Major Revelations of Divine Cultivation 9: Digging Into the Unresolved Threads Tanhua Has Owed Us These Years (Heavenly Dao Xiao Hua)

Summary: Tanhua's meticulous and rigorous mind meant that Exiled Immortal had almost no idle strokes. One could say Exiled Immortal was an iceberg, with roughly three-quarters of the truth hidden beneath the water, waiting for readers to uncover it themselves. That was also the charm of reading Tanhua's novels. Of course, for certain novice readers, it might be an unreadable heavenly book. This article counted the unresolved threads in Exiled Immortal that Tanhua had yet to tie up, using them to predict Tanhua's layout for the Immortal Realm and the novel's direction.

I. Unresolved threads in the first part, "Forgetting Each Other in the Jianghu"

"Forgetting Each Other in the Jianghu" was Xiao Hua's wuxia tale in the mortal world, as well as his adventure in finding proof of becoming a god. The unresolved threads were as follows:

1. The bracelet of extraterrestrial stone

The first great unresolved thread of Divine Cultivation: this bracelet could draw down starlight from beyond the domain and possessed the force of life. Otherwise, Xiao Hua would have died long ago during Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering. Prediction: the stone bracelet was an item of the Divine Realm, while that extraterrestrial starlight was actually a type of fluctuation that Xiao Hua's realm was too low to perceive. This thread could only be tied up in the Divine Realm.

2. Earth Core

According to the words of Huan Wuxin's Primordial Spirit projection, Earth Core could yield proof of becoming a god. Similar to the Spirit Gall of the Spirit Realm, it was a primary condition for the formation of a world. When Xiao Hua collected Earth Core in Huan Ruins, he alarmed a great expert of the Divine Realm—a gigantic triangular monster. Prediction: the Earth Core thread might be tied up in the later stages of the Immortal Realm. Based on "True Person Xiao's First Entry into the Ruins of Shenzhou," the opportunity would come when "True Person Xiao entered the Ruins of Shenzhou for the second or third time." In fact, the golden humanoid figure in "A Visitor from Beyond the Heavens," the ending of the first volume, was Xiao Hua returning after becoming a god, which also counted as True Person Xiao reentering the Ruins of Shenzhou.

3. Mount Yao Immortal Mansion

Based on how smoothly Xiao Hua's nephew Zhang Jian, the Jade Emperor, refined Mount Yao Immortal Mansion, it could be inferred that Mount Yao Immortal Mansion was the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Prediction: tying up this thread would likely require the later stages of the Immortal Realm—when "True Person Xiao entered the Ruins of Shenzhou for the second or third time." Mount Yao Immortal Mansion was a spatial divine artifact and was already damaged when Xiao Hua found it. Repairing it would have to be done in the Divine Realm, so Xiao Hua should travel from the Divine Realm to the Ruins of Shenzhou.

4. Zhang Xiao Hua's birthplace, and what realm the Ruins of Shenzhou was

The continent where Zhang Xiao Hua was born was the Ruins of Shenzhou, as evidenced by the chapter "Familiar Starry Sky" after "True Person Xiao's First Entry into the Ruins of Shenzhou." The Ruins of Shenzhou was the Primordial Continent, a speck of dust from the Primordial Divine Realm. Its realm stood on the same level as the Moon God Ruins and above the Immortal Realm. The level beneath the Primordial Divine Realm was the pseudo-Divine Realm, below that the Immortal Realm, below that the Spirit Realm and Myriad Monster Realm, and below those the Four Great Continents and mortal realms. The reasoning was this: Xiao Hua far surpassed others in the Immortal Realm, so he needed opportunities others did not possess. Relative to the Three Great Continents was the Primordial Continent; relative to the Immortal Realm was the Primordial Divine Realm. The Ruins of Shenzhou that True Person Xiao was to enter in the Immortal Realm might have been a Divine Realm that had not fallen into the lower realms. Only thus could the karma of Primordial Violet Qi, the Dragon God, and Maitreya Buddha, whose Nine Pills Four Turns had already been completed, be brought to completion.

