"Indeed, they cannot escape their notice."
"Buddhism has been pursuing me, but never with such intensity as now. The deeds I committed back then have finally come to light."
Yuan Miao Da Sheng stood beside Emperor Jiajing, his resonant voice piercing through the boundless void.
"All Heavenly Hearts can see everything in the world, the past and future... No, at present, Heavenly Hearts also have their limits. Even Hunyuan has reached its end."
"Is this sorrow or joy? They have reached their end, but in the world, past and future, there are beings even more powerful than them. The path still exists, but they can no longer tread it."
Emperor Jiajing's eyes were filled with longing. "To eradicate the lineage of a great religion is to overturn all history stemming from that lineage. If I were not destined by heaven, I would not remember all this."
"Now, I am also a 'Yuqing cultivator'."
Yuan Miao Da Sheng sighed, "Dual cultivation of Dao and Confucianism. Now that Confucianism has perished and transformed into Yuqing, you have gained the status of Yuqing without effort, and you possess the divine position of Laozi. Only by obtaining the existence of Shangqing Tianzun can you achieve the grand feat of the Three Pure Ones' unification."
"It is truly a grand feat, and a unique opportunity in the world."
Emperor Jiajing laughed heartily. "There are others in the world who have this opportunity, those who cultivate both Dao and Confucianism, but I am the only one who possesses the divine position of Laozi and remains clear-headed, unaffected by the change of lineage."
"I wish to merge the spirits of the Three Pure Ones and forge an unprecedented path!"
"However, Yuqing is merely a temporary status borrowed due to the change of lineage. I also need a legitimate claim to Yuqing, such as transforming into a certain Tianzun, making it a fait accompli."
"I have already foreseen, through Laozi's divine position, that when the transition between heaven and humanity arrives, a large amount of external destiny will be needed as fuel. Demons, ghosts, and those not favored by heaven and earth will all be reduced to ashes!"
"The sacrifice and burning of an entire Confucian school, a colossal shadow cast from the future, has brought forth a terrifying path, but also a power that transcends this world!"
"And in this world, while the inner mountains and rivers may not be real, the outer mountains and rivers are certainly real. They exist eternally, giving birth to all lineages, and are also places where the will above heaven frequently manifests. Therefore... I intend to refine the entire human world into my Human Dao Dharma Realm. This is my grand aspiration."
"I wish to lead all beings of the world to transcend and become immortal with me!"
Emperor Jiajing's eyes blazed with fervor, but it quickly subsided. "However, for now, I am merely a Flying Immortal."
"Therefore, preparations must be made."
"Yuan Miao, let's go. I know of a treasure that embodies the existence of Shangqing Tianzun. You will accompany me to retrieve it, to help me unite the Three Pure Ones and rewrite the lineage."
Emperor Jiajing looked at Yuan Miao Da Sheng, "The task you failed to complete back then, I will help you accomplish it. It is now the time for the exchange of heaven and humanity, for the flow of destiny. A person like me can finally play a significant role. As long as the dynasty does not fall, a part of destiny will always be with me. After all, I have truly been an emperor of the human world. No one possesses a more profound destiny than I!"
"From someone with no innate talent, I have come this far. I have deliberately not advanced to the Heavenly Heart realm, waiting for this moment. You came to me, didn't you, because you wish to borrow this destiny of mine?"
Yuan Miao Da Sheng looked towards the direction of the swirling void, his expression somewhat dazed. Suddenly, he said:
"Before I heard the Buddha's voice, this was my thought. But now, I suddenly feel that if I were to stay and tell these Heavenly Hearts, tell them that their lineages will also eventually perish because their paths have reached a dead end, what kind of future would they create in their despair and madness?"
"You know, Heavenly Hearts construct a future for their disciples, or for the followers of a great religion. For example, the Great Teacher of the Masses once constructed the Yellow Heaven Pure Land, but due to his haste, his Heavenly Heart was greatly damaged, and the future was destroyed, thus the Yellow Heaven ceased to exist. The 'Central Yellow Taiyi' they hoped to illuminate also vanished. That is something on the same level as the Original Buddha and Yuan Shi Tianzun."
"To replace the true will of heaven, his wish was too great and was destroyed by the curse of the heavens. Other Heavenly Hearts are merely driven forward by the karmic affinities of time. The Four Symbols construct everything in the world, and even ordinary heavenly will can be replaced. But that true heavenly will above the heavens cannot be replaced. If we could escape the will above heaven, we would have long ago been immortal throughout the myriad worlds."
He also looked into the distance. "You stay here and tell them that the path ahead has ended, and there is no turning back. They can only watch themselves perish, their Heavenly Hearts greatly damaged, and their futures destroyed. Then, everything in the past will vanish. This is something that will shake the world, but Heavenly Hearts who have cultivated to this level will not be swayed by your words."
"Because there is still the Buddha."
