Upon seeing this, Ran Deng said, "Let each of you return and discuss this further." All the immortals ascended the reed-roofed pavilion and sat down. Suddenly, celestial music resounded in the air, and a wondrous fragrance descended from the sky. The immortals descended from the pavilion to greet their revered master. They saw the Primordial Heavenly Venerable seated in a nine-dragon incense chariot, the fragrant smoke filling the air. It was truly a scene of breathtaking beauty: Incense burners blazing, smoke rising in pairs; feather fans parting, white cranes paying homage.
The monks, with incense burning, led the way to the reed hut. Yuanshi sat down, and after the disciples had paid their respects, Yuanshi said, "Now that the Immortal Slaughtering Formation has been completed, only the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation will be held again. Our tribulations are over. From now on, we shall return to the mountain and strive for further progress to attain the true Dao." All the disciples murmured their agreement.
Yuanshi Tianzun sat enthroned, with his disciples standing on either side. At midnight, auspicious clouds appeared above Yuanshi Tianzun's head, adorned with hanging pearl necklaces and countless golden flowers, illuminating the surroundings. Daoist Duobao, who was making preparations within the formation, saw the auspicious clouds rise and knew that Yuanshi Tianzun had descended. He thought to himself, "This formation can only be effective if my master arrives; otherwise, how can we withstand him?"
The next day, as expected, the Tongtian Sect Leader of Biyou Palace arrived. Celestial music resounded in the air, and a strange fragrance filled the air. He was accompanied by numerous immortals, both high and low; this was the master of the Jie Sect. How virtuous he was! A poem testifies to it: "Hongjun created creation, revealing the opening of heaven; the earth was ugly, and man ascended the Dharma platform at dawn."
Forged into a golden body through countless eons, nurtured many talents within the Biyou Palace.
Seeing the celestial music resounding in mid-air, Daoist Duobao knew his master had arrived. He hurriedly stepped out of the formation to greet him and entered. He sat down on the Bagua Platform, where his disciples stood below. Among them were Daoist Duobao, the Golden Spirit Mother, the Wudang Mother, and the Turtle Spirit Mother; also present were Golden Light Immortal, Black Cloud Immortal, Pilu Immortal, Lingya Immortal, Qiushou Immortal, Golden Hoop Immortal, and Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal. The Tongtian Sect Master was the founder of the Jie Sect, having cultivated the Five Qi Converging at the Origin and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, possessing an indestructible body.
At midnight, the sky darkened, and within the Immortal Slaughtering Formation, five energies surged into the sky, illuminating the entire world. Three azure lotuses, covering an area of ten thousand acres, floated up and down with the waves of energy, fluctuating erratically.
Yuanshi Tianzun, knowing that Tongtian had arrived, also manifested an acre of auspicious clouds, emitting five-colored light and ten thousand golden lamps, which fell in droplets like water dripping from the eaves, sharing half of the light of heaven and earth with Tongtian Jiaozhu's Five Qi Soaring into the Sky.
The next day, Yuanshi ordered his disciples to line up: Chijing to Guangchengzi; Taiyi Zhenren to Lingbao Dafashi; Qingxu Daode Zhenjun to Julusun; Guangshu Guangfa Tianzun to Puxian Zhenren; Yunzhongzi to Cihang Daoren; Yuding Zhenren to Daoxing Tianzun; Huanglong Zhenren to Lu Ya; Randeng and Ziya were behind; Jinzha and Muzha held the furnace; Weihu and Leizhenzi were side by side; Li Jing was behind; and Nezha went first. Suddenly, the golden bell within the Zhuxian Formation rang out, and with the sound, a pair of flags unfurled. On the Kui Niu sat Tongtian Jiaozhu, flanked by his disciples from various generations.
When the Tongtian Sect Leader met the Heavenly Venerable of the Beginning, although he was extremely unwilling, he still bowed and said, "Brother Dao, please!"
