Secret Buyer

Chapter 597 - 358_2

"Laojun’s release of the Great Saint is the cause; during the rebellion stirred by the Great Saint, the severing of the connection between Taiqing and Laojun is the effect."

"With the passage of time, reversing effect and cause, and under the inversion of cause and effect, it is precisely because the connection between Laojun and Taiqing was severed."

"Laojun is no longer constrained by Taiqing; as a result, he acted on his own and quietly released the playful monkey—hence, all that ensued!"

Zhang Fusheng clapped his hands and laughed. This is the effect preceding the cause, the effect gives birth to the cause, the cause sustains the effect!

Then the question arises.

Why did Tai Shang Laojun release the playful monkey?

Zhang Fusheng squinted his eyes.

"All my current speculation is based on the premise that Taiqing is unaware of Laojun’s actions."

"And if the speculation is true, if assumed to be true, it implies...Laojun and the Celestial Lord of Tao and Virtue have diverged in heart and goal, a one-sided divergence."

He thought about the unique tacit understanding between himself and Laojun at the Eight Sceneries Palace,

Zhang Fusheng did not inquire why Tai Shang Laojun was suppressed in the pagoda, nor did he ask who was suppressing him,

Nor did he question, given Laojun’s realm, why he would still have a heart of compassion.

Similarly, Laojun tacitly did not provide an explanation.

"Under the assumptions I’m currently making, the answer, well, there it is."

Laojun suppressed by the Taiqing Celestial Lord of Tao and Virtue—as for the reason?

Perhaps Taiqing detected some signs, or feared that Laojun might perish in the great calamity, and he would be no longer attain Perfection,

And the reason a Daluo like Laojun could hold compassion in his heart...

"Perhaps after the severing of the connection, he regained a touch of humanity, or he felt sympathetic towards the mirror image—

He and the mirror image alike, born as others, born not to be himself, yet after being severed, he would eventually again be one with Taiqing, but Laojun...he is unwilling!"

Zhang Fusheng stood up.

"Just like Emperor Tang, unwilling to be the ruler presiding over the Northern Celestial Court as Emperor Ziwei."

"Laojun too is unwilling to be the Celestial Lord of Tao and Virtue reigning over limitless heavens, suppressing all of the abyss!"

"They both just want to be themselves."

"That’s exactly what Yang Erlang reminded me of."

"Laojun...is one of us."

In Zhang Fusheng’s hand appeared the Nine Nether Seal, and he had already understood, sighing, ’So that’s how it is.’

"So, was the Netherworld jointly created by Laojun, the Great Saint, and Yang Jian?"

"Is it a component in the resistance against the Supreme? A small hope like a mantis trying to stop a chariot or an ant shaking a tree?"

Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, walking again to the screen, observing the red-eyed white dragon in the screen.

Since Yang Erlang chose this painting as the new screen, it must not have been without purpose.

Perhaps, he is using it to convey a second message that’s difficult to articulate.

But the current Zhang Fusheng can’t guess what it is, he can only keep it in mind, ponder for a moment,

and he walked into the Divine Realm and slipped into the chaotic clock in the hidden aspect of the Divine Realm.

He faced the Eastern Emperor’s head.

The broken head hung high, with its gaze falling down:

"Fellow Daoist Fusheng, what might be your purpose for coming here?"

"Fellow Daoist Donghuang."

Zhang Fusheng cupped his hands and smiled:

"Two matters, the first is that I wish to prove myself as a Great Divine Power User, crafting my fundamental Life Treasure... I wish to bear the Primordial Grand Dao."

"Therefore, I’ve come specifically to consult with Fellow Daoist Donghuang, is there any method or precautions for crafting treasure?"

The Eastern Emperor’s head paused, shaking its head:

"I’ve mentioned before, I cannot overly interfere in your affairs lest the other Supreme beings trace the clues."

After a moment, a smile appeared on His face, as he shifted the conversation:

"Yet this method for crafting treasure counts as an exception."

"Oh? I ask Fellow Daoist Donghuang to show me."

"During my early years, in the course of contending with The Three Pristine Ones—in that historical version where Primordial Celestial Venerable incarnated as Pangu and created the world, I suffered a disastrous defeat."

Zhang Fusheng raised an eyebrow:

"Is it the time when Fellow Daoist Donghuang was finally demoted to Ancestor Golden Crow?"

The Eastern Emperor nodded slowly:

"Though that period of history is now nothing but a fleeting cloud, long buried and altered, I still remember it clearly."

He recalled:

"In that version of history, the Pangu Daoist that Primordial incarnated as, after creating the heavens and earth, transformed into heaven and earth."

"At that time, Primordial Celestial Venerable was immensely powerful, altering history to the extent that even Ancestor Candle Dragon and even Houtu became his offspring..."

Zhang Fusheng thought about the prehistoric version of the story from his past life, contemplating:

"The Twelve Ancestor Wu?"

"Correct."

The Eastern Emperor’s head calmly stated:

"I and Di Jun suffered humiliation, as Supreme beings, we were arranged and designed to battle those twelve little ones, and fought back and forth... Though Houtu was also among the Twelve Ancestor Wu at that time, she was not yet Supreme."

"But does Fellow Daoist Fusheng know why that segment of history was ultimately buried, becoming the forgotten version?"

Zhang Fusheng shook his head, taking a deep breath:

"Listening attentively."

The Eastern Emperor’s head chuckled:

"Because I used the so-called Twelve Ancestor Wu to deconstruct the true essence of Pangu Daoist, with the Twelve Ancestor Wu, I reverse-forged Pangu, almost causing Primordial Celestial Venerable to lose this Dao body, forever falling from the level of Perfection."

"Primordial Celestial Venerable was frightened, and actively erased that version of history, giving the creator role to Taiqing, hence the later Taiqing’s creation of the heavens."

Zhang Fusheng’s eyes shone brightly:

"The method of treasure crafting mentioned by Fellow Daoist Donghuang, is it related to this matter, Ancestor Wu reverse-forging Pangu?"

"Correct."

The Eastern Emperor’s head smiled, seemingly very pleased that Primordial Celestial Venerable suffered a great loss back then, and it still brings him joy:

"This reverse-forging method requires using multiple bodies as the basis to forge and unite, and it can be continually completed, until reaching the count of twelve."

Zhang Fusheng was invigorated, he may not have much else, but he certainly has numerous Dao bodies and incarnations!

Being Taiqing Laozi himself, the World Dao body, Central Pole Sect Leader, Fuli Taoist Venerate, the body of imperial authority!