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Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Great Dao |
| Original Name | 大道 |
| Type | Supreme cosmic Dao and will |
| Occupation/Role | Bestows recognition, merit, blessings, and divine thrones upon beings it acknowledges |
| Status | Active; acts from the depths of Chaos despite having withdrawn from the Primordial World 26 139 145 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 2 |
Background
Following the Dragon-Han First Tribulation and the War of Dao and Devil, the Great Dao withdrew from the Primordial World. The Heavenly Dao subsequently took control of the world's operations, making direct comprehension of Great Dao laws nearly impossible for ordinary cultivators. 26 124
Its withdrawal does not extend to Tianlu. Tianlu is regarded as a second-generation Child of the Great Dao and its Pet; the Great Dao's aura protects him from karmic backlash and makes hostility toward him exceptionally dangerous. Yang Mei judges Tianlu to be even more favored than Pangu. 19 66 68
The Great Dao later responds directly to Tianlu's proclamation of the Chaos Bead's myriad worlds, granting Great Dao Merit and imprinting the method of entry into the minds of all living beings. 117
Appearance
The Great Dao has no described physical body. When it manifests visibly, it appears as an incomparably enormous, cold, emotionless Eye of the Great Dao within the Chaos. 134 145
- Its gaze can cross time and space to observe and recognize beings in the Primordial World. 134 145
- Its manifestations are accompanied by immense Great Dao radiance, supreme pressure, and heavenly phenomena. 134 139 145
Authorities
Recognition and Divine Thrones
The Great Dao can acknowledge a cultivator's attainment and authorize a divine position of Heaven and Earth.
- It recognizes Houtu as the Houtu Imperial Earth Deity, granting her authority over the Primordial World's earth veins and soil. 134
- It recognizes Yang Hui and Changxi after they prove the Dao with merit, allowing Heaven and Earth to crown them with divine thrones. 141 142
- Its recognition, combined with Tianlu's merit blessing, elevates Taiqing Laozi beyond an ordinary Heavenly Dao Saint into the Taiqing Celestial Venerable of Virtue. 145
- Divine thrones recognized by the Great Dao place their holders beyond the Heavenly Dao's absolute control. 134 145
Bestowal of Blessings and Merit
The Great Dao directly grants merit and Qi of Fortune and Prosperity.
- It grants Tianlu Great Dao Merit after he opens the Chaos Bead's myriad worlds to all living beings. 117
- When Tianlu attains the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin realm, it pours billions of feet of Qi of Fortune and Prosperity into him. 139
- Tianlu's blessing spreads throughout the Primordial World, enabling cultivators to break bottlenecks and granting sentience to plants and beasts. 139
- The Great Dao's recognition can combine with Heavenly Dao merit, Grandmist Purple Qi, and Tianlu's merit to support a being's attainment of the Dao. 145
Great Dao Laws
The Great Dao is the source of the laws that precede and stand beyond the Heavenly Dao's suppression.
- After the Great Dao's withdrawal, most beings can only cultivate Heavenly Dao laws. 124 129
- Qi of Fortune and Prosperity allows Quasi-Sages to perceive and comprehend the otherwise inaccessible laws of the Great Dao. 124 129
- Cultivators who comprehend these laws may seek the path of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, becoming variables beyond the Heavenly Dao's control. 123 124
Manifestations in the Story
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Tianlu proclaims the Chaos Bead's myriad worlds open to all beings. | The Great Dao grants merit and transmits the entry method to all living beings. 117 |
| Houtu proves the Dao with merit. | The Eye of the Great Dao recognizes and enfeoffs her as Houtu Imperial Earth Deity. 134 |
| Tianlu reaches the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin realm. | The Great Dao blesses him with immense Qi of Fortune and Prosperity, benefiting the entire Primordial World. 139 |
| Taiqing establishes the Dao Teachings. | The Eye of the Great Dao sees Tianlu's merit within Taiqing and sends down divine radiance, enabling Taiqing's divine throne. 145 |
| Yuqing Yuanshi and Shangqing Tongtian establish their sects. | Tianlu's merit aura draws Great Dao Resonance, allowing both to receive recognition and divine offices. 154 |
Relationships
- Tianlu — Its Pet and second-generation Child; the Great Dao repeatedly protects, blesses, and favors him beyond conventional karmic or Heavenly Dao restraints. 19 66 68 139
- Heavenly Dao — A separate governing will that assumed control of the Primordial World after the Great Dao withdrew. Great Dao-recognized divine thrones can stand beyond the Heavenly Dao's absolute authority. 26 134 145
- Houtu — Recognizes her attainment and crowns her Houtu Imperial Earth Deity, granting authority over the earth veins. 134
- Yang Hui and Changxi — Acknowledges their merit-based attainment, allowing Heaven and Earth to grant them divine thrones. 141 142
- Taiqing Laozi — Recognizes his Dao Teachings through the merit blessing Tianlu placed within him, resulting in Taiqing's divine throne. 145
Trivia
- Tianlu is the sole stated exception to the Great Dao's decree requiring all beings to honor Houtu Imperial Earth Deity. 134
- Hongjun compares the Great Dao's treatment of Tianlu unfavorably to its treatment of the three thousand Chaos Demon Gods, questioning whether Tianlu is effectively its own child. 139