Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Discussing Cause and Effect in Zixiao Palace
Hum—!
A supreme sound of the Dao beyond description exploded deep within the souls of Lin Qiye, Ji Changkong, Supreme Mystery True Lord, and the other four holders of Zixiao Dao-Hearing Edicts.
At that moment, Lin Qiye on Falling Geese Peak in the Canglan Realm, Ji Changkong on Primeval Main Peak, Supreme Mystery True Lord in the Ziwei Star Domain, Tu Shanye in the Primordial Demon Realm, Netherworld Blood Emperor in the Nine Nether Blood Sea, Old Daoist Canghai amid the ruins of the starry sky, and the trembling, talentless youth Ye Chen...
These seven beings, scattered across different worlds and star domains and standing at different levels of cultivation, saw the Purple-Gold Lotus Seals in their palms erupt with dazzling light that shot into the heavens!
Boom!
Their bodies remained in their respective worlds, completely sealed and protected by supreme immortal light.
Their souls, however, were seized in an instant by a power above the Heavenly Dao of all the heavens. It tore through dimensions and space, carrying them across endless ages!
They pierced through rivers of stars!
They crossed dimensions!
The sensation was strange beyond belief. Lin Qiye felt his awareness rising without end, past the atmosphere of the Canglan Realm, past the galaxy formed by countless stars, and even past the cosmic barrier made up of innumerable great worlds!
Everything around him vanished. There was no light and no darkness, only a black void raging with boundless Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind and Chaos Lightning.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens—the Chaos Forbidden Zone!
"Is... is this the chaos Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens?!"
Ji Changkong's soul projection took solid form. He stood frozen in the void, staring at the violent Chaos Qi around them. Even the slightest trace escaping from it could pulverize a Dao-Slaying expert, and cold sweat broke out all over his body.
Yet deep within that terrifying Chaos Qi, a gentle, majestic purple-gold barrier held all seven souls safely inside.
Directly ahead of the barrier, an immense Daoist temple hung quietly at the heart of the chaos. It blotted out the sky, ancient and solemn beyond words.
Above the temple, three ancient characters radiating an eternal aura lit up the black void—
[Zixiao Palace]!
"We're here... We really made it to Zixiao Palace?!"
Supreme Mystery True Lord's soul projection materialized, trembling. The sect leader who normally commanded awe across the star domain gazed at Zixiao Palace, then dropped to his knees in the void and began kowtowing fervently.
Awooo—!
A low fox cry rang out. A breathtaking woman in a Nine-Color Immortal Garment appeared, her beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, her body radiating monstrous demonic energy. She was Tu Shanye, the ancient ancestor of the Primordial Demon Realm. Her nine-colored fox eyes brimmed with awe and devotion. She tucked away every trace of wildness and lowered her head to the ground.
On the other side, blood-red light surged as Netherworld Blood Emperor appeared in his Blood-Red Emperor Robe, his face fierce. This Primordial Demon Emperor had slaughtered countless lives, yet the sight of the swirling Chaos Qi before Zixiao Palace's gates frightened him so badly he held his breath. Not a shred of his fearsome bearing remained.
The fate of True Lord Kurong, whose soul Black and White Impermanence had forcibly dragged away, was still fresh in their minds. Before this supreme sanctuary of the Heavenly Dao, arrogance and recklessness were nothing but foolish ways to court death.
The eight-thousand-year-old wandering cultivator Old Daoist Canghai and the inexperienced youth Ye Chen also took form in succession.
Old Daoist Canghai wore a threadbare Daoist robe, his eyes deep and steady. He glanced at the trembling Ye Chen beside him, a mere Qi Condensation Stage cultivator. Rather than contempt or greed, his gaze held deep wariness and reverence.
To be chosen by a Zixiao Dao-Hearing Edict over countless Tribulation Transcendence Stage experts across the vast heavens—just how terrifying were the fortune and karmic ties carried by this seemingly insignificant youth?
