Chapter 723 - 33: Afterward (Grand Finale)

Immediately, Chong Shanhu announced in a loud voice:

"Creatures of the Eighth Realm! Each realm is a world unto itself, and the difference between them is vast. To be even one realm weaker is to be no more than an ant. After deliberation, the [Great Dao Committee] has decided to issue the [New Management Regulations for Cultivating Creatures] to ensure the order of Heaven and Earth. These regulations will take effect immediately upon announcement, and no violations will be tolerated..."

As he spoke, he scanned the crowd with a solemn expression and continued:

"By the decision of the [Great Dao Committee], three hundred and sixty-four new policies will be added. These include the [Criteria for Distinguishing Between Intelligent Creatures and Barbaric Creatures], the [Provisional Management Measures for the Underworld], the [Policy on Intermarriage Between Sea Creatures and Land Creatures], and the [Regulations on the Control of Dangerous Magical Treasures]. You may all review them at your leisure after the preaching."

"Furthermore, following discussions by the [Great Dao Committee] and a vote by the [All Heaven and Earth Creatures' Representative Conference], the [Celestial Dao's Principles of Reward and Punishment] will be amended. Four thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine new articles for rewards and sixty-two new articles for punishments will be added."

"Moreover, after joint deliberation, the [Great Dao Committee] has vetoed the proposal from the [All Heaven and Earth Creatures' Representative Conference] to 'delete the fundamental concepts of evil, anger, hatred, and resentment.' The seven passions and six desires cannot be stripped away, and fundamental concepts cannot be arbitrarily altered."

"Additionally, on the proposal of [Great Dao Committee] member, the Shangqing Spirit Treasure Great Heavenly Venerate, and in light of the importance of history, the uniqueness of the Years, and the sanctity of the timeline, the [Provisional Regulations on Time Travel] have been drafted. These will place certain restrictions on Daluo and Dao Fruit Cultivators traversing the Years..."

One after another, new policies and regulations were announced. The three thousand guests listened respectfully. After the Supreme Celestial Battle Daoist Monarch, Chong Shanhu, finished his pronouncements,

Hongjun Dao Ancestor finally spoke with a gentle smile:

"This session of preaching concludes now. All of you, you may go... you may go..."

The new Controllers on the nine great cattail mats rose. Bodhi made a gesture of respect, Amitabha bowed his head, and the Buddha Mother lowered her gaze.....

All the creatures chanted in unison:

"Infinite Celestial Venerable, the Daoist Ancestor is supreme!"

.........

「Shortly after the preaching at Purple Cloud Palace concluded.」

"Xiaoxuan, when will you be leaving?"

In an ordinary small town in the northernmost part of the Great Heaven and Earth, the old Daoist yawned and asked curiously.

Lu Xuan smiled as he combed Xiaoyan's hair.

"There's no rush. It doesn't really matter whether I go or not..."

Supreme was a little puzzled and couldn't help but ask again:

"What exactly did you see inside the Door of Transcendence?"

Lu Xuan thought for a moment before answering:

"I suppose it was the past, the present, and the future."

Nearby, Primordial, who was leaning back in a recliner and fanning himself with a cattail fan, glanced over.

"The past, the present, and the future... what do you mean by that?"

Lu Xuan chuckled.

"It was the Three Bodies. Three versions of me."

"Are they different?"

"They are."

With that, Lu Xuan pondered for a moment, gathering his thoughts before he spoke:

"The present body is the Self. That's the me standing before you now—just an ordinary young man, Xiaoyan's husband, and Xiaonian's father. Nothing more."

"The past body is the Past Self. It is also the greatest obsession in my heart. It is Qing Xuan, and it is also the current Hongjun, the Daoist Ancestor of this era."

Supreme and Primordial exchanged a look. The former took a sip of his cold tea and asked again:

"Then the future body... is that your transcended body?"

"Not quite..."

Lu Xuan smiled and said leisurely:

"As for the future body, that is my true self. It is the Daoist Ancestor, and also Lu Xuan. It is also Qing Xuan, Fu Xi, and Taiyi. It is the First Great Era, the Second Great Era, the Third Great Era..."

Both Supreme and Primordial were thoroughly confused.

Primordial sat up straight and set down his cattail fan.

"Beyond the Door of Transcendence are three versions of you, yet you say none of them are your Transcendence. So what exactly is Transcendence? What kind of realm is it?"

"Transcendence..."

Lu Xuan murmured the word, then chuckled.

"I can't describe it."

Supreme and Primordial stared at each other, nonplussed.

'He can't describe it?'

But then Lu Xuan stretched lazily.

"The realm after Dao Fruit is not actually Transcendence. After Dao Fruit, there are countless other realms, an infinite number of them, like a large box containing a smaller box, and so on. Transcendence, on the other hand, isn't really a realm. It's more like a [state]."

Supreme frowned.

"For example?"

"Teacher, please don't make this difficult for me. I truly can't give an example. The main thing is, even if I explained it, you wouldn't be able to understand... Transcendence... to speak of it is to be wrong, to think of it is to be mistaken. All are fools beneath Transcendence. They can listen but not comprehend, comprehend but not attain..."

Supreme huffed and glared, and Primordial flew into a rage. Neither was pleased as they retorted:

"You damn brat! What, you think your wings have hardened now that you've reached Transcendence?"

Lu Xuan gave a wry smile.

"How could that be? It's just that I truly can't explain it clearly... The state of Transcendence is too full of Profound Mysteries. Even now, I don't dare to try and experience it, for fear that I might go and never return."

Hearing this, the two Daoists' expressions grew heavy, and they fell into quiet contemplation.

After a long while, Supreme let out a breath and clicked his tongue.

"Fine, let's not talk about Transcendence for now... What do you plan to do next? Are you going to rely on your great power to suppress everything and forcibly maintain the Era of Great Harmony and the Hongjun Era?"

Lu Xuan frowned, hesitating for a moment before speaking.

"I've considered many methods. One is to continue as I am now, using absolute power to maintain order and constantly patching up loopholes. Another is to simply delete concepts like 'evil,' 'depravity,' and 'injustice.' Or I could just establish 'goodness,' 'propriety,' and 'harmony' as the fundamental rules of the era..."

He paused, then sighed.

"But no matter what I do, none of them seem to be the optimal solution. I always feel that only through Transcendence can a truly eternal Hongjun Era be achieved. But Transcendence is too profound, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find my way back..."

Supreme and Primordial were silent for a long moment. Just as they were about to say something more, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Xiaoyan walked in carrying a basket of vegetables and said casually: