Chapter 547: Chapter 12: 9 Venerables Descend to the Lower Realm, the Years of the Goddess Striking Taiyi
Spirit Mountain.
"Uncle Sakyamuni, I’ve learned that Flower-Picking Smile now."
Little Peach Spirit yawned. "Can we call it a day? When I get back to the Underworld Department, I still have so many other things to study!"
"It’s good to learn more. It’s good to learn more."
Shakyamuni smiled and gently patted Little Peach Spirit’s head. All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas turned their gazes upon her, deeply engraving her face into their minds.
"Learning a little more never hurts."
While patting Little Peach Spirit’s head, Lu Xuan glanced sideways at the slowly approaching Maitreya Buddha Mother and spoke with a smile.
"Buddha Mother, what brings you here?"
The Buddha Mother hesitated for a moment, her gaze falling on Little Peach Spirit, and said peacefully,
"Seeing that the World Honored One is quite fond of this girl, I was moved. Perhaps I too could teach her a thing or two."
She paused, and amidst Little Peach Spirit’s puzzled gaze, the Buddha Mother smiled.
"World Honored One, shall we do it together? We can use this girl as a medium to discuss the Dao. For her, it would be a considerable blessing."
Inside Great Leiyin Temple, looks of astonishment and envy appeared on the faces of many Buddhas. Using this girl to discuss the Dao... meant they would be teaching through her, allowing the knowledge of two great beings to be tested and compared against each other...
How was this merely a blessing?
This was a heavenly fortune, a truly immense fortune!
An Ancient One and a Fake Dao Fruit...
Lu Xuan’s expression flickered slightly. He knew the Buddha Mother didn’t want to completely fall out with ’Shakyamuni,’ but she was also afraid of the "what ifs."
’Is she in such a hurry to seize the Human Dao Trend, use it to break the seal of the Qing Ping Sword, and take Reincarnation?’
’Interesting, very interesting.’
’However, I wasn’t planning on letting ’Shakyamuni’ interfere this time anyway...’
Immediately, Lu Xuan smiled.
"For the Buddha Mother to suggest this is truly this little girl’s good fortune. How could I refuse? Then let us discuss the Dao here, using the little girl as our medium."
After a pause, he asked magnanimously,
"I simply wonder, I saw that Taiyi seems to have entered the Human World. Do you know why?"
The Buddha Mother narrowed her eyes slightly, then replied frankly,
"Oh, him? He’s just gone to have a word with that Supreme Profound Clarity. He won’t harm him. He wouldn’t dare."
"I see."
Lu Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze profound, as he gently patted Little Peach Spirit’s head again.
"Buddha Mother, after you?"
"Very well."
The Buddha Mother smiled, looked at Little Peach Spirit, and said in a soft, gentle voice,
"Little girl, I will teach you a form. Watch closely..."
...
「Celestial Court.」
「Lingxiao Hall.」
"How dare you interfere in the Human World? If you anger the Profound Yellow Emperor again, you all know the consequences!"
Venus, one of the Nine Celestial Venerable Ones, glared with knitted brows. Beside him, Wen Zhong also narrowed his eyes dangerously, facing off against the other seven Venerable Ones.
Lishan Old Mother glanced at the Human World and said calmly,
"How about this: the Nine Venerable Ones will each state our positions, and the minority will yield to the majority."
"You!" Wen Zhong’s eyes blazed with anger.
’Among the Nine Venerable Ones, he and Taibai are on one side, while the other seven are all in league with each other...’
"State your positions."
Lishan Old Mother glanced at the Human World again, confirming that both Supreme Profound Clarity and the Profound Yellow Emperor were tied down. A smile appeared on her face.
"Those who approve of descending to the Lower Realm to assist the Celestial Son in punishing the disloyal, please step forward."
Seven figures—beings "Close to Daluo" and "Similar to Daluo"—all took a step forward. It was seven against two. The faces of Li Changgeng and Wen Zhong turned ashen.
