"What about the third form?" Feng Ling asked.
Li Qing did not immediately write down "3." Instead, he turned to look at the three idols enshrined within the Three Pure Ones Hall.
Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun.
Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun.
Taiqing Daode Tianzun.
These were the Three Pure Ones, Daoism's highest deities.
As long as one remained within the Daoist system, no gods, demons, ghosts, or monsters could dare act presumptuously before the Three Pure Ones.
Li Qing spoke slowly. "At the end of the Han dynasty, Daoism rose to prominence. Queen Mother of the West was absorbed into the Daoist pantheon and came to rule over the female immortals of the Three Realms. Later, as popular storybooks flourished, her image became further secularized. She became the dignified and benevolent Queen Mother, transforming from an ancient mother goddess who held the power of life and death and could do anything into the consort deity of the Jade Emperor. Her divine duties became marriage, fate in love, fertility, and blessing children—that is, the clay idol you saw."
Feng Ling recalled the appearance of the Clay Doll and gave a mocking laugh. "That thing outside doesn't seem benevolent to me."
"The game system extracts cultural elements to construct Mazes, but the process of biological evolution is entirely random. It will not be exactly the same as mythology; it will only better conform to creatures' survival instincts." Li Qing paused, then said softly, "I think that because benevolence is of no use for survival, this 'Queen Mother of the West' retained only traits of intimidation and terror."
"Everything is for survival. I like that theory." Feng Ling smiled faintly. When she looked again at the Clay Doll beyond the archway, her feelings seemed somewhat different.
Li Qing wrote a "3" on the ground.
"Following that