owlsbooks Chapter 790 The Cycle of Creation
Chapter 790 The Cycle of Creation
Pangu appeared in the world, in the Great Luo Heaven.
127,000 years have passed, and little has changed since Pangu appeared in the world.
Although the Jade Emperor and Zhuang Yan never appeared again during these long years, with the Four Emperors and the Fire Spirit Immortal in charge, and Laozi and Tathagata assisting, everything in the world where Pangu appeared operated as usual.
Of course, only Laozi, Buddha, the Four Emperors, and the Fire Spirit Immortal knew the whereabouts of the Jade Emperor and Zhuang Yan. The official explanation was that the Jade Emperor and Zhuang Yan were in seclusion cultivating the supreme Dao fruit.
By the way, True Immortal Huo Ling has already attained the Dao Fruit of the Great Luo Golden Immortal, 60,000 years ago, but apart from the Great Luo Golden Immortal Pangu appeared in the world, no one else knows about it.
Because the Fire Spirit True Immortal attained the Dao Fruit of 'Great Luo Golden Immortal' on Zhuang Yan's side, not the Great Luo Golden Immortal on Pangu's Heavenly Dao side, and he attained the Dao within the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm, the beings on Pangu's side of the world were unaware of it.
"His Majesty has been gone for 127,000 years." Fire Spirit True Immortal stood on the Dust World Palace, looking at Zhuang Yan's position above the steps and muttered to himself.
Baojie and Xiuhuang, the two boys, were dozing off outside the hall. They were still the same as before, having eaten countless good things while following Zhuang Yan. Although 127,000 years was a long time for them, it was a short time for their lifespan.
After watching for a while, Huo Ling Zhenxian turned to leave, but as soon as she stepped out of the Chenhuan Palace, a celestial boy came up and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, the True Immortal Xuan Su requests an audience."
True Person Xuan Su was Zhuang Yan's disciple, formerly known as 'Liang Nu'. True Immortal Huo Ling was not surprised, as she knew why True Person Xuan Su had come.
"Where is she?" asked the Fire Spirit Immortal.
The fairy boy said, "Master Xuansu is drinking tea in the Hall of Radiant Light in the Fire Spirit Palace."
"Understood." Fire Spirit Immortal nodded and said, then her figure flickered and appeared in the Hall of Radiant Light in the next moment.
Xuan Su was drinking tea when he suddenly saw the Fire Spirit True Immortal appear on the palace steps. He hurriedly put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Xuan Su greets the Fire Spirit True King."
"No need for such formalities, young lady," Fire Spirit Immortal said with a smile. "Please sit down."
"Thank you, True King." Xuan Su bowed deeply before sitting down again.
At this moment, the Fire Spirit Immortal asked, "Sister, have you come to inquire about His Majesty's recent condition?"
"Yes." Xuan Su nodded and said, "My master has been in seclusion for 127,000 years. Why hasn't he emerged yet?"
Fire Spirit Immortal laughed and said, "Don't worry, according to my calculations, His Majesty will be out of seclusion soon."
Xuan Su hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, then asked, "Could something have changed? I'm really worried."
"Hahaha." True Immortal Huo Ling chuckled, then looked at Xuan Su and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Who is His Majesty? Twelve seventeen thousand years is just a blink of an eye for him. There won't be any changes."
At this point, True Immortal Huo Ling said to Xuan Su, "Your primordial spirit has also been entrusted to His Majesty, hasn't it? Since your primordial spirit has remained unchanged, how could His Majesty possibly be affected?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Su felt reassured. Indeed, her primordial spirit, which she had entrusted to Zhuang Yan, remained unchanged.
“Then I am relieved.” Xuan Su said with a smile, “I have not seen my master for so many years, and I cannot help but miss him. Thank you, True King Fire Spirit.”
Fire Spirit Immortal smiled faintly and was about to speak when a voice suddenly came to his ear: "Come to the Dust Palace to see me."
With a whoosh, True Immortal Huo Ling's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly stood up from his seat.
