The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 342 - 303: Seeking Truth in All Directions

Chapter 342: Chapter 303: Seeking Truth in All Directions

The Daoist Equal to Heaven returned to the Great Pure Sky, and though he returned Laojun’s magical treasure, Laojun continued to feign sleep, unrousable.

Wukong desired to comprehend the Karmic Tribulation Divine Fist as the foundation for the Primordial Great Way, believing this was his path to reaching the states of Quasi-Saint, Semi-Saint, and Saint. This was no easy feat.

The topic of karmic tribulations varied in opinions. He had to draw from the strengths of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Initially, he planned to ask for Great Emperor Zhenwu’s assistance in slaying the Medicine Buddha, but upon further reflection, dismissed the idea as unwise. As a distinguished Great Emperor of Heavenly Court, Zhenwu’s identity was too sensitive, so the invitation was not extended. He decided to hold on to this favor for a time of crisis when he could ask for Zhenwu’s help in overcoming calamity.

"The disaster originates from the Uttara Kuru Kingdom, and since Great Emperor Zhenwu governs that area, he must be deeply familiar with its tribulations. I shall seek his insight." Daoist Equal to Heaven mused internally. Ever since becoming an emperor in the Heavenly Court, Zhenwu had suppressed the demons of Uttara Kuru Kingdom with his tough approach and profound mana, leaving many demon heads reduced to dust.

Hooked Chen Great Emperor was in charge of lightning and worldly slaughter and killing, having a profound understanding of the mortal world’s karmic tribulations. Great Emperor Ziwei governed the celestial constellations, fully aware of common people’s fate and tribulations. South Pole Immortal Emperor oversaw blessings, fortune, lifespan, and was acutely aware of individual lifespan tribulations. Great Emperor Qinghua managed the Taoist Sect’s Ultimate Bliss, but cryptically seemed to propagate the Buddhist sect’s methods, having tenuous ties with Tathagata, and thus could not be trusted.

Daoist Equal to Heaven thought to himself: "I need to visit each emperor to understand the mysteries of karmic tribulations, particularly those controlled by Great Emperor Zhenwu in Uttara Kuru Kingdom. That is where the trouble begins."

He visited the North Pole True Martial Demon Dispeller Great Hall to meet Great Emperor Zhenwu and was ushered in.

"You wish to understand the karmic tribulations of the Uttara Kuru Kingdom? Since ancient times, the kingdom has been deserted, a vast expanse of wilderness and grasslands, scarcely trodden by humans. Only now, as its qi begins to shift north, has it started to grow stronger. The nomadic tribes are expanding, causing disturbance in the Southern Toad Continent. The land of Uttara Kuru Kingdom is inherently troubled, but its people are incredibly resilient, growing stronger amidst these tribulations and thus possessing great qi." Great Emperor Zhenwu explained.

The people of Uttara Kuru Kingdom faced hardships from birth, which were their tribulations. Those who did not perish from misfortune or war grew stronger, and their qi prospered. Many khans on the grasslands grew in such a way, rising amidst tribal attacks and family losses, surviving death to reclaim territory and control over many tribes.

Now, with the Kunlun Dragon Veins’ qi scattered, some has fallen upon Uttara Kuru Kingdom. The emerging Liao dynasty is the one that has seized this qi.

Daoist Equal to Heaven said, "The great calamity of heaven and earth will rise from Uttara Kuru Kingdom, as the nomadic tribes bring chaos to the Central Plains, breaking down rituals and music, scattering human path qi, subsequently affecting Heavenly Dao, and enabling otherworldly invasions. When the two realms clash, it is the tribulation of Heavenly Dao."

Great Emperor Zhenwu nodded, "That’s right, it is the tribulation of Heavenly Dao. Everything under Heavenly Dao can influence it, which is why during times of intense karmic forces, it initiates calamitous purges to cleanse karmic force and causality, preventing influence. Each time it does, it becomes exceedingly weak. The invasion of the Central Plains by Uttara Kuru Kingdom accumulates karmic force, affecting Heavenly Dao, which then prompts a calamitous purge. Weakened by it, otherworlds launch their invasions. This is destiny."

Contemplatively, Daoist Equal to Heaven said, "So, if we clear away Uttara Kuru Kingdom, we’re assisting Heavenly Dao. Why then would we be held accountable?"

