Chapter 310: Council of Divine Enthronement - Part 2
Zhou Yi casually found a reason and said, "Now that I've even found the method of Divine Enthronement, it can not only transform the Cultivation World but also benefit countless living beings by amassing immeasurable merit and virtue!"
The words "merit and virtue" were particularly emphasized!
Iron Crown Immortal was silent for a while before saying, "What kind of method is this Divine Enthronement?"
Zhou Yi did not answer but instead asked, "Disciple has one more thing to inquire about."
Iron Crown Immortal seemed to see through Zhou Yi's thoughts and said, "Are you wondering why the Three Teachings chose you for Divine Enthronement?" Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire
"I still need Master to dispel my confusion!"
Zhou Yi bowed and said, "Of course, if there are matters too grievous to speak of, as a successor of our Teachings, I am also prepared to be utterly destroyed and scattered to the winds."
Such words were spoken with conviction, as if he truly were a disciple willing to sacrifice himself for the cause of mending the heavens.
If it weren't for the markings of Mending Heaven, Cutting Heaven, and Buddhism within Zhou Yi, along with the Spiritual Treasures gifted by the Three Teachings, perhaps Iron Crown Immortal might have had a sliver of belief.
"You rapscallion, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Iron Crown Immortal scolded, "If that were the case, why would I take you as my disciple? Just a few restrictions would suffice; could you really rebel against them?"
Zhou Yi asked confusedly, "Then why? I am but ordinary..."
This was also where Zhou Yi was puzzled; his biggest secret was the Longevity Dao Fruit, and everything else was external. With the capabilities of a Reverting Void-level Immortal, they most likely couldn't do anything to the Dao Fruit, and even if they steamed, cooked, or ate it, they wouldn't benefit.
What remained most precious was Jianmu, the Innate Spirit Root.
Within the scripture of Mending Heaven Sect, it was recorded that this treasure was also precious in the higher realms and could attract the covetousness of Immortals if revealed.
As for other matters, there really wasn't anything worth the attention of an Immortal.
"You are not ordinary at all!"
Iron Crown Immortal said, "But you are heavy with sin, far surpassing the Blood Devil Child, comparable to the World-Ending Devil King in Buddhist legends."
Zhou Yi was astonished and defended himself, "Master, could there be some mistake? My only pleasure is to celebrate, perhaps too frequently and for too long, but this shouldn't be considered utterly wicked, right?"
"It may not be from this lifetime."
Iron Crown Immortal spoke eerily, "With such heavy karmic burden, even if one were to undergo reincarnation, they could not escape it. You would have to suffer for hundreds or thousands of lives before you could attain the path of immortality!"
"Karmic burden?"
Zhou Yi frowned slightly, well-versed in Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, he was quite familiar with this concept.
"Master, if indirectly... um, I certainly did not take direct action, but if the Cultivation World were accidentally or unintentionally destroyed, would that count as karmic burden?"
"What do you think?"
Iron Crown Immortal asked puzzledly, "Do you have memories of your past life?"
Zhou Yi said, "As a child, I often dreamed, seeing all kinds of chaotic images, until I stepped onto the path of immortality and the nightmares ceased to trouble me."
"I see."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "I have met a few with past life wisdom before, but if it's merely inadvertent actions, it shouldn't lead to such heavy karma. The Heavenly Dao is impartial; your unintentional actions might just be part of the natural order!"
"Perhaps, the dreams weren't comprehensive..."
Zhou Yi exchanged a look with Iron Crown Immortal; the former wore an awkward expression, while the latter looked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Cough cough!"
Iron Crown Immortal didn't want to be involved in these matters and said, "No matter what you did in your past life, with such a heavy karmic burden, let alone your master, even the Immortals in heaven would not wish to harm you."
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, knowing that he too would avoid those with profound destiny or karmic burden.
"Master, if one has a profound karmic burden, could it not have some other use?"
"Your guess is not wrong."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "It is only with your surging karmic burden that you can bear the merit of Divine Enthronement, and unlike the Son of Destiny, you are unable to refine this overwhelming merit, which is why many Immortals value you!"
Zhou Yi finally understood; he was merely a tool for carrying merit.
If another Son of Destiny were to undergo Divine Enthronement, they would directly ascend through the merit, breaking through to Reverting Void or even ascending, leaving the great Teachings with nothing.
"Master, does the sect's ancestors value merit so much because it is related to ascension?"
"Indeed, that is the case."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "A thousand years ago, I could have broken through the void and reached the Immortal Realm, but I lacked sufficient merit and couldn't break through the Immortal Realm's barrier. After one glance, I returned to the Mortal World!"
"Immortal Realm barrier!"
Zhou Yi said, "Does Master mean to say that many worlds exist like bubbles within the void, and with enough strength, one can travel through them at will?"
"The void is endless, and even the ancestors of the Upper Realm dare not explore it recklessly."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "The reason our sect can ascend is because we possess a secret technique that senses the position of the ancestors in the Immortal Realm, otherwise one would only get lost in the boundless void!"