Seeing that True Immortal Fire Spirit suddenly stood up and his expression changed drastically, Xuan Su was also startled and quickly stood up to ask, "True King Fire Spirit, what happened?"
The Fire Spirit Immortal suppressed her astonishment and replaced it with a look of delight. She looked at Xuan Su and said, "Your Majesty has returned."
"Ah?!" Xuan Su's face lit up with joy. "Master has emerged from seclusion? Where is he?"
Fire Spirit Immortal said, "Chen Huan Palace, come with me to see His Majesty."
After speaking, the Fire Spirit Immortal raised his hand and sent out a beam of auspicious light, which landed on Xuan Su. Then, the two figures disappeared at the same time and soon appeared outside the Dust World Palace.
Xiuhuang Boy outside the hall was also overjoyed. Upon seeing Huoling Zhenxian and Xuansu, he first bowed and greeted them, then said, "The master has decreed that those who have been summoned today need not announce themselves and may enter the hall directly."
Fire Spirit Immortal and Xuan Su smiled and nodded, then walked straight into the hall.
Upon entering the hall, Huo Ling Zhenxian and Xuan Su looked up at Zhuang Yan. As a celestial being, Xuan Su did not sense anything unusual. She only felt that her master was the same as before, but he was much more peaceful and kind than before, and looked even more like a Taoist immortal.
Only Huo Ling Zhenxian's pupils contracted. When she looked at him, it was as if Zhuang Yan was both close at hand and far away, seemingly there and yet not there, as if he were sitting right above her, yet as if his presence was everywhere.
Such a mysterious feeling left Fire Spirit Immortal in a daze. She was now a Great Luo Golden Immortal, yet she found that she could not see through Zhuang Yan even a little bit.
Thinking of this, True Immortal Huoling immediately stepped forward with Xuan Su to pay their respects. After Zhuang Yan granted them permission to rise, True Immortal Huoling asked, "Your Majesty, what is your current level of cultivation?"
Zhuang Yan smiled calmly and said, "I have already attained the supreme Dao fruit of Hunyuan."
The Fire Spirit Immortal's face instantly filled with ecstatic joy, and he immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on attaining the supreme Dao fruit of Hunyuan."
After realizing what was happening, Xuan Su immediately bowed to Zhuang Yan with a face full of joy and congratulations.
Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "There's no need to spread this around. You two just need to know it in your hearts. Please sit down and we'll talk about it once everyone has arrived."
"Yes." Huo Ling Zhenxian and Xuan Su bowed and accepted the order, then walked to the sandalwood chairs on the right side of the main hall and sat down.
After the two sat down, Zhuang Yan said, "You will have to wait a little while."
As soon as he finished speaking, six more people arrived outside the hall: Liu Yan, Wangshu Zhenren, Hongshan Jun, Niu Mowang, Lu Hanzhi, and Wen Daoren.
After the six entered the hall, they first paid their respects to Zhuang Yan, who then offered them seats.
After everyone was seated, Zhuang Yan ordered the celestial children to serve various celestial fruits, celestial wines, and delicacies. Then he said with a smile, "Everyone is not all here yet, please wait a little longer."
About an hour later, Wu Zhao, Shu Bao'er, Hong Xian, Zhu Youjian, Li Zhicheng, Zhang Xianzong, Ren Xiaoyao, Wuchenzi, Wang Lang, Gu Hanqing, Zhang Qiubai, Shen Buqun, Yue Botong and others also arrived at Buzhou Mountain and came to the Chenhuan Palace to pay their respects.
Zhuang Yan still offered seats and asked everyone to continue waiting.
About six hours later, Chi Ling, Tiger Vanguard, and Yellow Wind Great Sage finally returned from the Five Elements Great World and came to the Dust World Palace to pay their respects.
After Zhuang Yan offered them seats, Chi Ling and Hu Xianfeng sat down next to Huo Ling Zhenxian and Xuan Su.
Zhuang Yan glanced at everyone in the hall and finally smiled and said, "Alright, everyone's here."
Apart from Fire Spirit Immortal, Crimson Silk, and Tiger Vanguard, everyone present was puzzled, wondering why Zhuang Yan had gathered so many people today.
