Donghuang Ziji

Chapter 912 Taiyi and Choice
As he spoke, a scroll of atlas appeared in the palm of the Emperor of Heaven, densely packed with records of thousands of divine duties.

With just one glance, Chu Tai felt the subtlety of the Shinto order, the connection between the myriad priesthoods, the hierarchical relationships between the many priesthoods, and the means of mutual balance, all of which were extremely clear.

Somehow, Chu Tai had a clearer understanding of the Dongyue pantheon that he had opened up in the Dongji Chenguang Heaven. He also had a clear understanding of the establishment of many gods and the construction of the internal system of Shinto.

Most importantly, Chu Tai saw a Shinto concept of creation.

This kind of understanding invisibly led to changes in the Dao fruit of the Jiuge Divine System on the Donghuang Bell.

Many second-grade Dao fruits began to sort automatically, causing slight changes in the Donghuang Bell.

Donghuang's [Residing in the World (Earthly Immortal)] was first intertwined with the Donghuang Bell. The Donghuang Bell swayed gently, creating an empty space out of nothingness and constructing the basic framework of the Shinto world, in which the clear energy of heaven and the turbid energy of earth circulated, supporting heaven and earth.

A small amount of residue surrounded the [Zhu Shi (Earthly Immortal)] Dao Fruit and transformed into two mysterious lights, appearing and disappearing.

The mountain ghost's [Sheji] followed closely behind, integrated into the Donghuang Bell, and constructed the basic order of the Shinto world.

The clear and turbid gases intertwined and the surrounding void resonated. Above, wind, rain, thunder and lightning changed. The sun, moon and stars were born. The earth was vast and concave and convex. Towering mountains stood up and lakes appeared. All matter continued to improve.

During the circulation of clear and turbid air, some mountains and plains are affected by the clear air and suspended in the air. From a distance, they look like inverted peaks.

Many Shinto orders gathered together, and the shadows of soldiers and strong men that originally surrounded the Donghuang Bell fell down, collecting clouds, moving rocks, transforming gold and jade, and building grand buildings like heavenly palaces.

Moreover, these buildings are also important nodes for the operation of many orders, cooperating with the power of [Sheji] to construct the operation of the earth veins and qi veins.

Therefore, these floating mountains become a hub for the interaction between heaven and earth in this new world.

Many strange visions condensed above the mountains, turning into rainbow bridges, flowing springs, and some strange lotus flowers, vines, and clouds connected these peaks together.

These unique connecting channels are themselves the core of the circulation of vitality and power among the many mountains.

On the floating island in the center, there are dozens of silver streaks hanging down. They are the essence of the galaxy formed by the starlight above the nine heavens. They can also be regarded as the water of the Milky Way in this world.

Cleansed by these starlights, Shao Siming's [Resurrection (Shao Siming)] and Dongjun's [Mugong], the two construct life and create vitality.

Many lotuses and vines that were originally only constructed of vital energy began to show real vitality, and many vigorous ancient trees gradually gathered on the earth and the floating islands.

The crown of the largest of them is enough to cover hundreds of miles of land. On it are thick old vines that require several people to hug. They are coiled like a dragon, and there are also vines hanging down from the crown. From a distance, it looks like a green mountain, but when you get closer, it feels like a huge forest.

There are also many Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng and Polygonum multiflorum among the plants. They are all condensed from vital energy. If they were taken from the outside world, they would be at least a thousand years old, but now they are growing here like weeds.

The continuous rise of vitality also made the Great Sima of Life, [Qinghua of Pardon (Emperor Fengdu)], feel the response and merge into the Donghuang Bell, deriving the underworld in the Dharma Realm. The [Si Shi (Si Ming)] of the Xiangjun and Xiangfuren system followed suit and joined in, assisting the changes and operations of life and death.

He Bo's [Demon Suppression (Emperor's Ruins)] is hanging high above it, mobilizing part of the [Si Shi (Si Ming)] power to determine the changes in fate in the dark.

Of course, the changes in destiny at this time node are very simple, so [Si Shi (Si Ming)] does not seem to have any problems.

But after the final [Shangzhen (Great Sage)] was integrated into the Donghuang Bell, things were completely different. Its ability to enlighten spirits made many of the imaginary celestial maidens, Vajra, strong men, and guardians have some spiritual light.

The Emperor of Heaven also raised his hand and dropped down thousands of brilliant lights, sending many imaginary creatures into it, constructing seemingly endless changes in fate. At the same time, endless emotional power was integrated into it, allowing the imaginary world opened up on the Donghuang Bell to continue to condense and improve.