"Disciple understands."
Zhou Yi's face showed delight, the secrets he had learned today could be described as revealing a corner of the true nature of the universe.
The Nine Continents are vast but still just a landmass floating in the Four Seas, the endless seas are merely a part of the Mortal World, and the entire Mortal World is just a bubble in the infinite void.
"Having received Master's teachings today, I now understand the vastness of the heavens and earth and must cultivate diligently to seek ascension and become an immortal!"
"Don't indulge in vain fantasies."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "With the karmic forces in your body not dispersed, you cannot leave the Mortal World, let alone break through the barrier between the two worlds. In other words, you will have a hard time becoming immortal in every lifetime!"
"..."
Zhou Yi displayed a look of helplessness and could only say, "Then, disciple wishes Master, after acquiring the merit of Divine Enthronement, to ascend radiantly!"
Hearing that he could not become immortal due to his great karmic forces, Zhou Yi was not overly saddened, for he possessed the Longevity Dao Fruit which gave him an endless lifespan. Any problem that could be solved with vast time was not a problem at all.
Ordinary people might spend thousands of lifetimes wearing away karmic forces, but Zhou Yi could dissipate them all in one lifetime.
Moreover, merit can offset karmic forces, such as helping an old lady across the street; even such a small act of kindness brings merit.
Accumulating over time, helping billions of old ladies across the street would dissipate even the heaviest karmic forces, and with this thought, Zhou Yi felt even more relaxed.
"You need not despair."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "Once your teacher ascends, I'll find a way to take you to the Immortal Realm, letting you directly escape the karmic forces of the Mortal World!"
"Many thanks, Master."
Zhou Yi expressed his gratitude tearfully, "Disciple will diligently work on Divine Enthronement, amass boundless merit, and aid Master in becoming an immortal!"
"This matter has also been discussed in private by the patriarchs of various sects."
Iron Crown Immortal nodded slightly and said, "I've heard it mentioned a few times. The general idea is that one force can break myriad methods, using the mana of the Reverting-to-Void Superior Immortals to suppress Dongsheng Divine Continent, promulgating the genuine deities in the Yellow Register, and driving out and exterminating all the Wild Gods!"
In the Cultivation World, the strong are revered. The mana of Reverting-to-Void Superior Immortals is enough to shape Dongsheng Divine Continent into whatever form they desire.
"Master, such actions will lead to countless killings and will leave future troubles," said Zhou Yi. "Once the Superior Immortals have ascended, the deities of the Mortal World will lose restraint, likely leading to chaos and division, even transforming into Evil Gods. Those cultivators who have not been enthroned will not be content, and the Cultivation World will fall into turmoil!"
"The patriarchs have also considered this, with some supporting it and others opposing it."
Iron Crown Immortal said, "Those in favor think that once we have ascended, why should we care about the flood-like disasters in the Mortal World? Those opposed worry that the foundation of our ancestors will be destroyed due to Divine Enthronement, and the ancestors of the Upper Realm will surely punish us."
Zhou Yi sighed and said, "Indeed, no one worries about the suffering of the common people!"
"How can you say no one?"
Iron Crown Immortal said, "The very core teaching of our sect is to mend the Heavenly Leak, never allowing the common folk to suffer disaster, and we firmly oppose this. Hence, the Divine Enthronement through Incense has been propagated for decades, and to this day, there has not been a decisive conclusion!"
"Master, the disciple is unlike those Superior Immortal patriarchs, who have boundless mana and act simply and directly," Zhou Yi said. "Considering the matter of Divine Enthronement, I thought from the beginning about establishing a stable management organization for gods. This would oversee both the common world with matters concerning fortune, lifespan, marriage, and atmospheric phenomena, as well as the deities who must fulfill their duties and are strictly prohibited from causing harm!"
Before Iron Crown Immortal could speak, suddenly, three figures appeared out of nowhere.
Headmaster Guang Weizi said, "This sounds rather interesting; could you elaborate on how you would do this?"
"I pay my respects to Headmaster, Elder Xiao Yunzi, and Elder Taixuan Gong," Zhou Yi said, bowing in greeting. "The specific implementation would resemble an imperial court of the Mortal World; we'd first establish laws, which we may also call Heavenly Laws. Then we'd elect an Emperor, who would be the leader of all the gods."
"Below that, set up major gods responsible for various domains, such as mountains, rivers, wind, rain, good, and evil, and so on."
"Beneath the major gods are minor gods corresponding to various official ranks in the court, layer by layer delineating powers and duties to form a strict management and operational structure for the deities!"
"Excellent!"
Guang Weizi clapped in approval, "From the small to the big, the governance of people by a mundane court magnified to shepherd the entire world by gods has its merits. However, this management organization needs a fitting name; calling it the Imperial Court would be somewhat vulgar."
Zhou Yi said, bowing.
"Why not call it, the Heavenly Court!"