However, some astute individuals have already noticed that, apart from Liu the Demon King and Mosquito Daoist, most of the people in the Dust Palace at this moment have been following Zhuang Yan for a long time.
Just as everyone was puzzled, Zhuang Yan spoke up, "Those sitting in the hall today are all those who previously served under me. I have summoned you here today because I have something important to tell you, and I also want to ask for your opinions."
Upon hearing this, Lu Hanzhi quickly cupped her hands and said, "Your Majesty, whatever your decree, we will obey without question."
Zhuang Yan waved his hand and said, "Listen to me first. The time of the Yuanhui has arrived. Pangu's Heavenly Dao will open up the chaos and re-establish the world."
After speaking, Zhuang Yan raised his hand and pointed, and instantly a golden light flew into everyone's foreheads. This golden light contained all the information about the creation of chaos.
It took everyone a long time to process the news, and then everyone's face showed a look of shock.
The Bull Demon King asked, "Your Majesty, there are only twenty years left until the creation of chaos. In other words, within these twenty years, all the beings in the world that Pangu has created will die one by one, and their souls will return to the cycle of reincarnation?"
“That’s right,” Zhuang Yan said. “All living beings currently existing in the Pangu world, those whose cultivation is below the Great Awakening Golden Immortal level, will all perish within these twenty years, their souls returning to the Six Paths of Reincarnation, retaining only their memories. After the chaos is separated and the new Heavenly Dao is established, the souls of the living beings in the Six Paths of Reincarnation will be reborn in the new Heavenly Dao world in turn, based on their good and evil deeds and their blessings.”
Mosquito Taoist asked, "In that case, wouldn't all our cultivation in this lifetime have been in vain? Would all our accumulated merits have vanished like bubbles?"
Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "That's right. You can only retain your memories. All your current cultivation, treasures, and possessions cannot be brought to the new Heavenly Dao in this world. Of course, everything you have accumulated in this world will be converted into 'blessings' to bring to the new Heavenly Dao in this world."
Upon hearing this, everyone was immediately filled with disappointment. If they could only bring back memories, what was the point? Even if they exchanged everything for good fortune, wouldn't they still have to start cultivating and fighting all over again?
"Your Majesty," Liu Yan said, bowing slightly, "Your Majesty has summoned us here today not just to discuss this matter, but surely you have other plans."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately turned their gaze to Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan smiled slightly and looked at Liu Yan, saying, "You're right."
As he spoke, Zhuang Yan's gaze swept over everyone in the hall. "I have a mortal realm where you can settle down and not suffer the pain of the end of the calamity or the troubles of rebirth. However, you must leave the Pangu mortal realm now, and you may never have the chance to return."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall froze in their seats.
After an unknown amount of time, Tiger Vanguard cupped his hands and asked, "Your Majesty, our relatives are all in the world of Pangu. If we follow Your Majesty, what will happen to these relatives?"
This is the most crucial question. Everyone was born in the world of Pangu. Who doesn't have relatives, disciples, and close friends? If following Zhuang Yan means being separated from them forever, it's better to stay in the world of Pangu. Although you will perish at the end of your tribulation and be reborn in a new world of the Heavenly Dao, at least you will be with your relatives, disciples, and close friends.
Zhuang Yan said with a smile, "Each person can bring three hundred people to my realm where the Heavenly Dao manifests."
Everyone was startled upon hearing this. Three hundred people? Forget three hundred, thirty would be enough!
Therefore, almost no one hesitated and stood up to bow to Zhuang Yan, saying, "We are willing to follow Your Majesty."
Even the Bull Demon King didn't hesitate. Zhuang Yan looked at him and said, "Bull Demon King, your son is a disciple of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Aren't you worried that he won't come with you?"
The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. My son will go with me, as long as Guanyin Bodhisattva is willing to release him."
Zhuang Yan smiled and said to the Bull Demon King and everyone present, "After you go back, submit the list of people you want to take with you, and I will arrange for someone to pick them up. However, you only need to go back and pick them up; you must not reveal what I just said, otherwise you will be disqualified from leaving with me."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn, and they all bowed and said, "We will obey Your Majesty's decree."
