Chapter Sixty: The Supreme Elder

Like a soul that has lost its vessel.

All sense and consciousness vanished into a blank, floating in an endless void with no anchor. It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before awareness returned; the memory of what had just happened was now vague and indistinct.

Hua Sheng found himself lying on his back, surrounded by clusters of shifting luminous spots. What was astonishing was that these lights were in colors he had never seen before, impossible to describe. He recalled a science article mentioning that the human eye can perceive over ten million colors, and yet the hues swirling around him now were utterly unfamiliar. Aside from these unknown shades, there was almost nothing tangible in this emptiness.

The only discernible figure was not far away—a young Lord Tai Shang, kneeling with his hands bound behind him, hair disheveled, head drooping low in defeat.

“Lord Tai Shang!”

Hua Sheng tried to struggle upright, only then realizing his limbs were still tied with the Immortal-Binding Rope.

The young lord seemed groggy; upon hearing Hua Sheng call his name, he stirred slightly in response. At that moment, Hua Sheng saw his face was covered in bloody welts, fresh blood still trickling down as if he’d just been whipped.

“Hey! Are you alright?” Hua Sheng called out.

“I’m fine,” came the faint reply.

Hua Sheng managed to prop himself up with his arms. Although his feet were bound, he still knelt and inched his way painfully toward the young Lord.

“Hey! Haven’t you people heard of the Protection Act for Minors?” Hua Sheng shouted into the void. “And he’s your grandson! What kind of elder are you?”

Suddenly, the emptiness before his eyes burst into dazzling white light, so blinding it was impossible to keep them open.

A deep, thunderous voice rebuked, “You have violated the Dao and descended to the mortal realm without permission. Do you know your crime?”

Every word from that powerful voice pierced through Hua Sheng’s body, and the gravity around him vanished. He and the young Lord Tai Shang floated in a sea of white light, only to be slammed down heavily the moment the voice ceased, the world once again awash in those shifting, enigmatic colors.

“Grandfather, I…” The young lord looked up, about to defend himself, but the Immortal-Binding Rope lashed out like a whip, cracking against his body and leaving a fresh wound, tearing his Daoist robe open.

“A disgrace! How could I have such a wayward grandson!” The voice, which the young lord had called “grandfather,” could only be that of the Dao Ancestor, the Grand Supreme Elder. His mighty words, accompanied by searing white light and a pain that seemed to penetrate every cell, echoed once more.

The young Lord wiped the blood from his face with what remained of his robe and corrected himself, “Dao Ancestor, sir! It’s true your disciple descended to the mortal realm for reasons difficult to speak. Sacred Pingning is under attack by external foes—Xuanwu’s spirit serpent and the nether demon have captured my classmates, and I went to save them.”

“Silence! Do you know what the Dao is?”

“The Dao disperses into vital energy, it is the beginning of heaven and earth, the mother of all things. The Dao is neither Dao, nor non-Dao. The Dao is principle,” the young lord replied.

“What is the purpose of the Dao?”

“The Great Dao is formless, giving birth to heaven and earth; the Great Dao is impersonal, moving the sun and moon; the Great Dao is nameless, nurturing all things. I do not know its name, but force myself to call it Dao.”

“What does the Dao do?”

“Non-action.”

“As one who follows the Dao, why do you act?”

“The Dao is heaven and earth, and the greatest virtue of heaven and earth is life!”

“Specious reasoning!” The thunderous voice shook them to the core.

Hua Sheng felt as though his insides were being churned, his body thrown into a meat grinder. Seeing the young Lord so battered, he felt a surge of compassion and thought: If I must die, so be it! I will not stay silent!

Resolute, Hua Sheng pushed himself up on his elbows. He barely steadied himself before the Immortal-Binding Rope lashed out, sending him flying. He gritted his teeth, sweat of pain beading on his brow, and forced himself up again.

Another lash—his robe tore open, flesh split, blood streaming.

“Stop trying to be brave! You have no idea who you’re facing!” the young Lord shouted, eyes squeezed shut.