Before Zixiao Palace, harboring murderous intent meant disrespecting the Dao Ancestor. Seizing another's karmic opportunity meant defying the Heavenly Dao!
Creak—
As the seven stood there in stunned silence, each lost in their own thoughts, something stirred.
With a heavy rumble, the towering gates of Zixiao Palace, forged from some unknown Immortal Gold, slowly opened a crack!
Endless Purple Qi and Creation Immortal Light poured through the gap, engulfing all seven souls.
Great Dao Immortal Music rolled out from within the palace:
"The gates are open. Dao Listeners, enter."
At the sound of that voice, all seven souls shuddered. Without another moment's hesitation, they filed over the high threshold and entered the legendary supreme sanctuary!
Inside, Zixiao Palace was as vast as a universe unto itself.
The space was empty, without elaborate decoration. Only a mass of supreme immortal light hung high above, its face impossible to discern as it unfolded the three thousand Laws of the Great Dao. It was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's avatar!
And directly beneath that light at the seat of honor floated... six Chaos Prayer Mats, glowing with a soft purple radiance!
"Prayer mats? Only six?!"
Supreme Mystery True Lord and the others stopped short, their expressions shifting.
But there were... seven of them!
Seven people, and only six prayer mats for listening to the Dao?!
For a brief instant, a solemn hush fell over the vast hall of Zixiao Palace.
There were no trite challenges, no mindless threats.
Everyone standing here ranked among the greatest minds and strongest beings of the myriad worlds. The moment they saw the six prayer mats, their minds began racing to unravel the deeper meaning of the Great Dao and the laws of cause and effect behind them!
"Seven enter, yet only six seats..."
Netherworld Blood Emperor narrowed his eyes. The Dao Ancestor unfolds the three thousand Great Daos. These six prayer mats aren't mere seats. They represent the six supreme pillars upholding the workings of heaven and earth! The Dao Ancestor is testing our insight and self-awareness!
Ji Changkong studied them as well, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. The first seat radiates boundless intent to fight and protect—the seat of a war god. The second embodies the fortune of humanity—the rightful order of the mortal world. The third sends Purple Qi soaring skyward—the lineage of the Immortal Dao...
Each of the six prayer mats corresponded to a supreme order of the universe!
Calm-faced, Lin Qiye strode toward the first prayer mat on the far left, Broken Sword on his back.
The Eight-Nine Profound Art circulated naturally within him, and the phantom of Erlang Manifesting Sage True Lord, the ancient war god, flashed behind him. This seat represented the defense of the Heavenly Court and the will of a war god. Who else but him could claim it?
Lin Qiye took his rightful place on the first Purple-Gold Meditation Cushion.
Next, bolstered by the Primeval Holy Land and the rising tide of humanity's rightful order, Ji Changkong held his head high and sat cross-legged on the second cushion.
Supreme Mystery True Lord straightened his Daoist robe and, drawing on his immense standing as leader of the Immortal Dao in the Ziwei Star Domain, solemnly took the third.
Tu Shanye, ancient ancestor of the Primordial Demon Realm, settled onto the fourth, her Nine-Color Immortal Garment fluttering as she carried the fortune of the countless demon clans.
Netherworld Blood Emperor grew solemn and reined in his demonic energy. Representing the darkest yin of heaven and earth, he claimed the fifth cushion!
In an instant, five cushions had found their rightful occupants!
Only one remained... the sixth!
The sixth cushion radiated the most primal, pure, and uncarved aura, like a seed from which all things might spring anew.
And two people were still standing—the eight-thousand-year-old wandering cultivator at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, Old Daoist Canghai, and the young Ye Chen, whose cultivation was only at the Qi Condensation Stage!
Everyone's gaze fell on Old Daoist Canghai and Ye Chen.
Old Daoist Canghai looked at the last cushion, then at the uneasy young Ye Chen beside him.
The old wandering cultivator's eyes were profound as his thoughts raced toward a conclusion:
I've cultivated for eight thousand years without sect or school, a stray thread in the fabric of heaven and earth. Yet this sixth cushion carries the promise of new life and unknown possibilities. The Dao Ancestor has clearly left it as a variable for the universe's unknowable future!
