Chapter 123 – The Dispute of the Three Pure Ones

The old Daoist, whose hair and beard were completely white and whose brows bore a gentle expression, smiled as he picked up a stone and placed it down, then said kindly:

“This matter, has Dao-friend not already discerned it? Why ask again?”

The middle-aged Daoist, whose countenance and bearing inspired awe and reverence, replied coolly: “Merely curious. Dao Brother has always followed the [Way of Non-Action], and toward your disciples as well, you’ve only ever pointed out the direction, allowing them to walk it themselves without interference. Why, then, do you find leisure today to send forth a strand of spirit into my Da Luo Heaven to pay a visit?”

The old Daoist answered gently: “Today, he broke through. As his teacher, I cannot be by his side at all times to instruct him.”

“But at the moment of breakthrough, I still had to return and take a look at this child.”

The middle-aged Daoist placed his next stone and said indifferently: “What realm has he broken through to?”

“Innate One Qi.”

“How did he break through?”

“Through Action and Non-Action.”

The middle-aged Daoist gave a slight nod. “Good.”

“But if it were just that, you would not necessarily have gone to see him, would you?”

“What path is this disciple of yours walking?”

His tone was calm, but without any softening—direct and forthright.

The old Daoist was long used to his temperament. He chuckled softly, placed a stone on the board, and replied: “I noticed this child bore the aura of calamity, so I went to see him, fearing he might have been drawn into some tribulation through another’s scheming. Only later did I realize—it was he who willingly answered the tribulation. As for the path he walks, I can only say, he truly is my disciple…”

“To teach according to circumstance, to cross tribulations in salvation of others, to be the teacher of emperors.”

“To establish the Dao through the human realm, to conceal the sage and reveal the mortal.”

The middle-aged Daoist had been about to place a stone, but upon hearing these words, his hand paused slightly. His brows relaxed, and his tone softened considerably:

“He willingly answered the tribulation?”

“Of the highest virtue.”

He seemed genuinely appreciative of the young Daoist who had chosen the harder road of his own volition, and said: “In that case, it is indeed right that you went to see him. Though your disciples are few, those who do pass through your gate all hold fast to their own convictions. They are worthy of being called the successors of you and me.”

“Only Shangqing,”

“He takes disciples as he pleases, without heed to the entanglements of karma. Most of them barely reach the level of Human Immortals, relying on the name of Lingbao to flaunt themselves, swindling across the land. Some time ago, I heard that a few were taken by the Northern Pole Exorcism Institute, their souls severed on the spot, their cultivation stripped away, cast into reincarnation—doomed to a hundred lifetimes without returning as human… But even among my own disciples, there are those who have strayed into deviant paths. Unworthy of bearing the name of the Three Pure Ones’ disciples, and as such, I have nothing to say in their defense.”

“My disciples, too, were seized by the Heavenly Court.”

“After their crimes were listed in full, they were, according to the law, sentenced to death and delivered to the Northern Pole Exorcism Institute for execution.”

The old Daoist, still gentle in expression, said: “According to the laws of the Heavenly Realm, he should not have received such a severe punishment.”

Even the eyes of the middle-aged Daoist revealed a ripple of emotion.

But in the end, his expression returned to indifference, and he said: “Yes.”

“Yet since he harbored the delusion of: ‘I am Yuqing’s disciple, therefore the law shall not fall upon me’, and lost his sense of equality toward all living beings, then he is no longer qualified to be my disciple. My disciples are to serve as exemplars to all those who cultivate the Dao under heaven, not rely on their names to act with reckless arrogance.”

“If he held to the thought—[I am one of the Twelve True Sages of Yuqing, with my master backing me]— then he must be judged with severity.”

“What, then—other people’s disciples are to be punished according to their crimes, but the disciples of the Three Pure Ones are not to be killed?”

“A misdeed committed without intent is called a fault.”

“A misdeed committed with intent is called evil.”

“If it is evil, then it must be punished.”

“To knowingly violate the law is to add another degree of guilt; to act recklessly while relying on our status adds yet another. Even if he were my own disciple, he cannot be granted leniency in judgment. He was driven out through the Southern Heavenly Gate, subjected to a thousand blades, his Three Flowers atop his head severed, the Five Qi within his chest stripped away—his soul scattered, spirit annihilated, never again to be reborn through eternity.”

The Supreme One let out a sigh.

The Yuqing Yuanshi Heavenly Venerable, with eyes like cold stars, moved the sun and moon, maintained the Dao everlasting—absolute in principle, without partiality or sentiment.