Chu Tai looked at the Emperor of Heaven in surprise. Just as he was about to ask something, the Emperor of Heaven stopped him and pointed at the illusory world, saying, "Take a closer look."

Hearing this, Chu Tai looked towards the illusory world opened up by the Donghuang Bell, and watched the illusory creatures in it quickly merge into the world.

They opened up fields between the mountains and forests, planted crops, built villages, and formed tribes.

The Emperor of Heaven gently moved the cosmic light, which turned into a veil and fell down. The Donghuang Bell shook lightly, lifting the veil. Chu Tai took a look, stretched out his hand and tapped it lightly. The Donghuang Bell stopped vibrating, and the veil slowly fell down.

In an instant, the civilization that would have taken decades or even hundreds of years to perfect began to be rapidly constructed, and the first generation of imaginary creatures gradually returned to the underworld.

At the same time, countless beliefs were built with the communication between these imaginary creatures, especially the imaginary celestial maidens, Vajra, strong men, and guardians that originally existed around the Donghuang Bell on many floating islands and suspended mountains, which became the objects of belief for some creatures.

As illusory creatures, they do not have any spiritual light bestowed by the Supreme Being, and the faith and vows they can provide are minimal.

At this time, the faith provided by a few creatures with spiritual light becomes particularly prominent.

Their wishes rose up, and with the influence of fate and Shinto order, they obtained a few fragments of Shinto order, gained powerful strength, and became a perfect part of Shinto order.

They became the spokespersons of Shinto in the world, gathering other people around themselves and guiding them towards a better future.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?"

Chu Tai looked towards the Emperor, somewhat curious as to why he accelerated time.

"I didn't expect your philosophy of governing the world would be like this."

The Emperor of Heaven stretched out his hand and lightly tapped the void. In the center of the illusory heaven and earth, the origin where the Donghuang Bell first created the world, the Taiyi Avenue slowly emerged.

"With Taiyi as the center, we construct the original changes, and with the eight kinds of Dao fruits as the branches, we construct the basic order of heaven and earth. Then, for the guidance of all living beings, we choose to let a few people lead the majority." Hearing this, Chu Tai looked at the human world in the illusory world and said, "Because this is the best way to deal with it. Moreover, the way of gods, like the way of humans, requires the gathering of the masses. If there is no one to lead, problems are more likely to arise."

As he spoke, Chu Tai looked towards the human world. Some of the creatures who had obtained fragments of the Shinto order were basically worshipped by all living beings at that time. The faint faith of those creatures supported these people with complete spiritual light to continue to maintain the order of the human world.

Moreover, the power of these people with spiritual light can also be fed back to all living beings through weak faith.

This concentrated feedback, under the influence of order, also nourishes the spirituality and aura of those creatures. Combined with the power of [Shangzhen (Great Sage)], it continuously accelerates the birth of more creatures with aura.

"Your action is naturally the best for the world, and all living beings can benefit from it. But the only question is, is it a bit unfair to these pillars?"

The Emperor of Heaven looked at those creatures who were believed in and who had obtained fragments of order. Because they were born with spiritual light, they could easily sense the power of order between heaven and earth. Because of the illusion of this heaven and earth and the strengthening of the right of choice of all living beings under the operation of the Taiyi Avenue, they were able to borrow the power of order.

Also, because Chu Tai believes that it would be better for all living beings to have someone to guide them, these creatures with innate spiritual light can, under extreme circumstances, easily obtain fragments from the Shinto order, and then they themselves become part of the operation of the Shinto order.

To put it bluntly, the fate of these creatures was wrapped up in the Shinto order, their future was determined, and they became a small cog under the power of [Si Shi (Si Ming)].

"When they borrow the power of order, they will gradually be affected and become part of the order of heaven and earth."

Chu Tai looked at the Emperor of Heaven with some surprise. After answering, he felt something was wrong and added, "Your Majesty seems to think that they should be completely independent and exist independently from the heaven and earth, but I don't think so. If humans are completely independent from the heaven and earth, then wouldn't the relationship between humans and the heaven and earth be contradictory?"

"In my opinion, man is a part of heaven and earth. Man's exploration of heaven and earth is also a process for heaven and earth to understand themselves. Man's transformation of heaven and earth is also a part of heaven and earth's self-transformation."

"As for determining their future, I don't agree with that. I am only exchanging fragments of order for payment at their future destination. This payment will not affect their minds. It is still up to them to decide what path to take and what choices to make in the future."