“I don’t care who he is! Isn’t he the Grand Supreme Elder? I’ve read Journey to the West!” Hua Sheng, half kneeling, shouted blindly into the void.

“Dao Ancestor! I, Hua Sheng, am at least half a Daoist disciple. Though not well-read nor deeply cultivated, I know a thing or two about righteousness. Sacred Pingning saved my life, a debt I’ll never forget. Likewise, how can I ignore suffering in the mortal world? The Dao teaches non-action, and heaven and earth are impartial, because all things are equal and treated as straw dogs. But for those who walk the Dao—not heaven, not earth, not the Dao itself—our purpose is to spread the Dao, enlighten the people, and save the masses. How can we turn a blind eye to death and disaster, and do nothing?”

A crack of the rope knocked Hua Sheng down again, and as he tried to rise, another lash struck his back.

The young Lord turned to the unyielding Hua Sheng and cried, “Hua Sheng! Enough! If the Dao Ancestor hadn’t shown mercy, not even ten or a hundred of you could have survived—you would’ve been annihilated, body and soul!”

“So what if I’m turned to ashes? It’s just death. Is this the Dao we pursue? For thousands of years, whether Daoist disciples or common folk, all have been influenced by the Dao. Now, when those who study the Dao save friends and aid the world, should they be punished like this?” Hua Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood. “The Dao endures because millions uphold it. Heaven and earth are impartial only because they are above such concepts. The Dao has no flesh or blood, but Daoist disciples are filled with passion. Can we truly do nothing for the sake of the living?”

At that moment, the young Lord could no longer hold back and stood, shouting, “Grandfather—no, Dao Ancestor! Billions in the world uphold the Dao, even at the cost of their lives. What they protect is not just faith, but love. The ‘love’ of the mortal realm has no schools and is not a religion, but is it not worthy of Daoist disciples’ protection too? Can’t we love the people and the world?”

Two more lashes struck, knocking both Hua Sheng and the young Lord down, neither able to get up again.

The deep voice returned, this time a touch calmer: “Young lord, you have been influenced too much by mortals. One day, you will regret what you’ve done.”

Sensing a slight softening, the young Lord hurriedly said, “All I ask is for Dao Ancestor’s guidance—may I borrow the power of Sacred Pingning to stop the nether demon and Xuanwu’s spirit serpent?”

“Impudence! How can mortal calamities be allowed to disturb Sacred Pingning? The disaster is destined for the mortal realm. If you interfere, beware for your own life.” The voice paused, as if considering. Then, “Listen well: the spirit serpent will appear at the southeastern sea during the Moon Worship Festival, using the moon-controlling spell and leading a horde of a million beasts. How you respond is up to your own fortune and skill.”

“Thank you for your guidance! But facing the nether demon, the serpent, and a million beasts—if we can’t get help from Sacred Pingning’s immortals, the two of us are powerless. What should we do?”

Just then, a letter appeared in midair before the young Lord.

“I grant you this letter. Present it to the Star Lord of the Dao.”

At these words, the young Lord quickly accepted the letter and tucked it away.

“Say that I permit the disciples of the Arts and Dao Academy to temporarily lift the ban on immortal arts and use them freely in the mortal world. If the Star Lord agrees, he may mobilize the Academy’s immortals to go to the mortal realm and battle the spirit serpent. The Academy will decide matters. But first, no elixirs may be used in combat; second, not a blade of grass or twig outside the Academy may be touched. Otherwise, you will be detained in Sacred Pingning and punished severely!”

Hua Sheng, listening, thought to himself: The young Lord was right after all—there will surely be a great battle on the Mid-Autumn night when the spirit serpent appears at the southeastern sea. There are only seven days left to save Weiyou.

“Your disciple obeys, Dao Ancestor!” Sensing a turning point, the young Lord seized the chance. “But there is one more unresolved matter.”

“What is it?”

“I beg Dao Ancestor to reveal the method to break the Jupiter Veil.”

“That artifact is no trifling matter—it cannot be destroyed by ordinary weapons. There is but one divine weapon in existence that can pierce it.”

“Your disciple is slow-witted! Please enlighten me!” Hua Sheng and the young Lord both knelt and bowed.