He represented the aspect of the Dao that was utterly just, utterly impartial, and utterly unfeeling. It was precisely for this reason that he was often at odds with Shangqing Lingbao—for one upheld strict order, the other embraced spontaneity. Whenever they met, there was always tension. Daoist Yuqing placed a stone on the board, his face still without expression, and gently steered the topic back:

“To possess the bearing to willingly face tribulation—Xuanwei is not bad. When the day comes that his Three Flowers gather atop his head, and his Five Qi return to the origin, I shall give him a meeting gift.”

“Even if it requires me to personally inscribe a jade talisman for him, it is no matter.”

It was the True Talisman of Yuqing.

Among the disciples of Shangqing, almost none had ever gained the recognition of Yuqing.

To say such words—even with a face devoid of expression and without the slightest hint of a smile—

Was, in truth, the highest form of praise.

Now that the Three Realms were already established, and both the Heavenly Court and the Netherworld were complete, the Three Purities no longer interfered in the affairs of all living beings. After finishing a leisurely game of chess, which once again ended in a draw, the Daoist Yuqing asked:

“However, the one playing chess with me now is but one of your eighty-one incarnations, is it not?”

He looked up—yet the old man before him had vanished without a trace, at some point already dispersed, no longer to be seen. The middle-aged Daoist’s gaze grew thoughtful, and he spoke blandly:

“Your true form—where is it now?”

“Nowhere within or beyond the Three Realms can its trace be found.”

“Is it still because of that matter, from all those years ago?”

The middle-aged Daoist let out a light sigh, as if something had come to mind. He casually dropped a chess piece, and the board, the pieces—everything—vanished entirely. Yet he himself remained seated in meditation within the Jade Capital of Xuandu, his left hand in a mudra of grasping the void, his right hand in a mudra of offering. He presided over that which predated form, before Heaven and Earth had taken shape, before chaos had parted. Eyes lowered, breath steady—the scenes of the chess game just past were naught but one dream, one thought, within the world shaped by his will.

The Three Purities had retreated from the world. Within and beyond the Three Realms, karma and transformation proceeded as they would.

Only, he slightly lowered his gaze—and from him, a single wisp of divine thought drifted forth and changed.

In the Hidden Library of Shangqing.

A Daoist dressed in black was dozing, but slightly lifted his eyes and let out a sigh. “So he came after all…”

Before him, without a sound, the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth gathered and condensed into the form of a middle-aged Daoist.

As though he had neither beginning nor end—eternally present.

He had neither come nor gone.

The black-robed Daoist said flatly: “…Rare indeed. The Supreme One has gazed over the red dust of the mortal world, while you remain seated in the heights of Da Luo Heaven.”

“Within and beyond the Three Realms, all things proceed according to their order. Rare it is to see you emerge. I wonder, Dao-friend, for what purpose have you come seeking me?”

Daoist Yuqing looked at him, and spoke with calm gentleness:

“First—change your form back.”

The Shangqing Great Dao Sovereign was seated atop the Taiji Diagram. With eyes downcast, he replied:

“Formless and non-formless, Dao-friend, why must you cling to appearances?”

“That may be so.” 

Daoist Yuqing said blandly.

“But you don’t have to use my appearance when you do bad things.”

“Change back.”

The Shangqing Great Dao Sovereign, who had been assuming the clear and dignified visage of the middle-aged Daoist Yuqing, suddenly froze.

He had prepared in advance.

Even if the disciples saw him, he could pretend to be Yuqing and get away with it. But now, he could only sigh. No one saw how it happened, but his form had shifted—he became a young Daoist of around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years of age, with a handsome face and ancient, distant eyes. He no longer sat upright atop the Taiji Diagram, but reclined against it lazily—one hand supporting his chin, one leg folded, the other resting on the ground—with not a shred of decorum.

“So then, Yuqing—why have you come seeking me?”

“As you can see, this poor Daoist is quite busy.”

The Yuqing Great Heavenly Venerable replied: “The matter of the Medicine Master’s reincarnation, from before.” 

Shangqing Dao Sovereign said: “You should know that the Medicine Master’s parinirvana was not by my hand.”

Yuqing nodded. “Indeed.”

Shangqing was briefly stunned, then said:

“Then why are you looking for me? Go find the one who truly caused the Medicine Master’s end.”

Yuqing Heavenly Venerable said blandly: “Yet after divining this matter, of all involved, your seniority is the highest.”

“It is only proper that I come to you.”

“Shangqing Lingbao, a dignified Great Dao Sovereign—surely you do not intend to shove all responsibility onto the juniors?”

“What? You don’t even have the magnanimity to shoulder a bit of blame on their behalf?”