"I am merely using Buddhism as a reference. After the昭明 (Zhao Ming) world disappeared, the most powerful now is the Buddha. As for the rest, the Daoist sect is young, with many cultivators, but there is no one who can compare to the Buddha at present."
"The ancient Taoists might have one or two individuals comparable to the Buddha, but Taoist methods mostly rely on external forces, and they cannot compare to the Buddha. Therefore, if you want to shatter their Heavenly Hearts, you must first kill the Buddha."
Yuan Miao Da Sheng let out a long sigh, filled with distant emotion and endless regret:
"If the title of Great Awakened Golden Immortal could have been solidified back then, and the lineage of Buddhism changed, even if the Buddha did not die, he would have become a subordinate of Shenxiao. Unfortunately, Buddhism's influence is still too great, and their understanding of past, future, karma, and affinity is too profound."
"The comprehension of the Four Symbols is deeper in Buddhism than anywhere else. Despite numerous attempts to suppress Buddhism, it still exists. If their understanding of the Four Symbols cannot be broken, it means they can continue to exist stably and eternally."
"Unfortunately, the Song Dynasty was too weak. If it had been as powerful as the Tang Dynasty, perhaps the matter of changing the lineage could have succeeded."
The two vanished from their spot, but Yuan Miao Da Sheng left behind a reflection.
He still had to tell these Heavenly Hearts.
Their path had reached a dead end.
The next moment, in Liuzhou, the land of Sword Immortals, within the Taiji Heavenly Palace.
Taiji Zhenren, one of the Four True Persons, although aware of the change in lineage, was among the few Heavenly Hearts who did not go to the swirling void. He himself was already plundering the paths of others. This current event not only did not instill fear in him but instead piqued his interest.
He was even more excited and thrilled than the last time the Northern Tai Xuan Lei Yin appeared.
He desired to obtain this divine ability, or method, or something else.
The lineage of Confucianism could be instantly replaced, and even the Heavenly Heart realm of Confucianism disappeared. If he obtained it, he would be able to control all paths in the world, and he would become the "Emperor of a Hundred Paths."
The origin of the Daoist sect, though within the inner mountains and rivers, was the heaven manifested by Zhang Daoling. However, the religions that emerged from the Qin Dynasty or the wilderness, such as the Taiping Dao, the ancient Five Pecks of Rice Sect, and the Guisheng Immortal Sect, were older lineages. Dao has no single origin but is an integration. The distinction of the Three Pure Ones has existed since ancient times, not a later differentiation like Chan-Mi.
What Taiji Zhenren wished to do was to become the ancestor of the Taiping Dao, the ancient Five Pecks of Rice Sect, the Guisheng Immortal Sect, and other ancient great religions. He would become the ancestor of the ancient religions, and then the ancestor of the later Daoist sect. All the sect leaders would be his descending titles and identities at different times, just as some Daoist texts say—
In a certain era, Yuan Shi Tianzun or Tai Shang Lao Jun descended and transformed into a certain person.
"Once, Taiji Zhenren was not so mad. He was a benevolent person. The Four True Persons got along harmoniously, as close as brothers."
"But later, from a certain treasure, he obtained the Six Extremes Dao Scripture, which is said to contain the method of becoming a 'Dao Emperor'."
"The so-called Dao Emperor is the emperor of a hundred paths, the master of ten thousand gates. The Six Extremes refer to the heavens above and below, and all the myriad heavens."
"Look at the Jade God Pan in his hand. I used this item for a period of time. It is indeed a very useful supreme treasure. It is said that this item came from Lingbao Tianzun."
"The true Lingbao Tianzun."
Figures appeared in the palace. Taiji Zhenren, holding the Jade God Pan, suddenly turned and looked at Yuan Miao Da Sheng and Emperor Jiajing.
"Lin Lingsu, Zhu Houcong! What brings you here?"
Taiji Zhenren looked astonished.
These two were now wanted and pursued by Heavenly Hearts throughout the world. They suddenly appeared in his Taiji Heavenly Palace?
Were they here to seek death?
"Taiji Zhenren, Huainanzi."
Emperor Jiajing bowed, speaking with the utmost respect:
"We have come to demand the Jade God Pan and the Six Extremes Dao Scripture from you."
Taiji Zhenren's expression immediately turned dangerous. The aura of a Heavenly Heart enveloped the Heavenly Palace, severing its past and future. The power of time descended upon Emperor Jiajing and Yuan Miao Da Sheng. Taiji Zhenren's voice became ethereal and cold:
"From where did you learn of the Six Extremes Dao Scripture?"
"I have not told anyone. I have even erased everything about this matter from my own past and future."
Emperor Jiajing suddenly smiled. "If you truly erased the future, we would not be here. You have only erased the future that you can see and reach."
"The moment of transition between heaven and humanity truly arrives, you will be the first Heavenly Heart to be killed."
Taiji Zhenren seemed to hear the most amusing thing in the world.