5. The heavenly phoenix in the Demon Refining Pot

Xiao Hua used the heavenly phoenix's flesh and blood from the Demon Refining Pot to shape his body. When he used light escape, there were 132 million tiny points across his entire body. Xiao Hua thus became a Demigod Body; otherwise, he would already have perished in the sour jujube forest teleportation or the Song of Years Demonic Array beneath the sea. Prediction: this karma might be tied up only in the later stages of the Immortal Realm, when Xiao Hua's journey reached the Monster Alliance or the Primordial Divine Realm.

6. The karma of Meng and that mole

The karma of Meng and that mole would likely be tied up in the Primordial Divine Realm. The Heart-Linking Curse between Meng and Xiao Hua might also play a major role in subtle moments. For instance, several times in the book, Xiao Hua's comprehension of the Heavenly Dao made him become ethereal and detached. When Xiao Hua became a saint, there would likely be a great crisis, and the one to break the deadlock should be the Heart-Linking Curse.

7. Xue Xue and her Netherworld

The power of the dead spirits in the Netherworld was the nemesis of all mana, Immortal Power, and Buddhist power. The Netherworld's strength was so formidable that, in Xu Zhi's words, even the Heavenly Venerate of the Palace of Punishment would not dare provoke it. Prediction: Xue Xue should awaken after Xiao Hua became a Heavenly Venerate, when she and Xu Zhi went to the Netherworld in search of Star Moon Fairy's soul. Xue Xue's soul had fused with the realm and could not appear in the space of the living side, but the Nether Lotus where her soul resided might allow her to cultivate a clone and thus appear in the space of the living side.

8. The three great immortal arrays of the Four Great Continents

The immortal arrays of the Four Great Continents severed the inheritance of soul cultivation. It was suspected that Dao, Confucianism, demons, Buddhism, and dragons had joined forces to destroy the Witch Clan, and had schemed against the Buddhist sect through the Power of Faith. This karma could be tied up in the later stages of the Immortal Realm.

9. What realm the Four Great Continents truly were

The Four Great Continents were surrounded by knots of time-light. From divine artifacts such as the shattered Immortal Slaying Platform and the Myriad Annihilation Heavenly Dipper, it was predicted that the Four Great Continents were fragments of the Immortal Realm. From the aura of the Witch Clan's Thirteen Great Gods and Pangu Axe that Xiao Hua sensed when he cleaved open the Heavenly Gate during his tribulation, it could be inferred that the Four Great Continents were one fragment of the Immortal Realm. The Immortal Realm Xiao Hua ascended to was the Witch Realm, a pseudo-Immortal Realm. This thread might run through the Immortal Realm and the Primordial Divine Realm, pointing directly to the first five Great Star Domain Investitures of Gods.

10. Heavenly Prison, Mysterious Origin Space, and Ye Jian

These were things of the Primordial Divine Realm. Their various fluctuations were the essence of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, Confucian energy, and dragon qi. Huang Tong in the Mysterious Origin Space could sense Xiao Hua's insights from Heavenly Prison. Prediction: this thread could be tied up in the Immortal Realm, and Ye Jian would appear as one of Xiao Hua's seven disciples in the Immortal Realm.

11. Star Moon Palace

Star Moon Palace was created by a great expert of the Divine Realm. Prediction: this thread could not be tied up until at least the later stages of the Immortal Realm, or perhaps not until the Divine Realm.

12. Ye Qiong Heavenly Mansion and Divine Cultivation Mirror

Ye Qiong Heavenly Mansion became famous because of the Divine Cultivation Mirror, plunging the Immortal Realm into a bizarre vortex. Prediction: this thread could only be tied up once Xiao Hua had enough strength to protect himself. Xiao Hua's strength in the Immortal Realm would need to be at least that of a Heavenly Venerate, while the weapons within Ye Qiong Heavenly Mansion would become reserves for Xiao Hua's establishment of a Heavenly Mansion.