Shangqing Great Dao Sovereign: “…………”　

Meanwhile, within the Shangqing Library. The Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Sovereign was presently leafing through the scriptures. He was calmly perusing the Lingbao’s Daoist teachings. From the Shangqing Library, one could look outside and see only peace and harmony—clouds drifting gently across the sky, stretching for thousands of miles with not a hint of storm or gloom. The sunlight shining upon the cloud sea inspired a pleasant and carefree mood.

As one of the Three Masters of the Shangqing and the one in charge of all scriptures, the old Heavenly Sovereign stroked his beard and sighed in admiration:

“What a fine day.”

Lowering his gaze, he resumed reading the Daoist classics. The text was already profound and obscure, yet under such heavenly light and peaceful clouds, the meaning seemed to grow even more flavorful. He had just begun reading a new essay and was sipping on spiritual tea when suddenly, his spiritual sense was struck with violent alarm—shocking him out of his tranquil state as though pierced all over by needles. Looking down, he saw ripples spreading across the surface of his teacup.

The old Heavenly Sovereign’s eyes widened ever so slightly.

This—

Could only come from someone above him.

Back in the inner chamber, Shangqing slowly sat upright and furrowed his brow. He said flatly: “The Buddhist sect laid hands on my grand-disciple. I merely struck back with a single sword—what fault is there in that?”

Yuqing replied calmly: “You went too far.”

Shangqing Dao Sovereign raised his eyes. “Then let us hear what Dao-friend has to say.”

Yuqing said calmly: “The Heavenly Dao is eternal; it has its own laws. There is gain, and there is loss.”

“All things are relative—this is the natural order.”

“To seek the supreme and the exalted, one must pass through the bitterest of trials.”

“Since they are disciples of you and I, they have already obtained fortuitous opportunities far beyond the grasp of ordinary folk. Then, should they not also accept tribulations of the highest degree to maintain fairness? The calamity of the Medicine Master Liuli is but a trial along the path for the juniors—why must you, Shangqing, make such a fuss?”

Shangqing replied languidly: “If a tribulation can be broken, it’s nothing much.”

Yuqing responded: “Since it is a tribulation, it is also a karmic tie. It must be crossed by the disciple themselves to hold any value.”

“If one enters the sect and walks a smooth and easy path, with every danger and hardship dealt with by their elders, then what kind of disciple is that? What Dao are they cultivating? What clarity of heart and perception of nature can they possibly attain? Would they only come to understand the heart that leans upon the might of their sect, and perceive a nature of frailty and helplessness? Such are but useless trash!”

Shangqing Great Dao Sovereign’s eyes, gentle yet tinged with a piercing chill, narrowed slightly. His right hand pressed against the table.

All radiance faded.

Even flowing light, when nearing, seemed to fall into a vortex, then be obliterated and vanish.

Thus, this stretch of space became a realm utterly devoid of light—deep and dreadful—like the very end-point of all existence. And within it, Shangqing Great Dao Sovereign sat poised. On the other side, seventy-two streams of light flowed and shifted, encircling Yuqing Great Heavenly Venerable, as if the primordial breath from the origin of all things—vast and majestic—evolved into myriad forms. His voice was calm:

“My disciples must be paragons of all paths.”

“If they cannot be, they need not enter our gate.”

“To cultivate is to cultivate the [self]—And so, to become disciples of our Dao, they must possess a bearing that says: [None but I may take this path].”

“If everything is smooth sailing, and the master opens the way, then what meaning is there in the disciple themselves? Without growth, without strength to bear burdens—propped up by you—even the dullest soul could accomplish the most difficult feats beneath heaven. But that would be the renown of you, Shangqing Lingbao, not of the disciple!”

“You help the disciple, and in doing so, you ruin them.”

“To cultivate the Dao is to cultivate the self. Tribulation is but the whetstone of the blade. Only through this can the cultivator come to clarity of heart and insight into nature, and raise their cultivation.”

“If you do everything, how can they stand on their own?”

Yuqing Yuanshi Heavenly Venerable sought only that which was [unique and without equal].

He believed that every one of his disciples was exceptional—thus they ought to tread the most difficult paths and accomplish the most impossible deeds. Only then could they serve as paragons of the Great Dao, earning the admiration of all cultivators, who would take them as beacons and press forward step by step.

It was because these disciples had proven their [uniqueness] that they were accepted into the sect.

He was unwavering in his belief:

That every person holds the potential—

To attain clarity of heart and insight into their true nature;

To know with certainty that there is a destiny that belongs to them alone.

In the heavens above and the earth below, across the three thousand worlds—

Only I am fit for this task. None but [I] may take this path.

No other could succeed in my stead.

