In the grand hall, only the deep, resonant voice of the "Lord Genesis" echoed from the center.
He was expounding on some basic knowledge about the path of enlightenment—simple in theory, yet delivered with such clarity that it offered fresh insights. The immortals in the hall listened with keen interest.
By the third-floor railing, Monkey sat upright, turning his face to meet the gaze of the young immortal. One wore a blank expression, the other a faint smile; both studied each other closely.
This immortal appeared to be just over thirty, with refined features, a Grade-One Crane Cap on his head, and a gray-black misty Daoist robe. Gold thread peeked from the edges of his inner garment at the collar. In appearance, he was not much different from the usual Heavenly immortals, but his every movement carried an extraordinary calm.
So close, yet even with Monkey’s cultivation level, he could not discern the immortal’s true nature.
After a long moment, a smile slowly blossomed on Monkey’s face. He said, “I wondered why Lord Genesis sent out so many invitations but didn’t come to lecture in person—so your true self was here all along.”
At this, the immortal smiled lightly and replied, “With the Handsome Monkey King of Blossom Mountain arriving, how could I not come out to greet you myself?”
That counted as an admission.
“You flatter me, Lord Genesis.” Monkey regarded him with meaningful eyes, speaking slowly: “But coming from you, ‘Handsome Monkey King’ doesn’t sound quite right. You should call me Chief of the Imperial Horse Bureau.”
“Chief of the Imperial Horse Bureau?” Lord Genesis waved his hand and smiled, “That’s just an empty title. Handsome Monkey King is where the real power lies. Now, all the demons of the mortal world hail you as king and follow your lead. Calling you ‘King of Ten Thousand Demons’ would not be excessive. Even my unworthy disciple and my female grand-disciple have served under your banner for years. To think I knew nothing of it—how truly shameful.”
Monkey’s eye twitched slightly.
He was referring to Anna Yang and Jade Cauldron Immortal. If even these details were known, then his own background had surely been thoroughly investigated.
Naturally, if it weren’t so, how could the dignified Lord Genesis quietly seat himself beside this demon monkey and chat so casually?
Steadying himself, Monkey’s lips curled into a faint smile. He sidestepped the previous topic and asked, “May I ask what guidance Lord Genesis wishes to offer by granting me this audience?”
Lord Genesis took a deep breath, turned his face to gaze straight ahead, and said slowly, “Guidance is too strong a word. I simply have one matter I cannot clearly see, so I arranged this lecture to bring the Handsome Monkey King here and ask in person.”
Monkey immediately grasped part of the meaning. He too turned his face forward, replying nonchalantly, “You’ve certainly gone to great lengths, Lord Genesis. May I ask, what is it you wish to know?”
“I simply wish to ask you directly, Monkey King: do you intend to walk the original road, or open another path?”
“I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.”
“Oh?” Lord Genesis smiled faintly. “Caution is wise. However... the Heavenly Dao has changed—nearly fifty days have passed, which is almost fifty years in the mortal world. Yet in the Heavenly Court, few know of it. Do you understand why, Monkey King?”
Monkey did not answer; he simply glanced at Lord Genesis, quietly observing the changes in his expression.
Lord Genesis pursed his lips and continued, “To understand the reason, we must first speak of Heavenly Dao-level cultivation. Monkey King, would you care to listen?”
Monkey took a deep breath, gazing at the false Lord Genesis in the center, and sighed, “I don’t mind listening.”
So the real lesson was here, after all.
Lord Genesis parted his lips and spoke slowly: “Heavenly Dao means two things. First, it refers to the cosmic trajectory by which all things in the Three Realms operate—everything lies within the Heavenly Dao, and nothing escapes it. Second, it refers to the fifth tier of Daoist cultivation and the third tier of Buddhist cultivation. In the Three Realms, only Lord Lao and the Buddha have attained Heavenly Dao-level cultivation. This stage is called ‘Heavenly Dao’ because it draws infinitely close to the true meaning of Dao. Lord Lao realized ‘Non-Action’; the Buddha realized ‘No-Self.’ Monkey King, do you understand the difference between Non-Action and No-Self?”
“Speak.”
“Let’s start with ‘No-Self.’ No-Self means no self, no things—emptiness as the basis, beyond birth and death. Its essence is void.”
“Void?” Monkey was slightly startled and gave a wry laugh. “If it’s all void, then wouldn’t that make one invincible?”
“Not quite.” Lord Genesis pursed his lips and slowly shook his head. “What restrains it is ‘Non-Action.’ Non-Action means doing nothing yet leaving nothing undone, acting in accordance with the flow. When Lord Lao attained Non-Action, the Heavenly Dao Stone was born. With the Heavenly Dao Stone, Lord Lao became omniscient, knowing past and future. All things in the Three Realms fell within his calculations. That’s why, for ten thousand years, only the Buddha has attained Heavenly Dao-level cultivation.”
With that, Lord Genesis chuckled, leaving Monkey thoroughly perplexed.
Suddenly, Monkey’s eyes widened—he understood the key point at once.
What Lord Genesis truly meant was that Lord Lao knew the past and future, and so naturally knew who would attain Heavenly Dao-level cultivation. The reason the Buddha could still realize ‘No-Self’ under such circumstances was not because he was more powerful, but because ‘No-Self’ was inherently checked by ‘Non-Action’—it posed no real threat...
As for how many people might have attained it but ultimately failed, that is impossible to say.
Think about it: suppose, following the cosmic trajectory, someone could achieve Heavenly Dao-level cultivation in a thousand years. If Lord Lao did not wish it, he would have countless opportunities over that millennium—just a slight adjustment would be enough to change the result.
Monkey had always known Lord Lao was powerful, but never imagined he was powerful to such an extent.
Perhaps only at this moment did Monkey truly realize how terrifying Lord Lao was at his peak.
What, then, could ‘Non-Action’ truly achieve?
Knowing past and future is just the surface. Its true power lay in making the Three Realms evolve according to his will. Anything unfavorable to him would never occur; whatever he did, he already knew the outcome. With just a slight nudge, after countless years and infinite layers of causality, he could alter the entire structure of Heaven and Earth.
And as soon as anyone harbored ill intentions, he would already know...
By comparison, the Buddha’s ‘No-Self’ was indeed formidable, but in the face of Lord Lao’s ‘Non-Action,’ it was little more than a minor trick.
Turning his face, Monkey saw Lord Genesis gazing at him with deep meaning.
“Why are you telling me all this, Lord Genesis?”
Stroking his long beard, Lord Genesis sighed, “Didn’t I say at the start? I asked you, ‘Heavenly Dao has changed—nearly fifty days have passed, which is almost fifty years in the mortal world. Yet in the Heavenly Court, few know of it. Do you understand why, Monkey King?’ Now, do you know why?”
Monkey’s expression shifted slightly.
Lord Genesis had circled around, but in truth, he wanted to tell Monkey one thing: Lord Lao was once so powerful that everyone lived in his shadow. Now that Monkey has appeared, the Heavenly Dao has changed. The only reason Lord Lao is watching this matter is because he knows exactly what’s happening.
No one likes living in another’s shadow—be they demon, god, immortal, human, or Buddha. Once word spreads that Lord Lao’s Heavenly Dao is broken... then, surely, all will turn against him.
Lord Genesis sighed softly, watching the child impersonator lecturing in the center, and said slowly, “This Mi’luo Palace—when Lord Lao was at his peak, even I dared not speak freely here. But now, even if he still retains the Great Primordial Immortal cultivation, he could no longer slip in unnoticed. If you have anything to say, Monkey King, speak without fear.”