Seeing this, Jade Emperor Zhang Bairen coughed lightly and announced his grand decree:
"The Celestial Son of the Human World has pleaded to the Celestial Court to punish the disloyal. We observe that the Han Dynasty’s fortune is not yet exhausted, thus they should be aided..."
...
「Dragon Tiger Mountain.」
The Profound Yellow Emperor ascended step by step into the sky, then sat cross-legged upon the clouds, gazing at the old man before him.
"What is it?" he asked calmly.
Chu Tai smiled.
"I came to seek the Great Emperor for a discussion on the Dao."
As he spoke, he secretly sent a mental transmission:
"Xiaoxuan, the Dao Fruits have joined forces to seal off the past, preventing you from achieving the Daluo realm. However, Taiyi seems to want to lend you a hand."
The Profound Yellow Emperor’s expression shifted slightly. He didn’t answer, instead asking via his own transmission:
"What are the Buddha Mother and the others planning?"
"They will grant the Han Dynasty a brief period of peace, thereby allowing them to borrow the Human Dao Trend. The Celestial Court will assist Dong Zhuo in eliminating several figures outside Hulao Pass who carry great destiny."
"I see."
The Profound Yellow Emperor fell into thought.
「Meanwhile, at Giant Deer.」
"You are... Taiyi?" Supreme Profound Clarity was also sitting cross-legged on the clouds, gazing at the person before him as he asked calmly.
"It is I."
Taiyi was also carefully studying Supreme Profound Clarity, and he spoke with a smile:
"This should be the first time you and I have formally met, yes?"
He sat serenely in the void, his body reflecting the magnificent scenery of all worlds. The River of Time flowed beside him, and all of Ancient History rose and fell within his eyes!
An Ancient One.
Supreme Profound Clarity lowered his eyelids slightly.
"What, does Your Excellency intend to trap me? For a Dao Fruit to personally interfere, are you not afraid of incurring my Master’s wrath?"
Taiyi smiled faintly.
"Normally, I would naturally fear the one in Douluo Palace. However, I have not come entirely with malicious intent. The one in Douluo Palace will not act against me."
As he spoke, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he sent a mental transmission:
"Lu Xuan, the time for us to cross swords has not yet come. Today, I will help you achieve the Daluo realm. You can then break free and go resolve this situation. How about it?"
Supreme Profound Clarity’s expression grew strange. ’What Grandpa Chu said was actually true...’
He narrowed his eyes and replied via transmission:
"Why would Your Excellency do this?"
"You’re too weak."
Taiyi answered calmly.
"I will make my move against you when you are on the verge of becoming a Dao Fruit, when you are about to prove your Dao. But if you can’t even achieve the Daluo realm, how can you ever become a Transformation Dao Fruit?"
Lu Xuan understood, and a sneer appeared on his face.
"Taiyi, oh Taiyi, are you truly that confident? If I approach the Dao Fruit realm, or even achieve it, it’s still uncertain who will emerge victorious..."
Taiyi was unconcerned.
"I will wait and see... The Six Paths of Reincarnation can be condensed into an Illusory Dao Fruit, but it can also be transformed into a [Dao Artifact]. I think it would suit you well. I will help you enter the Daluo realm and forge this Dao Artifact. With Reincarnation as your artifact, you will achieve Perfection."
Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes and did not reply, only saying faintly,
"I am very curious. How do you intend to help me reach the Daluo realm?"
"Like this."
Taiyi suddenly erupted, his palm flipping over and crashing down as he bellowed,
"Supreme Profound Clarity!"
With a single slap, he knocked Supreme Profound Clarity into the River of Time, sending him hurtling back through the ages!
...
「At this moment of great change.」
「In a government hall, a hundred miles from Hulao Pass.」
The Dukes and their generals looked at each other, completely dumbfounded. They had no idea what was going on.
