The Crowd's Decision

Nuwa said softly, "The Dao of Creation is about bestowing life, not taking it away. If one were to truly slay all three corpses, would life still be complete? This humble one believes that what is called 'slaying' should be to return each corpse to its proper place, no longer disturbing the original mind, rather than utterly annihilating them."

Xuande listened to the discussion among the group, nodding inwardly. Slaying the Three Corpses was indeed not about completely cutting away goodness, evil, and attachment. If that were the case, wouldn't those who cultivated it become nothing but emotionless, desireless logs of wood? True slaying of the Three Corpses was to "strip" these three from the original mind, transforming them into independent "avatars," so that they no longer disturbed the original mind yet could still be summoned at will. In this way, the original mind could maintain absolute clarity, untroubled by the entanglements of good, evil, and attachment, while still possessing all the abilities of these three. This was the true essence of slaying the Three Corpses.

He spoke his thoughts aloud. After hearing him, the group fell into contemplation.

Fuxi nodded: "Daoist friend Xuande's words strike deep into my heart. Transforming the Three Corpses into independent avatars, with the original mind transcending above them—this preserves clarity without losing wholeness. This is the Great Dao."

Nuwa also said, "In that case, it aligns with the Dao of Creation. Bestow upon the Three Corpses an independent 'form,' making them independent 'existences.' The original mind is then like the Creator, transcending above them."

Zhenyuanzi mused, "Then the Innate Spiritual Treasures used as vessels are the 'containers' that bear the Three Corpses?"

Xuande nodded, but his expression grew more solemn than before: "Exactly so. However, this humble one has a word of caution for all Daoist friends."

Seeing his expression, the group put away their smiles and listened intently.

Xuande said slowly, "The three Innate Spiritual Treasures used to slay the Three Corpses must share the same origin."

At these words, the Bodhi Tree fell silent for a moment.

"Same origin?" Zhunti frowned slightly. "Daoist brother, you mean..."

Xuande said, "That is, the three treasures must come from the same source, and there must be a connection in origin between them."

Hongyun scratched his head: "Why is that? Can't treasures from different origins work?"

Xuande shook his head: "When the Three Corpses merge into one, the three treasures must also merge with them. If their origins differ, they will repel each other—how can they fuse into one? At that point, the Three Corpses would each act on their own, and the original mind would find it hard to govern them. At best, cultivation would stagnate; at worst, one would fall into demonic deviation."

Fuxi's expression turned grave as he said slowly, "Daoist friend Xuande's reasoning is sound. This humble one deduces the changes of all things in heaven and earth and deeply understands that everything has its origin. If things with different origins are forcibly merged, conflict is inevitable. Since slaying the Three Corpses is a method to attain the Dao, though the Dao Ancestor did not state it explicitly, this principle is surely implied within."

Nuwa said softly, "When the Dao Ancestor lectured, he only said to use Innate Spiritual Treasures to host the Three Corpses, and never mentioned that they must share the same origin. But what Daoist friend Xuande says is indeed the ultimate truth. Without treasures of the same origin, the path of slaying the Three Corpses..." She paused, not finishing, but the meaning was clear. Without treasures of the same origin, the path of slaying the Three Corpses was a dead end.

Zhenyuanzi mused, "So it seems, if we wish to slay the corpses, we must first find three Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same origin. But Innate Spiritual Treasures are already rare, and those of the same origin are even harder to come by. This..."

Hongyun scratched his head even more vigorously: "Isn't this making it even harder? With the little we have on hand, it's good enough to scrape together one, let alone three of the same origin! Why didn't the Dao Ancestor say so earlier!"

Zhunti smiled bitterly: "Perhaps the Dao Ancestor wanted us to realize it on our own. After all, the Great Dao is simple yet profound. Some truths become shallow once spoken aloud."

Jieyin said slowly, "That Daoist brother Xuande could grasp this principle is our fortune. Otherwise, if we rashly attempted to slay the corpses using treasures of different origins, I fear..." He did not finish, but a chill ran through everyone's hearts.