"It's like people will die eventually. They can't refuse death, but before death, what they can do, what they should do, and what path they can take are things that people can decide."

"Death is the law of nature, but it is the result of your choice. You have influenced them. If outsiders know the principle behind it, they will think you are hypocritical and artificial. You take offerings from all living beings, but you bully them."

The Emperor of Heaven pointed out the most criticized aspect of Chutai Avenue.

The way of [Taiyi] seems perfect, with heaven and man separated. The Taiyi of heaven hangs high above, and most of the Taiyi of man belongs to Chu Tai, with a small part being controlled by all living beings, reducing Chu Tai's interference in all living beings. This seems fair.

But upon closer inspection, the situation is different. Most living beings have obtained the principles of Taiyi from a few humans and received the protection of the Taiyi Avenue, but their future lives and choices will inevitably be affected by Taiyi.

Moreover, the power of Heaven's Taiyi will continue to increase with the exploration of all living beings.

In essence, the Taiyi Dao uses the power of all living beings to perfect itself and gain their worship.

But Chu Tai used his own power to interfere with all living beings, allowing some people to see more of the future, thereby interfering with their choices for the future.

Once this situation spreads, some people will inevitably think that Chu Tai's power of mastering the Way of Taiyi is one level higher than that of all living beings. Even if he is willing to walk among all living beings, many people will choose to worship him and pray to him, because he really has the ability to make all living beings live better, and the whole process is silent.

It can be said that Chu Tai’s ability, his talent, and his Tao fruit destined him to be different from other living beings.

Chu Tai sneered when he heard this, "You want to bully others?"

"What does Xiantian Daojun say? We all know that the essence of all acquired creatures and all matter is the power of Xiantian Daojun, which has been continuously degraded after the creation of heaven and earth. The purpose of our practice is to continuously climb upwards and become like Xiantian Daojun, born before heaven and earth, formed before heaven and earth, and yet an important core existence of heaven and earth."

"To put it more bluntly, what did the Supreme Dao Ancestor say? The spirituality of all living beings originates from him. As long as he wants, any acquired creature, whether you or me, ordinary people, insects, or even those illusory creatures below, as long as they have innate spiritual light, can be replaced by him. He can also interfere with the future and choices of all living beings. Even what you and I think now, can it be guaranteed that it will not be affected by the Supreme Dao Ancestor?"

Chu Tai looked at his own [Tai Yi] Avenue and whispered, "I know very well that I cannot be absolutely fair. I can only try my best not to let my choices hurt more people. But as long as I make a choice, it will inevitably affect other people. Then I will do nothing and fall into a state of emptiness without thoughts, without ideas, and without attachments?"

As he spoke, Chu Tai once again looked at a tribe in the illusory world, pointed at the creatures that had obtained the Order Fragment, and said, "Without the help of the Order Fragment, their tribe will be destroyed in the next disaster. Is this a bad influence?"

The Emperor of Heaven saw the future of that tribe at a glance and said softly, "But the survival of their tribe also led to more intense clashes with other tribes during the subsequent expansion, resulting in more deaths. Judging from the number of casualties and the impact caused, the addition of the Order Fragments has caused even worse effects."

"But it also adds many more spiritual beings, which is more beneficial to the operation of the world. According to what you said before, this is also a good direction for the world. All living beings can also feel the recognition of their own tribe through their sacrifices, and even build a new order and new kindness. This is also a good thing, isn't it?"

"But all of this is based on your own constraints. Once you stop thinking this way, there will be no chance for all living beings to turn things around."

The voice of the Emperor of Heaven came faintly, and Chu Tai said in a cold voice: "If such a day really comes, it means that my Tao nature is unbalanced, and my Tao heart is lost. It is normal for those who play with all living beings to die under me."

"This is a great thing to say."

The voice of the Emperor of Heaven suddenly became ethereal, and endless power of wishes was bestowed on Chu Tai. He suddenly turned around to look at the Emperor of Heaven, and finally understood why he had said so much before.

"Aren't you interfering with my choice? You..."

Before Chu Tai could finish his words, the Emperor of Heaven had already bowed and apologized, saying that he did not have enough time to witness Chu Tai's character and could only use this to determine his heart.

The Emperor of Heaven said that those wishes would not affect Chu Tai's mind, but would help him as long as he remained good.

Hearing this, Chu Tai closed his eyes slightly and sighed: "Well, I have made a choice, so naturally I have to bear the consequences of my choice. But has your condition already deteriorated to this point..."

(End of this chapter)