"Human Path, Dao of Immortals, Heavenly Dao—all operate in their own order. Your interference in Uttara Kuru Kingdom disturbs the Human Path and impedes its free evolution; of course, there will be a reckoning. Although in Ancient Times the order of Heavenly Dao was unclear, allowing immortals to meddle in the human world, it also carried great karmic consequences. While Heavenly Dao might not exact retribution from you, it would weaken your qi. Take Celestial Venerable Lingbao, who went against Heavenly Dao, aiding King Zhou of Shang, only to see his disciples from the Sect of Interception decimated; his eldest disciple, Daoist Duobao, was led to The West to become Duobao Tathagata, Mother of Non-Duality was forced to reincarnate at Mount Li for another cultivation cycle; Tortoise Spirit Holy Mother was drained by the Mosquito Taoist, and Golden Spirit Holy Mother was sealed as Doumu Yuanjun."

"Even if you intervene in the human world, you must act opportunistically, utilizing the human path to propel the purge and not against Heavenly Dao."

Having gained this understanding from Great Emperor Zhenwu, Daoist Equal to Heaven took his leave and proceeded to visit the palace of Great Emperor Ziwei.

"Great figures are born with their fate tied to the constellations. Take Guan Yu, for instance, whose fate was linked to the Break Army star. His life was full of turmoil; with the star’s bolstering, he wreaked havoc in all directions, but ultimately met an unfortunate end. Fortunately, his loyalty and righteousness won him favor with Confucianism, granting him great qi, and eventually, he became a disciple of Great Emperor Zhenwu." Great Emperor Ziwei expounded.

Great Emperor Ziwei governed all celestial bodies, and upon their birth, the fate of humanity’s great powers was linked to the stars. If someone’s fate connected with an insignificant star, they would naturally lead an inconsequential life.

"The role of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau amongst mortals is to grasp the secrets of fate through celestial patterns, detecting changes in heaven and earth."

"Fate is a type of tribulation too. Some are born with insufficient qi, unable to control their fate, leading to untimely deaths. Han Xin is such an example—his fate was even protected by Ziwei, marked for imperial greatness. Alas, he couldn’t seize it and eventually perished at the hands of a woman," Great Emperor Ziwei recounted.

During the era of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu’s struggle, Han Xin commanded a significant force. Had he chosen to rebel against Liu Bang back then, it could have resulted in a tripartite stand-off, making the ultimate victor hard to predict. Regrettably, he missed the opportunity, feeling that Liu Bang had treated him favorably, and betraying him seemed wrong. He couldn’t control his destiny and let it doom him. He was destined for royalty, yet without obtaining it, he was fated to die young—that’s the workings of fate.

This is tribulation—when qi is so great it becomes unmanageable, it turns into a calamitous fate.

It is just like in the mortal world, where someone becomes rich overnight through business, but within a few days they are murdered by thugs who loot their wealth. This is what it means to be backfired by one’s own fortune.

Daoist Equal to Heaven said with sudden realization, "Fortune is not a fixed number; I thought that if one could overcome their tribulations, they would receive great fortune. But he who cannot control great fortune will face the calamity of possessing treasure without merit."

Great Emperor Ziwei nodded and said, "Indeed, although the pattern of one’s destiny is determined by the constellations, it is not fixed and can be broken! Guan Yu is one who broke the Break Army life pattern; he even achieved the rank of Demon Subduing Marshal and, in the future, he will receive even greater fortune in the human world and be enshrined as a great emperor."

Enthronements in the mortal world do not affect the Heavenly Court; at most, it just means more incense. If the Jade Emperor does not promote you, all is in vain.

After discussing with Great Emperor Ziwei, Daoist Equal to Heaven went to find Hooked Chen Great Emperor.

"Karmic calamities? I control the slaughter and killing in the human wars, and once I receive a sign from the Heavenly Dao, I will descend the qi of slaughter, causing the blood and qi of mortals to surge and unrest to emerge frequently. Minor disturbances will gradually spread. When Zhao Gao controlled the court, and Qin Er Shi Hu Hai was incompetent, I descended the qi of slaughter, while Great Emperor Ziwei caused the people of Break Army, Seven Kills, and Tan Lang life patterns to emerge early. Then came the uprisings of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, and the qi of slaughter spread, leading to the rebellion of Xiang Yu in Eastern Rivers. This is what karmic calamity is."