Three months later, everyone gathered at Buzhou Mountain with their relatives, disciples, and friends and subordinates who were willing to follow.
Then, the Fire Spirit Immortal personally verified and confirmed the information, and finally led everyone to the Heavenly Gate of the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm located on Mount Buzhou. He opened the Heavenly Gate and guided everyone into the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm.
The Lingtai Treasure Realm is now vastly different from what it once was. Under Zhuang Yan's expansion, it has become three times larger than the Yanfu World, and it possesses all the laws of Heaven, making it a manifestation of another Heavenly Dao.
After these people entered, Zhuang Yan made a thought, and the Heavenly Dao absorbed them all, while the people on Pangu's side of the Heavenly Dao completely disappeared.
Of course, the Fire Spirit Immortal will remain in the mortal world of Pangu. She and Zhuang Yan will stay in the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm until the moment before the creation of chaos.
The Great Luo Heaven, the Taiwei Jade Purity Palace, the Lingxiao Palace.
The Jade Emperor summoned all the Great Luo Golden Immortals, the Four Imperial Emperors, the Great Awakened Golden Immortals, all the Emperors of the Directions, Heavenly Gods, and Earthly Gods to a grand court assembly in the Lingxiao Palace. At the assembly, the Jade Emperor officially announced that the countdown to the creation of chaos had begun in nineteen years, and personally issued an edict to the Four Imperial Emperors, ordering them to bring forth calamity.
Except for the Heavenly Emperors and the Great Enlightened Golden Immortals of various religions, all other gods, demons, and countless other beings will perish within these twenty years, their souls returning to the Six Paths of Reincarnation. After the chaos is cleared, their souls will retain only their memories and be reborn in the new Heavenly Path according to their good and evil deeds and their blessings.
Furthermore, all worldly cultivation, treasures, and possessions are erased and converted into blessings, bringing forth a new Heavenly Dao in this world.
However, all the celestial gods and officials of the Heavenly Court have the right to be born first in the new Heavenly Dao.
When this news was announced, the gods and immortals were shocked, but they had no choice but to accept the outcome.
After the Jade Emperor announced the edict to begin the countdown to the creation of chaos, Zhuang Yan and the Fire Spirit Immortal stepped forward from their respective imperial and celestial positions.
While the gods and immortals were still shocked and disheartened by their impending doom, they saw Zhuang Yan and the Fire Spirit Immortal step forward. What was going on? Did the Divine Firmament Emperor intend to object?
But Zhuang Yan's words once again shocked all the gods and immortals. Zhuang Yan bowed and said, "Your subject Zhuang Yan respectfully requests the Great Heavenly Venerable to grant your request. Now that chaos is about to be separated and the world is about to be renewed, I request to resign from my position as the Heavenly Emperor and all official ranks and titles. Please grant my request, Great Heavenly Venerable."
Fire Spirit Immortal echoed Zhuang Yan's words, requesting to resign from his position as True King of Heaven and all official ranks and titles.
But what surprised the gods and immortals even more was that the Jade Emperor actually granted it without hesitation.
At the same time, the Jade Emperor personally stood up, walked to Zhuang Yan, bowed and said, "Thank you for your help and protection along the way, Fellow Daoist Zhuang Yan. I am deeply grateful."
After speaking, the Jade Emperor bowed deeply to Zhuang Yan, leaving all the gods in the Lingxiao Palace stunned.
Zhuang Yan returned the greeting respectfully, and then left the Lingxiao Palace with the Fire Spirit True Immortal.
After the court meeting in the Lingxiao Palace ended, the Jade Emperor held a celestial banquet in his palace, inviting only Zhuang Yan and the Fire Spirit Immortal.
Moreover, this celestial banquet only had the Jade Emperor, Zhuang Yan, and the Fire Spirit True Immortal. During the banquet, the Jade Emperor said to Zhuang Yan, "After the creation of chaos, my Pangu Heavenly Dao only occupies nine of the ten directions of the heavenly realm. I will leave the remaining one to you, fellow Daoist."
