Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Chapter 10 Seek great merit!
"Earthly Branches? What are Earthly Branches?" Upon hearing this, Luo Shen's beautiful eyes widened with curiosity. After a moment of hesitation, she looked at Yin Ziyu with burning eyes.

Yin Ziyu's expression was calm, his eyes revealing a profound insight into the mysteries of heaven and earth. He spoke slowly, "Since the ten Heavenly Stems form the Heavenly Element, we must complete the Earthly Element, namely the Earthly Branches. The Earthly Branches contain all things and encompass the Human Element. At Zi, Yin gives rise to Yang, Chou's Yang energy gradually grows, Yin's dawn breaks, Mao's sun rises in the east, Chen's clouds and mists linger, Si's Yang energy reaches its peak, Wu's sun is at its highest, Wei's light gradually softens, Shen's sun sets in the west, You's night falls, Xu's dog guards the dark night, and Hai's all things are asleep. Each of the twelve Earthly Branches has its own symbol."

After hearing this, Luo Shen was immediately surprised. A glint of inquiry flashed in her beautiful eyes as she blurted out, "So, these twelve Earthly Branches also contain Yin and Yang and the Five Elements?"

Yin Ziyu nodded slightly, his expression solemn as he spoke slowly, "That's right. The Twelve Earthly Branches are closely linked to the Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Yin and Mao belong to Wood, with Yin being Yang Wood, like a towering tree emerging from the earth; Mao being Yin Wood, like delicate and graceful flowers and plants. Si and Wu belong to Fire, with Si being Yin Fire, like the faint glow of a candle; Wu being Yang Fire, like the scorching sun. Shen and You belong to Metal, with Shen being Yang Metal, hard and axe-like; You being Yin Metal, softer than gold and silver. Hai and Zi belong to Water, with Hai being Yin Water, like a trickling stream; Zi being Yang Water, like a mighty river. Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei belong to Earth, with Chen and Xu being Yang Earth, representing mountains and high ridges; Chou and Wei being Yin Earth, representing fertile fields. They circulate in sequence, mutually promoting and restraining each other, interpreting the ultimate principles of Heaven and Earth."

After hearing this, Luo Shen continued to ask, "Why can't the twelve Earthly Branches be ten like the Heavenly Stems?"

Yin Ziyu shook his head: "The twelve Earthly Branches form a cycle. The Heavenly Stems move in the four directions of the sky, while the Earthly Branches contain deeper mysteries of the laws of reincarnation, and even the laws of destiny!"

"What, it contains reincarnation and destiny!"

Yin Ziyu's words instantly made Luo Shen stand there in a daze, while Ao Cunxin was shocked beyond belief.

Yin Ziyu smiled faintly and said, "Reincarnation and fate are divided into big and small. The origin of the prehistoric world is the five elements. The reincarnation of all living beings in the prehistoric world comes from the replacement of the five elements, and their fate also comes from the five elements. If they are in the heavens, the underworld, or are not in the five elements, they are not bound by this!"

"Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist, on the reasons for the reincarnation of these twelve earthly branches, and how they determine the fate of all living things in the prehistoric world!"

At this moment, Luo Shen and Ao Cunxin were both looking at Yin Ziyu curiously.

Yin Ziyu pondered for a moment and said, "These twelve Earthly Branches can be used to divide a day into twelve hours and a year into twelve months, thus forming the twelve cycles of reincarnation. For example, Bing represents the sun, and Changsheng and Yin represent the beginning of life, constantly stirring and containing infinite possibilities. This is the beginning of the origin of all things."

"Bathing in the morning, being nourished by heaven and earth, is like a newborn baby entering the world, clean and full of vitality, ready to grow and transform."

"The crown and belt in Chen are like a young man wearing a crown, emerging and full of vigor. It also represents the sun and the Chen hour, which is a time of rising but not scorching heat."

"Bing Lin Guan and Si are like a person reaching middle age, showing his full responsibility. At this time, all things grow vigorously and are full of vitality."

"Emperor's power and noon are at their peak, like the sun at its zenith, radiant and brilliant, with all things flourishing to the utmost, showing a sign of prosperity."

"Decline and decline, everything has its opposite, after reaching its peak, it declines, the yang energy gradually weakens, just like the vitality of life begins to fade, after the prosperity, the first signs of decline appear!"

