Yuanshi stood atop Kunlun Mountain with his hands behind his back, staring at the sky. His eyes seem to pierce the clouds and into the Heavenly Realm.
"Master?" his attendant, a young boy in white, asked.
"Let's return," Yuanshi said, turning around and flying into Jade Mirage Palace on the second-tallest peak of the Kunlun Mountain Range.
Jade Mirage Palace was a palace-shaped spiritual artifact that Yuanshi refined after Tongtian became the Jade Emperor. Since she left, Laozi no longer stayed on Kunlun Mountain much, preferring to reside on Shouyang Mountain. Perhaps it was his Way of Inaction or other unknown reasons, but Yuanshi could sense Laozi drifting apart. In that case, he sealed Three Purity Palace, not knowing when it would be used again.
Once he was sitting on the central platform inside the main hall of Jade Mirage Palace, Yuanshi ordered Baihe, his attendant, to ring the Void Bell. The Void Bell did not release any sound upon being struck, but Yuanshi's twelve inner disciples left their residence on the Kunlun Mountain Range and gathered in front of him.
"""We greet Master!""" the Twelve Golden Immortals saluted and kneeled in reverence.
"En." Yuanshi nodded in acknowledgment.
As the head disciple, it was Guang Chengzi's duty to act as the bridge between Yuanshi and the other disciples. "Master, do you have any tasks or instructions for us?"
"I summoned you all here because the Three Realms will soon experience a tribulation, one that can harm even Saints," Yuanshi said.
The atmosphere tensed.
It was well known that Saints were invincible, and only another Saint could threaten another Saint. Did the Saints lose all decorum with each other?
Although the Twelve Golden Immortals never left Kunlun Mountain, even they had heard that the Heavenly Court was making large splashes. All twelve, even Guang Chengzi, felt a chill. After Shennong became enshrined as Sovereign Shennong, he entered secluded cultivation and successfully broke through to the Great Unity Realm.
However, forget a Golden Immortal of the Great Unity like him, even Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament would be at most ants between the war of Saints. And Quasi-Saints could only be considered slightly larger ants.
Yuanshi lightly coughed, but that sound thundered in their ears and broke them out of their thoughts. "A Saint's duty is to ensure the prosperity of the world. We would never seriously go to war unless one goes against the Way of Heaven."
"Disciple overthought. Please punish us," Guang Chengzi said. Although Yuanshi didn't show any outward displeasure, his words were more than enough.
"Hmpf, forget it. The upcoming calamity will be more than enough punishment," Yuanshi said, causing the Twelve Golden Immortals to fret even more. "The Three Realms will soon clash with another world. During this time, the lifeforms of both worlds will invade the other. The stronger your strength, the greater suppression you will experience. As such, we Saints cannot take action until near the end."
"Although it is a calamity, fortune exists among misfortune," Yuanshi scanned his disciples. "The Three Realms lack warriors. Go down and impart the Immortal Path onto the humans, and you will receive great merit. However, the more contact you have, the greater the karma you will accumulate. If you aren't careful, the karma will trap you."
Some of the Twelve Golden Immortals, like Guang Chengzi and Daoist Yuding, were not moved by the allure of merit. Others like Mystic Master Baoling or Venerable Daoheart wavered. Still, there were a few who had already made their decision, like Daoist Huanglong, Ju Liusun, Broadart Venerable Manjushri, Daoist Samantabhadra, and Daoist Cihang.
Of the five, none yearned for merit more than Daoist Huanglong. As a descendant of the Dragon Clan, he had been contaminated by the Karmic Sin from the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation. Because of this, his cultivation had not always been smooth.
Becoming a Saint's disciple only diminished the effect of Karmic Sin. He would invariably lose any resources he attained due to it. Any potential spiritual artifact would have no fate with him. Of the twelve, only he had no spiritual artifact. Even if Yuanshi bestowed a spiritual artifact to him, Daoist Huanglong would lose it, and the event may even threaten his life.
Helpless, Daoist Huanglong could only refine his two whiskers into artifacts.
"That's all I have to say. Whether you stay or descend down the mountain is your choice. Choose wisely because this decision will affect your future path," Yuanshi said. "Dismissed."
The Twelve Golden Immortals bid Yuanshi farewell and exited Jade Mirage Palace. He didn't seal the palace immediately and smiled, something his disciples rarely saw except in one specific type of situation. "Third Sister, you have the time to visit me?"
From behind Yuanshi, Tongtian, clad in her vibrant red robes, walked out of space. "I just thought of visiting Kunlun Mountain before the war. After all, I haven't come back personally for some time."
