Chapter 1439: 516: Wei Yan Presents a Gift
Chapter 1439: Chapter 516: Wei Yan Presents a Gift
When Li Ping’an used to visit the Chan Teaching, he would always observe the customs of a disciple and was warmly welcomed by all the senior uncles.
Today, as Li Ping’an came to the Chan Teaching, all the Preceptors of Chan Teaching, including Ran Deng Daoist, who had arrived at some point at the Jade Void Palace, stood, while only Li Ping’an had a seat, sitting to the right of Yuanshi Tianzun.
The standing of the third-generation disciples of Chan Teaching was filled completely.
The mortal Jiang Shang was still in a state of bewilderment.
He was unaware of who these immortals were and could only kneel with his head lowered, awaiting the immortals to speak and see who would accept him.
These immortals continuously spoke of some arcane scriptures, leaving him drowsy.
‘Could it be that I’m not suited for cultivation?’
Jiang Shang worried thus.
Until someone called out beside his ears: “Jiang Shang, Jiang Shang?”
“Present!” Jiang Shang quickly responded.
Guang Chengzi spoke gently: “You are now of mortal flesh, unaware of heavenly numbers, ignorant of cultivation, and unseen by sacred immortals, yet you must not lose decorum. The teacher wishes to take you as a disciple; do you agree?”
“I agree!” Jiang Shang, entirely unaware of who accepted him as a disciple, merely followed the guidance of the middle-aged male immortal beside him, bowing his head forward in reverence.
“Good.”
Yuanshi Tianzun raised his right hand, and with a slight flick forward of his fingers, a ripple slowly emanated.
The robes on Jiang Shang transformed into a soft, grey Daoist robe, his mortal body already transformed into a semi-immortal form. His heart was filled with layers of messages, understanding what was meant by the Vast Wilderness Heaven and Earth, the Four Continents, Four Seas, and the Three Thousand Worlds.
He hurriedly bowed again, loudly declaring: “Thank you, teacher, for enlightening me!”
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly and said softly, “Go forth and cultivate.”
Vice Sect Leader Ran Deng took the initiative to lead Jiang Shang out of the hall.
The Twelve Golden Immortals were somewhat bewildered.
Li Ping’an took the initiative to reveal: “Master Ancestor, Jiang Shang should be the main tribulation taker of the Dao Immortal Tribulation, right?”
“Indeed,” Yuanshi Tianzun smiled and nodded, “This is the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao, destined for our Chan Teaching to accept him, so let him cultivate for decades and attain a True Immortal’s form before presiding over the matters of the Divine Enthronement.”
The Twelve Golden Immortals thus understood.
Li Ping’an pondered, “Then what about my father?”
“There are two main tribulation takers.”
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke softly:
“Look at Jiang Shang; he himself lacks Great Fortune to protect him, yet he possesses the destiny of a godlike appearance, chosen to assist a mundane wise ruler of the Southern Continent.
“Your father is surrounded by Great Fortune, acting as the catalyst for the Dao Immortal Tribulation; six or seven hundred years ago, he faced two fated perils of death. If he had succumbed to them, he would have reincarnated to cultivate and would have been taken into our Chan Teaching.
“Now that the tribulation situation has changed, he passed through both perils, as they say, once but not twice or thrice, the Heavenly Dao has altered the tribulation course.
“He remains as the main tribulation taker.”
Li Ping’an was bewildered by these words.
Six to seven hundred years ago, two fated perils of death?
Which means, hypothetically without his influence, his father would have perished during the Wanmo Heaven affair, then relying on the Sea of Blood to reincarnate and cultivate, becoming one of the main tribulation takers of the Daoist Immortal·Deification Tribulation, equivalent to Shen Gongbao corresponding to Jiang Shang?
If calculating time, hypothetically, if his father died during the Wanmo Heaven’s assault on the Wanyun Sect, was reincarnated, and then accepted into the Chan Teaching, and later when the Six Great Masters attained saintship and were summoned by Hongjun to Zixiao Palace for a millennium…
It really aligns with Shen Gongbao having a thousand years more of cultivation than Jiang Shang.
Li Ping’an understood.
The great tribulation situation had been disrupted by his own actions.
No wonder the Heavenly Dao didn’t send Jiang Shang to him; if he messed with Jiang Shang again, the Dao Immortal Tribulation might truly become a western catastrophe.
“I see,” Li Ping’an nodded slowly, solemnly stating, “Then, Master Ancestor, should my father come to Jade Void Palace?”
Yuanshi Tianzun replied, “There’s no need; everything should follow the movements of the Heavenly Dao.”
“The disciple understands.”
Guang Chengzi offered his respects below: “Teacher, since you’ve accepted a new disciple today, will there be a lecture on the Dao?”
“No need for a lecture on the Dao.”
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke softly:
“The Dao Immortal Tribulation has already commenced, and all disciples are entangled with tribulation fate. There will naturally be ways to address this within, but the time is not yet ripe for the disciples to know.
“The Dao Immortal Tribulation is originally intended by the Heavenly Dao to reclaim the authority of the Great Dao, to stabilize the order, and to nourish the world. Thus, when the tribulation comes, do not panic, just face it wholeheartedly.”
The Twelve Golden Immortals bowed their heads in compliance.
Yuanshi Tianzun smiled and asked, “Your Majesty has come; is there any important matter?”
“No important matter,” Li Ping’an smiled, “Master Ancestor returns to Jade Void Palace, and as a disciple of Chan Teaching, I must come to pay my respects.”
Yuanshi Tianzun’s smile became even warmer.
He sighed, “With the great tribulation approaching, Your Majesty does not need to exert too much effort, as this tribulation is favorable to the Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Dao.”
“The disciple does not wish to exert effort, merely can’t put anxieties aside.”
“What does Your Majesty find anxious?”
Li Ping’an stated solemnly, “Please forgive the disciple’s discourtesy, but I feel that blindly following the Heavenly Dao is not necessarily a good thing. Although the Heavenly Dao is without emotion, its assessment of the future isn’t always accurate. Elements of Hongjun’s malevolent corpse are intertwined within, though the corpse has been suppressed by Elder Shi’s ancestor, yet it ultimately harbors many anomalies.”
Yuanshi Tianzun smiled and said, “Your Majesty’s words, however, underestimate the capabilities of the Heavenly Dao.”
“Master Ancestor undoubtedly has a more profound understanding of the Heavenly Dao.”
Li Ping’an smiled and said:
“This is simply how the disciple feels.
“The Heavenly Dao always leaves me uneasy, especially with Transcenders plotting outside.”
Yuanshi Tianzun replied, “The person who should trust the Heavenly Dao the most is indeed Your Majesty.”
Li Ping’an shook his head with a smile: “It’s not that I don’t trust the Heavenly Dao. Considering everything that has happened before, I am more inclined to trust living beings.”
“Living beings and the Heavenly Dao are not adversaries.”
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke:
“Your Majesty need not be skeptical; just follow the path laid by the Heavenly Dao.”
“Yes, the disciple shall adhere to your teachings.”
Li Ping’an respectfully extended courtesy, though inwardly he sighed slightly, saying nothing further.
Yuanshi Tianzun, after explaining a few things to Guang Chengzi, advising the disciples to cultivate steadfastly in the mountains and to assist the Heavenly Court fully if needed, transformed into celestial light and vanished.