Chapter 21: The Theory of Cause and Effect

  But just as he was explaining the cause and effect of Hong Yun's actions to Zhen Yuanzi, when it came to the fact that all four of them had great merits, the old man had already secretly taken a liking to Zhuang Xiong. Now, hearing that he also had the merit of Pangu creating heaven like his own brother, he couldn't help but take another deep look at Zhuang Xiong and secretly remember it.

  Zhuang Xiong let out a long sigh and continued to say to Zhen Yuanzi, "It's easy for me to talk about it here. Although the destruction of my machine is great, there are still numbers that can be followed. If we don't consider the number of merits, it's possible to settle the matter. However, the three clear Dao friends cannot do so. Even if the three Dao friends don't want to argue with him, this cause and effect is difficult to settle."

  "What's going on?" Zhenyuanzi hurriedly asked.

  Zhuang Xiong said: "Pangu opened the sky and his body transformed into all things, with great merit in heaven and earth. Many of the creatures of the vast wilderness have some connection to Pangu, having received the blessings of Pangu's creation. The Three Pure Ones are the incarnations of Pangu's original spirit, the orthodox descendants of Pangu, and the current generation of Pangu is revered and worshiped by all living things. That Hong Yun has formed such a karmic bond with the Three Pure Ones is no less than deceiving one's master and destroying one's ancestors, which is not tolerated by the Heavenly Way. Even if the three Daoist friends are unaware or do not wish to settle accounts with him, they will still be subject to the calculations of the Heavenly Way, destined for a downfall."

  Zhenyuanzi was startled by these words and took a few steps back, his face filled with shock and panic, his eyes dazed. However, the three primordial sages, Yuanshi Tianzun, were deep in thought, while Fuxi and Nüwa suddenly gained enlightenment.

  Zhenyuanzi slowly regained his composure and said: "I know you have a wide range of knowledge, is there any way to resolve this?"

  Yuán coldly hummed: "The crime of deceiving one's master and destroying one's ancestors, can it be pardoned by law?"

  Tongtian also looked down on Hongyun and rarely shared the same views as Yuanshu, saying: "Second brother is right, Hongyun should have fallen long ago."

  Zhuang Xiong saw Zhen Yuanzi like this for Hong Yun to seek a way out, and he couldn't help but feel slightly moved. This Zhen Yuanzi was indeed a friend who could be deeply interacted with. That Hong Yun had ruined his thousands of years of bitter cultivation, yet Zhen Yuanzi not only didn't blame him, but instead became close friends with him. At this moment, he also wholeheartedly sought a way out for him. With Hong Yun's unbearable behavior, being able to get such a friend was worth it. However, at the moment, he just shook his head and remained silent.

  Zhuang Xiong saw that everyone's thoughts were different, and Zhen Yuanzi was indeed confused. He couldn't help but secretly laugh to himself, thinking that this gathering of future saints, including the Holy Emperor and a celestial immortal, had all been intimidated by him. This was truly a remarkable event worth recording. However, he smiled and said: "Why are you all thinking so much? Even if there's a great cause and effect, it's someone else's business, why bother? With your cultivation and understanding, just listen to it and that's enough, no need to take it to heart. If you accidentally form a cause and effect, just resolve it with a fight, what's the point of worrying so much?"

  Everyone was taken aback, then burst out laughing, and their expressions all relaxed. But Zhenyuanzi was truly flustered, and blurted out: "Can we just kill him to end the karma?"

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but laugh and scold: "You're a good one, Town Yuanzi! If it weren't for the fact that all of you fellow Taoists here know your character well, I'm afraid this sentence alone would be enough to take your life. How dare you still think of killing me?"

  Everyone knew the character of Zhenyuanzi, and they knew that he was just momentarily confused. While being moved by his consideration for Hongyun, they couldn't help but secretly laugh at him. Tongtian's eyes rolled around, and then he stepped forward to grab Zhenyuanzi's collar, shouting: "You're a good one, Zhenyuanzi! We've been discussing the Tao with you, yet you still have such thoughts in your heart? Hongyun is your good friend, but what about us? Come on, let me deal with you first!"

  Zhenyuanzi couldn't help but laugh bitterly, and with a long sigh, he said: "Indeed, I was reckless in my words. Here, I apologize to all the fellow Taoists." He then turned to Tongtian and said: "I know I misspoke, but I don't dare fight back against a fellow Taoist. Why not just let me take the beating and scolding, as long as it satisfies you?"

  Yuanshuo said: "Tongtian, don't make things difficult for Zhenyuanzi Daoyou, what kind of person he is, you shouldn't be unaware?"

  Tongtian didn't feel like it, so he reluctantly let go of Zhenyuanzi and said with a sigh: "I'm not unaware that Zhenyuanzi is a fellow Taoist, but I saw an opportunity that was hard to come by, and my hands were itching for a fight. Who would have thought that you wouldn't even return a hand? What's the point of that? Forget it, forget it, I won't blame you."

