Under One Person: I Have a Billion Taoist Gods Within Me

Chapter 51 Inviting the Queen Mother of the West, Is the Jade Emperor Undergoing Tribulation? (20 words, please subscribe)

Bai Ling was slightly taken aback.

She understood the deeper meaning in Li Yuan's words.

This is not just polite talk, nor is it perfunctory.

It really is "not long."

She looked at Li Yuan, a hint of inquiry flashing in her beautiful eyes.

She wanted to ask: Why is Daozi so certain?

What plans does Daozi have for things outside the pass?

But she didn't ask any further questions.

Because she knew that Li Yuan must have his reasons for saying that.

She just needs to wait.

Waiting for that day to come.

Li Yuan looked at her and suddenly smiled slightly.

That smile was as faint as a distant mountain, yet it seemed to carry some indescribable profound meaning.

"Fellow Daoist Bai Ling has bestowed such a generous gift upon this humble Daoist; how could this humble Daoist return it empty-handed?"

Bai Ling was taken aback.

She quickly waved her hand, her tone tinged with urgency: "Daozi, Bai Ling gave me this not in the hope of getting anything in return."

Li Yuan shook his head slightly, interrupting her.

"I know."

"But I never suffer the consequences of my actions in vain."

"I will remember your kindness in gifting me this companion spirit."

"It is both a return gift and a way to thank you for your companionship along the way."

"Even more so—"

His gaze deepened, as if piercing through time and landing on some distant future: "To lay a groundwork for the future journey beyond the Great Wall."

Bai Ling was stunned.

She looked at Li Yuan, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

She suddenly understood.

Understand why Li Yuan had to "make his move".

She understood that from the moment Li Yuan descended the mountain, she had been preparing for a "future" that she could not yet see clearly, but which truly existed.

He realized that he himself might also be a crucial piece in that grand scheme of things.

But Bai Ling showed no displeasure whatsoever.

Because Li Yuan never treated her as a mere "pawn".

He respected her, acknowledged her, discussed philosophy and metaphysics with her, and walked alongside her.

He accepted her token, but he did not suffer the consequences in vain.

He wants to—

Bai Ling didn't know what Li Yuan wanted to give her.

But she knew that what Li Yuan gave her must be extraordinary.

Li Yuan said no more.

He closed his eyes.

However, at that very moment...

Bai Ling suddenly felt an indescribable pressure emanating from Li Yuan.

The oppressive aura was extremely faint, so faint that unless she possessed profound cultivation and was very close, she would not have been able to detect it at all.

But once she realized it, it sent shivers down her spine.

That's not a suppression of cultivation level.

That is the suppression of personality.

That is the instinctive awe that mortals feel when facing gods.

at the same time...

Deep within the inner landscape of Liyuan, in the heart of the Daluo Palace.

Surrounded by all the gods, it stands majestically since ancient times.

His consciousness passed through those sacred halls and over those seated deities.

Above each divine position, there is a phantom image of a deity sitting.

There was a Thunder God who controlled thunder, surrounded by lightning, majestic and solemn.

There is a star god who rules over the stars, whose body is surrounded by dazzling starlight and is unfathomable.

There are the Five Sacred Mountains and Five Emperors who govern the mountains and rivers, surrounded by the illusory shadows of mountains and rivers, exuding a sense of weight and composure.

There is a god of the underworld who holds the power over life and death; his body is shrouded in darkness and unfathomable.

Each and every one of them is a righteous deity of heaven and earth, revered by the three realms.

Their gazes all fell on Li Yuan.

In that gaze, there was scrutiny, awe, expectation, and a trace of an indescribable emotion.

Li Yuan kept his eyes straight ahead, passing through numerous halls and over the venerable tablets of gods.

final-

It landed before the deepest, most sacred place.

That divine position was extremely special.

It is located in the core area of ​​the Daluo Palace, surrounded by countless illusory images of female immortals.

The female immortals, some holding flowers, some wielding swords, some playing the zither, and some dancing with their sleeves, each with a different posture, all devoutly faced the divine throne, as if waiting for something.

Their illusory figures overlapped one after another, from near to far, from clear to blurry, stretching all the way to the horizon.

The scene was so spectacular that it defied description.

And seated atop that divine throne was—

A noble existence that cannot be described in words.

She wore the Tai Zhen Morning Tassel Crown and a nine-colored cloud brocade robe, and her whole body was shrouded in boundless radiance.

That radiance was no ordinary light.

That is the radiance of the "mother".

It is the compassion that nurtures all things, the breadth that embraces everything, and the warmth that nourishes all beings.

