhere on the Great Dao, without cease, amounting to about thirty assemblies, and in summarizing his gains he found them quite abundant.

Yet if he looks back on the road he came, Qi also finds it exceedingly difficult; to receive the title 'Divine Heaven Uttering Pure World, Bestowing Vast Faith, Wise Teacher' is precisely such hardship.

If people were to widely call him a sage, the hardship involved is unimaginable to all; even Qi cannot help but sigh:

Recalling the past, I myself do not know how I managed to persist; time passes like a white colt through a gap, and only then do I realize, and I also lament for myself.

Di Jun and Fuxi did not speak; Nüwa and Kunpeng were contemplating how to attain the Dao.

Attaining the supreme position naturally entails suffering beyond the ordinary; they did not feel this weight heavily, but deeply sensed that they had previously wasted their lives in vain.

Rahu pondered and then spoke: 'Moreover, it is not without shortcuts; if one can accumulate vast merit, one can naturally save much effort, and by investing it into the Primordial Purple Qi, one ought to reap considerable gain.'

As for enlightening beings and educating beings, the two of you, occupying high positions in the Heavenly Court, can rely on the Court's power, and thus already surpass ordinary efforts.

However, to become a sage one must have personal verification of the Dao; as for where that should be, I do not know, and you two must explore it yourselves.

All present pondered whether there was any feasible course; after a long while, Nüwa and Kunpeng spoke: 'Many thanks, Star Lord; should we ever have a request, we shall certainly comply.'

Rahu, regarding the cause and effect of their words, nevertheless spoke in refusal:

You two need not do so; the secret of attaining the Dao is naturally exchanged for the opportunity to attain the Dao; this time's words are merely an exchange with the Heavenly Court, and there is no cause-effect deficit to speak of.

Nüwa suddenly understood; she realized that this time it was mostly Di Jun's elder brother and Qi and the like who had reached some agreement with Rahu, the result of which benefited her.

Kunpeng then immediately bowed deeply to the exalted Qi and others above, his voice choked with gratitude, saying: 'Your subject thanks Your Majesties' grace; I will surely devote my very liver and brains to repay you!'

Regarding Kunpeng's gratitude, Di Jun nevertheless rose and personally helped him up, saying, "Beloved minister, since you joined the Heavenly Court you have toiled with heart and blood, never resting a moment; all your deeds and thoughts are for the ruler's affairs—truly you have achieved great merit through hard work."

"Now that there is an opportunity, I too ought to respond to your feelings, Beloved minister, to fulfill the bond between ruler and minister; only then is it the proper way."

Kunpeng, upon hearing these words, was instantly moved beyond words; since joining the Heavenly Court, his deeds have indeed been noticed by someone.

Those in the past who did not understand always thought his ascension to the position was illegitimate, due to his shamelessness and abandonment of dignity, only then obtaining this Heavenly Court's sole title of a king with real power.

Who would have thought that within this, Kunpeng has endured such hardship! In everything he has experienced, he has certainly given his utmost effort, daring not to have the slightest negligence or laxity.

It seems that back when he was in the Purple Azure Palace, Kunpeng felt that the position of sage was rightfully his to occupy!

Thinking back to when I first joined the Heavenly Court, His Majesty the Qi Emperor was busy expounding the Dao, earning fame for the Heavenly Court, while His Majesty the Dong Emperor, aside from war, had no interest in the affairs of the wilderness.

His Majesty the Wa Emperor, although willing to help, has little understanding of this Dao and little talent for it.

These wilderness affairs, big and small, are all overseen by His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, His Majesty the Xi Emperor, and him Kunpeng; how could outsiders possibly know the hardships involved? They only watch my jokes, yet have no heart for the actual work—how could such people ever gain Kunpeng's regard?

Even Bai Ze, in Kunpeng's view, is merely a rising talent who has never experienced even a fraction of its hardship.

But today, several Majesties, while listening to the secret of the sage, still remember Kunpeng—how could he not be moved? (End of chapter)