Before them appeared a palm-sized jade plaque, inscribed with four characters: “Grand Supreme Elder.”

“This is my jade token. Take it to the Victorious Fighting Buddha and ask for his aid.”

The young Lord’s expression changed. “Ask the Victorious Fighting Buddha for help?”

“All you need is to borrow a weapon from him. That weapon is the bane of the Jupiter Veil.”

“A weapon?” Hua Sheng worried he had misheard.

The young Lord shot him a look. The Victorious Fighting Buddha was Sun Wukong. And his weapon…

“Could it be…the Golden-Hooped Staff?! The weapon that can pierce the Jupiter Veil is the staff!” Hua Sheng exclaimed. “But where can we find the Victorious Fighting Buddha?”

“At the summit of the Eastern Sea, where all dragons gather!”

As soon as the words fell, the space around them began to twist and blur. In the haze, they heard the Grand Supreme Elder’s last admonition:

“The Jupiter Veil bears a backlash curse, forged not in the celestial realm. Whoever destroys it must take great care!”

Hua Sheng hurriedly picked up the jade token, and then lost consciousness.

He didn’t know how much time passed. When he came to, he felt someone patting his cheek and heard the young Lord saying, “Hey! Are you awake?”

Hua Sheng opened his eyes—they were back in the underground passage.

Was it all a dream?

He touched his face—the blood from the lashes was still drying. The young Lord, too, was covered in wounds.

“I told you my grandfather couldn’t bear to truly hurt me!” The young Lord put on a brave front, unconcerned.

“You almost died just now,” Hua Sheng said.

“It’s just a beating,” the young Lord spat out blood onto the ground.

Knowing he was just being stubborn, Hua Sheng asked, “Where were we just now? I couldn’t see your grandfather’s face—just those strange colors and blinding white light.”

“My grandfather is the master of the Great Dao—without beginning or end, formless, nameless, boundless, and without peer. When he gathers, he is the Grand Supreme Elder; when dispersed, he is vital energy. Anything you see or hear is just a manifestation.”

“I see. Thank you. For holding out through so many lashes.”

“It’s just ordinary family violence. You mortals get beaten as kids, too, don’t you?” The young Lord’s words were tinged with mockery.

“I grew up in an orphanage. I was never beaten. But I’d rather have had a normal family, even if it meant being scolded by parents.” That was Hua Sheng’s heartfelt truth.

Leaving the underground passage, they found it was already late. The city’s busy streets were filled with police cars and fire engines; flames still raged underground, billowing smoke pouring from several subway entrances as firefighters bravely rushed in with hoses.

The area was cordoned off; hundreds of police and armed officers were evacuating the crowds. Outside the blockade, the streets were packed with onlookers, everyone trying to capture the scene on their phones.

“Looks like everyone’s got their hands full now,” Hua Sheng remarked.

The young Lord gazed at the chaos. “This is but an early warning. The real trial will come seven days from now, in the Battle for Heaven and Earth. May the world not be plunged into calamity.”

The two changed back into modern clothes, donned baseball caps to blend into the crowd, found a bookstore still open nearby, bought a copy of “Dream of the Red Chamber,” and found a secluded spot to return to Sacred Pingning.

As before, the passageway connecting Sacred Pingning’s celestial realm and the mortal world—the “Primordial Path”—was hidden within this ancient book.

After traveling the Primordial Path and returning to Sacred Pingning, the young Lord and Hua Sheng went straight to the Arts and Dao Academy to find Immortal Jueguang. The immortal was shocked by their recent exploits. After tending to their wounds and changing their clothes, he led them to see the Dean.

A few days prior, the Xuanwu Festival had been disrupted, and the Star Lord of the Dao had not resumed his meditation. After reading the Grand Supreme Elder’s letter, the Star Lord immediately summoned Immortal Jueguang, Immortal Yuran, Immortal Huo Lei, and other key immortals of the Academy to discuss countermeasures. Among the disciples, only Secretary Tian Jizi of the Student Council attended. Because Hua Sheng and the young Lord were directly involved, they were allowed to listen in.

