Perhaps too eager to secure Fusheng Dijun's support, Elder Tai of Xuantian began by lavishing praise upon him. While it was praise, it wasn't entirely unfounded. Fusheng Dijun had opened up the Primordial Unity Great Dao; this feat alone justified calling him the foremost figure of the Great Dao since the Primordial Era. Many of the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs present shared this view.
"The Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs of the various grotto-heavens have always placed great hopes in you, Imperial Lord, and I am no exception. Although you have never publicly declared your stance, I believe more than anyone that your position has always been firm, and you will undoubtedly spare no effort to protect our shared Great Dao."
If his previous words were praise for Fusheng Dijun, then this statement was outright moral coercion.
"I wonder if I am correct?"
After Elder Tai of Xuantian posed his question, every single Great Dao Ancestral Patriarch present fixed their gaze on Fusheng Dijun.
They too wanted to know what stance, what attitude Fusheng Dijun held towards this Calamity.
Just as Elder Tai of Xuantian had said, Fusheng Dijun's existence was far too important.
In this Calamity where no one knew the answer, everyone was lost and adrift. They desperately needed a guiding light like Fusheng Dijun.
Here and now.
Fusheng Dijun stood tall, poised in the void. He wore pristine white robes, his features handsome, his demeanor refined and scholarly.
He appeared like the sun and the moon, like yin and yang, like light and darkness, like the sacred and the profane, more like a celestial deity descended from the heavens—ethereal and elusive, inspiring reverence.
Looking across the assembly, Fusheng Dijun was not the only one whose presence embodied the sun and moon, the fusion of yin and yang, the interplay of light and dark.
Taiji Boundless, including Miao Rulai, were the same.
And whether by coincidence or fate,
the existence of all three was as their names suggested.
Taiji Boundless's existence was like the Supreme Ultimate, yet also boundless.
Miao Rulai's existence was like profound mystery, yet also like Thus-Come-One.
Fusheng Dijun's existence was like floating life, like primordial unity.
Time passed, drop by drop. All the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs present awaited Fusheng Dijun's response.
Fusheng Dijun looked at the crowd, a trace of helplessness flickering across his expression. Then he turned his gaze to Elder Tai of Xuantian. Finally, he broke his silence and spoke: "Elder Tai, you should not have forced me."
The moment Fusheng Dijun spoke, the heartstrings of all the Ancestral Patriarchs tightened instantly. They all had a bad feeling, and Elder Tai of Xuantian even more so. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily as he stared fixedly at Fusheng Dijun and retorted, "I am not forcing you! It is only because your stance has always been vague and unknown, causing unease not just within me but among all fellow Daoists from the various grotto-heavens and blessed lands! After all, upon you rests the hopes of all living beings within this Great Dao heaven and earth!"
In his heart, Elder Tai of Xuantian had already decided: regardless of whether Fusheng Dijun supported him or not—even if he did not—he would do everything in his power to compel Fusheng Dijun to support him.
"You overestimate me."
As soon as Fusheng Dijun's words fell, Elder Tai of Xuantian began his moral coercion again. Not just Elder Tai, but the other members of the Xuantian Nine Immortals and many Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs also spoke up, saying Fusheng Dijun was their hope, that everyone was counting on him to be their guiding light, to lead them through this Calamity and protect the Great Dao.
In short,
if Fusheng Dijun dared utter a single word of refusal,
then he would be an utter sinner against this Great Dao.
"Imperial Lord, I believe you have heard the heartfelt wishes of our fellow Daoists. It is not I who force you, but the Great Dao that needs you!"
Elder Tai of Xuantian declared, "All we want now is an answer. We only wish to know your stance, your attitude, your choice!"
"Very well!"
"Since you all desire an answer, then I shall give you one."
Fusheng Dijun said, "I will protect the Great Dao as I envision it in my heart. And just as Elder Tai said, I will protect it at all costs!"
Hearing this, the stones weighing on the hearts of the Ancestral Patriarchs present finally settled, and their taut nerves finally relaxed.
However,
the stones in the hearts of a small number of Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs not only failed to settle but hung even more precariously.
Because Fusheng Dijun said he would protect the Great Dao as he envisioned it in his heart.
At first glance, this sounded fine, but upon careful consideration, one would realize Fusheng Dijun had not precisely declared his stance.
The reason was simple.
The Great Dao envisioned in each person's heart was different.
In the hearts of Immortals, the Immortal Dao was the Great Dao.
In the hearts of Demons, the Demonic Dao was the Great Dao.
In the hearts of Buddhas, the Buddha Dao was the Great Dao.
In the hearts of worldly people, happiness and safety were the Great Dao.
In the hearts of lovers, each other was the Great Dao, and in the hearts of drunkards, fine wine was the Great Dao.
It is known that there are three thousand Great Daos, and this 'three thousand' does not represent a specific number but signifies the infinite, the all-encompassing.
Causality is a Great Dao, Fate is a Great Dao, and in a sense, even Original Sin is a Great Dao, and even No-Dao is a Great Dao.
Thus,
when Fusheng Dijun said he would protect the Great Dao as he envisioned it in his heart, who knew what Great Dao he envisioned?
Whether Elder Tai of Xuantian failed to realize the implication of Fusheng Dijun's 'Great Dao as envisioned in his heart' or deliberately ignored it, his expression brightened with joy as he exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! I knew I was not mistaken about you, Imperial Lord! I believe you will certainly not disappoint our expectations."
Having said that,
Elder Tai of Xuantian did not continue engaging with Fusheng Dijun. Instead, he turned to the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs of the various grotto-heavens who were still observing and said, "I trust you have all heard! Fusheng Dijun has clearly stated he will protect the Great Dao at all costs. I hope you will hesitate no longer..."
Anyone with clear eyes could see that Elder Tai of Xuantian was not unaware of the implications behind Fusheng Dijun's words about 'the Great Dao as envisioned in his heart.' On the contrary, he likely understood the subtext better than anyone.
Precisely because he understood, Elder Tai of Xuantian did not press further. To continue questioning would only make matters worse.
For Elder Tai of Xuantian, it was enough that Fusheng Dijun had publicly declared he would protect the Great Dao. Regardless of what Great Dao he envisioned, it no longer mattered. What mattered was that Fusheng Dijun had uttered the words 'protect the Great Dao.' That alone was sufficient to compel those observing Ancestral Patriarchs to step forward in support.
However,
what Elder Tai of Xuantian did not anticipate was that just as he was mobilizing those Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs by leveraging Fusheng Dijun's declaration of 'protect the Great Dao,' Fusheng Dijun's voice suddenly rang out.
"Elder Tai, I wonder..."
"Will you protect the Great Dao as you envision it in your heart?"
Fusheng Dijun's voice interrupted Elder Tai of Xuantian's mobilization. Elder Tai looked at Fusheng Dijun, his expression gradually turning somewhat panicked. Confusion flickered in his eyes, and his heart filled with bewilderment. He did not understand, could not fathom why Fusheng Dijun would suddenly ask him such a strange question.