Chapter 22: All Become Saints

  Thirty-three days later, Laozi stopped lecturing on the Tao and stood up. With a flash of light in his hand, a scroll flew into the void, which was the Taiji Diagram, the greatest treasure given by the ancestor of the Tao before the creation of the universe.

  The Taiji diagram stood in the void, and in an instant it transformed into a seven-colored golden bridge. The aurora flashed, and the golden bridge stretched across the sky and earth, illuminating the vast wilderness. Laozi suddenly appeared on the golden bridge, and instantly a voice spread throughout the wilderness:

  "I am the great disciple under the throne of Hong Jun, the first of the Three Purities, Tai Qing Tai Shang Lao Jun. I now establish a teaching here, called Ren (Humanity). With humanity as the foundation, I carry out the teachings and transformations, using the Taiji diagram as the precious treasure to stabilize the teaching, the Teaching of Humanity is established."

  The old man's words had just fallen, and a formation suddenly appeared above the East Sea. The formation was surrounded by four immortal swords standing upright, and a figure stood on top of it. As soon as the old man finished speaking, the voice of Tongtian Sect Master spread throughout the vast wilderness:

  "I am a disciple under the throne of Hong Jun, one of the Three Purities and the master of the Upper Purity Tian Tian Jiao. Now I establish a new teaching here, called: Jian. Jian is to cut off a thread of life from the Heavenly Way, and I will also enlighten humanity with the sword array of Zhēn Xiān as the treasure of this teaching. The teaching of Jian is established."

  Yun Zhongzi was overjoyed when he heard this. He knew that his master had finally understood the key to becoming a saint, and almost simultaneously with Laozi, he attained enlightenment and became a saint.

  Laozi stood on the Golden Bridge above, people taught him to stand, the Heavenly Way had a feeling, and bestowed upon him a seven-colored merit of virtue, which entered Laozi's body.

  Laozi was transformed by the primordial spirit of Pangu, and his body possessed the supreme merit of opening up the sky. Therefore, after the seven-colored merit was added to his body, the merit of opening up the sky on Laozi's body was also triggered, and the two merits combined together. With the addition of the Hongmeng purple energy bestowed by the ancestor of Taoism, Laozi's whole body shone brightly, illuminating the heavens and the earth, and his breath continued to surge violently. At the same time, a terrifying aura of sacredness emanated from his body.

  Yun Zhongzi had already gained experience and had long since brought out the Twelve Tribulations' Black Lotus Rite to protect the humans in this area. However, due to Yun Zhongzi's low cultivation level, many people were still directly crushed by this pressure. Fortunately for Yun Zhongzi, this pressure did not cause any harm to the human tribe.

  The old master became a saint, and the power of the saint spread across the entire vast wilderness. Then, the leader of the Tongtian Sect also obtained the mixed yuan dao fruit, achieving the position of a saint, and similarly, a surge of saintly power surged towards the Hongyuan continent.

  The entire continent was stunned, and within a single day, two saints were born. Almost all the creatures of the vast wilderness bowed down to Shouyang Mountain and the East Sea.

  If you don't become a saint, you will be an ant forever; if you achieve the ultimate goal of the mixed yuan way, from now on you won't die or perish.

  The old man withdrew his overwhelming pressure, descended to the foot of the tree, and Yun Zhongzi put away the Twelve-Product Destruction Black Lotus. He stepped forward quickly, bowed, and said, "Disciple congratulates Master Bo on achieving Hunyuan and becoming a saint, wishing Master Bo a long and boundless sacred life."

  Xu Dao stood in the clouds behind Zi's body and immediately paid respects to the Tao, "Xu Dao respectfully wishes that Tai Qing Shang Ren attains proof of Hunyuan, achieves the position of a sage, and wishes Lao Jun a sacred longevity without boundaries."

  The old man stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Get up, all of you."

  Then Laozi gazed out at the Eastern Sea and said, "Tongtian Shidi has a good understanding, only one step later than me. Yunzhongzi, you return to the Eastern Sea, lest Tongtian Shidi be displeased."

  Yun Zhongzi was overjoyed, he was worried about this matter, now his own master became a saint, as the eldest disciple of the teacher, but did not congratulate him in person, instead accompanied Laozi, it is worth noting that Sanqing had just separated from home, although Sanqing's separation from home had nothing to do with Laozi, but this would also make Tongtian Jiao Zhu lose face in front of the world.

