Under One Person: I Opened the Age of Mythology

Chapter 602

Rumble!
The earth is shaking!

Mud and rocks flew everywhere!

The blocked river channel was forcibly torn open, creating a huge gap. The long-accumulated floodwaters roared and rushed into the original river channel like a wild horse.

However, just as the bear was fully focused on guiding the essence of the Weak Water to flush away the remaining silt, a sudden change occurred!
"Demon! How dare you stir up trouble and harm living beings here! Disciples of Shu Mountain, heed my command: deploy the 'Heavenly Dipper Subduing Demon Sword Formation'! Slay this fiend!"

A clear yet murderous shout resounded through the sky! A streak of light flashed across the horizon as seven incomparably sharp sword lights tore through the rain curtain, instantly enveloping the bear's massive body in the arrangement of the Big Dipper!

The sword energy was chilling, and the killing intent was fierce. Each strike contained the resolute will to slay demons and monsters!
The leader, dressed in a blue Taoist robe and carrying an ancient sword, had a gaunt face and sharp eyes like a hawk. He was none other than the head of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect—Master Qingxu!
Behind him, six elders also had their sword energy soaring into the sky, clearly indicating that they had come prepared!

Caught off guard, the bear was instantly struck by seven sharp sword energies!

Even with his powerful demonic body and thick skin, he was still slashed until his scales shattered and blood gushed out! The excruciating pain and rage caused him to let out a deafening roar: "Shushan Taoist priests! I am here on the orders of True Lord Yang Jian to dredge the water veins and save the common people! Why do you attack me without any regard for right or wrong?!"

"Hmph! By order of the True Lord?" Master Qingxu sneered repeatedly, pointing his sword at Xiong Pi. "You beast! Stop trying to deny it! You are the mastermind behind the Black Wind Ridge massacre, your evil deeds are beyond measure! Even if you have the name of atonement, how can your demonic nature be completely eradicated? At this moment, the floods are raging, and the people are suffering. It must be you, you fiend, who are secretly causing trouble, stirring up the earth's veins, and bringing chaos to the world! Today, my Shu Mountain sect will act on behalf of Heaven to slay the demon and eliminate evil, to set things right! Disciples, form a sword formation and kill him!"

"Slay the demons! Protect the righteous path!"

The seven top sword cultivators of Mount Shu roared in unison, and the sword formation shone brightly!
The seven flying swords transformed into seven streaks that tore through the heavens and earth, weaving together into an impenetrable net of death swords, carrying a world-destroying power as they slashed down upon the heavily wounded bear!

Where the sword light pointed, even the space itself seemed to groan in agony under its strain!
The bear's eyes were bloodshot as he desperately channeled his demonic power, forming a protective shield around his body with an earthy yellow aura. However, under the combined assault of the seven Golden Immortal-level sword cultivators, the shield was instantly covered in cracks!

The shadow of death is heavier than ever before!
"Roar—! I refuse to accept this! True Lord Yang Jian! Your heart's scales bear witness—!"

The bear let out a desperate and unwilling roar, its huge body struggling desperately in the sword net, its blood staining the turbid floodwaters red.

Heavenly Court, Temple of Law.

Yang Jian sat upright beneath the "Heart Scale" divine emblem, his silver-white divine robes fluttering even without wind.

The moment the bear was attacked, the Heart Scale Divine Mark on his forehead suddenly burst forth with dazzling silver light!

In the center of the temple, the enormous phantom of the scales trembled violently, and the image of the bear performing good deeds and atoning for its sins on the left scale pan was instantly stained with a dazzling blood color!
On the right-hand scale, the image of the Seven Swords of Shu Mountain besieging the enemy is clearly visible. Their core intention—"to slay demons and protect the righteous path, and to maintain the distinction between immortals and mortals"—is exposed by the scale's insight!