In her left hand she held a jade ornament, which was the authority to command the female immortals.

His right hand was suspended in mid-air, as if ready to receive those devout women seeking the Tao and lead them to a higher realm.

A nine-colored phoenix could be faintly seen circling around, surrounded by five-colored spiritual clouds, and countless illusory female immortals were worshipping devoutly in the distance.

This is—

Queen Mother of the West!

The Queen Mother of the West is the supreme female immortal. In heaven and earth, in the three realms and ten directions, all women who attain immortality are under her jurisdiction.

The Yunji Qiqian records: "The Queen Mother of the West is the Golden Mother of the Nine Spirits Great Mystery Turtle Mountain, also known as the Primordial Sovereign of the Golden Mother of the Nine Lights Turtle Platform in the Great Void."

"It is the ultimate wonder of Xihua and the supreme excellence of Dongyin."

"In the past, the Dao energy was still and stagnant, the body was inactive, and it was about to awaken the profound power and create all things."

"First, the true essence of Donghua was transformed to give birth to the Wood Duke. The Wood Duke was born above the Azure Sea, in the Ruins of Cangling, to govern the Yang and Harmony Qi, and to rule the East. He was also known as the King Duke."

"Then, from the most wondrous Qi of the Western Flower, the Golden Mother was born. The Golden Mother was born in Yichuan, the land of the divine, and her surname was Wei. She was born flying and was in charge of the Yin spirit Qi, governing the West. She was also known as the Queen Mother."

"The body's essence is gentleness and compliance, representing the extreme of Yin, and its position corresponds to the West, nurturing all things like a mother."

"Throughout the heavens and the earth, in the three realms and ten directions, all women who ascend to immortality and attain the Dao are under its jurisdiction."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable once bestowed upon the Queen Mother of the West a "Register of Nine Lights of Guishan, the Primordial Ruler of the Heavenly Realm".

It commands all spirits, governs all true saints, oversees alliances and witnesses faith, commands all the celestial beings, and supervises the examination of the supreme saint.

All female immortals' ascension to immortality and attainment of enlightenment require the approval and blessing of the Queen Mother of the West.

At this moment, on that divine throne, the phantom of the Queen Mother of the West slightly raised her eyes.

Those compassionate and profound eyes seemed to pierce through the boundary between the inner world and reality, landing on Li Yuan.

Li Yuan stood quietly before the altar and bowed respectfully: "Disciple Li Yuan respectfully invites the Holy Mother of the Golden Palace to grace us with her presence."

"To find an opportunity for Bai Ling, the immortal who has left the pass."

The illusory image of the Queen Mother of the West looked at him, and a faint light flickered in her eyes that seemed to see through the three realms and ten directions.

It was as if they were scrutinizing him.

It's as if they're acknowledging it.

It seems as if—

We've been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Her gaze fell upon him—compassionate, lofty, and untainted by worldly dust.

But the moment Li Yuan raised his eyes and met the gaze of the Queen Mother of the West, her gaze paused for a moment.

It really was just for a moment.

So short that the surrounding phantoms of the gods didn't even have time to notice it, so short that even time seemed to forget to flow.

But in that instant, something quietly shattered.

And something else is silently growing in the broken pieces.

That gaze was no longer that of a god looking only at mortals.

It is no longer the case that the mother sect looks after the disciples.

That is—

A "she" who has existed for countless eons is watching a "he".

Just watching.

Just watching.

It was as if she had been waiting for this one glance for a very, very long time.

It was as if she didn't know why that glance had turned out this way.

After a moment, she nodded slightly.

The nod was so slight, yet it seemed to carry immense weight.

But when she lowered her eyelids, something seemed to sway slightly within that eternally unchanging divine light.

Like a candle flame flickering in the eternal night.

No one saw it.

Nobody knows.

Even she herself might not want to know.

And at the very moment the Queen Mother of the West nodded—

A beam of light emanated from the divine throne.

That light was completely different from ordinary divine light.

It is as warm and smooth as jade, as gentle as water, yet it contains a kind of indescribable "maternal" compassion.

It flows gently and quietly, like a celestial river that nurtures all things.

Within that light, the figures of countless female immortals could be faintly seen, devoutly worshipping.

Within that light, faint, almost imperceptible celestial music could be heard echoing through the void.

Within that light lay a wisp of the original essence of the Queen Mother of the West.

That is the blessing of all female immortals.

That is the guidance for all women who aspire to the Way.

That was the most precious gift from the ancestor of female immortals.

Li Yuan watched the light quietly.

