Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 323 Yin and Yang Intercourse Creates the Great Elixir, Only Lacking the Radiant Nine-Turn Pill

"Honoring the Great Virtue at its Beginning!"

The South Heavenly Gate is deep blue-green, carved entirely with glass, and adorned with precious jade.

Dozens of Heavenly Marshals stood on both sides of the Heavenly Gate, each a pillar of strength, holding a halberd and a banner, surrounding the four virtuous celestial beings, all paying their respects.

“You gentlemen, there’s no need for such formalities. I have neither merit nor virtue, and I should not be treated with such courtesy.”

With a slight thought, Zhou Cheng felt as if the Milky Way had reversed, turning back the clock, and everyone's figures returned to the moment before they bowed. Such great supernatural power was awe-inspiring.

"By the highest virtue, the Heavenly Emperor has been waiting for a long time."

The leading celestial being bowed to Zhou Cheng and then led him to meet the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Heavenly Venerable, the High God of the Mysterious Vault.

Even though this invitation came from the Primordial Celestial Venerable, once we arrived at the Heavenly Court, we still had to go through the proper procedures and first pay our respects to the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the Three Realms.

"The celestial palaces are indeed extraordinary."

Yu Yun, who was standing beside Zhou Cheng, spoke softly. As soon as she stepped into the South Heavenly Gate, she perceived the mystery of this magnificent heavenly scene.

As the saying goes, a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth.

Only in this way can those who cannot attain immortality be allowed to survive one tribulation after another under the protection of the heavens.

Upon hearing Yu Yun speak, a fairy attendant greeted her and said, "Goddess, you may not know this, but there are thirty-three heavenly palaces and seventy-two magnificent halls in the heavens..."

During their conversation, auspicious clouds and light swept by, and in no time they arrived at the Lingxiao Palace.

Indeed, it is the facade of the Heavenly Court, with golden nails adorning the jade doors and colorful phoenixes dancing at the vermilion gates. The covered walkways and corridors are exquisitely crafted; the three eaves and four clusters of dragons and phoenixes soar in layers.

As Zhou Cheng and his entourage entered the hall, they saw the Heavenly Consort holding a fan, the Jade Maiden holding a fairy handkerchief, and various immortals and gods standing on both sides of the hall, while the Heavenly Emperor sat on his throne behind a curtain.

"Great Virtue Begins, I have failed to greet you properly. Where is the strongman? Quickly invite Great Virtue Begins to take his seat." On the imperial throne, the Heavenly Emperor lifted the curtain and descended the steps to greet him.

Zhou Cheng returned the greeting, saying, "Zhou Chuchu, a wandering mortal from the lower realm, pays his respects to the Great Heavenly Venerable."

Yu Yun also paid homage to the Heavenly Emperor along with Zhou Cheng.

"I have heard that the Great Virtue initially followed the Supreme Dao Ancestor to convert barbarians to Buddhism, and then enlightened the Buddha from the East to clarify the Zen principles, thus promoting the great Dharma in the four continents and spreading the Great Way in Jambudvipa, which is a great merit. Therefore, I wish to pay homage to Your Majesty as Emperor or Heavenly Venerable, and I ask that the Great Virtue Initially not refuse."

The Jade Emperor's expression turned solemn, and for a moment the magnificent scene was solemn, with heavenly sounds resounding.

The title "Emperor Heavenly Venerable" is the highest rank in the Heavenly Court's celestial register, supposedly on par with the Four Emperors. However, in reality, it's just an honorary title.

“I dare not defy the great Heavenly Venerable’s kindness. I once had an incarnation, with purple energy stretching for eighty thousand miles, sitting upright in the Chongyang Jianming Palace. I was a guest of honor in the imperial court, and my heart was a guide for the Three Realms.”

Zhou Cheng naturally wouldn't refuse. It was just a disguise anyway. With a Ling Shan ID card, he would also need an ID card in the Heavenly Court. This was the basic procedure for a neutral powerful being.

As Zhou Cheng spoke, the Great Dao manifested, chaos intertwined, and endless auspicious energy emerged, vast and mighty, transforming into the majestic appearance of an emperor.

"Excellent! All of you, why don't you quickly offer your praises: The Primordial Emperor of the Primordial Chaos, the First Heavenly Venerable Who Saves the World?"

As soon as the Jade Emperor finished speaking, the Heavenly Dao responded, the Immortal Register was generated, the position of the Great Emperor was established, and the True Fruit of the Heavenly Venerable was solidified.

