Chapter 60: Emperor Cang's Counsel—A Word Awakens the Dreamer!

Kunlun Mountains, Northern Kunlun.

At the same time, the three—Revered Lord of Morality, Lord of Primordial Beginning, and Master of the Celestial Sect—each witnessed the signs of sanctification and received word that the Ancestor of the Dao, Hongjun, was about to deliver a sermon.

After a moment’s consideration, the Revered Lord of Morality summoned a verdant cloud of blessing above his head, atop which materialized a pagoda, from which three thousand strands of primordial energy descended. This was none other than the Exquisite Pagoda of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence.

Without delay, he drew his two brothers into the Exquisite Pagoda.

“Elder brother!” As soon as he entered, the Lord of Primordial Beginning could hardly contain his urgency. “Brother, what is the meaning of this?”

“We, the three brothers, are direct descendants of the Father God, the truest blood of Pangu. By rights, it ought to be we three who first achieve sanctity and inherit the authority to rule over the primordial world in our father’s stead!”

“But—” What the Lord of Primordial Beginning could not accept was that Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor, had attained the Dao before him, a descendant of Pangu.

“Do not be anxious,” said the Revered Lord of Morality with little concern. “When we were born, each of us carried a tenth of the merits from the act of creation, untouched by ten thousand laws. With such merit upon us, not even the Chaos Fiends can harm us.”

“And furthermore,” he continued, “I possess the Exquisite Pagoda, formed by three-tenths of the creation’s merits. In other words, together, we brothers hold six-tenths of the creation’s merits. Who could harm us?”

This was in stark contrast to the Twelve Ancestral Witches and Emperor Jun alongside the Eastern Emperor.

Each member of the Three Pure Ones of Pangu held unshakable confidence.

Though the Twelve Ancestral Witches together possessed a tenth of creation’s merit, they had exhausted it resisting the turbid and baleful energies of the world at its birth, merely to awaken their intellect. Now, they were shielded only by the karma they bore, without the protection of creation’s merit.

But the Three Pure Ones were different.

When Pangu split heaven and earth, three-tenths of the merit transformed into the Exquisite Pagoda, belonging to the eldest, the Revered Lord of Morality. Another three-tenths was granted to the three as protection, and the last three-tenths was entrusted to the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate, the Pangu Banner, and the Chaos Bell—two of which would belong to the Three Pure Ones.

It could be said that, of all the merit from the act of creation, the Three Pure Ones claimed eight-tenths for themselves.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches, or perhaps the entire Witch Tribe, had only a single tenth, and that solely to awaken their intellect and resist the curse of innate turbidity, not for protection.

It was clear how favored the Three Pure Ones of Pangu truly were.

...

Though Hongjun had become a Saint and stood invincible, the three did not fear him, for their confidence was unshakable.

In the primordial world, no one could plot against the Three Pure Ones of Pangu.

The Revered Lord of Morality declared, “No matter Hongjun’s origin or his plans, it means nothing to us. We have nothing to fear.”

“However,” he went on, “now that Hongjun has become a Saint, the balance of power in the world is shifting. Though we need not fear him, he seeks to gather the hearts of the people and claim the moral high ground by preaching. It is best we attend and give him due respect. Otherwise, if we absent ourselves out of pride, we will incur his resentment, which would be most unwise.”

“Elder brother!” the Master of the Celestial Sect exclaimed in surprise. “Hongjun preaches to all without discrimination. Might he, perhaps, reveal the method to achieve sanctity?”

The Revered Lord of Morality and the Lord of Primordial Beginning exchanged a glance and shook their heads as one. “That is impossible.”

The Revered Lord of Morality said, “We are simply attending for form’s sake. Do not hope for too much. Whether we attain sanctity or not will depend on our own effort.”

...

Emperor Jun and the Eastern Emperor watched warily.

The Three Pure Ones of Pangu were calm, their confidence unshaken.

Meanwhile, at Buzhou Mountain, within the Chaos Hall—

The Ancestral Witch of Earth Mother sent forth a beam of divine light from her chest, drawing all present into the Heart of Pangu.

Because of his great merit, in addition to the fourteen mighty ones, Emperor Cang was brought into the Heart of Pangu and granted permission to listen in.

Soon, Emperor Cang realized something.

The reactions of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Fuxi, and Nüwa—on the surface enthusiastic and full of praise—were not as simple as they appeared.

...

The Twelve Ancestral Witches and Fuxi and Nüwa were all mighty ones of great power.

How could such beings be simple and trusting, utterly without suspicion?

“Everyone,” the Ancestral Witch Dijang was the first to speak. “The Dao Ancestor Hongjun has become a Saint of the Great Dao, transcending the laws of the world, a peer of the Chaos Fiends. Yet instead of departing for the chaos beyond and seeking his fortune, he remains here, establishing the Zixiao Palace to teach and gather the loyalty of all, collecting merit. Clearly, he intends to rule the world by his own hand. Am I wrong?”

“Well said,” came the reply.

Nüwa said, “By opening his Zixiao Palace and preaching, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun does indeed seem intent on ruling the world by himself.”

Dijiang continued, “If I were the first Saint of the Great Dao, even if I lectured to all living beings, I would never reveal the true method of sanctification and allow others to stand as equals.”

“Therefore,” Dijiang concluded, “this journey to the Zixiao Palace is likely to bring us more harm than good. Not only is it unlikely we will benefit, but we may well fall into a trap.”

Nüwa shook her head. “We absolutely must go! Although the number of great powers in this world is not vast, it is by no means small. If all the others attend, and we alone abstain, disaster will surely follow!”

The Ancestral Witch of Earth Mother said, “What you say is the worst possibility, but it is not reason enough to breed suspicion in our hearts.”

“If the Dao Ancestor truly acts selflessly, and we act thus, we may miss a great opportunity!”

“So!” she concluded, “We must go to the Zixiao Palace, whether for the possibility of great fortune or simply to avoid offending Hongjun. We must go! We need only be cautious and prudent.”

“Wisely spoken,” the fourteen mighty ones all nodded in agreement.

After some deliberation, Emperor Cang felt the mighty ones showed profound insight and far-seeing wisdom, considering every angle.

Yet—

For all their wisdom, there was one thing they had not foreseen!

Emperor Cang spoke respectfully, “All other matters are of little concern, but there is one thing I have heard: In the primordial world, there are two types of Saint—those of the Great Dao and those of the Heavenly Dao. Both are called Saints, but they are not the same. Respected Ancestral Witches and elders, you must be wary of this!”

“What?” At these words, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Fuxi, and Nüwa all changed countenance.

Indeed, they had never considered such a thing.

That there could be distinctions among Saints.

For now, the world was governed by the Great Dao, and all cultivated its power. If a method of sanctification were taught, it would surely be to achieve sainthood of the Great Dao. Who would have thought that what they might attain would be sainthood of the Heavenly Dao? Would that not be a cruel trick indeed?