  To know that the saints are immortal, their face is as important to them as the life of all living beings, Yun Zhongzi dare not offend his teacher's face no matter what.

  Obviously, Laozi also understood this point, so he let Yun Zhongzi go back. If Laozi didn't say this sentence, Yun Zhongzi would really be in a dilemma. Going back would offend Laozi's face, and not going back would offend the teacher's face. In this way, Yun Zhongzi was indeed like an ant on a hot pot.

  Yun Zhongzi hastily cupped his hands and bowed, saying "Thank you, Master Bo, for your understanding. I'll take my leave first." With that, he flew towards Jin Ao Island with all his might.

  After Yun Zhongzi left, Laozi waved his hand and a figure flew out from the crowd to stand before him. The person was still in a daze when Laozi's voice rang out, "Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"

  He suddenly woke up with great joy and immediately paid his respects as a disciple, "Disciple Xuandu pays homage to the teacher, wishing the teacher eternal life."

  Xu Dao admired but didn't envy, the human tribe used to rely on him alone, now with another person added, the burden on his body was greatly reduced, he was happy for Xuan Dou and also let out a sigh of relief for the human tribe.

  Now there are two great saints who have founded a religion to educate the human race, it seems that the hope of the human race has really come. The human race will flourish greatly. Since the Void Path is the first person created by Nüwa, the current human race in his eyes is like his own descendants, so the human race will prosper and he is also happy, with a faint blush on his face.

  Laozi didn't stay in the human world for long, and with Xuandu Dafashi flew up to the outside of the 33rd heaven, opening his own Daoist temple, named Taiqing Realm of the Great Red Heaven. Inside, he built an Eight Scenic Spots Palace.

  Not long after, Yun Zhongzi had just arrived at Jin Ao Island, and the voice of Yuanshi Tianzun came from the direction of Kunlun Mountain. "I am a disciple under the seat of Hong Jun Daozu, the Jade Pure Yuanshi Tianzun of the Three Purities. Now I have also established a sect in Kunlun Mountain, called: Chan. Chan is to expound the Great Way, to follow the will of Heaven, and I will also teach and transform human beings. With Pangu Fan as the treasure of the sect, Chan Sect is established."

  After Laozi and Tongtian Jiaozhu became saints, Yuanshi Tianzun also enlightened to the one-line heavenly mechanism, verified the mixed yuan way, and achieved a saint.

  After Yun Zhongzi met the Lord of Tongtian, the Lord of Tongtian left and flew to the outside of the Thirty-Three Heavens, opening up his own Daoist temple, named Yu Yu Tian Shang Qing Jing.

  Not long after, Indra and Mahāprajāpatī established their teachings in the Western regions:

  "If I attain the supreme enlightenment, and become a Buddha, my land will be fully adorned with infinite merits and virtues. There will be no hells, hungry ghosts, animals, or any other evil realms. All beings from the Avici hell to the peak of existence, including those in the three evil paths, who are born in my land, will receive my teachings and attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (supreme enlightenment). They will no longer fall into evil realms.

  If I do not achieve this wish, I will not become a Buddha. When I become a Buddha, all beings in the ten directions will be reborn in my land. They will all have bodies made of purple gold, with the thirty-two marks of a great man, and will be perfectly pure and clean, without any differences or distinctions.

  If there are any differences in their physical appearance, whether they are beautiful or ugly, I will not attain enlightenment. When I become a Buddha, from the ground to the sky, all palaces, towers, pools, trees, and everything else in my land will be made of infinite precious jewels and fragrances that fill the ten directions.

  All beings who smell these fragrances will cultivate the Buddhist path. If this is not the case, I will not attain enlightenment. When I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in the ten directions will hear my name and immediately attain purity, liberation, and the threefold equality of meditation. They will master all the profound teachings, dwell in concentration, and eventually attain Buddhahood.

  In their meditative state, they will constantly make offerings to infinite Buddhas without losing their concentration. If this is not the case, I will not attain enlightenment. When I become a Buddha, Bodhisattvas from other lands who hear my name will cultivate the Bodhisattva path, perfect their virtues, and at the appropriate time, attain the first, second, or third stage of patience.

  If they are unable to demonstrate their understanding of the Buddha's teachings without retrogression, I will not attain enlightenment."

  May this merit adorn the Buddha's Pure Land.

  Report fourfold kindness above, relieve threefold suffering below.