The heavens are said to have nine fields, with the central heaven being the highest, also known as the Juntian.

The fact that the Emperor was addressed with the title "Juntian" shows the great Heavenly Venerable's respect for him. Therefore, all the immortals and gods dared not be negligent in the slightest and hurriedly paid their respects.

"The goddess Yu has served the Emperor with great merit. Her double pupils are a sign of a sage. She possesses great supernatural powers and is both talented and virtuous. I shall honor her and call her: the Divine Lady of the Central Heaven, Illuminating the Two Elements."

As soon as the Great Celestial Venerable finished speaking, all the immortals and gods hurriedly bowed to Yu Yun and greeted her as the Goddess Yuanjun.

After the ceremony was completed and the formalities were finished, a cloud of auspiciousness entered the Lingxiao Palace without prior notice; it was a white crane attendant.

"White Crane greets the Great Celestial Venerable. By order of my Master, I request that the First Emperor make a trip to the Jade Purity Realm of the Pure and Subtle Heaven."

Upon seeing this, Zhou Cheng immediately bowed and said, "Great Heavenly Venerable, the Primordial Lord of the Sect has invited me, and I will go to pay my respects."

The Great Celestial Venerable nodded and said, "Very well, Your Majesty, please do as you please."

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhou Cheng and Yu Yun followed the white crane attendant and headed towards the Thirty-Three Heavens.

It is said that there are thirty-three layers of heaven, and above the thirty-three layers is the Three Pure Heavens Sacred Realm, which is a heaven beyond heaven, a realm above realms, the highest and most wonderful.

……

In the serene and sacred heavens, there is a pavilion of purple clouds and a city of azure mists.

Upon entering Bixia City and ascending Ziyun Pavilion, one sees a scene of primordial chaos and swirling primordial energy, where a sage sits serenely.

"Primordial Emperor, please take a seat."

In the chaotic mist, a solemn leader opened his eyes, and the Dharma radiance shone brightly, and the Dao energy endured forever.

As they spoke, the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams spun, transforming into a platform that landed in front of Zhou Cheng.

Without hesitation, Zhou Cheng sat down on the platform, with Yu Yun standing beside him.

"The Emperor befriends the Heavenly Dao and cultivates the Golden Elixir Dao, which is the orthodox method. Of the three thousand Great Daos, the Golden Elixir Dao is the best, and it is truly the orthodox sect of Daoism."

"Therefore, we wish to ask the Emperor to become a patriarch and pass on a lineage of Dao."

Zhou Cheng had thought he would see an old friend this time, but it was clear that he would not; it was just the physical body left behind by the old friend as he walked among mortals.

The so-called incarnation of the Word is nothing more than this.

"That is my wish, but I dare not ask you."

As Zhou Cheng finished speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun pondered for a moment and said, "Before the beginning, there was no ignorance, no existence, and no birth of the Dao. This was called Taiyi, or perhaps we could call it: Taiyi Qingwei Patriarch. I wonder what the Emperor thinks?"

“Good, I once had an incarnation. In the beginning of the primordial chaos, the Dao was as it was. It was always present and always absent, and I attained it naturally. My body was as old as heaven and earth. Even if Mount Sumeru collapsed, my nature would still remain.”

As Zhou Cheng finished speaking, his body shone with boundless light, and a figure emerged, dressed in the Nine Palaces, wearing the Eight Trigrams, with the Tai Chi symbol, and stepping on the Yin and Yang, truly displaying the demeanor of an enlightened patriarch.

"In that case, the Daoist sect will have one more lineage of the Wuji Dharma. I will not trouble you any longer. There is a call from the Great Dao in the Great Luo Heaven. You should make a trip there."

The Three Pure Ones Heaven is said to be the highest heaven, but in reality, it is not.

The 33rd heaven is called the Lihen Heaven Taiqing Realm, the 34th heaven is called the Yuyu Heaven Shangqing Realm, and the 35th heaven is called the Qingwei Heaven Yuqing Realm.

Above the Jade Purity Realm lies the Thirty-Sixth Heaven, known as the Great Luo Heavenly Sacred Realm.

It is said that the Great Luo gave birth to the three primordial energies, which transformed into the Three Pure Realms. The Jade Pure Realm was formed from the primordial energy; the Upper Pure Realm was formed from the primordial energy; and the Supreme Pure Realm was formed from the profound energy.

Therefore, the four heavens of the Holy Realm are actually one entity. It is correct to say that there are thirty-six heavens, or that there are thirty-three heavens.