13. Jing

Jing, who was undergoing tribulations, was predicted to have her thread tied up in the middle to later stages of the Immortal Realm. Jing was a god of the Divine Realm; what tribulations could she possibly undergo in the Divine Realm? Therefore, Jing and Xiao Hua had a measure of karma in the Immortal Realm.

14. The Underworld Judge

The true body of the Underworld Judge in the Netherworld's underworld should possess strength equal to a Heavenly Venerate of the Immortal Realm. The Underworld Judge was the opportunity for Xiao Hua to enter the Netherworld and for Xue Xue to awaken. Prediction: this thread would certainly be tied up in the later stages of the Immortal Realm, when Xiao Hua had at least the cultivation of a Heavenly Venerate.

15. Primordial Ancestor and the mayfly Mother Worm

Primordial Ancestor fused with the Mother Worm. Following Tanhua's pattern of whetstones, it was predicted that the mayfly Mother Worm should be able to return to the Primordial Divine Realm. The Mother Worm was the opportunity for "True Person Xiao's second or third entry into the Ruins of Shenzhou." Through this karma, Tanhua might tie up either the Earth Core thread or the Mount Yao Immortal Mansion thread.

16. The immortal official surnamed Shen of the Myriad Monster Realm, the immortal official surnamed Wen who seized Yu Tong's body, and the Wolf Ancestor imprisoned in the Demon Realm

The karma of the immortal officials surnamed Shen and Wen was predicted to involve the fifth Great Investiture of Gods. The entanglements of their aristocratic families were likely much like the Jiang and Shen families in Earth's Sole Cultivator, and their thread was expected to be tied up around the middle stages of the Immortal Realm. As for the Wolf Ancestor mentioned by the Snow Wolf King, he should have been imprisoned by the Demon Lord of the Demon Realm. Note: the Devil Race was exceedingly formidable. The demonic blade Shi was suppressed by an immortal artifact, and only several human supremes joining forces could destroy the Demon Lord. The Wolf Ancestor's thread would likely be tied up in the later stages of the Immortal Realm, when Xiao Hua had at least Taiyi Immortal cultivation, during his journey through the Demon Marsh.

17. The Jiang family of Yanhan Mountain in the Immortal Realm and the Mei family of Watercloud Nation

The bloodlines selected by the Devil Race for blood sacrifice on the Yilin Continent were anything but ordinary, nearly all descendants of immortals from the Immortal Realm. Why did Immortal Realm aristocratic families such as the Jiang and Wen families change their names after entering the mortal world? Prediction: their karma could be tied up in the Immortal Realm. Note: some members of Immortal Realm aristocratic families such as the Jiang, Wen, and Shen families should have ascended to the Divine Realm and received godhood.

18. The fates of Hongxia, Jiu Xia, Xin Xin, Qing Qing, and the others

Hongxia Fairy, who had been placed in Shenhua Continent by Huang Tong, would ascend to the Immortal Realm with Xin Xin, leaving True Person Xiao thunderstruck beyond measure. Jiu Xia possessed the inheritance of Qingqiu Mountain, and her karma with Xiao Hua would continue when his journey reached the Monster Alliance, likely in the middle to later stages of the Immortal Realm.

19. Xiao Hua's descendants, disciples, and friends

Among Xiao Hua's descendants and disciples, those capable of ascending to the Immortal Realm might include Xiang Zhi Li and the Three Heroes of Myriad Thunder Valley. Xiao Hua's inner disciples, such as Ya and Liu Yi, could also ascend to the Immortal Realm. Among his friends, Li Zongbao's aptitude meant that, if he encountered a great opportunity, he could also ascend to the Immortal Realm.

