Chapter 64: Reforging the Tower of Profound Heaven and Earth

The Great Way is supremely impartial.

At this moment, the “Great Way” of the primordial world is akin to the “court of law” of later ages. Though their responsibilities are similar, even the most reputable court could not compare with the Great Way in terms of stern justice and absolute fairness.

Even if the merit of creation was distributed by Pangu himself, Pangu might, for various considerations, be partial to one side or another.

But the Great Way would not!

Within the Great Way lies its own procedures and standards for judgment. If the Three Pure Ones had no fault, the Great Way, entrusted by Pangu to oversee the primordial land, would never, without cause, strip them of the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence.

And yet.

The struggle within the Palace of Purple Clouds was a significant catalyst. Though seemingly a trivial affair, it was evidence enough of the Three Pure Ones’ lack of virtue and deserving of punishment.

Moreover, with the ancestral faith, the Heavenly Court, and Minghe—all descendants of Pangu—amassing great merit, the Great Way, ever mindful of the prosperity of the primordial world, swiftly rendered a fair decision!

...

A divine radiance descended from the heavens.

The Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence, held by the Lord of Virtue, split instantly into eighteen parts.

It is said that the Innate Merit Treasure, the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence, when employed, can release three thousand streams of primordial energy, untouched by any law, unrivaled in defense. The “three thousand” is not a literal number, but a symbol of the infinite.

Yet, at this moment, the Great Way distributed thirty percent of the merit of creation, transforming it into three thousand streams of primordial energy—this time, a literal count.

Although the Lord of Virtue, the Lord of Primordial Beginning, and the Lord of the Teaching of Heaven lost some of their destiny to enlighten all beings due to the establishment of the Three Courts, they would still, in the days to come, found schools and preach the Way, earning boundless merit.

Now, three thousand streams of primordial energy separated; nine hundred were divided into three, falling respectively into the hands of the Lord of Virtue, the Lord of Primordial Beginning, and the Lord of the Teaching of Heaven—three hundred each!

In time, Houtu would achieve great merit, and Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, in establishing the Heavenly Court, would also gain vast merit; thus, another nine hundred streams of primordial energy flew forth, bestowed upon Houtu, Di Jun, and the Eastern Emperor.

The remaining twelve hundred were split among the Eleven Ancestral Witches and Minghe, each receiving one hundred.

The distribution was complete.

The twelve Ancestral Witches, Di Jun, the Eastern Emperor, Minghe, and the other descendants of Pangu were all unspeakably elated and astonished.

...

“How can this be?”

The Lord of Virtue gazed at the three hundred streams of primordial energy in his hand, utterly bewildered, his shock plain to see.

He had never imagined that the Great Way would, for such a minor matter, directly strip him of such an immense portion of the merit of creation.

Could it be? Had the Three Pure Ones truly erred, so that their deeds were unworthy and this punishment was just?

The Lord of Virtue was wracked with grief.

“To think the oversight of the Great Way is so strict!”

From his birth until now, the Lord of Virtue, relying on the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence and the company of two brothers of the same origin, had not always dominated all others, but his path had been smooth and unimpeded. When had he ever suffered such a setback?

Now, at the first misstep, he was dealt an immediate blow, causing him to reflect deeply and suffer greatly!

“In the primordial world, reward and punishment are exacting!”

The Lord of Virtue pondered silently, “Today’s matter was so trivial, yet even for such a small fault, the Innate Merit Treasure, the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence, lost more than half its power. If greater wrongs are committed in the future, what then?”

“Our achievements and status as the Three Pure Ones are not mere luck.”

“And now, even the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence is lost!”

He resolved inwardly: “Henceforth, I must speak and act with utmost caution—otherwise, if I repeat today’s folly, I will be doomed beyond redemption!”

At this thought, the Lord of Virtue found himself filled with awe.

Although the Lord of Primordial Beginning and the Lord of the Teaching of Heaven received some primordial energy without effort, neither was overjoyed; both knew well that the primordial energy in their hands, though destined by heaven, had come at the expense of their elder brother, the Lord of Virtue.

After a moment’s consideration, the Lord of the Teaching of Heaven spoke first: “I hold three hundred streams of primordial energy. If combined with our elder brother’s, though we cannot match the original Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence, we may yet forge a fine innate merit treasure.”

The Lord of Primordial Beginning also handed over his primordial energy to the Lord of Virtue.

The three brothers together petitioned the Dao Ancestor: “We humbly ask the Sage to help us reunite the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence!”

Of course, the tower they sought to restore was not the original, but a smaller version.

...

Hearing their request, Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared calm, but inwardly was delighted.

The reason was simple.

According to Hongjun’s philosophy of rule, any being with the potential to stand alongside him was an unstable factor in the primordial world—one that must be checked, or eliminated outright.

The Three Pure Ones, possessing thirty percent of the merit of creation, had boundless prospects. Unless they already merged with the Purple Qi of Chaos and became Sages of Heaven, they would inevitably become sources of turmoil.

Originally, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had devised the grand plan of “proving the Dao with the Purple Qi of Chaos,” intending to aid the three in becoming Sages of Heaven, in compliance with destiny, but this plan had yet to be fulfilled.

Now, this event was a perfect opportunity!

If, by reforging the Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence, he could deplete some of the Three Pure Ones’ merit of creation, then even if they later refused the Purple Qi, he could ensure that they would remain beneath him for a very long time.

“Very well!”

Dao Ancestor Hongjun smiled faintly, extended a finger, and pointed at the three before him.

In an instant.

From each of the Three Pure Ones arose a cloud of innate merit, resembling primordial mist, which transformed in midair into two thousand one hundred streams of primordial energy. These, combined with the primordial energy in their hands, formed a new Tower of Heaven and Earth’s Primordial Essence.

Now, the power of this Innate Merit Treasure was restored—indistinguishable from its former peak.

The Three Pure Ones were astounded.

With the tower restored, none of the three felt any joy; instead, they were filled with dismay.

They had only intended to restore a smaller tower; who could have foreseen that Dao Ancestor Hongjun would directly draw primordial energy from them? How could this be acceptable?

“Sage!”

The Lord of Primordial Beginning cried out in alarm: “Though the treasure is important, the merit of creation within us is of far greater value. How can we use our own merit to repair an external object?”

“It is of no consequence,” Hongjun replied. “You have only lost a portion of your merit of creation; what remains is more than sufficient for you to attain enlightenment.”

By “attain enlightenment,” Hongjun meant becoming Sages of Heaven.

But the Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, and the Lord of Primordial Beginning respectfully inquired, “Does the Sage mean that we, too, might, like yourself, attain sagehood?”

He was speaking, of course, of Sages of the Great Way.

“Of course!” Hongjun said gladly. “You three are formed from Pangu’s primordial spirit, innately possessing great merit and the fortune of a Sage. To prove the Dao and attain sagehood—none can hinder you!”

But what Hongjun spoke of was still Sages of Heaven.