"Since it is the call of the Great Dao, I should take this journey."

As he spoke, Zhou Cheng stood up, paid his respects to Yuanshi Tianzun, and then walked out of Bixia City, his gaze fixed on the void above.

"Where are the Thirty-Six Heavens? Why can't I sense them?"

Zhou Cheng chuckled and said, "Thirty-six heavens, free and unfettered, follow me closely."

As they spoke, Zhou Cheng took Yu Yun's hand, took a step, and his figure disappeared into the realm of "existence".

Beyond the three realms and all worlds, there is only boundless emptiness.

Standing in nothingness, all things will return to nothingness and disperse.

Zhou Chengqing's boundless Dharma light enveloped his entire body, forming an independent "existence" domain. As long as Yu Yun did not leave the area of ​​about ten feet around Zhou Chengqing, she would not be affected.

"You...you're disappearing?" Yu Yun noticed Zhou Cheng's change.

It's not accurate to describe it as disappearing, because it's not being damaged at all, but rather spreading.

Suddenly, a radiant light flowed, revealing the source of the Great Dao, transforming into the Great Luo Heaven Sacred Realm, and spreading outwards.

Then Zhou Cheng saw a familiar old Taoist priest sitting upright in the Great Luo Heaven, his gaze seemingly gazing into endless dimensions and endless conceptual worlds.

"Young friend, are you alright?" "Mr. Boyang is too kind. How could a cultivator fall ill?" Zhou Cheng replied with a smile, pulling Yu Yun to sit beside the Taoist.

The Taoist laughed and said, "How could it not be? The creatures that gave rise to the Evil Land Plateau did so in their pursuit of the true Taiyi, only to make themselves sick."

“I don’t think this is an illness. After all, he is determined to die. If he has a will to live, he will naturally be able to break free from the state of neither existence nor non-existence.”

As soon as Zhou Cheng finished speaking, he saw the Taoist shake his head: "How can a mental illness not be considered an illness?"

After exchanging a few words, the Taoist smiled and said, "Now that your resolve is firm, young friend, you may try to prove the Primordial Beginning."

"It's not perfect yet, let's wait a little longer."

Zhou Cheng still intended to see things through to the end, and it wouldn't be too late to undergo the Great Nirvana after his alchemy had reached perfection.

"There is no such thing as true perfection. It is good as it is. The purer the heart, the stronger the life. So it is a good thing."

The Taoist nodded, then looked Zhou Cheng up and down, and said, “I think you should now practice the sixth stage of the Daoist alchemy. This Great Luo Heaven is quite peaceful, so it is appropriate for you to practice here.”

“Very well, please, Mr. Boyang, protect my path.”

Zhou Cheng nodded, and without hesitation, he half-closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and entered the mysterious inner realm.

Inside the inner alchemy furnace, the four medicines were perfectly prepared, clear and transparent, resonating with the golden cauldron and jade furnace, emitting boundless light, presenting a clear and wondrous phenomenon.

"I would like to trouble you, fellow Daoist, to harmonize the four medicines and unite Yin and Yang."

Zhou Cheng looked at Granny Huang, who was guarding the cauldron, and bowed slightly.

"I will obey Your Excellency's decree."

Huang Po solemnly displayed a selfless and tolerant heart, urging the golden cauldron and jade furnace to harmonize the four medicines.

Black gold intertwines, rabbit marrow and wood fluid are hidden, yin and yang are reversed and refined, the two principles guide the mysterious.

The so-called union of Yin and Yang means the four medicines returning to one and the five hearts harmonizing, which requires great wisdom and perseverance to achieve.

The inner world remains constant, and the sun and moon are imperceptible.

In the Great Luo Heaven, the Taoist smiled, nodded slightly, and uttered a word of praise.

“Girl, are you bored? My Great Luo Sacred Realm has many mysteries that can help you achieve great power and become a great supernatural being.”

Only by comprehending the ultimate truth of a path can one attain great supernatural powers.

This is also the realm that Yu Yun has pursued throughout her long life.

Long before Zhou Cheng achieved the Dao Fruit of Infinite Sacrifice, he could have directly enlightened Yu Yun, leading her to the true pinnacle of the path.

However, Yu Yun was naturally unwilling, because if it wasn't something she had figured out herself, it meant that her wisdom hadn't reached that level.

She still hopes to reach the pinnacle of this field through her own abilities.

Not only Yu Yun, but Taiwei Hua was the same.