He knew that this light was the most precious thing he could find for Bai Ling.

Not because of its immense power.

Rather, it is because of its "position".

It is the approval of the Queen Mother of the West.

It is blessed by the ancestor of female immortals.

It means—

From now on, Bai Ling's path of cultivation will be illuminated by a guiding light from the "Origin".

Wherever she goes, whatever difficulties she encounters, as long as her heart is turned toward this light, she can sense the protection of the Queen Mother of the West.

This is something that no technique, secret art, or external object can compare to.

This is real—

"edge".

With a slight thought, the light flowed slowly from the depths of the Inner Realm of the Great Luo Palace, following his intention.

It flows through the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows.

It flows through the meridians throughout the body.

final-

It quietly appeared between his brows.

Under the moonlight.

A soft light suddenly bloomed between Li Yuan's brows.

The light was as warm and gentle as jade, as soft as water, yet it contained an indescribable maternal compassion.

It flows gently and steadily, without arrogance or impatience, like a celestial river nurturing all things.

The moment the light appeared—

Bai Ling's pupils suddenly contracted!

It was simply because she "sense" within that light...

It contained an "existence" that made her tremble deep in her soul!

That is the existence of "mother".

That is the source of all female immortals.

That was something she had cultivated for a thousand years, something she had only occasionally sensed in her most devout prayers—

Queen Mother of the West!

Bai Ling trembled all over, and for the first time, her beautiful face showed a true loss of composure!

She cultivated for a thousand years, and her heart toward the Tao has almost never wavered.

Countless times, in the stillness of the night, she prayed devoutly, hoping to sense the compassion of the Queen Mother of the West.

Countless times after helping people, I have silently dedicated the merits, hoping to accumulate good deeds and one day gain the approval of my mother sect.

But there has never been any response.

She thought it was a pipe dream.

She thought it was because she lacked self-cultivation and virtue.

But at this moment, the original meaning of the Queen Mother of the West is right before our eyes!

It is not an ethereal sensation, nor a faint, elusive Daoist charm.

It is genuine and imbued with boundless compassion—

A beam of light!

Bai Ling's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

For a moment, he could only stare blankly at the light.

Looking at the compassionate light that emanated from between Li Yuan's brows, containing the essence of the Queen Mother of the West.

Tears streamed down her beautiful face, dripping onto her red dress and leaving dark stains.

But she was completely unaware.

She just stared at the light.

Looking at the faint phantom of the Queen Mother of the West appearing within that light.

Li Yuan looked at her with gentle eyes and spoke softly, his voice calm and solemn: "Fellow Daoist Bai Ling."

"This is the meaning of a strand of the original essence of the Queen Mother of the West."

"The Queen Mother of the West is the ancestor of female immortals. All women who attain immortality in heaven and earth, in the three realms and ten directions, are under the jurisdiction of the Queen Mother of the West."

"The Primordial Heavenly Venerable bestowed upon the Queen Mother of the West the Nine Lights Register of the Heavenly Primordial Ruler of Turtle Mountain," enabling her to summon all spirits, govern true saints, oversee covenants and witness faith, command the celestial regalia, and supervise the examinations of the supreme saints."

"This humble Taoist offers this light as a gift."

"May you, fellow practitioner, have the protection of the Golden Mother and the guidance of a bright lamp on your future path of cultivation."

"May those who receive this light feel the compassion of the Queen Mother of the West, understand the way of the female immortals, and not lose their way in the vastness of the path."

"I wish my fellow Taoist—

'

He paused, looking directly at Bai Ling. In his gaze were expectation, approval, and a hint of unspeakable depth: "One day, you will truly stand under the Queen Mother of the West and be ranked among the female immortals."

"That is the true blessing I bestow upon you today."

"The deepest expectation."

The words fell.

The light, containing the essence of the Queen Mother of the West, slowly drifted towards Bai Ling.

Bai Ling stared blankly as the light drifted towards her, tears blurring her vision.

She has cultivated for a thousand years, witnessed countless storms, and endured countless trials.

She thought she was already at peace with herself and that nothing could make her lose her composure like this.

But at this moment—

She can't.

Within that ray of light lay the "response" she had sought day and night for a thousand years in her quest for the Dao.

Within that ray of light lay the "recognition" she had prayed for countless times, yet never received.

Within that radiance lay the "belonging" that she, as a female immortal, most longed for and cherished.

The light drifted to Bai Ling and hovered gently.

The gentle light shone on her tear-streaked face and into her eyes, which were filled with devotion.

Bai Ling took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.