  Zhuang Xiong instead said to Zhen Yuanzi with a serious expression: "Not to mention whether Hong Yun's cultivation can kill us, even if it can, we have great merit on our bodies and are protected by the Heavenly Way. Whoever forms a connection with us is forming a connection with the Heavenly Way. Even if they secretly plot against us, the Heavenly Way will know about it, which would be a huge cause-and-effect. Not to mention killing?"

  Zhuang Xiong saw Zhen Yuanzi still frowning and deep in thought, and couldn't help but laugh: "Good one, Zhen Yuanzi, you're indeed still a good man. The injuries on Hong Yun's body were indeed inflicted by me. As her closest friend, you've come to settle the score with me, to fulfill your duty as a friend."

  Zhenyuanzi made a bitter face and said, "How dare you attack my friend? Won't that deepen the karma between me and my good friend Hongyun again? Besides, you are already a Daluo Jinxian, while I am still a Taiyi Jinxian. I'm not even a match for you. Why must we fight?"

  Zhuang Xiong shouted: "I have had a deal with you, but what does it have to do with Hongyun? You and Hongyun are close friends, not me. Let you fulfill your friendship obligations, how can I still have the face to visit your home? And how can I taste your ginseng fruit? This move is only to eliminate the discord between us two, but has nothing to do with Hongyun. Are you worried that I will eat too much of your ginseng fruit? Or are you not welcoming me to visit from the bottom of your heart?"

  Zhenyuanzi heard Zhuang Xiong say so and knew it was true, so he had no choice but to agree.

  Nüwa said, "Since it's to eliminate the feud, it's not good to go too far, just a little is enough. The two of you can compare your cultivation, divine powers, magical treasures, and conduct, and see who wins or loses. This way, we'll fulfill our friendship with Zhenyuanzi, but also avoid hurting the harmony between us. What do you two think?"

  Laozi smiled and said: "Very good."

  Zhenyuanzi smiled wryly and said, "That's the best. I've already lost to Xiong Daoyou in a battle of Taiyi Golden Immortals versus Daluo Golden Immortals, so I'm actually worried that he'll take it too seriously."

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "I am also very interested in the magical powers of Zhenyuanzi, and I was just about to get a good look."

  Tongtian, who was waiting impatiently on the side, shouted: "If you want to fight, then fight! What's with all this nonsense?"

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "The words of Tongtian Daoist are reasonable, so please lead the way to Qilin Cliff."

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  Qilin Cliff was also a famous place in later generations. The original story went that it was here that the gods were sealed, and after the Cloud Soar was captured by the Original and suppressed under Qilin Cliff. Although there was no Taoist temple built at this time, Qilin Cliff was still just a huge cliff, but it was full of spiritual energy, like rain and fog. Even though Zhuang Xiong didn't understand Feng Shui or spiritual veins, he knew that this place was truly extraordinary. He thought to himself, "Should I take advantage of the fact that no one is paying attention and carve 'Zhuang Xiong visited here' six characters somewhere?"

  Before Zhuang Xiong could find an opportunity to disrupt the environment, everyone quickly retreated to the surroundings, leaving only him and Zhen Yuanzi in the arena. On the other side, Tong Tian shouted: "Brother Xiong, hurry up and fight for me to see, I want to see what kind of skill you have to make Hong Yun look like that."

  Laozi originally didn't mean to, but he stared at Tongtian with a glance that pierced the sky. Tongtian couldn't help but shrink his neck, and couldn't stop laughing mockingly.

  Zhuang Xiong rolled his eyes, "This is ridiculous, are you treating me like a performing monkey? Does Zhen Yuanzi look like a monkey to you?" Fu Xi hurriedly interjected, "No, no, the Dao of Dumb Bear is actually higher than that of Zhen Yuanzi. I think it's only fair if we suppress his powers within the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm."

  Zhuang Xiong heard this and suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit, shouting: "Good! Let's not talk about suppressing each other in the Taiyi realm. Let's have a battle with Zhenyuanzi, just relying on our magical treasures and physical bodies, without using any magical powers. What's the harm in that? It all depends on whether you have the divine power to force me to use my magical powers!"

  Zhenyuanzi, although an honest man, couldn't bear such ridicule. His competitive spirit was suddenly aroused, and he said: "Alright, then please let me show you my magical powers. If I still lose, Zhenyuanzi will have nothing to say, and the ginseng fruit is yours to enjoy."

  Zhuang Xiong had one hand behind his back and the other in front of him, palm up, and said with a smile: "Please, Daoist friend, instruct me."

  Zhenyuanzi knew that he was somewhat different from Zhuang Xiong, and without being polite, his left hand stretched out in front of him, and suddenly the earth book appeared in his hand. Zhuang Xiong was also very curious, and upon closer inspection, he saw that the earth book looked like a large dictionary opened up in later generations - it looked ordinary, but the whole book emitted a yellowish-brown glow, with not a single word on its surface; yet upon closer examination, it seemed to be like a muddy swamp, as if it would suck people in entirely.