Nuwa said softly, "The Creation Dao is about bestowing life, not taking it away.
If the Three Corpses were truly severed completely, would life still be whole?
I believe that 'severing' means letting each of the Three Corpses return to its proper place, no longer interfering with one's true mind—not eradicating them completely."
Xuande listened to everyone's discussion and nodded to himself.
Slaying the Three Corpses truly didn't mean completely cutting away goodness, evil, and obsession.
If it did, wouldn't those who succeeded in cultivating the method become emotionless, desireless blocks of wood?
True severing of the Three Corpses meant "separating" them from one's true mind and turning them into independent "avatars." They would no longer interfere with one's true mind, yet could still be called upon at any time.
That way, one's true mind could remain absolutely clear, free from the troubles of goodness, evil, and obsession, while still retaining all their abilities.
That was the true meaning of Slaying the Three Corpses.
He shared his thoughts with them.
After hearing him out, everyone fell into thought.
Fuxi nodded. "Fellow Daoist Xuande, your words strike a chord with me. Turning the Three Corpses into independent avatars, with one's true mind transcending them—that allows one to remain clear without losing wholeness. This is the Great Dao."
Nuwa added, "In that case, it aligns with the Creation Dao. Bestow the Three Corpses with independent 'forms' and make them independent 'beings.' One's true mind then becomes like a creator, transcending them."
Zhenyuanzi pondered. "Then the Innate Spiritual Treasures used to anchor them are 'vessels' that contain the Three Corpses?"
Xuande nodded, though his expression grew more serious than before. "Exactly. However, there is something I must remind you all."
Seeing his expression, everyone stopped smiling and listened intently.
Xuande said slowly, "The three Innate Spiritual Treasures used to Slay the Three Corpses must share the same origin."
At his words, silence fell beneath the Bodhi Tree for a moment.
"The same origin?" Zhunti furrowed his brows. "Brother, do you mean..."
Xuande replied, "The three Numinous Treasures must come from the same source. There must be a connection between them in their origin."
Hong Yun scratched his head. "Why is that? Won't Numinous Treasures of different origins work?"
Xuande shook his head. "When the Three Corpses become one, the three Numinous Treasures must also unite.
"If their origins differ, they'll repel one another. How could they become one?
"Then the Three Corpses would each act on their own, and the true mind would struggle to govern them. At best, one's cultivation would stagnate; at worst, one would suffer cultivation deviation."
Fuxi's expression turned solemn. He said slowly, "Fellow Daoist Xuande is right.
"I deduce the changes in all things under heaven, and I know that everything has an origin.
"When things of different origins are forcibly united, conflict is inevitable.
"Slaying the Three Corpses is a method of proving the Dao. Though the Dao Ancestor did not say so outright, this principle must be implicit in it."
Nuwa said softly, "When the Dao Ancestor lectured, he only said to use Innate Spiritual Treasures to anchor the Three Corpses. He never mentioned that they had to share the same origin.
"But what Fellow Daoist Xuande says is indeed a profound truth. Without treasures of the same origin, then the path of Slaying the Three Corpses..."
She paused and said no more, but her meaning was clear.
Without treasures of the same origin, the path of Slaying the Three Corpses would be a dead end.
Zhenyuanzi mused, "In that case, if we wish to sever our corpses, we must first find three Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same origin. But Innate Spiritual Treasures are already rare, and finding three of the same origin is even harder. This..."
Hong Yun scratched his head even harder. "Doesn't that make things even more difficult?
"With what little we have, we'd be lucky to scrape together one treasure, let alone three of the same origin. Why didn't the Dao Ancestor say so earlier!"
Zhunti smiled wryly. "Perhaps the Dao Ancestor wanted us to realize it for ourselves. After all, the Great Dao is simple, yet profound. Some principles seem less profound once spoken aloud."
Jieyin said slowly, "It is our good fortune that Brother Xuande realized this principle. Otherwise, if we rashly tried to sever our corpses using treasures of different origins, we might..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone felt a chill in their hearts.
