All the Sages turned their heads at once, only to see Heavenly Lord of Morality Laozi's brow tightly furrowed, his gaze like an ancient well or a cold pool as it swept heavily toward Sect Master Tongtian. His voice was not loud, yet every word rang like a bell. "Fellow cultivator, could it be that you came here solely to trade barbs with junior brother Primordial? Heaven and earth are in disorder now; the celestial workings are chaotic like mist, the stars hang inverted, yin and yang are misplaced, and the four seasons have been thrown upside down—spring sees no buds, summer hears no cicadas, autumn has lost its golden breath, and winter is bereft of frost and snow. Immortals may evade calamity, but how are mortals to fend for themselves? If this is allowed to spread, the people will suffer and blood will flow into rivers. Since we call ourselves Sages, we must bear this responsibility: set right yin and yang, establish the four seasons, order the stars, and settle the sun and moon. If we care only to cross tongues and swords here, then once word gets out, will the Sages' honor not become a laughingstock?"
There were not many words, but they struck the heart like a heavy hammer. On the surface, he was mediating the dispute; in truth, he had laid bare the stakes.
Hearing this, Sect Master Tongtian's expression eased somewhat. He merely gave a cold snort through his nose, counting it as agreement.
Empress Nuwa spoke at the right moment. "What this fellow cultivator says is most true. Let us first join forces to stabilize the order of heaven and earth, correct the star trails, and restore the balance of the cosmic cycle. Then we shall proceed together to Zixiao Palace and pay respects