Old Daoist Canghai lowered his gaze to the gentle Purple-Gold Lotus Seal in Ye Chen's palm, and all doubt left him.
His cultivation is weak, yet a Zixiao Dao-Hearing Edict chose him of its own accord. He reached this place untouched by slaughter along the way. He himself embodies the truth that the Heavenly Dao favors none, yet always stands with the good!
If I rely on my millennia of cultivation to seize the seat of new life and uncarved jade, I'll betray my own Dao—and the Dao Ancestor's purpose in placing it here!
Having seen the truth, Old Daoist Canghai smiled with openhearted clarity.
He straightened his worn Daoist robe, stepped back, and bowed gently to the trembling Ye Chen:
"Young friend, each must contend for the Great Dao and find his rightful place. This sixth seat embodies the seed of new life. I am old wood covered in moss; this Dao is not mine."
"This seat belongs to you. Please, sit."
Ye Chen, already nervous, went still at Old Daoist Canghai's words, so full of wisdom and clarity.
Nearby, sincere admiration appeared in the eyes of Supreme Mystery True Lord, Netherworld Blood Emperor, and the others.
He neither looked down on others because of his cultivation nor let greed drive him to seize what was not his! Faced with such a supreme opportunity, he had understood his place and followed the Great Dao's design. Old Daoist Canghai's resolve and insight were astounding!
Ye Chen's eyes reddened. He bowed deeply to Old Daoist Canghai as a junior paying respects to his elder:
"I, Ye Chen, thank you for your guidance, Senior!"
With that, the youth hesitated no longer. He walked forward with steady steps and sat on the sixth cushion!
[Six seats filled. Zixiao is settled!]
Old Daoist Canghai stood calmly behind the six cushions, his expression serene and his eyes as still as an ancient well.
And at that very moment—
Hum—!!
High above, the once-quiet mass of supreme Creation Immortal Light erupted in boundless splendor, illuminating the entire chaos!
At the seat of honor, a majestic figure in a dark Daoist robe slowly took shape, his face as unfathomable as mountains and seas!
It was Dao Ancestor Hongjun—Su Chen's Soul Avatar!
Seated amid the Creation Immortal Light, the Dao Ancestor slowly swept his profound gaze over the seven below, his eyes seeming to pierce both past and future.
At last, his gaze lingered briefly on Old Daoist Canghai at the rear, and a vast voice resounded through the hall:
"To know one's fate and keep one's place is to see one's true nature clearly."
"Neither grasping nor acting recklessly—you have shown the true spirit of a wandering cultivator in the mortal world."
"Canghai, though you have no place among the cushions, your heart is clear. I grant you a Zixiao Dao-Hearing Near Seat."
Boom!
As the Dao Ancestor's words fell, a cloud-cushion formed from pure Creation Purple Qi rose beside the six cushions and came to rest beneath Old Daoist Canghai's feet!
Old Daoist Canghai shook violently, his eyes blazing with joy and astonishment unlike anything he had ever felt!
He had followed the Heavenly Dao and yielded a step. Far from losing his opportunity, he had earned the Dao Ancestor's praise and a seat granted to him alone!
"I, Canghai... thank the Dao Ancestor for this supreme grace!"
Tears streamed down Old Daoist Canghai's face. He dropped to his knees and kowtowed respectfully, then took his seat upon the Purple Qi Auspicious Cloud.
At that moment, with six seats and one near seat, all seven had found their place. The order of heaven and earth was complete, without a flaw!
All seven, among the mightiest beings of the heavens, trembled to their souls. Together, they bowed before the supreme avatar high above:
"We pay our respects to the Dao Ancestor! May your sacred life endure without end!"
From the highest seat, Su Chen's avatar looked down at the seven powerhouses, each clear in purpose and blessed with a different fortune. An inscrutable smile touched his lips.
The first true lesson of the mythology of all the heavens...
At last, it began!