Chapter 7: Attaining Zenith Heaven, and Preaching in Untainted Land
Minghe knew that the Green Lotus of Chaos could not be restored, so he changed his way of thinking. If the Red Lotus of Fire engulfed the origins of the other three lotuses, it could advance to the next grade. It might not break through to the Spiritual Treasure of Chaos, but it might be possible to break through to the primordial supreme treasure.
With this thought, Minghe could not wait to cultivate his three green lotus seeds into three Level Nine Green Lotuses of Fate. As for the Black Lotus of Destructions and the Golden Lotus of Merit, it was no easy task to get them or their seeds.
The owner of the Black Lotus of Destructions was Luohou, the Lord of Devils, but it was impossible to steal the lotus from him. And the Golden Lotus of Merit was in Hongjun’s hands. This was later passed to Jieyin, when Hongjun was preaching in the Zixiao Palace, so there was a higher chance of getting the Golden Lotus of Merit from Jieyin.
Minghe was reminded of the Mosquito Taoist. He was the first mosquito born of Blood Sea, locked up by the Golden Lotus of Merit held by Jieyin. The Mosquito Taoist would eat his Level Three Golden Lotus of Merit. However, this event would only happen in the future, and Minghe could not wait that long.
This would all happen in the future so there was no hurry. At this moment, the most important thing for Minghe was to refine Pangu’s Jade Essence. When it entered his body, he felt his composition changing, and with a formation in Blood Sea, it was the best place for him to cultivate.
For self-protection, he summoned his Red Lotus of Fire, sat on its altar and began to cultivate with all his strength. The Purpleheaven Thunder Mark between his eyebrows began to release heavy thunder and lightning, helping Minghe to complete his transformation.
When Minghe exerted his power, the Pangu’s Jade Essence began to melt at an increasingly rapid rate. It became a strong force spreading throughout his veins. His body was becoming stronger while slowly absorbing the force. This was the effect of Pangu’s Jade Essence.
Several days later, Minghe’s body and his Original Spirit both reached the peak stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortality. The three flowers of heaven, earth, and human on the Cloud of Blessings over his head were getting ready to bloom and release the blessings. Suddenly, his vigor rose sharply and these three flowers slowly blossomed. Auspicious signs appeared in the Cloud of Blessings.
Minghe opened his eyes and exhaled. His face shone with joy. Finally, after a thousand years of cultivation, he had reached Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm. It was completely different from his former realm. One could say that this was the realm where it all began.
It was believed that stepping into the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm meant sharing life with heaven and earth. However, this was on the premise that one was not involved in the Cultivation Tribulation. If one entered the Cultivation Tribulation, he could die even attaining the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm. During the Longhan Cultivation Tribulation, the Wu and Demon Clans’ Cultivation Tribulation and the Investiture of the Gods, nobody knew how many Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals had died, including Sages-to-be.
The basic reason that cultivation really began upon entering the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm was the Divine Law. After breaking through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm, one could begin to understand the Divine Law and really feel the true power of the heaven and earth. Only then could enlightenment be achieved from the Way of Heaven.
The Power of Divine Law was the mighty force of heaven and earth. The reason a sage was so powerful was that they had entrusted their Original Spirits to the Way of Heaven for them to gain better insight into it. Even in combat, one could use the Power of Divine Law from the Way of Heaven to enhance one’s attack. This was the reason that anyone below sage was considered a nonentity.
However, the Power of Divine Law was not that simple. The three thousand Great Ways were the three thousand Divine Laws, so some would not be able to gain enlightenment for as long as they lived. Fate, chance and the ability to comprehend were all very important. Even if someone managed to gain enlightenment on the Divine Law, to increase the depth of comprehension was no small feat.
When Minghe broke through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm, he began to understand the existence of the Divine Laws, and to his surprise, he had perceived two kinds of laws. One was the Law of Killing, which was absolutely one of the most powerful Divine Laws with attack power. The other was the Law of Spiritual Beings, which was one of the most peculiar and difficult to comprehend Divine Laws.
Yet again, it was normal for Minghe to comprehend these two Divine Laws since the Shura Tribe that he would create years later was a clan meant for killing. He would not die unless Blood Sea were to dry up. This was also a reflection of the Law of Spiritual Beings. If his flesh body was destroyed, Minghe could be reborn through his Clones of Blood God from Blood Sea like a cat with nine lives.
Upon grasping the Divine Law, Minghe finally stepped into the ranks of the strong and powerful. If one gained enlightenment on the Divine Law, one would not only be the best among his realm but one could fight against someone of a higher realm. However, the Divine Law was not that easy to cultivate. Despite gaining the Law of Killing and the Law of Spiritual Beings, he was still just a beginner. All he could do was spend time cultivating to deepen his enlightenment.
Breaking through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm, ensured that one’s body was equal to that of a Mid Grade Primordial Spiritual Treasure. When compared to the body of the Ancestor of Sorcery it was known how it would fare. Minghe was very satisfied with his journey in Mount Buzhou and after ensuring there were no more treasures to be had, he decided to return to Blood Sea for a Closed Door Meditation.