"Insolence!" Yang Jian abruptly opened his eyes, his silver pupils flashing with cold light, and a chilling divine might of justice instantly swept through the temple! He stood up abruptly, his voice like ten thousand years of ice, piercing through layers of space and resounding above Yunmeng Marsh:

"Qingxu of Shushan! You disregard the facts, using the guise of 'protecting the Dao' to harm and atone for the sins of living beings and obstruct disaster relief! Your hearts are despicable! Your actions deserve to be punished! Your consciences are clear, and your karmic consequences will be revealed! I hereby decree: The Shushan Sword Sect shall be sealed off for one hundred years, and its disciples shall not be allowed to step out of the mountain gate! Sect Leader Qingxu shall be stripped of his immortal status and cast into reincarnation to suffer a hundred lifetimes of mortal torment, as a warning to others! Heavenly soldiers, arrest him immediately!"

Before the words were even finished, a burst of golden light shone brightly in the sky!
Squads of celestial soldiers and generals, clad in golden armor and wielding divine weapons, led by the duty general, tore through the clouds and descended upon Yunmeng Marsh with unparalleled pressure! Their target was none other than Qingxu Zhenren!
Master Qingxu's face turned deathly pale instantly. He felt the irresistible majesty of the law emanating from the Heavenly Court, and even more so, the soul-piercing power of the Heart Scales!
He tried to explain, but all his excuses sounded weak and powerless under the silvery glow of the Heart Scales. The six elders behind him were also horrified, and the brilliance of their sword formation dimmed instantly.

"No... True Lord! I am innocent! I was doing this to exorcise demons..."

Master Qingxu still tried to struggle, but the divine rope of the Heavenly Enforcement Soldiers had already coiled around him like a serpent, instantly sealing off all his magical power!
"Take away!"

The duty general gave a cold shout, ignoring the panic of the people of Shu Mountain and the uproar of the mortals below, and escorted the ashen-faced Qingxu Zhenren, transforming into golden light and soaring into the sky.

The remaining elders and disciples of Mount Shu could only watch helplessly as their sect leader was captured under the oppressive power of the Heavenly Soldiers. Their faces turned ashen, and they were no longer as arrogant as before.

Having escaped death, the bear collapsed in the mud, its massive body sprawling. Looking at Qingxu being taken away, and then at the majestic heavenly soldiers enforcing the law in the sky, its eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a calamity and awe for Yang Jian and Xincheng.

He struggled to his feet, ignoring his injuries, and plunged his palms into the floodwaters again to continue clearing the waterways.

This time, there were no obstacles.

The Shushan incident, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a huge wave in the Three Realms. The conservative forces of the Heavenly Court fell silent, and although Ao Guang, the Antarctic Immortal, and others were unwilling, they could only temporarily back down in the face of Yang Jian's iron-fisted enforcement of the law and the irrefutable justice of his heart.

The demon race was outraged and launched a scathing attack on Mount Shu, while at the same time becoming even more determined to uphold justice and seek redemption for Yang Jian.

However, just as this undercurrent subsided, at the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling in the Western Paradise...

On the lotus throne, the Buddha Tathagata stood solemnly, his gaze piercing through the endless void, landing on the warm and pulsating chaotic spiritual embryo in the Heavenly Court, and then sweeping over the bustling Ascension Platform and Mingfa Academy in the mortal world.

"Amitabha." The Buddha smiled as he held up a flower. "A new order is gradually taking shape in the Three Realms, and the sparks of returning to the source are shining brightly. However, the teachings of Taoism stand out from the crowd. Our Buddhist sect, out of compassion, should also spread blessings far and wide and enlighten the spiritual roots."

He turned his gaze to those seated below: "Venerable Guanyin."

"Disciple is here." The white-robed Bodhisattva, holding a vase and willow branch, stepped out from the crowd, his appearance solemn and dignified.

"Take one lotus seed from my Eight Treasures Merit Pond to the Heavenly Court to enlighten the primordial spirit embryo, helping it to stabilize its mind and see its true nature. This lotus seed contains supreme merit and vow power, which can nourish its origin, making its spirituality more perfect and able to resist the invasion of external demons and evil thoughts."

With a flick of his palm, the Buddha revealed a golden lotus seed, radiating a seven-colored glow and exuding an aura of peace, purity, and resilience.

"Disciple receives the decree." Venerable Guanyin respectfully accepted the lotus seed.

