Primordial Era: The Witch Clan's Dog-Headed Strategist

As wealth flourished, the art of funeral rites, promoted by Ran Deng, also spread throughout the primordial world.

Dipankara, the powerful god of funerals.

Ever since Pan Xuan held the first funeral in the primordial world for his father and established the way of funerals, he has always taken it upon himself to promote the way of funerals.

He knew that the way of funeral rites, which may seem to be just a farewell ceremony for the living to the dead, actually contained the deepest teachings of the primordial world.

It is a reverence for life, respect for death, a bond of kinship, and a reverence for cause and effect.

On this day, Randeng emerged from the celestial realm and descended to the mortal world, beginning his journey to spread the art of funeral rites.

He first preached the meaning of funeral rites in the cities of the human race.

He stood on the high platform and slowly spoke: "All living beings are subject to birth and death; this is the natural order of things."

However, how the living face the dead, and how the dead peacefully depart, are questions that have their own profound truths.

I established the way of funerals in the primordial world so that all living beings would understand.

The living respect the dead, and the dead bless the living; by remembering the deceased and honoring our ancestors, the people's virtue will be restored!

He taught the people, established ancestral temples, and worshipped their ancestors.

On the anniversary of their ancestors' death, ordinary people would burn incense and offer sacrifices in the ancestral temple to remember their ancestors' virtues.

The elders of the clan often tell their descendants about the deeds of their ancestors in the ancestral temple, passing on the virtues of their ancestors from generation to generation.

From then on, the concept of "ancestors" came into being among the human race, the inheritance of "incense offerings" came into being, and the teaching of "filial piety" came into being.

He also taught the human race how to perform funeral rites.

When a close relative dies, a mortal should wear mourning clothes and observe a period of mourning to express full grief.

The funeral rites included the procedures for laying the body in state, the encoffining, the funeral procession, the burial, and the period of mourning.

Every ritual has its profound meaning.

A lieutensil is a time for the living to bid a final farewell to the dead.

The act of preparing the body for burial is to allow the deceased to depart peacefully.

A funeral procession is a way for the living to send the deceased off on their final journey.

Burial is a way to allow the deceased to rest in peace.

Observing mourning is a way for the living to come to understand the true meaning of life amidst grief.

In that mortal world, after the way of funerals spread.

The bad habits of wasting resources and abandoning corpses in the wilderness gradually disappeared; the rules of elaborate burials and simple funerals with proper etiquette were gradually established.

Among the human race, the tradition of respecting Heaven and ancestors and remembering the past is becoming increasingly strong.

The local customs, under the influence of these funeral practices, gradually became more honest and virtuous.

In that realm of immortals, the Burning Lamp also established a department for funerals.

The lineage of immortal cultivators is often passed down to their disciples before their death, according to funeral rites.

From then on, the spirit of remembering and honoring ancestors also took hold in the Immortal Realm.

Standing in the mortal realm, watching the funeral rites gradually emerging among the human race, he slowly said:

"The way of funeral rites may seem to be just a farewell between the living and the dead, but in fact it is the foundation of that ancient civilization."

With this teaching of reverence for Heaven and ancestors, and the importance of remembering the past and honoring the departed, the hearts of the people in the primordial world found a sense of belonging.

With wealth flourishing and funeral practices spreading, the entire wilderness was thriving.

However, Pan Xuan's gaze quietly shifted from the bustling city to another celestial court.

On this day, Pan Xuan issued a decree, summoning Di Jun to the Great Luo Heaven for consultation.

When Di Jun arrived, Pan Xuan cut to the chase:

"Fellow Daoist Di Jun, after much deliberation, I have a matter to entrust to you."

Di Jun said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist, please speak freely."

Pan Xuan slowly said, "We will soon be embarking on a long expedition to Chaos."

However, before embarking on an expedition, it is essential to ensure that there are no hidden dangers within the wilderness.

I thought and thought, and there were two places in that heaven that I couldn't shake off my worries.

That is Haotian and Yaochi.

"Haotian? Yaochi?"