But first, he had one more thing to do, the sermon. Of course, Minghe would not be the one preaching, and instead, he was to place the 3,600 refining Enlightenment Tablets at the foot of Mount Buzhou. Each Enlightenment Tablet had a simple formation that formed a mysterious sign, and any creature that was attracted to it would arrive at the foot of Mount Buzhou and receive enlightenment.
Although it could not be compared to the merit received from direct preaching, this was much safer. This was not the time for Minghe to be famous in Untainted Land, so it was best to be low-key. As for who would receive enlightenment from the tablets, this had nothing to do with Minghe.
A hundred years later, Minghe finally finished touring Mount Buzhou. Aside from the two previous gains, he did not find anything else that was satisfying and worth the trouble. Minghe was not a greedy person and he felt that if it was meant to be, it would be. Greediness was not a good quality.
All 3,600 pieces of Enlightenment Tablets had been placed at the foot of Mount Buzhou, and Minghe made a simple Seven Color Rays Formation before leaving. This formation was not meant to do anything other than to release a few flashes of colorful rays as if to indicate there was treasure buried here.
Having completed everything, he left Mount Buzhou. He did not stop until he reached Blood Sea. He had just broken through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortality realm, and thus he needed some time to strengthen his cultivation. Besides, the strength from achieving comprehension of the Power of Divine Law made him yearn for it, so he needed time to do that. After all, the Power of Divine Law was the foundation of one’s cultivation.
...
In Mount Buzhou, the seven color rays shone, attracting all sorts of creatures living around it. They were terrified of the extreme pressure from Mount Buzhou, but it was very dense at the foot, so the creatures came forward hurriedly to see what was happening.
When these creatures arrived at the foot of the mountain, the Enlightenment Tablets were naturally discovered. Although 3,600 pieces seemed like a lot, when placed at the foot of the mountain it was actually very little. Yet what Minghe wanted was just to gain some merit, so he could not be bothered to refine more tablets.
Once news of the Enlightenment Tablets spread, more and more creatures dared to visit, including some from stronger clans in Untainted Land. Although the cultivation techniques left by Minghe were not profound, they were very precious to these ordinary creatures.
Although some of the clans had the presence of the Primordial Spiritual Inheritance left by Primordial Mazingers, many of the techniques, especially the simpler ones would only be taught to their clans and not to others. The appearance of the Enlightenment Tablets broke that barrier.
With more and more Enlightenment Tablets being explored, Minghe’s cultivation techniques gradually spread among Untainted Land. When the creatures obtained the cultivation techniques, they started their own cultivation, and Untainted Land suddenly calmed down. It was like the peace before a coming storm.
The benefits were the reason for war, and the strength and capability was the base to fight for benefits. The Enlightenment Tablet was a key to unleash one to live in a better environment and to achieve greater skills, especially when one had the capability. Previously the cage was simply broken and time was needed to unlock it. The Enlightenment Tablet helped to open it in advance and release the Wild Beasts inside. What would happen next?
...
When all the Enlightenment Tablets were found, Minghe knew it immediately, for he obtained merit from heaven for his sermon, spread across Untainted Land. After all, this was the first Sermon of Untainted Land, and he got as much as 1% of the Merit of Creation. This was considered a great harvest.
In addition to the merit he received, Minghe found something surprising—the Menace Intent from Heaven. This was not a good sign as it meant that the first Cultivation Tribulation had already begun, and someone like Minghe who had comprehended on the Law of Killing, would be really sensitive to the evil spirits as it increased.
Minghe had not expected that the first Cultivation Tribulation would begin ahead of time, because of what he had done for merits gaining. Regardless whether it was good or bad, Minghe did not want to join the Cultivation Tribulation this time, and what he needed to do first was to go back to Blood Sea to cultivate for a longer period of time. He still had time as the Cultivation Tribulation had just begun, and the main characters of this term were the Three Tribes of Dragon, Phoenix, and Kylin. They had not yet divided Untainted Land.
...
With the release of the Merit of Heaven, the Menace Intent from Heaven, and the Killing Intent of Heaven and Earth breeding, these mysterious signs could not escape the people with strong supernatural power. Somewhere in Untainted Land, an old Taoist sat cross-legged with a broken piece of Jade Scroll in his hands. He frowned and muttered to himself, "With Unforeseen Signs from Heaven, the Cultivation Tribulation is coming. And so is my Fated Chance."
...
In the western region of Untainted Land, which was unlike the barren land as compared to the east as mentioned in the myths, a gale of blood-curdling laughter was heard on a dark mountain cliff full of killing intent. "Mua-Ha-ha... the Menace Intent from Heaven appears and Heaven’s Will has been broken. It’s time for me to take action. Pangu, I must thank you for creating this Untainted World. Otherwise, I would have never realized my Tao... Mua-ha-ha..."