Zhuang Yan raised his wine cup and toasted the Jade Emperor, saying, "Thank you, Great Heavenly Venerable."
The Jade Emperor raised his cup in return, drank the wine, and then said, "In the future, when you, fellow Daoist, manifest your own Heavenly Dao, you should have many interactions with my Pangu Heavenly Dao."
Zhuang Yan smiled slightly and said, "I think it's best to have less contact."
The Jade Emperor understood the meaning behind Zhuang Yan's words. After a moment's thought, he said, "Let's not remain strangers forever. The manifestation of your Heavenly Dao in this world may serve as a mirror for my Pangu Heavenly Dao."
Zhuang Yan understood the Jade Emperor's meaning and said with a smile, "From now on, I am willing to lend the Great Heavenly Venerable a helping hand whenever possible."
The Jade Emperor burst into laughter, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.
After the banquet, Zhuang Yan led the Fire Spirit Immortal on a tour of the entire Heavenly Court. Finally, as they exited through the South Heavenly Gate, he looked back and was filled with emotion.
"Master," Fire Spirit True Immortal called out, "Shall we return to the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm now?"
Zhuang Yan waved his hand and said, "You go back first, I'll go back later."
Fire Spirit Immortal bowed and said, "Yes."
Fire Spirit Immortal returned to the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm, while Zhuang Yan descended from the South Heavenly Gate and arrived at the Red Ridge of Spirit Platform Mountain in Xiniu Hezhou.
The divine palace on Danchi Ridge has long been deserted. After Tiger Vanguard and Lan'er's family moved into the Lingtai Treasure Realm, there was no longer a mountain god on Lingtai Mountain. In any case, they would all eventually perish due to calamity, so it didn't matter whether there was a mountain god or not.
Zhuang Yan revisited the place, strolled around the Mountain God's Palace, and finally arrived at the Eight Immortals Pavilion, overlooking the entire Lingtai Mountain.
A gentle mountain breeze blew, and Zhuang Yan didn't even realize he was a little drunk, even though he hadn't been drinking.
"I heard you resigned from all official positions and titles in Heaven?" A gentle voice rang out from the side.
Zhuang Yan turned his head and saw the Bodhi Patriarch standing there with an elegant and graceful demeanor, a kind smile on his face.
Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Since we're leaving, we shouldn't be occupying this spot any longer."
The Bodhi Patriarch stepped forward, without asking where he was going or whether he could stay, but simply asked, "Will you come back?"
"Of course," Zhuang Yan said with a smile, "I will come back to see you often."
"That's good." Patriarch Bodhi's gaze fell upon the majestic and magnificent mountains and rivers of Lingtai Mountain.
At this moment, Zhuang Yan handed a palm-sized jade cauldron to Patriarch Bodhi, saying, "Please keep these safe, fellow Daoist."
Without any hesitation, Bodhi Patriarch reached out and took it. "What's inside?" he asked.
Zhuang Yan said, "Something that can help you attain the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit in the new Heavenly Dao Realm."
The Bodhi Patriarch's expression turned solemn. He immediately put away the jade cauldron, bowed in return, and said, "Thank you."
Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "There's no need for such formalities between us."
After speaking, Zhuang Yan turned around, looked at the vast Lingtai Mountain and its surroundings, and couldn't help but recite in a clear voice:
"The true self descends from heaven into the spiritual realm."
One can open up countless paths to enlightenment.
Who knew that on the Eight Immortals Pavilion platform,
I've come to realize that tonight is what it always was.
In the end, Zhuang Yan took away the souls of Li Gongfu, Xu Jiaorong, Li Bilian, Xu Xian, and Bai Suzhen. Back then, Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen were still separated.
She was subdued by the Divine Might Demon-Subduing Thunderbolt True Lord, who was invited by Fahai to the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm. Bai Suzhen was suppressed under Leifeng Pagoda for a thousand years before finally dying and disappearing.
Of course, those heretical Great Immortals who were first suppressed under Leifeng Pagoda had already been executed before Bai Suzhen was suppressed.