She closed her eyes.

He let the light slowly merge into the space between his eyebrows.

It integrates with the spiritual essence she has cultivated for thousands of years.

It is infused with the heart that yearns for the Tao, which she has prayed for countless times.

The moment the light entered the body—

Bai Ling was terrified!

She "senses" it!

That warmth, that compassion, that motherly embrace.

It was a "return" she had never experienced before, yet it felt like she had been waiting for a thousand years.

She "sense" the merits, good thoughts, and devout prayers she had accumulated over a thousand years of spiritual practice—

At this moment, I am being "seen" by that light.

— "Approval".

— "Acceptance".

It was as if a warm, invisible hand was gently brushing away the tiny dust particles on her spiritual essence.

After the breeze, her spiritual essence became clearer, brighter, and more "complete" than before.

That was purification from the source, that was recognition from the mother lineage.

That is a "return to one's place" that no technique, secret art, or external object can provide.

Bai Ling opened her eyes.

Those exquisitely beautiful eyes, at this moment, held none of their usual playfulness and composure, only one thing—

It felt like finally finding the comfort and brightness of home.

She looked at Li Yuan.

What she wanted to say.

But he found himself unable to say anything.

At this moment, all language seems inadequate.

Any gratitude seems inadequate at this moment.

She simply looked at Li Yuan, letting her tears fall silently.

a long time.

Bai Ling finally took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the surging emotions in her heart.

She straightened her clothes and bowed solemnly to Li Yuan.

This bow is not the kind of greeting a deity would give to a fellow Daoist.

It is the courtesy a disciple gives to his teacher.

It is the ritual for mortals to meet immortals.

It was the highest level of respect she had ever shown to anyone in her thousand years of cultivation.

Li Yuan turned slightly to the side, refusing her full bow, and raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Fellow Daoist Bai Ling, there's no need for this."

Bai Ling did not get up, but simply raised her head and looked at Li Yuan.

Those exquisitely beautiful eyes were now glistening with tears, yet they shone exceptionally brightly.

"Michiko."

Her voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unprecedented sincerity: "Bai Ling has cultivated for a thousand years and has never asked for anything."

"I only hope that one day I can truly feel the compassion of the Queen Mother of the West."

"To truly understand the way of the female immortal."

"To truly know oneself and be on the right path."

"Today, the Daoist bestowed this light upon Bai Ling, fulfilling his thousand-year-old wish in a single day."

"Bai Ling has no way to repay this kindness and virtue."

"Only—"

—"

She looked at Li Yuan, her gaze filled with gratitude, piety, and an indescribable determination: "If Daozi ever has any matters concerning the outside world, Bai Ling will do her utmost, even at the cost of her life."

"The lineage of the Immortals outside the pass should also respect the Daoist and serve him."

This oath—

—

"Heaven and earth bear witness, the sun and moon are our mirrors."

Li Yuan looked at her, his gaze gentle.

He didn't refuse, nor did he say "there's no need for that," he simply nodded slightly: "Okay."

"I have noted it down."

Those five simple words brought even more tears to Bai Ling's eyes.

Those tears were tears of joy.

Li Yuan looked at her and suddenly smiled slightly.

That smile was as faint as a distant mountain, yet it seemed to carry a certain indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Fellow Daoist Bai Ling."

"See you in the border region someday."

Bai Ling nodded vigorously, her gaze towards Li Yuan filled with reluctance, gratitude, piety, and an undisguised anticipation.

See you outside the pass!

She spoke each word slowly and deliberately, with utmost solemnity.

Li Yuan said no more, turned around, and took a step.

The moon-white Taoist robe fluttered gently in the night breeze as the figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Bai Ling stood still for a long time.

She looked in the direction where the figure disappeared, and at the receding moonlight.

a long time.

She spoke softly, her voice so low that only she could hear it: "Michiko..."

"Bai Ling, wait here."

"Waiting for that day to come."

A night breeze swept by, and the red dress fluttered in the breeze.

She turned around, transformed into a ray of light, and drifted away towards the northeast.

That's the direction outside the pass.

That was the way she came.

That was also the place she and Li Yuan had agreed upon for their reunion.

The moonlight, like water, bathed the official road.

Two figures, one to the south and one to the north, gradually disappeared into the distance.

But they all knew—

This is not the end.

This is just the beginning.

It is the beginning of another piece being quietly placed in a larger game of chess.

It was the beginning of another line of defense being quietly built before the impending catastrophe.

It is the beginning of another karmic connection, quietly continuing amidst countless intertwined causes and effects.