20. Celestial Being and Witch Daoist

Celestial Being and Witch Daoist could ascend to the upper realms. Whether they could have worlds exclusively their own within the space behind Xiao Hua's head likely depended on Xiao Hua's cultivation. Prediction: this would happen in the later stages of the Immortal Realm, after True Person Xiao journeyed through the Dragon Domain, Demon Marsh, Monster Alliance, Buddha Kingdom, Heavenly Court, and the like.

21. Dao-cultivation supremes such as Elder Gu Qiong and True Person Ji Yan

Some of the human supremes, such as Elder Gu Qiong, should have ascended to the Immortal Realm and then joined Xiao Hua's Heavenly Venerate Mansion. Since Xiao Hua had accepted Xiong Yi, who was also at the Nascent Soul stage, as an outer disciple when he himself was at the Nascent Soul stage, some among Elder Gu Qiong and the others might become True Person Xiao's outer disciples in the Immortal Realm. As for True Person Xiao's inner disciples, such as Ye Jian, they were destined to ascend to the Divine Realm in the future.

22. Cang Langzi and True Person Qian Yun

True Person Qian Yun was the founding patriarch of the Imperial Thunder Sect. Xiao Hua cultivated True Person Qian Yun's inheritance, yet Myriad Thunder Valley of the Imperial Thunder Sect actually contained a fragment of the Immortal Realm's Immortal Slaying Platform. Xiao Hua also gained considerable inheritance from Cang Langzi's Cloud Mountain Bewildering Array. It was unknown whether True Person Qian Yun and Cang Langzi, who ascended in radiant light, would be in the Immortal Realm or have any connection with Xiao Hua, but it was certainly worth anticipating.

23. The missing Saint Laozi

The missing Saint Laozi's inheritance had unexpectedly appeared among the Four Great Confucian Families. At the same time, as one of the incarnations of the Dao Ancestor, his thread might not be tied up until the middle to later stages of the Immortal Realm, or even the Divine Realm.

24. The missing Dao Master and Nine-Turn Golden Pill cultivation

The Mysterious Alliance that annihilated the Myriad Monster Realm cultivated Nine-Turn Golden Pills, a method similar to that of the Buddhist sect, believed to have been created by the Dao Master. Xiao Hua altered Dao-cultivation techniques, and both the Dao Ancestor and Dao Venerate bestowed Dao Seeds upon him, yet the Dao Master alone had vanished. Prediction: the Dao Master might be the master of the three martial brothers at Mount Moban beyond the heavens.

25. More than a hundred scattered Nascent Souls

Xiao Hua's more than a hundred scattered Nascent Souls were a means for group battles. After being tempered by Primordial Violet Qi and Dao Seeds, they were destined for extraordinary achievements. Prediction: the more than a hundred scattered Nascent Souls would form Xiao Hua's foundation in the Immortal Realm, with every one of them possessing at least Heavenly Venerate cultivation.

26. The crisis of Xiao Hua's clones

During Xiao Hua's tribulation, he settled a measure of karma with his clones, allowing them to become independent people with humanity. As a result, Xiao Hua's soul was divided into ten, and he could not even control his own space. How could the clone crisis be eliminated? Prediction: the opportunity to resolve it would come in the later stages of the Immortal Realm, when True Person Xiao journeyed through the Heavenly Court, Dragon Domain, Demon Marsh, Monster Alliance, Buddha Kingdom, and Netherworld.

27. The Witch Clan's Thirteen Great Gods

The Witch Clan's Thirteen Great Gods, who cleaved open the Heavenly Gate during Xiao Hua's tribulation, carried the aura of soul cultivation and the Pangu Axe. By all appearances, the Witch Clan's Thirteen Great Gods might be Pangu. Their thread would not be tied up until at least the later stages of the Immortal Realm.

Limited by memory, it was inevitable that this account of the nearly sixteen million characters of Exiled Immortal would miss much despite covering much. Perhaps some threads had been forgotten. I humbly ask all fellow Daoists to forgive me and point them out together; my thanks in advance!