Indeed, if Xuande hadn't pointed this out today, they might have gone back and tried to sever their corpses with the few Numinous Treasures they had.
The consequences would have been unimaginable.
Hong Yun looked at Xuande, his eyes full of gratitude. "Fellow Daoist Xuande, thank you for the warning! Otherwise, I'd have gone back and tried it with any two Numinous Treasures I could find!"
Zhunti nodded repeatedly. "Brother, those words have saved us from going astray!"
Xuande waved his hand. "There's no need for that, fellow Daoists. I only made a deduction, and it may not be entirely correct. I simply felt that this principle was too important to keep to myself."
Fuxi shook his head. "You're too modest, Fellow Daoist Xuande. This isn't a mere deduction, but a profound truth of the Great Dao. After making my own deductions, I find that it accords with the Dao as well."
Nuwa said softly, "In that case, what should we do? We understand the method of Slaying the Three Corpses, but lack treasures of the same origin."
Everyone fell silent in thought.
After a moment, Xuande spoke. "I believe there's no need to rush."
Everyone turned to him.
Xuande said, "The Dao Ancestor said the Third Sermon would take place in three thousand years. We can hold off on severing our corpses and see whether we can gather treasures of the same origin."
He paused, then continued, "Besides, although Slaying the Three Corpses is a method of proving the Dao, it isn't the only one.
"The Dao Ancestor also said that we can accumulate merit or comprehend laws.
"Each of us has our own path. We don't necessarily have to take the path of severing our corpses.
"Once the Third Sermon is over and the Dao Ancestor has explained the Sage's Path, perhaps we'll have a clearer way forward."
After hearing this, everyone fell into thought.
Zhenyuanzi slowly nodded. "Fellow Daoist Xuande is absolutely right.
"We've only just heard about severing the corpses, so it's only natural that we're eager to try. But impatience is the greatest taboo in cultivation. It's better to be cautious."
Jieyin said, "Agreed. The West is barren, and Innate Spiritual Treasures are scarce to begin with. If we act rashly, we'll only suffer for it. Better to wait for our destined opportunity."
Zhunti added, "Brother is right! The Dao Ancestor will lecture again in three thousand years anyway. We can see what happens then and decide!"
Hong Yun scratched his head. "Then what do we do for these three thousand years? Just sit around waiting?"
Fuxi smiled. "Of course not.
"These three thousand years are a good opportunity to keep studying the method of severing the corpses and strengthen our foundations. Once we obtain the Numinous Treasure, we can begin right away."
Nuwa said softly, "My brother is right. These three thousand years are the time for us to strengthen our foundations."
Hong Yun suddenly understood. "Got it! We prepare first, then get to work once we have the treasures!"
Everyone laughed.
As they laughed, Xuande looked at the six of them and felt something indescribable well up inside him.
Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhenyuanzi, Hong Yun, Jieyin, and Zhunti—these six were the companions he felt closest to in the Primordial World.
They had different origins and cultivated different Daos, yet they could gather together to study, share insights, and learn from one another.
That was fate.
And it was the greatest reward he had received since transmigrating.
Their discussion continued for a long time.
They spoke of the method of Slaying the Three Corpses, the importance of Numinous Treasures of the same origin, and their plans for future cultivation. Everyone shared their views and inspired one another.
When the discussion ended, Hong Yun stretched. "I've gained so much from this!
"So that's how Slaying the Three Corpses works! I couldn't make sense of it when I thought about it on my own, but discussing it with you all made everything clear at once!"
Zhunti smiled. "Of course! With the seven of us, how could we fail to understand the method of Slaying the Three Corpses?"
Everyone laughed.
Three thousand years later, they would head to Zixiao Palace together for the Third Sermon.
Everyone's fate had already changed.
Especially Hong Yun's.
He remembered what later legends said about Hong Yun's fate...
But that was a future in which nothing had changed.
Now, with him, Jieyin, and Zhunti there, and with Zhenyuanzi, Nuwa, and Fuxi there too, Hong Yun's fate might turn out differently.
Xuande gathered his thoughts and looked at everyone.