Di Jun was taken aback. "Haotian was chosen by Hongjun to be the ruler of the Heavenly Palace. Yaochi was also chosen by him to be the head of the female immortals in the Heavenly Palace."

When Hongjun entrusted the Heavenly Court to me, these two were already serving in the Heavenly Court. Could it be... that you suspect Hongjun left a contingency plan with them?

"We must be on guard."

Pan Xuan's gaze was deep and serious. "Hongjun is a master strategist."

When he was in charge of the Heavenly Dao, how many hidden schemes did he plant throughout the primordial world?

The Investiture of the Gods is one example.

Haotian and Yaochi were both important ministers of the Heavenly Court personally selected by Hongjun back then. How could we be sure he hadn't tampered with them?

Upon hearing this, Di Jun pondered for a long time before slowly nodding:

"What you say makes sense. Haotian and Yaochi have served in the Heavenly Court since its inception and are highly valued."

When I was in charge of the Heavenly Court, I trusted them implicitly.

If Hongjun truly had a backup plan for them, then it would indeed be a hidden danger for our Heavenly Court.

"That's exactly right," Pan Xuan said. "Therefore, I would like to ask you, fellow Daoist, to keep a close eye on Haotian and Yaochi."

There's no need to alert them; just observe them discreetly.

"Observe them for any unusual movements, any connections with the outside world, or any abnormalities in their cultivation or fortune. If you discover anything amiss, report it immediately."

Di Jun nodded: "Alright. I'll handle this personally."

"There is one more thing," Pan Xuan said. "Haotian and Yaochi are, after all, important officials of the Heavenly Court."

If they are innocent, we will treat them with courtesy.

If they have indeed been tricked by Hongjun, we should try to resolve the situation instead of simply being suspicious.

When you investigate, fellow Daoist, I hope you will uphold impartiality and refrain from harming the loyal and virtuous.

Di Jun solemnly replied, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

After entrusting the affairs of the Heavenly Court to Di Jun, Pan Xuan turned his gaze to the other two places in the prehistoric world: the East Sea and the West Kunlun.

On the shores of the East Sea, there is a celestial mountain called Penglai. Atop Penglai dwells an ancient being, the Eastern King Duke.

The Eastern King Duke was born at the beginning of chaos, and was formed from pure yang energy, making him the most yang and masculine being in the primordial world.

He held the power of the male immortals in the world, and together with the Queen Mother of the West on Mount Kunlun, they were known as the incarnations of Yin and Yang in the primordial world.

Above the Western Kunlun Mountains lives another ancient being, the Queen Mother of the West.

The Queen Mother of the West was formed from pure Yin energy, and was the most Yin and gentle being in the primordial world.

She held the power of the celestial female immortals, and together with the Eastern King Duke, one yin and one yang, one hard and one soft, they maintained the yin-yang balance of the primordial immortal path.

The Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother are both ancient beings from the primordial era, living in peace and transcending worldly affairs.

They do not participate in the struggle for supremacy in the primordial world, nor are they entangled in the karma of the primordial world. They simply stay on Penglai and Xikunlun, quietly guarding their own way.

However, Pan Xuan still felt that something was amiss.

Since he took charge of the divine path and looked down upon the primordial world, he had a vague feeling.

The Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother seemed to be shrouded in an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible aura.

That aura was extremely faint. If he hadn't become a saint, and if he hadn't looked down upon the primordial world from the perspective of a saint, he probably would never have noticed it.

"Hongjun..." Pan Xuan said slowly, "Back then, when you were in charge of the Heavenly Dao, you laid hidden traps all over the prehistoric world. The Investiture of the Gods was one of your doing."

That Jade Pool in the heavens was all your doing.

Could it be that the Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother were also part of your scheme?

He decided to investigate himself.

"To repel external aggression, we must first pacify internal strife."

Pan Xuan stood atop the Great Luo Heaven, his gaze sweeping far into the distance.

"Before embarking on the expedition into Chaos, I must first confirm that there are absolutely no hidden dangers left behind by Hongjun within this primordial world."

The Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother are the last place I need to investigate.

With a flick of his sleeve, a streak of light rose from the Great Luo Heaven and flew straight towards Penglai in the East Sea.