The Four Beginnings of Shang Dynasty and the Investiture of the Gods
Seeing that their teacher had left, the sages wanted to discuss who should be on the list, but none of them knew how to begin.
The two Western Sect members spoke up, saying, "This is an Eastern matter, and has nothing to do with our Western Sect." These words infuriated the several saints. "When things are peaceful, you two always want to come to the East; when trouble comes, you run away like lightning!" But they were powerless to do anything about it. The Western Sect had very few members, and most of them were cultivating in the Pure Land. Only Zhunti was frequently out and about, but as a saint, he couldn't respond to tribulations.
Nuwa also said, "I do not establish a religion, so this matter has nothing to do with me." The other saints knew that what Nuwa said was true, so they could not make things difficult for her.
Xuan Tian also said, "I do not establish a sect, so this matter has nothing to do with me." Yuan Shi, however, did not want to let Xuan Tian off so easily. Although Xuan Tian did not establish a major sect, he had several disciples, and each of them had considerable cultivation. Yuan Shi had long been envious of them. If he could drag Xuan Tian's disciples into the Investiture of the Gods, it would be a good choice.
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke up, saying, "Senior Brother, you are mistaken. Furthermore, the Dao Ancestor once said that this Great Tribulation of the Gods is caused by the karma of a great calamity. Although it is mainly the disciples of the three sects of Humanity, Chan, and Jie, there are still some karmas that need to be settled. Although Senior Brother does not establish a great sect, there are many karmic entanglements among your disciples. There are many living beings on Penglai Island, and some of them have deep karmic entanglements. How can we avoid them?" Laozi also agreed with this reasoning. Tongtian did not speak, but he also had some opinions, seemingly acquiescing. The two Westerners were merely watching the show; they had just escaped and did not want to get entangled again.
Nuwa was somewhat annoyed by Yuanshi. Upon hearing Yuanshi speak like that, she was about to argue, but was stopped by a look from Xuantian.
Xuantian glanced at the Three Pure Ones before calmly saying, "Oh, what the Dao Ancestor said is true, but the Dao Ancestor also said that the survival of each sect depends entirely on cause and effect, merit, and cultivation. I wonder if I am wrong?" After saying this, Xuantian looked at the group of saints.
The sages nodded in agreement; Xuan Tian was right, and that was indeed what the Dao Ancestor had said.
Xuan Tian's expression changed, and he sneered, "Leaving aside cause and effect, every one of my disciples has merit. Hui Xin and Liao Zhen were the guides of the Three Sovereigns of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and Liao Zhen was the teacher of the Human Sovereign. When the two mended the sky, they saved the human race, and their subsequent merits were even greater. My third disciple, Chang'e, determined the marriages of all living beings, and her merits were also considerable. My fourth disciple, Cang Jie, was the ancestor of writing for the human race, and his merits can be said to last for thousands of generations. May I ask you, which of your disciples has such merits?" Xuan Tian's words made the Three Pure Ones look ashamed. Xuan Tian's disciples might not have other merits, but they had the most.
Seeing their silence, Xuantian continued, "Leaving aside the second-generation disciples, among the third-generation disciples, did the Earth Emperor Shennong have no merit? Yang Jian assisted Yu the Great in controlling the floods, so he too has merit. When humanity was first born, many beings on Penglai Island helped, so they too have merit. Now, tell me, how many of the disciples of these sages have performed any merit?" Before they could speak, Xuantian continued, "Putting all that aside, in terms of cause and effect, the beings on Penglai Island never leave their islands, just like the Western Paradise, untouched by cause and effect, uninvolved in worldly affairs. Where does this cause and effect come from? Back then, when you wanted to spread your teachings among humanity, I closed the island for ten thousand years, and still didn't see..." "If you have any objections or complaints, now that a great calamity has arrived, you expect my disciples to bear the brunt? Such a good thing is hard to find even in heaven and earth, isn't it? Aside from those two, I only have Huixin and Zhen who are constantly among the human race. If you think they should be the ones to suffer the calamity, I have nothing to say. Just let your disciples attack them. If they suffer the calamity, they can only blame their low cultivation and bad luck. I have nothing to say then." These words made the sages lose face and feel ashamed. Laozi glared at Yuanshi, secretly blaming him for saying such a thing, of all things, but for provoking Xuantian. Now things were getting serious.
Yuanshi was also exasperated, feeling utterly frustrated. He had only been jealous of the overwhelming power of Xuantian's disciples, and his casual remark had unexpectedly earned him a severe scolding from Xuantian. Nuwa, on the other hand, secretly chuckled. Xuantian was indeed formidable, leaving a group of sages speechless. The beings of his Penglai Island never left the island; asking them to face the tribulation was beyond the capabilities of the disciples of the three religions. Even if they had several lives, they wouldn't dare. In a sage's domain, who would dare to do such a thing? Furthermore, Xuantian only had four second-generation disciples, three of whom were quasi-sages and not included in the ranking criteria. The only one, Cangjie, was safer than those who had severed their three corpses, even though he hadn't. Who would dare to kill him or cause them trouble? It was good enough if they didn't bother you.
After Xuan Tian finished speaking, he sat down to the side, closed his eyes to rest, and ignored everyone else.
There was another awkward silence; no one spoke, afraid that the first person to speak would be attacked.
Finally, Yuanshi spoke up, saying, "My disciples Nanji, Yunzhongzi, Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Huanglong Zhenren, Julusun, Taiyi Zhenren, Lingbao Dafashi, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, Cihang Daoren, Yuding Zhenren, Daoxing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun are all people of high moral character, yet they should not be on the list. My eldest brother's disciple, Xuandu Dafashi, is also a person of high moral character, yet he should not be on the list."
He paused, then looked at Tongtian and said, "Junior Brother's disciples only practice magic power, not virtue. They deserve to be on the list." Tongtian angrily retorted, "It's understandable that your disciples Nanji Zi and Taiyi Zhenren, being among the Six Emperors of Heaven, don't need to be on the list. But the others are different. Among Yun Zhongzi, Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Huanglong Zhenren, Julusun, Taiyi Zhenren, Lingbao Dafashi, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, Cihang Daoren, Yuding Zhenren, Daoxing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun, only Guangchengzi served as the teacher of the Human Emperor. How can the others be considered 'morally superior'? In my opinion, apart from these three, all the people you mentioned should be on the list." If it were the old Tongtian, perhaps he wouldn't have said such things. But with Xuantian's previous remarks, the issue of merit had been seized upon. Apart from these three, none of Yuanshi's disciples had any merit, so naturally, they couldn't escape the blame.
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