"Furthermore," the Buddha said with a far-reaching gaze, "the Ascension Platform is a place where the talents of the Three Realms gather. The Taoist school has set up a 'Trial of Mind and Nature,' and our Buddhist school should also set up a 'Trial of Zen Mind.' Through the three studies of 'precepts, concentration, and wisdom,' we can observe their inherent nature and guide them out of their confusion. This is an opportunity to universally save all sentient beings and glorify our Buddhist school."

"The disciple understands."

Guanyin nodded, her figure transforming into a soft white light as she headed towards the Heavenly Court.

The Heavenly Court, the Seat of Star Origin.

Sun Wukong closed his eyes to sense the flow of fortune in the Three Realms, and the star crystals at his temples shimmered slightly.

Suddenly, he sensed something and opened his eyes. He saw auspicious clouds gathering ahead, thousands of wisps of auspicious mist, and faint chanting of Buddhist scriptures.

Guanyin, holding a vase and standing on a lotus platform, gracefully arrived, radiating an aura of great compassion, purity, and solemnity.

"The Great Sage."

The Guanyin Bodhisattva clasped her hands in a gesture of respect, her voice gentle and peaceful.

“The Bodhisattva’s visit must have a profound purpose.”

Sun Wukong rose to return the greeting, his golden eyes swirling with nebulae.

"By order of the Buddha's teachings, I have come to enlighten the chaotic spiritual embryo and help it stabilize its mind."

The Venerable Guanyin held up the lotus seed from the Eight Treasures Merit Pool in her palm. The lotus seed shimmered with golden light, and the vast merit and auspicious Zen spirit it contained made the entire Star Origin Seat seem to be bathed in warm Buddhist light.

"These are lotus seeds from the Eight Treasures Merit Pond, containing supreme merit, which can nourish the origin of the spiritual embryo, making its spirituality more clear and resilient, and making it difficult for external demons to invade."

Sun Wukong's gaze fell on the lotus seed, sensing the immense and pure power within it. He nodded slightly and said, "Buddha is merciful. This thing is beneficial to the spiritual embryo. I thank you on his behalf." He did not refuse, for the spiritual embryo needed the nourishment of all things to grow.

The Venerable Guanyin smiled slightly, and with a light tap of her fingertip, the lotus seed transformed into a soft golden light, silently merging into the chaotic spiritual embryo suspended high in the core of the starry sky.

The embryo trembled slightly, its surface shimmering with light, and a faint golden Buddhist pattern could be seen merging into its primordial chaos. The aura emanating from the entire embryo became more gentle and peaceful, and its pulsation became more steady and powerful.

"Furthermore," Guanyin continued, her gaze sweeping down to the radiant Ascension Platform in the mortal realm, "Our Buddha sees that the Ascension Platform gathers outstanding talents, and the Daoist school uses the 'Trial of Mind and Nature' to examine them. Our Buddhist school also has the Three Studies of 'Precepts, Concentration, and Wisdom,' and we can establish the 'Trial of Zen Mind' to observe their inherent qualities, guide them towards goodness, and lead them across the path of delusion. This is for the universal salvation of all beings and adds a positive connection to the new order of the Three Realms. I wonder what the Great Sage thinks?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed with light. It was no surprise that the Buddhist sect wanted to share the credit for their teachings.

He looked at Guanyin, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

“What the Bodhisattva said, the test of Zen mind, is also a method to guide people toward goodness, and there is nothing wrong with it.” Sun Wukong’s voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable weight. “However, the way to return to the source is to be sincere and aim at coexistence. The order of the three realms is neither Buddha nor Tao, but is forged by all sentient beings. Under the scale of the heart, distinguishing right from wrong is the foundation.”

He stepped forward, and the starry river on his dark gold Taoist robe seemed to come alive: "The path to immortality is based on one's character. Whether it is the Taoist practice of quiet cultivation or the Buddhist meditation, both are methods for tempering one's character. Why set up separate sects and create unnecessary barriers?"

