When Li Ling explained his understanding of the relationship between the Heavenly Court and the Underworld, Chi Yun-Zi unexpectedly said, "You're wrong. Netherworld Soil has never been the source, but the final resting place!
"It is where turbid energy settles. The Heavenly Court, the human realm, the Underworld-all living beings in the three realms, all things and all affairs-flow endlessly between purity and turbidity. But in the end, they must all return to Netherworld Soil, like sand in an hourglass!"
Li Ling was taken aback. "If heaven, earth, and the universe are an hourglass, and all things and living beings are its grains of sand, then... what is heaven, and what is earth? What are immortals and demons?"
Chi Yun-Zi sighed softly. "Heaven is also earth, and immortals are also demons. Only when Yin-Yang mingles into one does the Dao begin!
"All things in this world are one, formed through the transformations of twofold dust and xiyi. Only their acquired manifestations give them their differences."
Hearing this, Li Ling fell into contemplation.
From the moment this universe came into being, it had been moving and changing without cease. This was its vitality.
Yet pure energy rose and turbid energy sank. There was always a pattern to this flow that was difficult to reverse, and as time passed, it gradually approached extremes.
This could not be divided in simple spatial terms. It did not mean that heaven was above and earth below, and that the "sand" composing all things really traveled from the top to the bottom.
That was merely a metaphor. The reality was a law that could not be reversed under known conditions-karmic tribulation could not be eliminated!
Cause and effect gave birth to karmic tribulation, which in turn polluted the Great Dao of heaven and earth, depleted its