"Disease and Shen are related. When Shen arrives, vitality is damaged, just as if a person were suffering from a minor illness. The growth of all things is hindered and they begin to show signs of fatigue."

"Death and the twenties, the sun sets in the west, all things lie dormant, waiting for rebirth."

"The tomb and the Xu, the place of collection, everything returns to silence!"

"Jue and Hai, the cessation of life, a desolate land, just like the dead silence before the beginning of the chaos of heaven and earth. Yet, even in despair, life can be found." "The fetus is in Zi, and it is nurtured in Chou. It is like being gestated in the dark, like an embryo in its infancy, waiting for a new reincarnation!"

"The twelve Earthly Branches: Changsheng, Muyu, Guandai, Linguan, Diwang, Shuai, Bing, Si, Mu, Jue, Tai, Yang, and finally Changsheng, it is a reincarnation. When Bing enters the Death Land, Ding begins Changsheng in You, just like the sun sets and the stars rise. This is the beginning of the reincarnation of the stars. The Heavenly Stems are based on the Earthly Branches, and the Earthly Branches are the carriers of the Heavenly Stems!"

"Using this as the secret of reincarnation, Geng is born in Si and begins reincarnation, Xin is born in Zi, Jia is born in Hai, Yi is born in Wu, Ren is born in Shen, and Gui is born in Mao. This is the reincarnation of the Five Elements. All things in the prehistoric world, as long as they are within the Five Elements, follow the wonders of this Five Elements reincarnation! Reincarnation is predetermined, and fate is predetermined!"

Luo Shen and Ao Cunxin listened quietly to Yin Ziyu's explanation. As his words became more and more profound, the shock in their hearts was like a surging tide, one wave higher than the other.

Luo Shen's beautiful eyes were always fixed on Yin Ziyu, full of panic and disbelief. Her slightly trembling lips seemed to want to say something, but she was blocked by the shock in her heart and could not make a sound.

Ao Cunxin also widened his eyes, and his bright eyes were now filled with deep astonishment. His originally lively temperament was shocked into silence in the face of such amazing wisdom.

At this moment, Luo Shen's heart seemed to be in turmoil, unable to calm down for a long time.

Since childhood, Luo Shen knew that her father Fuxi used the Eight Trigrams to prove his truth. The magic of the Eight Trigrams created the world and laid the foundation for the basic rules for the operation of all things in the world. In Luo Shen's heart, it was an almost insurmountable peak.

One stroke created the sky and the eight trigrams. The mystery contained in this almost explains the mystery of the entire universe.

But at this moment, Yin Ziyu in front of him could analyze the mysteries of the Twelve Earthly Branches and the Yin and Yang and Five Elements so thoroughly. The great principles contained therein were in no way inferior to his father's Eight Trigrams.

Luo Shen couldn't help but think to herself, if her father Fuxi knew that there were such brilliant insights in the world, how shocked he would be.

Thinking of this, when Luo Shen looked at Yin Ziyu, in addition to shock, there was more respect and admiration in her eyes, as if she had gotten to know this great priest of Cheng Tang all over again.

"I never thought that Brother Bigan's knowledge of the Earthly Branches would be so profound and incredible. Concubine Mi admires you!"

"I sincerely admire the way of fellow Daoist Bigan!"

Yin Ziyu quickly said, "You two fairies are too kind. This is a discussion of the Dao. After we have discussed the Dao, I will, as the great priest, promulgate this law to the human race!"

After hearing this, Luoshen quickly said, "The ten Heavenly Stems have long existed in the prehistoric world, while the Earthly Branches were created by Brother Bigan. The twelve Earthly Branches contain the mysteries of the Five Elements, far surpassing the Heavenly Stems. The Heavenly Stems can only explain their images, while the Earthly Branches explain their principles. Reincarnation and fate are all contained within them. This is in no way inferior to Father's Eight Trigrams. Once Brother Bigan promulgates it to the human race, it will surely spread throughout the prehistoric world, and will bring great merit!"

In the present-day primitive world, there are no twelve branches of the earth, nor is there the concept of twelve hours. The earliest origin is after the Spring and Autumn Period!
At present, the sixty-four hexagrams have not yet been born, and the stems and branches are derived from the sixty-four hexagrams.

How can we not take this merit!

(End of this chapter)