To possess such lucidity of character, in Yuqing’s eyes, that far surpassed any so-called innate talent.

From the One comes Two, from Two comes Three, and from Three come all things.

It is only through this singular word—“I”—That one may rise above the ten thousand beings.

Lose that word “I”, and one falls into the dust and mire of the mundane world.

Shangqing lowered his eyes and said blandly: “This is merely your own choice.”

“Yuqing, do not place such a heavy burden upon your disciples. Your expectations are far too weighty.”

“You speak in grand and lofty terms—models of the myriad paths. But are you truly seeking disciples, or simply looking for vessels to carry your great aspiration?”

“When I teach a disciple, it is with just three words: ‘Follow the heart’s will.’ When there is karmic affinity, we are master and disciple; when there is none, we part and go our separate ways.”

“My disciples need not bear thoughts of me, nor shall I weigh them down with responsibilities.”

“There are three thousand Daos—when have I ever clung to just one?”

Yuqing Great Heavenly Venerable replied calmly: “To be my disciple is to be a model of all paths.”

“This was known before ever stepping through the gates.”

“The title ‘Disciple of the Dao Ancestor’s Lineage’—those four words carry weight, not idle jest.”

“To receive such a karmic bond…”

“One must bear a burden as heavy as ten thousand jun.”

Shangqing leaned his head lazily on one hand, yet his tone remained serious as he replied:

“My disciples, need only be themselves. “

“Why must they bear the weight of my Dao?”

“Yuqing, you are far too rigid.”

“Shangqing, and you are far too arrogant.”

Outside the Shangqing Library Pavilion, Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Sovereign, who had until now hesitated, suddenly felt something amiss. He had come to peruse the Daoist tomes left behind by his teacher, but for reasons unknown, an intense unease surged in his heart. He turned to look and saw that a cup of spirit tea placed beside him had already shattered and vanished into dust. The old Heavenly Sovereign abruptly rose to his feet and walked outside step by step. Looking into the distance, he saw that the once-peaceful heavens above had suddenly darkened.

A boundless storm swept across all of the Thirty-Six Heavens. Within it, wind and thunder clashed faintly, the reverberations shaking the Seventy-Two Golden Steps.

Wind and thunder surged, their roar like the fury of gods, even the Divine Thunder Palace of Yuqing shuddered with waves.

Upon the Lingxiao Palace, immortal officials and celestial beings swayed, struggling to stay upright.

In the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, Arhats and Bodhisattvas fell from their lotus thrones.

Within the Xuandu Temple, the Grandmaster lost his pill furnace; By the Southern Sea, Guanyin lost her mount.

Throughout the Thirty-Six Heavens, black mist arose, and even Thousand-Mile Eyes could not see through a single inch.

In the Thirteen Buddhist Kingdoms, the Tathāgata could not be seen, Buddha light dispersed, unable to gather even a sliver of radiance.

Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Sovereign lifted his head, his face full of confusion.

“This… this is…”

The Shangqing Library Pavilion rocked and swayed, with a sudden crash, scrolls scattered in disarray. From amidst them emerged a small head, her features delicate and beautiful, dazed and still, the imprint of jade slip characters stamped faintly on her left cheek. Her eyes stared blankly, her posture unsteady, as if she had yet to fully awaken, yet when she saw what was happening outside, her gaze lit up instantly.

“Oh, oh!”

Yun Qin stood up.

Then sat right back down again and slowly took out an osmanthus cake from her sleeve. Holding it with both hands, she brought it to her mouth, her eyes bright.

She muttered:

“Such strong wind!”

Then sighed regretfully: “What a pity, what a pity… Wuhuo isn’t here. If he were, he’d definitely say something like: ‘The Milky Way washes my feet!’”

“Hmph, if it were me speaking, I wouldn’t be much worse than him…”

“Just… just…”

“The sky’s dark, and the wind’s really strong!”

The young girl ultimately gave up, but didn’t seem to mind. As she curiously peered outside, she suddenly noticed that the Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Sovereign, who had been sitting at the entrance to the second floor for quite some time, had left. It seemed the second floor was now accessible. The girl blinked her eyes, tossed the osmanthus cake into her mouth and swallowed it, then clapped her hands clean.

After that, she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a scroll titled [Dao Sovereign Wuhuo’s Humble Reply to the Great Dao Sovereign’s Letter].

With it in her hands, she began walking toward the second floor of the Shangqing Library Pavilion.

“Dang dang dang—Xuanwu Su Yun, the Qin Fairy, makes her move~”

“Wuhuo, Wuhuo~”

“Better have the sesame cakes ready, mm-hmm.”