plumnovel Chapter 14 Internal Strife
Chapter 14 Internal Strife
The distant sound of the bell echoed down from the summit of Kunlun Mountain.
The bell tolls to summon disciples to Jade Void Palace.
Yun Zhongzi opened his eyes and got up from the stone bed.
Outside the cave, the three demons were still reciting the "Huang Ting" in a halting manner, completely unaware of the bell's sound—this bell was only for the ears of the disciples of the Chan Sect.
Even though he already knew about Yuanshi Tianzun's scheme, he dared not delay the sound of the bell for even a moment. Tens of thousands of years of caution were ingrained in his very bones.
Yun Zhongzi stepped out of the Jade Pillar Cave, rode on auspicious clouds, and headed straight for Kunlun.
Before the Jade Void Palace, auspicious clouds floated, and disciples of the Chan Sect arrived from all over the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, their streaks of light landing outside the palace gates.
Neutron descended from the clouds, his gaze sweeping across the plaza in front of the palace, his pupils contracting slightly.
There are more people.
In the past, only disciples of the celestial level or above were allowed to enter the hall to preach.
Today, even disciples whose cultivation level is lower than that of a True Immortal have gathered in front of the palace.
In the crowd, an elderly Taoist priest with a mature face and a robust build was talking quietly with his fellow disciple beside him.
Jiang Ziya.
This key figure who would later take charge of the Investiture of the Gods and preside over the campaign against King Zhou was at this moment only at the Golden Core stage, and was insignificant in the Chan Sect.
Beside Jiang Ziya, a thin, shrewd-looking Taoist priest was looking around with lively eyes and a fawning smile on his lips.
Shen Gongbao was a cultivator at the Earth Immortal level.
Yun Zhongzi withdrew his gaze, his heart sinking slightly.
According to the original text, this was fifteen years before Xiqi raised the banner of rebellion against the Shang Dynasty.
Why did Yuanshi Tianzun summon his disciples at this time? Could it be that the changes in the North Sea and the situation in Chaoge have already caused the process of the Investiture of the Gods to deviate?
The white crane boy walked out of the palace gate and shouted loudly, "Enter the palace!"
The crowd filed in.
Inside the hall, the Twelve Golden Immortals stood on both sides, and Yun Zhongzi, who was outside the hall, sensed that something was amiss.
But fearing the coldness in Liusun and Cihang's gazes as they swept over him, Yun Zhongzi pretended not to notice and stood with his eyes lowered.
At that moment, five-colored rays of light burst forth from the high platform.
The Primordial Celestial Venerable, wearing a jade lotus crown and a purple robe with the Eight Trigrams, appeared out of thin air, holding a jade scepter containing the Three Treasures. His aura of sainthood was as deep and imposing as a mountain, and all the disciples in the hall bowed in unison.
"Greetings, teacher."
The Primordial Celestial Venerable's gaze swept over the disciples in the hall, his voice authoritative:
"My two elder brothers and I discussed the Investiture of the Gods in the Eight Trigrams Palace of the Thirty-Three Heavens, and we are only returning today."
Yun Zhongzi was startled. They changed it again? Shouldn't they have discussed it at Biyou Palace?
Yuanshi Tianzun continued:
"My two elder brothers and I have established the rules for the conferment of gods—those with deep roots and good deeds will attain the path of immortality; those with slightly lesser roots and good deeds will attain the path of gods; and those with shallow roots and good deeds will attain the path of humanity, and will still enter the cycle of reincarnation."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of His Highness and the others varied.
Guang Chengzi remained calm; Chi Jingzi nodded slightly; Yu Ding Zhenren lowered his eyes and remained silent; Ju Liusun and Cihang exchanged a glance, a hint of a smile that was hard for others to detect flashing in their eyes.
Meanwhile, disciples with low cultivation levels, such as Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao, showed expressions of unease.
Yun Zhongzi stood with his hands at his sides, his face showing neither joy nor anger.
Those with deep roots and profound practice, such as the Twelve Golden Immortals and the Antarctic Immortal, preserved their Dao foundation after transcending tribulations, either entering the Heavenly Court to take on sinecure positions or joining the Western Sect, and ultimately attained enlightenment.
Those of slightly lower rank, such as Wen Zhong, Zhao Gongming, and Shen Gongbao, were deified after their deaths and were bound by the duties of the Heavenly Court, never to have a day of freedom.
Those with shallow roots and shallow cultivation, such as ordinary military generals and cultivators, will enter the cycle of reincarnation after death and will not even be able to make it onto the Investiture of the Gods list.
Six others achieved physical immortality—Nezha, Yang Jian, Jinzha, Muzha, Li Jing, and Wei Hu. They were able to enter the Investiture of the Gods without dying and enjoy divine positions and worship in Heaven.
Among these six people, Yun Zhongzi's name was not among them; he was not even on the list of those who were conferred the title of gods.
Afterwards, they were removed from the list of beings in the Three Realms, and were even denied the qualification to be "those with shallow roots and shallow conduct, destined for the cycle of reincarnation".
Yun Zhongzi's hand, hidden in his sleeve, slowly clenched.
The Primordial Celestial Venerable spoke again:
"Today I will preach to you once. From now on, you should quietly recite the Yellow Court Classic to resolve your own calamities."
The voice just fell.
One after another, the ultimate truths of heaven and earth were uttered from the mouth of the Primordial Celestial Venerable. Instantly, five-colored rays of light descended upon the hall, ten thousand golden lamps appeared out of thin air, celestial music wafted, and exotic fragrances filled the air.