The Hooked Chen Great Emperor governs the wars in the Human Path and the human dynasties, both of which depend on the will of Heaven and human intent. Lose the people’s favor, and swiftly you’ll lose Heaven’s favor. Once Heaven’s favor is lost, the qi of slaughter descends, and people will start harboring thoughts of rebellion and creating uprisings.

Wang Mang’s usurpation was not a sign from the Heavenly Dao; thus, his lifespan was short, because the Hooked Chen Great Emperor did not descend slaughter upon him, and he did not receive the recognition of the Heavenly Dao.

The chaotic era of the Three Kingdoms, the struggles in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and so forth were all due to the Hooked Chen Great Emperor descending slaughter, creating times of turmoil, followed by a Great Qi Runner uniting the world. Once the qi of slaughter was dissipated, the dynasty stabilized, and no one dared harbor thoughts of rebellion, ensuring peace in the Human Path.

This is a form of karmic calamity, the karmic calamity of the Human Path.

After learning about the karmic calamities of slaughter in the human world from the Hooked Chen Great Emperor, Daoist Equal to Heaven went to seek the South Pole Immortal Emperor to understand the calamities of life, aging, sickness, and death.

"Carefully observe this body, it comes from nothingness, arising from conditions and circumstances, accumulating essence and converging qi, descending through karma to enter the spirit, combining and taking birth, imitating Heaven and reflecting Earth, containing yin and releasing yang. It aligns with the Five Elements to respond to the four seasons. The eyes are as the sun and moon, the hair as the stars, the eyebrows as the canopy, the head as Kunlun, establishing palaces and halls, where the spirit resides. Among all beings, humans are proclaimed the most sentient."

"Man being conceived is already a matter of fortune and includes tribulations. If one cannot surpass these tribulations, it’s natural to die in the womb. If one overcomes them, naturally one is born and then grows from young to old, which is another kind of tribulation."

"Humans are born from the convergence of conditions and circumstances; every individual’s arrival into this world is not easy, snatching a thread of life from millions. To be born does not guarantee joy; it may also mean suffering. Whether it is a calamity or fortune is not easily defined."

"Especially for immortals reincarnating, it is to overcome calamities, but if they cannot break through the illusions within the womb, then tribulations will descend upon them again. If they succeed, they avoid the tribulations. Calamity and fortune complement each other; to understand and even cultivate them into divine skills is not a simple matter. Be careful not to become your own calamity and die in vain."

The South Pole Immortal Emperor spoke earnestly; he governed blessings, prosperity, and longevity, and had the clearest view of the Dao of life and death.

If you wish to grasp karmic calamities, is a little comprehension enough? For Wukong to cultivate the Karmic Tribulation Divine Fist was even harder. To transform karmic calamities into divine skills, attack enemies, control their karmic calamities, turn fortune into tribulations, and shatter their life patterns—such methods are indeed terrifying.

"If I don’t try, how will I know if I can’t achieve it? Understanding karmic calamities is also my own fortune; if I fail to comprehend, I die, but if I do, it becomes great fortune. Haha!" Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed heartily.

"Excellent, excellent! As seekers of the Dao, we would welcome death in the evening after hearing about the Dao in the morning. Only with such a resolute will to seek the Dao can one truly attain the Primordial Great Way. The great calamity of Heaven and Earth is soon to arrive; I have also recently stopped overseeing the affairs of the Heavenly Court to devote myself to ascetic cultivation. Daoist Equal to Heaven should also cultivate diligently," the Emperor of Eternal Life said with a beaming smile.

"Thank you for your reminder, Longevity Star Elder! Farewell!" Daoist Equal to Heaven then sought out the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Hierarch in the Biyougong Palace to speak of karmic calamities. The perspective of a Saint is naturally extraordinary.

In recent years, there have been no significant waves, with the occasional collision and friction between Buddhism and Daoism, while Daoist Equal to Heaven traveled in all directions, seeking advice from various experts to comprehend the true essence of karmic calamities.

To know what happens next, please listen to the following part. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)