His gaze swept over Guanyin, then seemed to pierce through the void, looking towards Mount Ling: "In my opinion, the Buddhist 'Trial of the Mind' can be embodied in its essence of 'enlightenment and compassion for the world'; the Taoist 'Trial of the Mind' also has its core principles of 'following the natural way and bringing peace and prosperity to the world.' Both can be integrated into the Heart Scale assessment system as different proofs of the 'sincere' path. Those who ascend to immortality, regardless of their Buddhist or Taoist origins or whether they are mortals, must pass this Heart Scale trial of 'all things returning to their source'! Only with utmost sincerity and pure thoughts can one establish the foundation for ascension to immortality! What does the Bodhisattva think?"

Sun Wukong's words echoed in the Heavenly Court like a resounding bell.

He proposed not a simple merger, but to incorporate the core teachings of Buddhism and Taoism into a new order framework centered on "sincerity" and judged fairly by the scales of the heart.

This not only gave Buddhism the opportunity to participate, but also firmly grasped the essence of the new order, preventing Buddhism and Taoism from acting independently on Dengxiantai and forming new sectarianism.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Guanyin's solemn face, which quickly turned into deep contemplation.

Looking at the Sun Wukong before her, who was no longer the Great Sage Equaling Heaven of the past, but the incarnation of the Chaos Source Core of the Three Realms, she felt his aura and wisdom that transcended sects and ruled over all laws.

After a long while, the Venerable Guanyin smiled, like a lotus flower in full bloom: "Amitabha. Great Sage, you have a far-sighted vision. 'All things return to their source, without establishing any sects,' which is in deep accordance with the true meaning of Buddhism and also in line with the way of coexistence in the three realms. This humble monk reports to the Buddha, and I believe the Buddha will also agree."

She clasped her hands in a gesture of respect and said, "In that case, this humble monk will take his leave."

The figure transformed into a streak of white light and disappeared into the horizon.

Sun Wukong stood alone on the Star Source Seat, the chaotic star crystals at his temples, illuminated by the spiritual radiance of the lotus seed of Buddhism, emanating a deeper and more inclusive glow.

He gazed down at the vibrant yet challenging Three Realms below, and in his golden eyes, the chaotic nebula slowly rotated.

The Heavenly Court's backlash and the Buddhist sect's intervention were merely ripples on the long road back to the source.

All things return to their source, and sincerity is the key. The scroll of this new era in the Three Realms is slowly unfolding a more magnificent chapter by the hands of all living beings.

The heavy responsibility of protection and balance still rests on him, and on the "mirror of the heart"—the chaotic spiritual embryo—that hangs above all living beings.

……

……

Located on the outskirts of the Kunlun Mountains, the "Yunjin Terraces" unfold like a scroll of emerald brocade across the folds of the mountains.

In the layered spiritual fields, the "jade marrow rice" should be heading and filling with grains in these few days, surging with vigorous vitality.

However, at this moment, a deathly silence and an ominous atmosphere permeated the depths of the terraced fields.

Wang Huan stood by the core experimental field, which he had personally "optimized," his face ashen, his hands and feet icy cold.

A few days ago, he was arrogant about the convenience brought by the "Crazy Source Power Seed" embedded in the "Earth Vein Resonator". In order to achieve a new high in the output report, he blatantly bypassed the procedures and raised the threshold for extracting earth vein power in the "Water and Fire Harmony" bionic cycle by nearly 30%!
Disaster was quietly brewing in his blind greed.

The sight before one's eyes was enough to terrify anyone: the once plump and tender ears of rice were now hardened like rough, grayish-white rocks, hanging heavily on the withered stalks, making a sickening "clanging" sound when struck.

Even more terrifying was the rice plant roots, which were continuously oozing a murky, viscous, grayish-green liquid, like rotten pus and blood, with a pungent, fishy stench, seeping into the sacred soil.

Wherever the slime passes, the soil loses its luster at a visible speed, becoming dry, hard, compacted, and cracked. The abundant spiritual energy that has nurtured the soil for countless years is rapidly drained away as if being frantically sucked up by an invisible giant mouth!

This anomaly, like a plague, is spreading wildly outward from the core plot. The "Purple Jade Ginseng" on the edge of a nearby precious medicinal garden has begun to curl and turn black, and its spiritual energy is dissipating so quickly that it forms a pale vortex visible to the naked eye in the air.

(End of this chapter)