Yuanshi, however, was unmoved and said, "Why did you set up this evil formation, my worthy brother? What is the meaning of this? Back then, in your Biyou Palace, we discussed the 'Investiture of the Gods,' and sealed it in person, establishing three categories: those with deep roots and virtues would attain the path of immortality; those with slightly lesser roots and virtues would attain the path of gods; and those with shallow roots and virtues would attain the path of humans, still subject to the cycle of reincarnation. This is the creation and transformation of Heaven and Earth. The Shang dynasty was wicked and its fate was sealed; the Zhou dynasty was benevolent and wise, and its rise was destined. Did you not know this? Instead, you obstructed Jiang Shang, defying the signs of Heaven." "Furthermore, the 'Investiture of the Gods' should have contained 365 degrees, divided into eight constellations, and included figures from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks. Why did you, my worthy brother, contradict yourself and bring upon yourself the sin of breaking your promise? Moreover, this evil formation is abhorrent in its very name. The very words 'Slaying Immortals' are something only our Taoist sects would do! And this sword bears the names 'Slay,' 'Slaughter,' 'Trap,' and 'Sever,' which are not tools used by our Taoist sects. How can you say that you have committed such an offense?"
The Tongtian Sect Leader said angrily, "Brother Dao, you don't need to ask me. Just ask Guang Chengzi, and you will know my true intentions."
Yuanshi asked Guangchengzi again, "How do you explain this?" Guangchengzi recounted the story of visiting Biyou Palace three times.
The Tongtian Sect Leader angrily retorted, "Guang Chengzi, you once scolded my disciples for disregarding right and wrong, good and bad, and for teaching even birds and beasts indiscriminately, treating them all as one. My master taught three kinds of friends in one sect, and I am on par with birds and beasts; are you not of the same lineage as me, fellow Daoist?"
Upon hearing this, Yuanshi frowned. He had always despised Tongtian, firstly due to the influence of their doctrines, and secondly due to the influence of their personalities. Hearing Tongtian's words, he retorted, "Brother, don't blame Guangchengzi. In truth, your followers act recklessly, disregarding right and wrong, relying solely on force, behaving like beasts. Moreover, you, brother, don't discriminate based on their background, indiscriminately accepting them, leading to infighting and causing widespread suffering. Can you bear this?"
Yuanshi's sophistry made Tongtian blush with anger, and he said, "According to what you say, it's only because your disciples are right that they can even scold me? You don't care about your own brothers. I have already set up this formation, so break it and we'll see who is better."
Yuanshi said, "You want me to break this formation? That's not difficult. I will come to see this formation myself. You can go in first and finish setting it up."
The Tongtian Sect Leader sneered, flicked his sleeve, and turned back to Kui Niu, entering the Immortal Slaughtering Gate; his disciples followed. They stood behind the Eight Trigrams Platform, waiting to see Yuanshi break the formation.
Auspicious clouds and golden lanterns appeared atop Yuanshi Tianzun's head. Standing atop the Nine-Dragon Incense Chariot, he held onto the Flying Chair and slowly proceeded to the east, to the Zhen direction, where the Immortal Slaughtering Gate stood. Hanging above the gate was a precious sword named the Immortal Slaughtering Sword. Yuanshi Tianzun slapped the chariot, commanding the Four Jiedi Gods to lift it up. Four golden lotus flowers sprouted from the four legs; light emanated from the petals; and from the light, flowers bloomed layer upon layer, until ten thousand golden lotuses illuminated the sky. Yuanshi Tianzun sat in the center and slowly entered the Immortal Slaughtering Gate.
The Tongtian Sect Leader uttered a sound, causing the precious sword to tremble and crack with a sharp crack—truly formidable! Amidst the thunderous roar, the sword light flashed, and in no time, even the Primordial Heavenly Venerable had several of his golden lotuses sliced off.
Seeing the power of the Immortal Execution Sword personally wielded by Tongtian, Yuanshi took out the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi and tossed it above his head. A flash of sword light appeared, and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi blocked it. Tongtian, realizing he couldn't break through this treasure's defense, activated the Immortal Execution Sword Formation. Instantly, sword light flashed within the Immortal Execution Gate, shooting towards Yuanshi Tianzun. The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi couldn't block it, and several golden lotuses surrounding Yuanshi were sliced off. Tongtian was overjoyed and laughed, "Fellow Daoist, do you know the power of my 'Immortal Execution Sword'?"
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