"Are you going to say that you were the one who annihilated the lineage of Confucianism?"
"Heavenly Hearts do not die. Heavenly Hearts exist eternally in the past and future. The Heavenly Heart you see is not in the past, but in the future. How can you, with the power of an immortal, kill something that exists in the future? When you have the thought, I am one step further in the future. When you strike, I am one step further. I am always in your next moment, not to mention the vast gap between us..."
"A Flying Immortal killing a Heavenly Heart? Even the Northern Zhenren of the human world cannot do it. You say you can?"
Emperor Jiajing: "Bei Ji Zhenren... he is indeed very strong, but he also cannot do it. I recall that last time, by some means, he borrowed his future self to defeat Da Ri Rulai. Therefore, if he cannot do it, I certainly cannot either."
"But I did not say that I would kill you."
Taiji Zhenren sneered. "What could kill me? Is it the Buddha? Or are you here to avenge the other True Persons who died? Qing Tong Jun and the others, and you, a junior who cannot trace back the past or reflect the future... should not be familiar with each other, right?"
"Or is it that the divine position of Tai Shang Lao Jun contains something?"
"No," Emperor Jiajing also smiled. "Lao Jun's divine position is merely a medium to ascend to the peak of Taiqing. If it contained anything, it would not be my turn to use it."
Taiji Zhenren found his actions increasingly perplexing. He looked at Yuan Miao Da Sheng again. This fellow was even more nonchalant. Seeing Taiji Zhenren look at him, Yuan Miao Da Sheng merely smiled.
That smile was profound and unfathomable.
"I mean to say, the one who will kill you is yourself."
"You are about to die."
Taiji Zhenren was utterly astonished, then burst into wild laughter:
"This is the most amusing joke I have ever heard! Hahahaha! Have you truly lived long enough to come here seeking amusement?"
"Forget it! As repayment for telling me a joke, I will refine you into the divine position of Lao Jun, thus fulfilling your wish to become Lao Jun! And you and Lao Jun will both be a 'manifestation' descended by me, the Emperor of a Hundred Paths."
Beneath Taiji Zhenren's feet, a massive Taiji diagram appeared. Unlike the twelve-phase Taiji diagram of Qing Yang, Taiji Zhenren's Taiji diagram contained sixty-four hexagrams, and the primordial chaotic true energy circulated, gradually transforming into a new energy.
"Anciently, there were the three primal energies of Yuan, Xuan, and San. The three energies gave rise to changes, resulting in the nine energies of Tian Zhen."
"Yin and Yang clash to achieve harmony, evolving into sixty-four hexagrams, generating endless vitality, producing the energy of Tai He."
"Yin and Yang are unified."
Taiji Zhenren raised his palm, and Emperor Jiajing and Yuan Miao Da Sheng before him instantly transformed into two balls of spiritual light, losing all form and severing their past and future.
"This is the Yin-Yang Unification Method."
"All things and phenomena, when traced upwards, are a ball of chaotic spiritual light, returning to their original innate form. But you need to thank me, because you could not have reached this realm originally. I am helping you return to the innate state that encompasses all things."
Taiji Zhenren's smile deepened. He consumed these two balls of spiritual light.
Subsequently, his head was suddenly affected by some inexplicable force, which spread from his head to his entire body.
Spirituality was destroyed, the Heavenly Heart was greatly damaged, and the future he had created as the Dao Emperor also collapsed. Before Taiji Zhenren could react, in a span of time faster than a lifetime, his spirituality also fell and dissipated.
The Heavenly Heart perished. Taiji Zhenren, one of the Four True Persons, collapsed without any warning. The Heavenly Palace rumbled and turned to dust.
Countless cultivators of the Heavenly Palace and followers also perished along with Taiji Zhenren's future.
They vanished into smoke.
And in their place, the two balls of chaotic spiritual light that he had consumed appeared, transforming back into the forms of Emperor Jiajing and Yuan Miao Da Sheng.
"What you said was very true. By consuming us, you gained our methods and principles. Both of us possess the characteristics of the Great Dao."
"You unified with us, and thus you disappeared. Because your existence is not as high as ours. Since ancient times, higher things have always assimilated lower things."
"Now, the heavenly will above does not stand with the Heavenly Heart realm. You have lost the favor of the Dao."
Yuan Miao Da Sheng sighed, "The existence of a Heavenly Heart expert is actually lower than that of us two Flying Immortals. Your method, 'The movement of the Dao is reversal,' is truly supreme."
Emperor Jiajing also looked at Yuan Miao Da Sheng:
"That is why I said I have never advanced to the Heavenly Heart realm."
"Things have no beauty or ugliness; excess becomes disaster. The paths that have been locked will not increase in the total amount of Dao and Dharma. Once they increase, it will be a disaster of extinction."
"Now, heaven and humanity are transitioning."
"It has already 'reversed'."