The Daoist with the strange coronet had just cut down Xu Ziyuan, but neither Yuan Shao nor Cao Cao was angry. Instead, they were...
...performing a grand ceremony of respect??
Who in the world was this Daoist?
Some peerless member of an Immortal Family?
Under the gazes of countless eyes, the old Daoist simultaneously manipulated Shakyamuni’s debate with the Buddha Mother and controlled the secret conversation between Profound Yellow and Chu Tai.
At the same time, he had Supreme Profound Clarity traveling back through time with Taiyi’s help, openly and honorably striding into the eras before the Zhou Dynasty to leave behind footprints that truly belonged to ’Lu Xuan’!
Although Shakyamuni’s imprint was also him, it was not completely him; it was not his original, true self.
Lu Xuan was Profound Clarity, he was Profound Yellow, he was Nine Nether, Xuan Sheng, Hongjun, and Shakyamuni. But in the end, his true self was just... Lu Xuan.
’An interesting Taiyi...’
Muttering to himself, Lu Xuan gave a slight nod to Yuan Shao and the others. As they watched with trepidation, he sat down in a side seat and spoke with a smile:
"As I said, I am merely a wanderer between heaven and earth, a nameless Daoist from the mountains and wilderness. I have come to this Red Dust to watch the show. You all need not pay me any mind. Please, carry on."
With that, he yawned, lowered his head, and appeared to be taking a short nap.
He really was napping.
Even with his talent for multitasking, combined with his current Cultivation at the Daluo level, simultaneously managing multiple fronts shouldn’t have been a problem.
The problem was that among those he was currently facing, there were two Ancient Ones...
Even Lu Xuan was finding it somewhat exhausting to deal with them all.
In the hall, after a long silence and under the probing gazes of the Dukes and generals,
Cao Cao was the first to suppress the throbbing in his heart. He discreetly kicked Yuan Shao and Sun Jian, jolting them both back to their senses.
Yuan Shao took a deep breath, once again performed a ritual bow to the old Daoist in front of all the Dukes, and then returned to the main seat.
After a moment of deliberation, Yuan Shao cleared his throat and said,
"Everyone, let us not forget the original purpose of today’s gathering. We have sworn an oath to crusade against Dong the Thief..."
The Dukes struggled to tear their eyes away from the napping old Daoist and looked toward Yuan Shao, waiting for his next words.
Yuan Shao called for his attendants to carry away Xu You’s corpse and then to add seats for Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Only then did he continue,
"The world is in chaos! In the East, there is the Taiping Sect; in the West, the White Lotus Sect; in the South, the Five-Dou Rice Sect. All are in rebellion. But these three are ultimately minor disturbances. The real problem is Dong the Thief!"
His expression was solemn.
"Dong the Thief must be crusaded against, must be slain! Today, we shall open an altar, report to the Jade Emperor and the Nine Venerable Ones of the Celestial Court, raise our armies, break Hulao Pass, retake Luoyang City, and bring peace to the Celestial Son!"
The Dukes and their generals nodded in agreement.
Yuan Shao glanced carefully at Lu Xuan, then spoke again with great solemnity:
"There is no time to delay. The great platform has already been set up outside the hall. We must report to the Jade Emperor and the Nine Venerable Ones now. Today, we shall raise our army and break the pass!"
With that, he stood up, bowed to the napping old Daoist, and exited the hall. The other Dukes and generals followed.
As they left, they couldn’t help but stare intently at the old Daoist, their confusion deepening.
Who... who on earth was he?
Leaving aside Liu Bei for a moment, which of Yuan Benchu, Cao Mengde, and Sun Wentai was not a hero of their time? One could even say they were the leading figures among all the heroes in the world!
In terms of Cultivation, each of them was a venerable Grand Grade master, comparable to the most elite War Generals!
Yet every single one of them was utterly respectful to this unknown old Daoist...
Could he be one of the Daoist Celestial Venerables?