"Still," she continued. "I didn't expect to only see you here. And here, I thought it would be a grand reunion of the Three Purities. Furthermore, I didn't expect to hear information that even I didn't know."
"What information do you speak of?" Yuanshi asked.
"How would you know about the different states of suppression when worlds collide?" Tongtian asked. "Although I described how my incarnation felt, it didn't discover anything that would suggest what you told your disciples."
"It was information I was only privy to after I entered the Seventh Heavenly Layer," Yuanshi said. "By communicating with the Way of Heaven, I can glean some information."
"Really?" Tongtian asked with some suspicion. Despite her suspicion, it did confirm some of her previous conjectures. This wasn't the first iteration of Pangu's world; they must have clashed with other alien worlds before.
"Of course, I also gleaned more information," Yuanshi said. He acted like a child that wanted praise. "When I transmitted the information to the Way of Heaven, it immediately wanted to start a war and devour the alien world. Although the information was messy, I still caught a few things. If the Three Realms were to absorb the alien world, its foundation would increase. Not only would the laws become stronger, but so would the upper limit. I suspect a Saint's limit would increase to the Tenth Heavenly Layer, and the world would be able to bear the burden of more Golden Immortals of the Primordial Origin."
"Is that so?" Everything Yuanshi said correlated with what she suspected and learned when she investigated the alien world. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. "Wait, you said the information was messy. Describe the process of obtaining it."
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"The flow of information would stop at random and crucial points, almost as if something was trying to intervene..." Yuanshi's voice trailed off. "You don't think?"
Tongtian placed a finger to her lips. "It seems the war will be far more difficult than we imagined."
The two shared a look and entered Three Purity Palace. Soon, Laozi also came, and when he did, all three of them left the Three Realms and ventured into the chaos.
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On Mount Sumeru, Jieyin and Zhunti sat shoulder to shoulder. Their gazes focused on the East, where they saw numerous empyreans and the Twelve Golden Immortals imparting cultivation methods to the humans.
"Senior Brother, the war is also the West's responsibility. We should also aid in raising warriors to protect our world," Zhunti suggested.
Jieyin smiled. "Junior Brother is right. A great disaster is incoming, and we must free them of any possible suffering. However, we should focus on a smaller territory to better convert the masses."
"Indeed. Preferably one with worse resources. Our sutras focus on using fewer resources to temper ourselves and will be more popular than the orthodox way. However, I am worried that the other Saints will obstruct us," Zhunti confided.
"The other Saints know the importance of this war. They shouldn't squabble with us on this matter. To show our determination, Junior Brother should personally oversee this matter," Jieyin said.
The two shared a smile, but Zhunti's smile soon disappeared. "Senior Brother, have you divined anything from the secrets of heaven? I attempted numerous times, but I was only met with failure."
Jieyin shook his head. "No. Whenever I try to communicate with the Way of Heaven, I receive no information, only murkiness and confusion."
"It seems that the Way of Heaven does not know the existence of alien worlds, and we have to rely on ourselves," Zhunti said. "It's only natural. If the Way of Heaven were omnipotent, there'd be no need for us Saints."
"Junior Brother's words make sense," Jieyin said.
"If there's nothing else, then I will depart to the East with our disciples," Zhunti said.
"Take care," Jieyin said as Zhunti flew away atop a Ninth-Ranked Golden Lotus of Merit.
Zhunti took Maitreya and the many other disciples to spread the teachings of the West. Ksitigarbha and Dishitian remained on Mount Sumeru. The two did not need to worry about gathering merit after they embarked on the path of comprehending the law. All the two needed was simply time.
In fact, Ksitigarbha had already entered the Great Unity Realm, and it would not be long before Dishitian also entered the Great Unity.
Sublime Golden Light of Liberation accompanied the western missionaries as they traveled to the East. All who fell under the light kneeled and prayed with a newfound yearning for the West.
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It wasn't just the Heavenly Court, Enlightenment Sect, and Liberation Sect that dispatched their members to promote the Immortal Path, but the Interception Sect, too. Even the passive Laozi sent his Saint Corpse, Taishang Laojun, and Xuandu to propagate the Human Way.
To the other Saint's shock, Taishang Laojun accepted a disciple, a nominal disciple but a disciple nonetheless. Her name was Li Yingqiong. She possessed inferior foundations to embark on the Immortal Path, but her firm daoheart and perseverance caught Taishang Laojun's eyes and allowed her to change her fate.
Li Yingqiong ascended the Profound Immortal Realm in less than ten thousand years, shocking the world with her cultivation speed. She created swordplay unique to her from Laozi's teaching, known as the Swordplay of Absolute Stillness, becoming the Three Realm's first Sword Immortal and creating the Sword Path.
