The Celestial Person expounded the Dao, imparting it to all beings (23)

"The biggest difference between humans and other creatures, even Heavenly Deity, is that humans use tools."

Li Boyang's voice was calm and composed, yet it carried with unparalleled clarity throughout the entire Hundred Lands Mountain Range.

Whether it's the Mountain Folk gazing blankly at the sky, the bewildered Ghost God, or even the ancient Netherworld emperor...

Regardless of their current attitude, they all heard Li Boyang's "debate between man and god."

"So-called gods, whether mountain gods, water gods, wind gods, rain gods, Yin Deity, or underworld gods, are essentially all material manifestations of certain natural phenomena in the world."

"The cycle of all things gives birth to Primordial Qi, and the convergence of Primordial Qi gives birth to the divine..."

"However, in most cases, apart from those born with Innate Divine Being who are blessed by primordial Yuan Qi, very few creatures can perceive the existence of Primordial Qi, let alone use it to transform into gods."

"As for the Heavenly Deity in traditional concepts?"

"That is when the gods relinquished their physical bodies on the material plane and completely transformed into the form of natural phenomena."

"Having relinquished their physical form, the Heavenly Deity no longer possess any physical weaknesses."

"Whether it's a clone or an incarnation, it's merely a temporary vessel to hold the power of the Heavenly Deity."

"Under normal circumstances, it is virtually impossible to truly kill a Heavenly Deity."

After a slight pause, Li Boyang continued to preach to the masses with a smile.

However, success and failure are both inevitable...

"The universe is so vast, and even the cycle of all things has an end; how can the Heavenly Deity live forever?"

"Or one's own consciousness gradually fades away over a long life..."

"Or it will completely transform into a peculiar natural phenomenon in the cycle of heaven and earth..."

"One day, Heavenly Deity can no longer remember His past and only follows the natural order of the universe, He will no longer be considered alive."

With just a wave of his hand, various natural wonders such as wind, rain, thunder, and lightning appeared around Li Boyang.

These wonders seem to possess a self-awareness, operating in ways that defy their own natural laws.

However, this kind of activity is ultimately unsustainable.

It quickly returned to its original form as wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, becoming the most common natural phenomenon in the world.

"Of course, I know that many Heavenly Deity will use all sorts of methods to remember their past."

"Among these, the most common methods were nation-building, religious ceremonies, and acquiring faith..."

"Especially sacrificial methods like human sacrifice, which provide the most intense sensory stimulation, can even temporarily activate all the Cognitive Spirit of their former selves."

"But this is ultimately only a temporary solution; the so-called Way of the Heavenly Deity is essentially a wrong path."

"Well, at the very least, if what you're pursuing is immortality rather than power, the Way of the Heavenly Deity is undoubtedly a dead end."

Li Boyang's words immediately caused an uproar.

Those ignorant Mountain Folk spirits are alright.

They had no idea what Li Boyang's remarks meant.

But the gods of the Hundred Lands Mountain Range and the Yin Deity, separated by time, all stared at Li Boyang with either ecstasy, terror, or anger—staring at this being who dared to reveal the true nature of the gods.

Knowing this information means that living beings know the path forward.

Similarly, knowing this information also means that one can devise plans and attacks against the gods.

[If the Way of the Heavenly Deity is a dead end...]

[Then what's the difference between that and your so-called Way of the Celestial Person?]

A rumbling sound emanated from the Yin World, resounding almost simultaneously in the hearts of all living beings.

The moment they heard that voice, both gods and men instinctively realized His identity— the Lord of the Netherworld, the legendary King of the Yin Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler of death.

It is said that He was the first deity born from the Yin World, and once traveled between the realms of Yin and Yang in countless incarnations.

His existence is a miracle in itself, and he is one of the few known Great Heavenly Deity in the world.

"Well..."

Li Boyang, equally surprised that his preaching had aroused the interest of the Netherworld Lord, looked in astonishment toward the direction of the Yin World.

It seems to be to show his respect for Li Boyang.

The Netherworld Lord, who had long since abandoned his physical form, has once again manifested an avatar.

[You consider yourself Celestial Person being, but dare you explain the difference between Celestial Person and Heavenly Deity?]

It hangs high above the Yin World, and sits among the Yin Deity.

It was a humanoid incarnation, but its body reflected the mountains and rivers of the Yin World like the starry sky.

The Netherworld Lord simply bowed his head, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

Countless Yin Deity knelt on the ground, and the rampaging River of Forgetfulness and the Yellow Springs became unusually quiet.

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

"As I said before, the biggest difference between God and man lies in their use of tools."

"As long as you don't limit your thinking to the word 'tool,' why can't the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth also be considered a tool?"

"I refine the Great Elixir with my physical body, using the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth as my furnace fire and fuel..."

With another wave of his hand, the auspicious cloud above Li Boyang's head suddenly opened, revealing the essence of Black and Yellow Qi.

It is the essence refined from the fusion of the essence of all things and tempered by countless complex Yuan Qi; it is also the material manifestation of Li Boyang's thoughts and realm.

"I only absorb the essence of the cycle of heaven and earth, but I have no intention of transforming into myriad forms."

"My physical body and my Primordial Spirit always adhere to my Dao, using the universe and all things to achieve themselves."

The Heavenly Eye between his brows surveyed both the mortal realm and the Yin World.

Li Boyang noticed that many people looked bewildered.

Even the Netherworld Lord, who asked the question at the beginning, had a furrowed brow and looked hesitant to speak.

"What I'm saying might be a bit complicated, so let me use another analogy."

"If we view the Way of the Heavenly Deity as a process in which deities transform themselves into tools..."

"Therefore, the Way of the Celestial Person is to always uphold one's attributes as a human being, and then use a tool called the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth to elevate oneself."

Therefore, the Celestial Person will never become a natural phenomenon...

"He is a self-circulating entity, independent of heaven and earth and all things, yet intimately connected with this world."

At this point, Li Boyang suddenly pointed at Heavenly Dog, who also looked bewildered.

"For example, His upper body..."

"By unifying one's essence, energy, and spirit, and then manifesting the Primordial Core and Primordial Spirit, one achieves a self-consistent self-cycle."

"But the path He took was too extreme, completely isolating Himself from heaven and earth."

Our physical bodies and our souls both originate from this world, and we live and walk within it. How can we truly be isolated from it?

"Only by tempering oneself through the myriad things of heaven and earth, and achieving true Dao of Unity of Heaven and Humanity, can one find the right path."

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(End of this chapter)