Indeed, if not for Xuande pointing this out today, they would likely have gone back and tried slaying the corpses with whatever treasures they had on hand. The consequences would have been unthinkable.

Hongyun looked at Xuande, his eyes full of gratitude: "Daoist friend Xuande, thank you for the warning! Otherwise, I would have gone back and recklessly tried with whatever two treasures I had!"

Zhunti also nodded repeatedly: "Daoist brother, this one word saves us from going astray!"

Xuande waved his hand: "Fellow Daoists need not be so grateful. This humble one only reasoned it out; it may not be entirely correct. But I felt this principle was too important to keep silent about."

Fuxi shook his head: "Daoist friend Xuande is too modest. This is no mere reasoning but the ultimate truth of the Great Dao. Under my deductions, it also aligns with the Dao."

Nuwa said softly, "Since that is the case, what should we do? The method of slaying the Three Corpses is now clear, yet we are troubled by the lack of treasures of the same origin."

The group fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Xuande spoke: "This humble one believes there is no rush."

The group looked at him.

Xuande said, "The Dao Ancestor has stated that the third lecture will be given three thousand years from now. Let us first refrain from slaying the corpses and see if we can gather treasures of the same origin."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, slaying the Three Corpses is a method to attain the Dao, but it is not the only one."

"The Dao Ancestor also said that one can accumulate merit and virtue, or comprehend the laws. Each of us has our own path; we don't necessarily have to take the route of slaying corpses. After the third lecture ends and the Dao Ancestor clarifies the Sage's Path, there may be an even clearer way forward."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into thoughtful silence.

Zhenyuanzi slowly nodded: "Daoist friend Xuande speaks very truly. We have just heard of the corpse-slaying method, so it's inevitable that our hearts grow eager. But in the path of cultivation, impatience is the greatest taboo. Steadiness is paramount."

Jieyin said, "Good. The West is barren, and Innate Spiritual Treasures are scarce to begin with. If we act rashly, we will only suffer harm. It's better to wait for the right opportunity."

Zhunti also added, "Daoist brother is right! Anyway, the Dao Ancestor will lecture again in three thousand years. We'll see then and make plans!"

Hongyun scratched his head: "So what do we do for these three thousand years? Just wait around?"

Fuxi smiled: "Naturally, we won't just wait. These three thousand years are precisely the time to continue comprehending the corpse-slaying method and solidify our foundations. Once we obtain the Spiritual Treasures, we can begin slaying the corpses directly."

Nuwa said softly, "My brother is right. These three thousand years are when we lay a firm foundation."

Hongyun suddenly understood: "I get it! First, get ready, then start working once we have the goods!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Amid the laughter, Xuande looked at the six people before him, and an indescribable feeling surged in his heart.

Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Jieyin, Zhunti—these six were his closest Daoist companions in this Primordial World.

They had different origins and cultivated different Great Daos, yet they could gather together, comprehend in unison, and verify each other's insights.

This was fate.

And also the greatest gain he had made since his transmigration.

The discussion lasted a long time.

From the method of slaying the Three Corpses, to the importance of same-source Spiritual Treasures, to future cultivation plans, everyone expressed their views, inspiring one another.

After the discussion ended, Hongyun stretched lazily: "This time, the gain was enormous! So that's what slaying the Three Corpses is all about! I couldn't figure it out on my own no matter how I thought, but once I discussed it with you all, it became clear in an instant!"

Zhunti laughed: "Of course! With the seven of us, how could we fail to penetrate the method of slaying the Three Corpses?"

Everyone laughed again.

In three thousand years, when the third lecture was held at the Purple Cloud Palace, they would go together.

The fates of all present had already changed.

Especially Hongyun.

He remembered the legends of later ages, Hongyun's fate...

But that was a future that had not yet been altered.

Now, with him, Jieyin, and Zhunti here, with Zhenyuanzi, Nuwa, and Fuxi here, Hongyun's fate might be different.

Xuande withdrew his thoughts and looked at the others.