  If there are those who have seen and heard, all of them will give rise to the Bodhi mind.

  May this life be spent in such a way that we will all be reborn together in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

  The chanting stopped, and the sky revealed a seven-colored flower. The earth surged with countless golden lotus flowers. Two beams of golden light filled the heavens and the earth. A sarira and a Bodhi tree rose into mid-air, wafting waves of sandalwood fragrance that intoxicated people's hearts.

  Yun Zhongzi saw this and secretly said, "The two masters of the Western Religions indeed have great willpower and great wisdom."

  The two Bodhisattvas, Mahasthamaprapta and Avalokiteshvara, made great vows to ferry all sentient beings across, establish the Western Pure Land teachings, and attain enlightenment.

  In a short period of time, all five saints stood up. From this, Yun Zhongzi secretly analyzed the strength of several saints. Laozi was the one who enlightened himself to the Heavenly Dao, obtained the mixed yuan fruit, and his strength was the strongest. Although Tongtian Teach Master was pointed out by Yun Zhongzi, he still lagged behind Laozi in proving the way and becoming a saint. However, because Tongtian Teach Master had the Xianjian Sword Array in hand, this sword array could not be broken by the four saints, so it ranked second among the Three Purities.

  After Tongtian Jiaozhu opened up the Daochang, he began to preach to his disciples:

  The way that can be spoken of is not the eternal Way; the name that can be named is not the eternal Name. The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth.

  The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The unnamable is the origin of heaven and earth.

  The Way of Heaven is established through yin and yang. The Way of Earth is established through softness and hardness. The Way of Man is established through benevolence and righteousness.

  ……

  Chaos is emptiness, here is there, now is tomorrow, without color or form...

  ……

  The Tianxian Sect Master's sermon this time was much more profound than before, the great Tao he spoke of was so deep and mysterious that even Yun Zhongzi felt a sense of dizziness. After becoming a saint, his understanding of the Heavenly Way was indeed not something that a quasi-saint could compare to.

  The saint spoke, and the heavens displayed wondrous signs. A golden light flew out from the Golden Turtle Island, dispersing to nearby islands, enveloping the entire island in a radiant aura, as if it had donned a cloak of clouds. In the Azure Travel Palace, lotus flowers of various colors burst forth, wandering among the disciples, and threads of primordial energy drifted out from them, entering the bodies of all present.

  After speaking for several months, the Lord of Tongtian finally stopped. During these few months, due to the sound of the Great Tao resonating throughout the entire Jinkou Island every day, many living beings in the Eastern Sea came to listen to the Tao outside Jinkou Island. Seeing this, the Lord of Tongtian opened the formation and allowed the crowd to enter Jinkou Island, allowing them to listen to the Tao within the island.

  The Tongtian Sect Master, who had recently arrived at Jinxiao Island, took in all the living beings as his disciples. Thinking of his current situation with the Three Purities, he said to his disciples, "You have joined my sect for a longer or shorter period of time, but I will treat you all equally and won't favor anyone. Remember, you must not fight among yourselves; otherwise, you will be expelled from the sect."

  "I obey the teacher's orders."

  The Master of Tongtian Dao said, "Mm, very good." Then he dispersed his disciples.

  Newly admitted disciples are mostly outer door disciples and cannot enter the inner door.

  Yun Zhongzi, Duobao, Jinxian Shengmu, Zhao Gongming and his three siblings were all direct disciples of the Tianxian teaching master.

  As for the Long Ear Jing Guang Xian, Jin Guang Xian and others, they were accepted by Tong Tian Jiao Zhu as nominal disciples. These people can come to listen to the teachings of Tong Tian Jiao Zhu at any time, and if there is anything they do not understand, they can also ask Tong Tian Jiao Zhu for clarification.

  As for others, they are considered outer disciples of the Intercepting Sect because the sect's doctrine is to have teachings without classes. As long as one respects their master and values the way, regardless of whether they are from different schools or not, they can be considered a disciple of the Intercepting Sect. Therefore, the Intercepting Sect has the most disciples among the three schools.

  These outer disciples naturally wouldn't stay on Jin Ao Island, and since their mountain gates were close to Jin Ao Island, they returned to their respective mountain gates after hearing the news.

  After dispersing the outer disciples, the leader of Tongtian Sect gathered his own direct disciples and named disciples together again. Yun Zhongzi was puzzled in her heart, unclear why they were summoned together again shortly after being dispersed.