All the disciples below the stage were completely focused.
Guang Chengzi closed his eyes, nodded, and smiled.
Chi Jingzi frowned slightly, then relaxed.
Master Yu Ding remained calm, yet his sword intent subtly circulated around him with each breath.
Although Julusun, Cihang, and Puxian were listening to the teachings, their eyes would occasionally glance at Manjushri, and a hint of coldness would appear on their lips.
Manjushri looked displeased, ignoring the gazes around him, and stared intently at the high platform, remaining motionless.
Taiyi Zhenren's round face was full of strain, and he was sweating profusely as he listened.
Jiang Ziya frowned, clearly finding the sage's words too profound for his low level of cultivation to comprehend. Shen Gongbao, on the other hand, listened with shining eyes, but that light carried a hint of eagerness for quick success.
As for Yun Zhongzi, after he understood the scheme of Yuanshi Tianzun, the knot in his heart had been untied.
Twenty thousand years of confusion and self-doubt, twenty thousand years of arduous searching, it turns out that it was not because he was dull-witted, his cultivation was wrong, or his faith was weak.
It was a mountain that the sage was pressing down on his head.
The mountain is still there, but he now knows of its existence.
Knowing where the mountain is makes it possible to climb it.
The profound truths of heaven and earth uttered by the Primordial Celestial Venerable entered everyone's ears, word by word.
What was previously incomprehensible has suddenly become clear; what was previously difficult has become like a river bursting its banks, flowing freely for miles.
He listened intently.
On the high platform, Yuanshi Tianzun continued his sermon, but his gaze fell on Yun Zhongzi, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
With a flick of his fingertips, a magic seal was silently formed.
Suddenly, Yun Zhongzi's spiritual power surged, forming a vortex of spiritual energy.
Mid-stage Golden Immortal, Peak Mid-stage Golden Immortal, Late-stage Golden Immortal.
The disciples in the hall were all immersed in the path of sainthood, and no one noticed that Yun Zhongzi's cultivation was rising steadily. Even Yun Zhongzi himself was unaware of it.
Yuanshi Tianzun withdrew his hand seal and dispersed the invisible power at his fingertips.
He glanced at Yun Zhongzi, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, scrutiny, and a hint of something unreadable to others.
The sermon ended.
The five-colored light dissipated, the ten thousand golden lamps disappeared, and the celestial music and fragrance gradually faded into silence.
The disciples in the hall remained completely absorbed in their reverie, unable to extricate themselves from it for a long time.
In a daze, Yun Zhongzi seemed to hear a sigh of vicissitudes.
"It is destiny!"
He suddenly opened his eyes.
The high platform was now deserted; the Primordial Celestial Venerable had left at some unknown time.
Inside the hall, only a few ordinary disciples sat, still not awakened from their meditation.
Yun Zhongzi was shocked to realize that his cultivation, which had been stagnant for nearly 20,000 years and was restricted, had now reached the late stage of the Golden Immortal realm.
He is only one step away from the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.
A tremor ran through Yun Zhongzi's Niwan Palace, and a chill permeated the entire Primal God realm.
What's going on?
Isn't there a restriction in place?
He suddenly remembered the spirit pearl in his sleeve. Could it be that when he entered meditation, the power of the spirit pearl broke through the restriction of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable?
However, the spirit pearl remained completely unchanged within the universe contained within the sleeve.
It's not the Spirit Pearl! What's going on?
Yun Zhongzi suppressed the turmoil surging in his heart and remained calm on the surface. He stood up and bowed respectfully to the empty platform, his posture as reverent as ever.
With a hint of barely perceptible panic, she turned and walked out of the main hall.
Riding on auspicious clouds, just outside the Kunlun Mountains, a fierce argument erupted on the cloud road ahead.
Yun Zhongzi frowned. His mind was in turmoil, and he only wanted to return to Zhongnan Mountain as soon as possible to clear his thoughts.
They were about to take a detour.
"Junior Brother! Junior Brother Yun Zhongzi!"
Taiyi Zhenren's voice rang out from behind, carrying a hint of relieved joy.
Yun Zhongzi paused in his steps.
Turning around, Taiyi Zhenren was riding his pink flying pig, his round face full of the expression of "finally found reinforcements".
"Junior brother! Come quick, come quick!"
Taiyi grabbed Yunzhongzi's sleeve, his face full of bitterness:
"The other disciples upstairs are arguing, and I'm not good with words, I can't stop them. Can you help me? Please help me!"
Yun Zhongzi's lips twitched slightly.
Of the Twelve Golden Immortals, only Taiyi Zhenren treated him well. Since Taiyi Zhenren had already spoken, he couldn't very well refuse him outright. He could only sigh and follow Taiyi Zhenren toward the place of the argument.
In the air, two groups of people stood facing each other.
On one side, Ju Liusun, Cihang Daoren, and Puxian Zhenren stood side by side; the three of them had cold expressions and stared intently at the person opposite them.
On the other side, Manjushri, the Heavenly Venerable of Vast Dharma, had an ashen face and his aura was surging, clearly showing that he was truly enraged.
Master Yuding stood beside Manjushri, his brows furrowed, his face full of bewilderment. He glanced at the three people opposite him, then at Manjushri beside him, his eyes blank, seemingly completely clueless about the situation.
The two groups were separated by three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and the atmosphere was tense, as if they were about to unleash their magic weapons and start fighting at any moment.
Taiyi Zhenren, dragging Yun Zhongzi along, forced a smile as they squeezed between the two groups of people.
"Fellow disciples, let's talk this out, let's talk this out..."