Insights gained easily can create a sense of delusion and have a severe impact on one's spiritual heart.

The higher the level of a being, the more importance it places on the Dao Heart.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Yu Yun dared not be negligent in the slightest. After bowing respectfully, she attempted to comprehend the Dao of Yin and Yang.

At this moment, Yu Yun seemed to perceive the complete mystery of Yin and Yang, as if it lingered in her heart, allowing her to ponder and touch it at will.

……

Meanwhile, Zhou Cheng and Yu Yun were cultivating their spirituality in the Great Luo Heaven.

Above the East Sea, in a blessed land, Taiwei Hua was also meditating and cultivating his mind, whipping the Wood Mother to teach her to temper her nature and get rid of laziness.

"boom!"

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed across the vast East China Sea.

As if the sky were collapsing and the earth were being overturned, a force was trying to shake the unshakable roots of the earth.

"Who dares to act so presumptuously in the ancestral veins of the Ten Provinces?"

Startled, Taiwei Hua activated his supernatural powers, opening a third eye between his brows to see where the commotion came from.

On the shore of the East China Sea, there stands a sacred mountain, its imposing presence dominating the vast ocean and its majestic power pacifying the Jade Sea—truly a magnificent and extraordinary land of immortals.

"Flower Fruit Mountain? Sun Wukong has been born? Why so early?"

Taiwei Hua saw the celestial embryo explode, and a stone monkey was born, its eyes shining with golden light, shooting straight to the Dipper and the Ox, and it was worshipping the four directions.

"If I remember correctly, Journey to the West says that when the Five Elements Mountain fell from the sky, it was during Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty."

Taiwei Hua did a quick calculation and found that it was indeed around this time.

The Zhou Dynasty's eight-hundred-year reign has not yet ended, and the day when Wang Mang usurps the Han throne is still far off.

According to Journey to the West, Sun Wukong was over 340 years old when he wreaked havoc in the underworld.

Then he stayed in the heavens for half a month, and then rebelled against the heavens for the first time. According to the calculation that one day in heaven is equivalent to one year on earth, it was fifteen years.

After that, Sun Wukong was granted amnesty a second time and stayed in the Peach Garden for half a year, which was around 180 years ago.

So, from the time the monkey was born until it was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, it was indeed around five or six hundred years.

"The journey to the West is fraught with eighty-one tribulations; perhaps I could join in the fun and watch the live stream?"

Taiwei Hua has a good impression of Sun Wukong, after all, the Journey to the West series was quite well-made in her home world.

"If I remember correctly, the Heavenly Immortal Technique that Sun Wukong cultivated once said that after completing the work, one can become a Buddha or an immortal, which must also be a method of alchemy."

"Seven years to master the alchemy technique... That's outrageous."

Taiwei Hua recalled the hardships he had faced in cultivating the elixir method and felt a pang of envy.

However, judging from Sun Wukong's subsequent behavior on the journey to the West, he doesn't seem to have achieved enlightenment or a perfect mind.

"I wonder when my husband will be back..."

At the very moment Taiwei Hua had this thought, Zhou Cheng opened his eyes in the Great Luo Heaven.

This was no coincidence, but a sudden impulse born from a complex web of cause and effect.

Within Zhou Cheng's inner realm, the golden cauldron and jade furnace, which had been rumbling for a long time, fell silent once more.

Huang Po embodies great tolerance, embracing all changes and securing the cauldron and sealing the furnace.

Inside the furnace, the four medicines had vanished, leaving only a large, round, golden-yellow lump of medicine.

At this point, it can be considered that the core has been formed.

Next comes the seven cycles and nine transformations, passing through the three gates, severing the three corpses, and the elixir is completed through nine transformations, transforming into a sacred embryo.

"Congratulations, young friend, on completing the sixth step of alchemy. For this final step, would you be willing to form a karmic connection?"

The Taoist priest looked at Zhou Cheng with a smile.

"I wonder if this is the Dharma of Fate?" Zhou Cheng greeted him with a cupped hand and then inquired.

The Taoist priest laughed and said, "There is a naturally born true spirit in the lower realm who has descended to earth, but has no one to teach him. He is ignorant and unaware of his own existence, and has not yet developed the desire to follow the Tao."

As he spoke, the Taoist pointed gently, revealing the scenery of Flower and Fruit Mountain, and said, "Young friend, you can cultivate your sacred embryo in your own Taoist temple, and use the extraordinary phenomena to enlighten this monkey to the heart of Tao, thus forming a good karmic connection."

(End of this chapter)