Xu Xian waited for Bai Suzhen outside the tower for 120 years before dying of old age. His soul was kept in the underworld and never reincarnated.
"It takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a hundred years to share a pillow in sleep." Zhuang Yan looked at the souls of Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian and laughed, "Once you go to my mortal world, you can stay together for life."
After saying this, Zhuang Yan returned to the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm, and then took the Spirit Platform Treasure Realm away from Pangu Heavenly Dao and entered the Chaos.
No one knows how much time has passed, perhaps countless years, but Pangu's appearance in the world has long since vanished into chaos.
But on this day, the chaos became extremely volatile and turbulent, as if it too knew of its impending demise.
Countless years later, boundless golden light suddenly appeared in the center of the chaos. Then, the Jade Emperor appeared in the chaos with Laozi, Buddha, Hongjun Daozu, Tianfeng Daozu, and Tianlei Daozu.
At the same time, in the chaos, there was a giant with disheveled hair, who was born from a giant egg.
"Pangu." The Jade Emperor raised his hand and pointed, and with a flash of golden light, an enormous divine axe appeared before the giant Pangu.
"I command you to wield this axe to cleave the chaos and create heaven and earth," said the Jade Emperor.
The giant Pangu immediately understood his mission. Without any complaints, he caught the divine axe and then turned and entered the chaos.
Countless years passed, and on this day, a loud bang suddenly came from the chaos. The bang initially came from the center of the chaos, and then spread to all directions at an extremely fast speed.
Then a beam of axe light pierced through the chaos, tearing it apart and opening a sliver of light in the darkness, bursting forth with unparalleled brilliance.
Chaos abandoned the divine axe and entered that ray of light, using its own power to prop it open.
After countless years, the chaos was finally completely separated, the chaos disappeared, and a new and complete Heavenly Dao appeared in the world, still called the 'Pangu Heavenly Dao'.
When Pangu created chaos, he occupied only nine of the ten heavenly realms. In the remaining blank space, a heavenly realm was rapidly taking shape.
Just one Yuanhui later, the 'Lingtai Heavenly Dao' was born, occupying one of the Ten Directions Heavenly Domains.
The Heavenly Dao of the Spirit Platform manifests in the world, in the Divine Firmament Continent, at the Crimson Ridge.
Flowers bloom on the mountain ridges, the sun shines brightly in the sky, and clouds rise and fall in a magnificent display.
Amidst a profusion of celestial fruits and abundant spiritual herbs, Zhuang Yan, dressed in green robes, lay amidst the tender green grass, surrounded by a group of little demons.
"Sir, sir, could you tell us another story?"
"Can you tell me another one?"
"Could you tell me the story of the Fire Spirit Dao Ancestor?"
"The stories of Tiger Yuan Heavenly Venerable, Crimson Silk Heavenly Venerable, and Yellow Wind Heavenly Venerable's cultivation are also acceptable."
"Oh, sir, please just tell one story."
The little fairies pestered Zhuang Yan, constantly asking him to continue telling the story.
Zhuang Yan laughed heartily, picked up a little rabbit spirit and placed it on his lap, then said, "Alright, then I'll tell you another story, this one is called 'Journey to the West: The Tale of Exorcising Calamities'."
"Oh? 'Journey to the West: The Tale of Exorcising Calamities'? What's that?" the little demons asked curiously.
Zhuang Yan smiled slightly, then began to speak: "The story begins in a place called 'Pangu Manifests in the Great World of Jambudvipa, East Victory Divine Continent, Aolai Country, Flower Fruit Mountain.' Listen carefully."
"In the chaos before the separation of heaven and earth, everything was in disarray, and no one could see the vastness of the universe."
Since Pangu broke the Harmony, opened up a clear and turbid distinction.
Covering the group of students and admiring benevolence, inventing everything to be good.
To understand the workings of creation, one must read the Journey to the West.
The End
This book begins and ends with Journey to the West. A tribute to the eternal Journey to the West, a tribute to the eternal Monkey King! (End of Chapter)