The meeting was held urgently in the “Lake Star Pavilion” at the center of Drunken Heart Lake—a pavilion surrounded on all sides by water.

Once Immortal Jueguang had explained the situation, the Star Lord of the Dao spoke: “That is the current state of affairs. The nether demon who invaded our Academy will, in seven days, assist Xuanwu’s spirit serpent in casting the moon-controlling spell. Given the lengths they’ll go, it’s highly likely they intend to move the moon to collide with Earth.”

The immortals present exchanged anxious glances and began to murmur among themselves.

“If the world is struck, can Sacred Pingning survive?” one asked.

Though the Star Lord looked youthful, his eyes radiated the majesty of a great general. “Sacred Pingning lies within the Tear of Avalokitesvara. No matter what happens in the mortal world, we will remain untouched.”

The immortals knew well that Sacred Pingning never interfered with mortal affairs, but the phrase “untouched” still sent a chill through them.

“What is your opinion, Star Lord?” asked Immortal Jueguang.

“This disaster concerns the spirit serpent and began with our Academy. We cannot shirk our responsibility.”

“If the Academy intervenes, what of the other seven Immortal Sages?” Immortal Yuran hesitated.

“The Dao Ancestor has entrusted the decision to me. Only the power of the Academy may be used—nothing beyond our ranks.”

All present understood the gravity of the situation. Since the Dao Ancestor had authorized it, Sacred Pingning would not object. Yet defending the mortal world posed countless challenges for the Academy.

A heavy silence fell.

“How should we proceed?” Immortal Jueguang finally asked.

The Star Lord replied, “Time is short. I called you all to hear your counsel.”

“In my view, the key is to counter the moon-controlling spell,” Jueguang began. “The Academy’s array alone cannot withstand the catastrophic force of a lunar collision. Not even the ultimate celestial spell, Heaven and Earth as One, would suffice. Our only hope is to erect a barrier powerful enough to repel the moon before it reaches the point of no return.”

The Star Lord leaned back and took a deep breath. Jueguang continued:

“The average distance from the moon to Earth is about 384,000 kilometers, roughly seventy-six thousand li. Lunar gravity accounts for nearly seventy percent of Earth’s tides. If the moon comes too close, sea levels will rise precipitously, flooding most land. To mitigate the lunar pull, we must keep the distance at no less than 108,000 li.”

Jueguang’s explanation was as much science as sorcery.

The Star Lord nodded. “You’re right, and that’s my worry. The world would be lost long before the moon even arrives.”

Hua Sheng thought to himself: All his life, he’d only understood celestial arts as applicable to “Earth.” He couldn’t imagine if they’d work beyond that scope. To cast a spell on a body as distant as the moon was beyond anything he’d conceived.

While Hua Sheng pondered, Immortal Huo Lei’s booming voice rang out, “The moon-controlling spell must be the serpent’s doing. Then let’s use the full power of the Academy to seal it away first!”

The Star Lord shook his head. “We’d have to seal it before the spell is cast. If it completes the spell, any effort afterward would be futile. But for now, we have no idea where the serpent or the nether demon are hiding…”

Immortal Yuran adjusted his glasses. “To save the living world, we must use a long-range celestial array. The only ones I know are the Sky-Covering Array for distance and the Earth-Supporting Array for power. But the former has the range but not the strength; the latter the strength but not the range.”

The Star Lord replied, “Your thoughts match mine. If I oversee the formation with forty-nine masters, we can combine the strengths of both—the Sky-Covering and Earth-Supporting Arrays—into a single great formation to resist the moon-controlling spell.”

“But both arrays are fragile, and we have little time to practice. Even with our best, if the nether demon and serpent attack, the formation will be broken. And to be safe, we must position it closer to the moon, not on Earth itself, or we risk bringing the battle to the mortal world,” Jueguang pointed out.

“What is your solution?” the Star Lord asked.

“To ensure full support, the ‘Combined Sky-Covering and Earth-Supporting Array’ must be placed…” Jueguang paused, then said, “in the stratosphere.”