As their minds churned with complex thoughts, the Dukes had already taken their places outside the hall. They lit braziers in the eight directions and ignited nine incense sticks, each as thick as a person.
Yuan Shao, clad in armor and a robe, held a sword, his expression grave.
"Today, we open the Dharma altar, beat the Dharma drum, report to the Jade Emperor, and inform the Nine Venerable Ones, that Dong the Thief is without virtue..."
The Han Emperor was called the Celestial Son. Furthermore, ever since Profound Yellow had struck the heavens, the Celestial Court no longer dared to send down disasters. They even frequently granted favorable weather to the lands that worshipped them.
Over time, the world had come to believe in Immortal Gods again. Major undertakings, such as this military expedition, required a report to the Jade Emperor and the Nine Venerable Ones.
As Yuan Shao chanted his incantation, a brilliant light suddenly bloomed in the Celestial Vault.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, what’s that?"
Zhang Fei boomed, pointing at the Celestial Realm.
The Dukes, their top generals, and famous scholars all looked up instinctively. They saw auspicious omens appearing in the Celestial Vault, with dragons and phoenixes calling out in harmony.
Accompanied by the singing of Celestial Maidens and the drumming of Golden Boys, nine majestic figures emerged, each seated upon an ancient, grand throne, their might overwhelming heaven and earth!
"Th-th-this is..."
Han Fu, one of the Dukes, felt his legs go weak before he was overcome with ecstatic joy.
"The Nine... the Nine Venerable Ones! The Nine Venerable Ones have manifested! They’ve manifested!!"
An uproar went through the Dukes, generals, and scholars. One by one, they all prostrated themselves, even Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and the others!
The name of the Nine Venerable Ones had echoed throughout the entire twenty-thousand-year history of the Eastern Han. In their hearts, they were the symbol of the Supreme, the most powerful of all Immortals and Buddhas!
In the eyes of Yuan Shao and the others, even that terrifying Temple Master in the hall was likely inferior to the Nine Venerable Ones...
Amidst the successive, pious prostrations,
The Female Immortal in the center of the Nine Venerable Ones spoke faintly:
"By the plea of the Han Celestial Son, today in the Human World, rebellious officials and traitors have gathered before Hulao Pass, calling themselves the Eighteen Dukes, seeking to throw the world into chaos..."
The devoutly prostrated crowd looked up in astonishment.
"Well now, so you’re not good guys either!" Zhang Fei leaped to his feet, cursing loudly. With a heave of his arm, he hurled his Eight Zhang Serpent Spear toward the Celestial Vault!
"Insolence."
Lishan Old Mother scanned with her divine sense. She confirmed that none of them—not Supreme Profound Clarity, not the Profound Yellow Emperor, not the Ancestral Dragon, not Fengdu—could personally appear.
Letting out another sigh of relief in her heart, she uttered a soft reprimand, yet her voice crashed down like a great tide!
「And at the same time.」
「In ages past.」
Taiyi slapped Supreme Profound Clarity downwards and said with a smile,
"This is the Era of the Three Emperors. Quickly, leave your footprints."
Lu Xuan gave him a long look but did not reply, merely lowering his gaze to look down.
’The Era of the Three Emperors...’
He suddenly felt something and looked to the side. The heavens and earth were shaking.
As it happened, they had arrived in the era of [Taiyi Strikes the Goddess]—or rather, [Divine Maiden Striking Taiyi].
"Why... why..."
An exquisitely beautiful woman was weeping. With one punch, she shattered a great bell and knocked a majestic Celestial Emperor into the depths of the Nine Nether!
"So it’s this period in time..."
Lu Xuan looked at the stiff-faced Taiyi and said playfully,
"Shall we go take a look? How about it?"
"Let’s change to a different point in time!" Taiyi’s face was as black as charcoal. He reached out to seize Lu Xuan, but a Great Banner swayed, and a wave of Chaos Qi knocked his hand aside!
"Why change? Now is perfect."
Lu Xuan strode toward the Nine Nether.
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