She founded her own sect on a mountain near her birthplace and named it the Mount Shu Sword Sect.
Many of the major powers waited to see Tongtian's reaction. It was well known that Tongtian loved the sword, and she was the strongest swordswoman in the Three Realms. Ironic, considering that it wasn't her or her disciples that created the sword path, but someone of the Grand Purity Lineage.
Still, those major powers became disappointed when Tongtian did nothing. Even her disciples did nothing. Wutian stayed in the Human Temple, while Shuixing did everything in his capabilities to slack off.
Like this, years passed, and soon another eon would come to an end.
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The Saints of Heaven and Earth appeared outside the outskirts of the chaotic boundary, staring at the alien world in the distance. However, the alien world hadn't moved from its position for thousands of years.
Tongtian frowned. "Why isn't the Chaos World moving?"
"Chaos World?" Redcloud Ancestor asked.
"I decided to name worlds born of chaos as Chaos Worlds. Ours would be the Pangu Chaos World," Tongtian explained.
"Perhaps it's hesitating?" Jieyin suggested.
"That doesn't sound right either. The Way of Heaven acts on instinct for its own benefit unless there is an external influence. Unless someone has refined or controlled the Way of Heaven of that alien Chaos World, it shouldn't be possible for it to stop," Tongtian said.
"It's not impossible. Depending on the age of the Chaos World, there might be a powerful Golden Immortal of the Primordial Origin or similar existence that grew out of the world's control and influenced it," Yuanshi said. At this, the other Saints stared at the Three Purities. Of the people present, the three of them were the likeliest to accomplish such a feat.
Yuanshi continued as if ignorant of their gazes. "Still, as Saints, we should be able to influence the Three Realms to an extent. If they don't come to us, we'll come to them."
"Is that possible?" Zhunti asked. "And should we be aiming for war? If there is a possible Golden Immortal of Primordial Origin that exceeded the Way of Heaven's might, won't his might exceed ours?"
"Since Saints have the authority to wield the power of heaven and earth, it is our right and duty. As long as we combine our efforts, it should show results," Yuanshi said. "As for the opponent's strength?"
Yuanshi snorted. "At most, it should be an advanced Golden Immortal of Primordial Origin like me. A world that size cannot sustain more than one advanced Golden Immortal of Primordial Origin."
The Saints nodded at Yuanshi's reason. Since that was the case, none of the Saints had any objection, so they all agreed. Jieyin even clapped his hands together and said, "In that case, we'll have to rely on Senior Brother."
Yuanshi didn't bother answering.
Tongtian hugged her sword to her chest and thought, 'Since a Saint of Earth has appeared, Second Brother's proposal should have merit. Zhen Yuanzi still hasn't chosen a candidate for the Saint of Earth, so the balance might be lacking. And the Saints of Humanity still cannot take action since not all of them have appeared. If there is an effect but needs a final push, let's have Zhen Yuanzi choose a Saint of Earth. If worse comes to worst, I'll use my two strands of Grandmist Gold Qi.'
Regardless of Tongtian's thought, all the Saints focused on communicating with the Way of Heaven and influencing it with their will. Surprisingly, the Three Realms' trajectory actually moved to their will much more easily than they thought.
Their efforts were so successful that the Saints looked at Yuanshi to see if he had an explanation. Yuanshi’s face was blank as he simply said, "So this is the result that can happen when all the Saints combine our efforts. Too bad that these instances are few and far between."
The other Saints looked away. Whether they believed his explanation was up to them. Instead, they focused on controlling the Three Realm's speed and direction. The Three Realms began to move faster and faster.
Tongtian narrowed her eyes when she saw the alien Chaos World actually begin to retreat slightly. She and the other Saints urged the Three Realms to speed up, and speed up it did. Had the Saints not entered the chaotic boundary, the Three Realms' speed would have left them in the dust.
The alien Chaos World's speed could not compete with the Three Realms, and soon, their boundaries clashed. The Saints tried to slow the integration, but they discovered that they had lost the ability to communicate with the Way of Heaven, and the Three Realms rammed full speed into the alien Chaos World.
""No!"" Jieyin and Zhunti shouted. The alien Chaos World had impacted with the northwest region of the Three Realms.
Cracks appeared all over the West and part of the North as fissures formed alongside new mountains and volcanoes. The earth veins around the West parts of the North entered disarray from the abrupt integration as the land of Three Realms and the alien Chaos World. The laws of the two Chaos Worlds clashed for dominance as karma and all stability disappeared.
Some of the Saints couldn't help but glance at Yuanshi, suspecting that he had planned all this.