Ch. 122Establishing Laws for Earth, Curtailing Heaven’s Authority
In Purple Firmament Palace, Houtu and Great Emperor Ziwei challenged the Heavenly Dao Sages’ bid to oversee the Netherworld and Six Paths of Reincarnation, proposing safeguards backed by the Earthly Dao. Houtu then turned to the Exposition Sect’s control of the future Heavenly Court and disputed the origins and allocation of its highest offices, leaving that challenge unresolved.
- Houtu promised that the Wu Clan would avoid the struggle for Primordial World fortune while retaining Buzhou Mountain and the Netherworld lands, but Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Daoist Zhunti demanded oversight of Samsara by Heavenly Dao Sages.
- Great Emperor Ziwei proposed excluding Heavenly Dao Sages from Netherworld affairs and using Nuwa’s Stone of Three Lives to qualify and reassess overseers; Houtu agreed and cited Ksitigarbha’s use of Netherworld authority for the Western Teachings’ benefit.
- Houtu required Netherworld officials to swear Earthly Dao oaths and proposed that Heavenly Dao Sages swear not to attack non-Sage beings, prompting Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Daoist Zhunti to reject the restriction.
- Houtu argued that the future Heavenly Court was dominated by the Exposition Sect and proposed limiting its disciples to one of the Six Sovereigns’ positions; Primordial Heavenly Venerate defended their claims, and Houtu identified the origins of Great Emperor Qinghua and Great Emperor Changsheng.