Chapter Forty-Two: The Three Lamps of Humanity

Kunlun Mountain, that primordial and mysterious peak, is renowned not only for its picturesque vistas, enchanting scenery, and abundant spiritual energy, but also for the presence of many great powers of the primordial world who dwell upon it—such as the Three Purities, the Holy Mother of Taishang, and the Queen Mother of the West, among other deities.

Gazing upon the breathtaking landscape of Kunlun, Tongtian could not contain his joy, and he shouted loudly, “I, Tongtian, have returned once more!” His voice echoed through the valleys, reverberating across the mountains. The primordial creatures who heard this call cheered excitedly, their cries resounding through heaven and earth.

Tongtian strode forward swiftly, hearing a thunderous sound ahead. The excited voices of all beings drew closer to him. When he looked intently, he saw that all manner of strange spirits and creatures were advancing in his direction. Tongtian wondered inwardly, “What in the world is happening here?”

Soon, those beings lined up before Tongtian to greet him, each species taking its place and bowing respectfully, calling out with low, mooing sounds, as if to say, “Greetings, Tongtian!” The scene left Tongtian deeply shaken.

Daobao Daoist and the Black Ox approached Tongtian. Daobao Daoist said, “Welcome home, Master.” The Black Ox too let out a low “moo.”

Tongtian stepped forward, stroked the Black Ox’s head, and said to Daobao Daoist, “It’s just a homecoming—why make such a grand spectacle of it?” He couldn’t help but question Daobao Daoist.

“Master, as one of the Three Purities, such ceremony is only fitting,” Daobao Daoist replied.

Tongtian sighed, “You!” Then he asked, “By the way, where are your eldest and second uncles?” Tongtian scanned the area with his spiritual sense but saw no sign of Taishang Laojun or Yuanshi Tianzun, so he asked Daobao Daoist.

“This disciple truly does not know,” Daobao Daoist replied, spreading his hands helplessly.

Tongtian nodded, formed a spell, and flew toward the Qilin Cliff atop Kunlun Mountain.

Upon reaching the cliff, he found the gates tightly shut. Puzzled, Tongtian pushed open the doors and saw Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun seated atop the dais.

Tongtian sensed something was amiss with their cultivation realms and, scanning with his spiritual sense, was stunned. “What in the world is going on here?”

He himself had advanced from late-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal to mid-stage Da Luo Golden Immortal thanks to the merits earned from “the birth of the Underworld,” “Nuwa creating mankind,” and “the emergence of the Ashura Clan.” Yet Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun had achieved Da Luo Golden Immortal here without apparent effort? Did Da Luo Golden Immortal mean so little now?

To explain, Da Luo Golden Immortal is the highest realm of cultivation among primordial beings. Once one reaches this stage, one is not easily reduced to ashes. But it is not so simple to enter this realm—one must possess merit, great fortune, and, of course, innate talent and perseverance.

The cultivation speed of Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun was simply astonishing; Tongtian had only been away for three months, yet they had advanced two entire stages. This left him somewhat uneasy.

“You’ve gained much from your journey,” Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun sensed Tongtian’s arrival and opened their eyes to look at him. Taishang Laojun, aware of all that had happened on Tongtian’s trip, spoke to him.

“No, not really. Just a bit of luck. By the way, how did you two advance so quickly?” Tongtian replied with a laugh, but he couldn’t help but ask about their sudden increase in cultivation.

“It’s none of your concern!” Yuanshi Tianzun’s curt response broke the brotherly atmosphere. Tongtian was perplexed and, after thinking a moment, asked, “What’s going on? Are you hiding something from me?”

Hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun’s face darkened, just about to lose his temper. At that moment, Taishang Laojun coughed softly, and Yuanshi Tianzun closed his eyes, refusing to look at Tongtian.

Tongtian wished to inquire further, but just then, the voice of his benevolent avatar, Xuandaozi, arrived: “Fellow Daoist, the newly born human race is being possessed by ghostly bodies formed from the accumulated resentment and baleful energies of heaven and earth. They are too numerous for me to control. Please come quickly.” With that, the voice faded.

Tongtian grew anxious upon hearing this and said to the other two, “The race created by the Great Sage Nuwa—the humans—are in trouble. We should go take a look.” Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun nodded in understanding, sensing that the human race was indeed linked to their own great destiny.

The Three Purities arrived at the human gathering place near Buzhou Mountain. Seeing the humans possessed by ghostly bodies, Tongtian thought to himself: Is this not “possession by spirits”?

Their hair was disheveled, eyes white, faces gloomy—classic signs of spirit possession.

“My fellow Daoist tells me that these ghostly bodies are formed from wandering resentment and baleful energies, forcibly possessing the humans. Brothers, please stand at three points to form a triangle and expel these ghosts.” Tongtian knew that ghosts feared the pure energies of the Three Purities.

As the Three Purities were incarnations of the purest energies in heaven and earth, they could dispel turbid energies, resentment, and other negative forces. This was why Tongtian suggested the three combine their powers.

For the Three Purities, now Da Luo Golden Immortals, this was a trivial task. Yet even as they cleansed the possessed humans, new possessions began anew, and anger welled up within the Three Purities. But it was futile—the negative energies of heaven and earth were far too numerous to eliminate entirely, and the Three Purities were at a loss.

“Let’s do this: The three of us will place our pure energies atop the heads and shoulders of the humans, so they will be protected from ghostly invasion,” Tongtian said. “Since the humans are heaven’s favored children and destined to rule the earth, surely the Dao will support this solution.” Though he didn’t voice this aloud, it was his hope.

“Very well,” said Taishang Laojun, chief among the Three Purities. Yuanshi Tianzun seemed about to object, but as the eldest had spoken, he held his peace.

“We, the Three Purities, are willing to transform our pure energies into three lamps atop each human’s body, and pray the Ancestor of the Dao will permit it.” The Three Purities bowed toward the distant Purple Cloud Palace.

After all, the Ancestor of the Dao could not be ignored. The sky blazed with multicolored clouds and radiance as the heavenly laws appeared before the crowd.

The heavenly laws drew a small portion of pure energy from each of the Three Purities, fused it with merit, and bestowed it upon the humans, manifesting as the three lamps.

“These three lamps are formed from the pure energies of the Three Purities to protect you. As you travel the primordial world, if anything calls your attention, do not look to either side. If you must look, turn your entire body and lower limbs together—then the ghostly bodies will not dare approach, and you will remain safe.” Tongtian and the Three Purities stood amid the clouds, watching the humans purified by their energies, feeling joyous for them.

“Thank you, Holy Father, thank you, revered deities,” the humans, guided by Xuandaozi, bowed to the Three Purities.

Seeing their task complete, the Three Purities returned to Kunlun Mountain.

To prevent such events from recurring, the Emperor Fengdu of the Underworld redoubled his management of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Xuandaozi, meanwhile, implanted a protective item into the bodies of weaker women to safeguard their infants.

What Xuandaozi implanted was actually the placenta, which forms naturally as a woman becomes pregnant, protecting the child within.

Some demonic beasts, upon dying, did not enter the Underworld for purification, and thus formed ghostly bodies. Some powerful beasts would seize the consciousness of an unborn child within a woman, thereby reincarnating successfully.

Xuandaozi’s use of the placenta was meant to eliminate those strong spirits; even if a powerful being grew up, once it developed human feelings, it would no longer harm people.